G16A004

Probing the Innermost Regions of AGN Jets and their Magnetic Fields

Abstract

The RadioAstron Key Science Program (KSP) on AGN Polarization has confirmed the
polarization imaging capabilities of the space radio telescope and probed the innermost
regions of AGN jets and their magnetic fields at resolutions down to 20 microarcseconds.
Based on these results, we have proposed to extend this KSP through the AO-4 period of
RadioAstron, and we request here the GVLBI support for these RadioAstron KSP
observations. The AO-4 observations will target three prominent AGN, combining the
RadioAstron data and ground-based U/Q band observations (during gaps between the
RadioAstron scans) to perform detailed multifrequency polarization imaging, Faraday rotation
studies, and spectral analysis of compact emission. With this information, we will reconstruct
the magnetic field structure and study the physical properties of the jets in the vicinity of the
central engine. The AO-4 period offers also a unique opportunity for quasi-simultaneous
RadioAstron (1.3 cm) and GMVA (3 mm) observations of 3C454.3 and CTA102 in autumn
2016, and for the first time the participation of phased-ALMA in GMVA observations of OJ287
in spring 2017. The resolution-matched images will allow opacity and Faraday rotation
studies at unprecedented high angular resolutions.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Jose L. Gomez *	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Andrei Lobanov	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Gabriele Bruni	Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
Yuri Kovalev	Green Bank Observatory
Laura Vega-Garcia	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Kirill Sokolovsky	Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of
Tuomas Savolainen	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; Aalto yliopisto
Kazuhiro Hada	National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Alan Marscher	Boston University
Svetlana Jorstad	Boston University
Thomas Kirchbaum	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Rusen Lu	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Pablo Galindo	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Ivan Agudo	Boston University; Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry European Research Infrastructure Consortium; Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de; Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Antonio Alberdi	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
James Anderson	Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum
Uwe Bach	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Michael Bell
Carolina Casadio	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de; Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; Foundation for Research & Technology - Hellas
Jean Eilek	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Christan Fromm	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; Frankfurt am Main, Goethe-Universität
Daniel Homan	Denison University
Mason Keck	Boston University
Sang-Sung Lee	Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
Sol Molina	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Miguel Perez-Torres	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Eduardo Ros	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; València, Universitat de
Bong Won Sohn	Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
Greg Taylor	New Mexico, University of
Tony Zensus	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
GBT Operator	Green Bank Observatory

* indicates the PI