The Non-thermal Radio Jet Toward the NGC 2264 Star Formation Region

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed radio observations of a highly polarized, one-sided non-thermal jet near NGC 2264, likely originating from an extragalactic source, with no significant proper motions detected over 11 years.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed radio imaging and polarization analysis of the non-thermal jet, confirming its extragalactic origin and characterizing its properties.

Findings

Jet is highly polarized and one-sided.

No proper motions or polarization changes over 11 years.

Flux variations suggest a quasar or radio galaxy core.

Abstract

We report sensitive VLA 3.6 cm radio observations toward the head of the Cone nebula in NGC 2264, made in 2006. The purpose of these observations was to study a non-thermal radio jet recently discovered, that appears to emanate from the head of the Cone nebula. The jet is highly polarized, with well-defined knots, and one-sided. The comparison of our images with 1995 archive data indicates no evidence of proper motions nor polarization changes. We find reliable flux density variations in only one knot, which we tentatively identify as the core of a quasar or radio galaxy. An extragalactic location seems to be the best explanation for this jet.