The Megaparsec-Scale X-ray Jet of the BL Lac Object OJ287

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed X-ray and radio observations of the extended jet of the BL Lac object OJ287, revealing its structure, energetics, and dynamics, and suggesting the presence of standing shocks and relativistic flow deceleration.

Contribution

First detailed X-ray imaging of OJ287's jet showing its morphology, energetics, and evidence for standing shocks and flow deceleration over large scales.

Findings

Jet extends over 90 kpc with a 55-degree bend.

X-ray emission from inverse Compton scattering of CMB photons.

Jet's magnetic field ~5 microGauss and Doppler factor ~8.

Abstract

We present an X-ray image of the BL Lacertae object OJ287 revealing a long jet, curved by 55 degrees and extending 20", or 90 kpc from the nucleus. This de-projects to >1 Mpc based on the viewing angle on parsec scales. Radio emission follows the general X-ray morphology but extends even farther from the nucleus. The upper limit to the isotropic radio luminosity, ~2E24 W/Hz, places the source in the Fanaroff-Riley 1 (FR 1) class, as expected for BL Lac objects. The spectral energy distribution indicates that the extended X-ray emission is from inverse Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons. In this case, the derived magnetic field is B ~ 5 microGauss, the minimum electron energy is 7-40 m_e c^2, and the Doppler factor is delta ~ 8 in a knot 8" from the nucleus. The minimum total kinetic power of the jet is 1-2E45 erg/s. Upstream of the bend, the width of the X-ray emission in the jet is about half the projected distance from the nucleus. This implies that the highly relativistic bulk motion is not limited to an extremely thin spine, as has been proposed previously for FR 1 sources. The bending of the jet, the deceleration of the flow from parsec to kiloparsec scales, and the knotty structure can all be caused by standing shocks inclined by ~7 degrees to the jet axis. Moving shocks resulting from major changes in the flow properties can also reproduce the knotty structure, but such a model does not explain as many of the observational details.