Determination of a magnetization parameter of the parsec-scale AGN jets

TL;DR

This paper estimates the magnetization parameter of parsec-scale AGN jets using core shift observations, finding values around 10-100, which aligns with observed superluminal motions and advances understanding of jet physics.

Contribution

It introduces a new method to determine the magnetization parameter of AGN jets from core shift measurements across multiple sources.

Findings

Magnetization parameter ~ 10-100 for most jets

Estimate consistent with superluminal motion observations

Method applicable to a large sample of sources

Abstract

The observed shift of the core of the relativistic AGN jets as a function of frequency allows us to evaluate the number density of outflowing plasma and, hence, the magnetization parameter. New analysis of more than 20 sources shows that for most of jets the magnetization parameter ~ 10 - 100. Since the magnetization parameter is the maximum possible bulk Lorentz-factor of the relativistic flow, this estimate is consistent with the observed superluminal motion.