Pinpointing the jet apex of 3C 84

TL;DR

This study uses multi-frequency VLBI observations of 3C 84 to pinpoint the jet apex location, revealing it is upstream of the 86 GHz core and estimating magnetic field strengths near the core.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel method combining 2D cross-correlation of VLBI images at multiple frequencies to locate the jet apex in 3C 84, challenging previous interpretations.

Findings

Jet apex is located 83 ± 7 μas upstream of the 86 GHz core.

Magnetic field strength near the core is estimated to be 1.80 - 4.0 G.

The magnetic field configuration is consistent with a mixed toroidal/poloidal structure.

Abstract

Nearby radio galaxies that contain jets are extensively studied with VLBI, addressing jet launching and the physical mechanisms at play around massive black holes. 3C 84 is unique in this regard, because the combination of its proximity and large SMBH mass provides a high spatial resolution to resolve the complex structure at the jet base. For 3C 84 an angular scale of 50 ${\mu}$as corresponds to 200 - 250 Schwarzschild radii ($R_s$). Recent RadioAstron VLBI imaging at 22 GHz revealed an east-west elongated feature at the northern end of the VLBI jet, which challenges interpretations. Here we propose instead that the jet apex is not located within the 22 GHz VLBI core region but more upstream of the jet. We base our arguments on a 2D cross-correlation analysis of quasi-simultaneously obtained VLBI images at 15, 43, and 86 GHz, which measures the opacity shift of the VLBI core in 3C 84. With the assumption of the power law index ($k_r$) of the core shift being set to 1, we find the jet apex to be located $83 \pm 7$ ${\mu}$as north (upstream) of the 86 GHz VLBI core. Depending on the assumptions for $k_r$ and the particle number density power law index n, we find a mixed toroidal/poloidal magnetic field configuration, consistent with a region which is offset from the central engine by about 400-1500 $R_s$. The measured core shift is then used to estimate the magnetic field strength, which amounts to B = 1.80 - 4.0 G near the 86 GHz VLBI core. We discuss some physical implications of these findings.