Possible evidence for double precessing nozzle structure in QSO 3C345

TL;DR

This paper presents evidence for a double precessing nozzle structure in blazar 3C345, explaining its jet kinematics and suggesting a binary black hole system with consistent parameters across multiple blazars.

Contribution

It introduces a double jet-nozzle precession model to interpret VLBI data, providing new insights into jet dynamics and black hole binary characteristics.

Findings

Double jet-nozzle precession with a 7.30-year period.

Model-simulated knots' Lorentz factors range from 4 to 30.

Derived black hole binary parameters are physically reasonable.

Abstract

The precessing jet-nozzle scenario has been applied to interpret the VLBI-kinematics of twenty-seven superluminal components in blazar 3C345 measured during an about 38-yr period. The superluminal knots could be ejected from a double jet-nozzle system forming a double-jet structure.Both nozzles could precess with a period of about 7.30yr and in the same direction.For both jets a steady precessing common trajectory could exist, along which different knots moved according to their precession phases. Most knots were model-simulated to be accelerated with their bulk Lorentz factor in the range of about 4 to 30 and their Lorentz/Doppler factor profiles were derived. The radio light-curves of knot C9 were well coincident with its Doppler boosting profile. The double precessing nozzle scenario has been applied to interpret the VLBI-kinematics for four blazars (3C279, OJ287, 3C454.3 and 3C345). The charateristic parameters of the four putative supermassive black hole binaries (including hole masses, orbital separation and gravitational radiation lifetime, etc.) were derived and compared, showing that they are in physically reasonable ranges, and well consistent with some theoretical arguments for close black hole binaries.