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| Paper: |
Magnetic Fields in the Central Kiloparsec of Active Galactic Nuclei |
| Volume: |
249, The Central Kiloparsec of Starbursts and AGN: the La Palma Connection |
| Page: |
270 |
| Authors: |
Taylor, G. B.; Zavala, R. T. |
| Abstract: |
Given the energetic nature of AGN, it is likely that magnetic fields exist in their central kiloparsecs. These magnetic fields are expected to play a vital role in the formation and collimation of the jets. We are just beginning to exploit milliarcsecond resolution Faraday rotation measure studies of the jets in radio galaxies, quasars and BL Lac objects. These studies, undertaken with the Very Long Baseline Array at frequencies of 8--43 GHz, provide information about the density-weighted magnetic field along the line of sight and can thus provide information on the strength and topology of the fields. Substantial rotation measures of up to 40 000 radm have been detected in the inner jets of quasars, declining sharply on scales of ~100 pc. And as jet components move they sample new sightlines and show changes in their rotation measure on timescales of months to years. |
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