|
Useful Links:
 

 


|
|
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
VLBI
observations remain the only direct
evidence for relativistic outflows from supermassive black holes in
active galactic nuclei (AGN). The MOJAVE program realizes one of
the
envisioned goals of the VLBA, which is to provide long-term, systematic
monitoring of relativistic motion in AGN jets on parsec-scales. The
major aims of our program are to a) provide a significant improvement
over previous surveys in terms of image resolution, size, and
statistical completeness, and b) to characterize the kinematics and
polarization evolution of AGN
jets and to determine how these relate to other source properties. We
are currently providing up-to-date parsec-scale structural information
on nearly 300 AGN jets in support of the Fermi Gamma-Ray Observatory.
|
|
Science Goals
There remain a great many unanswered questions about AGN jets that are
being addressed by MOJAVE, which include:
- What is the overall distribution of superluminal speeds and intrinsic
velocities in AGN jets?
- Where do relativistic flows get accelerated and
collimated to form jets?
- Do different components within a jet follow the same
or different trajectories?
- do they have the same or different speeds?
- are the trajectories curved or straight?
- are there accelerations or decelerations?
- How is the apparent velocity related to the nature of
the host galaxy and its luminosity at other wavelengths?
- Are there differences between the bulk flow velocity
and the pattern velocity as might be expected if the observed motions
are due to the propagation of shocks rather than the flow of
material?
- What is the nature of the material responsible for
altering the polarization properties of the jet emission?
- By what mechanism is circularly polarized emission
produced in AGN jets?
- How are the gamma-ray emission and jet activity
correlated in AGN?
Our program differs from other VLBA monitoring programs which run for
limited periods, or concentrate on specific sources or classes of
sources, (e.g., gamma-ray loud, lobe-dominated, peaked-spectrum) as one
of our goals is to understand how the kinematics differ among these
groups. Our observations are important for understanding jet
physics and evolution, and for providing constraints on
theoretical models. A list of
publications from the MOJAVE project can be found here.
MOJAVE Studies Currently Underway
"MOJAVE: Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA
Experiments. IX. Linear Polarization Evolution of Blazar Jets", Lister,
M. L. et al.
"MOJAVE: Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA
Experiments. X. Circular Polarization Evolution of Blazar Jets", Homan,
D.C. et al.
"MOJAVE: Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA
Experiments. XI. Parsec-Scale Intraday Variability of Radio-Selected
Blazars", Kuchibhotla, S., and Lister, M. L.
"Periodic Ejection Direction
Variations in the Jet of Quasar 1308+326", Lister, M L. et al.
"Where is the Center of Activity in
Gigahertz-Peaked Spectrum Quasar 2021+614?", Mellott, N., &
Lister, M. L.
|
|
Home | Science | Sample | Data Archive | Status | Publications
| Movies | RM Maps | People |
|
|
|