Research Highlights
Here we show recent research results from the Radio Astronomy/Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry department.
Magnetic properties of the jet base in the radio galaxy NGC 315
14 January 2025
This study, led by MPIfR astronomer L. Ricci within the Otto Hahn research group headed by B. Boccardi, investigates the spectral and magnetic properties of the relativistic jet in the nearby radio galaxy NGC 315. Observations reveal a toroidal-dominated magnetic field structure, which influences the jet collimation and acceleration on sub-parsec and parsec scales. A steep radio spectrum at the base of the jet suggests intense synchrotron cooling, transitioning to flatter spectral regions at larger scales. At the jet base, magnetic energy dominates, gradually transitioning to equipartition with particles as the jet expands outwards. A nearly linear increase in magnetic field strength with distance from the core supports theoretical models of jet formation. This research provides critical constraints on the magnetization and geometry of the magnetic fields in relativistic jets, advancing our understanding of jet dynamics in active galactic nuclei. For a detailed discussion, see the original paper here.