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The extreme flare in III Zw 2: Evolution of a radio jet in a Seyfert galaxy

A. Brunthaler·H. Falcke·G. C. Bower·M. F. Aller·H. D. Aller·H. Teraesranta
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Abstract

A very detailed monitoring of a radio flare in the Seyfert I galaxy III Zw 2 with the VLA and the VLBA is presented. The relative astrometry in the VLBA observations was precise on a level of a few microarcseconds. Spectral and spatial evolution of the source are closely linked and these observations allowed us to study in great detail a textbook example of a synchrotron self-absorbed jet. We observe a phase where the jet gets frustrated, without expansion and no spectral evolution. Then the jet breaks free and starts to expand with apparent superluminal motion. This expansion is accompanied by a strong spectral evolution. The results are a good confirmation of synchrotron theory and equipartition for jets.

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A. Brunthaler, H. Falcke, G. C. Bower, M. F. Aller, H. D. Aller, H. Teraesranta. 2005-01-27. The extreme flare in III Zw 2: Evolution of a radio jet in a Seyfert galaxy. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0501616

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