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Large-scale radio structures of superluminal sources

Abstract

Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope maps of faint extended emission associated with several superluminal radio sources are presented. In order to avoid exceptionally large sizes for the superluminal sources, their dominant, long-term axes must be at least 20–30° from the line of sight. This is a considerably larger angle than that demanded by the relativistic beaming interpretation of the superluminal motion in their compact cores, and implies that a wobble or precession of their ejection axes has taken place. Superluminality may thus be a temporary phenomenon.

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Schilizzi, R., de Bruyn, A. Large-scale radio structures of superluminal sources. Nature 303, 26–31 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303026a0

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