Parsec-scale jet properties of the quasar PG 1302-102

Mohan, P. and An, T. and Frey, Sándor and Mangalam, A. and Gabányi, Krisztina Éva and Kun, Emma (2016) Parsec-scale jet properties of the quasar PG 1302-102. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 463. pp. 1812-1821. ISSN 0035-8711

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Abstract

The quasar PG 1302−102 is believed to harbour a supermassive binary black hole (SMBBH) system. Using the available 15 GHz and 2 − 8 GHz, multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array data, we constrain the pc-scale jet properties based on the inferred mean proper motion, including a bulk Lorentz factor > 5.1 ± 0.8, jet inclination angle 6 11.◦4 ± 1.◦7, projected position angle = 31.◦8, intrinsic half opening angle 6 0.◦9 ± 0.◦1 and a mean 2 − 8 GHz spectral index of 0.31. A general relativistic helical jet model is presented and applied to predict quasi-periodic oscillations of ∼ 10 days, power law power spectrum shape and a contribution of up to ∼ 53 percent to the observed variable core flux density. The model is used to make a case for high resolution, mod- erately sampled, long duration radio interferometric observations to reveal signatures due to helical knots and distinguish them from those due to SMBBH orbital activity including a phase difference ∼ π and an amplitude ratio (helical light curve ampli- tude/SMBBH light curve amplitude) of 0.2 − 3.3. The prescription can be used to identify helical kinematic signatures from quasars, providing possible candidates for further studies with polarization measurements. It can also be used to infer promis- ing SMBBH candidates for the study of gravitational waves if there are systematic deviations from helical signatures.

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