A Highly Magnetized Twin-Jet Base Pinpoints a Supermassive Black Hole

Authors :: Baczko, A. -K.
Schulz, R.
Kadler, M.
Ros, E.
Perucho, M.
Krichbaum, T. P.
Böck, M.
Bremer, M.
Grossberger, C.
Lindqvist, M.
Lobanov, A. P.
Mannheim, K.
Martí-Vidal, I.
Müller, C.
Wilms, J.
Zensus, J. A.
Source :: A&A 593, A47 (2016)
Publication Year :: 2016
Abstract: Supermassive black holes (SMBH) are essential for the production of jets in radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN). Theoretical models based on Blandford & Znajek extract the rotational energy from a Kerr black hole, which could be the case for NGC1052, to launch these jets. This requires magnetic fields of the order of $10^3\,$G to $10^4\,$G. We imaged the vicinity of the SMBH of the AGN NGC1052 with the Global Millimetre VLBI Array and found a bright and compact central feature, smaller than 1.9 light days (100 Schwarzschild radii) in radius. Interpreting this as a blend of the unresolved jet bases, we derive the magnetic field at 1 Schwarzschild radius to lie between 200 G and ~80000 G consistent with Blandford & Znajek models.<br />Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics