EDP Sciences Journals List
Advanced Search
Subscriber Authentication Point
Home All issues Volume 414/1 Article
Free access article

Issue A&A
Volume 414, Number 1, January IV 2004
Page(s) L1 - L4
Section Letters
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20031760



A&A 414, L1-L4 (2004)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20031760

Letter

Hints for a fast precessing relativistic radio jet in LS I +61 $^{\circ}$303

M. Massi1, M. Ribó2, J. M. Paredes3, S. T. Garrington4, M. Peracaula5 and J. Martí6

1  Max Planck Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
    e-mail: mmassi@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de
2  Service d'Astrophysique, CEA Saclay, Bât. 709, L'Orme des Merisiers, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
    e-mail: mribo@discovery.saclay.cea.fr
3  Departament d'Astronomia i Meteorologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
    e-mail: jmparedes@ub.edu
4  Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9DL, UK
    e-mail: stg@jb.man.ac.uk
5  Institut d'Informática i Aplicacions, Universitat de Girona, Campus de Montilivi s/n, 17071 Girona, Spain
    e-mail: marta.peracaula@udg.es
6  Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Univ. de Jaén, Virgen de la Cabeza 2, 23071 Jaén, Spain
    e-mail: jmarti@ujaen.es

(Received 31 July 2003 / Accepted 5 December 2003)

Abstract
Here we discuss two consecutive MERLIN observations of the X-ray binary LS I +61 $^{\circ}$303 . The first observation shows a double-sided jet extending up to about 200 AU on both sides of a central source. The jet shows a bent S-shaped structure similar to the one displayed by the well-known precessing jet of SS 433 . The precession suggested in the first MERLIN image becomes evident in the second one, showing a one-sided bent jet significantly rotated with respect to the jet of the day before. We conclude that the derived precession of the relativistic ( $\beta=0.6$) jet explains puzzling previous VLBI results. Moreover, the fact that the precession is fast could be the explanation of the never understood short term (days) variability of the associated gamma-ray source 2CG 135+01 / 3EG J0241+6103 .


Key words: stars: individual: LS I +61 $^{\circ}$303 , 2CG 135+01 , 3EG J0241+6103 -- X-rays: binaries -- radio continuum: stars -- gamma-rays: observations -- gamma-rays: theory

Offprint request: M. Massi, mmassi@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de

SIMBAD Objects



© ESO 2004


What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.