Letter to the Editor

Confirmation of persistent radio jets in the microquasar LS 5039

¹ Departament d'Astronomia i Meteorologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
² Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
³ Departamento de Física, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Jaén, Virgen de la Cabeza 2, 23071 Jaén, Spain

Corresponding author: J. M. Paredes, josep@am.ub.es

Received: 5 August 2002
Accepted: 27 August 2002

Abstract

We present here new observations conducted with the EVN and MERLIN of the persistent microquasar LS 5039 discovered by Paredes et al. ([CITE]) with the VLBA. The new observations confirm the presence of an asymmetric two-sided jet reaching up to ~1000 AU on the longest jet arm. The results suggest a bending of the jets with increasing distance from the core and/or precession. The origin and location of the high-energy gamma-ray emission associated with the system is discussed and an estimate of the magnetic field at the base of the jet given. Our results suggest a well collimated radio jet. We also comment on new observing strategies to be used with satellites and forthcoming detectors, since this persistent source appears to be a rather good laboratory to explore the accretion/ejection processes taking place near compact objects.