0535357 - ASÚ 2021 RIV FR eng J - Journal Article
Britzen, S. - Fendt, C. - Böttcher, M. - Zajaček, M. - Jaron, F. - Pashchenko, I. N. - Araudo, Anabella - Karas, Vladimír - Kurtanidze, O.M.
A cosmic collider: Was the IceCube neutrino generated in a precessing jet-jet interaction in TXS 0506+056?
Astronomy & Astrophysics. Roč. 630, October (2019), č. článku A103. ISSN 0004-6361. E-ISSN 1432-0746
Institutional support: RVO:67985815
Keywords : black hole physics * interferometric techniques * BL Lacertae objects
OECD category: Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Impact factor: 5.636, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Open access

Other BL Lac objects show properties similar to those of TXS 0506+056, such as multiwavelength variability or a curved jet. However, to date only TXS 0506+056 has been identified as neutrino emitter. The aim of this paper is to determine what makes the parsec-scale jet of TXS 0506+056 specific in this respect. We reanalyzed and remodeled 16 VLBA 15 GHz observations between 2009 and 2018. We thoroughly examined the jet kinematics and flux-density evolution of individual jet components during the time of enhanced neutrino activity between September 2014 and March 2015, and in particular before and after the neutrino event. Our results suggest that the jet is very strongly curved and most likely observable under a special viewing angle of close to zero. We may observe the interaction between jet features that cross each other's paths. We find subsequent flux-density flaring of six components passing the likely collision site. In addition, we find a strong indication for precession of the inner jet, and model a precession period of about 10 yr via the Lense-Thirring effect. We discuss an alternative scenario, which is the interpretation of observing the signature of two jets within TXS 0506+056, again hinting toward a collision of jetted material. We essentially suggest that the neutrino emission may result from the interaction of jetted material in combination with a special viewing angle and jet precession.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0313400