Milliarcsecond Polarization Measurements of Compact Extragalactic Radio Sources

厘米波段辐射的线偏振 活动星系核（AGN）将在最小的研究 角鳞 这将通过以下技术来实现： 偏振灵敏甚长基线干涉测量 （“偏振VLBI”），其中线性偏振结构 致密射电源的角标度可以确定， 毫弧秒 在AGN的距离上，这对应于 光年的物理尺度。 线性极化告诉我们 磁场结构，辐射机制， 活动星系核的粒子含量、运动学和几何学， 帮助我们了解它们的结构和进化 最终 这项工作的目标是详细阐述的机制，在于 活动星系核的心脏，目前认为是物质的吸积， 巨大的黑洞

The linear polarization of the centimeter-wave length radiation from active galactic nuclei (AGN) will be studied at the smallest angular scales. This will be accomplished with the technique of polarization-sensitive Very Long Baseline Interferometry ("polarization VLBI"), whereby the linear polarization structure of compact radio sources may be determined on angular scales of milliarcseconds. At the distance of AGN, this corresponds to physical scales of light years. The linear polarization tells us about the magnetic field structure, radiation mechanisms, particle content, kinematics, and geometry of AGNs, which will help us understand their structure and evolution. The ultimate goal of this work is to elaborate the mechanism that lies at the heart of AGNs, currently thought to be accretion of material onto massive black holes.