Apparent Jet Speed as a Function of Distance from the Core in Powerful Radio Sources

Abstract

This paper is aimed at verifying the predictions of relativistic beaming and orientation based unified model for Powerful Radio Sources. Eighty Five (85) quasars and Eleven (11) FRII galaxies were studied. Three radio source parameters: mean radial position R_mas, apparent speed β_app and redshift (1+z) of the sample were statistically distributed. To further reveal the effects of relativistic beaming as a cause of differences observed in radio source morphology, the correlation analyses of the various parameters of the two classes were performed. The result is consistent with the beaming and orientation hypothesis that quasars which are closely aligned to the observer’s line of sight, generally have higher apparent jet speeds and lower radial distances.