3C205 - A Source with Extraordinary Alignment and a VLBI Hotspot

Abstract

High resolution maps of 3C205 using MERLIN and the European VLBI network (EVN), some of which are shown in Fig.1, reveal unusual characteristics in this high redshift (z = 1.534) source. The most striking of these are as follows: 1)The hotspots A and B, and the core C are aligned to within 0″.05 (at the hotspot), as measured on the MERLIN 6 cm map.2)The compact feature in the southern hotspot (A1) has projected dimensions of ~0″.03 x ~0″.015 (see Fig.1d). The corresponding minimum internal energy density of this feature is ≳2.3 × 10−6 erg cm−3.3)There is a continuous zig-zag ridge in the southern component, which starts with a definite spur of emission extending in a south-east direction from the compact feature A1 (see Fig.1b). The magnetic field in A1 is in approximately the same position angle as this spur and the VLBI elongation, which both point towards a bright secondary peak in the southern lobe (1a and 1b).