Abstract
Abstract Space very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the quasar 3C 216 with the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) reveal that the parsec scale structure of the source can be well described by compact jet models developed for interpreting the core region of radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN). The measured brightness temperature of TB = 7.9 × 1011 K is comparable to the inverse Compton limit, from which we determine a lower limit of δ ∼ 3 for the Doppler-boosting factor. The apparent transverse velocity of the superluminal component is βapp = (3.0±0.2) h−1, assuming a constant velocity, but deceleration of the jet material cannot be excluded from our data. A combination of the above values indicates that the viewing angle of the core-jet to the line-of-sight is less than 19°, and the jet Lorentz-factor exceeds 2.4. The observed small size of the source is probably caused by both an interaction with the interstellar medium and a projection effect.
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