%0 Journal Article
%T Radio Jet-Ambient Medium Interactions on Parsec Scales in the Blazar 1055+018
%A Joanne M. Attridge
%A David H. Roberts
%A John F. C. Wardle
%J Physics
%D 1999
%I arXiv
%R 10.1086/312078
%X As part of our study of the magnetic fields of AGN we have recently observed a large sample of blazars with the Very Long Baseline Array. Here we report the discovery of a striking two-component jet in the source 1055+018, consisting of an inner spine with a transverse magnetic field, and a fragmentary but distinct boundary layer with a longitudinal magnetic field. The polarization distribution in the spine strongly supports shocked-jet models while that in the boundary layer suggests interaction with the surrounding medium. This behavior suggests a new way to understand the differing polarization properties of strong- and weak-lined blazars.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9903330v3