MAGjA - Magnetic field evolution in AGN jets
Alice Pasetto (UNAM)
Tuesday 01/07/2025 @ 14:00, Sala Antonio Sollima (IV piano Battiferro)
Magnetic field plays a fundamental role for the formation, collimation and evolution of AGN jets, from their birth to their late stages. The magnetic field configuration, how far from the central engine it maintains its configuration and how it evolves during its journey along the jet, are still a matters of debate. A powerful tool for the study of the magnetic field is through the analysis of the polarized light of the synchrotron radiation using the Faraday rotation and the Faraday depolarization. They are two important effects which gives information about the structure of the material and magnetic field. Both effects alter the polarized spectrum and their study, using well sampled polarized data, allow to infer important physical properties of the magneto-ionic material along the LOS internal or external of the source of study. Through this kind of analysis it is possible: 1) to understand the complexity of the magnetized medium and its possible correlation with the nature of a radio source, 2) to map the magnetic field configuration of AGN jets and 3) to trace their presence and evolution in giants radio structures. With this talk I will take you through the journey of the never ending life of a jet. I will present recent full polarization, broadband Jansky VLA observations of jets at three different evolutionary stages: the compact jets called Compact Symmetric Objects (CSOs), the mature AGN jet of M87, and the complex radio relic MACS J0717.5+3745. I will show you the power of studying the polarized light and how polarization unveils information which is hidden under the continuum. This work is paving the way for future investigations on this matter which will be easily addressed with the upcoming SKAO and ngVLA.