The λ=6 cm VLBI polarization structure of nine BL Lacertae objects

VLBI total intensity (I) and linear polarization (P) images at lambda = 6 cm have been obtained for nine radio-bright BL Lacertae objects. These are the first VLBI P images for these sources, and, in a number of cases, the first I images as well. They confirm the previously noted tendency for the jet magnetic fields of BL Lacertae objects to be transverse to the local jet direction, but also provide new evidence that a sizeable minority of BL Lacertae objects have VLBI jet components with longitudinal magnetic fields. In addition, two sources have VLBI jet components in which the direction of the electric vector chi bears no obvious relation to the apparent local jet direction; the origin of these arbitrary chi offsets is unclear. A new tentative superluminal speed of beta = 6.3 h(-1) has been determined for 0828 + 493; tentative speeds for two knots in 1418 + 546 are beta = 4.3 and 2.5 h(-1). This work is part of an ongoing programme to determine the VLBI I and P structure of all 34 sources in the 1-Jy sample of northern BL Lacertae objects defined by Kuhr & Schmidt.