THE RADIO JET IN 3C274 AT 0.01-PC RESOLUTION

We have imaged the inner 0.1 pc of the archetypal radio jet in the nearby radio galaxy, 3C274 (Virgo A), with two epochs of intercontinental, very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) at a wavelength of 1.3 cm. These images have the highest linear resolution (1.6×10-2 pc) achieved on an extragalactic radio jet. At this resolution, we find a ∼4 mas (0.3 pc) long jet composed of several components. A lower resolution image detects the jet to ∼25 mas (2 pc) from the presumed core. The jet appears well collimated (opening angle ∼20°), and has a morphology similar to that on larger scales, even though these dimensions approach within 102 Schwarzschild radii of the putative supermassive (3×109 script M sign⊙) black hole. The position angle of the jet (276°±4°) near the presumed core (<0.2 mas) is significantly different from that seen on larger scles (290°±1°); there is evidence for a progressive northward curvature of the jet on the smallest size scales. No evidence for an accretion disk is seen. There is no evidence for proper motions of jet components at this resolution. Moderate variability of the core is found (∼30%) with a time scale of <5 months.