3C-191 REVISITED - CIRCUMQUASAR SHELLS AND RADIO JETS

We argue that the extraordinarily high rotation measure in the jet of the quasar 3C 191 is produced by an intrinsic absorption line system at zabs = 1.9453. This system has a thin shell configuration produced as a wind from the quasar central regions sweeps up interstellar matter in an elliptical host galaxy. The inferred wind energy output rate is 1.9 × 1045 ergs s-1 and the host galaxy has an undisturbed gas density ≈0.17 cm-3 and magnetic field ≈2.5 × 10-3 μG. The equivalent width of the He II λ1640 line implies a covering factor of ∼ 15% for the shell as seen from the quasar. Pressure irregularities in the shell may account for the jet bending. The model implies that the absorbing material must be hotter than photoionization conditions would indicate. The good agreement between the model and the observational data argues strongly that zem ≈ zabs systems are intrinsic to quasars and are associated with elliptical galaxies.