Fine Structure of the Core of the Blazar OJ 287. III. Polarized Emission

Abstract

This conclusive paper summarizes the results of our studies of the fine and superfine structure of the blazar OJ 287 at wavelengths of 7 mm and 2 cm in polarized emission with angular resolution is 20 μas. The orientation of the polarization of its fragments is almost orthogonal to the motion of the flows, suggesting that the magnetic field of the structures is oriented along the direction of the flow velocity. This is determined by the rotation of the flows—the excitation of ring currents and the generation of a solenoidal magnetic field, which applies both to the arms along which the surrounding matter is transferred to the center, the northern (m = 16%) and southern (m = 5%) ones, and to the ejected flows carrying away an excess angular momentum. The polarization level of the jet and counterjet flows reachesm = 15–20%and rises as one recedes fromthe nozzle due to a decrease in the optical depth of the fragments. The polarization level of the counterjet at the nozzle exit reaches 10%, while that of the jet is considerably lower. This is related to the location of the jet nozzle in the opposite direction relative to the observer, the influence of the screen. The special position refers to the nozzles. The polarization level is m - 2%. In the case of outbursts, the polarization increases with brightness, λ = 7 mm. At λ = 2 cm there is an inverse dependence. The spectral index of outbursts lies within the range α = 0–0.8.