Investigation of the Faraday Rotation Measure and Magnetic Field Structures of Several AGN Jets on Sub-Parsec to Parsec Scales

Abstract

Preliminary VLBA polarisation results on 6 ``blazars'' from 6.5-cm to 7-mm are presented here. Observing at several different wavelengths, separated by short and long intervals, enabled reliable information about the magnetic (B) field structure to be obtained and for the effect of Faraday Rotation to be determined and corrected. For all sources the magnitude of the core Rotation Measure (RM) derived from the shorter wavelength data was greater than that derived from the longer wavelength data, consistent with a higher electron density and/or B-field strength closer to the central engine. A transverse RM gradient was detected in the jet of 0954+658, providing evidence for the presence of a helical B-field surrounding the jet. The RM in the core region of 2200+420 (BL Lac) displays sign changes in different wavelength intervals (on different spatial scales); we suggest an explanation for this in terms of modest bends in a helical B-field surrounding the jet.