Geometrical and Kinematic Parameters of the Jet of the Blazar S5 0716+71 in a Helical-Jet Model

Abstract

Periodic variations of the position angle of the inner jet of the blazar S5 0716+71 suggest a helical structure for the jet. The geometrical parameters of a model helical jet are determined. It is shown that, when the trajectories of the jet components are non-ballistic, the angle between their velocity vectors and the line of sight lies in a broader interval than is the case for ballistic motions of the components, in agreement with available estimates. The contradictory results for the apparent speeds of components in the inner and outer jet at epochs 2004 and 2008-2010 can be explained in such a model. The ratio of the apparent speeds in the inner and outer jet is used to derive a lower limit for the true speed of the components ($\beta>0.999$) and to determine the pitch angle of the helical jet ($p=5.5^\circ$). The derived parameters can give rise to the conditions required to observe high speeds (right to 37$c$) for individual jet components.