EVN and MERLIN confirmation of the LS5039 jets

Abstract

The microquasar nature of LS5039 was revealed by May 1999 VLBA+VLA observations showing a two-sided jet at milliarcsecond scales. Here we present follow-up interferometric observations carried out with the EVN and MERLIN at 5 GHz in March 2000. The obtained maps with both the EVN and MERLIN show a two-sided jet with a similar position angle to the previous VLBA+VLA map. The total length of the jet arms is ~60 mas in the EVN map and ~300 mas in the MERLIN map. A brightness and length asymmetry of the jets, compatible with the earlier observations, is also present in the maps. Overall, these observations confirm the existence of a two-sided jet structure in LS 5039 and seem to indicate their persistent nature.