Bulk Motion of Ultrarelativistic Conical Blazar Jets

Abstract

Allowing for the conical shape of ultrarelativistic blazar jets with opening angles of a few degrees on parsec-scales we show that their bulk Lorentz factors and viewing angles can be much larger than the values usually inferred by combining their flux variability and proper motion measurements. This is in accord with our earlier finding that such ultrarelativistic (Lorentz factor, Gamma > 30) conical jets can reconcile the relatively slow apparent motions of VLBI knots in TeV blazars with the extremely fast flows implied by their rapid gamma-ray variability. This jet geometry also implies that de-projected jet opening angles will typically be significantly underestimated from VLBI measurements. In addition, de-projected jet lengths will be considerably overestimated if high Lorentz factors and significant opening angles are not taken into account.