The Radio Jets and Accretion Disk in NGC 4261
Abstract
The structure of AGN accretion disks on sub-parsec scales can be probed through free-free absorption of synchrotron emission from the base of symmetric radio jets. We present new VLBA observations of the nearby FR-I radio galaxy NGC 4261 at 22 and 43 GHz, and combine these with previous VLBA observations at 1.6 and 8.4 GHz to map absorption caused by an inner accretion disk. Assuming the disk is geometrically and optically thin and composed of a uniform 104 K plasma, the average electron density in the inner 0.1 pc is 103 - 108 cm-3. Equating thermal gas pressure and magnetic field strength gives a disk magnetic field of 10-4 - 10-2 Gauss at 0.1 pc. The jet opening angle is between 0.3 and 20 degrees during the first 0.2 pc of the jet, and must be less than 5 degrees during the first 0.8 pc. We include an appendix containing expressions for a simple, optically thin, gas pressure dominated accretion disk model which may be applicable to other galaxies in addition to NGC 4261.
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