Contents

• Introduction
  • Quasars
  • Polarization studies
  • Unification of Quasars and RGs
  • Giant Quasar 4C34.47
  • Research Goals
  
  
• VLA and AIPS
• Observations
• Methodology of Reduction
  • Calibration
  • Imaging
  • Combining Images
  
  
• Summary of Results
  • High Quality Multi-Resolution Combined Maps
  • Spectral Index of 4C34.47
  • Polarization of 4C34.47
  
  
• Depolarizing Medium
• Properties of the Radio Jet
• Concluding Summary
• Bibliography
• List of Tables
• List of Figures

Preface

Begin June 2005, I was searching for a project and a supervisor for my Grootonderzoek, my graduation project. After some looking and asking around, I had a nice chat with professor Peter Barthel and he proposed me a very interesting project.

In the mid 1980's, using VLA data, originally taken by Barthel and colleagues, the radio morphology of the giant Quasar 4C34.47 - then the largest known - was investigated. This Quasar was used as, and still is, a prime test case for the unification scheme of Radio Galaxies and Quasars developed by Barthel and others (Bridle, Garrington and Laing to name a few) in 1988/1989. The imaging data, taken with three different array configurations at two observing frequencies, represent one of the best available data sets on the large scale morphology of a typical double-lobed radio-loud quasi stellar object (QSO). Whereas initial radio images where made, the project was never properly finished.

I jumped at this opportunity and on June 17th of that year, I commenced my Grootonderzoek. Co-adding the datasets, complete analysis and making the ultimate multi-resolution images is the first aim of the project. The implications of the final results constitutes the second part. The analysis focuses on the jet and lobe properties of the Quasar, addressing issues such as jet structure, confinement, orientation, lobe structure and polarization.

In the chapters after the introduction I will explain the methodology used to get the high quality dual-frequency image maps and the combined multi-resolution images. Continuing from this, I analyse the jet structure and polarization properties of the Quasar. I finish my thesis by trying to prove the small angle of 4C34.47 to our line of sight and to see the so-called Laing-Garrington effect, coupled with the ability to say something about the Halo and the foreground of this Quasar amongst other things.