Effect of Aberration on the Estimated Parameters of Relativistic Radio Jets

Abstract

The influence of aberration on the observational parameters of radio jets and estimates of their physical properties is studied. Aberration distorts the apparent shapes of radio sources. Two identical relativistic jets (whose spectra have maxima) moving approximately along the line of sight could be observed as a compact GPS radio source (jet) and an extended source with a power-law spectrum (counterjet). The apparent flux densities, shapes, and spectra of relativistic radio jets are distorted even when the jets lie in the plane of the sky (across the line of sight). Exact formulas are derived for the estimated physical parameters of relativistic radio jets, taking into account aberration.