8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 8780 Version: 6 Check-in Date: 30-May-2001 20:33:56 1.Proposal Title: Secular Changes in the Jet of M87 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: John Biretta Space Telescope Science Institute CoI: William Sparks Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Duccio Macchetto Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Eric Perlman Space Telescope Science Institute N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract As part of our ongoing investigation of the M87 jet, we have obtained unprecedented high resolution images of the jet using the FOC. These data show structures with a FWHM as small as 0.03", and provide a unique opportunity to study proper motions and structural changes of the jet. We will compare Cycle 7-9 FOC and WFPC2 images with Cycle 4-6 observations to track secular changes and motions in the jet and nucleus. Typical speeds found with VLA observations range from 0.5c to 3c, while our Cycle 4- 6 data already show speeds between 2c and 5c for many components. Since the optical emission is more concentrated near the jet axis than the radio emission, the optical data will give velocity information on a different physical volume closer to the jet axis, and show whether there are strong velocity gradients across and within the jet. Secular changes in luminosity and polarization are also likely as the knots move, which will provide information on the evolution of the electron energy distribution and magnetic fields. We propose polarization measurements to map the magnetic field structure and its evolution in the first few pc of the jet near the ``central engine.'' We were awarded Cycle 5 & 6 time to carry out observations as the foundation of an annual monitoring program, and received a provisional award of time in Cycle 7; herein we request continuation of this program. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ FOC: Images of the jet using 3 pointings (nucleus + knots D&E; knots E, F, I; and knots I, A, B, C) in the 512x512 format with the F342W filter. At the bright nucleus exposures are also made utilizing F2ND and F4ND. Polarization sensitive images (+POL0, +POL60, +POL120) will be taken for the nucleus and knot A regions. The ``face-on" COSTAR reflections do not hinder polarization measurements, especially if polarization levels are as high as here, tens of percent. The feasibility is also demonstrated by our published results on Seyfert galaxies (Capetti, et al., Ap.J. 446, 155, 1995). WFPC2: Images of the nucleus and jet with the PC through F814W filter. The proper motions measured by the VLA would easily be detected by the F342W FOC observations. For example, VLA results for a bright feature in knot D, which is 3" from the nucleus, show speeds up to 3c or 0.012" per year. The F342W image contains about 10000 counts in this region which has a scale size ~0.1". From signal-to-noise considerations a velocity accuracy of about (0.1")(square)rt(2)/(square)rt(10000)/3 = 0.0015" per year would be obtained between just the Cycle 4 and 5 observations, giving a velocity accuracy of ~0.3c for this feature in just one year. For Knot A the velocity accuracy would be about ten times better, due to larger total counts while the sharp ``edge" of knot A has a similar thickness ~0.1", and even finer internal structures. Alignment of images from different epochs will be aided by stars and globular clusters which are readily visible in the Cycle 4 FOC images (in contrast to the pre-COSTAR images where these features are invisible). The F814W WFPC2 observations will give spectral information and provide an independent motion measurement. Systematic uncertainties due to distortion will be largely eliminated by placing the jet on the same detector area for all epochs. We propose to extend these observations to future cycles in order to provide a longer time baseline for velocity measurements, and to monitor brightness changes in the jet. The essence of our proposal is monitoring. We have chosen a program which demonstrates optimal SNR for a given exposure time, in the blue with the FOC, and in the far-red with WFPC2, and uses the most straightforward imaging polarimetry. Therefore we propose to repeat this identical sequence in each of Cycles 7-9. We will use WFPC2 in parallel with the FOC to increase the sample of globular clusters already observed (see results in G0-5477 below, also Elson and Santiago 1995). Real Time Justification ----------------------- None. None that impact HST scheduling. Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 M87-NUC GALAXY, RADIO GALAXY, RA = 12H 30M 49.386S +/- 0.01S, 2000 Z = V = 16.7 NUCLEUS, JET DEC = 12D 23' 27.812" +/- 0.01", 0.0043 PLATE-ID=00IY Coordinate Source: GUIDE_STAR_CATALOG 8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D BETWEEN 1-APR-2001 AND 1-APR-2002 SCHED 100% On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 201 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -7.00,+7.00 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 202 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -6.496,+6.748 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 203 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -6.244,+6.244 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 204 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -6.748,+6.496; UV-MAM EXPAND; END ORBIT A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 5] Visit: 02 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D BETWEEN 1-APR-2001 AND 1-APR-2002 On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: WFPC2 M87-NUC; THIS VISIT REQUIRES 2 ORBITS Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 500 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F450W CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.1 1 320 S POS TARG +7.0,+7.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 510 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F814W 3 160 S SAME POS AS 500 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 520 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.1 1 320 S SAME POS AS 500 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 530 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F300W CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.1 1 400 S SAME POS AS 500; MIN DUR; MAX DUR 200% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 6] Visit: 51 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D BEFORE 01-SEP-2001 SCHED 100% On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 201 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -7.00,+7.00 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 202 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -6.496,+6.748 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 203 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -6.244,+6.244 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 204 M87-NUC STIS/N ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 600 S POS TARG -6.748,+6.496; UV-MAM EXPAND; END ORBIT A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 7] Visit: 52 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D GROUP 1, 52 WITHIN 30D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: WFPC2 M87-NUC; THIS VISIT REQUIRES 2 ORBITS. HOPR REPEAT FOR VISIT 02. NEEDS TO BE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF STIS OBSERVATIONS IN VISIT 01 WHICH IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR 15-MAY-2001, SO WFPC2 HOPR REPEAT SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE 15-JUN-2001. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 500 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F450W CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.1 1 320 S POS TARG +7.0,+7.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 510 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F814W 3 160 S SAME POS AS 500 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 520 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F606W CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.1 1 320 S SAME POS AS 500 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 530 M87-NUC WFPC2 IMAGE PC1-FIX F300W CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.1 1 400 S SAME POS AS 500; MIN DUR; MAX DUR 200% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8780( 6) - 05/30/01 20:34 - [ 8] Summary Form for Proposal 8780 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures F25QTZ PC1-FIX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/NUV-MAMA WFPC2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM IMAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=0.5 CR-TOLERANCE=0.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D BETWEEN 1-APR-2001 AND 1-APR-2002 SCHED 100% POS TARG -7.00,+7.00 POS TARG -6.496,+6.748 POS TARG -6.244,+6.244 POS TARG -6.748,+6.496; EXPAND; END ORBIT PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D BETWEEN 1-APR-2001 AND 1-APR-2002 POS TARG +7.0,+7.0 SAME POS AS 500 SAME POS AS 500; MIN DUR; MAX DUR 200% PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D BEFORE 01-SEP-2001 SCHED 100% PCS MODE Fine ORIENTation 100D TO 120D GROUP 1, 52 WITHIN 30D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR F450W F814W F606W F300W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names M87-NUC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------