9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 9705 Version: 4 Check-in Date: 21-Nov-2002 14:19:43 1.Proposal Title: M87 Jet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO/DD 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: Eric Perlman University of Maryland Baltimore County CoI: Daniel Harris Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory N CoI: William Sparks Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: William Junor Los Alamos National Laboratory N CoI: John A. Biretta Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Andrew Wilson University of Maryland N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract As the nearest galaxy with an optical jet, M87 affords an unparallelled opportunity to study extragalactic jet phenomena at the highest resolution. Monitoring of the jet of M87 by Chandra and HST has detected massive variability in one knot of M87's jet. During March-July 2002, knot HST-1 brightened by a factor of 2 in both X-rays and optical. Following those observations, M87 became unobservable, as in August- October the Sun approaches to within 5 degrees. Chandra monitoring resumes in November; however, there are no HST observations of M87 scheduled until May 2003. We therefore request five HST observations during the period November 2002-April 2003, scheduled to correspond with the Chandra observations. Based on its track record of X-ray variability in the last year, and optical variability and superluminal motion (speeds of 6c) since 1994, we expect continued variability, with comparable timescales. The proposed observations will monitor the optical morphology, spectrum and magnetic field configuration of the jet, and allow us to model the mechanisms responsible for this variability, the first seen in a spatially resolved jet. The results of this investigation are of key importance not only for understanding the nature of the X-ray emission of the M87 and its relationship to the lower energy, radio-optical continuum, but also for understanding flares in blazar jets, which are highly variable but where we have never before been able to resolve the flaring region in the optical or X-rays. Given the SED observed in M87, the flare emission is probably synchrotron radiation from a fresh particle injection threshold. Not only will these observations allow us to check this hypothesis, they will allow us to constrain the particle acceleration and loss timescales as well as the jet dynamics (which produce and affect the magnetic field configuration) associated with this flaring component. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ We propose to obtain observations of M87 at five epochs during the period November 2002-March 2003. At each epoch, we will obtain one orbit, during which we will obtain observations in three bands: STIS/NUV-MAMA+F25QTZ, and ACS-HRC + F475W and F814W. The STIS exposure duplicates the band in the ongoing program of Biretta et al. to monitor superluminal motion in the jet of M87. Our long experience with WFPC, FOC and STIS monitoring of M87 (Perlman et al. 2001a, Biretta et al. 1999, Sparks et al. 1996) as well as simulations with the ACS and STIS ETCs and schedulability calculations in RPS2, shows that we can achieve S/N$>10$ in all relevant regions of the jet with the following exposure times: 1175 sec in STIS/NUV-MAMA+F25QTZ, 100 sec in ACS-HRC + F475W and 50 sec in ACS-HRC + F814W. These observations will allow us to monitor the optical morphology and spectrum of the M87 jet. The remaining two bands will allow us to measure the spectral index of the components in the jet, which will help us understand both the particle energy distribution in the flaring component as well as the relationship of particle acceleration and cooling timescales in the event of a second flaring event. If indeed HST-1 is similar in nature to flaring regions in blazar jets, we expect the spectral indices in the optical, optical-X-ray and X-ray to evolve in accordance with the acceleration and loss timescales in each band - which are directly related to the magnetic field strength, particle density and spectrum, and other parameters (see e.g., the simulations by Kirk, Rieger \& Mastichiadis 1998). The schedule for these observations would be coordinated with the Chandra observations. The resulting sampling will be approximately once every five weeks. We also plan to obtain polarimetric observations of M87 at one epoch during this time frame (it does not matter which). Polarimetry of M87 has not been done since the 1995 observations published by Perlman et al. (1999) and even though those observations showed characteristics typical of a shock for knot HST-1, they are seven years old and thus perhaps less germane to the current events. Our experience with WFPC-2 establishes that one orbit will suffice for this observation, split in three (one CR-SPLIT dataset per POL filter). For each of these observations we will employ standard IRAF packages. The galaxy will need to be subtracted from each prior to extracting the jet emission, but again, experience has shown us that the proposed integration times will suffice. Real Time Justification ----------------------- These observations will allow us to monitor the optical morphology and spectrum of the M87 jet. In order to get useful information out of these observations they need to be coordinated with the Chandra observations. The current schedule for Chandra observations is as follows (rough dates): 15 November, 23 December, 30 January, 9 March, 15 April, subject to at most a +/- 10 day slop. The windows for epochs 1-5 have been chosen so that the HST observations occur within +/- 1 week of the Chandra observations. There is no scheduling restriction on epoch 6. We understand this is a fairly specific schedule. We have therefore specified SCHED 90 which still allows observation on any day where M87 is not too close to the Sun but does exclude those orbits for which observability is shortest, in order to get better s/n in the UV. Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 3] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 4] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 M87JET GALAXY, JET, RADIO RA=12H 30M 48.9346S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 12 GALAXY, GALAXY, NUCLEUS DEC=12D 23' 32.147" +/- 0.1", PLATE-ID=00IY Coordinate Source: HST_IMAGE Comments: Pointing center at knot F. 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 5] Patterns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pattern_Number: 1 Primary_Pattern Secondary_Pattern Pattern_Type ACS-HRC-DITHER-LINE Pattern_Purpose DITHER Number_Of_Points 2 Point_Spacing 1.8896 Coordinate_Frame POS-TARG Pattern_Orient 7.53 Center_Pattern NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 6] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: SCHED 90% BEFORE 01-Dec-2002 ORIENT 275D TO 315D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: needs to be as soon as possible to match Chandra observations during week of November 11 Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F220W 1 710 S PATTERN 1 10-30 C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F475W 1 76 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F814W 1 50 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 7] Visit: 02 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: SCHED 90% ORIENT 275D TO 315D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Needs to be within 1 week of Chandra observation, scheduled for week of 23 December. Date will be further refined once Chandra schedule is known. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F220W 1 710 S PATTERN 1 10-30 C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F475W 1 76 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F814W 1 50 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 8] Visit: 03 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: SCHED 90% ORIENT 213D TO 267D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Needs to be within a week of Chandra observation scheduled for week of 30 January. Date will be refined once Chandra schedule is known. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F220W 1 710 S PATTERN 1 10-30 C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F475W 1 76 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F814W 1 50 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 9] Visit: 04 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: SCHED 90% ORIENT 220D TO 260D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Observation needs to be within a week of Chandra observation scheduled for week of 9 March. Date will be refined when Chandra schedule is known. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F220W 1 710 S PATTERN 1 10-30 C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F475W 1 76 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F814W 1 50 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 10] Visit: 05 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: SCHED 90% ORIENT 130D TO 170D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Observation needs to be within a week of Chandra observation scheduled for week of April 15. Date will be refined when Chandra schedule is known. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F220W 1 710 S PATTERN 1 10-30 C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F475W 1 76 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F814W 1 50 S C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 11] Visit: 06 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: SCHED 90% BEFORE 15-Dec-2002 ORIENT 275D TO 315D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Needs to be by 15 December to catch polarized structure of jet during flare. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F606W, 1 286 S PATTERN 1 10-30 C POL0V ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F606W, 1 286 S C POL60V ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 M87JET ACS/HR ACCUM HRC F606W, 1 286 S C POL120V ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9705( 4) - 11/21/02 14:20 - [ 12] Summary Form for Proposal 9705 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures HRC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations ACS/HRC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO/DD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements SCHED 90% BEFORE 01-Dec-2002 ORIENT 275D TO 315D PATTERN 1 10-30 SCHED 90% ORIENT 275D TO 315D SCHED 90% ORIENT 213D TO 267D SCHED 90% ORIENT 220D TO 260D SCHED 90% ORIENT 130D TO 170D SCHED 90% BEFORE 15-Dec-2002 ORIENT 275D TO 315D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F220W F475W F814W F606W,POL0V F606W,POL60V F606W,POL120V ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names M87JET ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------