7.2.3 Outer region (3.5 to 12 kpc)

In this region, the jets continue to expand on a cone of intrinsic half-angle 13.1$^\circ$.

1. The jets decelerate less rapidly, reaching an on-axis velocity of 0.26$c$ by 10 kpc.
2. The intrinsic emissivity in the shear layer declines more slowly ( $\propto z^{-1.4}$) with distance from the nucleus.
3. The transverse velocity and emissivity profiles remain essentially unchanged from those in the flaring region.
4. The ratio of radial to toroidal magnetic field strength decreases, becoming <20% throughout the jet by 10 kpc.
5. The ratio of longitudinal to toroidal magnetic field in the shear layer continues to decrease, from 0.8 to 0.5 by 10 kpc.

Although the emissivity fall-off is much closer to that predicted by a perpendicular-field, laminar adiabatic model, more work is needed to test this idea for realistic field and particle distributions.

Beyond the end of the outer region, intrinsic environmental asymmetries begin to dominate, as evidenced by the large-scale bending of both jets.

2002-06-13