Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #3296


Particle Acceleration in Two 3CR Quasar Hotspots

Principal Investigator: Chi Cheung
           Institution: Brandeis University

Co-Investigators: 
John Wardle, Brandeis University                                      

Science Category: AGN/quasars/radio galaxies 
 Observing Modes: IracMap 
  Hours Approved: 2.3 

Abstract:
We propose Spitzer Space Telescope 4.5+8.0  micron IRAC imaging of the
high power hotspots in two powerful 3CR quasars.  Their faint optical
counterparts were recently detected by us with the Hubble Space
Telescope.  The optical, and proposed infrared data, will allow us to
measure the high energy slope of the hotspot synchrotron spectra.
Utilizing archival VLA and MERLIN data in the centimeter wavelength
range, these multi-wavelength observations give us adequate
constraints on the overall shape of the spectra, which will allow us
to test a simple prediction from particle acceleration theory.