2002ApJ...566L...9Z

Parsec-scale Faraday rotation measure (RM) maps are presented for the radio galaxies M87, 3C 111, and 3C 120. These Very Long Baseline Array observations were made at 8, 12, and 15 GHz. M87 has an extreme RM distribution that varies from -4000 rad.m^–2 to more than 9000 rad.m^–2 across a projected distance of 0.3 pc in its jet. M87 has no polarized flux closer than 17 mas from the core. 3C 111 and 3C 120 both show polarized emission in their cores that is consistent with the expectations of unified schemes for these broad-line radio galaxies. 3C 111 has an RM gradient that increases from ~-200 rad.m^–2 4 mas from the core to ~-750 rad.m^–2 on the side of the jet closest to the core. 3C 120 has a more moderate RM distribution in the jet of approximately 100 rad.m^–2, but this increases by an order of magnitude in the core.