Structure of the X-Ray Emission from the Jet of 3C 273

We present images from five observations of the quasar 3C 273 with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The jet has at least four distinct features that are not resolved in previous observations. The first knot in the jet (A1) is very bright in X-rays. Its X-ray spectrum is well fitted with a power law with α = 0.60 ± 0.05 (where S_ν ∝ ν^-α). Combining this measurement with lower frequency data shows that a pure synchrotron model can fit the spectrum of this knot from 1.647 GHz to 5 keV (over nine decades in energy) with α = 0.76 ± 0.02, similar to the X-ray spectral slope. Thus, we place a lower limit on the total power radiated by this knot of 1.5 × 10⁴³ ergs s^-1; substantially more power may be emitted in the hard X-ray and γ-ray bands. Knot A2 is also detected and is somewhat blended with knot B1. Synchrotron emission may also explain the X-ray emission, but a spectral bend is required near the optical band. For knots A1 and B1, the X-ray flux dominates the emitted energy. For the remaining optical knots (C through H), localized X-ray enhancements that might correspond to the optical features are not clearly resolved. The position angle of the jet ridge line follows the optical shape with distinct, aperiodic excursions of ±1° from a median value of -1380. Finally, we find X-ray emission from the "inner jet" between 5'' and 10'' from the core.