The parsec-scale jet of PKS 1749+096
  PKS 1749+096 is a BL Lac object showing weak extended jet emission to the
northeast of the compact VLBI core on parsec scales. We aim at better
understanding the jet kinematics and variability of this source and finding
clues that may applicable to other BL Lac objects. The jet was studied with
multi-epoch multi-frequency high-resolution VLBI observations. The jet is
characterized by a one-sided curved morphology at all epochs and all
frequencies. The VLBI core, located at the southern end of the jet, was
identified based on its spectral properties. The equipartition magnetic field
of the core was investigated, through which we derived a Doppler factor of 5,
largely consistent with that derived from kinematics (component C5). The study
of the detailed jet kinematics at 22 and 15 GHz, spanning a period of more than
10 years, indicates the possible existence of a bimodal distribution of the jet
apparent speed. Ballistic and non-ballistic components are found to coexist in
the jet. Superluminal motions in the range of 5-21 c were measured in 11
distinct components. We estimated the physical jet parameters with the minimum
Lorentz factor of 10.2 and Doppler factors in the range of 10.2-20.4 (component
C5). The coincidence in time of the component's ejection and flares supports
the idea that, at least in PKS 1749+096, ejection of new jet components is
connected with major outbursts in flux density. For the best-traced component
(C5) we found that the flux density decays rapidly as it travels downstream the
jet, accompanied by a steepening of its spectra, which argues in favor of a
contribution of inverse Compton cooling. These properties make PKS 1749+096 a
suitable target for an intensive monitoring to decipher the variability
phenomenon of BL Lac objects.
