Science with an ngVLA: High-resolution Imaging of Radio Jets Launched by
  AGN
  Jetted plasma outflows from active galactic nuclei (AGN) represent the most
energetic phenomena in the known universe, and play a key role in regulating
galaxy formation through feedback processes. The JVLA and VLBA have played an
indispensable role in understanding the physics of these powerful jets and
their environments, via high angular resolution full polarization imaging and
astrometric studies. By bridging the current interferometric gap between the
JVLA and VLBA with intermediate baselines, the ngVLA offers exciting new
opportunities to explore the intermediate regions downstream of the high
Lorentz factor pc-scale AGN jets imaged by VLBI, where entrainment,
deceleration, collimation and particle acceleration all take place. The ability
to image exceedingly faint radio emission on scales of 10s to 100s of
milliarcseconds will lead to new breakthroughs in resolving some of the most
pressing questions regarding the formation, structure, and evolution of AGN
jets. These are in turn crucial for a more complete understanding of the
formation of supermassive black holes and galaxies in the early universe and
their subsequent evolution.
