Publication | Closed Access
Relativistic jets as compact radio sources
1.9K
Citations
0
References
1979
Year
Variable radio emission from active galactic nuclei and quasars is suggested to originate within collimated relativistic jets that supply extended radio sources with mass, momentum, and energy and are directly observed in several cases. The study proposes general observational tests to examine this jet hypothesis. An idealized model of steady jet radio emission is presented, linking variable emission to shock waves propagating in the jet and analyzing the dynamical and radiative properties of accelerated clouds and velocity disturbances that steepen into shocks. Several observed features of compact radio sources are interpreted as relativistic jets viewed at small angles to their axes. Published in The Astrophysical Journal, August 1979, DOI 10.1086/157262.
view Abstract Citations (1990) References (57) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Relativistic jets as compact radio sources. Blandford, R. D. ; Königl, A. Abstract It is suggested that the variable radio emission from active galactic nuclei and quasars originates within a collimated relativistic jet of the type that has been inferred to supply extended radio sources with mass, momentum, and energy and is directly observed in several cases. An idealized description of the steady radio emission from a relativistic jet is presented, the variable component of the emission is associated with shock waves traveling in the jet, and the dynamical and radiative properties of accelerated clouds and of velocity disturbances that steepen to form propagating shocks are examined. It is shown that several observed features of compact radio sources can be interpreted on the assumption that these sources are relativistic jets viewed at small angles to their axes. Some general observational tests are proposed. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: August 1979 DOI: 10.1086/157262 Bibcode: 1979ApJ...232...34B Keywords: Bl Lacertae Objects; Galactic Nuclei; Quasars; Radio Emission; Radio Sources (Astronomy); Relativistic Electron Beams; Active Galactic Nuclei; Brightness Temperature; Cloud Cover; Dynamic Characteristics; Particle Acceleration; Radio Galaxies; Shock Waves; Traveling Waves; Velocity Distribution; Astrophysics; Galactic Nuclei:Radio Sources; Jets:Radio Sources; Radio Sources:Models; Radio Sources:Variations full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (3)