SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Relativistic jets”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2003

Tracking the moving photocenters of active galaxies: binary black holes, accretion disks, and relativistic jets

SIM Science Team Meeting #10 December 16-18, 2003 Pasadena, California, USA.

active galaxies↗

NASA NTRS1992

Kinematics of the parsec-scale relativistic jet in 3C 345

The paper presents two 5 GHz most recently obtained VLBI images of the nucleus of the quasar 3C 345 (being observed since 1977), which were obtained in 1989 and 1990 with 4 pc resolution. The images show a variety of morphological features in the jet, which can help to understand the dynamics of the central energy source and the transport of energy along the jet. Also presented are the analysis of the images, temporal variations, and the jet profile. The jet speed and the orientation of 3C 345 were determined from various observational constraints, within the framework of the relativistic twin-jet model.

Unwin, Stephen C.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Kink-driven magnetic reconnection in relativistic jets: consequences for X-ray polarimetry of BL Lacs

ABSTRACT We investigate with relativistic MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) simulations the dissipation physics of BL Lac jets, by studying the synchrotron polarization signatures of particles accelerated by the kink instability in a magnetically dominated plasma column. The non-linear stage of the kink instability generates current sheets, where particles can be efficiently accelerated via magnetic reconnection. We identify current sheets as regions where s = Jδ/B is above some predefined threshold (where B is the field strength, J is the current density, and δ is the grid scale), and assume that the particle injection efficiency scales as ∝J2. X-ray emitting particles have short cooling times, so they only probe the field geometry of their injection sites. In contrast, particles emitting in the optical band, which we follow self-consistently as they propagate away from their injection sites while cooling, sample a larger volume, and so they may be expected to produce different polarimetric signatures. We find that the degree of polarization is roughly the same between X-ray and optical bands, because even the optical emitting particles do not travel far from the current sheet where they were injected, due to lack of sufficient kink-generated turbulence. The polarization angle shows a different temporal evolution between the two bands, due to the different regions probed by X-ray and optical emitting particles. In view of the upcoming IXPE satellite, our results can help constrain whether kink-induced reconnection (as opposed to shocks) can be the source of multiwavelength emission from BL Lacs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1992

Electromagnetically driven relativistic jets - A class of self-similar solutions

A class of self-similar solutions for relativistic winds driven by rotating magnetic fields is constructed. These winds are collimated to cylindrical jet flows of finite radii and may attain supermagnetosonic speeds with high Lorentz factors. Most of the flow acceleration results from the 'magnetic nozzle' effect and occurs beyond the fast magnetosonic point, which is typically located a few light cylinder radii from the rotation axis. Approximate equipartition between the electromagnetic and flow kinetic energies is generally achieved for these jets, in contrast to the radial wind case in which the flow is magnetically dominated at all radii.

Li, Zhi-Yun↗

NASA NTRS2003

The Formation of Relativistic Jets from Kerr Black Holes

We have performed the first fully three-dimensional general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) simulation for Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes with a free falling corona and thin accretion disk. The initial simulation results with a Schwarzschild metric show that a jet is created as in the previous axisymmetric simulations with mirror symmetry at the equator. However, the time to form the jet is slightly longer than in the 2-D axisymmetric simulation. We expect that the dynamics of jet formation are modified due to the additional freedom in the azimuth dimension without axisymmetry with respect to the Z axis and reflection symmetry respect to the equatorial plane. The jet which is initially formed due to the twisted magnetic fields and shocks becomes a wind at the later time. The wind flows out with a much wider angle than the initial jet. The twisted magnetic fields at the earlier time were untwisted and less pinched. The accretion disk became thicker than the initial condition. Further simulations with initial perturbations will provide insights for accretion dynamics with instabilities such as magneto-rotational instability (MRI) and accretion-eject instability (AEI). These instabilities may contribute to variabilities observed in microquasars and AGN jets.

Nishikawa, K.-I.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Electromagnetically driven relativistic jets - A class of self-consistent numerical solutions

We explore the generalized Grad-Shafranov (GS) equation (Lovelace et al. 1986), which describes the cross-field balance of the magnetic flux surfaces in a stationary, axisymmetric, cold relativistic MHD wind. We construct a family of self-consistent, jet-type, non-self-similar solutions in which flux surfaces thread the equatorial plane vertically and are eventually collimated into nested cylinders. These solutions conserve the total energy and angular momentum along each flux surface and satisfy the relativistic GS equation in the cross-field direction. We find that the total specific energy in the flow depends primarily on a dimensionless combination of the poloidal magnetic flux, the rotation, and the mass loading rate, which reduces to Michel's (1969) magnetization parameter for radial winds. The final width of the flow and its ratio of kinetic energy flux to Poynting flux depend sensitively on the pressure distribution of the ambient medium, which is required to contain the jet at its outer edge when no jet-confirming external toroidal magnetic field is present. Furthermore, we show that the magnetic pressure in the flow can be much higher near the axis than close to the edge, reflecting the 'pinching' effect of the toroidal magnetic field.

Li, Zhi-Yun↗

NASA NTRS1994

Magnetically driven relativistic jets and winds: Exact solutions

We present self-consistent solutions of the full set of ideal MHD equations which describe steady-state relativistic cold outflows from thin accretion disks. The magnetic field forms a spiral which is anchored in the disk, rotates with it, and accelerates the flow out of the disk plane. The collimation at large distances depends on the total amount of electric current that flows along the jet. We considered various distributions of electric current and derived the result that in straight jets which extend to infinite distances, a strong electric current flows along their axis of symmetry. The asymptotic flow velocities are of the order of the initial rotational velocity at the base of the flow (a few tenths of the speed of light). The solutions are applied to both galactic (small-scale) and extragalactic (large-scale) jets.

Contopoulos, J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Relativistic jet meets target - The gamma-rays from 3C 273

Gamma-rays dominate the emission from quasar 3C 273, although they cannot arise in its active center. Their origin is ascribed to a relativistic beam which entrains and clumps ambient cluster gas. Secondary electrons from nuclear collisions lead to bremsstrahlung gamma-rays and ultimately to a double radio source. This model requires a great deal of clumping of jet and target matter to get sufficient reactions to occur. The clumping required is consistent with the Liouville theorem, given the high collimation of the beam, which suggests that the process, however unexpected, is at least thermodynamically permitted. The present model is experimentally distinguishable from other models through its location of the X-ray source in the extended optical jet region, and through a number of detailed spectral features.

Morrison, P.↗

NASA NTRS1998

X-Ray Spectral Behavior of the Relativistic Jet Source Cygnus X-3

Cyg X-3 is an unusual X-ray binary which shows remarkable correlative behavior between the hard X-ray, soft X-ray, and the radio. We present an analysis of these long term light curves in the context of spectral changes of the system. This analysis will also incorporate a set of pointed RXTE observations made during a period when Cyg X-3 made a transition from a quiescent radio state to a flaring state (including a major flare) and then returned to a quiescent radio state.

McCollough, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Connection Between X-Ray Emission and Relativistic Jets in the Radio Galaxies 3C 111 and 3C 120

This work represents a part of a longterm study of the X-ray flux variability in radio galaxies and its relation to flux and structural changes in the associated radio jet. The work described here included: 1) continued study of the emission properties of the FR I radio galaxy 3C 120 known to exhibit a jet/disk connection from our past work; and 2) the commencement of monitoring of a second radio galaxy, the FR I1 object 3C 111 which was selected because of similar radio and X-ray properties to 3C 120, including the presence of Fe K a emission. The association between X-ray dips and new superluminal components, suggesting a picture in which the radio jet is fed by accretion events near the black hole, was identified in 3C 120 using combined RXTE and radio flux monitoring data and bi-monthly to monthly imaging data from the VLBA at 43 GHz. Such data were also obtained for both targets during the period described here. Specific goals were to more broadly investigate the X-ray dip/superluminal connection in 3C 120, thereby determining the epochs of X-ray minima and superluminal ejections more accurately (and hence more precisely determining the distance between the accretion disk and the core of the radio jet), and to determine whether a similar pattern is present in the data for a second radio galaxy. In 3C 111 a different time scale (longer time delays between X-ray dips and superluminal ejections) was expected due to the higher black hole mass implied by its higher radio luminosity: no black hole mass is published for this object but one can be determined from a PDS analysis of the RXTE data. The addition of the second source to the study would identify whether a similar connection was present in other sources and, if found, would provide important information on how time scale (and hence size scale) of accretion disk/jet systems depends on black hole mass. The grant included funding for the reduction and analysis of data obtained during the time period of Rossi XTE cycle 9. During this time window, the project was awarded 2 RXTE pointings weekly for 3C 111 and 4 pointing weekly for 3C 120, excluding time when the target was too close to the sun for observation. T

Aller, Margo F.↗

NASA NTRS2002