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Title: DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR SHOCK ACCELERATION IN MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICAL JETS

Abstract

Observations of relativistic jets from black hole systems suggest that particle acceleration often occurs at fixed locations within the flow. These sites could be associated with critical points that allow the formation of standing shock regions, such as the magnetosonic modified fast point (MFP). Using the self-similar formulation of special relativistic magnetohydrodynamics by Vlahakis and Koenigl, we derive a new class of flow solutions that are both relativistic and cross the MFP at a finite height. Our solutions span a range of Lorentz factors up to at least 10, appropriate for most jets in X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei, and a range in injected particle internal energy. A broad range of solutions exists, which will allow the eventual matching of these scale-free models to physical boundary conditions in the analysis of observed sources.

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Astronomical Institute 'Anton Pannekoek', University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94249, 1090 GE Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21471259
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 723; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/723/2/1343; Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; BLACK HOLES; BOUNDARY CONDITIONS; GALAXY NUCLEI; JETS; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; RELATIVISTIC RANGE; X RADIATION; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ENERGY RANGE; FLUID MECHANICS; HYDRODYNAMICS; IONIZING RADIATIONS; MECHANICS; RADIATIONS

Citation Formats

Polko, Peter, Markoff, Sera, and Meier, David L., E-mail: P.Polko@uva.n. DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR SHOCK ACCELERATION IN MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICAL JETS. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/723/2/1343.
Polko, Peter, Markoff, Sera, & Meier, David L., E-mail: P.Polko@uva.n. DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR SHOCK ACCELERATION IN MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICAL JETS. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/723/2/1343
Polko, Peter, Markoff, Sera, and Meier, David L., E-mail: P.Polko@uva.n. 2010. "DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR SHOCK ACCELERATION IN MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICAL JETS". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/723/2/1343.
@article{osti_21471259,
title = {DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR SHOCK ACCELERATION IN MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICAL JETS},
author = {Polko, Peter and Markoff, Sera and Meier, David L., E-mail: P.Polko@uva.n},
abstractNote = {Observations of relativistic jets from black hole systems suggest that particle acceleration often occurs at fixed locations within the flow. These sites could be associated with critical points that allow the formation of standing shock regions, such as the magnetosonic modified fast point (MFP). Using the self-similar formulation of special relativistic magnetohydrodynamics by Vlahakis and Koenigl, we derive a new class of flow solutions that are both relativistic and cross the MFP at a finite height. Our solutions span a range of Lorentz factors up to at least 10, appropriate for most jets in X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei, and a range in injected particle internal energy. A broad range of solutions exists, which will allow the eventual matching of these scale-free models to physical boundary conditions in the analysis of observed sources.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/723/2/1343},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21471259}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 2,
volume = 723,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Wed Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}