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The collective emission of electromagnetic waves from astrophysical jets - Luminosity gaps, BL Lacertae objects, and efficient energy transportA model of the inner portions of astrophysical jets is constructed in which a relativistic electron beam is injected from the central engine into the jet plasma. This beam drives electrostatic plasma wave turbulence, which leads to the collective emission of electromagnetic waves. The emitted waves are beamed in the direction of the jet axis, so that end-on viewing of the jet yields an extremely bright source (BL Lacertae object). The relativistic electron beam may also drive long-wavelength electromagnetic plasma instabilities (firehose and Kelvin-Helmholtz) that jumble the jet magnetic field lines. After a sufficient distance from the core source, these instabilities will cause the beamed emission to point in random directions and the jet emission can then be observed from any direction relative to the jet axis. This combination of effects may lead to the gap turn-on of astrophysical jets. The collective emission model leads to different estimates for energy transport and the interpretation of radio spectra than the conventional incoherent synchrotron theory.
Document ID
19880041539
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Baker, D. N.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM, United States)
Borovsky, Joseph E.
(Los Alamos National Laboratory NM, United States)
Benford, Gregory
(California, University Irvine, United States)
Eilek, Jean A.
(New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 326
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
88A28766
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-634
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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