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arXiv · astro-ph/0211338

Role of Reconnection in AGN Jets

Maxim Lyutikov
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Abstract

We discuss the possible role of reconnection in electro-magnetically dominated cores of relativistic AGN jets. We suggest that reconnection may proceed in a two-fold fashion: initial explosive collapse on the Alfven time-scale of a current-carrying jet (which is of the order of the light crossing time) and subsequent slow quasi-steady reconnection. Sites of explosive collapse are associated with bright knots, while steady-state reconnection re-energizes particles in the ``bridges'' between the knots. Ohmic dissipation in reconnection layers leads to particle acceleration either by inductive electric fields or by stochastic particle acceleration in the ensuing electro-magnetic turbulence.

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Maxim Lyutikov. 2002-11-14. Role of Reconnection in AGN Jets. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1387-6473(03)00083-6

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