| A new mechanism for particle acceleration in AGN jets |
| Jonathan Zrake, Columbia University |
| Event Type: CCPP Brown Bag |
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| Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM |
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| Location: 726 Broadway, 940, CCPP Seminar |
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| Abstract: I will discuss a recently discovered mechanism for the acceleration of relativistic particles in astrophysical outflows. New computer simulations reveal that the "internal helical kink instability", to which astrophysical jets are susceptible, is a fast and efficient accelerator of non-thermal particles. The acceleration process itself is interesting from the perspective of basic plasma physics. It also makes definite predictions regarding the spectrum and morphology of synchrotron radiation from the host systems. A key feature is that ions are expected to be energized to the system's confinement energy, increasing the favorability of jets from active galactic nuclei as the accelerators of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. |