Stabilization and consequences of relativistic electron bumps in extragalactic radio sources

Lesch, Harald und Schlickeiser, Reinhard (1987): Stabilization and consequences of relativistic electron bumps in extragalactic radio sources. In: Astronomy & Astrophysics, Bd. 179: S. 93-100

Abstract

The relaxation of inverted relativistic electron distribution functions ("pile-up" distribution) in extragalactic radio sources due to kinetic plasma processes is considered. Validity, applicability and importance of quasi-linear theory, weak turbulence theory (nonlinear Landau damping) and strong turbulence theory (modulation instability) are examined. Theoretical results are applied to three astrophysical objects: (1) For the BL-Lac object AO 0235+164 the authors calculate a relaxation time of ≡10 weeks, remarkably close to the duration of the powerful outburst of this object in 1976. (2) In case of quasars it is shown that the broad emission line region is the best site to stabilize the pile-up distribution function. (3) In case of X-ray emitting clusters of galaxies it is demonstrated that the heating of the intracluster gas by relativistic electron streams, proposed by Scott et al. (1980), cannot operate in the whole cluster volume, because of the much shorter relaxation length (1021 instead of 1025cm) due to nonlinear interactions.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Keywords: Distribution Functions; Electron Density (Concentration); Extragalactic Radio Sources; High Energy Electrons; Magnetohydrodynamic Stability; Relativistic Electron Beams; Bl Lacertae Objects; Galactic Clusters; Landau Damping; Quasars; Astrophysics
• Fakultät: Physik
• Themengebiete: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 520 Astronomie ; 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 530 Physik
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746