Abstract:

The main driving mechanism of relativistic jets is likely related to magnetic fields. These fields are able to tap the rotational energy of the central compact object or disk, accelerate and collimate matter ejecta. To zeroth order these outflows can be described by the theory of steady, axisymmetric, ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Results from recent numerical simulations of magnetized jets, as well as analytical studies, show that the efficiency of the bulk acceleration could be more than ∼ 50 %. They also shed light to the degree of the collimation and how it is related to the pressure distribution of the environment, the apparent kinematics of jet components, and the observed polarization properties.

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