Large-scale extragalactic jets powered by very-high-energy gamma rays
Neronov, A.; Semikoz, D.; Aharonian, F.; Kalashev, O.
Physical Review Letters 89(5): 051101
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-9007 PMID: 12144432 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.89.051101
Accession: 046522877
The radiative cooling of electrons responsible for the nonthermal synchrotron emission of large-scale jets of radiogalaxies and quasars requires quasicontinuous (in time and space) production of relativistic electrons throughout the jets over the scales exceeding 100 kpc. While in the standard paradigm of large-scale jets this implies in situ acceleration of electrons, we propose a different "nonacceleration" origin of these electrons, assuming that they are implemented all over the length of the jet through effective development of electromagnetic cascades initiated by extremely high-energy gamma rays injected into the jet from the central object.