A flow control method based on an active jet is developed to restart hypersonic inlets. The dynamic restarting process is numerically reproduced by unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes(RANS) modeling to verify the...A flow control method based on an active jet is developed to restart hypersonic inlets. The dynamic restarting process is numerically reproduced by unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes(RANS) modeling to verify the effectiveness and reveal the influence of jet conditions. The active jet improves the inlet unstart status by drawing the high-pressure separation bubble from the internal compression duct and performing a full expansion to alleviate the adverse pressure gradient. Moreover, the favorable pressure gradient in the inlet caused by jet expansion allows for a successful restart after turning off the jet. The influence of the jet momentum ratio is then analyzed to guide the design of the active jet control method and choose the proper momentum ratios. A low jet momentum does not eliminate the high-pressure separation bubble, whereas an excessive jet momentum causes severe momentum loss due to the induced shock. The general rule in restarting the inlet using an active jet is to allow a full jet expansion downstream of the jet slot while avoiding excessive momentum loss upstream and preventing the thick low-speed layer.展开更多
By modeling the broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of a typical flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ, 3C 279) and two GeV narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLSls, PMN J0948+0022 and 1H 0323+342) in diffe...By modeling the broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of a typical flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ, 3C 279) and two GeV narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLSls, PMN J0948+0022 and 1H 0323+342) in different flux stages with one-zone leptonic models, we find a universal correlation between their Doppler factors (δ) and peak luminosities (Lc) of external Compton scattering bumps. Compiling a combined sample of FSRQs and GeV NLSls, it is found that both FSRQs and GeV NLSls in different stages and in different sources follow the same δ-Lc correlation well. This indicates that the variations of observed luminosities may be essentially due to the Doppler boosting effect. The universal δ-Lo relation between FSRQs and GeV NLS 1 s in different stages may be further evidence that the particle acceleration and radiation mechanisms for the two kinds of sources are similar. In addition, by replacing Lc with the observed luminosity in the Fermi/LAT band (LLAT), this correlation holds and it may serve as an empirical indicator of δ. We estimate the δ values with LLAT for 484 FSRQs in the Fermi/LAT Catalog and they range from 3 to 41, with a median of 16, which are statistically consistent with the values derived by other methods.展开更多
We compile a sample of 11 Fanaroff-Riley type I Radio Galaxies (FR-I RGs) with multi-wavelength observations to address the dynamic behavior of jets in these objects. Optical images acquired by the Hubble Space Tele...We compile a sample of 11 Fanaroff-Riley type I Radio Galaxies (FR-I RGs) with multi-wavelength observations to address the dynamic behavior of jets in these objects. Optical images acquired by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) are carefully analyzed. The method and reduction procedure are described in detail. Unresolved optical cores emerge after having properly removed starlight from the host galaxies in eight of the FR-I RGs, of which five are new identifications. Broad band spectral properties of these newly identified compact cores are compared with that previously found in FR-I RGs, as well as the low-energy-peaked BL Lac objects. The similarity between them argues for the same non-thermal synchrotron origin. Well-resolved optical jets with knotty morphologies are found in three FR-I RGs in our sample, namely 3C 15, 3C 66B and B2 0755+37. The optical counterparts to the inner radio/X-ray jets are identified and a clear one-to-one correspondence between the optical, radio and X-ray knots is found. The structure and information on the optical jets are discussed. Physical parameters such as the knots position, flux and size are also presented. Detailed comparison between the multi-wavelength data and radiative and dynamic models of jet will be made in a forthcoming paper.展开更多
Near-Eddington accretion rates onto low-mass black holes are thought to be a prime driver of the multi-wavelength properties of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) population of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Orienta...Near-Eddington accretion rates onto low-mass black holes are thought to be a prime driver of the multi-wavelength properties of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) population of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Orientation effects have repeatedly been considered as another important factor involved, but detailed studies have been hampered by the lack of measured viewing angles towards this type of AGN. Here we present multi-epoch, 15 GHz VLBA images (MOJAVE program) of the radio-loud and Fermi/LAT- detected NLS 1 galaxy 1H 0323+342. These are combined with single-dish, multi-frequency radio monitoring of the source's variability, obtained with the Effelsberg 100-m and IRAM 30-m telescopes, in the course of the F-GAMMA program. The VLBA images reveal six components with apparent speeds of 1 - 7 c, and one quasi-stationary feature. Combining the obtained apparent jet speed (βapp) and variability Doppler factor (Dvar) estimates together with other methods, we constrain the viewing angle 0 towards 1H 0323+342 to 0 ≤ 4°-13°. Using literature values of βapp and Dvar, we also deduce a viewing angle of 〈8°-9° towards another radio- and γ-ray-loud NLS1, namely SBS 0846+513.展开更多
Scientists have long debated the relative importance of tropospheric photochemical production versus stratospheric influx as causes of the springtime tropospheric ozone maximum over northern mid-latitudes. This paper ...Scientists have long debated the relative importance of tropospheric photochemical production versus stratospheric influx as causes of the springtime tropospheric ozone maximum over northern mid-latitudes. This paper investigates whether or not stratospheric intrusion and photochemistry play a significant role in the springtime ozone maximum over Northeast Asia, where ozone measurements are sparse. We examine how tropospheric ozone seasonalities over Naha (26°N, 128°E), Kagoshima (31°N, 131°E), and Pohang (36°N, 129°E), which are located on the same meridional line, are related to the timing and location of the jet stream. The ozone seasonality shows a gradual increase from January to the maximum ozone month, which corresponds to April at Naha, May at Kagoshima, and June at Pohang. In order to examine the occurrence of stratospheric intrusion, we analyze a correlation between jet stream activity and tropospheric ozone seasonality. From these analyses, we did not find any favorable evidence supporting the hypothesis that the springtime enhancement may result from stratospheric intrusion. According to trajectory analysis for vertical and horizontal origins of the airmass, a gradual increasing tendency in ozone amounts from January until the onset of monsoon was similar to the increasing ozone formation tendency from winter to spring over China's Mainland, which has been observed during the build-up of tropospheric ozone over Central Europe in the winter-spring transition period due to photochemistry. Overall, the analyses suggest that photochemistry is the most important contributor to observed ozone seasonality over Northeast Asia.展开更多
Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have two major classes, namely radio loud AGNs and radio quiet AGNs. A small subset of the radio-loud AGNs is called blazars, which display extreme observational properties, such as rap...Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have two major classes, namely radio loud AGNs and radio quiet AGNs. A small subset of the radio-loud AGNs is called blazars, which display extreme observational properties, such as rapid variability, high luminosity, high and variable polarization, and superluminal motion. All of those observational properties are probably due to a relativistic beaming effect with the jet pointing close to the line of sight. Observations suggest that the orientation can be expressed by a core-dominance parameter, R. The R, to some extent, is associated with the beaming effect. Blazars are believed to be unified with Fanaroff & Riley type I/II (FRI/II) radio galaxies. In this work, we collected relevant observations from the literature for a sample of 1223 AGNs including 77 BL Lacertae objects, 495 quasars, 460 galaxies, 119 FRs and 72 unidentified sources, and calculated the core-dominance parameters and spectral indexes, discussed the relationship between the two parameters, and gave some discussions. Our analysis suggests that the core-dominance parameters in BL Lacertae objects are larger than those in quasars and galaxies, and the radio spectral indexes in BL Lacertae objects are lower than those in quasars and galaxies. We also found that the core-dominance parameter-spectral index correlation exists for a large sample presented in this work, which may come from a relativistic beaming effect.展开更多
Using the database of the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (UMRAO) at three radio frequencies (4.8, 8 and 14.5 GHz), we determined the short-term variability timescales for 166 radio sources. The...Using the database of the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (UMRAO) at three radio frequencies (4.8, 8 and 14.5 GHz), we determined the short-term variability timescales for 166 radio sources. The timescales are 0.15d (2007+777) to 176.17 d (0528-250) with an average timescale of Atobs = 17.1 4- 16.5 d for the whole sample. The timescales are used to calculate the brightness temperatures, TB. The value of log TB is in the range of log TB = 10.47 to 19.06 K. In addition, we also estimated the boosting factor for the sources. The correlation between the polarization and the Doppler factor is also discussed.展开更多
The external Compton (EC) model is used to study the high energy emission of some blazars, in which the external photon field is considered to dominate inverse Compton radiation. We explore the properties of the ext...The external Compton (EC) model is used to study the high energy emission of some blazars, in which the external photon field is considered to dominate inverse Compton radiation. We explore the properties of the external photon field through analyzing the FERMI LAT bright AGN sample within three months of the start of operations in sky-survey mode. In the sample, assuming the high energy radiation of low synchrotron peaked blazars is from the EC process, we find that the external photon parameter Uext/υext may not be a constant. Calculating synchrotron and inverse Compton luminosity from the quasi-simultaneous broadband spectral energy distributions, we find that they have an approximately linear relation. This indicates that the ratio of external photon and magnetic energy density is a constant in the comoving frame, implying that the Lorentz factor of the emitting blob depends on the external photon field and magnetic field. The result gives a strong constraint on the dynamic jet model.展开更多
The correlated and coupled dynamics of accretion and outflow around black holes (BHs) are essentially governed by the fundamental laws of conservation as outflow extracts matter, momentum and energy from the accreti...The correlated and coupled dynamics of accretion and outflow around black holes (BHs) are essentially governed by the fundamental laws of conservation as outflow extracts matter, momentum and energy from the accretion region. Here we analyze a robust form of 2.5-dimensional viscous, resistive, advective magnetized accretion-outflow coupling in BH systems. We solve the complete set of coupled MHD conservation equations self-consistently, through invoking a generalized polynomial expansion in two dimensions. We perform a critical analysis of the accretion-outflow region and provide a complete quasi-analytical family of solutions for advective flows. We obtain the physically plausible outflow solu- tions at high turbulent viscosity parameter a(〉0.3), and at a reduced scale-height, as magnetic stresses compress or squeeze the flow region. We found that the value of the large-scale poloidal magnetic field Bp is enhanced with the increase of the geometrical thickness of the accretion flow. On the other hand, differential magnetic torque (-r2BBz) increases with the increase in M. Bp, -r2BBz as well as the plasma beta/3p get strongly augmented with the increase in the value of a, enhancing the transport of vertical flux outwards. Our solutions indicate that magnetocentrifugal acceleration plausibly plays a dominant role in effusing out plasma from the radial accretion flow in a moderately advective paradigm which is more centrifugally dominated. However in a strongly advective paradigm it is likely that the thermal pressure gradient would play a more contributory role in the vertical transport of plasma.展开更多
After a brief, critical review of the leading explanations proposed for the small but important subset of radio galaxies showing an X-shaped morphology (XRGs) we propose a generalized model, based on the jet-shell i...After a brief, critical review of the leading explanations proposed for the small but important subset of radio galaxies showing an X-shaped morphology (XRGs) we propose a generalized model, based on the jet-shell interaction and spin- flip hypotheses. The most popular scenarios for this intriguing phenomenon invoke either hydrodynamical backflows and over-pressured cocoons or rapid jet reorienta- tions, presumably from the spin-flips of central engines following the mergers of pairs of galaxies, each of which contains a supermassive black hole. We confront these models with a number of key observations, and thus argue that none of the models is capable of explaining the entire range of the salient observational properties of XRGs, although some of the arguments raised in the literature against the spin-flip scenario are probably not tenable. We then propose a new scenario which also involves galac- tic mergers but would allow the spin of the central engine to maintain its direction. Motivated by detailed multi-band observations of the nearest radio galaxy, Centaurus A, this new model emphasizes the role of the interactions between the jets and the shells of stars and gas that form and rotate around the merged galaxy and can cause temporary deflections of the jets, occasionally giving rise to an X-shaped radio struc- ture. Although each model is likely to be relevant to a subset of XRGs, the bulk of the evidence indicates that most of them are best explained by the jet-shell interaction or spin-flip hypotheses.展开更多
We investigate the properties of features seen within superluminal sources often referred to as components. Our result indicates a fairly strong correlation of r ~ 0.5 for quasars, r ~ 0.4 for galaxies and r ~ 0.7 ...We investigate the properties of features seen within superluminal sources often referred to as components. Our result indicates a fairly strong correlation of r ~ 0.5 for quasars, r ~ 0.4 for galaxies and r ~ 0.7 for BL Lac objects in our sam- ple between component sizes and distances from the stationary core. The assumption of free adiabatic expanding plasma enables us to constrain the Lorentz factor for su- perluminal sources. Our estimated Lorentz factor of y ~ 9-13 for quasars, 7 ~ 7-11 for galaxies and y~ 4 - 9 for BL Lac objects indicates that BL Lacs have the lowest range of Lorentz factors.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No.2021YFA0719204)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.12272387)。
文摘A flow control method based on an active jet is developed to restart hypersonic inlets. The dynamic restarting process is numerically reproduced by unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes(RANS) modeling to verify the effectiveness and reveal the influence of jet conditions. The active jet improves the inlet unstart status by drawing the high-pressure separation bubble from the internal compression duct and performing a full expansion to alleviate the adverse pressure gradient. Moreover, the favorable pressure gradient in the inlet caused by jet expansion allows for a successful restart after turning off the jet. The influence of the jet momentum ratio is then analyzed to guide the design of the active jet control method and choose the proper momentum ratios. A low jet momentum does not eliminate the high-pressure separation bubble, whereas an excessive jet momentum causes severe momentum loss due to the induced shock. The general rule in restarting the inlet using an active jet is to allow a full jet expansion downstream of the jet slot while avoiding excessive momentum loss upstream and preventing the thick low-speed layer.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (grant 2014CB845800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 11573034, 11533003, 11373036 and 11133002)+1 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program “The Emergence of Cosmological Structures” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant XDB09000000)the Guangxi Science Foundation (2013GXNSFFA019001)
文摘By modeling the broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of a typical flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ, 3C 279) and two GeV narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLSls, PMN J0948+0022 and 1H 0323+342) in different flux stages with one-zone leptonic models, we find a universal correlation between their Doppler factors (δ) and peak luminosities (Lc) of external Compton scattering bumps. Compiling a combined sample of FSRQs and GeV NLSls, it is found that both FSRQs and GeV NLSls in different stages and in different sources follow the same δ-Lc correlation well. This indicates that the variations of observed luminosities may be essentially due to the Doppler boosting effect. The universal δ-Lo relation between FSRQs and GeV NLS 1 s in different stages may be further evidence that the particle acceleration and radiation mechanisms for the two kinds of sources are similar. In addition, by replacing Lc with the observed luminosity in the Fermi/LAT band (LLAT), this correlation holds and it may serve as an empirical indicator of δ. We estimate the δ values with LLAT for 484 FSRQs in the Fermi/LAT Catalog and they range from 3 to 41, with a median of 16, which are statistically consistent with the values derived by other methods.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘We compile a sample of 11 Fanaroff-Riley type I Radio Galaxies (FR-I RGs) with multi-wavelength observations to address the dynamic behavior of jets in these objects. Optical images acquired by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) are carefully analyzed. The method and reduction procedure are described in detail. Unresolved optical cores emerge after having properly removed starlight from the host galaxies in eight of the FR-I RGs, of which five are new identifications. Broad band spectral properties of these newly identified compact cores are compared with that previously found in FR-I RGs, as well as the low-energy-peaked BL Lac objects. The similarity between them argues for the same non-thermal synchrotron origin. Well-resolved optical jets with knotty morphologies are found in three FR-I RGs in our sample, namely 3C 15, 3C 66B and B2 0755+37. The optical counterparts to the inner radio/X-ray jets are identified and a clear one-to-one correspondence between the optical, radio and X-ray knots is found. The structure and information on the optical jets are discussed. Physical parameters such as the knots position, flux and size are also presented. Detailed comparison between the multi-wavelength data and radiative and dynamic models of jet will be made in a forthcoming paper.
基金a stipend from the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Universities of Bonn and Colognesupported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant WI 1860/10-1+1 种基金partial support by the the Spanish MINECO project AYA2012-38491-C02-01by the Generalitat Valenciana project PROMETEOII/2014/057
文摘Near-Eddington accretion rates onto low-mass black holes are thought to be a prime driver of the multi-wavelength properties of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) population of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Orientation effects have repeatedly been considered as another important factor involved, but detailed studies have been hampered by the lack of measured viewing angles towards this type of AGN. Here we present multi-epoch, 15 GHz VLBA images (MOJAVE program) of the radio-loud and Fermi/LAT- detected NLS 1 galaxy 1H 0323+342. These are combined with single-dish, multi-frequency radio monitoring of the source's variability, obtained with the Effelsberg 100-m and IRAM 30-m telescopes, in the course of the F-GAMMA program. The VLBA images reveal six components with apparent speeds of 1 - 7 c, and one quasi-stationary feature. Combining the obtained apparent jet speed (βapp) and variability Doppler factor (Dvar) estimates together with other methods, we constrain the viewing angle 0 towards 1H 0323+342 to 0 ≤ 4°-13°. Using literature values of βapp and Dvar, we also deduce a viewing angle of 〈8°-9° towards another radio- and γ-ray-loud NLS1, namely SBS 0846+513.
基金supported by Research Agency for Climate Science funded by Korea Meteorological Administration(RACS 2010-1011)
文摘Scientists have long debated the relative importance of tropospheric photochemical production versus stratospheric influx as causes of the springtime tropospheric ozone maximum over northern mid-latitudes. This paper investigates whether or not stratospheric intrusion and photochemistry play a significant role in the springtime ozone maximum over Northeast Asia, where ozone measurements are sparse. We examine how tropospheric ozone seasonalities over Naha (26°N, 128°E), Kagoshima (31°N, 131°E), and Pohang (36°N, 129°E), which are located on the same meridional line, are related to the timing and location of the jet stream. The ozone seasonality shows a gradual increase from January to the maximum ozone month, which corresponds to April at Naha, May at Kagoshima, and June at Pohang. In order to examine the occurrence of stratospheric intrusion, we analyze a correlation between jet stream activity and tropospheric ozone seasonality. From these analyses, we did not find any favorable evidence supporting the hypothesis that the springtime enhancement may result from stratospheric intrusion. According to trajectory analysis for vertical and horizontal origins of the airmass, a gradual increasing tendency in ozone amounts from January until the onset of monsoon was similar to the increasing ozone formation tendency from winter to spring over China's Mainland, which has been observed during the build-up of tropospheric ozone over Central Europe in the winter-spring transition period due to photochemistry. Overall, the analyses suggest that photochemistry is the most important contributor to observed ozone seasonality over Northeast Asia.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundationof China (NSFC, Grant Nos. 10633010, 11173009)the National Basic Research Program (973 program, 2007CB815405)+3 种基金the Bureau of Education of Guangzhou Municipality (No.11 Sui-Jiao-Ke[2009])Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme(GDUPS)(2009)Yangcheng Scholar Funded Scheme (10A027S)the Joint Laboratory for Optical Astronomy of Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have two major classes, namely radio loud AGNs and radio quiet AGNs. A small subset of the radio-loud AGNs is called blazars, which display extreme observational properties, such as rapid variability, high luminosity, high and variable polarization, and superluminal motion. All of those observational properties are probably due to a relativistic beaming effect with the jet pointing close to the line of sight. Observations suggest that the orientation can be expressed by a core-dominance parameter, R. The R, to some extent, is associated with the beaming effect. Blazars are believed to be unified with Fanaroff & Riley type I/II (FRI/II) radio galaxies. In this work, we collected relevant observations from the literature for a sample of 1223 AGNs including 77 BL Lacertae objects, 495 quasars, 460 galaxies, 119 FRs and 72 unidentified sources, and calculated the core-dominance parameters and spectral indexes, discussed the relationship between the two parameters, and gave some discussions. Our analysis suggests that the core-dominance parameters in BL Lacertae objects are larger than those in quasars and galaxies, and the radio spectral indexes in BL Lacertae objects are lower than those in quasars and galaxies. We also found that the core-dominance parameter-spectral index correlation exists for a large sample presented in this work, which may come from a relativistic beaming effect.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10573005 and 10633010)the 973 project (2007CB815405)+1 种基金support from the Guangzhou Education Bureau and Guangzhou Science and Technology BureauDr. Margo Aller for allowing us to use data from the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory which has been supported by the University of Michigan and the National Science Foundation
文摘Using the database of the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (UMRAO) at three radio frequencies (4.8, 8 and 14.5 GHz), we determined the short-term variability timescales for 166 radio sources. The timescales are 0.15d (2007+777) to 176.17 d (0528-250) with an average timescale of Atobs = 17.1 4- 16.5 d for the whole sample. The timescales are used to calculate the brightness temperatures, TB. The value of log TB is in the range of log TB = 10.47 to 19.06 K. In addition, we also estimated the boosting factor for the sources. The correlation between the polarization and the Doppler factor is also discussed.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 10778702)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2009CB824800)the Policy Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJCX2- YW-T24)
文摘The external Compton (EC) model is used to study the high energy emission of some blazars, in which the external photon field is considered to dominate inverse Compton radiation. We explore the properties of the external photon field through analyzing the FERMI LAT bright AGN sample within three months of the start of operations in sky-survey mode. In the sample, assuming the high energy radiation of low synchrotron peaked blazars is from the EC process, we find that the external photon parameter Uext/υext may not be a constant. Calculating synchrotron and inverse Compton luminosity from the quasi-simultaneous broadband spectral energy distributions, we find that they have an approximately linear relation. This indicates that the ratio of external photon and magnetic energy density is a constant in the comoving frame, implying that the Lorentz factor of the emitting blob depends on the external photon field and magnetic field. The result gives a strong constraint on the dynamic jet model.
文摘The correlated and coupled dynamics of accretion and outflow around black holes (BHs) are essentially governed by the fundamental laws of conservation as outflow extracts matter, momentum and energy from the accretion region. Here we analyze a robust form of 2.5-dimensional viscous, resistive, advective magnetized accretion-outflow coupling in BH systems. We solve the complete set of coupled MHD conservation equations self-consistently, through invoking a generalized polynomial expansion in two dimensions. We perform a critical analysis of the accretion-outflow region and provide a complete quasi-analytical family of solutions for advective flows. We obtain the physically plausible outflow solu- tions at high turbulent viscosity parameter a(〉0.3), and at a reduced scale-height, as magnetic stresses compress or squeeze the flow region. We found that the value of the large-scale poloidal magnetic field Bp is enhanced with the increase of the geometrical thickness of the accretion flow. On the other hand, differential magnetic torque (-r2BBz) increases with the increase in M. Bp, -r2BBz as well as the plasma beta/3p get strongly augmented with the increase in the value of a, enhancing the transport of vertical flux outwards. Our solutions indicate that magnetocentrifugal acceleration plausibly plays a dominant role in effusing out plasma from the radial accretion flow in a moderately advective paradigm which is more centrifugally dominated. However in a strongly advective paradigm it is likely that the thermal pressure gradient would play a more contributory role in the vertical transport of plasma.
文摘After a brief, critical review of the leading explanations proposed for the small but important subset of radio galaxies showing an X-shaped morphology (XRGs) we propose a generalized model, based on the jet-shell interaction and spin- flip hypotheses. The most popular scenarios for this intriguing phenomenon invoke either hydrodynamical backflows and over-pressured cocoons or rapid jet reorienta- tions, presumably from the spin-flips of central engines following the mergers of pairs of galaxies, each of which contains a supermassive black hole. We confront these models with a number of key observations, and thus argue that none of the models is capable of explaining the entire range of the salient observational properties of XRGs, although some of the arguments raised in the literature against the spin-flip scenario are probably not tenable. We then propose a new scenario which also involves galac- tic mergers but would allow the spin of the central engine to maintain its direction. Motivated by detailed multi-band observations of the nearest radio galaxy, Centaurus A, this new model emphasizes the role of the interactions between the jets and the shells of stars and gas that form and rotate around the merged galaxy and can cause temporary deflections of the jets, occasionally giving rise to an X-shaped radio struc- ture. Although each model is likely to be relevant to a subset of XRGs, the bulk of the evidence indicates that most of them are best explained by the jet-shell interaction or spin-flip hypotheses.
文摘We investigate the properties of features seen within superluminal sources often referred to as components. Our result indicates a fairly strong correlation of r ~ 0.5 for quasars, r ~ 0.4 for galaxies and r ~ 0.7 for BL Lac objects in our sam- ple between component sizes and distances from the stationary core. The assumption of free adiabatic expanding plasma enables us to constrain the Lorentz factor for su- perluminal sources. Our estimated Lorentz factor of y ~ 9-13 for quasars, 7 ~ 7-11 for galaxies and y~ 4 - 9 for BL Lac objects indicates that BL Lacs have the lowest range of Lorentz factors.