Published July 1989 | Version v1
Journal article

The energetics and evolution of jet-fed radio sources

  • 1. Meudon Observatoire (France)
  • 2. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro (USA)

Description

A simple, global model of a radio source is used to investigate the dynamic and energetic evolution of the source and to predict the evolution of its total and radio luminosities. The evolution of the average electron energy with time is studied, and the effects of local reacceleration of the electrons is examined, assuming that some of the turbulent energy is tapped for reacceleration. It is found that the general trends of source evolution are not greatly changed by reacceleration, and that a source with a steady rate of energy input will be brightest, in a fixed observing band, at an age comparable with the electron radiative lifetime, and is likely to fade thereafter. 34 refs

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
342
Series
Astrophys. J.
Journal Page Range
187-207
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOA