2004/01/14 by P. Mimica, M. A. Aloy, M. -A. Aloy +3
Physics and Astronomy · #Acceleration #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Collision #Electron #Kinetic energy #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics #Light curve #Radiation #Relativistic particle #Shock (circulatory) #Shock wave #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20034261
published as Astron.Astrophys. 418 (2004) 947-958 · 22 pages, 6 figures, accepted to A&A
arxiv created 2004/01/14 · openalex publication_date 2004/04/16 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present the results of relativistic hydrodynamic simulations of the collision of two dense shells in a uniform external medium, as envisaged in the internal shock model for BL Lac jets. The non-thermal radiation produced by highly energetic electrons injected at the relativistic shocks is computed following their temporal and spatial evolution. The acceleration of electrons at the relativistic shocks is parametrized using two different models and the corresponding X-ray light curves are computed. We find that the interaction time scale of the two shells is influenced by an interaction with the external medium. For the chosen parameter sets, the efficiency of the collision in converting dissipated kinetic energy into the observed X-ray radiation is of the order of one percent.