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Constraining jet physics in weakly accreting black holes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2006

Sera Markoff*
Affiliation:
Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 403, 1098SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands email: sera@science.uva.nl
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Abstract

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Outflowing jets are observed in a variety of astronomical objects such as accreting compact objects from X-ray binaries (XRBs) to active galactic nuclei (AGN), as well as at stellar birth and death. Yet we still do not know exactly what they are comprised of, why and how they form, or their exact relationship with the accretion flow. In this talk I focus on jets in black hole systems, which provide the ideal test population for studying the relationship between inflow and outflow over an extreme range in mass and accretion rate.

I present several recent results from coordinated multi-wavelength studies of low-luminosity sources. These results not only support similar trends in weakly accreting black hole behavior across the mass scale, but also suggest that the same underlying physical model can explain their broadband spectra. I discuss how comparisons between small- and large-scale systems are revealing new information about the regions nearest the black hole, providing clues about the creation of these weakest of jets. Furthermore, comparisons between our Galactic center nucleus Sgr A* and other sources at slightly higher accretion rates can elucidate the processes which drive central activity, and pave the way for new tests with upcoming instruments.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2007

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