Polarimetry and the High‐Energy Emission Mechanisms in Quasar Jets
2009
The emission mechanisms in extragalactic jets include
synchrotronand various inverse‐Compton processes. At low (radio through infrared) energies, it is widely agreed that
synchrotronemission dominates in both low‐power (FR I) and high‐power (FRII and
quasar) jets, because of the power‐law nature of the spectra observed and high polarizations. However, at higher energies, the emission mechanism for high‐power jets at kpc scales is hotly debated. Two mechanisms have been proposed: either inverse‐Compton of
cosmic microwave backgroundphotons or
synchrotronemission from a second, high‐energy population of electrons. Here we discuss optical
polarimetryas a method for diagnosing the mechanism for the high‐energy emission in
quasarjets, as well as revealing the jet’s three‐dimensional energetic and magnetic field structure. We then discuss high‐energy emission mechanisms for powerful jets in the light of the HST
polarimetryof PKS 1136–135.
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