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Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray Production by Current Disruption in Active Galactic Nuclei

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2017

George Lake  and
R. E. Pudritz
George Lake
Affiliation:
Bell Laboratories
R. E. Pudritz
Affiliation:
Astronomy Dept., University of California

Abstract

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Electrodynamic models for the activity of galactic nuclei are shown to be current systems which can be examined in terms of equivalent circuits. The resulting inductive circuit which describes the coupling of the generator (black-hole and accretion disk) to the distant load (jet plasma) is prone to various instabilities. We consider the disruption of this current system and propose that ultra-energetic cosmic rays (E~1019–1021 eV) could be produced during the discharges, which occur at distances of ~1016–1018 cm from the central massive hole (M~108 M). Such discharges will also produce variable γ-ray and X-ray activity and we discuss observations of Cen A in this regard.

Type
Session VII
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 107: Unstable Current Systems and Plasma Instabilities , 1985 , pp. 471 - 473
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1985 

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