Related papers: A "Boosted Fireball" Model for Structured Relativi…
We present a comprehensive analytic model of relativistic jet propagation in expanding homologous media (ejecta). This model covers the entire jet evolution as well as a range of configurations that are relevant to binary neutron star…
It is generally believed that cosmological Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are produced by the deceleration of relativistic objects with Lorentz factor (Gamma) >~ 100. We study the possibility that some GRBs are produced along with relativistic…
The properties of wave-like helically twisted normal mode structures on steady relativistic jets are summarized. Wave speeds are a function of the wavelength and less than the jet speed. However, normal mode interference can lead to both…
Both observational evidence and theoretical considerations from MHD simulations of jets suggest that the relativistic jets of active galactic nuclei (AGN) are radially stratified, with a fast inner spine surrounded by a slower-moving outer…
Broadband emission from relativistic outflows (jets) of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) contains valuable information about the nature of the jet itself, and about the central engine which launches it. Using special…
We study the dynamics of relativistic electromagnetic explosions as a possible mechanism for the production of Gamma-Ray Bursts. We propose that a rotating relativistic stellar-mass progenitor loses much of its spin energy in the form of an…
The collapsar model explains the association of long duration gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) with stellar collapse. It involves a relativistic jet that forms at the core of a collapsing massive star. The jet penetrates the stellar envelope and the…
A model is developed for relativistic Poynting jets from the inner region of a disk around a rotating black hole. The disk is initially threaded by a dipole-like magnetic field. The model is derived from the special relativistic equation…
Blazars are a rare class of active galactic nuclei (AGN) with relativistic jets pointing towards the observer. Jets are thought to be launched as Poynting-flux dominated outflows that accelerate to relativistic speeds at the expense of the…
We present a detailed numerical study of the dynamics and evolution of ultrarelativistic magnetohydrodynamic jets in the black hole-disk system under extreme magnetization conditions. We find that Lorentz factors of up to 3000 are achieved…
We review the physics of GRB production by relativistic jets that start highly opaque near the central source and then expand to transparency. We discuss dissipative and radiative processes in the jet and how radiative transfer shapes the…
Recent observations suggest that gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows are produced by highly relativistic jets emitted in supernova explosions. We have proposed that the result of the event is not just a compact object plus the…
We present global radiative transfer models for heated relativistic jets. The simulations include all relevant radiative processes, starting deep in the opaque zone and following the evolution of radiation to and beyond the photosphere of…
With this paper we introduce the concept of apparent structure of a GRB jet, as opposed to its intrinsic structure. The latter is customarily defined specifying the functions epsilon(theta) (the energy emitted per jet unit solid angle) and…
We use two-dimensional relativistic hydrodynamic numerical calculations to show that highly collimated relativistic jets can be produced in neutron star merger models of short-duration gamma ray bursts without the need for a highly directed…
We compare results from a relativistic and a nonrelativistic set of 2D axisymmetric jet simulations. For a set of five relativistic simulations that either increase the Lorentz factor or decrease the adiabatic index we compute…
The major multi-epoch VLBA programs are described and discussed in terms of relativistic beaming models. Broadly speaking the observed kinematics are consistent with models having a parent population which is only mildly relativistic but…
We investigate the dynamics of an injected outflow propagating in a progenitor in the context of the collapsar model for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) through two dimensional axisymmetric relativistic hydrodynamic simulations. Initially, we…
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are known to be highly collimated events, and are mostly detectable when they are seen on-axis or very nearly on-axis. However, GRBs can be seen from off-axis angles, and the recent detection of a short GRB…
The energy release in gamma-ray bursts is one of the most interesting clues on the nature of their "inner engines". We show here that the total energy release in GRBs varies by less than one order of magnitude from one burst to another…