Article

# Jet spectra in FR I radio galaxies: implications for particle acceleration

01/2008;
Source: arXiv

ABSTRACT We describe very accurate imaging of radio spectral index for the inner jets in three FR I radio galaxies. Where the jets first brighten, there is a remarkably small dispersion around a spectral index of 0.62. This is also the region where bright X-ray emission is detected. Further from the nucleus, the spectral index flattens slightly to 0.50 - 0.55 and X-ray emission, although still detectable, is fainter relative to the radio. The brightest X-ray emission from the jets is therefore not associated with the flattest radio spectra, but rather with some particle-acceleration process whose characteristic energy index is 2.24. The change in spectral index occurs roughly where our relativistic jet models require rapid deceleration. Flatter-spectrum edges can be seen where the jets are isolated from significant surrounding diffuse emission and we suggest that these are associated with shear.

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### Keywords

Flatter-spectrum edges

inner jets

jets

jets first brighten

rapid deceleration

relativistic jet models

shear

small dispersion

spectral index

spectral index flattens