What are relativistic jets?
Q: What are relativistic jets?
A: Relativistic jets are very powerful jets of plasma with speeds close to the speed of light.
Q: Where do relativistic jets come from?
A: Relativistic jets are emitted by the central black holes of some active galaxies (notably radio galaxies and quasars), and by the black holes of massive stars and neutron stars.
Q: What is the length of relativistic jets?
A: The lengths of relativistic jets can reach several thousand or even hundreds of thousands of light years.
Q: What is significant about the speed of relativistic jets?
A: If the jet speed is close to the speed of light, the effects of the special theory of relativity are significant.
Q: What is the composition of relativistic jets?
A: The mechanics behind how jets are created, and what they are made of, are still a matter of debate. The composition of jets might vary.
Q: What is the hypothesis among astrophysicists about the formation of relativistic jets?
A: The general hypothesis among astrophysicists is that the formation of relativistic jets is the key to explaining the production of gamma-ray bursts.
Q: How fast can relativistic jets travel?
A: These jets have Lorentz factors of ~100 or greater (that is, speeds over roughly 0.99995c), making them some of the fastest celestial objects known at present.
