"Microquasars: Relativity for the Impatient"

Prof. Michael Rupen
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory

We now know of a dozen or so resolved relativistic jet sources in our Galaxy, all associated with binary star systems in which the primary is a compact object (black hole or neutron star). These binary systems are generally found as X-ray transients, with rapidly-evolving X-ray flares that can reach or exceed the Eddington luminosity. The radio emission traces large-scale ejections associated with these flares, suggesting a tight correlation between these outflows and instabilities and state changes in the X-ray-emitting accretion disks. In this talk I will review recent results in this field, with special emphasis on the importance of relativistic effects, the interpretation of discrete and continuous radio jets, the connections between accretion and relativistic outflow, and interactions between the ejecta and the surrounding medium.



Tuesday, November 23rd
Seminar is to be held at 4:00 PM in the conference room
on the second floor of Dearborn Observatory

Refreshments will be served at 3:30



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Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University
Dearborn Observatory, 2131 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2900
Tel: (847) 491-7650, Fax: (847) 491 3395