Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...414..510s&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 414, no. 2, p. 510-526.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
139
Active Galaxies, Emission Spectra, Radio Jets (Astronomy), Shock Waves, Stellar Activity, Centaurus Constellation, Forbidden Transitions, H Beta Line, Oxygen Spectra
Scientific paper
A self-consistent model for the excitation of the extranuclear emission line filaments in Centaurus A is presented. Interaction of the northern radio jet of Centaurus A with a dense cloud of material at the location of the filaments causes shock waves with velocities of about 200-450 km/s. The shocks produce a strong flux of EUV and soft X-ray radiation which photoionize the visible knots. It is shown that the mechanical flux of a mildly supersonic low-density jet is sufficient to energize the shock waves through the production of supersonic turbulent velocities in the dense cloud via the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The presence of a radio jet in the vicinity of the inner filaments and the presence of strong UV line fluxes in the spectrum of the filaments are predicted. It is concluded that a narrow ionizing radiation beam is not required to produce the observed phenomena.
Bicknell Geoffrey V.
Dopita Michael A.
Sutherland Ralph S.
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