Simulation of Shock-Shock interaction in parsec-scale jets

Abstract

The analysis of the radio light curves of the blazar CTA102 during its 2006 flare revealed a possible interaction between a standing shock wave and a traveling one. In order to better understand this highly non-linear process, we used a relativistic hydrodynamic code to simulate the high energy interaction and its related emission. The calculated synchrotron emission from these simulations showed an increase in turnover flux density, $S_{m}$, and turnover frequency, $ν_{m}$, during the interaction and decrease to its initial values after the passage of the traveling shock wave.

4 pages, 1 figure, proceedings of the meeting "HEPRO III: High Energy Phenomena in Relativistic Outflows" (Barcelona, June 2011)