The bulk kinetic power of the jets of GRS 1915+105

Abstract

We calculate the minimum value of the power in kinetic bulk motion of the galactic superluminal source GRS 1915+105. This value far exceeds the Eddington luminosity for accretion onto a black hole of 10 solar masses. This large value severely limits the possible carriers of the kinetic luminosity at the base of the jet, and favours a jet production and acceleration controlled by a magnetic field whose value, at the base of the jet, exceeds $10^8$ Gauss. The Blandford and Znajek process can be responsible of the extraction of the rotational energy of a Kerr black hole, if lasting long enough to provide the required kinetic energy. This time, of the order of a day, implies that the process must operate in a stationary, not impulsive, mode.

5 pages, Latex, accepted for publication in MNRAS as a letter