Jets and outflows in microquasars

Conference item

I discuss the importance of studies of jets and outflows in the Galaxy from binary star systems, popularly known as microquasars. Because of the rapid timescales on which they evolve, pertinent observations of microquasar jets can help tighten up the theoretical framework in which jet properties of quasars can be interpreted. I draw attention to a new method for constraining jet speed which renders original approaches, which do not incorporate jet evolution, obsolete. I describe new results on two particular microquasars, SS 433 and Cygnus X-3. I compare and contrast the jet characteristics of these two microquasars, noting the persistent jet activity of SS 433 with the intermittent jet activity of Cygnus X-3.

Authors: Blundell, K

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Astrophysics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects
• Volume: 330
• Pages: 91-102
• Publication date: 2005-01-01
• Event title: Conference on Astrophysics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects
• ISBN: 1583811931
• Keywords: SS-433; RADIO OUTBURST; CYGNUS X-3; SS433