Invited Presentation

The Role of Magnetic Fields in the Production and Propagation of Extragalactic Jets

Author(s): D. Meier (California Institute of Technology and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, U.S.)

Presenter: David Meier (Caltech)

Using recent astrophysical observations, theory, and simulations, I will discuss a plausible scenario for the evolution of jet plasma in extragalactic radio sources as it propagates from the vicinity of the central supermassive black hole to the outer lobes. Considerable emphasis will be placed on the plasma’s magnetic and dynamic conditions before and after it passes through a strong jet (re-)collimation shock that has been observed recently in several VLBI sources, as well as in M87. I will finish by discussing the (still substantial) astrophysical observations, theory, and simulations that will be necessary to perform in the future in order to test this scenario.