The propagation of relativistic jets in external media

Understand

Relativistic jets are ubiquitous in astrophysical systems that contain compact objects.

• They transport large amounts of energy to large distances from the source, and their interaction with the ambient medium has a crucial effect on the evolution of the system.
• The propagation of the jet is characterized by the formation of a shocked "head" at the front of the jet which dissipates the jet's energy and a cocoon that surrounds the jet and potentially collimates it.
• We present here a self consistent, analytic model that follows the evolution of the jet and its cocoon, and describes their interaction.