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Compton Rockets: Radiative Acceleration of a Relativistic Fluid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

S. L. O'Dell
S. L. O'Dell*
Affiliation:
Physics Dept., Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA

Extract

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Unless a plasma moves at relativistic bulk speeds, the Compton radiative lifetime for relativistic electrons near a luminous object is less than the transit time from the source. Acceleration by adiabatic decompression is too slow to preserve much of the electrons' energy. However, the Compton-rocket thrust and the radiatively induced pressure gradient can accelerate a relativistic fluid to relativistic bulk speeds on a time scale comparable to that for radiative loss. Consequently, severe Compton losses are not only reduced by relativistic bulk motion, but can in fact effect such motion.

Type
Research Article
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 97: Extragalactic Radio Sources , 1982 , pp. 365 - 366
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1982 

References

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