Resolved jets in quasars and radio galaxies
Yasunobu Uchiyama (ISAS/JAXA)
Relativistic jets at hundreds of kiloparsecs from the quasar nucleus generally exhibit strong X-ray emission in excess of that anticipated by a synchrotron-self-Compton model, as revealed by surveys with Chandra. Despite extensive work, the dominant X-ray emission process in quasar jets remains unsettled. Solving this problem will revolutionize our ideas regarding relativistic jets and outflows in the Universe. In this talk, we present results from Spitzer infrared observations of X-ray jets in quasars and radio galaxies, combined with multifrequency imaging data from VLA, Hubble, and Chandra. A particular emphasis is placed on our multifrequency analysis of the kiloparsec-scale jet in the well-known quasar 3C 273, which offers new insights into the controversial origin of the X-ray emission seen in the relativistic jets of quasars and radio galaxies. Our analysis suggests that a population of particles distinct from radio-emitting electrons produces the resolved X-rays in powerful jets through a synchrotron process. We discuss implications for particle acceleration processes operating in relativistic jets. Finally we address effective investigations to be done with current instruments as well as future prospects of this area.