Efficiency of internal shocks in magnetized relativistic jets

TL;DR

This paper investigates how magnetization affects the efficiency of energy conversion in internal shocks within relativistic jets, revealing that mild magnetization increases dynamic efficiency but decreases radiative efficiency, with implications for jet emission signatures.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive parameter study on the impact of magnetization on shock efficiency in relativistic jets, including radiative signatures based on particle acceleration models.

Findings

Mild magnetization increases dynamic efficiency.

Magnetization decreases radiative efficiency.

Different shell magnetizations produce distinct multi-wavelength signatures.

Abstract

We study the dynamic and radiative efficiency of conversion of kinetic-to-thermal/magnetic energy by internal shocks in relativistic magnetized outflows. A parameter study of a large number of collisions of cylindrical shells is performed. We explore how, while keeping the total flow luminosity constant, the variable fluid magnetization influences the efficiency and find that the interaction of shells in a mildly magnetized jet yields higher dynamic, but lower radiative efficiency than in a non-magnetized flow. A multi-wavelength radiative signature of different shell magnetization is computed assuming that relativistic particles are accelerated at internal shocks.