Science with an ngVLA: Accretion and Jets in Local Compact Objects

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) will revolutionize our understanding of jet physics in local compact objects by providing enhanced observational capabilities.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of ngVLA to address key questions about jet launching and collimation in accreting stellar remnants, which current radio telescopes cannot fully resolve.

Findings

ngVLA will significantly improve sensitivity and resolution for jet observations

Enhanced polarization and high-frequency coverage will aid in understanding jet composition and magnetic fields

Better data will clarify the connection between accretion processes and jet power

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of jets in accreting systems and their impact on the surrounding medium, the fundamental physics of how they are launched and collimated is not fully understood. Radio observations of local compact objects, including accreting stellar mass black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs, probe their jet emission. Coupled with multi-wavelength observations, this allows us to test the underlying accretion-outflow connection and to establish the relationship between the accretor properties and the jet power, which is necessary to accurately model jets. Compact accretors are nearby, numerous and come in a range of accretor properties, and hence are ideal probes for the underlying jet physics. Despite this there are a number of key outstanding questions regarding accretion-driven outflows in these objects that cannot be answered with current radio observations. The vastly improved sensitivity, polarization capabilities, spatial resolution and high-frequency coverage of the ngVLA will be crucial to answering these, and subsequently determining the fundamental physics behind accretion and jets at all physical scales.