An Electrodynamic Model of Radio Galaxies and Quasars

Abstract

It is shown by statistical and individual studies that the powerful radio sources exhibit increases in magnetic energy and flux by factors $$\sim\,{10}^{2}-{10}^{3}$$ as sources age $$\sim\,{10}^{3}-{10}^{5}$$ years. This requires a previously developed field system extending > 100 kpc along, and twisted around, the rotational axis. Our model comprises a rotating gas cloud from which a galaxy condenses, and a pre-existing field which is amplified until the Rayleigh–Taylor instability causes ejection of magnetic tongues along the axis. In an old galaxy the gas has turned to stars (perhaps burnt out), to a corona and to a small central cloud. This cloud, of mass $$\sim\,{10}^{9}\,{M}_{\odot}$$ , radius $$\sim\,{10}^{16}\,\text{cm}$$ , field $$\sim\,{10}^{5}$$ gauss, rotates rapidly to provide the relativistic particles for the radio and optical synchroton sources. Its thermal plasma provides the QSO line emission. The electrodynamic-gravitational model thus accounts for the complex field system, the acceleration of particles over a period $$\sim\,{10}^{5}$$ years, disposal of angular momentum, changes in luminosity, and line emission. Some tests of the model are proposed. In ‘ normal ‘ galaxies the corresponding model is an oblique magnetic rotator which may account for the lower level of radio emission, for the phenomena in Seyfert galaxies and for cosmic rays in general and the primary cosmic rays in our Galaxy in particular.