Rapid Variability of Gamma-Ray Blazars: A Model for MKN 421
arXiv:astro-ph/9801049 · doi:10.1086/311216
Abstract
The extremely rapid burst of TeV photons from Mkn 421 (15 May 1996) can be reconciled with the standard properties of a relativistic gamma-ray emitting jet (bulk Lorentz factor 10; size $\10^{17}$ cm) if one assumes that the electrons are accelerated in conical shocks with both opening and viewing angles . If the injection time and the cooling time are much less than the photon crossing time, an emission ring moves along the jet and leads to the appearance of a very rapid flare, in satisfactory agreement with the observations.
12 pages, 3 figures, uses aasms4.sty, to appear in ApJ Letters