Three modes of long wavelength flaring from GRS 1915+105: implications for jet formation

Abstract

GRS 1915+105 has exhibited at least three modes of long-wavelength (infrared to radio) flares. Class A flares are the bright ($\sim 1$ Jy) radio events whose apparent superluminal motion in many ways defines the microquasars. Class B flares have intermediate ($\sim 50-300$ mJy) flux densities in the IR and radio, and are associated with hard X-ray dipping behaviors. Class C flares are faint ($\sim 5-50$ mJy) IR/radio events associated with soft X-ray dips. We discuss each of these classes and their inter-relationships.