Rapid Variability of Gamma-Ray Blazars: A Model for MKN 421
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 \1017 cm) if one assumes that the electrons are accelerated in conical shocks with both opening and viewing angles ≈ 1/. 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.
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