Speaker: Matthew G. Baring, Rice University

Title: Particle Acceleration and Radiative Cooling in Blazar Jets

Abstract:
Jets in blazars and other radio-loud active galaxies are an excellent
forum for studying acceleration at relativistic shocks using the
highly-variable emission seen across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Recent work on combining multi-wavelength (MW) leptonic emission models
with complete simulated distributions from shock acceleration theory has
resulted in new insights into plasma conditions in blazars.  In this
talk, an overview of the MW modeling that yielded these insights is
presented, including the inference that turbulence levels decline with
remoteness from jet shocks in blazars such as Mrk 501 and Bl Lac.  A new
extension to a two-zone, time-evolving construction is then presented.
In this development, both extended, enhanced emission states from larger
radiative regions, and prompt flare events from compact acceleration
zones proximate to shocks are treated. An application to the LBL blazar
3C 279 is highlighted, identifying distinctive temporal correlations and
lags between radio and optical/gamma-ray bands.