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An hourglass model for the flare of HST-1 in M87
To explain the multi-wavelength light curves (from radio to X-ray) of HST-1
in the M87 jet, we propose an hourglass model that is a modified two-zone
system of Tavecchio & Ghisellini (hereafter TG08): a slow hourglass-shaped or
Laval nozzle-shaped layer connected by two revolving exponential surfaces
surrounding a fast spine, through which plasma blobs flow. Based on the
conservation of magnetic flux, the magnetic field changes along the axis of the
hourglass. We adopt the result of TG08---the high-energy emission from GeV to
TeV can be produced through inverse Compton by the two-zone system, and the
photons from radio to X-ray are mainly radiated by the fast inner zone system.
Here, we only discuss the light curves of the fast inner blob from radio to
X-ray. When a compressible blob travels down the axis of the first bulb in the
hourglass, because of magnetic flux conservation, its cross section experiences
an adiabatic compression process, which results in particle acceleration and
the brightening of HST-1. When the blob moves into the second bulb of the
hourglass, because of magnetic flux conservation, the dimming of the knot
occurs along with an adiabatic expansion of its cross section. A similar broken
exponential function could fit the TeV peaks in M87, which may imply a
correlation between the TeV flares of M87 and the light curves from radio to
X-ray in HST-1. The Very Large Array (VLA) 22 GHz radio light curve of HST-1
verifies our prediction based on the model fit to the main peak of the VLA 15
GHz radio light curve.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A
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