Gamma Ray Bursts and Radio Loud Active Galactic Nuclei

Abstract

We believe that the radiation we receive from Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) and radio loud Active Galacti Nuclei (AGNs) originates from the transformation of bulk relativistic motion into random energy. Mechanisms to produce, collimate and accelerates the jets in these sources are uncertain, and it may be fruitful to compare the characteristics of both class of sources in search of enlightening similarities. I will present some general characteristics of radio loud AGNs and GRBs such as their bulk Lorentz factors and the power of their jets. I will also discuss the way in which the energy in bulk relativistic motion can be transformed into beamed radiation, and consider the possibility that both classes of sources can work in the same way, namely by an intermittent release of relativistic plasma at the base of the jet: shells ejected with slightly different velocities collide at some distance from the central engine, dissipating part of their kinetic energy, and keeping the rest to power the extended radio lobes (in AGNs) or to produce the afterglow (in GRBs).Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures invited talk at the Symposium: "Plasmas in the Laboratory and in the Universe: new insights and new challenges", September 16-19, 2003, Como, Ital