Abstract

Astrophysical jets are associated with the formation of young stars of all masses, stellar and massive black holes, and perhaps even with the formation of massive planets. Their role in the formation of planets, stars and galaxies is increasingly appreciated and probably reflects a deep connection between the accretion flows – by which stars and black holes may be formed – and the efficiency by which magnetic torques can remove angular momentum from such flows. We compare the properties and physics of jets in both non-relativistic and relativistic systems and trace, by means of theoretical argument and numerical simulations, the physical connections between these different phenomena. We discuss the properties of jets from young stars and black holes, give some basic theoretical results that underpin the origin of jets in these systems, and then show results of recent simulations on jet production in collapsing star-forming cores as well as from jets around rotating Kerr black holes.

Introduction

The goal of this book, to explore structure formation in the cosmos and the physical linkage of astrophysical phenomena on different physical scales, is both timely and important. The emergence of multi-wavelength astronomy in the late twentieth century with its unprecedented ground- and space-based observatories, as well as the arrival of powerful new computational capabilities and numerical codes, has opened up unanticipated new vistas in understanding how planets, stars and galaxies form.