The X-ray emission of the Centaurus A jet

The extended nonthermal X-ray emission of extragalactic jets like Centaurus A can only be explained by in situ particle acceleration. The only energy source in the entire jet region is the magnetic field. Magnetic reconnectio n can convert the free energy stored in the helical configuration to partic le kinetic energy. In the collisionless magnetized jet plasma, the inertia- driven reconnection is operating in a highly filamentary magnetic flux rope , and this results in a continuously charged particle acceleration. The syn chrotron radiation of these particles can cause the observed X-ray emission in Centaurus A.