A Dimensionless Pressure Criterion for Jet Dominance in AGN: The β Parameter
Abstract
We propose a dimensionless stability criterion, β ≡ √(P_total/P_grav), to characterize the transition between gravity-dominated accretion and pressure-dominated relativistic outflow in Active Galactic Nuclei. We validate this framework against four black hole systems spanning 10 orders of magnitude in accretion rate: Sgr A*, NGC 4151, M87*, and M82 X-1. The analysis suggests β ≈ 0.2 acts as a geometric threshold for efficient jet production.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Galaxies: Formation
Evolution
Phenomena
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 12 January 2026
- Document type
- Preprint