A Source of Energy for Radio Galaxies

Abstract

RECENT discussions about the source of energy in strong extra-galactic radio sources have indicated the possible importance of the nuclei of galaxies. In the nuclei the densities are large, and thus the energies available in principle are large, too. The matter in these nuclei is probably largely stellar and the problem that arises is how the stars can yield the energy that is needed (up to 10⁶⁰ ergs) in a sufficiently short time. Burbidge¹ proposed that in dense nuclei the heat wave emanating from a supernova might trigger the supernova process in surrounding stars. It is not obvious that a brief heating of the surface of a star is really sufficient to initiate an explosion. Hoyle and Fowler² and Burbidge, Burbidge, Fowler and Hoyle³ considered that very massive stars of up to 10⁸ solar masses could yield the required energies. However, neither the formation nor the stability of such large objects has been made plausible; unless the opposite is demonstrated one should expect that rotation and fragmentation prevent the formation of these bodies. Burbidge et al. consider that during the final stages of such massive objects large amounts of energy may be supplied during a prolonged time. They suggest that after the implosion—which effectively places them beyond our event horizon—these objects may reappear and oscillate so to say into and out of our universe, all the time releasing energy. It should be stressed that this possibility exists only in a relativity theory that has been adopted to the requirements of continuous creation. In orthodox relativity no such possibility arises. In a sense it is not surprising that with continuous creation a large amount of energy can be produced !