Models for Very Rapid High-Energy γ-Ray Variability in Blazars

Abstract

We present a family of models for rapid γ-ray variability in blazars based on a two-component jet. Fast variability occurs when relativistic electron–positron pairs interact with small-scale perturbations in the inner jet. These perturbations are produced by Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities. We fit the minute-scale strong variability displayed by the blazar PKS 2155−304 and present synthetic light-curves of the kind that might be observed with forthcoming instruments such as the Cherenkov telescope array.