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# System prepended metadata

title: Finnest Proposal Outline

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# Finnest Proposal Outline

## Intro/Background

Introduce AGN jets. Introduce blazars. 

Mention properties of blazars, their typical spectra. Introduce their high energy emission up to TeV, and the still unsolved problem of particle acceleration. The high energy calls for a nonthermal particle acceleration mechanism. Describe why this is an important problem.

Introduce the lower energy (X-ray) emission from blazars. These are believed to be synchrotron radiation from the same population of accelerated particles. X-ray polarization may be a key to understanding the particle acceleration mechanism.

Introduce several (nonthermal) particle acceleration mechanisms (shock, kink, reconnection, turbulence, etc.). Mention that the polarization signatures of some of these mechanisms are still not well studied. Mention that in particular that there is recent development in using direct PIC simulations to study the kink instability, but no work has been able to predict the resulting polarization signature.

Explain that this is what you would like to do. Say in clear, exact words what you intend to do and what question you seek to address.

## Theory/Setup

Describe the relativistic kink instability in more detail. Cite some past literature. Explain clearly what has been done, and what has not. Is there any existing theoretical predictions that are relevant?

Describe simulation work that has been done so far. What they have assumed. What remains unanswered. Again mention polarization. You can also mention that radiative cooling is also an important factor that past studies may have ignored. You can also mention that in order to probe nonthermal particle acceleration, it is necessary to go beyond MHD.

## Simulations

Introduce the PIC simulations. Introduce the code that you will be using. Describe its strengths.

Briefly describe the setup of the simulation. No need to go into detail, but just enough to show that you understand what you want to do.

Describe the outcome of the simulations. Place emphasis on how these outcomes help you answer the scientific question that you posed in the first section. Outline a time table for the proposed work, even if it is wildly unrealistic.

## Ending

Close the proposal by a recap of the scientific question you want to address, and your method of answering it. Briefly make connnection to current NASA general goals. 