Centaurus A is one of the most studied active radio galaxies as it is the closest to the Milky Way. It has also been studied in many different wavebands. Of particular interest is the double radio source that stretches 10 degrees across the sky and consists of giant outer lobes, a smaller northern middle lobe, the inner lobes and central jets and a compact core.

 

This honours research developed numerical models of the inner radio structure of Centaurus A using the FLASH relativistic hydrodynamics code, and compared the predictions with observations of the galaxy. Three simulations were performed which were identical apart from the distribution of a warm cloud medium at the base of the jet. One simulation modelled the galaxy without the warm cloud medium, and the other two with a galactic disk of non-uniform clouds. The latter two simulations di