Orateur
Description
Protostellar jets, reaching velocities of up to 1000 km/s, are a ubiquitous feature of the late stages of star formation. In several systems, these jets exhibit synchrotron radio emission, providing clear evidence for the presence of relativistic electrons and ongoing particle acceleration. Models of non-thermal emission from individual jets indicate that only the most powerful objects -such as HH80-81, recently associated with the Fermi source 4FGL J1818.5-2036- are expected to produce detectable gamma-ray fluxes. However, massive stars typically form in clustered environments, where multiple protostellar jets coexist. In this context, the collective contribution of an entire population of jets within a star-forming region may significantly enhance the prospects for gamma-ray detection. In this talk, I will present an overview of the non-thermal processes operating in protostellar jets, along with recent observational developments linking these systems to gamma-ray sources. Although protostellar jets were only considered candidate gamma-ray emitters until recently, growing observational evidence now suggests that they are beginning to emerge as a new class of high-energy sources. This opens a promising window for studying particle acceleration under conditions of relatively low-velocity shocks and high-density plasma, complementing more extreme astrophysical accelerators.