Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995apj...450...64b&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal v.450, p.64
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
6
Galaxies: Active, Galaxies: Nuclei, Gamma Rays: Theory, Plasmas, Radiation Mechanisms: Nonthermal
Scientific paper
Recent observations by the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory have shown that many active galactic nuclei emit a significant fraction of energy above 100 keV. In such sources, the accreting plasma will be Compton heated by gamma photons with energy hv ˜ mec2. The quantum effect of recoil on Compton scattering produces a superthermal electron component in the plasma. We find that the energy of this component is comparable to the thermal energy of accreting plasma at distances on the order of 1 pc from the central source. Gamma rays are expected to significantly influence the accretion flow at these distances. We calculate the rate of plasma heating by fast electrons through Coulomb collisions, and the equilibrium temperature of the thermal electron component. When taking into account the Compton energy losses of fast electrons moving through the soft radiation field, we find a corresponding reduction of the efficiency of plasma heating by the most energetic part of the superthermal electrons.
Beloborodov Andrei M.
Illarionov Andrei F.
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