Inverse Compton X-ray emission from the superluminal quasar 3C 345

Details Inverse Compton X-ray emission from the superluminal quasar 3C 345 Inverse Compton X-ray emission from the superluminal quasar 3C 345

Sep 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994apj...432..103u&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 432, no. 1, p. 103-113

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

41

Compton Effect, Doppler Effect, Nonthermal Radiation, Quasars, Radio Astronomy, Radio Jets (Astronomy), Radio Spectra, X Ray Astronomy, X Ray Spectra, Astronomical Satellites, Centimeter Waves, Decimeter Waves, Rosat Mission, Spaceborne Astronomy, Superhigh Frequencies, Ultrahigh Frequencies, Very Long Base Interferometry

Scientific paper

In quasars with strong radio cores, the inverse-Compton process is believed to be the dominant source X-ray emission. For objects with parsec-scale radio jets, simple models have predicted that components in the jet emerging from the quasar nucleus generate the observed X-ray emission. We have tested this hypothesis in detail for the quasar 3C 345 using a ROSAT X-ray observation in 1990 July, together with quasi-simultaneous very long base interferometry (VLBI) imaging of the parsec-scale jet at five frequencies. The ROSAT spectrum is well fitted by a power law with index alpha = -0.96 +/- -0.13, consistent with models in which the X-ray emission results from inverse-Compton scattering of radio radiation from high-energy electrons in compact components. We show that the radio properties of brightest `knot' in the jet (`C5') can be fitted with a homogeneous sphere model whose parameters require bulk relativistic motion of the emitting material; otherwise the predicted model whose parameters require bulk relativistic motion of the emitting material; otherwise the predicted inverse-Compton X-ray emission exceeds the observed flux. If C5 is the origin of the X-ray emission, then it has a Doppler factor delta = 7.5(+3-2). If the nucleus or other components contribute to the X-ray emission, then this becomes a firm lower limit to delta. The inhomogeneous jet model of Koenigl is a good fit both to the barely resolved (less than 1 pc) flat-spectrum nucleus in the radio, and also to the ROSAT X-ray spectrum. The synchrotron and inverse-Compton emitting fluid moves down a narrow cone (opening angle 2 phi approximately 5 deg) nucleus relativistically, with delta approximately 4.6. Doppler factors for the nucleus and C5, derived from our ROSAT observation, provide evidence for bulk relativistic motion in the jet. By combining these constraints with well-known superluminal motion of jet components, we can deduce geometry. For epoch 1990.5 we infer the Lorentz factor gamma = 7.5 (+1.0-1.5) and angle to the line of sight theta = 8(+2deg -3 deg) for H0 = 100 km/s/Mpc. These values are the most reliable yet derived using this method, because of the near-simultaneity of our X-ray and VLBI observations and the quality of the multifrequency of VLBI images and component radio spectra.

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