Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Observations of Active Galactic Nuclei

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Scientific paper

Recent EGRET observations of core-dominated active galactic nuclei (AGN), can be interpreted as inverse Compton scattering of ambient nuclear X-rays by relativistic electrons and positrons accelerated behind shock fronts in a decelerating relativistic jet. Specific application of this model to the observations of 3C279 suggests that the ~ 5 GeV gamma -rays originate from a jet radius r ~ 0.2 pc, well inside the observed, superluminally expanding radio components. In general, it is suggested that there will be an approximate mapping between the gamma -ray energy and the emission radius. This, in turn, suggests that the variability timescale lengthens with increasing gamma -ray energy. Finally, it is argued that jets originate as predominately electromagnetic conduits that decelerate as they interact with their surroundings and become increasingly particle-loaded and radiative. It is speculated that the jet power most naturally originates from a magnetized, spinning black hole and that a threshold spin angular frequency may be necessary for an AGN to become radio loud.

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