Nonthermal electron-positron pair production and the 'universal' X-ray spectrum of active galactic nuclei

Details Nonthermal electron-positron pair production and the 'universal' X-ray spectrum of active galactic nuclei Nonthermal electron-positron pair production and the 'universal' X-ray spectrum of active galactic nuclei

Jul 1985

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1985apj...294l..79z&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters to the Editor (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 294, July 15, 1985, p. L79-L83.

Statistics

Computation

73

Active Galactic Nuclei, Electron-Positron Pairs, Pair Production, X Ray Sources, Compton Effect, Computational Astrophysics, Electron Scattering, Electrons, Gamma Rays, Photons, Positrons, X Ray Spectra

Scientific paper

A nonthermal model for power-law X-ray and gamma-ray sources is considered. An initial, primary distribution of relativistic electrons is injected and cooled via Compton scattering of soft photons (produced either externally or by the synchrotron mechanism). The scattered photons, constituting a primary gamma-ray source, produce electron-positron pairs that act as a secondary electron injection, which in turn produce a secondary photon spectrum. Pairs formed by a part of the photon spectrum optically thin to pair production are taken into account. The distribution of particles and photons is obtained, and numerical results as well as analytical solutions to certain special cases are presented. For the case of a delta-function primary electron injection it is found that the photon spectrum in the X-ray region is well approximated by a power law, with the energy spectral index alpha(X) lying in the relatively narrow range 0.5-0.9 as the compactness parameter L(x)/R (where L(x) is the X-ray luminosity and R is the source radius) varies over many orders of magnitude. This is proposed as a possible mechanism to explain the universal X-ray spectra observed from active galactic nuclei.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Nonthermal electron-positron pair production and the 'universal' X-ray spectrum of active galactic nuclei does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Nonthermal electron-positron pair production and the 'universal' X-ray spectrum of active galactic nuclei, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nonthermal electron-positron pair production and the 'universal' X-ray spectrum of active galactic nuclei will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1231379