Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jul 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998apj...501l..51b&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal Letters v.501, p.L51
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
27
Galaxies: Active, Galaxies: Jets, Radiation Mechanisms: Nonthermal
Scientific paper
The synchrotron reflection scenario recently proposed to explain gamma -ray flares observed from blazar jets is studied. Our analysis takes into account the angular distribution of the beamed radiation, the finite extent of the scattering region, and light-travel-time effects. We compare energy densities and powers for synchrotron, synchrotron self-Compton, reflected synchrotron (RSy), and external Compton scattering processes. If the width of the scattering layer is much larger than Gamma R^{'}B , where Gamma and R^{'}B denote the bulk Lorentz factor and the comoving frame radius of the plasma blob, respectively, then the ratio of the RSy and synchrotron energy densities is ~4 Gamma 3n_{{BLR}} sigma _{{T}}R^{'}B , where n_{{BLR}} is the mean particle density in the broad line region (BLR). Our results imply that Thomson-thick scattering regions of narrow extent must be present for the synchrotron reflection mechanism to operate effectively. This process seems unlikely to cause flares in lineless BL Lac sources, where X-ray and TeV flares are common and the BLR is thought to be weak or absent. We sketch time profiles of flares for various scenarios.
Boettcher Markus
Dermer Charles D.
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