Year: 1994
Type: article
Abstract: Compton scattering of external radiation by nonthermal particles in outflowing blazar jets is dominated by accretion-disk photons rather than scattered radiation to distances ~ 0.01-0.1 pc from the central engine for standard parameters, thus clarifying the limits of validity of the model by the present authors and the model of Sikora, Begelman, & Rees. On the basis of contemporaneous Ginga X-ray and EGRET gamma-ray observations, we estimate the radius of 3C 279’s gamma-ray photosphere to be smaller than estimated by Blandford. There is thus no need to require that the acceleration and emission sites of gamma-ray blazars to be located farther than ~ 102 - 103 gravitational radii from the central engine. We argue that lineless BL Lac objects, rather than quasars, are more likely to be detected in the TeV energy range. Subject headings: acceleration of particles — BL Lacertae objects: general — galaxies: jets — gamma rays: theory — radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
Authors: Charles D. Dermer, Reinhard Schlickeiser
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2010443307