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Synchrotron and Synchrotron Self-Compton Spectral Signatures and Blazar Emission ModelsWe find that energy losses due to synchrotron self-Compton (BBC) emission in Blazar jets can produce distinctive signatures in the time-averaged synchrotron and SSC spectra of these objects. For a fairly broad range of particle injection distributions, SSC-loss-dominated synchrotron emission exhibits a spectral dependence Fv approximately v (exp -3/2). The presence or absence of this dependence in the optical and ultraviolet spectra of flat-spectrum radio quasars such as PC 279 and in the soft X-ray spectra of high-frequency BL Lac objects such as Mark 501 gives a robust measure of the importance of SSC losses. Furthermore, for partially cooled particle distributions, spectral breaks of varying sizes can appear in the synchrotron and SSC spectra and will be related to the spectral indices of the emission below the break. These spectral signatures place constraints on the size scale and the nonthermal particle content of the emitting plasma, as well as the observer orientation relative to the jet axis.
Document ID
20020048707
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.1086/324294
Authors
Chiang, James (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Boettcher, Markus (Rice Univ. Houston, TX United States)
White, Nicholas E.
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Volume: 564
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-39073
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-10007
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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