Jet Mechanism and γ-Ray-emitting Region for Fermi Flat-spectrum Radio Quasars with Broad-line Emissions

Abstract

Blazars are a subject of intense debate, specifically regarding their jet launch and emission mechanisms, and the origins of their γ -ray radiation. To explore these issues, we have built a comprehensive sample of flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), with well-characterized spectral energy distribution. This study aims to elucidate the dominant jet launch mechanism and the main processes behind the inverse Compton (IC) component. Additionally, we seek to pinpoint the location of the γ -ray dissipation region relative to the central black hole, denoted as R _γ . Our approach involves a detailed analysis of broad-line region (BLR) emission, from which we derive robust estimates of the black hole masses using two distinct virial techniques. This enables us to constrain the jet power across a wide array of FSRQs. Our findings lead to several significant conclusions: (i) The correlation of jet power with black hole mass allows us to test the Blandford–Znajek, Blandford–Payne, and hybrid mechanisms. We find that the hybrid mechanism is most effective in explaining the jet power observed in the majority of FSRQs; (ii) The IC component of the γ -rays in FSRQs is predominantly due to the external Compton process. (iii) Through simulations, we determine the minimum and maximum values of R _γ (the γ -ray dissipation region) and conclude it is located outside the BLR. This conclusion is derived from the variability timescale analysis.

Keywords

• Active galactic nuclei
• Blazars
• Flat-spectrum radio quasars
• Jets
• Black holes