A simplified view of blazars: the gamma-ray case

作者：Giommi P^*; Padovani P; Polenta G

来源：Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2013, 431(2): 1914-1922.

DOI：10.1093/mnras/stt305

• radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
• BL Lacertae objects: general
• quasars: emission lines
• gamma-rays: galaxies
• radio continuum: galaxies

We have recently proposed a new simplified scenario where blazars are classified as flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) or BL Lacs according to the prescriptions of unified schemes, and to a varying combination of Doppler-boosted radiation from the jet, emission from the accretion disc, the broad line region and light from the host galaxy. Here we extend our approach, previously applied to radio and X-ray surveys, to the gamma-ray band and, through detailed Monte Carlo simulations, compare our predictions to Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) survey data. Our simulations are in remarkable agreement with the overall observational results, including the percentages of BL Lacs and FSRQs, the fraction of redshift-less objects and the redshift, synchrotron peak and gamma-ray spectral index distributions. The strength and large scatter of the oft-debated observed gamma-ray-radio flux density correlation are also reproduced. In addition, we predict that almost 3/4 of Fermi-LAT BL Lacs, and basically all of those without redshift determination, are actually FSRQs with their emission lines swamped by the non-thermal continuum and as such should be considered. Finally, several of the currently unassociated high Galactic latitude Fermi sources are expected to be radio-faint blazars displaying a pure elliptical galaxy optical spectrum.

• 出版日期2013-5