What Governs Lorentz Factors of Jet Components in Blazars?

Journal of astrophysics and astronomy

Ming Zhou³  Xinwu Cao1²  Bo Chai¹  Minfeng Gu² 

[1] Polar Research Institute of China, 451 Jinqiao Road, Pudong, Shanghai 200136, China.$$;Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 80 Nandan Road, Shanghai 200030, China.$$;Key Laboratory for the Structure and Evolution of Celestial Objects, Yunnan Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650011, China.$$

关键词: Black hole physics;    accretion;    galaxies: jets.;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：天文学(综合)

来源: Indian Academy of Sciences

【 摘 要 】

We use a sample of radio-loud Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) with measured black hole masses to explore the jet formation mechanisms in these sources. We find a significant correlation between black hole mass and the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet components for this sample, while no significant correlation is present between the bulk Lorentz factor and the Eddington ratio. Recent investigations suggested that the most super-massive black holes in elliptical galaxies have on average higher spins than the black holes in spiral galaxies. The correlation between black hole mass and bulk Lorentz factor of the jet components found in this work implies that the motion velocity of the jet components is probably governed by the black hole spin. The faster moving jets are magnetically accelerated by the magnetic fields threading the horizon of more rapidly rotating black holes.

【 授权许可】

Unknown