Open AccessKinetically dominated FR II radio sources
Author(s) -
Punsly Brian
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society: letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.067
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1745-3933
pISSN - 1745-3925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2006.00254.x
Subject(s) - physics , quasar , astrophysics , accretion (finance) , context (archaeology) , accretion disc , active galactic nucleus , astronomy , kinetic energy , galaxy , quantum mechanics , history , archaeology
The existence of Fanaroff–Riley class II objects that are kinetically dominated, the jet kinetic luminosity, Q , is larger than the total thermal luminosity (infrared to X‐ray) of the accretion flow, L bol , is of profound theoretical interest. Such objects are not expected in most theoretical models of the central engine of radio‐loud active galactic nuclei. Thus, establishing such a class of objects is an important diagnostic for filtering through the myriad of theoretical possibilities. This Letter attempts to establish a class of quasars that have existed in a state of kinetic dominance, R ( t ) ≡ Q ( t )/ L bol ( t ) > 1 , at some epoch, t . It is argued that the 10 quasars in this article with a long‐term time‐average , that exceeds L Edd are likely to have satisfied the condition R ( t ) > 1 either presently or in the past based on the rarity of L bol > L Edd quasars. Finally, the existence of these sources is discussed in the context of the theory of the central engine.