Curvature of the Spectral Energy Distribution, Compton Dominance, and Synchrotron Peak Frequency in Jetted Active Galactic Nuclei

Abstract

We collect a large sample with a reliable redshift detected by the Fermi satellite after 10 yr of data (4FGL-DR2), including blazars, gamma-ray narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (γNLS1s), and radio galaxies. The spectral energy distributions of these Fermi sources are fitted by using a second-degree polynomial, and some important parameters including spectral curvature, synchrotron peak frequency, and peak luminosity are obtained. Based on those parameters, we discuss the Fermi blazar sequence and the particle acceleration mechanism. Our main results are as follows: (i) By studying the relationship between the synchrotron peak frequency and the synchrotron peak frequency luminosity, jet kinetic power, and gamma-ray luminosity for jetted active galactic nuclei (AGNs), we find an “L” shape in the Fermi blazar sequence. (ii) There is a significant anticorrelation between the Compton dominance, the black hole spin, and the synchrotron peak frequency for jetted AGNs, respectively. These results support that the γNLS1s and radio galaxies belong to the Fermi blazar sequence. (iii) On the basis of previous work, statistical or stochastic acceleration mechanisms can be used to explain the relationship between the synchrotron peak frequency and synchrotron curvature. For different subclasses, the correlation slopes are different, which implies that the Fermi sources of different subclasses have different acceleration mechanisms. (iv) Flat-spectrum radio quasars and γNLS1s have a higher median spin of a black hole than BL Lac objects and radio galaxies.