Origin of the X-ray emission in the nuclei of FRIs

Abstract

We investigate the X-ray origin in FRIs using the multi-waveband high resolution data of eight FR I sources, which have very low Eddington ratios. We fit their multi-waveband spectrum using a coupled accretion-jet model. We find that X-ray emission in the source with the highest Lx (∼ 1.8 × 10-4 LEdd) is from the advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF). Four sources with moderate Lx (∼ several x10-6 LEdd) are complicated. The X-ray emission of one FRI is from the jet, and the other three is from the sum of the jet and ADAF. The X-ray emission in the three least luminous sources (Lx ≤ 1.0 × 10-6 LEdd) is dominated by the jet. These results roughly support the predictions of Yuan and Cui (2005) where they predict that when the X-ray luminosity of the system is below a critical value, the X-radiation will not be dominated by the emission from the ADAF any longer, but by the jet. We also find that the accretion rates in four sources must be higher than the Bondi rates, which implies that other fuel supply (e.g., stellar winds) inside the Bondi radius should be important.