Journal Article

Luminosity–redshift (L−z) relation and the blazar sequence for low power blazars

Odo, F. C., Ubachukwu, A. A., Chukwude, A. E.

2014

Overview

This paper presents an alternative interpretation for the wide scatter and apparent lack of anti-correlation in the relationship between the spectral luminosity ( L ν ) and synchrotron peak frequency ( ν peak ) in a sample of BL Lac Objects contained in Wu et al. (Astron. Astrophys. 466:43, 2007 ) compilation. The apparent lack of correlation between the parameters contradicts the blazar sequence proposed by Fossati et al. (in Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 299:433, 1998 ), which predicts a general decline in L ν with increasing ν peak . Analysis of the radio luminosity and synchrotron peak frequency data of the sample reveals a strong selection effect, due to Malmquist bias. We show that a clear anti-correlation ( r ∼−0.7) between the radio luminosity at synchrotron peak ( L peak ) and ν peak exists for the BL Lac sample above some redshift cut-off ( z c =0.3), which may correspond to the flux limit of the sample. The results are not only in agreement with FRI–BL Lac unification, but also suggest that the present data is consistent with the blazar sequence.

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Astrobiology / Astronomy / Astrophysics / Astrophysics and Astroparticles / Cosmology / Luminosity / Neutron stars / Observations and Techniques / Original Article / Physics / Physics and Astronomy / Red shift / Space Exploration and Astronautics / Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics / Stars & galaxies