The Lx-Luv-Lradio relation and corona-disc-jet connection in optically selected radio-loud quasars

S. F. Zhu, W. N. Brandt, B. Luo, Jianfeng Wu, Y. Q. Xue, G. Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Radio-loud quasars (RLQs) are more X-ray luminous than predicted by the X-ray-optical/UV relation (i.e. L Lγ) for radio-quiet quasars (RQQs). The excess X-ray emission depends on the radio-loudness parameter (R) and radio spectral slope (αr). We construct a uniform sample of 729 optically selected RLQs with high fractions of X-ray detections and αr measurements. We find that steep-spectrum radio quasars (SSRQs; αr ≤-0.5) follow a quantitatively similar L Lγ relation as that for RQQs, suggesting a common coronal origin for the X-ray emission of both SSRQs and RQQs. However, the corresponding intercept of SSRQs is larger than that for RQQs and increases with R, suggesting a connection between the radio jets and the configuration of the accretion flow. Flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs; αr >-0.5) are generally more X-ray luminous than SSRQs at given Luv and R, likely involving more physical processes. The emergent picture is different from that commonly assumed where the excess X-ray emission of RLQs is attributed to the jets. We thus perform model selection to compare critically these different interpretations, which prefers the coronal scenario with a corona-jet connection. A distinct jet component is likely important for only a small portion of FSRQs. The corona-jet, disc-corona, and disc-jet connections of RLQs are likely driven by independent physical processes. Furthermore, the corona-jet connection implies that small-scale processes in the vicinity of supermassive black holes, probably associated with the magnetic flux/topology instead of black hole spin, are controlling the radio-loudness of quasars.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)245-268
Number of pages24
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume496
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 11 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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