A survey of X-ray emission from 100 kpc radio jets

TL;DR

This survey analyzes X-ray emissions from 54 radio jets associated with quasars at various redshifts, estimating jet properties and energy fluxes using Chandra data and theoretical assumptions.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive X-ray survey of extended radio jets and estimates their physical parameters using observational data and theoretical models.

Findings

X-ray emission detected in ~60% of jets

Estimated Lorentz and Doppler factors for jets

Jet enthalpy fluxes comparable to radiative luminosities

Abstract

We have completed a Chandra snapshot survey of 54 radio jets that are extended on arcsec scales. These are associated with flat spectrum radio quasars spanning a redshift range z=0.3 to 2.1. X-ray emission is detected from the jet of approximately 60% of the sample objects. We assume minimum energy and apply conditions consistent with the original Felten-Morrison calculations in order to estimate the Lorentz factors and the apparent Doppler factors. This allows estimates of the enthalpy fluxes, which turn out to be comparable to the radiative luminosities.