Very High Energy Flat Spectral Radio Quasar Candidates

TL;DR

This study predicts potential very high energy flat spectrum radio quasars detectable by future telescopes by adjusting EBL opacity models based on spectral index-redshift correlation, identifying 32 to 122 candidates among Fermi catalog sources.

Contribution

Introduces a redshift-dependent correction to EBL opacity models and extrapolates Fermi spectra to identify new VHE FSRQ candidates for CTA detection.

Findings

32 FSRQs detectable by CTA under current flux assumptions.

An additional 90 FSRQs could be detected if flux variability increases.

Lower EBL intensity predictions expand the list of potential VHE sources.

Abstract

The attenuation of very high energy (VHE) photons by the extragalactic background light (EBL) prevents the observation of high redshift flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs). However, the correlation of VHE spectral index with source redshift suggests that EBL intensity may be less than what is predicted. This deviation can draw new constraints on opacity of the universe to VHE gamma-rays. Therefore, more FSRQs may fall above the sensitivity of the forthcoming VHE telescopes than the ones predicted by the existing EBL models. In order to account for the lower EBL intensity predicted by the index-redshift correlation, we introduce a redshift dependent correction factor to the opacity estimated from commonly used cosmological EBL model. Considering this modified opacity, we identify the plausible VHE FSRQ candidates by linearly extrapolating the \emph{Fermi} gamma-ray spectrum at 10 GeV to VHE regime. Our study suggests among 744 FSRQs reported in \emph{Fermi} fourth catalog-Data release 2 (4FGL-DR2), 32 FSRQs will be detectable by Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). Since the FSRQS are proven to be highly variable, we assume a scenario where the average \emph{Fermi} gamma-ray flux increases by a factor of 10 and this predicts additional 90 FSRQs that can be detected by CTAO.