Pair production in synchrotron self-Compton models: the case of one generation of pairs

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of pair production in inhomogeneous synchrotron – self-Compton (SSC) models are discussed, assuming that only one generation of pairs is produced in sources optically thick to photon – photon interactions at energies just above threshold. Analytic expressions are derived for the resulting radiation spectrum in the case of monoenergetic electron injection. Reprocessing of the primary radiation by relativistic pairs causes most of the X-ray spectrum to be characterized by an energy spectral index close to unity. Due to Comptonization by thermal pairs of scattering optical depth τT, a steep tail can develop above the maximum synchrotron energy. Due to downscattering, the spectrum steepens between |$m{c}^{2}/{{\tau }^{2}_\text{T}}$| and mc2. We illustrate with an example the large modifications to the X-ray spectrum which can be produced by a small change in the energy of the injected electrons. This may be relevant in the interpretation of variability of active galactic nuclei.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: