Accretion and jet power in active galactic nuclei

Abstract

The classical diagrams of radio loudness and jet power as a function of mass and accretion rate of the central spacetime singularity in active galactic nuclei are reanalyzed by including the data of the recently discovered powerful relativistic jets in Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies. The results are studied in the light of the known theories on the relativistic jets, indicating that while the Blandford-Znajek mechanism is sufficient to explain the power radiated by BL Lac Objects, it fails to completely account the power from quasars and Narrow-Line Seyfert 1. This favors the scenario outlined by Cavaliere & D'Elia of a composite jet, with a magnetospheric core plus a hydromagnetic component emerging as the accretion power increases and the disc becomes radiation-pressure dominated. A comparison with Galactic compact objects is also performed, finding some striking similarities, indicating that as the neutron stars are the low-mass jet systems analogue of black holes, the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies are the low-mass counterpart of the blazars.