Gamma rays from Penrose powered black holes in Centaurus A, 3C 273, and NGC 4151
Abstract
Gamma-ray observations of Cen A, 3C 273, and NGC 4151 are examined under the assumption that Penrose collision processes in the ergospheres of massive black holes power their nuclei. The observed sharp break in the MeV region of the NGC spectrum is attributed to Penrose Compton scattering, and the absence of an MeV break in the spectra of Cen A and 3C 273 implies Penrose pair production. Central black hole masses of tens of millions of solar masses for NGC 4151 and Cen A, and tens of billions of solar masses for 3C 273, are obtained. Attention is also given to accretion rate, the efficiency of accretion, QSOs and Seyferts.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 1980
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1980ApJ...236...99K
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics;
- Black Holes (Astronomy);
- Galactic Nuclei;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Compton Effect;
- Pair Production;
- Quasars;
- Radio Galaxies;
- Seyfert Galaxies;
- Astrophysics