Are BL Lacertae objects beamed QSO remnants?
Abstract
The author considers the hypothesis that BL Lacertae objects (BLLs) are the beamed remnants of quasi-stellar objects. The hypothesis explains why BLLs do not undergo the strong evolution seen in other active galactic nuclei, since it naturally predicts that the space density of BLLs should increase with cosmic time, as shown by recent observations. Numerical models reproduce, with reasonable parameters, the known redshift and magnitude counts of BLLs. It is assumed that radio-quiet as well as radio-loud quasars are capable of generating jets, but that jets are snuffed in young radio-quiet objects and only emerge in aged ones. It is argued here that the observations allow this assumption.
- Publication:
-
Comments on Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- 1994
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.astro-ph/9408020
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9408020
- Bibcode:
- 1994ComAp..17..297B
- Keywords:
-
- BL Lacertae Objects: Quasars;
- BL Lacertae Objects: Relativistic Beaming;
- BL Lacertae Objects: Galaxy Evolution;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 20pages + 2 figures, uuencoded-compressed-Postscript, EFB0894