Low-state gamma-ray emission from blazars and the gamma-ray background

The contribution of flat spectrum radio sources (FSRS) or blazars to the diffuse gamma ray background is examined. The basic assumptions of the investigation are: the existence of steady state gamma ray emission at the energetic gamma ray experiment telescope (EGRET) instrument energy band from the entire population of the FSRS; a proportionality between the FSRS' gamma ray luminosities and radio luminosities; and the production of the diffuse gamma ray background by the ensemble of blazars. Under these assumptions, the estimated average value of the proportionality constant in the luminosity relationship (vF(sub v))(sub 100 MeV) = f(vF(sub v))(sub 5 GHz) is approximately 70, compared to a mean observed value of 750. The implications of this result for the active galactic nuclei models are considered.