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Spectral-luminosity evolution of active galactic nuclei and the cosmic X-ray backgroundBlack hole accretion disk dynamo processes are generally regarded as the central power source for AGN (Rees, 1984). If the precursor active galaxies for such AGN are formed at redshift z greater than about 4 and contain initial central seed black holes about 10 exp 6 solar masses, then the Eddington limited X-ray radiation emitted during their lifetime will undergo the phenomenon of 'spectral-luminosity evolution'. When accretion disks are first formed at the onset of galaxy formation, the accretion rate occurs at high values of luminosity/size compactness parameter L/R greater than 10 exp 30 erg/cm-sec. Such high values of L/R generate dynamic constraints which suppress nonthermal black hole accretion disk dynamo processes in favor of thermal processes. This causes the spectrum of X-radiation emitted by early AGN to be predominantly thermal. A superposition of such thermal, comptonized PAG sources can account for the residual cosmic X-ray background and can act as a source of X-ray heating of the intergalactic medium for z greater than about 4.
Document ID
19930039637
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Leiter, Darryl
(U.S. Army, Foreign Science and Technology Center Charlottesville, VA, United States)
Boldt, Elihu
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: In: After the first three minutes; Proceedings of the 1st Astrophysics Workshop, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, Oct. 15-17, 1990 (A93-23605 07-90)
Publisher: American Institute of Physics
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
93A23634
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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