The Lorentz factor distribution and luminosity function of relativistic jets in AGNs

Abstract

The observed apparent velocities and luminosities of the relativistic jets in AGNs are significantly different from their intrinsic values due to strong special relativistic effects. We adopt the maximum likelihood method to determine simultaneously the intrinsic luminosity function and the Lorentz factor distribution of a sample of AGNs. The values of the best estimated parameters are consistent with the previous results, but with much better accuracy. In previous study, it was assumed that the shape of the observed luminosity function of Fanaroff-Riley type II radio galaxies is the same with the intrinsic luminosity function of radio loud quasars. Our results prove the validity of this assumption. We also find that low and high redshift groups divided by z=0.1 are likely to be from different parent populations.

18 pages, 7 figures. The original version of this paper was submitted to ApJL on January 19, 2007. The current version was submitted to ApJ on April 15, 2007 and accepted on May 16, 2007

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