Similar radiation mechanism in gamma-ray bursts and blazars: Evidence from two luminosity correlations

Abstract

Active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are powerful astrophysical events with relativistic jets. In this Letter, the broadband spectral properties of GRBs and well-observed blazars are compared. The distribution of GRBs is consistent with the well-known blazar sequence including the νL ν(5 GHz)-αRX and νL ν(5 GHz)-νpeak correlations, where αRX is defined as the broadband spectral slope in radio-to-X-ray bands, and νpeak is defined as the spectral peak frequency. Moreover, GRBs occupy the low radio luminosity end of these sequences. These two correlations suggest that GRBs could have a radiation process, i.e., synchrotron radiation, similar to blazars both in the prompt emission and afterglow phases. © 2014. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.