Radio-loud AGNs: The X-ray perspective

The X-ray emission of radio-loud (RL) AGNs is a powerful tool for probing the structure of the accretion flow in these objects. We review recent spectral and variability studies of RL AGNs, which show that these systems have systematically different X-ray properties than their radio-quiet (RQ) counterparts. Specifically, RL AGNs have weaker and narrower Fe Kalpha lines and weaker Compton reflection components above 10 keV. The nuclear continuum of RL AGNs in the 2-10 keV band is well described by a power law with photon indices similar to 1.8, similar to RQ AGNs of comparable X-ray luminosity. RL AGNs have little or no flux variability on short time scales (less than or similar to 0.5 days); however, flux and spectral variations are observed on time scales of weeks in two well-monitored objects, 3C 390.3 and 3C 120. These properties strongly suggest that the central engines of the two AGNs classes are different. We discuss the implications of these observational results, in particular the possibility that the central engines of RL AGNs are harbor an ion torus (also known as an Advection-Dominated Accretion Flow or ADAF). We show that a beamed component from the jet is unlikely in the majority of sources. Moreover, the X-ray data provide evidence that the circumnuclear environs of RL and RQ AGNs also differ: large amounts of cold gas are detected in BLRGs and QSRs, contrary to Seyfert galaxies of similar X-ray luminosity where an ionized absorber seems to be the norm. The role of future X-ray missions in advancing our understanding of the central engines of RL AGNs is briefly highlighted.