Modeling Synchrotron Self-Compton Emission in Blazars

Synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission is expected to occur in all blazar jets. In FSRQ it explains the spectral break between X-rays and gamma rays. In BL Lac objects, it either dominates the gamma-ray spectrum or occurs alongside hadronic processes. Most theoretical models of blazar jets consider the energy carried by SSC photons. This new model examines the energy necessary to accelerate the electrons that produce SSC. We analyze Mrk 421 (a BL Lac object) to characterize the energy requirements of self-consistent SSC calculations. We also analyzed 3C 279 and learned that despite the lesser contribution of SSC to FSRQ spectra, the acceleration required to compensate for the more accurate particle cooling is significant. As we enter into an era of multimessenger blazar inquiry and perform more detailed calculations of less understood particle processes in astrophysical jets, it is helpful to more carefully resolve accepted theory.