Abstract We have conducted an analysis of gamma-ray variability on a large sample of jetted active galactic nuclei (AGNs) by utilizing archival Fermi Large Area Telescope light curves and applying damped random walk modeling to obtain the variability amplitude. Our primary findings are summarized as follows. (1) The mean variability damping timescales of our sources are approximately 100 days. This damping timescale may imply that diffusive shock acceleration plays an important role in the variability of gamma-ray emission. (2) Flat-spectrum radio quasars demonstrate greater variability amplitude compared to BL Lacertae objects. (3) The ratio of the distance of the emission region from the central supermassive black hole to the dusty torus radius for our sources is R ≈ 2–4.5 R DT . In contrast, the ratio of the distance of the emission region from the central supermassive black hole to the broad-line region (BLR) radius for our sources is R ≈ 135–295 R BLR−in and R ≈ 123–270 R BLR−out . These findings indicate that the gamma-ray emission region in jetted AGNs is likely located beyond the BLR and potentially could be associated with the dusty torus. (4) A statistical correlation is observed between the variability amplitude and radio luminosity, radio loudness, X-ray luminosity, X-ray loudness, gamma-ray luminosity, and gamma-ray loudness, indicating a potential relationship between gamma-ray variability and jet activity. (5) The variability amplitude also shows a statistical correlation with the synchrotron peak frequency luminosity, inverse-Compton peak frequency luminosity, and Compton dominance. (6) The variability amplitude also correlates with the black hole mass, accretion-disk luminosity, and Eddington ratio, implying that the accretion disk may also contribute to gamma-ray variability.
陈 et al. (Wed,) studied this question.