Gamma-ray and neutrino flares produced by protons accelerated on an accretion disc surface in active galactic nuclei

We discuss the consequences of almost rectilinear acceleration of protons to extremely high energies in a reconnection region on the surface of an accretion disc that surrounds a central black hole in an active galaxy. The protons produce gamma-rays and neutrinos in interactions with the disc radiation as considered in several previous papers. However, in this model the secondary gamma-rays can initiate cascades in the magnetic and radiation fields above the disc. We compute the spectra of gamma-rays and neutrinos emerging from regions close to the disc surface. Depending on the parameters of the reconnection regions, this model predicts the appearance of gamma-ray and neutrino hares if protons take most of the energy from the reconnection region. In contrast, if leptons take most of the energy, they produce pure gamma-ray flares. The gamma-ray spectrum expected in the case of hadronic cascading is compared with the spectrum observed during the flare in 1991 June from 3C 279. The neutrino flares that should accompany these gamma-ray flares may be detected by future large-scale neutrino telescopes sensitive at similar to 10(5) TeV.