The kinetic luminosity function and the jet production efficiency of growing black holes

We derive the kinetic luminosity function for flat-spectrum radio jets, using the empirical and theoretical scaling relation between jet power and radio core luminosity. The normalization for this relation is derived from a sample of flat-spectrum cores in galaxy clusters with jet-driven X-ray cavities. The total integrated jet power at z = 0 is W-tot approximate to 3 x 10(40) ergs s(-1) Mpc(-3). By integrating W-tot over redshift, we determine the total energy density deposited by jets as e(tot) approximate to 2 x 10(58) ergs Mpc(-3). Both W-tot and e(tot) are dominated by low-luminosity sources. Comparing e(tot) to the local black hole mass density rho(BH) gives an average jet production efficiency of e(jet) = e(jet)/rho C-BH(2) approximate to 3%. Since black hole mass is accreted mainly during high-luminosity states, e(jet) is likely much higher during low-luminosity states.