Multiwavelength Variability Analysis of 3C 279

Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

guez, Erique¹  Leó²  lvarez, Ví²  ctor M.³  s, José³  n-Tavares, Jonathan³  Patiñ⁴  pez-Rodrí⁵  Valdé⁶  Ló⁶  ana, Alberto⁶  Carramiñ⁷  Carrasco, Luis⁷  Chavushyan, Vahram⁷  o-Á⁸  Schlegel, Eric M.⁹  Fernandes, Sunil⁹  R.⁹ 

[1] Centre for Remote Sensing and Earth Observation Processes (TAP), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Belgium;Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, United States;Instituto Nacional de AstrofíMax-Planck-Institut füSOFIA Science Center, NASA Ames Center, United States;nica, Mexico;ptica y Electrór Radioastronomie, Germany;sica Ó

关键词: multiwavelength;    Blazar;    3C 279;    gamma-rays;    Emission mechanism;    FSRQ;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fspas.2017.00047

学科分类：空间科学

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

We present a multifrequency analysis of the variability in the flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 from 2008 to 2014. Our multiwavelength datasets range from 1mm to gamma-rays, with additional optical polarimetry. Cross-correlation analysis shows a significant correlation between the UV continuum emission, the optical and NIR bands, at a delay consistent with zero, implying co-spatial emission regions. We also find a correlation between the UV continuum and the 1 mm data, which implies that the dominant process in producing the UV continuum is synchrotron emission. Based on the behaviour of the gamma-ray light curve with respect to other bands, we identified three different activity periods. During period A we find a significant correlation at zero delay between the UV continuum and the gamma-rays, implying co-spatial emission regions which points towards synchrotron self-Compton as dominant gamma-ray emission mechanism. During period C we find a delay between the UV continuum and the gamma-rays, as well as a correlation at zero delay between X-rays and gamma-rays, both results implying that external inverse Compton is the dominant gamma-ray emission mechanism. This is the first time that observational evidence is presented for a change in the dominant gamma-ray emission mechanism in a blazar. During period B there are multiple flares in the bands from 1mm to UV, however, none of these show a counterpart in the gamma-rays band. We propose that this is caused by an increase in the gamma-ray opacity due to electron-positron pair production.

【 授权许可】

CC BY