Gamma-ray and optical properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 flare in June 2015

AbstractWe discuss an analysis of the redshift evolutions and distributions of the gamma-ray luminosity and photon spectral index of flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) type blazars. We utilize data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, with redshfits as determined from optical spectroscopy by Shaw et al. We find that FSRQs have evolved significantly in luminosity but negligibly in photon index, and contribute in toto roughly 20% of the total gamma-ray output of the Universe.

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Blazar jet physics in the age of Fermi

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921310015772 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 (S275) ◽

pp. 111-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charles D. Dermer

Keyword(s):

Gamma Ray ◽

High Energy ◽

Jet Physics ◽

Theoretical Studies ◽

Ultra High Energy ◽

Large Area ◽

High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽

Spectrum Radio ◽

The Impact ◽

Radio Quasar

AbstractThe impact of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope on blazar research is reviewed. This includes a brief description of the Fermi Large Area Telescope, a summary of the various classes of extragalactic sources found in the First Large Area Telescope AGN Catalog, and more detailed discussion of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C454.3 and the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304. Some theoretical studies related to ongoing blazar research with Fermi are mentioned, including implications of γ-ray observations of radio galaxies on blazar unification scenarios, variability in colliding shells, and whether blazars are sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

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THE SEARCH FOR BLAZARS AMONG THE UNIDENTIFIED EGRET gamma-RAY SOURCES

Acta Polytechnica ◽

10.14311/ap.2013.53.0631 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 53 (A) ◽

pp. 631-634

Author(s):

Pieter J. Meintjes ◽

Pheneas Nkundabakura

Keyword(s):

Gamma Ray ◽

Spectral Indices ◽

Optical Photometry ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Spectrum Radio ◽

Multi Wavelength ◽

The Mean ◽

Bl Lacs ◽

Radio Quasar

In this paper we report the results of a multi-wavelength follow-up study of selected flat spectrum extragalactic radio-optical counterparts within the error boxes of 13 unidentified EGRET sources. Two of these previously unidentified counterparts have been selected for optical photometric and spectroscopic follow-up studies. Spectroscopic observations made with the 4.1m SOAR telescope at Cerro Pachón, Chile, showed that the spectra of the optical counterparts of 3EG J0821−5814 (PKS J0820−5705) and 3EG J0706−3837 (PMN J0710−3835) correspond to a flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) and LINER-Seyfert I galaxy respectively. Optical photometry of these sources, performed with the 1.0m telescope at Sutherland (South-Africa) shows noticeable intranight variability for PKS J0820−5705, as well as a 5 sigma variation of the mean brightness in the R-filter over a timescale of three nights. Significant variability has been detected in the B-band for PMN J0710−3835 as well. The gamma-ray spectral indices of all 13 candidates range between 2–3, correlating well with the BL Lacs and FSRQs detected with Fermi-LAT in the first 11 months of operation.

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MAGIC gamma-ray and multi-frequency observations of flat spectrum radio quasar PKS 1510−089 in early 2012

Astronomy and Astrophysics ◽

10.1051/0004-6361/201423484 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 569 ◽

pp. A46 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

J. Aleksić ◽

S. Ansoldi ◽

L. A. Antonelli ◽

P. Antoranz ◽

A. Babic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gamma Ray ◽

Spectrum Radio ◽

Radio Quasar

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FERMI/LARGE AREA TELESCOPE DISCOVERY OF GAMMA-RAY EMISSION FROM THE FLAT-SPECTRUM RADIO QUASAR PKS 1454–354

The Astrophysical Journal ◽

10.1088/0004-637x/697/1/934 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 697 (1) ◽

pp. 934-941 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

A. A. Abdo ◽

M. Ackermann ◽

W. B. Atwood ◽

M. Axelsson ◽

L. Baldini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gamma Ray ◽

Large Area ◽

Spectrum Radio ◽

Gamma Ray Emission ◽

Radio Quasar

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The Long-Lasting Activity in the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar (FSRQ) CTA 102

Galaxies ◽

10.3390/galaxies7010034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 34

Author(s):

Michael Zacharias ◽

Markus Böttcher ◽

Felix Jankowsky ◽

Jean-Philippe Lenain ◽

Stefan Wagner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Light Curve ◽

Gamma Ray ◽

X Ray ◽

Relativistic Jet ◽

Spectrum Radio ◽

Flux Level ◽

Gas Cloud ◽

Radio Quasar

The flat spectrum radio quasar CTA 102 ( z = 1 . 032 ) went through a tremendous phase of variability. Since early 2016 the gamma-ray flux level has been significantly higher than in previous years. It was topped by a four month long giant outburst, where peak fluxes were more than 100 times higher than the quiescence level. Similar trends are observable in optical and X-ray energies. We have explained the giant outburst as the ablation of a gas cloud by the relativistic jet that injects additional matter into the jet and can self-consistently explain the long-term light curve. Here, we argue that the cloud responsible for the giant outburst is part of a larger system that collides with the jet and is responsible for the years-long activity in CTA 102.

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The picture of relativistic jet from Fermi-LAT and multi-band observations of blazar 3C 279

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921310015851 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 (S275) ◽

pp. 155-159

Author(s):

Masaaki Hayashida ◽

Greg Madejski

Keyword(s):

Gamma Ray ◽

First Year ◽

Energy Bands ◽

X Ray ◽

Relativistic Jet ◽

Spectrum Radio ◽

Successful Launch ◽

Γ Ray ◽

Radio Quasar ◽

Multi Band

AbstractStrong and variable radiation detected over all accessible energy bands in blazar arises from a relativistic, Doppler-boosted jet pointing close to our line of sight. Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar 3C 279 was one of the brightest γ-ray blazars in the sky at the time of the discovery with EGRET. Since the successful launch of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space telescope in 2008, we have organized extensive multi-band observational campaign of 3C 279 from radio to γ-ray bands, also including optical polarimetric observations. The uninterrupted monitoring in the γ-ray band by Fermi-LAT together with the multi-band data provide us with new insights of the relativistic jet of blazar. Here, we present the results of the first-year multi-band campaign of 3C 279 including the discovery of a γ-ray flare event associated with a dramatic change of the optical polarization - as well as a discovery of an “orphan” X-ray flare, unassociated with prominent outbursts in other bands.

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Multiwavelength variability analysis of the FSRQ 3C 279

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921315001969 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (S313) ◽

pp. 89-90

Author(s):

V. Patiño-Álvarez ◽

V. Chavushyan ◽

J. León-Tavares ◽

A. Carramiñana ◽

L. Carrasco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gamma Rays ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Gamma Ray ◽

Activity Period ◽

V Band ◽

Spectrum Radio ◽

Polarization Spectra ◽

Multiwavelength Variability ◽

Radio Quasar ◽

Optical Flare

AbstractWe present a multifrequency analysis of the variability in the flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 from 2008 to 2014. Our multiwavelength dataset includes gamma-ray data from Fermi/LAT (Abdo et al. 2009), observations in 1mm from SMA (Gurwell et al. 2007), Near Infrared from OAGH (Carramiñana & Carrasco 2009) and SMARTS (Bonning et al. 2012); optical V band from the Steward Observatory (Smith et al. 2009) and SMARTS; optical spectra from OAGH (Patiño-Álvarez et al. 2013) and the Steward Observatory; and polarization spectra from the Steward Observatory. The light curves are shown in Fig. 1. Six out of seven optical activity periods identified within our dataset show clear counterparts in mm, NIR and gamma-rays, however, the late 2011 - early 2012 optical flare does not have a counterpart in the GeV regime. In this contribution, we discuss the flaring evolution of 3C 279 and speculate about the production of the anomalous activity period.

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