47 research outputs found
Polarization Swings Reveal Magnetic Energy Dissipation in Blazars
The polarization signatures of the blazar emissions are known to be highly
variable. In addition to small fluctuations of the polarization angle around a
mean value, sometimes large (> 180^o) polarization angle swings are observed.
We suggest that such p henomena can be interpreted as arising from
light-travel-time effects within an underlying axisymmetric emission region. We
present the first simultaneous fitting of the multi-wavelength spectrum,
variability and time-dependent polarization features of a correlated optical
and gamma-ray flaring event of the prominent blazar 3C279, which was
accompanied by a drastic change of its polarization signatures. This
unprecedented combination of spectral, variability, and polarization
information in a coherent physical model allows us to place stringent
constraints on the particle acceleration and magnetic-field topology in the
relativistic jet of a blazar, strongly favoring a scenario in which magnetic
energy dissipation is the primary driver of the flare event.Comment: Accepted for Publication in The Astrophysical Journa
A Model of Polarisation Rotations in Blazars from Kink Instabilities in Relativistic Jets
This paper presents a simple model of polarisation rotation in optically thin
relativistic jets of blazars. The model is based on the development of helical
(kink) mode of current-driven instability. A possible explanation is suggested
for the observational connection between polarisation rotations and
optical/gamma-ray flares in blazars, if the current-driven modes are triggered
by secular increases of the total jet power. The importance of intrinsic
depolarisation in limiting the amplitude of coherent polarisation rotations is
demonstrated. The polarisation rotation amplitude is thus very sensitive to the
viewing angle, which appears to be inconsistent with the observational
estimates of viewing angles in blazars showing polarisation rotations. Overall,
there are serious obstacles to explaining large-amplitude polarisation
rotations in blazars in terms of current-driven kink modes.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures; Proceedings of the conference "Polarised Emission
from Astrophysical Jets", 12-16 June 2017, Ierapetra, Greece; Eds. M.
Boettcher, E. Angelakis and J. L. G\'{o}me
A change in the optical polarization associated with a gamma-ray flare in the blazar 3C 279
It is widely accepted that strong and variable radiation detected over all
accessible energy bands in a number of active galaxies arises from a
relativistic, Doppler-boosted jet pointing close to our line of sight. The size
of the emitting zone and the location of this region relative to the central
supermassive black hole are, however, poorly known, with estimates ranging from
light-hours to a light-year or more. Here we report the coincidence of a
gamma-ray flare with a dramatic change of optical polarization angle. This
provides evidence for co-spatiality of optical and gamma-ray emission regions
and indicates a highly ordered jet magnetic field. The results also require a
non-axisymmetric structure of the emission zone, implying a curved trajectory
for the emitting material within the jet, with the dissipation region located
at a considerable distance from the black hole, at about 10^5 gravitational
radii.Comment: Published in Nature issued on 18 February 2010. Corresponding
authors: Masaaki Hayashida and Greg Madejsk
Multifrequency Photo-polarimetric WEBT Observation Campaign on the Blazar S5 0716+714: Source Microvariability and Search for Characteristic Timescales
Here we report on the results of the WEBT photo-polarimetric campaign
targeting the blazar S5~0716+71, organized in March 2014 to monitor the source
simultaneously in BVRI and near IR filters. The campaign resulted in an
unprecedented dataset spanning \,h of nearly continuous, multi-band
observations, including two sets of densely sampled polarimetric data mainly in
R filter. During the campaign, the source displayed pronounced variability with
peak-to-peak variations of about and "bluer-when-brighter" spectral
evolution, consisting of a day-timescale modulation with superimposed hourlong
microflares characterized by \,mag flux changes. We performed an
in-depth search for quasi-periodicities in the source light curve; hints for
the presence of oscillations on timescales of \,h and \,h do
not represent highly significant departures from a pure red-noise power
spectrum. We observed that, at a certain configuration of the optical
polarization angle relative to the positional angle of the innermost radio jet
in the source, changes in the polarization degree led the total flux
variability by about 2\,h; meanwhile, when the relative configuration of the
polarization and jet angles altered, no such lag could be noted. The
microflaring events, when analyzed as separate pulse emission components, were
found to be characterized by a very high polarization degree () and
polarization angles which differed substantially from the polarization angle of
the underlying background component, or from the radio jet positional angle. We
discuss the results in the general context of blazar emission and energy
dissipation models.Comment: 16 pages, 17 Figures; ApJ accepte
Flaring Behavior of the Quasar 3C~454.3 across the Electromagnetic Spectrum
We analyze the behavior of the parsec-scale jet of the quasar 3C~454.3 during
pronounced flaring activity in 2005-2008. Three major disturbances propagated
down the jet along different trajectories with Lorentz factors 10. The
disturbances show a clear connection with millimeter-wave outbursts, in 2005
May/June, 2007 July, and 2007 December. High-amplitude optical events in the
-band light curve precede peaks of the millimeter-wave outbursts by 15-50
days. Each optical outburst is accompanied by an increase in X-ray activity. We
associate the optical outbursts with propagation of the superluminal knots and
derive the location of sites of energy dissipation in the form of radiation.
The most prominent and long-lasting of these, in 2005 May, occurred closer to
the black hole, while the outbursts with a shorter duration in 2005 Autumn and
in 2007 might be connected with the passage of a disturbance through the
millimeter-wave core of the jet. The optical outbursts, which coincide with the
passage of superluminal radio knots through the core, are accompanied by
systematic rotation of the position angle of optical linear polarization. Such
rotation appears to be a common feature during the early stages of flares in
blazars. We find correlations between optical variations and those at X-ray and
-ray energies. We conclude that the emergence of a superluminal knot
from the core yields a series of optical and high-energy outbursts, and that
the mm-wave core lies at the end of the jet's acceleration and collimation
zone.Comment: 57 pages, 23 figures, 8 tables (submitted to ApJ
High-Energy Polarimetry - a new window to probe extreme physics in AGN jets
The constantly improving sensitivity of ground-based and space-borne
observatories has made possible the detection of high-energy emission (X-rays
and gamma-rays) from several thousands of extragalactic sources. Enormous
progress has been made in measuring the continuum flux enabling us to perform
imaging, spectral and timing studies. An important remaining challenge for
high-energy astronomy is measuring polarization. The capability to measure
polarization is being realized currently at X-ray energies (e.g. with IXPE),
and sensitive gamma-ray telescopes capable of measuring polarization, such as
AMEGO, AdEPT, e-ASTROGAM, etc., are being developed. These future gamma-ray
telescopes will probe the radiation mechanisms and magnetic fields of
relativistic jets from active galactic nuclei at spatial scales much smaller
than the angular resolution achieved with continuum observations of the
instrument. In this white paper, we discuss the scientific potentials of
high-energy polarimetry, especially gamma-ray polarimetry, including the
theoretical implications, and observational technology advances being made. In
particular, we will explore the primary scientific opportunities and wealth of
information expected from synergy of multi-wavelength polarimetry that will be
brought to multi-messenger astronomy.Comment: submitted to Astro2020 (Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey