Catching profound optical flares in blazars

Flaring episodes in blazars represent one of the most violent processes observed in extra-galactic objects. Studies of such events shed light on the energetics of the physical processes occurring in the innermost regions of blazars, which cannot otherwise be resolved by any current instruments. In this work, we present some of the largest and most rapid flares captured in the optical band in the blazars 3C 279, OJ 49, S4 0954+658, TXS 1156+295 and PG 1553+113. The source flux was observed to increase by nearly ten times within a timescale of a few weeks. We applied several methods of time series analysis and symmetry analysis. Moreover, we also performed searches for periodicity in the light curves of 3C 279, OJ 49 and PG 1553+113 using the Lomb-Scargle method and found plausible indications of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). In particular, the 33- and 22-day periods found in 3C 279, i.e. a 3:2 ratio, are intriguing. These violent events might originate from magnetohydrodynamical instabilities near the base of the jets, triggered by processes modulated by the magnetic field of the accretion disc. We present a qualitative treatment as the possible explanation for the observed large amplitude flux changes in both the source-intrinsic and source-extrinsic scenarios.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS accepte

Profound optical flares from the relativistic jets of active galactic nuclei

Intense outbursts in blazars are among the most extreme phenomena seen in extragalactic objects. Studying these events can offer important information about the energetic physical processes taking place within the innermost regions of blazars, which are beyond the resolution of current instruments. This work presents some of the largest and most rapid flares detected in the optical band from the sources 3C 279, OJ 49, S4 0954+658, Ton 599, and PG 1553+113, which are mostly TeV blazars. The source flux increased by nearly ten times within a few weeks, indicating the violent nature of these events. Such energetic events might originate from magnetohydrodynamical instabilities near the base of the jets, triggered by processes modulated by the magnetic field of the accretion disc. We explain the emergence of flares owing to the injection of high-energy particles by the shock wave passing along the relativistic jets. Alternatively, the flares may have also arisen due to geometrical effects related to the jets. We discuss both source-intrinsic and source-extrinsic scenarios as possible explanations for the observed large amplitude flux changes.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2023) proceeding

Rejection in Łukasiewicz's and Słupecki's Sense

The idea of rejection originated by Aristotle. The notion of rejection was introduced into formal logic by Łukasiewicz [20]. He applied it to complete syntactic characterization of deductive systems using an axiomatic method of rejection of propositions [22, 23]. The paper gives not only genesis, but also development and generalization of the notion of rejection. It also emphasizes the methodological approach to biaspectual axiomatic method of characterization of deductive systems as acceptance (asserted) systems and rejection (refutation) systems, introduced by Łukasiewicz and developed by his student Słupecki, the pioneers of the method, which becomes relevant in modern approaches to logic

Awaryjność linii pakowania cukierków przed i po wprowadzeniu strategii obsługiwania Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

The candies packing line includes the following devices: candies stacking machine, packing machine, X-Ray controller, ma-chine grouping candies and packing them into boxes (boxformer), box wrapping machine, board machine and pallets wrap-ping machine. The line works 504 hours a month. During 2003-2007 the line was serviced according to the strategy of after-damage repairs and during 2008-2012 according to the TPM strategy. The introduction of TPM contributed to the de-crease of the line failure frequency by 50%, the standstill time by 60% and the increase of productivity by ab. 10%.Linię pakowania cukierków tworzą następujące urządzenia: układarka cukierków, maszyna pakująca, kontroler X-Ray, maszyna grupująca i pakująca cukierki w tzw. boksy (boxformer), owijarka boksów, kartoniarka i owijarka palet. W ciągu miesiąca linia pracuje 504 godziny. W latach 2003-2007 linia była użytkowana według strategii napraw poawaryjnych, a w latach 2008-2012 według strategii TPM. Wprowadzenie TPM przyczyniło się do spadku liczby awarii linii o 50%, skrócenia czasu postoju o 60% i wzrostu wydajności o ok. 10%

Temporal response of magnitude distribution to fluid injection rates in The Geysers geothermal field

The influence of fluid injection rates on the magnitude distribution of the seismicity which occurred in the NW part of The Geysers geothermal site is studied here. A direct comparison between injection rate changes and b value response is attempted after appropriate selection of data subsets. Due to the relatively small sample (1121 events, corresponding to an average rate of ~ 0.45 events/day), we also aggregated seismic activity into two families corresponding to increasing and decreasing injection rates, respectively. The b values were calculated as a function of time lag related to the injection activity. In agreement with previous studies, we found a statistically significant direct relation between b values and injection rate changes, which occurred at a zero or very short time lag (from 0 to ~ 15 days). However, the b value changes are related to the slope (i.e., the second derivative of injection volume), instead of the absolute values of injection rates. The increasing injection rates correspond to b = 1.18 ± 0.06, whereas the decreasing injection rates correspond to b = 1.10 ± 0.05. The corresponding values estimated by the repeated medians technique are b = 1.97 ± 0.20 and b = 1.50 ± 0.13. Both differences are significant at 0.05 level

A correlation analysis between injection rates and magnitude distribution in the geysers geothermal field

The magnitude distribution variation in the north western part of The Geysers geothermal field is studied. Various types of b-value analysis are performed in order to investigate thoroughly the impact of fluid injection to magnitude distribution. Other parameters such as distance from the open hole of the injection well are also investigated. The analysis performed in this study indicated that b-values are significantly positively correlated to injection rate fluctuations whereas no significant influence of the seismicity rates and the distance from the injection well on b-values was detected

Time-dependent seismic hazard in Bobrek coal mine, Poland, assuming different magnitude distribution estimations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate seismic hazard parameters in connection with the evolution of mining operations and seismic activity. The time-dependent hazard parameters to be estimated are activity rate, Gutenberg–Richter b-value, mean return period and exceedance probability of a prescribed magnitude for selected time windows related with the advance of the mining front. Four magnitude distribution estimation methods are applied and the results obtained from each one are compared with each other. Those approaches are maximum likelihood using the unbounded and upper bounded Gutenberg–Richter law and the non-parametric unbounded and non-parametric upper-bounded kernel estimation of magnitude distribution. The method is applied for seismicity occurred in the longwall mining of panel 3 in coal seam 503 in Bobrek colliery in Upper Silesia Coal Basin, Poland, during 2009–2010. Applications are performed in the recently established Web-Platform for Anthropogenic Seismicity Research, available at https://tcs.ah-epos.eu/

Temporal static stress drop variations due to injection activity at The Geysers geothermal field, California

We use a high‐quality data set from the NW part of The Geysers geothermal field to determine statistical significance of temporal static stress drop variations and their relation to injection rate changes. We use a group of 322 seismic events which occurred in the proximity of Prati‐9 and Prati‐29 injection wells to examine the influence of parameters such as moment magnitude, focal mechanism, hypocentral depth, and normalized hypocentral distances from open‐hole sections of injection wells on static stress drop changes. Our results indicate that (1) static stress drop variations in time are statistically significant, (2) statistically significant static stress drop changes are inversely related to injection rate fluctuations. Therefore, it is highly expected that static stress drop of seismic events is influenced by pore pressure in underground fluid injection conditions and depends on the effective normal stress and strength of the medium