Browsing by Author "Lister, M. L."

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 20 of 21
  • Calibrating the power of relativistic jets
    (2019-01-01) Foschini, L.; Lister, M. L.; Hovatta, T.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Romano, P.; Vercellone, S.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Savolainen, T. K.; Tornikoski, M.; Angelakis, E.; Berton, M.; Braito, V.; Ciroi, S.; Kadler, M.; Burd, P. R.
     A4 Artikkeli konferenssijulkaisussa
    There are several methods to calculate the radiative and kinetic power of relativistic jets, but their results can differ by one or two orders of magnitude. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a calibration of the jet power, to understand the reasons for these differences (whether wrong hypotheses or intrinsic source variability), and if it is possible to converge to a reliable measurement of this physical quantity. We present preliminary results of a project aimed at calibrating the power of relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) and X-ray binaries (XRB). We started by selecting all the AGN associations with known redshift in the Fourth Fermi LAT Gamma-Ray Catalog (4FGL). We then calculated the radiative and/or kinetic powers from available data or we extracted this information from literature. We compare the values obtained for overlapping samples and highlight preliminary conclusions.
  • A decade of joint MOJAVE-Fermi AGN monitoring: localization of the gamma-ray emission region
    (2022-02) Kramarenko, I. G.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Lister, M. L.; Hovatta, T.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    Within the MOJAVE VLBA programme (Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA Experiments), we have accumulated observational data at 15 GHz for hundreds of jets in gamma-ray bright active galactic nuclei since the beginning of the Fermi scientific observations in 2008 August. We investigated a time delay between the flux density of AGN parsec-scale radio emission at 15 GHz and 0.1-300 GeV Fermi LAT photon flux, taken from constructed light curves using weekly and adaptive binning. The correlation analysis shows that radio is lagging gamma-ray radiation by up to 8 months in the observer's frame, while in the source frame, the typical delay is about 2-3 months. If the jet radio emission, excluding the opaque core, is considered, significant correlation is found at greater time lags. We supplement these results with VLBI kinematics and core shift data to conclude that the dominant high-energy production zone is typically located at a distance of several parsecs from the central nucleus. We also found that quasars have on average more significant correlation peak, more distant gamma-ray emission region from the central engine and shorter variability time-scale compared to those of BL Lacertae objects.
  • Insights into the emission of the blazar 1ES 1011+496 through unprecedented broadband observations during 2011 and 2012
    (2016) Aleksić, J.; Ansoldi, S.; Antonelli, L. A.; Antoranz, P.; Arcaro, C.; Babic, A.; Bangale, P.; Barres De Almeida, U.; Barrio, J. A.; Becerra González, J.; Bednarek, W.; Bernardini, E.; Biasuzzi, B.; Biland, A.; Blanch, O.; Bonnefoy, S.; Bonnoli, G.; Borracci, F.; Bretz, T.; Carmona, E.; Carosi, A.; Colin, P.; Colombo, E.; Contreras, J. L.; Cortina, J.; Covino, S.; Da Vela, P.; Dazzi, F.; De Angelis, A.; De Caneva, G.; De Lotto, B.; De Oña Wilhelmi, E.; Delgado Mendez, C.; Di Pierro, F.; Dominis Prester, D.; Dorner, D.; Doro, M.; Einecke, S.; Eisenacher, D.; Elsaesser, D.; Fernández-Barral, A.; Fidalgo, D.; Fonseca, M. V.; Font, L.; Frantzen, K.; Fruck, C.; Galindo, D.; García López, R. J.; Garczarczyk, M.; Garrido Terrats, D.; Gaug, M.; Godinović, N.; González Muñoz, A.; Gozzini, S. R.; Hadasch, D.; Hanabata, Y.; Hayashida, M.; Herrera, J.; Hose, J.; Hrupec, D.; Idec, W.; Kadenius, V.; Kellermann, H.; Knoetig, M. L.; Kodani, K.; Konno, Y.; Krause, J.; Kubo, H.; Kushida, J.; La Barbera, A.; Lelas, D.; Lewandowska, N.; Lindfors, E.; Lombardi, S.; Longo, F.; López, M.; López-Coto, R.; López-Oramas, A.; Lorenz, E.; Lozano, I.; Makariev, M.; Mallot, K.; Maneva, G.; Mannheim, K.; Maraschi, L.; Marcote, B.; Mariotti, M.; Martínez, M.; Mazin, D.; Menzel, U.; Miranda, J. M.; Mirzoyan, R.; Moralejo, A.; Munar-Adrover, P.; Nakajima, D.; Neustroev, V.; Niedzwiecki, A.; Nievas Rosillo, M.; Nilsson, K.; Nishijima, K.; Noda, K.; Orito, R.; Overkemping, A.; Paiano, S.; Palatiello, M.; Paneque, D.; Paoletti, R.; Paredes, J. M.; Paredes-Fortuny, X.; Persic, M.; Poutanen, J.; Prada Moroni, P. G.; Prandini, E.; Puljak, I.; Reinthal, R.; Rhode, W.; Ribó, M.; Rico, J.; Rodriguez Garcia, J.; Saito, T.; Saito, K.; Satalecka, K.; Scalzotto, V.; Scapin, V.; Schweizer, T.; Shore, S. N.; Sillanpää, A.; Sitarek, J.; Snidaric, I.; Sobczynska, D.; Stamerra, A.; Steinbring, T.; Strzys, M.; Takalo, L.; Takami, H.; Tavecchio, F.; Temnikov, P.; Terzić, T.; Tescaro, D.; Teshima, M.; Thaele, J.; Torres, D. F.; Toyama, T.; Treves, A.; Vogler, P.; Will, M.; Zanin, R.; Buson, S.; D'Ammando, F.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Hovatta, T.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Lister, M. L.; Max-Moerbeck, W.; Mundell, C.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Rastorgueva-Foi, E.; Readhead, A. C S; Richards, J. L.; Tammi, J.; Sanchez, D. A.; Tornikoski, M.; Savolainen, Tuomas; Steele, I.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    Context. 1ES 1011+496 (z = 0:212) was discovered in very high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) γ rays with MAGIC in 2007. The absence of simultaneous data at lower energies led to an incomplete characterization of the broadband spectral energy distribution (SED). Aims. We study the source properties and the emission mechanisms, probing whether a simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) scenario is able to explain the observed broadband spectrum. Methods. We analyzed data in the range from VHE to radio data from 2011 and 2012 collected by MAGIC, Fermi-LAT, Swift, KVA, OVRO, and Metsähovi in addition to optical polarimetry data and radio maps from the Liverpool Telescope and MOJAVE. Results. The VHE spectrum was fit with a simple power law with a photon index of 3:69 ± 0:22 and a flux above 150 GeV of (1:46 ± 0:16) × 10-11 ph cm-2 s-1. The source 1ES 1011+496 was found to be in a generally quiescent state at all observed wavelengths, showing only moderate variability from radio to X-rays. A low degree of polarization of less than 10% was measured in optical, while some bright features polarized up to 60% were observed in the radio jet. A similar trend in the rotation of the electric vector position angle was found in optical and radio. The radio maps indicated a superluminal motion of 1.8±0.4 c, which is the highest speed statistically significant measured so far in a high-frequency-peaked BL Lac. Conclusions. For the first time, the high-energy bump in the broadband SED of 1ES 1011+496 could be fully characterized from 0.1 GeV to 1 TeV, which permitted a more reliable interpretation within the one-zone SSC scenario. The polarimetry data suggest that at least part of the optical emission has its origin in some of the bright radio features, while the low polarization in optical might be due to the contribution of parts of the radio jet with different orientations of the magnetic field with respect to the optical emission.
  • Kiloparsec-scale emission in the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 783
    (2017-07-01) Congiu, E.; Berton, M.; Giroletti, M.; Antonucci, R.R.J.; Caccianiga, A.; Kharb, P.; Lister, M. L.; Foschini, L.; Ciroi, S.; Cracco, V.; Frezzato, M.; Järvelä, E.; La Mura, G.; Richards, J. L.; Rafanelli, P.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We present the first results of a radio survey of 79 narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) carried out with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) at 5 GHz in A configuration aimed at studying the radio properties of these sources. We report the detection of extended emission in one object: Mrk 783. This is intriguing, since the radio-loudness parameter R of this object is close to the threshold between radio-quiet and radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN). The galaxy is one of the few NLS1 showing such an extended emission at z < 0.1. The radio emission is divided into a compact core component and an extended component, observed on both sides of the nucleus and extending from 14 kpc southeast to 12 kpc northwest. There is no sign of a collimated jet and the shape of the extended component is similar to those of some Seyfert galaxies. The properties of the emission are compatible with a relic produced by the intermittent activity cycle of the AGN.
  • MOJAVE - XIV. Shapes and opening angles of AGN jets
    (2017-07) Pushkarev, Alexander B.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Lister, M. L.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We present 15 GHz stacked VLBA images of 373 jets associated with active galactic nuclei (AGNs) having at least five observing epochs within a 20 yr time interval 1994-2015 from the Monitoring Of Jets in Active galactic nuclei with VLBA Experiments (MOJAVE) programme and/or its precursor, the 2-cm VLBA Survey. These data are supplemented by 1.4 GHz single-epoch VLBA observations of 135 MOJAVE AGNs to probe larger scale jet structures. The typical jet geometry is found to be close to conical on scales from hundreds to thousands of parsecs, while a number of galaxies show quasi-parabolic streamlines on smaller scales. A true jet geometry in a considerable fraction of AGNs appears only after stacking epochs over several years. The jets with significant radial accelerated motion undergo more active collimation. We have analysed total intensity jet profiles transverse to the local jet ridgeline and derived both apparent and intrinsic opening angles of the flows, with medians of 21.5° and 1.3°, respectively. The Fermi LAT-detected gamma-ray AGNs in our sample have, on average, wider apparent and narrower intrinsic opening angle, and smaller viewing angle than non-LAT-detected AGNs. We have established a highly significant correlation between the apparent opening angle and gamma-ray luminosity, driven by Doppler beaming and projection effects.
  • MOJAVE – XX. Persistent linear polarization structure in parsec-scale AGN jets
    (2023-04-01) Pushkarev, A. B.; Aller, H. D.; Aller, M. F.; Homan, D. C.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Lister, M. L.; Pashchenko, I. N.; Savolainen, T.; Zobnina, D. I.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We analysed the parsec-scale linear polarization properties of 436 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) based on 15 GHz polarimetric Very Long Baseline Array observations. We present polarization and total intensity images averaged over at least five epochs since 1996 January 19 through 2019 August 4. Stacking improves the image sensitivity down to ∼30 μJy beam−1 and effectively fills out the jet cross-section both in total intensity and linear polarization. It delineates the long-term persistent magnetic field configuration and its regularity by restoring spatial distributions of the electric vector position angle (EVPA) and fractional polarization, respectively. On average, about 10 yr of stacking period is needed to reveal the stable and most-complete polarization distribution of a source. We find that the degree of polarization significantly increases down and across the jet towards its edges, typically manifesting U or W-shaped transverse profiles, suggesting a presence of a large-scale helical magnetic field associated with the outflow. In some AGN jets, mainly BL Lacs, we detect quasi-constant fractional polarization profiles across the jet, accompanied by EVPAs that closely follow the outflow. BL Lacs show higher fractional polarization values in their cores and jets than those in quasars up to hectoparsec de-projected scales, while on larger scales, they become comparable. High-synchrotron-peaked BL Lac jets are found to be less polarized than intermediate and low-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs. The spatial distribution of the EVPAs in BL Lacs tend to align with the local jet direction, while quasars show an excess of orthogonal polarization orientation.
  • MOJAVE - XXI. Decade-long linear polarization variability in AGN jets at parsec scales
    (2023-08-01) Zobnina, D. I.; Aller, H. D.; Aller, M. F.; Homan, D. C.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Lister, M. L.; Pashchenko, I. N.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    Using stacking of images obtained at different epochs, we studied the variability properties of linear polarization of active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets on parsec-scales. Our sample is drawn from the MOJAVE programme, and consists of 436 AGNs manifesting core-jet morphology and having at least five VLBA observing epochs at 15 GHz from 1996 January through 2019 August, with some additional archival VLBA data reduced by us. We employed a stacking procedure and constructed maps of (i) standard deviation of fractional polarization and electric vector position angle (EVPA) over epochs as the measure of variability and (ii) median polarization degree to quantify typical values in time. The distributions of these values along and across the jet were analysed for the whole sample for the first time. We found that core EVPA variability is typically higher than that of the jet, presumably due to component blending and outflow bends in the core. The BL Lacertae object cores have lower EVPA variability, compared to that of quasars, possibly due to lower Faraday rotation measure, suggesting a stronger ordered magnetic field component. The EVPA becomes more stable down the jet. Most of the sources showing this trend have a time coverage of more than 12 yr and at least 15 epochs. The possible cause could be the increase of stability in the magnetic field direction, reflecting an increase in the fraction of the magnetic field that is ordered. There are no significant optical-class-dependent or spectral-class-dependent relations in the EVPA variability properties in AGN jets.
  • MOJAVE XVI: Multiepoch Linear Polarization Properties of Parsec-scale AGN Jet Cores
    (2018-08-01) Hodge, M. A.; Lister, M. L.; Aller, M. F.; Aller, H. D.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We present an analysis of the core linear polarization properties of 387 parsec-scale active galactic nuclei (AGNs) jets. Using 15 GHz VLBA data, we revisit the conclusions of the first paper in this series with multiepoch measurements and more detailed analysis of a larger AGN sample that spans a broader range of synchrotron peak frequencies. Each AGN has been observed for at least five epochs between 1996 and 2017. We find that BL Lac objects have core electric vector position angles (EVPAs) that tend toward alignment with the local jet direction; compared to flat spectrum radio quasars, their EVPAs are also less variable over time. The AGN cores that are most fractionally polarized and least variable in polarization have EVPAs that are closely aligned with the local jet direction; they also have low variability in EVPA. These results support the popular model of a standing transverse shock at the base of the jet that collimates the jet magnetic field perpendicular to the jet direction, increasing the fractional polarization and leading to greater polarization stability over time. High-synchrotron-peaked BL Lac objects form a low luminosity, low fractional polarization population. The five narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies in our sample have low fractional polarization and large EVPA-jet misalignments. Although AGNs detected at γ-rays are thought to be more Doppler boosted than nondetected AGNs, we find no significant differences in fractional polarization based on detection by Fermi-LAT; the γ-loud AGNs are, however, more variable in core EVPAs.
  • MOJAVE. XIX. Brightness Temperatures and Intrinsic Properties of Blazar Jets
    (2021-12-10) Homan, D. C.; Cohen, M. H.; Hovatta, T.; Kellermann, K.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Lister, M. L.; Popkov, A.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Ros, E.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We present multiepoch, parsec-scale core brightness temperature observations of 447 active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets from the MOJAVE and 2 cm Survey programs at 15 GHz from 1994 to 2019. The brightness temperature of each jet over time is characterized by its median value and variability. We find that the range of median brightness temperatures for AGN jets in our sample is much larger than the variations within individual jets, consistent with Doppler boosting being the primary difference between the brightness temperatures of jets in their median state. We combine the observed median brightness temperatures with apparent jet speed measurements to find the typical intrinsic Gaussian brightness temperature of 4.1( ± 0.6) × 1010 K, suggesting that jet cores are at or below equipartition between particle and magnetic field energy in their median state. We use this value to derive estimates for the Doppler factor for every source in our sample. For the 309 jets with both apparent speed and brightness temperature data, we estimate their Lorentz factors and viewing angles to the line of sight. Within the BL Lac optical class, we find that high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs have smaller Doppler factors, lower Lorentz factors, and larger angles to the line of sight than intermediate and low-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs. We confirm that AGN jets with larger Doppler factors measured in their parsec-scale radio cores are more likely to be detected in ? rays, and we find a strong correlation between ?-ray luminosity and Doppler factor for the detected sources.
  • MOJAVE. XV. VLBA 15 GHz Total Intensity and Polarization Maps of 437 Parsec-scale AGN Jets from 1996 to 2017
    (2018-01-01) Lister, M. L.; Aller, M. F.; Aller, H. D.; Hodge, M. A.; Homan, D. C.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We present 5321 mas-resolution total intensity and linear polarization maps of 437 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) obtained with the VLBA at 15 GHz as part of the MOJAVE survey, and also from the NRAO data archive. The former is a long-term program to study the structure and evolution of powerful parsec-scale outflows associated with AGNs. The targeted AGNs are drawn from several flux-limited radio and γ-ray samples, and all have correlated VLBA flux densities greater than ∼50 mJy at 15 GHz. Approximately 80% of these AGNs are associated with γ-ray sources detected by the Fermi LAT instrument. The vast majority were observed with the VLBA on 5-15 occasions between 1996 January 19 and 2016 December 26, at intervals ranging from a month to several years, with the most typical sampling interval being six months. A detailed analysis of the linear and circular polarization evolutions of these AGN jets is presented in the other papers in this series.
  • MOJAVE. XVII. Jet Kinematics and Parent Population Properties of Relativistically Beamed Radio-loud Blazars
    (2019-03-20) Lister, M. L.; Homan, D. C.; Hovatta, T.; Kellermann, K.; Kiehlmann, S.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Max-Moerbeck, W.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Readhead, A. C. S.; Ros, E.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We present results from a parsec-scale jet kinematics study of 409 bright radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs) based on 15 GHz Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) data obtained between 1994 August 31 and 2016 December 26 as part of the 2 cm VLBA survey and Monitoring Of Jets in Active galactic nuclei with VLBA Experiments (MOJAVE) programs. We tracked 1744 individual bright features in 382 jets over at least 5 epochs. A majority (59%) of the best-sampled jet features showed evidence of accelerated motion at the >3σ level. Although most features within a jet typically have speeds within ∼40% of a characteristic median value, we identified 55 features in 42 jets that had unusually slow pattern speeds, nearly all of which lie within 4 pc (100 pc deprojected) of the core feature. Our results, combined with other speeds from the literature, indicate a strong correlation between apparent jet speed and synchrotron peak frequency, with the highest jet speeds being found only in low-peaked AGNs. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we find best-fit parent population parameters for a complete sample of 174 quasars above 1.5 Jy at 15 GHz. Acceptable fits are found with a jet population that has a simple unbeamed power-law luminosity function incorporating pure luminosity evolution and a power-law Lorentz factor distribution ranging from 1.25 to 50 with slope -1.4 ± 0.2. The parent jets of the brightest radio quasars have a space density of 261 ± 19 Gpc -3 and unbeamed 15 GHz luminosities above ∼10 24.5 W Hz -1 , consistent with FR II class radio galaxies.
  • MOJAVE: XIII. PARSEC-SCALE AGN JET KINEMATICS ANALYSIS BASED on 19 YEARS of VLBA OBSERVATIONS at 15 GHz
    (2016-07-01) Lister, M. L.; Aller, M. F.; Aller, H. D.; Homan, D. C.; Kellermann, K. I.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Richards, J. L.; Ros, E.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We present 1625 new 15 GHz (2 cm) VLBA images of 295 jets associated with active galactic nuclei (AGNs) from the MOJAVE and 2 cm VLBA surveys, spanning observations between 1994 August 31 and 2013 August 20. For 274 AGNs with at least 5 VLBA epochs, we have analyzed the kinematics of 961 individual bright features in their parsec-scale jets. A total of 122 of these jets have not been previously analyzed by the MOJAVE program. In the case of 451 jet features that had at least 10 epochs, we also examined their kinematics for possible accelerations. At least half of the well-sampled features have non-radial and/or accelerating trajectories, indicating that non-ballistic motion is common in AGN jets. Since it is impossible to extrapolate any accelerations that occurred before our monitoring period, we could only determine reliable ejection dates for of those features that had significant proper motions. The distribution of maximum apparent jet speeds in all 295 AGNs measured by our program to date is peaked below , with very few jets with apparent speeds above . The fastest speed in our survey is , measured in the jet of the quasar PKS 0805-07, and is indicative of a maximum jet Lorentz factor of ∼50 in the parent population. An envelope in the maximum jet speed versus redshift distribution of our sample provides additional evidence of this upper limit to the speeds of radio-emitting regions in parsec-scale AGN jets. The Fermi-LAT-detected gamma-ray AGNs in our sample have, on average, higher jet speeds than non-LAT-detected AGNs, indicating a strong correlation between parsec-scale jet speed and the gamma-ray Doppler boosting factor. We have identified 11 moderate-redshift () AGNs with fast apparent speeds () that are strong candidates for future TeV gamma-ray detection. Of the five gamma-ray loud narrow-lined Seyfert I AGNs in our sample, three show highly superluminal jet motions, while the others have sub-luminal speeds. This indicates that some narrow-lined Seyfert I AGNs possess powerful jets with Lorentz factors in excess of 10, and viewing angles less than , consistent with those of typical BL Lac objects and flat-spectrum radio quasars.
  • Multiband variability studies and novel broadband SED modeling of Mrk 501 in 2009
    (2017-07-01) Ahnen, M. L.; Ansoldi, S.; Antonelli, L. A.; Antoranz, P.; Babic, A.; Banerjee, B.; Bangale, P.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Barrio, J. A.; Becerra González, J.; Bednarek, W.; Bernardini, E.; Berti, A.; Biasuzzi, B.; Biland, A.; Blanch, O.; Bonnefoy, S.; Bonnoli, G.; Borracci, F.; Bretz, T.; Buson, S.; Carosi, A.; Chatterjee, A.; Clavero, R.; Colin, P.; Colombo, E.; Contreras, J. L.; Cortina, J.; Covino, S.; Da Vela, P.; Dazzi, F.; De Angelis, A.; De Lotto, B.; Oña-Wilhelmi, E.; Di Pierro, F.; Doert, M.; Domínguez, Alberto; Dominis Prester, D.; Dorner, D.; Doro, M.; Einecke, S.; Eisenacher Glawion, D.; Elsaesser, D.; Engelkemeier, M.; Fallah Ramazani, V.; Fernández-Barral, A.; Fidalgo, D.; Fonseca, M. V.; Font, L.; Frantzen, K.; Fruck, C.; Galindo, D.; García López, R.J.; Garczarczyk, M.; Garrido Terrats, D.; Gaug, M.; Giammaria, P.; Godinović, N.; González Muñoz, A.; Gora, D.; Guberman, D.; Hadasch, D.; Hahn, A.; Hanabata, Y.; Hayashida, M.; Herrera, J.; Hose, J.; Hrupec, D.; Hughes, G.; Idec, W.; Kodani, K.; Konno, Y.; Kubo, H.; Kushida, J.; La Barbera, A.; Lelas, D.; Lindfors, E.; Lombardi, S.; Longo, F.; López, M.; López-Coto, R.; Majumdar, P.; Makariev, M.; Mallot, K.; Maneva, G.; Manganaro, M.; Mannheim, K.; Maraschi, L.; Marcote, B.; Mariotti, M.; Martínez, M.; Mazin, D.; Menzel, U.; Miranda, J. M.; Mirzoyan, R.; Moralejo, A.; Moretti, E.; Nakajima, D.; Neustroev, V.; Niedzwiecki, A.; Nievas Rosillo, M.; Nilsson, K.; Nishijima, K.; Noda, K.; Nogués, L.; Overkemping, A.; Paiano, S.; Palacio, J.; Palatiello, M.; Paneque, D.; Paoletti, R.; Paredes, J. M.; Paredes-Fortuny, X.; Pedaletti, G.; Peresano, M.; Perri, L.; Persic, M.; Poutanen, J.; Prada Moroni, P.G.; Prandini, E.; Puljak, I.; Reichardt, I.; Rhode, W.; Ribó, M.; Rico, J.; Rodriguez Garcia, J.; Saito, T.; Satalecka, K.; Schröder, S.; Schultz, C.; Schweizer, T.; Shore, S. N.; Sillanpää, A.; Sitarek, J.; Snidaric, I.; Sobczynska, D.; Stamerra, A.; Steinbring, T.; Strzys, M.; Surić, T.; Takalo, L.; Tavecchio, F.; Temnikov, P.; Terzić, T.; Tescaro, D.; Teshima, M.; Thaele, J.; Torres, D. F.; Toyama, T.; Treves, A.; Vanzo, G.; Verguilov, V.; Vovk, I.; Ward, Eric J; Will, M.; Wu, M. H.; Zanin, R.; Abeysekara, A.U.; Archambault, S.; Archer, A.; Benbow, W.; Bird, R.; Buchovecky, M.; Buckley, J.H.; Bugaev, V.; Connolly, M.P.; Cui, W.; Dickinson, H. J.; Falcone, A.; Feng, Q.; Finley, J.P.; Fleischhack, H.; Flinders, A.; Fortson, L.; Gillanders, G.H.; Griffin, S.; Grube, J.; Hütten, M.; Hanna, D.; Holder, J.; Humensky, T.B.; Kaaret, P.; Kar, P.; Kelley-Hoskins, N.; Kertzman, M.; Kieda, D.; Krause, M.; Krennrich, F.; Lang, M.J.; Maier, G.; McCann, A.; Moriarty, P.; Mukherjee, R.; Nieto, D.; O'Brien, S.; Ong, R.A.; Otte, N.; Park, N.; Perkins, J.; Pichel, A.; Pohl, M.; Popkow, A.; Pueschel, E.; Quinn, J.; Ragan, K.; Reynolds, P.T.; Richards, G. T.; Roache, E.; Rovero, A.C.; Rulten, C.; Sadeh, I.; Santander, M.; Sembroski, G.H.; Shahinyan, K.; Telezhinsky, I.; Tucci, J. V.; Tyler, J.; Wakely, S.P.; Weinstein, A.; Wilcox, P.; Wilhelm, A.; Williams, D.A.; Zitzer, B.; Razzaque, S.; Villata, M.; Raiteri, C.M.; Aller, H. D.; Aller, M. F.; Larionov, V. M.; Arkharov, A.; Blinov, Dmitry A.; Efimova, Natalia V.; Grishina, T. S.; Hagen-Thorn, Vladimir A.; Kopatskaya, Evgenia N.; Larionova, Liudmila V.; Larionova, Elena G.; Morozova, Daria A.; Troitsky, Ivan S.; Ligustri, R.; Calcidese, P.; Berdyugin, A.; Kurtanidze, O. M.; Nikolashvili, M. G.; Kimeridze, Givi N.; Sigua, Lorand A.; Kurtanidze, Sofia O.; Chigladze, Revaz A.; Chen, W. P.; Koptelova, E.; Sakamoto, T.; Sadun, A. C.; Moody, J. W.; Pace, C.; Pearson, R.; Yatsu, Y.; Mori, Y.; Carraminyana, A.; Carrasco, L.; de la Fuente, E.; Norris, J. P.; Smith, Paul S.; Wehrle, A.; Gurwell, M. A.; Zook, A.; Pagani, C.; Perri, M.; Capalbi, M.; Cesarini, A.; Krimm, H. A.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Kovalev, Yu A.; Ros, E.; Pushkarev, Alexander B.; Lister, M. L.; Sokolovsky, K.V.; Kadler, M.; Piner, B. G.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Tornikoski, M.; Angelakis, E.; Krichbaum, T. P.; Nestoras, I.; Fuhrmann, L.; Zensus, J. A.; Cassaro, P.; Orlati, A.; Maccaferri, G.; Leto, P.; Giroletti, M.; Richards, J. L.; Max-Moerbeck, W.; Readhead, A.C.S.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    Context. We present an extensive study of the BL Lac object Mrk 501 based on a data set collected during the multi-instrument campaign spanning from 2009 March 15 to 2009 August 1, which includes, among other instruments, MAGIC, VERITAS, Whipple 10 m, and Fermi-LAT to cover the γ-ray range from 0.1 GeV to 20 TeV; RXTE and Swift to cover wavelengths from UV tohard X-rays; and GASP-WEBT, which provides coverage of radio and optical wavelengths. Optical polarization measurements were provided for a fraction of the campaign by the Steward and St. Petersburg observatories. We evaluate the variability of the source and interband correlations, the γ-ray flaring activity occurring in May 2009, and interpret the results within two synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) scenarios. Aims. The multiband variability observed during the full campaign is addressed in terms of the fractional variability, and the possible correlations are studied by calculating the discrete correlation function for each pair of energy bands where the significance was evaluated with dedicated Monte Carlo simulations. The space of SSC model parameters is probed following a dedicated grid-scan strategy, allowing for a wide range of models to be tested and offering a study of the degeneracy of model-to-data agreement in the individual model parameters, hence providing a less biased interpretation than the "single-curve SSC model adjustment" typically reported in the literature. Methods. We find an increase in the fractional variability with energy, while no significant interband correlations of flux changes are found on the basis of the acquired data set. The SSC model grid-scan shows that the flaring activity around May 22 cannot be modeled adequately with a one-zone SSC scenario (using an electron energy distribution with two breaks), while it can be suitably described within a two (independent) zone SSC scenario. Here, one zone is responsible for the quiescent emission from the averaged 4.5-month observing period, while the other one, which is spatially separated from the first, dominates the flaring emission occurring at X-rays and very-high-energy (>100 GeV, VHE) γ rays. The flaring activity from May 1, which coincides with a rotation of the electric vector polarization angle (EVPA), cannot be satisfactorily reproduced by either a one-zone or a two-independent-zone SSC model, yet this is partially affected by the lack of strictly simultaneous observations and the presence of large flux changes on sub-hour timescales (detected at VHE γ rays). Results. The higher variability in the VHE emission and lack of correlation with the X-ray emission indicate that, at least during the 4.5-month observing campaign in 2009, the highest energy (and most variable) electrons that are responsible for the VHE γ rays do not make a dominant contribution to the ~1 keV emission. Alternatively, there could be a very variable component contributing to the VHE γ-ray emission in addition to that coming from the SSC scenario. The studies with our dedicated SSC grid-scan show that there is some degeneracy in both the one-zone and the two-zone SSC scenarios probed, with several combinations of model parameters yielding a similar model-to-data agreement, and some parameters better constrained than others. The observed γ-ray flaring activity, with the EVPA rotation coincident with the first γ-ray flare, resembles those reported previously for low frequency peaked blazars, hence suggesting that there are many similarities in the flaring mechanisms of blazars with different jet properties.
  • Multiwavelength observations of the blazar BL Lacertae: a new fast TeV gamma-ray flare
    (2017) Feng, Q.; Jorstad, S. G.; Marscher, A. P.; Lister, M. L.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Savolainen, T.; Agudo, I.; Molina, S. N.; Gomez, J. L.; Larionov, V. M.; Borman, G. A.; Mokrushina, A. A.; Smith, P. S.
     A4 Artikkeli konferenssijulkaisussa
    Observations of fast TeV $\gamma$-ray flares from blazars reveal the extreme compactness of emitting regions in blazar jets. Combined with very-long-baseline radio interferometry measurements, they probe the structure and emission mechanism of the jet. We report on a fast TeV $\gamma$-ray flare from BL Lacertae observed by VERITAS, with a rise time of about 2.3 hours and a decay time of about 36 minutes. The peak flux at $>$200 GeV measured with the 4-minute binned light curve is $(4.2 \pm 0.6) \times 10^{-6} \;\text{photons} \;\text{m}^{-2}\, \text{s}^{-1}$, or $\sim$180% the Crab Nebula flux. Variability in GeV $\gamma$-ray, X-ray, and optical flux, as well as in optical and radio polarization was observed around the time of the TeV $\gamma$-ray flare. A possible superluminal knot was identified in the VLBA observations at 43 GHz. The flare constrains the size of the emitting region, and is consistent with several theoretical models with stationary shocks.
  • Multiwavelength Observations of the Blazar BL Lacertae: A New Fast TeV Gamma-Ray Flare
    (2018-04-01) Abeysekara, A. U.; Benbow, W.; Bird, R.; Brantseg, T.; Brose, R.; Buchovecky, M.; Buckley, J. H.; Bugaev, V.; Connolly, M. P.; Cui, W.; Daniel, M. K.; Falcone, A.; Feng, Q.; Finley, J. P.; Fortson, L.; Furniss, A.; Gillanders, G. H.; Gunawardhana, I.; Hütten, M.; Hanna, D.; Hervet, O.; Holder, J.; Hughes, G.; Humensky, T. B.; Johnson, C. A.; Kaaret, P.; Kar, P.; Kertzman, M.; Krennrich, F.; Lang, M. J.; Lin, T. T.Y.; McArthur, S.; Moriarty, P.; Mukherjee, R.; O'Brien, S.; Ong, R. A.; Otte, A. N.; Park, N.; Petrashyk, A.; Pohl, Martin; Pueschel, E.; Quinn, J.; Ragan, K.; Reynolds, P. T.; Richards, G. T.; Roache, E.; Rulten, C.; Sadeh, I.; Santander, M.; Sembroski, G. H.; Shahinyan, K.; Wakely, S. P.; Weinstein, A.; Wells, R. M.; Wilcox, P.; Williams, D. A.; Zitzer, B.; Jorstad, S. G.; Marscher, A. P.; Lister, M. L.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Savolainen, T.; Agudo, I.; Molina, S. N.; Gómez, J. L.; Larionov, V. M.; Borman, G. A.; Mokrushina, A. A.; Tornikoski, M.; Lahteenmaki, A.; Chamani, Wara; Enestam, S.; Kiehlmann, S.; Hovatta, T.; Smith, P. S.; Pontrelli, P.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    Combined with measurements made by very-long-baseline interferometry, the observations of fast TeV gamma-ray flares probe the structure and emission mechanism of blazar jets. However, only a handful of such flares have been detected to date, and only within the last few years have these flares been observed from lower-frequency-peaked BL Lac objects and flat-spectrum radio quasars. We report on a fast TeV gamma-ray flare from the blazar BL Lacertae observed by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS). with a rise time of ∼2.3 hr and a decay time of ∼36 min. The peak flux above 200 GeV is (4.2 ± 0.6) ×10-6 photon m-2 s-1 measured with a 4-minute-binned light curve, corresponding to ∼180% of the flux that is observed from the Crab Nebula above the same energy threshold. Variability contemporaneous with the TeV gamma-ray flare was observed in GeV gamma-ray, X-ray, and optical flux, as well as in optical and radio polarization. Additionally, a possible moving emission feature with superluminal apparent velocity was identified in Very Long Baseline Array observations at 43 GHz, potentially passing the radio core of the jet around the time of the gamma-ray flare. We discuss the constraints on the size, Lorentz factor, and location of the emitting region of the flare, and the interpretations with several theoretical models that invoke relativistic plasma passing stationary shocks.
  • Multiwavelength observations of the blazar BL Lacertae: A new fast TeV γ-ray flare
    (2017) Feng, Q.; Jorstad, S. G.; Marscher, A. P.; Lister, M. L.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Savolainen, T.; Agudo, I.; Molina, S. N.; Gomez, J. L.; Larionov, V. M.; Borman, G. A.; Mokrushina, A. A.; Smith, P. S.
     A4 Artikkeli konferenssijulkaisussa
    Observations of fast TeV γ-ray flares from blazars reveal the extreme compactness of emitting regions in blazar jets. Combined with very-long-baseline radio interferometry measurements, they probe the structure and emission mechanism of the jet. We report on a fast TeV γ-ray flare from BL Lacertae observed by VERITAS, with a rise time of about 2.3 hours and a decay time of about 36 minutes. The peak flux at >200 GeV measured with the 4-minute binned light curve is (4.2 ±0.6) × 10-6 photons m-2 s-1, or ∼180% the Crab Nebula flux. Variability in GeV γ-ray, X-ray, and optical flux, as well as in optical and radio polarization was observed around the time of the TeV γ-ray flare. A possible superluminal knot was identified in the VLBA observations at 43 GHz. The flare constrains the size of the emitting region, and is consistent with several theoretical models with stationary shocks.
  • New Tests of Milli-lensing in the Blazar PKS 1413 + 135
    (2022-03-01) Peirson, A. L.; Liodakis, I.; Readhead, A. C.S.; Lister, M. L.; Perlman, E. S.; Aller, M. F.; Blandford, R. D.; Grainge, K. J.B.; Green, D. A.; Gurwell, M. A.; Hodges, M. W.; Hovatta, T.; Kiehlmann, S.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Max-Moerbeck, W.; McAloone, T.; O'Neill, S.; Pavlidou, V.; Pearson, T. J.; Ravi, V.; Reeves, R. A.; Scott, P. F.; Taylor, G. B.; Titterington, D. J.; Tornikoski, M.; Vedantham, H. K.; Wilkinson, P. N.; Williams, D. T.; Zensus, J. A.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    Symmetric achromatic variability (SAV) is a rare form of radio variability in blazars that has been attributed to gravitational milli-lensing by a ∼102-105 M ⊙ mass condensate. Four SAVs have been identified between 1980 and 2020 in the long-term radio monitoring data of the blazar PKS 1413 + 135. We show that all four can be fitted with the same, unchanging, gravitational lens model. If SAV is due to gravitational milli-lensing, PKS 1413 + 135 provides a unique system for studying active galactic nuclei with unprecedented microarcsecond resolution, as well as for studying the nature of the milli-lens itself. We discuss two possible candidates for the putative milli-lens: a giant molecular cloud hosted in the intervening edge-on spiral galaxy, and an undetected dwarf galaxy with a massive black hole. We find a significant dependence of SAV crossing time on frequency, which could indicate a fast shock moving in a slower underlying flow. We also find tentative evidence for a 989 day periodicity in the SAVs, which, if real, makes possible the prediction of future SAVs: the next three windows for possible SAVs begin in 2022 August, 2025 May, and 2028 February.
  • Radio-emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies in the JVLA perspective
    (2018-06-01) Berton, M.; Congiu, E.; Järvelä, E.; Antonucci, R.; Kharb, P.; Lister, M. L.; Tarchi, A.; Caccianiga, A.; Chen, S.; Foschini, L.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Richards, J. L.; Ciroi, S.; Cracco, V.; Frezzato, M.; La Mura, G.; Rafanelli, P.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We report the first results of a survey on 74 narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) carried out in 2015 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) at 5 GHz in A-configuration. So far, this is the largest survey aimed to image the radio continuum of NLS1s. We produced radio maps in order to compare the general properties of three different samples of objects: radio-quiet NLS1s (RQNLS1s), steep-spectrum radio-loud NLS1s (S-NLS1s), and flat-spectrum radio-loud NLS1s (F-NLS1s). We find that the three classes correspond to different radio morphologies, with F-NLS1s being more compact, and RQNLS1s often showing diffuse emission on kpc scales. We also find that F-NLS1s might be low-luminosity and possibly young blazars, and that S-NLS1s are part of the parent population of F-NLS1s. Dedicated studies to RQNLS1s are needed to fully understand their role in the unification pictures.
  • Reversals in the Direction of Polarization Rotation in OJ 287
    (2018-07-20) Cohen, M. H.; Aller, H. D.; Aller, M. F.; Hovatta, T.; Kharb, P.; Kovalev, Y. Y.; Lister, M. L.; Meier, D. L.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Savolainen, T.
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    We have obtained a smooth time series for the electric vector position angle (EVPA) of the blazar OJ 287 at centimeter wavelengths, by making ±nπ adjustments to archival values from 1974 to 2016. The data display rotation reversals in which the EVPA rotates counterclockwise for ∼180° and then rotates clockwise by a similar amount. The timescale of the rotations is a few weeks to a year, and the scale for a double rotation, including the reversal, is 1-3 yr. We have seen four of these events in 40 yr. A model consisting of two successive outbursts in polarized flux density, with EVPAs counterrotating, superposed on a steady polarized jet, can explain many of the details of the observations. Polarization images support this interpretation. The model can also help to explain similar events seen at optical wavelengths. The outbursts needed for the model can be generated by the supermagnetosonic jet model of Nakamura et al. and Nakamura & Meier, which requires a strong helical magnetic field. This model produces forward and reverse pairs of fast and slow MHD waves, and the plasma inside the two fast/slow pairs rotates around the jet axis, but in opposite directions.
  • Studies of stationary features in jets: BL Lacertae: I. The dynamics and brightness asymmetry on sub-parsec scales
    (2020-08-12) Arshakian, T. G.; Pushkarev, A. B.; Lister, M. L.; Savolainen, Tuomas
     A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
    Context. Monitoring of BL Lacertae at 15 GHz with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) has revealed a quasi-stationary radio feature in the innermost part of the jet, at 0.26 mas from the radio core. Stationary features are found in many blazars, but they have rarely been explored in detail. Aims. We aim to study the kinematics, dynamics, and brightness of the quasi-stationary feature of the jet in BL Lacertae based on VLBA monitoring with submilliarcsecond resolution (subparsec-scales) over 17 years. Methods. We analysed position uncertainties and flux leakage effects of the innermost quasi-stationary feature and developed statistical tools to distinguish the motions of the stationary feature and the radio core. We constructed a toy model to simulate the observed emission of the quasi-stationary component. Results. We find that trajectories of the quasi-stationary component are aligned along the jet axis, which can be interpreted as evidence of the displacements of the radio core. The intrinsic motions of the core and quasi-stationary component have a commensurate contribution to the apparent motion of the stationary component. During the jet-stable state, the core shift significantly influences the apparent displacements of the stationary component, which shows orbiting motion with reversals. The quasi-stationary component has low superluminal speeds on time scales of months. On time-scales of few years, the apparent mean speeds are subrelativistic, of about 0.15 the speed of light. We find that the brightness profile of the quasi-stationary component is asymmetric along and transverse to the jet axis, and this effect remains unchanged regardless of epoch. Conclusions. Accurate positional determination, a high cadence of observations, and a proper accounting for the core shift are crucial for the measurement of the trajectories and speeds of the quasi-stationary component. Its motion is similar to the behaviour of the jet nozzle, which drags the outflow in a swinging motion and excites transverse waves of different amplitudes travelling downstream. A simple modelling of the brightness distribution shows that the configuration of twisted velocity field formed at the nozzle of the jet in combination with small jet viewing angle can account for the observed brightness asymmetry.