Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279

A. E. Wehrle; E. Pian; C.M. Urry; L. Maraschi; I.M. McHardy; A.J. Lawson; G. Ghisellini; R.C. Hartman; G.M. Madejski; F. Makino; A.P. Marscher; S.J. Wagner; J.R. Webb; G.S. Aldering; M.F. Aller; H.D. Aller; D.E. Backman; T.J. Balonek; P. Boltwood; J. Bonnell; J. Caplinger; A. Celotti; W. Collmar; J. Dalton; A. Drucker; R. Falomo; C.E. Fichtel; W. Freudling; W.K. Gear; N. Gonzalez-Perez; P. Hall; H. Inoue; W.N. Johnson; D. Kazanas; M.R. Kidger; T. Kii; R.I. Kollgaard; Y. Kondo; J. Kurfess; Y.C. Lin; B. McCollum; K. McNaron-Brown; F. Nagase; A.D. Nair; S. Penton; J.E. Pesce; M. Pohl; C.M. Raiteri; M. Renda; E.I. Robson; R.M. Sambruna; A.F. Schirmer; C. Shrader; M. Sikora; A. Sillanpaeae; P.S. Smith; Jason Stevens; J. Stocke; L.O. Takalo; H. Teraesranta; D.J. Thompson; R. Thompson; M. Tornikoski; G. Tosti; A. Treves; P. Turcotte; S.C. Unwin; E. Valtaoja; M. Villata; W. Xu; A. Yamashita; A. Zook

doi:10.1086/305461

Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279

A. E. Wehrle, E. Pian, C.M. Urry, L. Maraschi, I.M. McHardy, A.J. Lawson, G. Ghisellini, R.C. Hartman, G.M. Madejski, F. Makino, A.P. Marscher, S.J. Wagner, J.R. Webb, G.S. Aldering, M.F. Aller, H.D. Aller, D.E. Backman, T.J. Balonek, P. Boltwood, J. BonnellJ. Caplinger, A. Celotti, W. Collmar, J. Dalton, A. Drucker, R. Falomo, C.E. Fichtel, W. Freudling, W.K. Gear, N. Gonzalez-Perez, P. Hall, H. Inoue, W.N. Johnson, D. Kazanas, M.R. Kidger, T. Kii, R.I. Kollgaard, Y. Kondo, J. Kurfess, Y.C. Lin, B. McCollum, K. McNaron-Brown, F. Nagase, A.D. Nair, S. Penton, J.E. Pesce, M. Pohl, C.M. Raiteri, M. Renda, E.I. Robson, R.M. Sambruna, A.F. Schirmer, C. Shrader, M. Sikora, A. Sillanpaeae, P.S. Smith, Jason Stevens, J. Stocke, L.O. Takalo, H. Teraesranta, D.J. Thompson, R. Thompson, M. Tornikoski, G. Tosti, A. Treves, P. Turcotte, S.C. Unwin, E. Valtaoja, M. Villata, W. Xu, A. Yamashita, A. Zook

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

178 Citations (Scopus)

93 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The blazar 3C 279, one of the brightest identified extragalactic objects in the γ-ray sky, underwent a large (factor of ~10 in amplitude) flare in γ-rays toward the end of a 3 week pointing by Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), in 1996 January-February. The flare peak represents the highest γ-ray intensity ever recorded for this object. During the high state, extremely rapid γ-ray variability was seen, including an increase of a factor of 2.6 in ~8 hr, which strengthens the case for relativistic beaming. Coordinated multifrequency observations were carried out with Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA; or, Astro-D), Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT), and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and from many ground-based observatories, covering most accessible wavelengths. The well-sampled, simultaneous RXTE light curve shows an outburst of lower amplitude (factor of ?3) well correlated with the γ-ray flare without any lag larger than the temporal resolution of ~1 day. The optical-UV light curves, which are not well sampled during the high-energy flare, exhibit more modest variations (factor of ~2) and a lower degree of correlation. The flux at millimetric wavelengths was near a historical maximum during the γ-ray flare peak, and there is a suggestion of a correlated decay. We present simultaneous spectral energy distributions of 3C 279 prior to and near to the flare peak. The γ-rays vary by more than the square of the observed IR-optical flux change, which poses some problems for specific blazar emission models. The synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model would require that the largest synchrotron variability occurred in the mostly unobserved submillimeter/far-infrared region. Alternatively, a large variation in the external photon field could occur over a timescale of a few days. This occurs naturally in the "mirror" model, wherein the flaring region in the jet photoionizes nearby broad emission line clouds, which, in turn, provide soft external photons that are Comptonized to γ-ray energies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	178
Number of pages	1
Journal	The Astrophysical Journal
Volume	497
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/305461
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 1998

Keywords

GALAXIES: PHOTOMETRY, GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS, GALAXIES: QUASARS: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: 3C 279, RADIATION MECHANISMS: NONTHERMAL

Access to Document

10.1086/305461

9711243v1
Copyright American Astronomical Society
Accepted author manuscript, 199 KB

Cite this

Wehrle, A. E., Pian, E., Urry, C. M., Maraschi, L., McHardy, I. M., Lawson, A. J., Ghisellini, G., Hartman, R. C., Madejski, G. M., Makino, F., Marscher, A. P., Wagner, S. J., Webb, J. R., Aldering, G. S., Aller, M. F., Aller, H. D., Backman, D. E., Balonek, T. J., Boltwood, P., ... Zook, A. (1998). Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279. The Astrophysical Journal, 497(1), 178. https://doi.org/10.1086/305461

@article{82f5407e762a4ee4b13417210b4f3fd7,

title = "Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279",

abstract = "The blazar 3C 279, one of the brightest identified extragalactic objects in the γ-ray sky, underwent a large (factor of ~10 in amplitude) flare in γ-rays toward the end of a 3 week pointing by Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), in 1996 January-February. The flare peak represents the highest γ-ray intensity ever recorded for this object. During the high state, extremely rapid γ-ray variability was seen, including an increase of a factor of 2.6 in ~8 hr, which strengthens the case for relativistic beaming. Coordinated multifrequency observations were carried out with Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA; or, Astro-D), Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT), and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and from many ground-based observatories, covering most accessible wavelengths. The well-sampled, simultaneous RXTE light curve shows an outburst of lower amplitude (factor of ?3) well correlated with the γ-ray flare without any lag larger than the temporal resolution of ~1 day. The optical-UV light curves, which are not well sampled during the high-energy flare, exhibit more modest variations (factor of ~2) and a lower degree of correlation. The flux at millimetric wavelengths was near a historical maximum during the γ-ray flare peak, and there is a suggestion of a correlated decay. We present simultaneous spectral energy distributions of 3C 279 prior to and near to the flare peak. The γ-rays vary by more than the square of the observed IR-optical flux change, which poses some problems for specific blazar emission models. The synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model would require that the largest synchrotron variability occurred in the mostly unobserved submillimeter/far-infrared region. Alternatively, a large variation in the external photon field could occur over a timescale of a few days. This occurs naturally in the {"}mirror{"} model, wherein the flaring region in the jet photoionizes nearby broad emission line clouds, which, in turn, provide soft external photons that are Comptonized to γ-ray energies. ",

keywords = "GALAXIES: PHOTOMETRY, GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS, GALAXIES: QUASARS: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: 3C 279, RADIATION MECHANISMS: NONTHERMAL",

author = "Wehrle, {A. E.} and E. Pian and C.M. Urry and L. Maraschi and I.M. McHardy and A.J. Lawson and G. Ghisellini and R.C. Hartman and G.M. Madejski and F. Makino and A.P. Marscher and S.J. Wagner and J.R. Webb and G.S. Aldering and M.F. Aller and H.D. Aller and D.E. Backman and T.J. Balonek and P. Boltwood and J. Bonnell and J. Caplinger and A. Celotti and W. Collmar and J. Dalton and A. Drucker and R. Falomo and C.E. Fichtel and W. Freudling and W.K. Gear and N. Gonzalez-Perez and P. Hall and H. Inoue and W.N. Johnson and D. Kazanas and M.R. Kidger and T. Kii and R.I. Kollgaard and Y. Kondo and J. Kurfess and Y.C. Lin and B. McCollum and K. McNaron-Brown and F. Nagase and A.D. Nair and S. Penton and J.E. Pesce and M. Pohl and C.M. Raiteri and M. Renda and E.I. Robson and R.M. Sambruna and A.F. Schirmer and C. Shrader and M. Sikora and A. Sillanpaeae and P.S. Smith and Jason Stevens and J. Stocke and L.O. Takalo and H. Teraesranta and D.J. Thompson and R. Thompson and M. Tornikoski and G. Tosti and A. Treves and P. Turcotte and S.C. Unwin and E. Valtaoja and M. Villata and W. Xu and A. Yamashita and A. Zook",

year = "1998",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/305461",

language = "English",

volume = "497",

pages = "178",

journal = "The Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

Wehrle, AE, Pian, E, Urry, CM, Maraschi, L, McHardy, IM, Lawson, AJ, Ghisellini, G, Hartman, RC, Madejski, GM, Makino, F, Marscher, AP, Wagner, SJ, Webb, JR, Aldering, GS, Aller, MF, Aller, HD, Backman, DE, Balonek, TJ, Boltwood, P, Bonnell, J, Caplinger, J, Celotti, A, Collmar, W, Dalton, J, Drucker, A, Falomo, R, Fichtel, CE, Freudling, W, Gear, WK, Gonzalez-Perez, N, Hall, P, Inoue, H, Johnson, WN, Kazanas, D, Kidger, MR, Kii, T, Kollgaard, RI, Kondo, Y, Kurfess, J, Lin, YC, McCollum, B, McNaron-Brown, K, Nagase, F, Nair, AD, Penton, S, Pesce, JE, Pohl, M, Raiteri, CM, Renda, M, Robson, EI, Sambruna, RM, Schirmer, AF, Shrader, C, Sikora, M, Sillanpaeae, A, Smith, PS, Stevens, J, Stocke, J, Takalo, LO, Teraesranta, H, Thompson, DJ, Thompson, R, Tornikoski, M, Tosti, G, Treves, A, Turcotte, P, Unwin, SC, Valtaoja, E, Villata, M, Xu, W, Yamashita, A & Zook, A 1998, 'Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 497, no. 1, pp. 178. https://doi.org/10.1086/305461

TY - JOUR

T1 - Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279

AU - Wehrle, A. E.

AU - Pian, E.

AU - Urry, C.M.

AU - Maraschi, L.

AU - McHardy, I.M.

AU - Lawson, A.J.

AU - Ghisellini, G.

AU - Hartman, R.C.

AU - Madejski, G.M.

AU - Makino, F.

AU - Marscher, A.P.

AU - Wagner, S.J.

AU - Webb, J.R.

AU - Aldering, G.S.

AU - Aller, M.F.

AU - Aller, H.D.

AU - Backman, D.E.

AU - Balonek, T.J.

AU - Boltwood, P.

AU - Bonnell, J.

AU - Caplinger, J.

AU - Celotti, A.

AU - Collmar, W.

AU - Dalton, J.

AU - Drucker, A.

AU - Falomo, R.

AU - Fichtel, C.E.

AU - Freudling, W.

AU - Gear, W.K.

AU - Gonzalez-Perez, N.

AU - Hall, P.

AU - Inoue, H.

AU - Johnson, W.N.

AU - Kazanas, D.

AU - Kidger, M.R.

AU - Kii, T.

AU - Kollgaard, R.I.

AU - Kondo, Y.

AU - Kurfess, J.

AU - Lin, Y.C.

AU - McCollum, B.

AU - McNaron-Brown, K.

AU - Nagase, F.

AU - Nair, A.D.

AU - Penton, S.

AU - Pesce, J.E.

AU - Pohl, M.

AU - Raiteri, C.M.

AU - Renda, M.

AU - Robson, E.I.

AU - Sambruna, R.M.

AU - Schirmer, A.F.

AU - Shrader, C.

AU - Sikora, M.

AU - Sillanpaeae, A.

AU - Smith, P.S.

AU - Stevens, Jason

AU - Stocke, J.

AU - Takalo, L.O.

AU - Teraesranta, H.

AU - Thompson, D.J.

AU - Thompson, R.

AU - Tornikoski, M.

AU - Tosti, G.

AU - Treves, A.

AU - Turcotte, P.

AU - Unwin, S.C.

AU - Valtaoja, E.

AU - Villata, M.

AU - Xu, W.

AU - Yamashita, A.

AU - Zook, A.

PY - 1998/4/1

Y1 - 1998/4/1

N2 - The blazar 3C 279, one of the brightest identified extragalactic objects in the γ-ray sky, underwent a large (factor of ~10 in amplitude) flare in γ-rays toward the end of a 3 week pointing by Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), in 1996 January-February. The flare peak represents the highest γ-ray intensity ever recorded for this object. During the high state, extremely rapid γ-ray variability was seen, including an increase of a factor of 2.6 in ~8 hr, which strengthens the case for relativistic beaming. Coordinated multifrequency observations were carried out with Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA; or, Astro-D), Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT), and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and from many ground-based observatories, covering most accessible wavelengths. The well-sampled, simultaneous RXTE light curve shows an outburst of lower amplitude (factor of ?3) well correlated with the γ-ray flare without any lag larger than the temporal resolution of ~1 day. The optical-UV light curves, which are not well sampled during the high-energy flare, exhibit more modest variations (factor of ~2) and a lower degree of correlation. The flux at millimetric wavelengths was near a historical maximum during the γ-ray flare peak, and there is a suggestion of a correlated decay. We present simultaneous spectral energy distributions of 3C 279 prior to and near to the flare peak. The γ-rays vary by more than the square of the observed IR-optical flux change, which poses some problems for specific blazar emission models. The synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model would require that the largest synchrotron variability occurred in the mostly unobserved submillimeter/far-infrared region. Alternatively, a large variation in the external photon field could occur over a timescale of a few days. This occurs naturally in the "mirror" model, wherein the flaring region in the jet photoionizes nearby broad emission line clouds, which, in turn, provide soft external photons that are Comptonized to γ-ray energies.

AB - The blazar 3C 279, one of the brightest identified extragalactic objects in the γ-ray sky, underwent a large (factor of ~10 in amplitude) flare in γ-rays toward the end of a 3 week pointing by Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), in 1996 January-February. The flare peak represents the highest γ-ray intensity ever recorded for this object. During the high state, extremely rapid γ-ray variability was seen, including an increase of a factor of 2.6 in ~8 hr, which strengthens the case for relativistic beaming. Coordinated multifrequency observations were carried out with Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA; or, Astro-D), Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT), and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and from many ground-based observatories, covering most accessible wavelengths. The well-sampled, simultaneous RXTE light curve shows an outburst of lower amplitude (factor of ?3) well correlated with the γ-ray flare without any lag larger than the temporal resolution of ~1 day. The optical-UV light curves, which are not well sampled during the high-energy flare, exhibit more modest variations (factor of ~2) and a lower degree of correlation. The flux at millimetric wavelengths was near a historical maximum during the γ-ray flare peak, and there is a suggestion of a correlated decay. We present simultaneous spectral energy distributions of 3C 279 prior to and near to the flare peak. The γ-rays vary by more than the square of the observed IR-optical flux change, which poses some problems for specific blazar emission models. The synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model would require that the largest synchrotron variability occurred in the mostly unobserved submillimeter/far-infrared region. Alternatively, a large variation in the external photon field could occur over a timescale of a few days. This occurs naturally in the "mirror" model, wherein the flaring region in the jet photoionizes nearby broad emission line clouds, which, in turn, provide soft external photons that are Comptonized to γ-ray energies.

KW - GALAXIES: PHOTOMETRY, GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS, GALAXIES: QUASARS: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: 3C 279, RADIATION MECHANISMS: NONTHERMAL

U2 - 10.1086/305461

DO - 10.1086/305461

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 497

SP - 178

JO - The Astrophysical Journal

JF - The Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

ER -

Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this