The Correlation between γ-Ray and Radio Emissions for the Fermi Blazars

Based upon the Fermi blazars sample, the radio and γ-ray emissions are compiled for a sample of 74 γ-ray loud blazars to calculate the radio to γ-ray effective spectrum index α _{R γ}. The correlations between α _{R γ} and γ-ray luminosity, and between radio and γ-ray luminosity are also investigated.     

Radio Observation of the 11-Month Fermi-AGN at Urumqi Observatory

We carry out flux observation at 5 GHz for 124 sources from the ‘clean’ sample of Fermi catalog 1LAC (The First LAT AGN Catalog) with Urumqi 25 m telescope. We find that it is obvious that there is a correlation between the γ-ray and the radio flux density for blazars. For the subclasses, the correlation for FSRQs is strong, but the correlation for BL Lacs is weak.     

Radio Band Observations of Blazar Variability

The properties of blazar variability in the radio band are studied using the unique combination of temporal resolution from single dish monitoring and spatial resolution from VLBA imaging. Such measurements now available in all four Stokes parameters, together with theoretical simulations, identify the origin of radio band variability and probe the characteristics of the radio jet where the broadband blazar emission originates. Outbursts in total flux density and linear polarization in the optical-to-radio bands are attributed to shocks propagating within the jet spine, in part, based on limited modelling invoking transverse shocks; new radiative transfer simulations allowing for shocks at arbitrary angle to the flow direction confirm this picture by reproducing the observed centimeter-band variations observed more generally, and are of current interest since these shocks may play a role in the ??-ray flaring detected by Fermi. Recent UMRAO multifrequency Stokes V studies of bright blazars identify the spectral variability properties of circular polarization for the first time and demonstrate that polarity flips are relatively common. All-Stokes data are consistent with the production of circular polarization by linear-to-circular mode conversion in a region that is at least partially self-absorbed. Detailed analysis of single-epoch, multifrequency, all-Stokes VLBA observations of 3C?279 support this physical picture and are best explained by emission from an electron-proton plasma.     

Radio Variability of First 3-Month Fermi Blazars at 5 GHz: Affected by Interstellar Scintillation?

Blazars from the first-three-months Fermi-AGN list were observed with the Urumqi 25-m radio telescope at 5 GHz in IDV (Intra-Day Variability) mode and inter-month observation mode. A significant correlation between the flux density at 5 GHz and the γ-ray intensity for the Fermi-LAT detected blazars is seen. There is a higher IDV detection rate in Fermi detected blazars than those reported for other samples. Stronger variability appears at lower galactic latitudes; IDV appears to be stronger in weaker sources, indicating that the variability is affected by interstellar scintillation.     

Could a plasma in quasi-thermal equilibrium be associated to the “orphan” TeV flares?

TeV γ-ray detections in flaring states without activity in X-rays from blazars have attracted much attention due to the irregularity of these “orphan” flares. Although the synchrotron self-Compton model has been very successful in explaining the spectral energy distribution and spectral variability of these sources, it has not been able to describe these atypical flaring events. On the other hand, an electron–positron pair plasma at the base of the AGN jet was proposed as the mechanism of bulk acceleration of relativistic outflows. This plasma in quasi-thermal equilibrium called Wein fireball emits radiation at MeV-peak energies serving as target of accelerated protons. In this work we describe the “orphan” TeV flares presented in blazars 1ES 1959+650 and Mrk 421 assuming geometrical considerations in the jet and evoking the interactions of Fermi-accelerated protons and MeV-peak target photons coming from the Wein fireball. After describing successfully these “orphan” TeV flares, we correlate the TeV γ-ray, neutrino and UHECR fluxes through pγ interactions and calculate the number of high-energy neutrinos and UHECRs expected in IceCube/AMANDA and TA experiment, respectively. In addition, thermal MeV neutrinos produced mainly through electron–positron annihilation at the Wein fireball will be able to propagate through it. By considering two- (solar, atmospheric and accelerator parameters) and three-neutrino mixing, we study the resonant oscillations and estimate the neutrino flavor ratios as well as the number of thermal neutrinos expected on Earth.     

Studies of bright flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C 454.3 at high and very-high-energies

Blazars are the subclass of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) which includes the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQ) and BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects. Variability on the short- and long-time scale in all the wide energy ranges from radio up to gamma-ray emission is a special characteristic of blazars. Multi-wavelength studies of the flaring activity and variability of blazars can serve as a tool to probe the physical properties of the near the core regions and processes responsible for the observed features. 3C 454.3 is a bright FSRQ that is intensively studied through the wide range of electromagnetic spectrum. It has shown remarkably high activity since 2000. The long-term observations of 3C 454.3 at 800 GeV–100 TeV energies with the SHALON telescope were started in 1998 year. A number of activity periods were found. The most significant flaring state of 3C 454.3 at TeV energies was detected in the SHALON observational period of November–December 2010. This increase is correlated with the flares at a lower energy range in observations of Fermi-LAT. The direct association of the significant changes of gamma-ray flux with strong core radio flares are not clear but observed correlations and lags in multi-wavelength activity may point to the complexity of the emission processes in blazars connected with disturbance propagating in the jet.     

Correlations between the peak flux density and the position angle of inner-jet in three blazars

We aim to investigate the relation between the long-term flux density and the position angle (PA) evolution of inner-jet in blazars. We have carried out the elliptic Gaussian model-fit to the ‘core’ of 50 blazars from 15 GHz VLBA data, and analyzed the variability properties of three blazars from the model-fit results. Diverse correlations between the long-term peak flux density and the PA evolution of the major axis of the ‘core’ have been found in ～20 % of the 50 sources. Of them, three typical blazars have been analyzed, which also show quasi-periodic flux variations of a few years (T). The correlation between the peak flux density and the PA of inner-jet is positive for S5 0716+714, and negative for S4 1807+698. The two sources cannot be explained with the ballistic jet models, the non-ballistic models have been analyzed to explain the two sub-luminal blazars. A correlation between the peak flux density and the PA (with a T/4 time lag) of inner-jet is found in [HB89] 1823+568, this correlation can be explained with a ballistic precession jet model. All the explanations are based mainly on the geometric beaming effect; physical flux density variations from the jet base would be considered for more complicated situations in future, which could account for the no or less significance of the correlation between the peak flux density and the PA of inner-jet in the majority blazars of our sample.     

The evolutionary sequence of Fermi blazars

Using γ-ray data (α _γ , F _γ ) detected by Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and black hole mass which has been compiled from literatures for 116 Fermi blazars, we calculated intrinsic γ-ray luminosity, intrinsic bolometric luminosity, intrinsic Eddington ratio and studied the relationships between all above parameters and redshift, between α _γ and L _γ . Furthermore, we obtained the histograms of key parameters. Our results are the following: (1) The main reason for the evolutionary sequence of three subclasses (HBLs, LBLs, FSRQs) may be Eddington ratio rather than black hole mass; (2) FSRQs occupy in the earlier, high-luminosity, high Eddington ratio, violent phase of the galactic evolution sequence, while BL Lac objects occur in the low luminosity, low Eddington ratio, late phase of the galactic evolution sequence; (3) These results imply that the evolutionary track of Fermi blazars is FSRQs ? LBLs ? HBLs.     

The γ-ray emission mechanism for Fermi Blazars

Fermi Blazars are characterized mainly by the vast effect that relativistic beaming has on their emission spectra. Fermi-LAT has detected more than 1000 blazars which provide us with a good opportunity to study the emission mechanism. In this paper, adopted the Doppler factor δ _γ determined in our previous paper, the γ-ray emission mechanism is discussed using the investigation of dependence of the γ-ray luminosity on the Doppler factor. Our discussions suggest that the γ-ray emission mechanism is SSC for BL Lacs.     

A unifying view of the spectral energy distributions of blazars

We collect data at well-sampled frequencies from the radio to the γ-ray range for the following three complete samples of blazars: the Slew survey, the 1-Jy samples of BL Lacs and the 2-Jy sample of flat-spectrum radio-loud quasars (FSRQs). The fraction of objects detected in γ-rays ( E  ≳ 100 MeV) is ∼ 17, 26 and 40 per cent in the three samples respectively. Except for the Slew survey sample, γ-ray detected sources do not differ either from other sources in each sample, or from all the γ-ray detected sources, in terms of the distributions of redshift, radio and X-ray luminosities or of the broad-band spectral indices (radio to optical and radio to X-ray). We compute average spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from radio to γ-rays for each complete sample and for groups of blazars binned according to radio luminosity, irrespective of the original classification as BL Lac or FSRQ. The resulting SEDs show a remarkable continuity in that (i) the first peak occurs in different frequency ranges for different samples/luminosity classes, with most luminous sources peaking at lower frequencies; (ii) the peak frequency of the γ-ray component correlates with the peak frequency of the lower energy one; (iii) the luminosity ratio between the high and low frequency components increases with bolometric luminosity. The continuity of properties among different classes of sources and the systematic trends of the SEDs as a function of luminosity favour a unified view of the blazar phenomenon: a single parameter, related to luminosity, seems to govern the physical properties and radiation mechanisms in the relativistic jets present in BL Lac objects as well as in FSRQs. The general implications of this unified scheme are discussed while a detailed theoretical analysis, based on fitting continuum models to the individual spectra of most γ-ray blazars, is presented in a separate paper.     

Optical Counterparts of Undetermined Type <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-Ray Active Galactic Nuclei with Blazar-Like Spectral Energy Distributions

During its first four years of scientific observations, the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) detected 3033 γ-ray sources above a 4 σ significance level. Although most of the extra-galactic sources are active galactic nuclei (AGN) of the blazar class, other families of AGNs are observed too, while a still high fraction of detections (～30%) remains with uncertain association or classification. According to the currently accepted interpretation, the AGN γ-ray emission arises from inverse Compton (IC) scattering of low energy photons by relativistic particles confined in a jet, which, in the case of blazars, is oriented very close to our line-of-sight. Taking advantage of data from radio and X-ray wavelengths, which we expect to be produced together with γ-rays, providing a much better source localization potential, we focused our attention on a sample of γ-ray Blazar Candidates of Undetermined type (BCUs), starting a campaign of optical spectroscopic observations. The main aims of our investigation include a census of the AGN families that contribute to γ-ray emission and a study of their redshift distribution, with the subsequent implications on the intrinsic source power. We furthermore analyze which γ-ray properties can better constrain the nature of the source, thus helping in the study of objects not yet associated with a reliable low frequency counterpart. Here we report on the instruments and techniques used to identify the optical counterparts of γ-ray sources, we give an overview on the status of our work, and we discuss the implications of a large scale study of γ-ray emitting AGNs.     

The structure of the middle corona from observations at 80 and 160 MHz

Maps of the brightness distribution of the ‘quiet Sun’ at 80 and 160 MHz reveal the presence of features both brighter and darker than average. The ‘dark’ regions are well correlated with dark regions on UV maps; we deduce that they result from ‘coronal holes’. The ‘bright’ regions are associated with quiescent filaments and not plages or bright regions on microwave or UV maps; we deduce that they result from ‘coronal helmets’.

When coronal holes appear near the centre of the disk we can estimate the density and kinetic temperature in the holes from the radio observations. For a hole observed on 1972 July 20–21, we find T ≈ 0.8 × 10⁶ inside the hole and T ≈ 1.0 × 10⁶ in average regions outside the hole. Inside the hole the density is estimated to be about one-quarter of that in Newkirk's model of the spherically symmetric corona.

Variations in brightness at a fixed height above the limb are generally well correlated with scans at a similar height made with a K-coronameter. Occasional differences may result from streamers protruding beyond the limb from the back of the Sun. These can be seen by the K-coronameter but, because of refraction of the radio rays, not by the radio-heliograph.

     

Gamma-Ray and VLBI Radio Emission from Gamma-ray-loud Blazars

Based on the γ-ray data of 51 γ-ray-loud blazars in the third EGRET catalog and VLBI radio data at 2.29 GHz in high state. we studied the correlations between the VLBI and γ-rayluminosities and the fluxes using the partial correlation analysis method. The results show that there is a strong correlation between γ-ray and VLBI radio fluxes and a significant correlation between γ-ray and VLBI radio luminosities. These results are likely to provide a possible support for self-Compton model of the γ-ray emission in blazars. It also shows that the γ-ray radiation may come from the region within the order of 1 pc which is consistent with the results given by luminosity variation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The extragalactic background light and the gamma-ray opacity of the universe

The extragalactic background light (EBL) is one of the fundamental observational quantities in cosmology. All energy releases from resolved and unresolved extragalactic sources, and the light from any truly diffuse background, excluding the cosmic microwave background (CMB), contribute to its intensity and spectral energy distribution. It therefore plays a crucial role in cosmological tests for the formation and evolution of stellar objects and galaxies, and for setting limits on exotic energy releases in the universe. The EBL also plays an important role in the propagation of very high energy γ-rays which are attenuated en route to Earth by pair producing γ–γ interactions with the EBL and CMB. The EBL affects the spectrum of the sources, predominantly blazars, in the ∼10 GeV–10 TeV energy regime. Knowledge of the EBL intensity and spectrum will allow the determination of the intrinsic blazar spectrum in a crucial energy regime that can be used to test particle acceleration mechanisms and very high energy (VHE) γ-ray production models. Conversely, knowledge of the intrinsic γ-ray spectrum and the detection of blazars at increasingly higher redshifts will set strong limits on the EBL and its evolution. This paper reviews the latest developments in the determination of the EBL and its impact on the current understanding of the origin and production mechanisms of γ-rays in blazars, and on energy releases in the universe. The review concludes with a summary and future directions in Cherenkov Telescope Array techniques and in infrared ground-based and space observatories that will greatly improve our knowledge of the EBL and the origin and production of very high energy γ-rays.     

High-energy cosmology

Our knowledge of the high-energy universe is undergoing a period of rapid change as new astronomical detectors of high-energy radiation start to operate at their design sensitivities. Now is a boomtime for high-energy astrophysics, with new discoveries from Swift and HESS, results from MAGIC and VERITAS starting to be reported, the upcoming launches of the γ-ray space telescopes GLAST and AGILE, and anticipated data releases from IceCube and Auger. A formalism for calculating statistical properties of cosmological γ-ray sources is presented. Application is made to model calculations of the statistical distributions of γ-ray and neutrino emission from (i) beamed sources, specifically, long-duration GRBs, blazars, and extragalactic microquasars, and (ii) unbeamed sources, including normal galaxies, starburst galaxies and clusters. Expressions for the integrated intensities of faint beamed and unbeamed high-energy radiation sources are also derived. A toy model for the background intensity of radiation from dark-matter annihilation taking place in the early universe is constructed. Estimates for the γ-ray fluxes of local group galaxies, starburst, and infrared luminous galaxies are briefly reviewed. Because the brightest extragalactic γ-ray sources are flaring sources, and these are the best targets for sources of PeV–EeV neutrinos and ultra-high energy cosmic rays, rapidly slewing all-sky telescopes like MAGIC and an all-sky γ-ray observatory beyond Milagro will be crucial for optimal science return in the multi-messenger age.     

A theoretical unifying scheme for gamma-ray bright blazars

The phenomenology of γ-ray bright blazars can be accounted for by a sequence in the source power and intensity of the diffuse radiation field surrounding the relativistic jet. Correspondingly, the equilibrium particle distribution peaks at different energies. This leads to a trend in the observed properties: an increase of the observed power corresponds to: (i) a decrease in the frequencies of the synchrotron and inverse Compton peaks, and (ii) an increase in the ratio of the powers of the high- and low-energy spectral components. Objects along this sequence would be observationally classified respectively as high-frequency BL Lac objects, low-frequency BL Lac objects, high-polarization quasars and low-polarization quasars.   The proposed scheme is based on the correlations among the physical parameters derived in the present paper by applying to 51 γ-ray loud blazars two of the most accepted scenarios for the broad-band emission of blazars, namely the synchrotron self-Compton and external Compton models. This also explains the observational trends presented by Fossati et al., dealing with the spectral energy distributions of all blazars. This gives us confidence that our scheme applies to all blazars as a class.     

Correlation between the Gamma-ray and the Near-infrared Emissions from Gamma-ray-loud Blazars in the Low State

We have studied the correlations between the near-IR and the γ-ray bands using 29 observed γ-ray-loud blazars (16 BL Lac objects and 13flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs)) with near-IR and γ-ray spectralindices and fluxes. The results show that there are very strong correlations between near-IR mean spectral index α_IR and γ-ray mean spectral index α_γ and between near-IR and γ-ray fluxes. Which means that γ-ray radiation from the blazars should be mainly produced by the synchrotron self-Compton process. In addition, the γ-ray emission of BL Lac objects may be somewhat different from flat-spectrum radio quasars. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Multi-band polarimetric and total intensity imaging of 3C 345

We monitored the superluminal QSO 3C 345 at three epochs during a one-year period in 1995–1996, observing with the VLBA at 22, 15, 8.4, and 5 GHz. We imaged the radio source both in total and in polarised intensity. In the images at 5 and 8.4 GHz, the jet emission is traced up to 20 milliarcseconds (mas) from the jet core. In the 15 and 22 GHz images, we identify several enhanced emission regions moving at apparent speeds of 5c. Images of the linear polarised emission show predominantly an alignment of the electric vector with the extremely curved jet along the inner part of the high frequency jet. At 5 GHz, the jet shows remarkably strong fractional polarisation (m∼15%) with the electric vector perpendicular to the jet orientation.     

Correlation between X-ray and γ-ray for Fermi blazars

Using γ-ray band data detected by Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and X-ray band data for 78 blazars, we find a medium correlation between X-ray flux and γ-ray flux in all states. A medium correlation is also found between X-ray (1 keV) mean spectral index α _x and γ-ray mean spectral index α _γ for BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs), and there is no correlation for Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQs). From these results, we suggest that the most likely radiation mechanism for the high energy gamma-rays would be synchrotron self-Compton (SSC), and that the gamma-ray emission mechanism may be somewhat different for BL Lacs and FSRQs.     

Gamma rays from colliding winds of massive stars

Colliding winds of massive binaries have long been considered as potential sites of non-thermal high-energy photon production. This is motivated by the detection of non-thermal spectra in the radio band, as well as by correlation studies of yet unidentified EGRET γ-ray sources with source populations appearing in star formation regions. This work re-considers the basic radiative processes and its properties that lead to high energy photon production in long-period massive star systems. We show that Klein–Nishina effects as well as the anisotropic nature of the inverse Compton scattering, the dominating leptonic emission process, likely yield spectral and variability signatures in the γ-ray domain at or above the sensitivity of current or upcoming gamma ray instruments like GLAST-LAT. In addition to all relevant radiative losses, we include propagation (such as convection in the stellar wind) as well as photon absorption effects, which a priori can not be neglected. The calculations are applied to WR 140 and WR 147, and predictions for their detectability in the γ-ray regime are provided. Physically similar specimen of their kind like WR 146, WR 137, WR 138, WR 112 and WR 125 may be regarded as candidate sources at GeV energies for near-future γ-ray experiments. Finally, we discuss several aspects relevant for eventually identifying this source class as a γ-ray emitting population. Thereby we utilize our findings on the expected radiative behavior of typical colliding wind binaries in the γ-ray regime as well as its expected spatial distribution on the γ-ray sky.