基于自回归方法的Blazar天体3C 279和OJ 287光变周期研究

探索Blazar光变资料中的周期或准周期变化是1个有待深入研究的领域.由于光变资料的复杂性,目前寻找周期的算法还不够完善.文中以现代谱估计为基础,详细论述了自回归(Auto-regressive,AR)模型谱估计方法和最大熵谱估计的基本原理,分析了阶数选择对模型的重要影响,并把这些方法应用到类星体3C 279和BL Lac天体OJ287的光变周期分析中,得到它们的光变周期分别为7.14和11.76yr.通过验证,自回归 模型谱估计方法由于其分辨率高,可以作为1种较好的分析周期的方法.最后指出在应用谱估计分析Blazar天体的光变周期注意事项.     

VSOP polarization observations of the BL Lacertae object OJ 287

VLBI total intensity and linear polarization images of the BL Lacertae object OJ 287 have been obtained at     using a global ground array and the HALCA orbiting antenna, and at     two weeks earlier using the VLBA. In the ground-based 6-cm images, the source is dominated by a core–jet double structure the components of which are essentially unresolved. The baselines to the orbiting antenna resolve both of these compact components. In the VSOP images, the ground-based 'core' breaks up into several distinct components, demonstrating that this region is dominated by the contribution of bright, optically thin knots of jet emission. A very similar structure is observed in the 1.3-cm image. The magnetic field in the core is transverse, becomes longitudinal in the inner jet, then makes a sharp transition to a region of transverse field further from the core. This suggests that the field in the outer jet has become highly ordered in the transverse direction owing to the action of a shock; the physical nature of the extended region of longitudinal field closer to the core is not clear. The availability of nearly simultaneous observations with comparable resolution at widely spaced frequencies enabled detection of a ≃90° rotation in polarization position angle for the core, owing to the transition from the optically thick (6 cm) to the optically thin (1.3 cm) regime.     

A new model for the periodic outbursts of the BL Lac object OJ287

Recent observations provide strong evidence for the BL Lac object OJ287 exhibiting a 11.6±0.5 yr periodicity with a double-peaked maxima in its optical flux variations. Several models have been proposed for the optical behavior. The 2005 November outburst in OJ287 gives us a surprising result since calculation based on the periodicity was predicting such an outburst in late 2006. Here we suggest a new model, it can not only explain the optical quasi-periodic behavior, but also the radio flares behavior which is and simultaneous with the optical flares. We propose that OJ287 is a binary pair of super-massive black holes, both of them creating a jet. The quasi-periodic double peaks would be due to the relativistic beaming effect on the emission coming from the double helix jets. We used “core flares” to explain the large lags between light curves at different frequencies, and the assumption of two jets appear to be merged with each other partly in the radio frequency emitting regions provides a viable interpretation that we can see only a broad maximum which contains two radio flares that we cannot distinguish.     

Computing the Light Periods of Blazars with the Periodogram Spectral Analysis Method

The periodogram spectral analysis method applicable to equallyspaced time series is discussed, and the method is tested first with a simulated data series. It is confirmed that this method is effective for noisy series. Then, applying this method to the analysis of the light periods of the quasars 3C 279 and 3C 345 as well as the BL Lac objects OJ 287 and ON 231, we obtain their light periods to be 7.14 yr, 10.00 yr, 11.76 yr and 6.80 yr, respectively. These results obtained by periodogram spectral analysis are consistent with those obtained by the Jurkevich method in the literature. We have analyzed the effects of different window functions, and commented on their correct selection in practical applications.     

Light Periodicity Analysis of Blazar Object OJ 287 Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition

Considering the shortages of classical methods in periodicity analysis, the method of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) for processing nonlinear and non-stationary signals is applied to the V-band fluxes of OJ 287 from 1891 to 2010, 10 intrinsic mode functions with different timescales and a residual function are obtained from the light curve. The result shows that there exists a period of 12.34 yr in the V-band light variation of OJ 287, where the contribution rate of variance is maximal, and confirms that OJ 287 has a long-period variability in the V-band, and that the mean flux of OJ 287 tends to gradually decrease with time.     

用周期图谱分析方法计算Blazar天体的光变周期

对适用于等间隔时间序列的周期图谱分析方法进行了研究,用模拟信号进行了检验,证实了它适用于有噪声的时间序列.并把这种方法应用到类星体3C 279、3C 345,BL Lac天体OJ 287、ON 231的光变周期分析中,得到它们的光变周期分别为7.14年、10.00年、11.76年、6.80年.结果表明用周期图谱分析方法得到的结论和其他文献用Jurkevich方法得到的结论一致.获得的周期对进一步研究Blazar天体的物理机制很有帮助.还分析了窗函数的影响,指出它们的优缺点,便于在实际工作中做出正确选择.     

Comparison and Analysis of the Light Variations of 3C 273, 3C 279 and 3C 345

The blazar 3C 345 is quite similar to the γ-ray blazar 3C 279 in respect of redshift, spectral energy distribution from the radio to the X-ray wave band, and so on. However, it was not detected by EGRET. We compared the differences and similarities between 3C 345 and the γ-ray sources 3C 279 and 3C 273 in respect of variation amplitudes (in the 8 GHz, 22 GHz, 37 GHz and B band), the smallest variation time scales in the optical and the time lags between different bands to search possible reason for the lack of the γ-ray radiation in 3C 345. From our analyses it is found that the variation amplitudes in the radio band for 3C 345 and 3C 279 are quite similar; the variation amplitudes in the optical wave band gradually decrease in the order 3C 279, 3C 345 and 3C 273, and variations on the order of days are found in these three sources. It is also found that the time lag in 3C 345 is much longer than that in 3C 279 and is approximately the same as that in 3C 273. Based on the similarity of other observational properties between 3C 345 and 3C 273, such as the presence of the big blue bump and their comparable infrared luminosities, it is proposed that the spectral energy distribution and the luminosity in the γ-ray band for 3C 345 are similar to those for 3C 273. It is indicated by our simple calculations that if 3C 273 has a similar redshift to that of 3C 345, then even at the burst state, EGRET could not detect any radiations from 3C 273. This might be the reason why 3C 345 had never been detected by EGRET.     

Calculating the Light Period of BL Lac Object S5 0716+714 by Wavelet Analysis Method

A kind of wavelet analysis method for identifying the light period of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714 is introduced. The rather complete observed data in the four optical wavebands B, V, R, I are collected, and the long-term light curves based on 10-day averaging are obtained. On these light curves, the periodicity analysis is performed by using a wavelet analysis method. The result demonstrates that the wavelet analysis method is preferable for searching and identifying the light periods of BL Lac objects. From the contour map of the real part of the wavelet transform coefficient, the periodical light variations of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714 can be precisely identified. By analyzing the wavelet variance curves at the 4 wavebands, it is found that the BL Lac Object S5 0716+174 has a stable light period of 1160 days. This result is consistent with the 3.3-year period given by Raiteri et al. It is predicted that the next outburst in this object will happen around the August of 2011.     

Infrared variability properties of the blazar 3C 279

The long-term (about 27 years) near-infrared K light curve is constructed from the published literature for the blazar 3C 279. The Jurkevich method is adopted to analyse the periodicity, and a strong 7.1±0.44 yr period is found, suggesting that the next near-infrared outburst will occur in 2002/03. The correlation between colour index (spectral index) and magnitude is discussed, and a significant correlation between ( J − H ) and K is found with a correlation coefficient r =0.72 ( p =2.0×10⁻¹⁰), which is consistent with Brown et al.'s proposal.     

A Periodicity Analysis of the Light Curve of 3C 454.3

We analyzed the radio light curves of 3C 454.3 at frequencies 22 and 37 GHz taken from the database of Metsahovi Radio Observatory, and found evidence of quasi-periodic activity. The light curves show great activity with very complicated non-sinusoidal variations. Two possible periods, a very weak one of 1.57±0.12 yr and a very strong one of 6.15±0.50 yr were consistently identified by two methods, the Jurkevich method and power spectrum estimation. The period of 6.15±0.50 yr is consistent with results previously reported by Ciaramella et al. and Webb et al. Applying the binary black hole model to the central structure we found black hole masses of 1.53×109M⊙and 1.86×108M⊙, and predicted that the next radio outburst is to take place in 2006 March and April.     

Effect of Jet Absorption on the Non-thermal Radiation Spectrum of 3C 279

The absorptive effect of jets on the multi-waveband energy spectrum of the quasar 3C 279 is studied by using a jet model. Based on the timeindependent synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model, it is assumed that in the jet, the radiant blob is blocked by the preceding cooled blob, thus the emission from the radiation region could be absorbed. This leads to the change of the energy spectrum. Our calculations indicate that the jet material exerts a strong absorption on the X-ray emission from the quasar radiation region, and that the absorbed energy will be re-emitted in the form of emission lines in the ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavebands. By using this model, we have reproduced the multi-waveband energy spectrum of 3C 279. Finally, we give a brief discussion on the obtained results.     

3C 345和3C 273的光变分析

用结构函数法,对两个经典的blazar 3C 273和3C 345的22 GHz、37 GHz和光学波段的数据进行了周期分析.结果显示,3C 273的周期性比较明显,22 GHz经分析存在7.0年和14.7年的周期,37 GHz存在7.2年和14.5年的周期,同时它的光学波段可能存在0.7年和8.7年的周期.3C 345的37 GHz存在比较明显的8.8年的周期,22 GHz和光学波段分别存在不太明显的9.3年和10.2年的周期.     

利用MUSIC算法分析BL Lac天体S5 0716+714光变周期

将基于多重信号分类的MUSIC谱估计算法引入BL Lac天体光变周期分析中.给出了MUSIC算法的基本原理,利用模拟信号检测了算法的频谱分辨率.从大量文献中收集了BL Lac天体S5 0716+714光学V、R、I 3个波段从1994年到2008年的有效观测数据,用MUSIC算法和平均周期图算法分别计算了它们的光变周期,发现存在两个主要光变周期:一个是(3.33±0.08)yr的周期,另一个是(1.24±0.01)yr的周期.对这两种算法的周期估计性能进行了比较,结果表明,MUSIC谱估计算法对样本长度要求较低,具有良好的分辨特性和抗噪声能力,能提高在样本长度较短情况下光变周期分析的准确性.     

The long-term multiband optical observations and colour index for the quasar 3C 273

The long baseline simultaneous multiband ( BVRI ) observations of blazar 3C 273 are presented. We have made 758 optical multiband observations with the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory (YAO) 103 cm and Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) 156 cm from 2003 January to 2005 April. In our observational campaign, the average colour indices are   B − V = 0.21, V − R = 0.26  and   R − I = 0.31  . The mean magnitudes in B, V, R and I are 12.895, 12.698, 12.441 and 12.139, respectively. The source is in a steady state over observational campaign. The correlations between colour index and brightness are discussed. We find that the correlations of   B − V   versus B ,   V − R   versus V and   R − I   versus R have significant negative correlation, while   B − V   versus V ,   V − R   versus R and   R − I   versus I have positive correlation. These strong correlations imply that the spectrum becomes bluer (flatter) when the source becomes brighter, and redden (softer) when the source fades both in intraday and long-term variability. The spectral evolution trends of 3C 273 are consistent with those of BL Lac objects.     

Soft X-ray variability of the bright quasar 3C273

We present the results from ROSAT observations of 3C273 in the soft X-ray band. The light variation of 3C273 was investigated for three different energy bands of soft, medium, and hard. The maximum variability with a factor of 2 for 551 days was confirmed at all three different bands. This appears to be a periodic variation within the period of roughly 6 months. However, the short-term or micro variation was not so distinct and the light variation of each band did not show any correlation between them. The hardness ratio for hard and soft bands shows irregular variation but there was no correlation between them. There is no distinct variation of the photon index in the case of simple power law model fitting. For power law + free absorption model fitting, the average photon index (Γ) is 2.08.