耀变体光学波段的微光变及能谱变化

耀变体在多个波段的微光变和能谱变化多年来是中外天文观测研究的热点课题.耀变体的微光变于20世纪60年代被发现,20世纪80年代以来发现很多源的微光变具有不同的特性,目前对其物理机制的认识和理论、模型的研究还处于发展阶段.该文总结了7个目前观测最多的耀变体(3C 66A,3C 279,3C 454.3,AO 0235+164,BL Lac,OJ 287,S5 0716+714)在光学波段的微光变和能谱变化的观测历史和最新进展,并对其理论模型作了简单介绍.     

Estimating Black Hole Masses of Blazars

Estimating black hole masses of blazars is still a big challenge. Because of the contamination of jets, using the previously suggested size–continuum luminosity relation can overestimate the broad line region (BLR) size and black hole mass for radio-loud AGNs, including blazars. We propose a new relation between the BLR size and H _β emission line luminosity and present evidences for using it to get more accurate black hole masses of radio-loud AGNs. For extremely radio-loud AGNs such as blazars with weak/absent emission lines, we suggest the use of fundamental plane relation of their elliptical host galaxies to estimate the central velocity dispersions and black hole masses, if their velocity dispersions are not known but the host galaxies can be mapped. The black hole masses of some well-known blazars, such as OJ 287, AO 0235+164 and 3C 66B are obtained using these two methods and the M–σ relation. The implications of their black hole masses on other related studies are also discussed.     

Optical intra-day variability timescales and black hole mass of the blazars

In this paper, we have used optical intra-day variability archive data to calculate the central black hole masses and Eddington luminosities for nine blazars: 3C 66A, AO 0235+164, S5 0716+714, PKS 0735+178, OJ 287, 1215+303, 1216−010, 1308+326, PKS 1510−089, Mrk 501 and BL Lac using intra-day variability timescales and periodicity (if present). The calculated central black hole mass of these nine blazars using intra-day variability timescales are found to be in the range of 1.22-25.30 × 10⁷ M_⊙ and corresponding Eddington luminosity in the range of 1.58-32.88 × 10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹. The black hole mass and Eddington luminosity are in the range of 0.32-31.23 × 10⁸ M_⊙ and 1.23-31.20 × 10⁴⁶ erg s⁻¹, respectively when optical Doppler factor is taken into account. The comparison show, our estimated values of black hole mass are consistent with earlier reported values. Periodicity were present in two blazars OJ 287 and 1216−010 which give the central black hole mass of these blazars in the range of 1.32-14.6 × 10⁷ M_⊙ and corresponding Eddington luminosity in the range of 1.60-19.0 × 10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹, respectively.     

Optical variability of gamma-ray loud blazars

Blazars display flux variability on diverse timescales ranging from minutes to months. In our blazar monitoring project carried out on the 1.2meter telescope at Gurushikhar, Mount Abu, India, we selected someγ-ray loud blazars to study the variability over both the short and the long time scales. In this paper we have reported results based on photometric monitoring on 8 nights during the observing run in the first half of the year 2000 for 5 blazars: S5 0716+714, OJ 287, S4 0954+658, Mrk421 and PKS 2155–304 in B and R passbands. Microvariability and rapid variability has been observed in these sources suggesting that variability is a common property in these objects. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

OJ 287,0716+714与BL Lacertae的光变分析

OJ 287是存在着剧烈活动的低峰频BL Lac天体,其低频段的能谱与另两个TeV BL Lac天体(0716+714和BL Lacertae)在低频段的能谱很相似,但是切仑科夫望远镜却没能探测到它的TeV射线.利用这3个天体的观测数据,比较它们在22 GHz、37 GHz和B波段的最小光变周期及延迟的异同,进一步寻找没有观测到OJ 287的TeV伽马射线的可能原因.分析结果显示:(1)最小光变周期方面,OJ 287在37 GHz和B波段的周期偏小,在22 GHz,OJ 287与0716+714的结果相当,但与BL Lacertae相比要小很多,OJ 287的周期更短表明其活动性更强,却没有探测到来自OJ 287的TeV伽马射线,这表明OJ 287在TeV波段的辐射与这3个低能波段最小光变周期之间可能没有联系;(2)延迟方面,OJ 287在B波段相对于37 GHz的延迟要长于0716+714,短于BL Lacertae;在37 GHz相对于22 GHz的延迟要短于0716+714,而BL Lacertae在37 GHz相对于22 GHz的时延为负值,表明22 GHz要超前于37 GHz.通过对延迟的比较分析,并没有发现OJ 287与0716+714和BL Lacertae之间存在明显的差异;从能谱来看,很可能是由于OJ 287在TeV波段的能谱较陡造成切仑科夫望远镜没有探测到来自OJ 287的伽马辐射,但TeV能段较陡的能谱对低能段光变的影响目前还不是很清楚.     

Analyses of the Light Variations of OJ 287, 0716+714 and BL Lacertae

OJ 287 is a BL Lac object which exhibits intense activities of low peak-frequencies. Its energy spectrum in low frequency band is quite similar with those of two other TeV BL Lac objects (i.e., 0716+714 and BL Lacertae). However, the Cerenkov telescope did not detect its TeV rays. By using the observational data of these three heavenly bodies and comparing the discrepan- cies of their minimal periods of light variations and delays at 22 GHz, 37 GHz and B-waveband, we have further investigated the possible reason why the TeV gamma-rays of OJ 287 have not been observed. The results of analyses are as fol- lows. (1) For the minimal periods of light variations, the periods of OJ 287 at 37 GHZ and B-waveband are short. At 22 GHz the results of OJ 287 and 0716+714 are comparable, but the period of OJ 287 is much shorter in comparison with that of BL Lacertae, and this shows that its activity is more intense. However, the TeV gamma-rays of OJ 287 have not been detected, which implies that the radiation of OJ 287 in TeV waveband may have no connection with the minimal periods of light variations in these three low-energy wavebands. (2) In respect of delays, the delay of OJ 287 in the B waveband with respect to 37 GHz is longer than that of 0716+714, but shorter than that of BL Lacertae. Its delay at 37 GHz in respect to 22 GHz is shorter than that of 0716+714. Meanwhile, the delay of BL Lacertae at 37 GHz in respect to 22 GHz is negative, which implies that 22 GHz precedes 37 GHz. Via the comparison and analysis of delays, no obvious differences between OJ 287 and 0716+714 as well as BL Lacertae have been found. On the side of energy spectra, it is quite possible that due to the steep energy spectrum of OJ 287 in TeV waveband, the Cerenkov telescope has not detected the gamma radiation of OJ 287. However, nowadays it is still not clear whether the steep energy spectrum in TeV energy range has some influence on the light variations in low energy realm.     

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.     

Variability of Blazars

Variability is one of the characteristics of blazars. The rapid variability is superposed on the long term variation. In this work, the variability on different time scales, such as intra-day (IDV), short-term (STV) and long-term (LTV) variations are presented for some sources. We also presented our own observations of some selected objects, for which the historical data were compiled for periodicity analysis using several methods. The parameters of the binary black hole system OJ 287 are determined.     

Core-dominance parameter and polarization for Fermi blazars

We study core-dominance parameter R and polarization for blazars detected by Fermi LAT. Our results are as follows. (i) The blazars detected by Fermi LAT have higher average R and polarizations than those not detected by Fermi LAT. (ii) Compared with BL Lacs, flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) have lower average R and the ratio of beamed luminosity to the unbeamed luminosity f. (iii) In the diagram of polarization-Doppler factor relations, FSRQs may have p=α+3 and BL Lacs for p=α+2. These results suggest that the high optical polarization is correlated to the beaming effect. High polarization and core-dominance parameters are significantly more common among the LAT sources. The difference in polarization and core-dominance parameters between FSRQs and BL Lacs are due to the difference in their beaming effects and jet model.     

Active Galactic Nuclei

F11 Jets, supernovae, gammabursts – more light for theory? F35 A Direct Comparison of the QSO Samples from VPMS and SDSS F36 Gravitational Microlensing Simulations and Ensemble Broad‐Band Variability of the QSOs from VPMS F42 Luminosity function of low redshift quasars F43 Star Formation around Active Galactic Nuclei – Results from near infrared observations F58 High‐Redshift Quasars as Probes of Early Star Formation F66 On the dust emission of Seyfert nuclei F72 Propagation of Very Light MHD Jets F78 Giant Outflows in MassiveHigh‐z Radio Galaxies: Direct Evidence for AGNFeedback in the Early Universe F89 Lowfrequency mapping of ‘normal’ FR II radio galaxies: Resolving the puzzle of X‐shaped radio sources F90 Nature of X‐shaped radio sources: A statistical approach F100 Cosmological growth of Supermassive Black Holes: constraints on kinetic and radiative energy feedback F107 Molecular Tori in AGN F136 Electron‐Ion Recombination Rate Coefficients of Iron M‐Shell Ions for X‐Ray Astronomy F139 Hydrodynamic models of obscuring tori F145 The unique BL Lac Object S5 0716+714 F158 On the Cluster Environment of the BL Lac Object OJ 287 F179 The circumnuclear dust in nearby AGN resolved by mid‐infrared interferometry F184 NIR‐imaging of SDSS BL Lac objects F190 Blazar Observations in the TeV energy range with the MAGIC Telescope F198 Gas Inflow Rates in Nearby AGN Galaxies F202 Two zone SSC model for blazar jets F215 Long‐termVHE γ ‐ray monitoring of bright blazars with a dedicated telescope F218 Long termmonitoring of bright TeV Blazars with the MAGIC telescope F220 Fifteen Blazars in Very‐High Energy Gamma Rays: A Comparative Study F229 Numerical calculation of blazar spectra. Application to 1 ES 1218+30.4 F230 Blazar spectral energy distributions corrected for gamma ray attenuation F240 Observation of PG 1553+113 with the MAGIC Telescope F243 VHE Gamma‐Ray Flare of PKS2155‐304 detected by the MAGIC telescope F245 Observations of 3C279 with the MAGIC Telescope F258 Diffraction limited near infrared imaging spectroscopy of the NLR of NGC4151     

Computing the Periods of Light Variation of Blazar Objects 3C279 and OJ 287 with Autoregressive Spectral Analysis Method

The light variability is one of the main characteristics of blazar objects. Because of the complexity of their light curves, the present periodicity analysis methods are not yet perfect. Based on the modern spectral estimate theory, this paper has described in details the principles of the maximum entropy spectral estimate and autoregressive (AR) spectral estimate, analyzed the effect of the order number selection on the resultant model. Applying these methods to the periodicity analysis of the quasar 3C 279 and BL Lac object OJ 287, their light periods are obtained to be 7.14 and 11.76 yr, respectively. As is verified by experiments, the AR spectral estimate has a high resolution and is a rather good periodicity analysis method. Finally, the items noteworthy for the application of these spectrum estimation methods to the periodicity analysis of the light variations of blazars are mentioned.     

On the variability timescales and magnetic field in OJ 287

The continuum spectrum of OJ 287, like most other BL Lac objects, is featureless- no emission or absorption lines are observed. However, OJ 287 shows variations at different timescales in flux and polarization at various wavelength bands. Using the available variability data one can estimate the sizes of the emission regions in the source from light travel time arguments. We assume the emission mechanism to be synchrotron radiation by high energy electrons with single power law energy distribution. Theoretical synchrotron spectrum in the frequency range 10¹¹–10¹⁷ H _z is compared with the observed spectral shape, obtained from new multifrequency quasi-simultaneous observations, to estimate the lower and upper cut off frequencies. These frequencies are used to obtain theoretical values of the variability timescales and magnetic field in the emission region. We obtain a value of 0.93 G for the magnetic field and 5.184×10⁴ sec for the cooling time from the quiescent continuum spectrum. The shock-in-jet model explains the spectrum where shocks accelerate the particles and amplify the magnetic field in the jet. This timescale is compared with the one obtained from observed short timescale variability (20 minutes) with proper beaming correction. The short timescale variations (200 minutes in the source frame), possibly caused by an additional, flaring, component of the source, are also used to calculate compressed magnetic field. The observed and theoretically estimated variability timescales and the shape of the spectrum suggest that there are more than one emission components in OJ 287.     

OJ 287: Polarization and photometric behaviour during 1971–76

The results are given of polarimetric and photometric observations of BL Lacertae-type object OJ 287 for 1972–76. These, and all other data available from the literature, are used in a comparative analysis of polarimetric and photometric properties of the object. The variations of time-scales from several years to several hours are noted. The variability is caused by the flaring up and fading of separate sources (hot spots) of polarized (synchrotron) radiation. The existence of a preferable direction of polarization (₀=80°) is an indication of a stable magnetic field. It may be used as an argument in favour of the single-body hypothesis of Lacertids. The behaviour of OJ 287 during a 6-day interval may be explained by intensity changes of a single source with constant parameters of polarization. It is found that, for this source,p=42.8%, ₀=101°. The night variations of brightnes and parameters of polarization limit the dimensions of the source responsible for this variability (R<-5×10¹⁴ cm) and enable us to estimate its degree of polarization (p50%).     

Probing the Circular Polarization of Relativistic Jets on VLBI Scales

High resolution studies of circular polarization allow us see where it arises in a jet, study its local fractional level and spectrum, and compare these results to local measures of linear polarization and Faraday rotation. Here we not only review past results from Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) circular polarization studies, but we also present preliminary new results on two quasars. In the core of PKS 0607–157, we find strong circular polarization at 8 GHz and much weaker levels at 15 GHz. Combined with the linear polarization data, we favor a simple model where the circular is produced by Faraday conversion driven by a small amount of Faradayrotation. In the core of 3C 345, we find strong circular polarization at 15 GHz in a component with distinct linear polarization. This core component is optically thick at 8 GHz, where we detect no circular polarization. With opposite trends in frequency for PKS 0607–157 and 3C 345, it seems clear that local conditions in a jet can have a strong effect on circular polarization and need to be taken into account when studying inhomogeneous objects with multi-frequency observations.     

On the content of cold electrons in blazar and microquasar jets

We explore the possibility of determining the corpuscular composition of the plasma in the relativistic jets of blazars and microquasars from data on the polarization and intensity of their radio synchrotron emission. We have constructed a universal diagram that allows the relative content of nonrelativistic electrons to be established in specific objects using information about their frequency spectra and polarization at individual frequencies. As a result, we have found that the electron plasma component in the jets of the blazars 3C 279 and BL Lac is relativistic. In the jets of the microquasar GRS 1915+105, the cold plasma density may be comparable to or considerably higher than the relativistic particle density.     

A Linear Dependence between the Magnitude and the Logarithm of the Length of the Time the Quasars OJ287 and 3C345 Stay below this Magnitude

We have studied the optical historical light curves of two Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs): OJ287 and 3C345. We find a linear dependence between the magnitude and the logarithm of the length of the time the objects stay below this magnitude. The relation may originate from a fractal structure of the light curve. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Towards a new maximum of OJ 287?

The results of a photometric campaign in theB, V, R andI bands of the BL Lac object OJ 287 are presented. The source is found at the same level and spectral slope as in 1991, without any sign forecasting the predicted maximum in August 1994.     

天体物理非线性问题初探-活动星系核的光变及引力的局部近似

展示活动星系核研究和引力研究中的一些难点,揭示了某些天体的光变存在分形结构的可能性。我们提出了活动星系核的中心黑洞具有某种随机微活动性的假设,该假设可解释活动星系核的一些观测现象。我们发现Ｗｅｉｅｒｓｔｒａｓ函数的分形图形可以用来很好地拟合ＯＪ２８７的短时标光变。一个用Ｗｅｉｅｒｓｔｒａｓ函数构造的分形曲线与ＯＪ２８７的历史光变的线性相关系数达到了０．７３。我们计算了ＯＪ２８７光变曲线的计盒维数,信息维数和关联维数,结果表明,这些维数均大于１。我们研究了两个活动星系核（ＯＪ２８７和３Ｃ３４５）的历史光变,发现在星等和这两个物体滞留在这个星等之下的时间长度的对数之间存在线性关系。这种关系可能源于光变的分形结构。我们提出,空时点及附于该点的一个标架与Ｍｉｎｋｏｗｓｋｉ空间上的一个３阶反对称张量场对应。场中的张量取自于一个固定的张量集合。我们得到了Ｒｉｅｍａｎｎ正则坐标下引力场的一个级数表示式。我们还计算了Ｒｉｃｃｉ张量的线性近似和一级非线性近似。这有利于强引力场下的局部非线性结构分析。期望对于引力的进一步研究,通过非线性科学这门新方法的桥粱,沟通极端天文现象与基本引力相互作用之间的鸿沟     

Optical multi-color monitoring of OJ 287 from 2006 to 2012

We present our optical multi-color monitoring of the BL Lac object OJ 287 from January 2006to December 2012 in the V,R and I bands.A relatively active state in OJ 287 has been found over all monitored epochs,among which the variations of average magnitude in V/R/I bands were measured with ?V=1.956 mag,?R=2.067 mag and ?I=2.115 mag,respectively.No reliable intraday variability is detected,but possible variability is detected on 16 nights.Their relative variation amplitudes fall into the range between 1% and 8%,with the majority between 2% and 4%.No time lags have been detected,but strong correlations exist among light curves in the three wavebands.The bluer-when-brighter trend is dominant over intraday timescales,which supports the shock-in-jet model.When combining with additional V/R band data obtained from SMARTS and the Steward Observatory,we also find a bluer-when-brighter trend over a long-term timescale.Some possible periods of 513,176,36,30,26,17 and 14 d are found in all time-series data sets from 2006 to 2017.Possible explanations about these periods are given.     

Mid-infrared variability of blazars: a view from NEOWISE survey

We studied mid-infrared (MIR) variability of a large sample of blazars detected by LAT/Fermi (called Fermi-detected blazars) and those not detected by LAT/Fermi (called non-Fermi-detected blazars) in order to investigate any difference in the variability characteristics between them as well as between FSRQs and BL Lacs. Making use of NEOWISE archival data from October 2013 to December 2017, we constructed the long-term 3.4 μm and 4.6 μm light curves of 2,573 blazars and computed their intrinsic variability amplitudes, \(\varPsi \). As a result, we found that (1) Fermi-detected blazars show higher \(\varPsi \) than non-Fermi-detected blazars; (2) Fermi-detected FSRQs show higher \(\varPsi \) than non-Fermi-detected FSRQs; (3) Fermi-detected BL Lacs show higher \(\varPsi \) than non-Fermi-detected BL Lacs; (4) FSRQs show higher \(\varPsi \) than BL Lacs. By comparing their distributions of “\(\mathit{var}\_\mathit{flg}\)” in the ALLWISE database, we also found that Fermi-detected blazars/FSRQs/BL Lacs tend to be more variable than non-Fermi-detected blazars/FSRQs/BL Lacs. For the Fermi-detected blazars, there are highly significant correlations between the flux densities and spectral indices in the MIR and gamma-ray bands. These results imply that the activity in the two bands is connected. Our results are consistent with several earlier results on the differences between Fermi-detected blazars and non-Fermi-detected blazars. We also give some possible explanations about the statistical results.