Relation between Events in the Millimeter-wave Core and Gamma-ray Outbursts in Blazar Jets

A. P. Marscher; S. G. Jorstad; I. Agudo; N. R. MacDonald; T. L. Scott

Relation between Events in the Millimeter-wave Core and Gamma-ray Outbursts in Blazar Jets

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2012-05-01 v1

Authors: A. P. Marscher , S. G. Jorstad , I. Agudo , N. R. MacDonald , T. L. Scott

Abstract

Analysis of comprehensive monitoring of 34 gamma-ray bright quasars, BL Lac objects, and radio galaxies reveals a close connection between events in the millimeter-wave emission imaged with the VLBA at 43 GHz and flares at gamma-ray and lower frequencies. Roughly 2/3 of the flares are coincident with the appearance of a new superluminal knot and/or a flare in the millimeter-wave "core'" located parsecs from the central engine. This presents a theoretical challenge to explain how the gamma-ray flux can often be variable on intra-day time-scales. Possible answers to this include very narrow opening angles of the jet, small volume filling factors of the highest energy electrons, chaotic magnetic fields, and turbulent velocity fields relative to the mean jet flow.

Keywords

blazar jets gamma-ray outbursts millimeter-wave core superluminal knots VLBA monitoring intra-day variability

Cite

@article{arxiv.1204.6707,
  title  = {Relation between Events in the Millimeter-wave Core and Gamma-ray Outbursts in Blazar Jets},
  author = {A. P. Marscher and S. G. Jorstad and I. Agudo and N. R. MacDonald and T. L. Scott},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1204.6707},
  year   = {2012}
}

Comments

2012 Fermi & Jansky Proceedings - eConf C1111101

Relation between Events in the Millimeter-wave Core and Gamma-ray Outbursts in Blazar Jets

Abstract

Keywords

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