MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011

We study the multifrequency emission and spectral properties of the quasar3C 279 aimed at identifying the radiation processes taking place in the source. Methods: We observed 3C 279 in very-high-energy (VHE, E> 100 GeV) γ-rays, with the MAGIC telescopes during 2011, for the first time in stereosc...

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Autores: Marcote Martin, Benito, Munar i Adrover, Pere, Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria, Paredes Fortuny, Xavier, Ribó Gomis, Marc, Zanin, Roberta, MAGIC Collaboration
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/58580
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/58580
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Galàxies actives
Quàsars
Jets (Astrofísica)
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Active galaxies
Quasars
Astrophysical jets
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oai_identifier_str oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/58580
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spelling MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011 Marcote Martin, Benito Munar i Adrover, Pere Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria Paredes Fortuny, Xavier Ribó Gomis, Marc Zanin, Roberta MAGIC Collaboration Raigs gamma Galàxies Galàxies actives Quàsars Jets (Astrofísica) Gamma rays Galaxies Active galaxies Quasars Astrophysical jets We study the multifrequency emission and spectral properties of the quasar3C 279 aimed at identifying the radiation processes taking place in the source. Methods: We observed 3C 279 in very-high-energy (VHE, E> 100 GeV) γ-rays, with the MAGIC telescopes during 2011, for the first time in stereoscopic mode. We combined these measurements with observations at other energy bands: in high-energy (HE, E> 100 MeV) γ-rays from Fermi-LAT; in X-rays from RXTE; in the optical from the KVA telescope; and in the radio at 43 GHz, 37 GHz, and 15 GHz from the VLBA, Metsähovi, and OVRO radio telescopes - along with optical polarisation measurements from the KVA and Liverpool telescopes. We examined the corresponding light curves and broadband spectral energy distribution and we compared the multifrequency properties of 3C 279 at the epoch of the MAGIC observations with those inferred from historical observations. Results: During the MAGIC observations (2011 February 8 to April 11) 3C 279 was in a low state in optical, X-ray, and γ-rays. The MAGIC observations did not yield a significant detection. The derived upper limits are in agreement with the extrapolation of the HE γ-ray spectrum, corrected for EBL absorption, from Fermi-LAT. The second part of the MAGIC observations in 2011 was triggered by a high-activity state in the optical and γ-ray bands. During the optical outburst the optical electric vector position angle (EVPA) showed a rotation of ~180°. Unlike previous cases, there was no simultaneous rotation of the 43 GHz radio polarisation angle. No VHE γ-rays were detected by MAGIC, and the derived upper limits suggest the presence of a spectral break or curvature between the Fermi-LAT and MAGIC bands. The combined upper limits are the strongest derived to date for the source at VHE and below the level of the previously detected flux by a factor of ~2. Radiation models that include synchrotron and inverse Compton emissions match the optical to γ-ray data, assuming an emission component inside the broad line region with size R = 1.1 × 1016 cm and magnetic field B = 1.45 G responsible for the high-energy emission, and another one outside the broad line region and the infrared torus (R = 1.5 × 1017 cm and B = 0.8 G) causing the optical and low-energy emission. We also study the optical polarisation in detail and interpret it with a bent trajectory model. Springer Verlag https://hdl.handle.net/2445/58580
title MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
spellingShingle MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
Marcote Martin, Benito
Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Galàxies actives
Quàsars
Jets (Astrofísica)
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Active galaxies
Quasars
Astrophysical jets
title_short MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
title_full MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
title_fullStr MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
title_full_unstemmed MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
title_sort MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
author Marcote Martin, Benito
author_facet Marcote Martin, Benito
Munar i Adrover, Pere
Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria
Paredes Fortuny, Xavier
Ribó Gomis, Marc
Zanin, Roberta
MAGIC Collaboration
author_role author
author2 Munar i Adrover, Pere
Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria
Paredes Fortuny, Xavier
Ribó Gomis, Marc
Zanin, Roberta
MAGIC Collaboration
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
topic Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Galàxies actives
Quàsars
Jets (Astrofísica)
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Active galaxies
Quasars
Astrophysical jets
topic_facet Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Galàxies actives
Quàsars
Jets (Astrofísica)
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Active galaxies
Quasars
Astrophysical jets
description We study the multifrequency emission and spectral properties of the quasar3C 279 aimed at identifying the radiation processes taking place in the source. Methods: We observed 3C 279 in very-high-energy (VHE, E> 100 GeV) γ-rays, with the MAGIC telescopes during 2011, for the first time in stereoscopic mode. We combined these measurements with observations at other energy bands: in high-energy (HE, E> 100 MeV) γ-rays from Fermi-LAT; in X-rays from RXTE; in the optical from the KVA telescope; and in the radio at 43 GHz, 37 GHz, and 15 GHz from the VLBA, Metsähovi, and OVRO radio telescopes - along with optical polarisation measurements from the KVA and Liverpool telescopes. We examined the corresponding light curves and broadband spectral energy distribution and we compared the multifrequency properties of 3C 279 at the epoch of the MAGIC observations with those inferred from historical observations. Results: During the MAGIC observations (2011 February 8 to April 11) 3C 279 was in a low state in optical, X-ray, and γ-rays. The MAGIC observations did not yield a significant detection. The derived upper limits are in agreement with the extrapolation of the HE γ-ray spectrum, corrected for EBL absorption, from Fermi-LAT. The second part of the MAGIC observations in 2011 was triggered by a high-activity state in the optical and γ-ray bands. During the optical outburst the optical electric vector position angle (EVPA) showed a rotation of ~180°. Unlike previous cases, there was no simultaneous rotation of the 43 GHz radio polarisation angle. No VHE γ-rays were detected by MAGIC, and the derived upper limits suggest the presence of a spectral break or curvature between the Fermi-LAT and MAGIC bands. The combined upper limits are the strongest derived to date for the source at VHE and below the level of the previously detected flux by a factor of ~2. Radiation models that include synchrotron and inverse Compton emissions match the optical to γ-ray data, assuming an emission component inside the broad line region with size R = 1.1 × 1016 cm and magnetic field B = 1.45 G responsible for the high-energy emission, and another one outside the broad line region and the infrared torus (R = 1.5 × 1017 cm and B = 0.8 G) causing the optical and low-energy emission. We also study the optical polarisation in detail and interpret it with a bent trajectory model.
publishDate 2014
format article
status_str acceptedVersion
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/58580
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
publisher Springer Verlag
institution Universidad de Barcelona
collection Dipòsit Digital de la UB
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de la UB
instname_str Universidad de Barcelona
_version_ 1878431464852291585
publishDateSort 2014
author_browse MAGIC Collaboration
Marcote Martin, Benito
Munar i Adrover, Pere
Paredes Fortuny, Xavier
Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria
Ribó Gomis, Marc
Zanin, Roberta
publisherStr Springer Verlag
score 6,9303427