Engineering topics

Marscher, Alan P.

Publications and source records attributed to Marscher, Alan P..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS2011

On the Location of the gamma-Ray Outburst Emission in the BL Lacertae Object AO 0235 + 164 Through Observations Across the Electromagnetic Spectrum

We present observations of a major outburst at centimeter, millimeter, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths of the BL Lacertae object AO 0235+164. We analyze the timing of multi-waveband variations in the flux and linear polarization, as well as changes in Very Long Baseline Array images at A = 7 mm with approx.0.15 milliarcsec resolution. The association of the events at different wavebands is confirmed at high statistical significance by probability arguments and Monte Carlo simulations. A series of sharp peaks in optical linear polarization, as well as a pronounced maximum in the 7 mm polarization of a superluminal jet knot, indicate rapid fluctuations in the degree of ordering of the magnetic field. These results lead us to conclude that the outburst occurred in the jet both in the quasi-stationary "core" and in the superluminal knot, both parsecs downstream of the supermassive black hole. We interpret the outburst as a consequence of the propagation of a disturbance, elongated along the line of sight by light-travel time delays, that passes through a standing recollimation shock in the core and propagates down the jet to create the superluminal knot. The multi-wavelength light curves vary together on long timescales (months/ years), but the correspondence is poorer on shorter timescales. This, as well as the variability of the polarization and the dual location of the outburst, agrees with the expectations of a multi-zone emission model in which turbulence plays a major role in modulating the synchrotron and inverse Compton fluxes.

Agudo, Ivan↗

NASA NTRS2005

Probing the Relativistic Jets of Active Galactic Nuclei with Multiwavelength Monitoring

The work completed includes the analysis of observations obtained during Cycle 7 (March 2002-February 2003) of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The project was part of a longer-term, continuing program to study the X-ray emission process in blazars and radio galaxies in collaboration with Dr. Ian McHardy (U. of Southampton, UK) and Prof. Thomas Balonek (Colgate U.). The goals of the program are to study the X-ray emission mechanism in blazars and radio galaxies and the relation of the X-ray emission to changes in the relativistic jet. The program includes contemporaneous brightness and linear polarization monitoring at radio and optical wavelengths, total and polarized intensity imaging at at 43 GHz with a resolution of 0.1 milliarcseconds with the VLBA, and well-sampled X-ray light curves obtained from a series of approved RXTE programs. The objects studied in the time period covered by the grant were 3C 120, 3C 279, PKS 1510-089, and 3C 273, all with radio jets containing bright knots that appear to move at superluminal speeds. During RXTE Cycle 7, the project was awarded RXTE time to monitor PKS 1510-089 two times per week, 3C 273 and 3C 279 three times per week, and 3C 120 four times per week. In addition, 3C273 and 3C 279 were observed several times per day during a ten-day period in April 2002. The X-ray data, including those from earlier cycles, were compared with radio measurements obtained in the centimeter-wave band by the monitoring program of Drs. Margo and Hugh Aller at the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory, monthly imaging observations with the VLBA at 43 GHz, and optical observations obtained at several telescopes around the world.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Frequency-Dependent Time Lags in Three Blazars

The work completed includes the analysis of observations obtained during Cycle 6 of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The project is part of a longer-term, continuing program to study the X-ray emission process in blazars in collaboration with Dr. Ian McHardy (U. of Southampton, UK). The goals of the program are to study the X-ray emission mechanism in blazars and the relation of the X-ray emission to changes in the relativistic jet. The program includes contemporaneous brightness and linear polarization monitoring at radio and optical wavelengths, total and polarized intensity imaging at 43 GHz with a resolution of 0.1 milliarcseconds with the VLBA, and well-sampled X-ray light curves obtained from a series of approved RXTE programs. During RXTE cycle 6, the project was awarded RXTE time to monitor three quasars: PKS 1510-089 two times per week, and 3C 273 and 3C 279 three times per week each. The X-ray data, including those from earlier cycles, were compared with radio measurements obtained 2-3 times per week in the centimeter-wave band with the Michigan radio telescope, monthly imaging observations with the VLBA at 43 GHz, and optical observations obtained at several telescopes around the world. Since it is the long-term X-ray light curve that is of greatest value, this report includes discussion of all the data collected through August 2003 rather than just the Cycle 6 data.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2002

RXTE Observations of Selected Blazars

The work completed includes the analysis of observations obtained during Cycles 4 and 5 of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The project is part of a longer-term, continuing program to study the X-ray emission process in blazars in collaboration with Dr. Ian McHardy (U. of Southampton, UK).

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2002

X-ray Dips Followed by Superluminal Ejections as Evidence for An Accretion Disc Feeding the Jet in A Radio Galaxy

Accretion onto black holes is thought to power the relativistic jets and other high-energy phenomena in both active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and the "microquasar" binary systems located in our Galaxy. However, until now there has been insufficient multifrequency monitoring to establish a direct observational link between the black hole and the jet in an AGE. This contrasts with the case of microquasars, in which superluminal features appear and propagate down the radio jet shortly after sudden decreases in the X-ray flux. Such an X-ray dip is most likely caused by the disappearance of a section of the inner accretion disc, part of which falls past the event horizon and the remainder of which is injected into the jet. This infusion of energy generates a disturbance that propagates down the jet, creating the appearance of a superluminal bright spot. Here we report the results of three years of intensive monitoring of the X-ray and radio emission of the Seyfert-like radio galaxy 3C 120. As in the case of microquasars, dips in the X-ray emission are followed by ejections of bright superluminal knots in the radio jet. Comparison of the characteristic length and time scales allows us to infer that the rotational states of the black holes in these two objects are different.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Jet Stability and the Generation of Superluminal and Stationary Components

We present a numerical simulation of the response of an expanding relativistic jet to the ejection of a superluminal component. The simulation has been performed with a relativistic time-dependent hydrodynamical code from which simulated radio maps are computed by integrating the transfer equations for synchrotron radiation. The interaction of the superluminal component with the underlying jet results in the formation of multiple conical shocks behind the main perturbation. These trailing components can be easily distinguished because they appear to be released from the primary superluminal component instead of being ejected from the core. Their oblique nature should also result in distinct polarization properties. Those appearing closer to the core show small apparent motions and a very slow secular decrease in brightness and could be identified as stationary components. Those appearing farther downstream are weaker and can reach superluminal apparent motions. The existence of these trailing components indicates that not all observed components necessarily represent major perturbations at the jet inlet; rather, multiple emission components can be generated by a single disturbance in the jet. While the superluminal component associated with the primary perturbation exhibits a rather stable pattern speed, trailing components have velocities that increase with distance from the core but move at less than the jet speed. The trailing components exhibit motion and structure consistent with the triggering of pinch modes by the superluminal component. The increase in velocity of the trailing components is an indirect consequence of the acceleration of the expanding fluid, which is assumed to be relativistically hot; if observed, such accelerations would therefore favor an electron-positron (as opposed to proton rest mass) dominated jet.

Agudo, Ivan↗

NASA NTRS2001

Frequency Stratification of the Nonthermal Emission in Blazars

Research supported by this grant involved theoretical investigations of the multifrequency nonthermal emission from the relativistic jets in blazars, which are quasars and related objects with highly variable brightness. In the initial stage of the project, one-dimensional, conical (i.e., spherical symmetry between the jet axis and surface is assumed) jet models were used to explain the multi-waveband spectra and variability of blazars. The results were applied to two flares observed in the object PKS 2155-304, leading to the conclusion that the distinct differences in the observed characteristics of the two flares can be explained with the same jet model if two different physical parameters (the magnetic field in the first flare and the efficiency of acceleration of electrons to high energies in the second) varied.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Time Delays of Blazar Flares Observed at Different Wavebands

Correlated variability at different frequencies can probe the structure and physics of the jet of a blazar on size scales much smaller than can be resolved by telescopes and interferometers. I discuss some observations of frequency dependent time lags and how these place constraints on models for the nonthermal emission in blazars. The time lags can be either positive (high frequency variations leading those at lower frequencies) or negative, while simultaneous flares are also possible.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Multiwaveband Monitoring of the Radio Galaxy 3C 120

This project started new weekly observations of the radio galaxy 3C 120 during Cycle 3 (1998) of the RXTE mission. It is clear that the weekly observations in 1998 did not resolve the variations of the X-ray emission. The most prominent features are three dips in the X-ray flux, separated from each other by about one year. The dips (as well as the the general flux level) is not correlated with the radio emission. However, the times of the dips coincided, within the errors, with the times of zero separation between apparently superluminal features in the radio jets and the cores of the jets. This is potentially a very exciting finding, which would, if confirmed, link the physics of this radio galaxy with that of the binary star system in our Galaxy, 1915+105. The X-ray dip would then be interpreted as the dissociation of the inner accretion disk, with the extra accretion onto the black hole being accompanied by enhanced flow of energy and material down the relativistic jet. This would result in the creation of the observed new superluminal knot.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Time Delays of Blazar Flares Observed at Different Wavebands

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Continued RXTE Observations of Three Blazars

This project continued (during Cycle 3 of the RXTE mission) weekly observations of the quasars PKS 1510-089 and 3C 454.3 and the BL Lac object OJ 287. The data were analyzed by the PI and his graduate student. In the middle of Cycle 3, the PI changed the mode of observation of 3C 454.3, based on a report from another astronomer that observations with the Rosat satellite had found a strong confusing X-ray source about 45 arcmin away. The RXTE observations, in which the flux was measured while pointing directly at 3C 454.3 and then 15' from 3C 454.3, in the direction away from the confusing source. The flux decreased considerably, and so it appears that nearly all the X-ray flux measured by RXTE comes from the confusing source rather than the quasar. OJ 287 was detected only at one epoch of the Cycle 3 observations. This corresponded to a particularly quiet period for this source, when its flux at other wavebands was also low. From the single epoch of detection, no conclusions can be drawn concerning the general nature of the X-ray emission from this object. In contrast to the other two sources, the results of the observations of PKS 1510-089, when combined with data from cycles 3 and 4, are very interesting. The RXTE (2.4-20 keV) abd 14.5 GHz University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (UMRAO) light curves through the end of RXTE Cycle 4 are shown for PKS 1510-089. Visual inspection reveals an obvious correlation between the X-ray and 14.5 GHz light curves. While this is as expected in the SSC model in a source with simultaneous mm-wave (the photons thought to be scattered to X-ray energies) and cm-wave variations, the X-ray spectrum is flat ("energy" spectral index alpha = 0.2-0.5, where F (sub v) proportional to v (sup - alpha)) compared with the mm-wave synchrotron spectrum (alpha approximately equal to 0.8). The PI is currently engaged in theoretical work to determine whether this is possible for an SSC model.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS2000

A CGRO Target of Opportunity Proposal for Flaring Blazars

Gamma-ray observations of the quasar 3C 279 during the reporting period were carried out and analyzed by Dr. Robert Hartman, the overall project principal investigator, in response to a target of opportunity. The PI and co-I of this grant, Drs. Alan Marscher and Svetlana Marchenko (now Svetlana Jorstad), observed with the VLBA at 43 GHz after the flare. The results and interpretation of the multiwaveband observations are reported in a paper by Hartman et al. that was recently submitted to the Astrophysical Journal, on which the PI is a co-author.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Prediction of ECS and SSC Models for Flux-Limited Samples of Gamma-Ray Blazars

The external Compton scattering (ECS) and synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) models make distinct predictions for the amount of Doppler boosting of high-energy gamma-rays emitted by Nazar. We examine how these differences affect the predicted properties of active galactic nucleus (AGN) samples selected on the basis of Murray emission. We create simulated flux-limited samples based on the ECS and SSC models, and compare their properties to those of identified EGRET blazars. We find that for small gamma-ray-selected samples, the two models make very similar predictions, and cannot be reliably distinguished. This is primarily due to the fact that not only the Doppler factor, but also the cosmological distance and intrinsic luminosity play a role in determining whether an AGN is included in a flux-limited gamma-ray sample.

Lister, Matthew L.↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Viewing Angle-Kinetic Luminosity Scheme for BL Lacertae Objects

We propose a unified classification for BL Lacertae objects (BLs), focusing on the synchrotron peak frequency of the spectral energy distribution. The unification scheme is based on the angle theta that describes the orientation of the relativistic jet and on the electron kinetic luminosity Lamba(sub kin) of the jet. We assume that Lamba(sub kin) scales with the size of the jet (r) in a self-similar fashion (Lamba(sub kin) is proportional to r(exp 2)), as supported by observational data. The jets are self-similar in geometry and have the same pressure and median magnetic field at the inlet, independent of size. The self-similarity is broken for the highest energy electrons, which radiate mainly at high frequencies, since for large sources they suffer more severe radiative energy losses over a given fraction of the jet length. We calculate the optically thin synchrotron spectrum using an accelerating inner jet model based on simple relativistic gas dynamics and show that it can fit the observed infrared-to-X-ray spectrum of PKS 2155-304. We couple the accelerating jet model to the unification scheme and compare the results to complete samples of BLs. The negative apparent evolution of X-ray-selected BLs is explained as a result of positive evolution of the jet electron kinetic luminosity Lamba(sub kin). We review observational arguments in favor of the existence of scaled-down accretion disks and broad emission-line regions in BLs. The proposed unification scheme can explain the lack of observed broad emission lines in X-ray-selected BLs as well as the existence of those lines preferentially in luminous radio-selected BLs. Finally, we review observational arguments that suggest the extension of this unification scheme to all blazars.

Georganopoulos, Markos↗

NASA NTRS1998

Modeling the Variability of the BL Lacertae Object PKS 2155-304

The bright X-ray-selected BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304 has been the target of two intense multi-wavelength campaigns in 1991 November and in 1994 May. Although the spectral energy distributions at both epochs were quite similar, the source exhibited two very distinct variability patterns that cannot be easily reconciled with homogeneous one-zone C7 jet models. During the first epoch the variability was almost achromatic in amplitude, with a time lag between X-rays and ultraviolet radiation (UV) of approximately three hours, while during the second epoch the variability amplitude increased as a function of wavelength with the EUV flare peaking approximately one day after the X-ray flare. We model the source using a time-dependent inhomogeneous accelerating jet model. We reproduce the general characteristics of the different variability signatures by assuming that plasma disturbances with different physical properties propagate downstream in an underlying jet characterized by the same set of physical parameters at both epochs. A time delay of approximately one day between the hardening of the UV spectral index and the UV flux present at both epochs is modeled with stochastic fluctuations in the particle acceleration manifested through small variations of the maximum energy of the injected electrons. We predict that similar time delays will be present in future observations even in the absence of strong variability event. We stress the importance of observations at neighboring frequencies as a diagnostic tool for the structure of the quiescent jet in blazars especially in the seemingly dull case in which strong variability is absent.

Georganopuolos, Markos↗

NASA NTRS1998

An Extended Observation of Blazar 3C279

The gamma-ray observations of the quasar 3C 279 during the reporting period were carried out and analyzed by Dr. Robert Hartman, the overall project principal investigator. As had been hoped, a flare was observed in late January / early February 1996. The flare was detected at X-ray energies by RXTE as well (the PI of the RXTE observations was Dr. Ian McHardy of the University of Southampton, England). The PI of this grant, Dr. Alan Marscher, observed with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 43 GHz after the flare and provided theoretical interpretation. The results and interpretation of the multiwaveband observations are reported in a paper by Wehrle et al. published in the Astrophysical Journal, on which the PI is a co-author.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Multiwaveband Monitoring of the Bright, Violently Variable Quasar 3C454.3

The RXTE (Rossi X Ray Timing Explorer) data of the quasar 3C 454.3 were analyzed by the PI (Principle Investigator) and his graduate students. The resulting light curve is shown. Substantial variations are seen. These, however, are not correlated with variations at either optical or radio wavelengths. For this reason, the PI decided that more observations were needed and that the project should be continued. These observations have taken place or are scheduled for Cycles 2 and 3 of RXTE. Because the project is continuing, no publications have yet resulted. The PI plans to submit a paper to the Astrophysical Journal at the conclusion of the multi-year monitoring project.

Marscher, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Probes of the Inner Jets of Blazars

I review models for the 'inner jet" in blazars, the section that connects the central engine with the radio jet. I discuss how the structure and physics of the inner jet can he explored using millimeter-wave VLBI as well as multiwaveband observations of blazars. Flares at radio to gamma-ray frequencies should exhibit time delays at different wavebands that can test models for both the high-energy emission mechanisms and the nature of the inner jet in blazars.

Marscher, Alan P.↗