BL Lac的光学多普勒因子估算

蝎虎天体(BL Lacertae object,BL Lac)是一类特殊的活动星系核,表现出极端的观测特征,如高光度和偏振、快速光变、超光速运动、射电核主导、极高能辐射等,极端观测特性可能都与喷流效应有关,而表征喷流效应的物理量是多普勒因子(Doppler factor).多普勒因子有助于了解BL Lac的辐射物理和本征特性.基于BL Lac和Fanaroff-Riley typeⅠ/Fanaroff-Riley typeⅡ(G)的统一模型思路,提出BL Lac的本征视星等与红移(哈勃图)的分布应该与FRⅠ/FRⅡ(G)的观测视星等与红移的分布相似,并提出了估算BL Lac的光学多普勒因子的方法.该方法所估算的多普勒因子与前人的光学多普勒因子比较具有很好的相关性,说明该光学波段估算BL Lac多普勒因子的方法是可靠的.

Cluster Analysis of the Roma-BZCAT Blazars

Based on the collected multiwavelength data, namely in the radio(NVSS, FIRST, RATAN-600), IR(WISE),optical(Pan-STARRS), UV(GALEX), and X-ray(ROSAT, Swift-XRT) ranges, we have performed a cluster analysis for the blazars of the Roma-BZCAT catalog. Using two machine learning methods, namely a combination of PCA with k-means clustering and Kohonen's self-organizing maps(SOMs), we have constructed an independent classification of the blazars(five classes) and compared the classes with the known Roma-BZCAT classification(FSRQs, BL Lacs, galaxy-dominated BL Lacs, and blazars of an uncertain type) as well as with the high synchrotron peaked(HSP) blazars from the 3HSP catalog and blazars from the TeVCat catalog. The obtained groups demonstrate concordance with the BL Lac/FSRQ classification along with a continuous character of the change in the properties. The group of HSP blazars stands out against the overall distribution. We examine the characteristics of the five groups and demonstrate distinctions in their spectral energy distribution shapes. The effectiveness of the clustering technique for objective analysis of multiparametric arrays of experimental data is demonstrated.

Fermi Blazars in the Zwicky Transient Facility Survey:Properties of Large Optical Variations

We analyze the optical light curve data,obtained with the Zwicky Transient Facility(ZTF)survey,for 47 γ-ray blazars monitored by the Large Area Telescope onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope(Fermi).These 47sources are selected because they are among the Fermi blazars with the largest optical variations in the ZTF data.Two color-magnitude variation patterns are seen in them,with one being redder-to-stable-when-brighter(RSWB;in 31 sources)and the other being stable when brighter(in 16 sources).The patterns fit with the results recently reported in several similar studies with different data.Moreover,we find that the colors in the stable state of the sources share similar values,for which(after being corrected for the Galactic extinction)most sources are in a range of 0.4–0.55.This feature could be intrinsic and may be applied in,for example,study of the intragalactic medium.We also determine the turning points for the sources showing the RSWB pattern,after which the color changes saturate and become stable.We find a correlation between optical fluxes and γ-ray fluxes at the turning points.The physical implications of the correlation remain to be investigated,probably better with a sample of high-qualityγ-ray flux measurements.

射电选和X射线选BL Lacertae天体的射电性质(英文)

收集了射电选和X射线选BL Lac天体的射电数据(包括核和延展光度),并计算了它们的核主导系数R。研究显示:射电选BL Lac(RBLs)天体的总射电光度是X射线选BL Lac(XBLs)天体的2个量级。详细分析得到这种差别主要是来自于核光度的差别因为延展光度差别只有1个量级。研究RBLs和XBLs的核(延展元)光度与核主导系数之间的关系,发现延展元光度与核主导系数负相关,而核(总)光度几乎与核主导系数没有相关。

Effects of Redshift on the Classifying Criteria of BL Lacertae Objects

We have collected a sample of 70 BL Lacs （33 radio-selected BL Lacs and 37 X-ray selected BL Lacs） with multi-waveband data for investigating the classifying criteria of BL Lacertae Objects. For each source, we estimate its luminosities in radio, optical and X-ray, the broad-band spectral index from radio to X-ray and the peak frequency of the synchrotron emission, and make a statistical analysis of the data obtained. Our main results are as follows： （1） The broad-band spectral index and the peak frequency have no correlation with the redshift, while they are inversely correlated with each other and they could be regarded as equivalent classifying criteria of BL Lac objects. （2） There are significant effects of the luminosity/redshift relation on the observed luminosity distribution in our sample, hence, if the radio luminosity is to be used as a classifying criterion of BL Lac objects, it should not be regarded as equivalent to the broad-band spectral index or the peak frequency. （3） Our resuits supply a specific piece of evidence for the suggestion that the use of luminosities always introduces a redshift bias to the data and show that the location of the peak frequency is not always linked to the luminosity of any wave band.

The Binary Black Hole Scenario for the BL Lacertae Object AO 0235+16

Recent analysis of the long term radio light curve of the extremely variableBL Lacertae object AO 0235+16 by Raiteri et al. have revealed the presence of recurrent outburstswith a period of ～ 5.7 +- 0.5 yr. Periodicity analysis of the optical light curve also showsevidence for a shorter period. Here we discuss whether such a behavior can be explained by a binaryblack hole model where the accretion disk of one of the supermassive black holes is precessing dueto the tidal effects of the companion. We estimate the mass of the accreting hole and analyzeconstraints on the secondary mass and the orbital parameters of the system. It is possible toprovide a viable interpretation of the available multiwavelength data.

On the weak Lyα emission line of BL Lacertae objects

Recent studies reveal that weak Lyα emission line may be a ubiquitous feature of nearby BL Laceratae objects(BL Lacs). We present a survey of the Lyα emission lines in BL Lacs, with a focus on data obtained by the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Among the11 selected targets, seven show a clear detection of the intrinsic Lyα emission line, while one manifests a marginal detection. Two of these intrinsic Lyα lines are newly detected in this work(FBQS J1217+3007 and3 C 66 A). Most selected BL Lacs are either high or intermediate-frequency peaked BL Lacs, with the only exception being one low-frequency peaked BL Lac. A strong anti-correlation between the line equivalent width and the continuum luminosity was found. The possible sources of ionizing photons that are responsible for production of the Lyα emission line are studied based on a widely accepted detailed accretion-jet model. It is found that the clouds of the broad line region are unlikely to be located in the jet cone region with an inclination angle of less than 10 degrees. Contributions from the jet and disk to the emission lines are found to be comparable. Additionally, a possible way to constrain the accretion rate from the emission line is proposed.

BL Lacertae objects and the extragalactic γ-ray background

A tight correlation between γ-ray and radio emission is found for a sample of BL Lacertae （BL Lac） objects detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope （Fermi） and the Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope （EGRET）. The γ-ray emission of BL Lac objects exhibits strong variability, and the detection rate of γ-ray BL Lac objects is low, which may be related to the γ-ray duty cycle of BL Lac objects. We estimate the γ-ray duty cycle, δγ ≌ 0.11, for BL Lac objects detected by EGRET and Fermi. Using the empirical relation of γ-ray emission with radio emission and the estimated γ-ray duty cycle δγ, we derive the γ-ray luminosity function （LF） of BL Lac objects from their radio LE Our derived γ-ray LF of BL Lac objects can almost reproduce that calculated with the recently released Fermi bright active galactic nuclei （AGN） sample. Comparison of the derived LF of the γ-ray BL Lac objects in this work with that derived by Abdo et al. （2009a） requires the γ-ray duty cycle of BL Lac objects to be almost luminosity-independent. We find that - 45% of the extragalactic diffuse γ-ray background （EGRB） is contributed by BL Lac objects. Combining the estimate of the quasar contribution to the EGRB in the previous work, we find that 77% of the EGRB is contributed by BL Lac objects and radio quasars.

A new three-stage evolution model for millimeter to centimeter wavelength outbursts in BL Lacertae

The multi-frequency light curves of BL Lacertae during 1997.5 - 1999.5 have been modeled by four outbursts, each having a 3-stage evolution in the （Sm, vm） plane with distinct rising-plateau-decaying phases. It is shown that the observed light curves can be well fitted for the eight frequencies from 350 GHz to 4.8 GHz. The main characteristics of the model-fitting are; （1） the outbursts are found to have very flat spectra with an optically thin spectral index α （defined as Sv α u^-α） of about 0.15. This is consistent with the results previously obtained by Valtaoja et al. （1992）; （2） it is found that there is no spectral flattening between the rising-plateau phase and the decay phase. In other words, the optically thin spectral index does not change from the rising-plateau phase to the decay phase. These features are in contrast to the 3-stage shocked-in-jet model proposed by Marscher ＆ Gear （1985） for submm- IR-optical flares, in which a spectral flattening of △α = 0.5 is predicted when a transition occurs from the Compton/synchrotron phase （or rising-plateau phase） to the adiabatic phase （or decay phase） with α≥ 0.5 for the shock being non-radiative. We propose a new model to interpret the fitting results, suggesting that the 3-stage evolution of the mm-cm outbursts in BL Lacertae may be related to the process of shock formation and propagation in a highly collimated jet （for example, a ＇parabolic＇ jet）. In particular, during the rising phase, the thickness of the synchrotron-radiating region created by the shock may rapidly increase with time （relative to the jet width） due to the rapid injection of relativistic electrons and a magnetic field, and this leads to the observed behavior that the turnover flux density Sm rapidly increases while the turnover frequency um decreases. In the decay phase, the emitting plasma enters into a free expansion regime without further injection of relativistic electrons and a magnetic field （for example, when a transition from a collimated regime into a conical regime occurs）. The plateau phase is a short period between the two regimes with no distinct features determined.

Is BZB J1450+5201 the most distant gamma-ray BL Lacertae object?

BL Lacertae （BL Lac） objects at high redshifts （z ≥ 2） are rarely detected. Through careful analysis of its Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectrum, BZB J1450＋5201 is confirmed to be a high-z BL Lac object with z ≥ 2.471 by identifying the Lyα 1216 and CIV 1548/1550 absorption lines. This indicates that BZB J1450＋5201 is the most distant BL Lac object discovered to date. Careful analysis of the five-year Fermi-LAT data of 2FGL J1451.0＋5159 shows that its γ-ray emission is robust with a confidence level of 6.2σ at 1-3 GeV and 6.7σ at 3-10 GeV. This analysis with the five-year data overcomes confusion with its bright neighbor, which is a problem when analyzing the two-year data. In addition, 2FGL J 1451.0＋5159 is confirmed to be associated with BZB J1450＋5201 using the five-year data. The analysis of multiwavelength data, from radio to γ-ray energies, indicates that BZB J1450＋5201 is an intermediate synchrotron peaked （ISP） source. Its multiwavelength properties are consistent with distributions of other ISP sources at lower redshifts in the second Fermi-LAT AGN catalog. The pure synchrotron self-Compton （SSC） model seems to be disfavored, but the scattering of weak external emission plus the SSC process can provide a satisfactory description of the broadband emission.

Intra-day variability of BL Lacertae from 2016 to 2018

We monitored BL Lacertae in the B,V,R and I bands for 14 nights during the period of 2016-2018.The source showed significant intra-day variability on 12 nights.We performed color-magnitude analysis and found that the source exhibited bluer-when-brighter chromatism.This bluer-when-brighter behavior is at least partly caused by the larger variation amplitude at shorter wavelengths.The variations at different wavelengths are correlated well and show no inter-band time lag.

BL Lacertae: Hard Optical Spectrum and GeV γ-ray Emission

The spectral energy distribution (SED) of the γ-ray flare observed inJuly 1997 in BL Lacertae is re-considered. It is pointed out that the optical observa-tions made by Webb et al. showed the associated optical flare has a hard spectrum(the average spectral index αopt～ 0.48, F_v∝v^(-α)), and the ASCA observationsmade by Tanihata et al. showed very steep spectra in the soft X-ray band (0.7-1.5 keV) (α_x～3-4). We find that the flux densities and spectral indices in both theoptical and soft X-ray bands are closely consistent with a ‘canonical' synchrotronspectrum emitted by relativistic electrons of a power-law energy distribution witha high energy cutoff, and thus the peak of the SED of the synchrotron radiation (inrepresentation of vF_v) is located in the EUV -- soft X-ray bands. Therefore, theGeV γ-ray emission observed in the July 1997 outburst may be mainly due to thesynchrotron self-Compton (SSC) process, contrasting with the current explanationsin terms of external radiation Compton (ERC) process, in which the seed photonsare mostly taken to be the UV emission from the clouds of the broad emission lineregion. We argue that the hard optical spectra observed during the γ-ray outburstmay be an important signature for the acceleration of high energy electrons (γ_e～10~4)in the γ-ray emitting region.

A synchrotron self-Compton scenario for the very high energy γ-ray emission of the intermediate BL Lacertae object W Comae

W Comae has significant variability in multi-wavelengthes, from radio to gamma-ray bands. A bright outburst in optical and X-ray bands was observed in 1998, and most recently, a strong TeV flare was detected by VERITAS in 2008. It is the first TeV intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae source. I find that both the broadband spectral energy distributions （SEDs） which were quasi-simultaneously obtained during the TeV flare and during the optical/X-ray outburst are well fit by using a single-zone synchrotron ＋ synchrotron-self-Compton model. The satisfactory fitting requires a large beaming factor, i.e., δ- 25 and δ- 20 for the TeV flare and the optical/X-ray outburst, respectively, suggesting that both the optical/X-ray outburst and the TeV flare are from a relativistic jet. The size of the emission region of the TeV flare is three times larger than that of the optical/X-ray outburst, and the strength of the magnetic field for the TeV flare is - 14 times smaller than that of the X-ray/optical outburst, likely indicating that the region of the TeV flare is more distant from the core than that of the X-ray/optical outburst. The inverse Compton component of the TeV flare peaks around 1.3 GeV, but it is around 20 MeV for the X-ray/optical outburst, lower than that for the TeV flare by two orders of magnitude. The model predicts that the optical/X-ray outburst might be accompanied by a strong MeV/GeV emission, but the TeV flare may be not associated with the X-ray/optical outburst. The GeV emission is critical for characterizing the SEDs of the optical/X-ray outburst and the TeV flare. The predicted GeV flux is above the sensitivity of Fermi/LAT, and it could be verified with the observations by Fermi/LAT in the near future.

Photometric Monitoring of Blazar 3C 66A with the Yunnan University Astronomical Observatory 1 m Telescope

3C 66A is one of our first batches of photometric monitoring objects with the 1 m optical telescope at Yunnan University Astronomical Observatory.In the present work,the observational campaign was performed from 2021 November 1 to 2022 February 27 in the Johnson-Morgan system V and R bands.The average magnitudes in each band were■=15.52±0.18 mag and■=15.07±0.17 mag.The overall variability amplitudes wereΔV=■,Amp=70.27%andΔR=■,Amp=68.56%,respectively.Most of the intraday variabilities(IDVs)occurred in 2021 December and 2022 February.The minimal rise/decay timescale was about 6 minutes(5.82±2.74 minutes and 6.18±2.81 minutes on 2022 February 11,6.99±3.70 minutes and 6.17±2.91 minutes on 2022 February 12).Durations of these rapid variabilities were from 11.99 to 179.67 minutes.The discrete correlation function analyses between V and R bands showed significantly correlated variability.Color index analysis of ID Vs showed that the spectrums do not change with variabilities.

Comprehensive Study of the Blazars from Fermi-LAT LCR: The Log-Normal Flux Distribution and Linear rms–Flux Relation

Fermi-LAT LCR provides continuous and regularly sampled gamma-ray light curves, spanning about 14 yr, for a large sample of blazars. The log-normal flux distribution and linear rms–flux relation of the light curves for a few Fermi blazars have been examined in previous studies. However, the probability that blazars exhibit the log-normal flux distribution and linear rms–flux relation in their gamma-ray light curves has not been systematically explored.In this study, we comprehensively research the distribution of γ-ray flux and the statistical characteristics on a large sample of 1414 variable blazars from the Fermi-LAT LCR catalog, including 572 FSRQs, 477 BL Lacs, and 365BCUs, and statistically compare their flux distributions with normal and log-normal distributions. The results indicate that the probability of not rejecting log-normal is 42.05% for the large sample, and there is still a 2.05%probability of not rejecting normality, based on the joint of Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Shapiro–Wilk, and Normality tests. We further find that the probability that BL Lacs conform to the log-normal distribution is higher than that of FSRQs. Besides, after removing sources with less than 200 data points from this large sample, a sample of 549blazars, which is still a large sample compared to the previous studies, was obtained. Based on dividing the light curves into segments every 20 points(or 40 points, or one year), we fitted the linear rms–flux relation of these three different sets and found that the Pearson correlation coefficients are all close to 1 for most blazars. This result indicates a strong linear correlation between the rms and the flux of these 549 blazars. The log-normal distribution and linear rms–flux relation indicate that the variability of the γ-ray flux for most blazars is a non-linear and multiplicative process.

Fermi Blazars in the Zwicky Transient Facility Survey:A Correlation Study

We report on our correlation analysis for theγ-ray blazars detected with the Large Area Telescope(LAT)onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope(Fermi),for which we use the Fermi-LAT data and the optical zr and zg band data from the Zwicky Transient Facility survey in the time period approximately from 2018 July to 2022February.We start from the full sample of the Fermi-LAT blazars and find~38%of them as significant variables in bothγ-ray and optical bands.Among the variables,which are 705 blazars,95 are selected as our targets based on the requirement for theγ-ray brightnesses.Then 15 out of the 95 blazars are found to show theγ-ray-optical correlations in the~3.7 yr time period.Most of the 15 blazars are classified as low synchrotron peaked(LSP)ones with the time lags between theγ-ray and optical bands in a range from-19 to+25 days.The results generally fit the often-considered emission scenario for the LSP blazars.Two cases of showing~-100 days time lags are discussed,which require farther studies for confirmation.Our analysis results suggest that among the detected significant variables,~23%LSPs can showγ-ray and optical correlations,while their averageγ-ray fluxes are above~4×10^(-8)photon cm^(-2)s^(-1).

A Quasi-periodic Oscillation of ~4.6 yr in the Radio Light Curves of Blazar PKS 0607-157

We present periodicity search analyses on long-term radio light curves at 4.8,8,and 14.5 GHz of blazar PKS 0607–157 observed by the University of Michigan Radio Astronomical Observatory telescope.The highly variable radio emissions are approximately distributed as a log-normal probability distribution function.The Power Spectral Density for the radio light curves can be well characterized by a power-law model.Using the Weighted Wavelet Z-transform and Lomb-Scargle periodogram methods,significant Quasi-periodic Oscillation(QPO)of∼4.6 yr in the radio light curve has been observed above the 3σconfidence level,which presents an interesting case among blazar QPO phenomena.We explore three plausible physical models to explain the observed QPOs:a supermassive binary black hole system,Lense-Thirring precession of the disk,and helical motion of plasma blobs within the jet.

耀变体的逆康普顿峰值频率与伽马光子谱指数的关系

以Fermi/LAT(Large Area Telescope)12yr观测的第4期源表的第3次修订版(The 4th Fermi Gamma-ray LAT-Data Release 3,4FGL-DR3)中的blazar为样本,研究了blazar不同子类的逆康普顿峰频(lgν_(p)^(IC))与γ-ray光子谱指数(Γ)之间关系.结果表明:所有blazar子类样本的lgν_(p)^(IC)与Γ都有强的负相关关系,即γ-ray光子谱指数对blazar的逆康普顿能谱有强的主导作用,并且可用二者之间的关系快速地估计逆康普顿峰频;不同blazar子类样本的逆康普顿部分的能谱分布应该有不同的谱结构函数,因此,对于不同的样本,应该采用不同的函数拟合其能谱分布.

Blazar天体的辐射特性研究

收集了47个Blazar天体的短时标光变资料,估算了中心天体质量和不同波段辐射区域,并对估算结果作了统计分析,发现Blazar天体中心黑洞质量在10~7M_☉到10^(10)M_☉之间,BL Lac天体与平谱射电类星体中心黑洞质量有很大差异,平谱射电类星体中心黑洞质量大于BL Lac天体中心黑洞质量;红外波段和γ射线波段辐射区域大小相似.同时,利用收集到Blazar天体的热光度分析了Blazar天体热光度与短时标光变之间的关系,证实了射电选BL Lac(RBL)天体和平谱射电类星体(FSRQs)的辐射是强成束的,但相对论聚柬效应对X射线选BL Lac(XBL)天体的辐射影响较小.

用小波分析方法计算BL Lac天体S5 0716+714的光变周期

介绍了一种用小波分析寻找BL Lac天体S5 0716+714光变周期的方法.收集了BL Lac天体S5 0716+714光学B、V、R、I四个波段较完备的观测数据,获得了10天平均的长期光变曲线.使用此光变曲线数据进行小波分析计算,结果表明小波分析方法能较好地分析和认证BL Lac天体的光变周期值.从小波变换系数实部的等值线图,可以准确证认BL Lac天体S5 0716+714有光变周期波动变化.由B,V,R,I四个波段的小波方差曲线分析发现BL Lac天体S5 0176+714有一个1160天的稳定周期,这个结果与Raiteri等人发现的3.3年周期是一致的.预测在2011年8月将有一次大的爆发.