Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279
Context. Over the past few years, on several occasions, large, continuous rotations of the electric vector position angle (EVPA) of linearly polarized optical emission from blazars have been reported. These events are often coincident with high energy gamma-ray flares and they have attracted conside...
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EDP SCIENCES S A
2016
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ndltd-arizona.edu-oai-arizona.openrepository.com-10150-6213732016-11-19T03:00:30Z Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 Kiehlmann, S. Savolainen, T. Jorstad, S. G. Sokolovsky, K. V. Schinzel, F. K. Marscher, A. P. Larionov, V. M. Agudo, I. Akitaya, H. Benítez, E. Berdyugin, A. Blinov, D. A. Bochkarev, N. G. Borman, G. A. Burenkov, A. N. Casadio, C. Doroshenko, V. T. Efimova, N. V. Fukazawa, Y. Gómez, J. L. Grishina, T. S. Hagen-Thorn, V. A. Heidt, J. Hiriart, D. Itoh, R. Joshi, M. Kawabata, K. S. Kimeridze, G. N. Kopatskaya, E. N. Korobtsev, I. V. Krajci, T. Kurtanidze, O. M. Kurtanidze, S. O. Larionova, E. G. Larionova, L. V. Lindfors, E. López, J. M. McHardy, I. M. Molina, S. N. Moritani, Y. Morozova, D. A. Nazarov, S. V. Nikolashvili, M. G. Nilsson, K. Pulatova, N. G. Reinthal, R. Sadun, A. Sasada, M. Savchenko, S. S. Sergeev, S. G. Sigua, L. A. Smith, P. S. Sorcia, M. Spiridonova, O. I. Takaki, K. Takalo, L. O. Taylor, B. Troitsky, I. S. Uemura, M. Ugolkova, L. S. Ui, T. Yoshida, M. Zensus, J. A. Zhdanova, V. E. Univ Arizona, Steward Observ polarization galaxies: active galaxies: jets quasars: individual: 3C 279 Context. Over the past few years, on several occasions, large, continuous rotations of the electric vector position angle (EVPA) of linearly polarized optical emission from blazars have been reported. These events are often coincident with high energy gamma-ray flares and they have attracted considerable attention, since they could allow us to probe the magnetic field structure in the gamma-ray emitting region of the jet. The flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 is one of the most prominent examples showing this behaviour. Aims. Our goal is to study the observed EVPA rotations and to distinguish between a stochastic and a deterministic origin of the polarization variability. Methods. We have combined multiple data sets of R-band photometry and optical polarimetry measurements of 3C 279, yielding exceptionally well-sampled flux density and polarization curves that cover a period of 2008-2012. Several large EVPA rotations are identified in the data. We introduce a quantitative measure for the EVPA curve smoothness, which is then used to test a set of simple random walk polarization variability models against the data. Results. 3C 279 shows different polarization variation characteristics during an optical low-flux state and a flaring state. The polarization variation during the flaring state, especially the smooth similar to 360 degrees rotation of the EVPA in mid-2011, is not consistent with the tested stochastic processes. Conclusions. We conclude that, during the two different optical flux states, two different processes govern polarization variation, which is possibly a stochastic process during the low-brightness state and a deterministic process during the flaring activity. 2016-04-28 Article Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 2016, 590:A10 Astronomy & Astrophysics 0004-6361 1432-0746 10.1051/0004-6361/201527725 http://hdl.handle.net/10150/621373 http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/621373 Astronomy & Astrophysics en http://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527725 © ESO, 2016 EDP SCIENCES S A |
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language |
en |
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topic |
polarization galaxies: active galaxies: jets quasars: individual: 3C 279 |
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polarization galaxies: active galaxies: jets quasars: individual: 3C 279 Kiehlmann, S. Savolainen, T. Jorstad, S. G. Sokolovsky, K. V. Schinzel, F. K. Marscher, A. P. Larionov, V. M. Agudo, I. Akitaya, H. Benítez, E. Berdyugin, A. Blinov, D. A. Bochkarev, N. G. Borman, G. A. Burenkov, A. N. Casadio, C. Doroshenko, V. T. Efimova, N. V. Fukazawa, Y. Gómez, J. L. Grishina, T. S. Hagen-Thorn, V. A. Heidt, J. Hiriart, D. Itoh, R. Joshi, M. Kawabata, K. S. Kimeridze, G. N. Kopatskaya, E. N. Korobtsev, I. V. Krajci, T. Kurtanidze, O. M. Kurtanidze, S. O. Larionova, E. G. Larionova, L. V. Lindfors, E. López, J. M. McHardy, I. M. Molina, S. N. Moritani, Y. Morozova, D. A. Nazarov, S. V. Nikolashvili, M. G. Nilsson, K. Pulatova, N. G. Reinthal, R. Sadun, A. Sasada, M. Savchenko, S. S. Sergeev, S. G. Sigua, L. A. Smith, P. S. Sorcia, M. Spiridonova, O. I. Takaki, K. Takalo, L. O. Taylor, B. Troitsky, I. S. Uemura, M. Ugolkova, L. S. Ui, T. Yoshida, M. Zensus, J. A. Zhdanova, V. E. Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 |
description |
Context. Over the past few years, on several occasions, large, continuous rotations of the electric vector position angle (EVPA) of linearly polarized optical emission from blazars have been reported. These events are often coincident with high energy gamma-ray flares and they have attracted considerable attention, since they could allow us to probe the magnetic field structure in the gamma-ray emitting region of the jet. The flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 is one of the most prominent examples showing this behaviour. Aims. Our goal is to study the observed EVPA rotations and to distinguish between a stochastic and a deterministic origin of the polarization variability. Methods. We have combined multiple data sets of R-band photometry and optical polarimetry measurements of 3C 279, yielding exceptionally well-sampled flux density and polarization curves that cover a period of 2008-2012. Several large EVPA rotations are identified in the data. We introduce a quantitative measure for the EVPA curve smoothness, which is then used to test a set of simple random walk polarization variability models against the data. Results. 3C 279 shows different polarization variation characteristics during an optical low-flux state and a flaring state. The polarization variation during the flaring state, especially the smooth similar to 360 degrees rotation of the EVPA in mid-2011, is not consistent with the tested stochastic processes. Conclusions. We conclude that, during the two different optical flux states, two different processes govern polarization variation, which is possibly a stochastic process during the low-brightness state and a deterministic process during the flaring activity. |
author2 |
Univ Arizona, Steward Observ |
author_facet |
Univ Arizona, Steward Observ Kiehlmann, S. Savolainen, T. Jorstad, S. G. Sokolovsky, K. V. Schinzel, F. K. Marscher, A. P. Larionov, V. M. Agudo, I. Akitaya, H. Benítez, E. Berdyugin, A. Blinov, D. A. Bochkarev, N. G. Borman, G. A. Burenkov, A. N. Casadio, C. Doroshenko, V. T. Efimova, N. V. Fukazawa, Y. Gómez, J. L. Grishina, T. S. Hagen-Thorn, V. A. Heidt, J. Hiriart, D. Itoh, R. Joshi, M. Kawabata, K. S. Kimeridze, G. N. Kopatskaya, E. N. Korobtsev, I. V. Krajci, T. Kurtanidze, O. M. Kurtanidze, S. O. Larionova, E. G. Larionova, L. V. Lindfors, E. López, J. M. McHardy, I. M. Molina, S. N. Moritani, Y. Morozova, D. A. Nazarov, S. V. Nikolashvili, M. G. Nilsson, K. Pulatova, N. G. Reinthal, R. Sadun, A. Sasada, M. Savchenko, S. S. Sergeev, S. G. Sigua, L. A. Smith, P. S. Sorcia, M. Spiridonova, O. I. Takaki, K. Takalo, L. O. Taylor, B. Troitsky, I. S. Uemura, M. Ugolkova, L. S. Ui, T. Yoshida, M. Zensus, J. A. Zhdanova, V. E. |
author |
Kiehlmann, S. Savolainen, T. Jorstad, S. G. Sokolovsky, K. V. Schinzel, F. K. Marscher, A. P. Larionov, V. M. Agudo, I. Akitaya, H. Benítez, E. Berdyugin, A. Blinov, D. A. Bochkarev, N. G. Borman, G. A. Burenkov, A. N. Casadio, C. Doroshenko, V. T. Efimova, N. V. Fukazawa, Y. Gómez, J. L. Grishina, T. S. Hagen-Thorn, V. A. Heidt, J. Hiriart, D. Itoh, R. Joshi, M. Kawabata, K. S. Kimeridze, G. N. Kopatskaya, E. N. Korobtsev, I. V. Krajci, T. Kurtanidze, O. M. Kurtanidze, S. O. Larionova, E. G. Larionova, L. V. Lindfors, E. López, J. M. McHardy, I. M. Molina, S. N. Moritani, Y. Morozova, D. A. Nazarov, S. V. Nikolashvili, M. G. Nilsson, K. Pulatova, N. G. Reinthal, R. Sadun, A. Sasada, M. Savchenko, S. S. Sergeev, S. G. Sigua, L. A. Smith, P. S. Sorcia, M. Spiridonova, O. I. Takaki, K. Takalo, L. O. Taylor, B. Troitsky, I. S. Uemura, M. Ugolkova, L. S. Ui, T. Yoshida, M. Zensus, J. A. Zhdanova, V. E. |
author_sort |
Kiehlmann, S. |
title |
Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 |
title_short |
Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 |
title_full |
Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 |
title_fullStr |
Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Polarization angle swings in blazars: The case of 3C 279 |
title_sort |
polarization angle swings in blazars: the case of 3c 279 |
publisher |
EDP SCIENCES S A |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10150/621373 http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/621373 |
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