1. The Great Markarian 421 Flare of 2010 February: Multiwavelength Variability and Correlation Studies
- Author
-
Abeysekara, A. U., Benbow, W., Bird, R., Brill, A., Brose, R., Buchovecky, M., Buckley, J. H., Christiansen, J. L., Chromey, A. J., Daniel, M. K., Dumm, J., Falcone, A., Feng, Q., Finley, J. P., Fortson, L., Furniss, A., Galante, N., Gent, A., Gillanders, G. H., Giuri, C., Gueta, O., Hassan, T., Hervet, O., Holder, J., Hughes, G., Humensky, T. B., Johnson, C. A., Kaaret, P., Kar, P., Kelley-Hoskins, N., Kertzman, M., Kieda, D., Krause, M., Krennrich, F., Kumar, S., Lang, M. J., Moriarty, P., Mukherjee, R., Nelson, T., Nieto, D., Nievas-Rosillo, M., O’Brien, S., Ong, R. A., Otte, A. N., Park, N., Petrashyk, A., Pichel, A., Pohl, M., Prado, R. R., Pueschel, E., Quinn, J., Ragan, K., Reynolds, P. T., Richards, G. T., Roache, E., Rovero, A. C., Rulten, C., Sadeh, I., Santander, M., Sembroski, G. H., Shahinyan, K., Stevenson, B., Sushch, I., Tyler, J., Vassiliev, V. V., Wakely, S. P., Weinstein, A., Wells, R. M., Wilcox, P., Wilhelm, A., Williams, D. A., Zitzer, B., Acciari, V. A., Ansoldi, S., Antonelli, L. A., Arbet Engels, A., Baack, D., Babić, A., Banerjee, B., Barres de Almeida, U., Barrio, J. A., Becerra González, J., Bednarek, W., Bellizzi, L., Bernardini, E., Berti, A., Besenrieder, J., Bhattacharyya, W., Bigongiari, C., Biland, A., Blanch, O., Bonnoli, G., Busetto, G., Carosi, R., Ceribella, G., Chai, Y., Cikota, S., Colak, S. M., Colin, U., Colombo, E., Contreras, J. L., Cortina, J., Covino, S., D’Elia, V., Da Vela, P., Dazzi, F., De Angelis, A., De Lotto, B., Delfino, M., Delgado, J., Di Pierro, F., Do Souto Espiñera, E., Dominis Prester, D., Dorner, D., Doro, M., Einecke, S., Elsaesser, D., Fallah Ramazani, V., Fattorini, A., Fernández-Barral, A., Ferrara, G., Fidalgo, D., Foffano, L., Fonseca, M. V., Font, L., Fruck, C., Galindo, D., Gallozzi, S., García López, R. J., Garczarczyk, M., Gasparyan, S., Gaug, M., Godinović, N., Green, D., Guberman, D., Hadasch, D., Hahn, A., Herrera, J., Hoang, J., Hrupec, D., Inoue, S., Ishio, K., Iwamura, Y., Kubo, H., Kushida, J., Lamastra, A., Lelas, D., Leone, F., Lindfors, E., Lombardi, S., Longo, F., López, M., López-Coto, R., López-Oramas, A., Machado de Oliveira Fraga, B., Maggio, C., Majumdar, P., Makariev, M., Mallamaci, M., Maneva, G., Manganaro, M., Mannheim, K., Maraschi, L., Mariotti, M., Martínez, M., Masuda, S., Mazin, D., Miceli, D., Minev, M., Miranda, J. M., Mirzoyan, R., Molina, E., Moralejo, A., Morcuende, D., Moreno, V., Moretti, E., Munar-Adrover, P., Neustroev, V., Niedzwiecki, A., Nievas Rosillo, M., Nigro, C., Nilsson, K., Ninci, D., Nishijima, K., Noda, K., Nogués, L., Nöthe, M., Paiano, S., Palacio, J., Palatiello, M., Paneque, D., Paoletti, R., Paredes, J. M., Peñil, P., Peresano, M., Persic, M., Prada Moroni, P. G., Prandini, E., Puljak, I., Rhode, W., Ribó, M., Rico, J., Righi, C., Rugliancich, A., Saha, L., Sahakyan, N., Saito, T., Satalecka, K., Schweizer, T., Sitarek, J., Šnidarić, I., Sobczynska, D., Somero, A., Stamerra, A., Strom, D., Strzys, M., Sun, S., Surić, T., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Terzić, T., Teshima, M., Torres-Albà, N., Tsujimoto, S., van Scherpenberg, J., Vanzo, G., Vazquez Acosta, M., Vovk, I., Will, M., Zarić, D., Aller, H. D., Aller, M. F., Carini, M. T., Horan, D., Jordan, B., Jorstad, S. G., Kurtanidze, O. M., Kurtanidze, S. O., Lähteenmäki, A., Larionov, V. M., Larionova, E. G., Madejski, G., Marscher, A. P., Max-Moerbeck, W., Moody, J. Ward, Morozova, D. A., Nikolashvili, M. G., Raiteri, C. M., Readhead, A. C. S., Richards, J. L., Sadun, A. C., Sakamoto, T., Sigua, L. A., Smith, P. S., Talvikki, H., Tammi, J., Tornikoski, M., Troitsky, I. S., Villata, M., (VERITAS Collaboration), (MAGIC Collaboration), (Multiwavelength Partners), Department of Energy (US), Smithsonian Institution, National Science Foundation (US), National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (US), German Research Foundation, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Department of Atomic Energy (India), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan), Croatian Science Foundation, University of Rijeka, Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US), Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, Boston University, University of Utah, Harvard University, University of California Los Angeles, Columbia University, University of Potsdam, Washington University St. Louis, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, California State University, East Bay, Georgia Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland, Galway, German Electron Synchrotron, University of California Santa Cruz, University of Delaware, University of Iowa, DePauw University, McGill University, Complutense University, University College Dublin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cork Institute of Technology, University of Alabama, University of Chicago, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, University of Udine, INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Dortmund University, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, University of Łódź, University of Siena, National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Institute for High Energy Physics, University of Padova, University of Pisa, University of Würzburg, University of Turku, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, The University of Tokyo, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Western Kentucky University, CNRS, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Ilia State University, Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, St. Petersburg State University, United States Department of Energy, Universidad de Chile, Brigham Young University, California Institute of Technology, University of Colorado Denver, Aoyama Gakuin University, University of Arizona, Metsähovi Radio Observatory, Aalto-yliopisto, Aalto University, Abeysekara, A. U., Benbow, W., Bird, R., Brill, A., Brose, R., Buchovecky, M., Buckley, J. H., Christiansen, J. L., Chromey, A. J., Daniel, M. K., Dumm, J., Falcone, A., Feng, Q., Finley, J. P., Fortson, L., Furniss, A., Galante, N., Gent, A., Gillanders, G. H., Giuri, C., Gueta, O., Hassan, T., Hervet, O., Holder, J., Hughes, G., Humensky, T. B., Johnson, C. A., Kaaret, P., Kar, P., Kelley-Hoskins, N., Kertzman, M., Kieda, D., Krause, M., Krennrich, F., Kumar, S., Lang, M. J., Moriarty, P., Mukherjee, R., Nelson, T., Nieto, D., Nievas-Rosillo, M., O'Brien, S., Ong, R. A., Otte, A. N., Park, N., Petrashyk, A., Pichel, A., Pohl, M., Prado, R. R., Pueschel, E., Quinn, J., Ragan, K., Reynolds, P. T., Richards, G. T., Roache, E., Rovero, A. C., Rulten, C., Sadeh, I., Santander, M., Sembroski, G. H., Shahinyan, K., Stevenson, B., Sushch, I., Tyler, J., Vassiliev, V. V., Wakely, S. P., Weinstein, A., Wells, R. M., Wilcox, P., Wilhelm, A., Williams, D. A., Zitzer, B., Acciari, V. A., Ansoldi, S., Antonelli, L. A., Arbet Engels, A., Baack, D., Babic, A., Banerjee, B., Barres De Almeida, U., Barrio, J. A., Becerra Gonzalez, J., Bednarek, W., Bellizzi, L., Bernardini, E., Berti, A., Besenrieder, J., Bhattacharyya, W., Bigongiari, C., Biland, A., Blanch, O., Bonnoli, G., Busetto, G., Carosi, R., Ceribella, G., Chai, Y., Cikota, S., Colak, S. M., Colin, U., Colombo, E., Contreras, J. L., Cortina, J., Covino, S., D'Elia, V., Da Vela, P., Dazzi, F., De Angelis, A., De Lotto, B., Delfino, M., Delgado, J., Di Pierro, F., Do Souto Espiñera, E., Dominis Prester, D., Dorner, D., Doro, M., Einecke, S., Elsaesser, D., Fallah Ramazani, V., Fattorini, A., Fernandez-Barral, A., Ferrara, G., Fidalgo, D., Foffano, L., Fonseca, M. V., Font, L., Fruck, C., Galindo, D., Gallozzi, S., Garcia Lopez, R. J., Garczarczyk, M., Gasparyan, S., Gaug, M., Godinovic, N., Green, D., Guberman, D., Hadasch, D., Hahn, A., Herrera, J., Hoang, J., Hrupec, D., Inoue, S., Ishio, K., Iwamura, Y., Kubo, H., Kushida, J., Lamastra, A., Lelas, D., Leone, F., Lindfors, E., Lombardi, S., Longo, F., Lopez, M., Lopez-Coto, R., Lopez-Oramas, A., Machado De Oliveira Fraga, B., Maggio, C., Majumdar, P., Makariev, M., Mallamaci, M., Maneva, G., Manganaro, M., Mannheim, K., Maraschi, L., Mariotti, M., Martinez, M., Masuda, S., Mazin, D., Miceli, D., Minev, M., Miranda, J. M., Mirzoyan, R., Molina, E., Moralejo, A., Morcuende, D., Moreno, V., Moretti, E., Munar-Adrover, P., Neustroev, V., Niedzwiecki, A., Nievas Rosillo, M., Nigro, C., Nilsson, K., Ninci, D., Nishijima, K., Noda, K., Nogues, L., Nothe, M., Paiano, S., Palacio, J., Palatiello, M., Paneque, D., Paoletti, R., Paredes, J. M., Peñil, P., Peresano, M., Persic, M., Prada Moroni, P. G., Prandini, E., Puljak, I., Rhode, W., Ribo, M., Rico, J., Righi, C., Rugliancich, A., Saha, L., Sahakyan, N., Saito, T., Satalecka, K., Schweizer, T., Sitarek, J., Snidaric, I., Sobczynska, D., Somero, A., Stamerra, A., Strom, D., Strzys, M., Sun, S., Suric, T., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Terzic, T., Teshima, M., Torres-Alba, N., Tsujimoto, S., Van Scherpenberg, J., Vanzo, G., Vazquez Acosta, M., Vovk, I., Will, M., Zaric, D., Aller, H. D., Aller, M. F., Carini, M. T., Horan, D., Jordan, B., Jorstad, S. G., Kurtanidze, O. M., Kurtanidze, S. O., Lahteenmaki, A., Larionov, V. M., Larionova, E. G., Madejski, G., Marscher, A. P., Max-Moerbeck, W., Moody, J. W., Morozova, D. A., Nikolashvili, M. G., Raiteri, C. M., Readhead, A. C. S., Richards, J. L., Sadun, A. C., Sakamoto, T., Sigua, L. A., Smith, P. S., Talvikki, H., Tammi, J., Tornikoski, M., Troitsky, I. S., and Villata, M.
- Subjects
Multiple days ,Gamma-ray astronomY ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Astrophysics::High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena ,Flux ,Markarian galaxies ,Astrophysics ,Blazar ,01 natural sciences ,7. Clean energy ,BL Lacertae object ,High energy astrophysic ,law.invention ,law ,Observatory ,BL Lacertae objects ,Blazars ,High energy astrophysics ,Relativistic jets ,Gamma-ray astronomy ,Time domain astronomy ,Relativistic jet ,0103 physical sciences ,MAGIC (telescope) ,BL lacertae objects ,010303 astronomy & astrophysics ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Physics ,Astronomy and Astrophysics ,Light curve ,Space and Planetary Science ,Markarian galaxie ,Electrónica ,Electricidad ,Flare - Abstract
We report on variability and correlation studies using multiwavelength observations of the blazar Mrk 421 during the month of 2010 February, when an extraordinary flare reaching a level of ∼27 Crab Units above 1 TeV was measured in very high energy (VHE) γ-rays with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) observatory. This is the highest flux state for Mrk 421 ever observed in VHE γ-rays. Data are analyzed from a coordinated campaign across multiple instruments, including VHE γ-ray (VERITAS, Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov), high-energy γ-ray (Fermi-LAT), X-ray (Swift, Rossi X-ray Timing Experiment, MAXI), optical (including the GASP-WEBT collaboration and polarization data), and radio (Metsahovi, Owens Valley Radio Observatory, University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory). Light curves are produced spanning multiple days before and after the peak of the VHE flare, including over several flare "decline" epochs. The main flare statistics allow 2 minute time bins to be constructed in both the VHE and optical bands enabling a cross-correlation analysis that shows evidence for an optical lag of ∼25-55 minutes, the first time-lagged correlation between these bands reported on such short timescales. Limits on the Doppler factor (δ ⪆ 33) and the size of the emission region (δR≲ 3.8 × 10cm) are obtained from the fast variability observed by VERITAS during the main flare. Analysis of 10 minute binned VHE and X-ray data over the decline epochs shows an extraordinary range of behavior in the flux-flux relationship, from linear to quadratic to lack of correlation to anticorrelation. Taken together, these detailed observations of an unprecedented flare seen in Mrk 421 are difficult to explain with the classic single-zone synchrotron self-Compton model., This research is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, and NSERC in Canada. This research used resources provided by the Open Science Grid, which is supported by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility operated under contract No. DE-AC02- 05CH11231. We acknowledge the excellent work of the technical support staff at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory and the collaborating institutions in the construction and operation of the instrument. The MAGIC collaboration would like to thank the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias for the excellent working conditions at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos in La Palma. The financial support of the German BMBF and MPG, the Italian INFN and INAF, the Swiss National Fund SNF, the ERDF under the Spanish MINECO (FPA2015-69818-P, FPA2012-36668, FPA2015-68378-P, FPA2015-69210-C6-2- R, FPA2015-69210-C6-4-R, FPA2015-69210-C6-6-R, AYA2015-71042-P, AYA2016-76012-C3-1-P, ESP2015- 71662-C2-2-P, FPA201790566REDC), the Indian Department of Atomic Energy, the Japanese JSPS and MEXT, and the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, National RI Roadmap Project DO1-153/28.08.2018 is gratefully acknowledged. This work was also supported by the Spanish Centro de Excelencia “Severo Ochoa” SEV-2016-0588 and SEV2015-0548 and Unidad de Excelencia “María de Maeztu” MDM-2014-0369, the Croatian Science Foundation (HrZZ) Project IP-2016-06-9782, the University of Rijeka Project 13.12.1.3.02, the DFG Collaborative Research Centers SFB823/C4 and SFB876/C3, the Polish National Research Centre grant UMO-2016/22/M/ST9/00382, and the Brazilian MCTIC, CNPq, and FAPERJ. This publication makes use of data obtained at Metsähovi Radio Observatory, operated by Aalto University, Finland, and the OVRO 40 m monitoring program, which is supported in part by NASA grants NNX08AW31G, NNX11A043G, and NNX14AQ89G and NSF grants AST-0808050 and AST1109911. The UMRAO data were obtained through NSF grant AST 0607523 and NASA Fermi GI award NNX09AU16G. The St. Petersburg University team acknowledges support from Russian RFBR foundation, grant 12-02-00452. The Abastumani Observatory team acknowledges financial support by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation through project FR/577/6-320/13. The Steward Observatory data were obtained under Fermi Guest Investigator Program grant NNX09AU10G. The research at Boston University is supported by NASA grant 80NSSC17K0649 and NSF grant AST-1615796. Software. VEGAS (Cogan 2008), Event Display (Daniel 2008), MARS (Moralejo et al. 2009), Fermi Science Tools81, HEASoft (FTOOLS+XANADU; HEASARC 2014), REX,85 Xspec (Arnaud 1996), emcee (Foreman-Mackey et al. 2013).
- Published
- 2020