VHE gamma-ray detection of FSRQ QSO B1420+326 and modeling of its enhanced broadband state in 2020

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VHE gamma-ray detection of FSRQ QSO B1420+326 and modeling of its enhanced broadband state in 2020. / MAGIC Collaboration.

In: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 647, A163, 29.03.2021.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

BibTeX

@article{6142f734f6e246ae9e1b3b719e0afe9d,

title = "VHE gamma-ray detection of FSRQ QSO B1420+326 and modeling of its enhanced broadband state in 2020",

abstract = "Context. QSO B1420+326 is a blazar classified as a flat-spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ). At the beginning of the year 2020, it was found to be in an enhanced flux state and an extensive multiwavelength campaign allowed us to trace the evolution of the flare. Aims. We search for very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from QSO B1420+326 during this flaring state. We aim to characterize and model the broadband emission of the source over different phases of the flare. Methods. The source was observed with a number of instruments in radio, near-infrared, optical (including polarimetry and spectroscopy), ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray bands. We use dedicated optical spectroscopy results to estimate the accretion disk and the dust torus luminosity. We performed spectral energy distribution modeling in the framework of combined synchrotron-self-Compton and external Compton scenario in which the electron energy distribution is partially determined from acceleration and cooling processes. Results. During the enhanced state, the flux of both SED components of QSO B1420+326 drastically increased and the peaks were shifted to higher energies. Follow-up observations with the MAGIC telescopes led to the detection of VHE gamma-ray emission from this source, making it one of only a handful of FSRQs known in this energy range. Modeling allows us to constrain the evolution of the magnetic field and electron energy distribution in the emission region. The gamma-ray flare was accompanied by a rotation of the optical polarization vector during a low -polarization state. Also, a new superluminal radio knot contemporaneously appeared in the radio image of the jet. The optical spectroscopy shows a prominent FeII bump with flux evolving together with the continuum emission and a MgII line with varying equivalent width. ",

keywords = "Galaxies: jets, Gamma rays: galaxies, Quasars: individual: QSO B1420+326, Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal, radiation mechanisms: non-thermal, quasars: individual: QSO B1420+326, galaxies: jets, LARGE-AREA TELESCOPE, SWIFT, LIGHT CURVES, VARIABILITY, PKS 1510-089, CATALOG, X-RAYS, FERMI, DIGITAL SKY SURVEY, RADIO-SOURCES, gamma rays: galaxies",

author = "{MAGIC Collaboration} and Acciari, {V. A.} and S. Ansoldi and Antonelli, {L. A.} and {Arbet Engels}, A. and M. Artero and K. Asano and D. Baack and A. Babi{\'c} and A. Baquero and {Barres De Almeida}, U. and Barrio, {J. A.} and {Becerra Gonz{\'a}lez}, J. and W. Bednarek and L. Bellizzi and E. Bernardini and M. Bernardos and A. Berti and J. Besenrieder and W. Bhattacharyya and C. Bigongiari and A. Biland and O. Blanch and G. Bonnoli and A. Bo{\v s}njak and G. Busetto and R. Carosi and G. Ceribella and M. Cerruti and Y. Chai and A. Chilingarian and S. Cikota and Colak, {S. M.} and E. Colombo and Contreras, {J. L.} and J. Cortina and S. Covino and G. D'Amico and V. D'Elia and E. Molina and Jorstad, {S. G.} and Larionov, {V. M.} and Grishina, {T. S.} and Kopatskaya, {E. N.} and Larionova, {E. G.} and Nikiforova, {A. A.} and Morozova, {D. A.} and Savchenko, {S. S.} and Troitskaya, {Yu V.} and Troitsky, {I. S.} and Vasilyev, {A. A.}",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/202039687",

language = "English",

volume = "647",

journal = "ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - VHE gamma-ray detection of FSRQ QSO B1420+326 and modeling of its enhanced broadband state in 2020

AU - MAGIC Collaboration

AU - Acciari, V. A.

AU - Ansoldi, S.

AU - Antonelli, L. A.

AU - Arbet Engels, A.

AU - Artero, M.

AU - Asano, K.

AU - Baack, D.

AU - Babić, A.

AU - Baquero, A.

AU - Barres De Almeida, U.

AU - Barrio, J. A.

AU - Becerra González, J.

AU - Bednarek, W.

AU - Bellizzi, L.

AU - Bernardini, E.

AU - Bernardos, M.

AU - Berti, A.

AU - Besenrieder, J.

AU - Bhattacharyya, W.

AU - Bigongiari, C.

AU - Biland, A.

AU - Blanch, O.

AU - Bonnoli, G.

AU - Bošnjak, A.

AU - Busetto, G.

AU - Carosi, R.

AU - Ceribella, G.

AU - Cerruti, M.

AU - Chai, Y.

AU - Chilingarian, A.

AU - Cikota, S.

AU - Colak, S. M.

AU - Colombo, E.

AU - Contreras, J. L.

AU - Cortina, J.

AU - Covino, S.

AU - D'Amico, G.

AU - D'Elia, V.

AU - Molina, E.

AU - Jorstad, S. G.

AU - Larionov, V. M.

AU - Grishina, T. S.

AU - Kopatskaya, E. N.

AU - Larionova, E. G.

AU - Nikiforova, A. A.

AU - Morozova, D. A.

AU - Savchenko, S. S.

AU - Troitskaya, Yu V.

AU - Troitsky, I. S.

AU - Vasilyev, A. A.

PY - 2021/3/29

Y1 - 2021/3/29

N2 - Context. QSO B1420+326 is a blazar classified as a flat-spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ). At the beginning of the year 2020, it was found to be in an enhanced flux state and an extensive multiwavelength campaign allowed us to trace the evolution of the flare. Aims. We search for very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from QSO B1420+326 during this flaring state. We aim to characterize and model the broadband emission of the source over different phases of the flare. Methods. The source was observed with a number of instruments in radio, near-infrared, optical (including polarimetry and spectroscopy), ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray bands. We use dedicated optical spectroscopy results to estimate the accretion disk and the dust torus luminosity. We performed spectral energy distribution modeling in the framework of combined synchrotron-self-Compton and external Compton scenario in which the electron energy distribution is partially determined from acceleration and cooling processes. Results. During the enhanced state, the flux of both SED components of QSO B1420+326 drastically increased and the peaks were shifted to higher energies. Follow-up observations with the MAGIC telescopes led to the detection of VHE gamma-ray emission from this source, making it one of only a handful of FSRQs known in this energy range. Modeling allows us to constrain the evolution of the magnetic field and electron energy distribution in the emission region. The gamma-ray flare was accompanied by a rotation of the optical polarization vector during a low -polarization state. Also, a new superluminal radio knot contemporaneously appeared in the radio image of the jet. The optical spectroscopy shows a prominent FeII bump with flux evolving together with the continuum emission and a MgII line with varying equivalent width.

AB - Context. QSO B1420+326 is a blazar classified as a flat-spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ). At the beginning of the year 2020, it was found to be in an enhanced flux state and an extensive multiwavelength campaign allowed us to trace the evolution of the flare. Aims. We search for very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from QSO B1420+326 during this flaring state. We aim to characterize and model the broadband emission of the source over different phases of the flare. Methods. The source was observed with a number of instruments in radio, near-infrared, optical (including polarimetry and spectroscopy), ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray bands. We use dedicated optical spectroscopy results to estimate the accretion disk and the dust torus luminosity. We performed spectral energy distribution modeling in the framework of combined synchrotron-self-Compton and external Compton scenario in which the electron energy distribution is partially determined from acceleration and cooling processes. Results. During the enhanced state, the flux of both SED components of QSO B1420+326 drastically increased and the peaks were shifted to higher energies. Follow-up observations with the MAGIC telescopes led to the detection of VHE gamma-ray emission from this source, making it one of only a handful of FSRQs known in this energy range. Modeling allows us to constrain the evolution of the magnetic field and electron energy distribution in the emission region. The gamma-ray flare was accompanied by a rotation of the optical polarization vector during a low -polarization state. Also, a new superluminal radio knot contemporaneously appeared in the radio image of the jet. The optical spectroscopy shows a prominent FeII bump with flux evolving together with the continuum emission and a MgII line with varying equivalent width.

KW - Galaxies: jets

KW - Gamma rays: galaxies

KW - Quasars: individual: QSO B1420+326

KW - Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal

KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal

KW - quasars: individual: QSO B1420+326

KW - galaxies: jets

KW - LARGE-AREA TELESCOPE

KW - SWIFT

KW - LIGHT CURVES

KW - VARIABILITY

KW - PKS 1510-089

KW - CATALOG

KW - X-RAYS

KW - FERMI

KW - DIGITAL SKY SURVEY

KW - RADIO-SOURCES

KW - gamma rays: galaxies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103516398&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/202039687

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/202039687

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85103516398

VL - 647

JO - ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

JF - ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

SN - 0004-6361

M1 - A163

ER -

ID: 76010508