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Title: Unprecedented study of the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during flaring activity in March 2010

Abstract

Because of its proximity, Mrk 421 is one of the best sources on which to study the nature of BL Lac objects. Its proximity allows us to characterize its broadband spectral energy distribution (SED). Here, the goal is to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the broadband emission and the temporal evolution of Mrk 421. These mechanisms may also apply to more distant blazars that cannot be studied with the same level of detail. A flare occurring in March 2010 was observed for 13 consecutive days (from MJD 55 265 to MJD 55 277) with unprecedented wavelength coverage from radio to very high energy (VHE; E> 100 GeV) γ-rays with MAGIC, VERITAS, Whipple, Fermi-LAT, MAXI, RXTE, Swift, GASP-WEBT, and several optical and radio telescopes. We modeled the day-scale SEDs with one-zone and two-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) models, investigated the physical parameters, and evaluated whether the observed broadband SED variability can be associated with variations in the relativistic particle population. As a result, the activity of Mrk 421 initially was high and then slowly decreased during the 13-day period. The flux variability was remarkable at the X-ray and VHE bands, but it was minor or not significant at the other bands.more » The variability in optical polarization was also minor. These observations revealed an almost linear correlation between the X-ray flux at the 2–10 keV band and the VHE γ-ray flux above 200 GeV, consistent with the γ-rays being produced by inverse-Compton scattering in the Klein-Nishina regime in the framework of SSC models. The one-zone SSC model can describe the SED of each day for the 13 consecutive days reasonably well, which once more shows the success of this standard theoretical scenario to describe the SEDs of VHE BL Lacs such as Mrk 421. This flaring activity is also very well described by a two-zone SSC model, where one zone is responsible for the quiescent emission, while the other smaller zone, which is spatially separated from the first, contributes to the daily variable emission occurring at X-rays and VHE γ-rays. The second blob is assumed to have a smaller volume and a narrow electron energy distribution with 3 × 104<γ< 6 × 105, where γ is the Lorentz factor of the electrons. Such a two-zone scenario would naturally lead to the correlated variability at the X-ray and VHE bands without variability at the optical/UV band, as well as to shorter timescales for the variability at the X-ray and VHE bands with respect to the variability at the other bands. In conclusion, both the one-zone and the two-zone SSC models can describe the daily SEDs via the variation of only four or five model parameters, under the hypothesis that the variability is associated mostly with the underlying particle population. This shows that the particle acceleration and cooling mechanism that produces the radiating particles might be the main mechanism responsible for the broadband SED variations during the flaring episodes in blazars. The two-zone SSC model provides a better agreement with the observed SED at the narrow peaks of the low- and high-energy bumps during the highest activity, although the reported one-zone SSC model could be further improved by varying the parameters related to the emitting region itself (δ, B and R), in addition to the parameters related to the particle population.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; « less
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
Contributing Org.:
The MAGIC Collaboration; The VERITAS Collaboration
OSTI Identifier:
1355157
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-76SF00515
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 578; Journal ID: ISSN 0004-6361
Publisher:
EDP Sciences
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; radiation mechanisms: non-thermal; galaxies: active; BL Lacertae objects: individual: Mrk 421; gamma rays: galaxies

Citation Formats

Aleksić, J., Ansoldi, S., Antonelli, L. A., Antoranz, P., Babic, A., Bangale, P., Barres de Almeida, U., Barrio, J. A., Becerra González, J., Bednarek, W., Bernardini, E., Biasuzzi, B., Biland, A., Blanch, O., Boller, A., Bonnefoy, S., Bonnoli, G., Borracci, F., Bretz, T., Carmona, E., Carosi, A., Colin, P., Colombo, E., Contreras, J. L., Cortina, J., Covino, S., Da Vela, P., Dazzi, F., De Angelis, A., De Caneva, G., De Lotto, B., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Delgado Mendez, C., Dominis Prester, D., Dorner, D., Doro, M., Einecke, S., Eisenacher, D., Elsaesser, D., Fonseca, M. V., Font, L., Frantzen, K., Fruck, C., Galindo, D., García López, R. J., Garczarczyk, M., Garrido Terrats, D., Gaug, M., Godinović, N., González Muñoz, A., Gozzini, S. R., Hadasch, D., Hanabata, Y., Hayashida, M., Herrera, J., Hildebrand, D., Hose, J., Hrupec, D., Hughes, G., Idec, W., Kadenius, V., Kellermann, H., Knoetig, M. L., Kodani, K., Konno, Y., Krause, J., Kubo, H., Kushida, J., La Barbera, A., Lelas, D., Lewandowska, N., Lindfors, E., Lombardi, S., López, M., López-Coto, R., López-Oramas, A., Lorenz, E., Lozano, I., Makariev, M., Mallot, K., Maneva, G., Mankuzhiyil, N., Mannheim, K., Maraschi, L., Marcote, B., Mariotti, M., Martínez, M., Mazin, D., Menzel, U., Miranda, J. M., Mirzoyan, R., Moralejo, A., Munar-Adrover, P., Nakajima, D., Niedzwiecki, A., Nilsson, K., Nishijima, K., Noda, K., Orito, R., Overkemping, A., Paiano, S., Palatiello, M., Paneque, D., Paoletti, R., Paredes, J. M., Paredes-Fortuny, X., Persic, M., Prada Moroni, P. G., Prandini, E., Puljak, I., Reinthal, R., Rhode, W., Ribó, M., Rico, J., Rodriguez Garcia, J., Rügamer, S., Saito, T., Saito, K., Satalecka, K., Scalzotto, V., Scapin, V., Schultz, C., Schweizer, T., Sun, S., Shore, S. N., Sillanpää, A., Sitarek, J., Snidaric, I., Sobczynska, D., Spanier, F., Stamatescu, V., Stamerra, A., Steinbring, T., Steinke, B., Storz, J., Strzys, M., Takalo, L., Takami, H., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Terzić, T., Tescaro, D., Teshima, M., Thaele, J., Tibolla, O., Torres, D. F., Toyama, T., Treves, A., Uellenbeck, M., Vogler, P., Zanin, R., Archambault, S., Archer, A., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Berger, K., Bird, R., Biteau, J., Buckley, J. H., Bugaev, V., Cerruti, M., Chen, X., Ciupik, L., Collins-Hughes, E., Cui, W., Eisch, J. D., Falcone, A., Feng, Q., Finley, J. P., Fortin, P., Fortson, L., Furniss, A., Galante, N., Gillanders, G. H., Griffin, S., Gyuk, G., Håkansson, N., Holder, J., Johnson, C. A., Kaaret, P., Kar, P., Kertzman, M., Kieda, D., Lang, M. J., McArthur, S., McCann, A., Meagher, K., Millis, J., Moriarty, P., Ong, R. A., Otte, A. N., Perkins, J. S., Pichel, A., Pohl, M., Popkow, A., Prokoph, H., Pueschel, E., Ragan, K., Reyes, L. C., Reynolds, P. T., Richards, G. T., Roache, E., Rovero, A. C., Sembroski, G. H., Shahinyan, K., Staszak, D., Telezhinsky, I., Tucci, J. V., Tyler, J., Varlotta, A., Wakely, S. P., Welsing, R., Wilhelm, A., Williams, D. A., Buson, S., Finke, J., Villata, M., Raiteri, C., Aller, H. D., Aller, M. F., Cesarini, A., Chen, W. P., Gurwell, M. A., Jorstad, S. G., Kimeridze, G. N., Koptelova, E., Kurtanidze, O. M., Kurtanidze, S. O., Lähteenmäki, A., Larionov, V. M., Larionova, E. G., Lin, H. C., McBreen, B., Moody, J. W., Morozova, D. A., Marscher, A. P., Max-Moerbeck, W., Nikolashvili, M. G., Perri, M., Readhead, A. C. S., Richards, J. L., Ros, J. A., Sadun, A. C., Sakamoto, T., Sigua, L. A., Smith, P. S., Tornikoski, M., Troitsky, I. S., Wehrle, A. E., and Jordan, B. Unprecedented study of the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during flaring activity in March 2010. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201424811.
Aleksić, J., Ansoldi, S., Antonelli, L. A., Antoranz, P., Babic, A., Bangale, P., Barres de Almeida, U., Barrio, J. A., Becerra González, J., Bednarek, W., Bernardini, E., Biasuzzi, B., Biland, A., Blanch, O., Boller, A., Bonnefoy, S., Bonnoli, G., Borracci, F., Bretz, T., Carmona, E., Carosi, A., Colin, P., Colombo, E., Contreras, J. L., Cortina, J., Covino, S., Da Vela, P., Dazzi, F., De Angelis, A., De Caneva, G., De Lotto, B., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Delgado Mendez, C., Dominis Prester, D., Dorner, D., Doro, M., Einecke, S., Eisenacher, D., Elsaesser, D., Fonseca, M. V., Font, L., Frantzen, K., Fruck, C., Galindo, D., García López, R. J., Garczarczyk, M., Garrido Terrats, D., Gaug, M., Godinović, N., González Muñoz, A., Gozzini, S. R., Hadasch, D., Hanabata, Y., Hayashida, M., Herrera, J., Hildebrand, D., Hose, J., Hrupec, D., Hughes, G., Idec, W., Kadenius, V., Kellermann, H., Knoetig, M. L., Kodani, K., Konno, Y., Krause, J., Kubo, H., Kushida, J., La Barbera, A., Lelas, D., Lewandowska, N., Lindfors, E., Lombardi, S., López, M., López-Coto, R., López-Oramas, A., Lorenz, E., Lozano, I., Makariev, M., Mallot, K., Maneva, G., Mankuzhiyil, N., Mannheim, K., Maraschi, L., Marcote, B., Mariotti, M., Martínez, M., Mazin, D., Menzel, U., Miranda, J. M., Mirzoyan, R., Moralejo, A., Munar-Adrover, P., Nakajima, D., Niedzwiecki, A., Nilsson, K., Nishijima, K., Noda, K., Orito, R., Overkemping, A., Paiano, S., Palatiello, M., Paneque, D., Paoletti, R., Paredes, J. M., Paredes-Fortuny, X., Persic, M., Prada Moroni, P. G., Prandini, E., Puljak, I., Reinthal, R., Rhode, W., Ribó, M., Rico, J., Rodriguez Garcia, J., Rügamer, S., Saito, T., Saito, K., Satalecka, K., Scalzotto, V., Scapin, V., Schultz, C., Schweizer, T., Sun, S., Shore, S. N., Sillanpää, A., Sitarek, J., Snidaric, I., Sobczynska, D., Spanier, F., Stamatescu, V., Stamerra, A., Steinbring, T., Steinke, B., Storz, J., Strzys, M., Takalo, L., Takami, H., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Terzić, T., Tescaro, D., Teshima, M., Thaele, J., Tibolla, O., Torres, D. F., Toyama, T., Treves, A., Uellenbeck, M., Vogler, P., Zanin, R., Archambault, S., Archer, A., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Berger, K., Bird, R., Biteau, J., Buckley, J. H., Bugaev, V., Cerruti, M., Chen, X., Ciupik, L., Collins-Hughes, E., Cui, W., Eisch, J. D., Falcone, A., Feng, Q., Finley, J. P., Fortin, P., Fortson, L., Furniss, A., Galante, N., Gillanders, G. H., Griffin, S., Gyuk, G., Håkansson, N., Holder, J., Johnson, C. A., Kaaret, P., Kar, P., Kertzman, M., Kieda, D., Lang, M. J., McArthur, S., McCann, A., Meagher, K., Millis, J., Moriarty, P., Ong, R. A., Otte, A. N., Perkins, J. S., Pichel, A., Pohl, M., Popkow, A., Prokoph, H., Pueschel, E., Ragan, K., Reyes, L. C., Reynolds, P. T., Richards, G. T., Roache, E., Rovero, A. C., Sembroski, G. H., Shahinyan, K., Staszak, D., Telezhinsky, I., Tucci, J. V., Tyler, J., Varlotta, A., Wakely, S. P., Welsing, R., Wilhelm, A., Williams, D. A., Buson, S., Finke, J., Villata, M., Raiteri, C., Aller, H. D., Aller, M. F., Cesarini, A., Chen, W. P., Gurwell, M. A., Jorstad, S. G., Kimeridze, G. N., Koptelova, E., Kurtanidze, O. M., Kurtanidze, S. O., Lähteenmäki, A., Larionov, V. M., Larionova, E. G., Lin, H. C., McBreen, B., Moody, J. W., Morozova, D. A., Marscher, A. P., Max-Moerbeck, W., Nikolashvili, M. G., Perri, M., Readhead, A. C. S., Richards, J. L., Ros, J. A., Sadun, A. C., Sakamoto, T., Sigua, L. A., Smith, P. S., Tornikoski, M., Troitsky, I. S., Wehrle, A. E., & Jordan, B. Unprecedented study of the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during flaring activity in March 2010. United States. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424811
Aleksić, J., Ansoldi, S., Antonelli, L. A., Antoranz, P., Babic, A., Bangale, P., Barres de Almeida, U., Barrio, J. A., Becerra González, J., Bednarek, W., Bernardini, E., Biasuzzi, B., Biland, A., Blanch, O., Boller, A., Bonnefoy, S., Bonnoli, G., Borracci, F., Bretz, T., Carmona, E., Carosi, A., Colin, P., Colombo, E., Contreras, J. L., Cortina, J., Covino, S., Da Vela, P., Dazzi, F., De Angelis, A., De Caneva, G., De Lotto, B., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Delgado Mendez, C., Dominis Prester, D., Dorner, D., Doro, M., Einecke, S., Eisenacher, D., Elsaesser, D., Fonseca, M. V., Font, L., Frantzen, K., Fruck, C., Galindo, D., García López, R. J., Garczarczyk, M., Garrido Terrats, D., Gaug, M., Godinović, N., González Muñoz, A., Gozzini, S. R., Hadasch, D., Hanabata, Y., Hayashida, M., Herrera, J., Hildebrand, D., Hose, J., Hrupec, D., Hughes, G., Idec, W., Kadenius, V., Kellermann, H., Knoetig, M. L., Kodani, K., Konno, Y., Krause, J., Kubo, H., Kushida, J., La Barbera, A., Lelas, D., Lewandowska, N., Lindfors, E., Lombardi, S., López, M., López-Coto, R., López-Oramas, A., Lorenz, E., Lozano, I., Makariev, M., Mallot, K., Maneva, G., Mankuzhiyil, N., Mannheim, K., Maraschi, L., Marcote, B., Mariotti, M., Martínez, M., Mazin, D., Menzel, U., Miranda, J. M., Mirzoyan, R., Moralejo, A., Munar-Adrover, P., Nakajima, D., Niedzwiecki, A., Nilsson, K., Nishijima, K., Noda, K., Orito, R., Overkemping, A., Paiano, S., Palatiello, M., Paneque, D., Paoletti, R., Paredes, J. M., Paredes-Fortuny, X., Persic, M., Prada Moroni, P. G., Prandini, E., Puljak, I., Reinthal, R., Rhode, W., Ribó, M., Rico, J., Rodriguez Garcia, J., Rügamer, S., Saito, T., Saito, K., Satalecka, K., Scalzotto, V., Scapin, V., Schultz, C., Schweizer, T., Sun, S., Shore, S. N., Sillanpää, A., Sitarek, J., Snidaric, I., Sobczynska, D., Spanier, F., Stamatescu, V., Stamerra, A., Steinbring, T., Steinke, B., Storz, J., Strzys, M., Takalo, L., Takami, H., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Terzić, T., Tescaro, D., Teshima, M., Thaele, J., Tibolla, O., Torres, D. F., Toyama, T., Treves, A., Uellenbeck, M., Vogler, P., Zanin, R., Archambault, S., Archer, A., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Berger, K., Bird, R., Biteau, J., Buckley, J. H., Bugaev, V., Cerruti, M., Chen, X., Ciupik, L., Collins-Hughes, E., Cui, W., Eisch, J. D., Falcone, A., Feng, Q., Finley, J. P., Fortin, P., Fortson, L., Furniss, A., Galante, N., Gillanders, G. H., Griffin, S., Gyuk, G., Håkansson, N., Holder, J., Johnson, C. A., Kaaret, P., Kar, P., Kertzman, M., Kieda, D., Lang, M. J., McArthur, S., McCann, A., Meagher, K., Millis, J., Moriarty, P., Ong, R. A., Otte, A. N., Perkins, J. S., Pichel, A., Pohl, M., Popkow, A., Prokoph, H., Pueschel, E., Ragan, K., Reyes, L. C., Reynolds, P. T., Richards, G. T., Roache, E., Rovero, A. C., Sembroski, G. H., Shahinyan, K., Staszak, D., Telezhinsky, I., Tucci, J. V., Tyler, J., Varlotta, A., Wakely, S. P., Welsing, R., Wilhelm, A., Williams, D. A., Buson, S., Finke, J., Villata, M., Raiteri, C., Aller, H. D., Aller, M. F., Cesarini, A., Chen, W. P., Gurwell, M. A., Jorstad, S. G., Kimeridze, G. N., Koptelova, E., Kurtanidze, O. M., Kurtanidze, S. O., Lähteenmäki, A., Larionov, V. M., Larionova, E. G., Lin, H. C., McBreen, B., Moody, J. W., Morozova, D. A., Marscher, A. P., Max-Moerbeck, W., Nikolashvili, M. G., Perri, M., Readhead, A. C. S., Richards, J. L., Ros, J. A., Sadun, A. C., Sakamoto, T., Sigua, L. A., Smith, P. S., Tornikoski, M., Troitsky, I. S., Wehrle, A. E., and Jordan, B. 2015. "Unprecedented study of the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during flaring activity in March 2010". United States. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424811. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1355157.
@article{osti_1355157,
title = {Unprecedented study of the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during flaring activity in March 2010},
author = {Aleksić, J. and Ansoldi, S. and Antonelli, L. A. and Antoranz, P. and Babic, A. and Bangale, P. and Barres de Almeida, U. and Barrio, J. A. and Becerra González, J. and Bednarek, W. and Bernardini, E. and Biasuzzi, B. and Biland, A. and Blanch, O. and Boller, A. and Bonnefoy, S. and Bonnoli, G. and Borracci, F. and Bretz, T. and Carmona, E. and Carosi, A. and Colin, P. and Colombo, E. and Contreras, J. L. and Cortina, J. and Covino, S. and Da Vela, P. and Dazzi, F. and De Angelis, A. and De Caneva, G. and De Lotto, B. and de Oña Wilhelmi, E. and Delgado Mendez, C. and Dominis Prester, D. and Dorner, D. and Doro, M. and Einecke, S. and Eisenacher, D. and Elsaesser, D. and Fonseca, M. V. and Font, L. and Frantzen, K. and Fruck, C. and Galindo, D. and García López, R. J. and Garczarczyk, M. and Garrido Terrats, D. and Gaug, M. and Godinović, N. and González Muñoz, A. and Gozzini, S. R. and Hadasch, D. and Hanabata, Y. and Hayashida, M. and Herrera, J. and Hildebrand, D. and Hose, J. and Hrupec, D. and Hughes, G. and Idec, W. and Kadenius, V. and Kellermann, H. and Knoetig, M. L. and Kodani, K. and Konno, Y. and Krause, J. and Kubo, H. and Kushida, J. and La Barbera, A. and Lelas, D. and Lewandowska, N. and Lindfors, E. and Lombardi, S. and López, M. and López-Coto, R. and López-Oramas, A. and Lorenz, E. and Lozano, I. and Makariev, M. and Mallot, K. and Maneva, G. and Mankuzhiyil, N. and Mannheim, K. and Maraschi, L. and Marcote, B. and Mariotti, M. and Martínez, M. and Mazin, D. and Menzel, U. and Miranda, J. M. and Mirzoyan, R. and Moralejo, A. and Munar-Adrover, P. and Nakajima, D. and Niedzwiecki, A. and Nilsson, K. and Nishijima, K. and Noda, K. and Orito, R. and Overkemping, A. and Paiano, S. and Palatiello, M. and Paneque, D. and Paoletti, R. and Paredes, J. M. and Paredes-Fortuny, X. and Persic, M. and Prada Moroni, P. G. and Prandini, E. and Puljak, I. and Reinthal, R. and Rhode, W. and Ribó, M. and Rico, J. and Rodriguez Garcia, J. and Rügamer, S. and Saito, T. and Saito, K. and Satalecka, K. and Scalzotto, V. and Scapin, V. and Schultz, C. and Schweizer, T. and Sun, S. and Shore, S. N. and Sillanpää, A. and Sitarek, J. and Snidaric, I. and Sobczynska, D. and Spanier, F. and Stamatescu, V. and Stamerra, A. and Steinbring, T. and Steinke, B. and Storz, J. and Strzys, M. and Takalo, L. and Takami, H. and Tavecchio, F. and Temnikov, P. and Terzić, T. and Tescaro, D. and Teshima, M. and Thaele, J. and Tibolla, O. and Torres, D. F. and Toyama, T. and Treves, A. and Uellenbeck, M. and Vogler, P. and Zanin, R. and Archambault, S. and Archer, A. and Beilicke, M. and Benbow, W. and Berger, K. and Bird, R. and Biteau, J. and Buckley, J. H. and Bugaev, V. and Cerruti, M. and Chen, X. and Ciupik, L. and Collins-Hughes, E. and Cui, W. and Eisch, J. D. and Falcone, A. and Feng, Q. and Finley, J. P. and Fortin, P. and Fortson, L. and Furniss, A. and Galante, N. and Gillanders, G. H. and Griffin, S. and Gyuk, G. and Håkansson, N. and Holder, J. and Johnson, C. A. and Kaaret, P. and Kar, P. and Kertzman, M. and Kieda, D. and Lang, M. J. and McArthur, S. and McCann, A. and Meagher, K. and Millis, J. and Moriarty, P. and Ong, R. A. and Otte, A. N. and Perkins, J. S. and Pichel, A. and Pohl, M. and Popkow, A. and Prokoph, H. and Pueschel, E. and Ragan, K. and Reyes, L. C. and Reynolds, P. T. and Richards, G. T. and Roache, E. and Rovero, A. C. and Sembroski, G. H. and Shahinyan, K. and Staszak, D. and Telezhinsky, I. and Tucci, J. V. and Tyler, J. and Varlotta, A. and Wakely, S. P. and Welsing, R. and Wilhelm, A. and Williams, D. A. and Buson, S. and Finke, J. and Villata, M. and Raiteri, C. and Aller, H. D. and Aller, M. F. and Cesarini, A. and Chen, W. P. and Gurwell, M. A. and Jorstad, S. G. and Kimeridze, G. N. and Koptelova, E. and Kurtanidze, O. M. and Kurtanidze, S. O. and Lähteenmäki, A. and Larionov, V. M. and Larionova, E. G. and Lin, H. C. and McBreen, B. and Moody, J. W. and Morozova, D. A. and Marscher, A. P. and Max-Moerbeck, W. and Nikolashvili, M. G. and Perri, M. and Readhead, A. C. S. and Richards, J. L. and Ros, J. A. and Sadun, A. C. and Sakamoto, T. and Sigua, L. A. and Smith, P. S. and Tornikoski, M. and Troitsky, I. S. and Wehrle, A. E. and Jordan, B.},
abstractNote = {Because of its proximity, Mrk 421 is one of the best sources on which to study the nature of BL Lac objects. Its proximity allows us to characterize its broadband spectral energy distribution (SED). Here, the goal is to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the broadband emission and the temporal evolution of Mrk 421. These mechanisms may also apply to more distant blazars that cannot be studied with the same level of detail. A flare occurring in March 2010 was observed for 13 consecutive days (from MJD 55 265 to MJD 55 277) with unprecedented wavelength coverage from radio to very high energy (VHE; E> 100 GeV) γ-rays with MAGIC, VERITAS, Whipple, Fermi-LAT, MAXI, RXTE, Swift, GASP-WEBT, and several optical and radio telescopes. We modeled the day-scale SEDs with one-zone and two-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) models, investigated the physical parameters, and evaluated whether the observed broadband SED variability can be associated with variations in the relativistic particle population. As a result, the activity of Mrk 421 initially was high and then slowly decreased during the 13-day period. The flux variability was remarkable at the X-ray and VHE bands, but it was minor or not significant at the other bands. The variability in optical polarization was also minor. These observations revealed an almost linear correlation between the X-ray flux at the 2–10 keV band and the VHE γ-ray flux above 200 GeV, consistent with the γ-rays being produced by inverse-Compton scattering in the Klein-Nishina regime in the framework of SSC models. The one-zone SSC model can describe the SED of each day for the 13 consecutive days reasonably well, which once more shows the success of this standard theoretical scenario to describe the SEDs of VHE BL Lacs such as Mrk 421. This flaring activity is also very well described by a two-zone SSC model, where one zone is responsible for the quiescent emission, while the other smaller zone, which is spatially separated from the first, contributes to the daily variable emission occurring at X-rays and VHE γ-rays. The second blob is assumed to have a smaller volume and a narrow electron energy distribution with 3 × 104<γ< 6 × 105, where γ is the Lorentz factor of the electrons. Such a two-zone scenario would naturally lead to the correlated variability at the X-ray and VHE bands without variability at the optical/UV band, as well as to shorter timescales for the variability at the X-ray and VHE bands with respect to the variability at the other bands. In conclusion, both the one-zone and the two-zone SSC models can describe the daily SEDs via the variation of only four or five model parameters, under the hypothesis that the variability is associated mostly with the underlying particle population. This shows that the particle acceleration and cooling mechanism that produces the radiating particles might be the main mechanism responsible for the broadband SED variations during the flaring episodes in blazars. The two-zone SSC model provides a better agreement with the observed SED at the narrow peaks of the low- and high-energy bumps during the highest activity, although the reported one-zone SSC model could be further improved by varying the parameters related to the emitting region itself (δ, B and R), in addition to the parameters related to the particle population.},
doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201424811},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1355157}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics},
issn = {0004-6361},
number = ,
volume = 578,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Wed May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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