Large-amplitude Blazar Polarization Angle Swing as a Signature of Magnetic Reconnection

Zhang, Haocheng; Li, Xiaocan; Guo, Fan; Giannios, Dimitrios

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aad54f

Title: Large-amplitude Blazar Polarization Angle Swing as a Signature of Magnetic Reconnection

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · The Astrophysical Journal. Letters (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aad54f· OSTI ID:1484652

^[1];

^[2];

^[2]; Giannios, Dimitrios ^[1]

Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

We report that relativistic magnetic reconnection events may exist in magnetized plasmas in astrophysical systems. During this process, oppositely directed magnetic field lines reconnect and release magnetic energy, efficiently accelerating nonthermal particles. However, so far there is little clear observational signatures of relativistic magnetic reconnection events in astrophysical systems. Blazars are relativistic magnetized plasma outflows from supermassive black holes. Their multi-wavelength flares may be powered by relativistic magnetic reconnection. The highly variable radiation and polarization signatures are well covered by multi-wavelength observation campaigns, making them ideal targets to examine the magnetic reconnection model. Recent observations have found that several blazar flares are accompanied by optical polarization angle swings that may have an amplitude as large as >180°, challenging existing theoretical models. In this Letter, we present integrated particle-in-cell and polarized radiation transfer simulations of magnetic reconnection events. We find that plasmoid coalescences in the reconnection layer can give rise to highly variable light curves, low and fluctuating polarization degree, and rotating polarization angle. Lastly, in particular, large-amplitude polarization angle swings, similar to those observed during blazar flares, can be a unique signature of relativistic magnetic reconnection events.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1484652

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-18-24854

Journal Information:: The Astrophysical Journal. Letters (Online), Vol. 862, Issue 2; ISSN 2041-8213

Publisher:: Institute of Physics (IOP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 27 works

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Probing the Emission Mechanism and Magnetic Field of Neutrino Blazars with Multi-Wavelength Polarization Signatures Zhang, Haocheng; Fang, Ke; Li, Hui arXiv https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1903.01956	text	January 2019

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