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Title: Observation of X-Ray Variability in the BL Lac Object 1ES1959+65

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/799005· OSTI ID:799005

This paper reports X-ray spectral observations of a relatively nearby (z = 0.048) BL Lacertae (BL Lac) object 1ES1959+65, which is a potential TeV emitter. The observations include 31 short pointings made by the Unconventional Stellar Aspect (USA) Experiment on board the Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS), and 17 pointings by the PCA on board the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). Most of these observations were spaced by less than 1 day. 1ES1959+65 was detected by the ARGOS USA detector in the range 1-16 keV, and by the PCA in the 2-16 keV range but at different times. During the closely spaced RXTE observations beginning on 2000 July 28, an ending of one flare and a start of another are visible, associated with spectral changes, where the photon index XBL-type blazar, with the X-ray emission likely to originate via the synchrotron process. The USA observations reveal another flare that peaked on 2000 November 14 and doubled the flux within a few days, again associated with spectral changes of the same form. The spectral variability correlated with the flux and timing characteristics of this object that are similar to those of other nearby BL Lacs, and suggest relativistic beaming with a Doppler factor {delta} {ge} 1.6 and magnetic fields of the order of a few mG. We also suggest that the steady component of the X-ray emission--present in this object as well as in other XBLs--may be due to the large-scale relativistic jet (such as measured by Chandra in many radio-loud AGN), but pointing very closely to our line of sight.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
799005
Report Number(s):
SLAC-PUB-9140; TRN: US0205149
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 7 Feb 2002
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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