Diversity of γ-ray and radio variability of bright blazars and implications for γ-ray emission location

Abstract

Abstract Violent multi-wavelength variabilities are observed in γ-ray-selected blazars. We present an analysis of long-term light curves for eight bright blazars to explore the co-variation pattern in the γ-ray and radio bands. We extract their γ-ray light curves and spectra with data observed by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) since 2008. We find diverse co-variation patterns between the γ-ray and radio (at 43 GHz) fluxes in these sources. The γ-ray and radio fluxes of 3C 454.3 and PKS 1633+382 are correlated without any time lag, suggesting that they are from the same radiation region. Similar correlation is also observed in 3C 273 and PKS 1222+216, but the radio flux lags behind the γ-ray flux by approximately ∼160 d and ∼290 d, respectively. This likely suggests that their γ-ray emission regions are located the upstream of their radio cores at 43 GHz. The γ-ray and radio fluxes of the other four blazars are not correlated, implying that the γ-ray and radio emission may be from different regions in their jets. The γ-ray light curves of the eight blazars can be decomposed into some components with long-timescale variability and some fast spike flares. We propose that they may be attributed to the central engine activity and the magnetic reconnection process or turbulence in the local emission region, respectively.