Abstract

We investigate the multiwavelength behaviour of the high-energy peaked BL Lac object (HBL) Mrk 421 at redshift z = 0 . 031 in the period 2007–2015. We use optical photometric, spectroscopic, and polarimetric data and near-infrared data obtained by 35 observatories participating in the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT), as well as by the Steward Observatory Support of the Fermi Mission. We also employ high-energy data from the Swift (UV and X-rays) satellite to study correlations among emission in different bands.

Highlights

  • Blazars are highly variable active galactic nuclei (AGN) that can be detected at all wavelengths, from radio waves to γ-rays

  • Mrk 421 at z = 0.031 [1] was the first blazar to be detected at γ-ray energy E >500 GeV [2]. It is classified as a high-energy-peaked BL Lac (HBL), a relatively low-luminosity source with both synchrotron and inverse Compton peaks located at high energies

  • Near-infrared and optical data were provided by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP)-Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) Collaboration, while UV and

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Summary

Introduction

Blazars are highly variable active galactic nuclei (AGN) that can be detected at all wavelengths, from radio waves to γ-rays. Blazar emission typically consists of two spectral components: the low energy one contributes to the radio through the optical regime, and is attributed to synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons; the high energy one is likely inverse Compton scattering radiation peaking in the γ-ray regime. Mrk 421 at z = 0.031 [1] was the first blazar to be detected at γ-ray energy E >500 GeV [2]. It is classified as a high-energy-peaked BL Lac (HBL), a relatively low-luminosity source with both synchrotron and inverse Compton peaks located at high energies

The GASP-WEBT Collaboration
Multiwavelength Light Curves of Mrk 421
Long-Term Optical Polarization Variability
Optical Spectropolarimetric Variability
Conclusions
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