LEPTONIC AND LEPTO-HADRONIC MODELING OF THE 2010 NOVEMBER FLARE FROM 3C 454.3

Abstract

In this study, we use a one-zone leptonic and a lepto-hadronic model to investigate the multi-wavelength emission and the prominent flare of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 454.3 in Nov 2010. We perform a parameter study with both models to obtain broadband fits to the spectral energy distribution of 3C 454.3. Starting with the baseline parameters obtained from the fits, we then investigate different flaring scenarios for both models to explain an extreme outburst and spectral hardening of 3C 454.3 that occurred in Nov 2010. We find that the one zone lepto-hadronic model can successfully explain both the broadband multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution and light curves in the optical R, Swift XRT and Fermi gamma-ray bandpasses for 3C 454.3 during quiescence and the peak of the Nov. 2010 flare. We also find that the one-zone leptonic model produces poor fits to the broadband spectra in the X-ray and high energy gamma-ray band passes for the Nov. 2010 flare.