The 1993 multiwavelength campaign on 3C 279: The radio to gamma-ray energy distribution inlow state

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (152) References (18) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The 1993 Multiwavelength Campaign on 3C 279: The Radio to Gamma-Ray Energy Distribution in Low State Maraschi, L. ; Grandi, P. ; Urry, C. M. ; Wehrle, A. E. ; Madejski, G. M. ; Fink, H. H. ; Ghisellini, G. ; Hartman, R. C. ; Koratkar, A. P. ; von Montigny, C. ; Pian, E. ; Thomas, H. C. ; Treves, A. ; Aller, M. F. ; Aller, H. D. ; Bailyn, C. D. ; Balonek, T. J. ; Bock, H. ; Collmar, W. ; Glass, I. S. ; Litchfield, S. J. ; McHardy, I. M. ; Mendez, R. ; Pesce, J. ; Reuter, H. P. ; Robson, E. I. ; Steppe, H. ; Stevens, J. A. ; Teraesranta, H. ; Wagner, S. J. Abstract Simultaneous observations of 3C 279 at radio, millimeter, near- infrared, optical, ultraviolet (with IUE) and X-ray (with ROSAT) wavelengths were obtained in 1992 December-1993 January, during a three week pointing at the source by the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. The blazar was in a quiescent or "low" state during this period. Comparing the multiwavelenth energy distribution to that from 1991 June, when 3C 279 was in its brightest recorded γ-ray state, we find the following: 1. 3C 279 faded dramatically at all frequencies above 10^14^ Hz, while the flux variations at low frequencies (radio to millimeter wavelengths) were minor. 2. The near infrared optical ultraviolet spectral shape was softer (steeper) in the quiescent state, and the X-ray spectra also appear softer, although the spectral index measured by ROSAT refer to a lower energy band than that measured earlier with Ginga. 3. The ratio of the γ-ray luminosity to that across all other frequencies decreased from a value of ~10 in the flaring state to a value ~1 in the quiescent state. These findings imply that the production of γ-rays is closely related to the optical-ultraviolet continuum, in agreement with models where γ-rays are produced through inverse Compton (IC) scattering by relativistic electrons emitting the synchrotron continuum. The observed nonlinear relation between the synchrotron and IC requires both a change in the electron spectrum and an associated change in the seed photons. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1994 DOI: 10.1086/187602 Bibcode: 1994ApJ...435L..91M Keywords: Active Galaxies; Blazars; Energy Distribution; Gamma Rays; Infrared Radiation; Microwaves; Quasars; Radio Waves; Ultraviolet Radiation; X Rays; Compton Effect; Gamma Ray Observatory; Gamma Ray Spectra; Ginga Satellite; Iue; Rosat Mission; Satellite-Borne Instruments; Synchrotrons; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: ACTIVE; GALAXIES: JETS; GALAXIES: QUASARS: GENERAL; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: 3C 279; ULTRAVIOLET: GALAXIES; X-RAYS: GALAXIES; GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (1) NED (1) MAST (1)