Transient quasi-periodic oscillations in the gamma-ray light curves of bright blazars

Abstract

ABSTRACT Transient quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are extremely interesting observational phenomena. However, the precise physical mechanisms leading to their generation are still hotly debated. We performed a systematic search for transient QPO signals using Weighted Wavelet Z-transforms on the gamma-ray light curves of 134 bright blazars with peak flux exceeding 1 × 10−6 ph cm−2 s−1 as monitored by Fermi-LAT. Artificial light curves were generated from the power spectral density and probability distribution functions of the original light curves to assess the significance level of transient QPO. We discuss several physical mechanisms that produce transient QPOs, with the helical jet model providing the best explanation. This study identified four new transient QPO events. Interestingly, repetitive transient QPOs are observed in PKS 0537-441, and nested transient QPOs are detected in PKS 1424−41. Additionally, we find that transient QPOs tend to occur in the flare state of the blazar. Finally, we estimate the incidence of transient QPO events to be only about 3 per cent.