Location of γ-ray emission and magnetic field strengths in OJ 287
Journal article, 2017
Context. The γ-ray BL Lac object OJ 287 is known to exhibit inner-parsec "jet-wobbling", high degrees of variability at all wavelengths and quasi-stationary features, including an apparent (≈100°) position-angle change in projection on the sky plane. Aims. Sub-50 micro-arcsecond resolution 86 GHz observations with the global mm-VLBI array (GMVA) supplement ongoing multifrequency VLBI blazar monitoring at lower frequencies. Using these maps, together with cm/mm total intensity and γ-ray observations from Fermi-LAT from 2008..2014, we aim to determine the location of γ-ray emission and to explain the inner-mas structural changes. Methods. Observations with the GMVA oer approximately double the angular resolution compared with 43 GHz VLBA observations and enable us to observe above the synchrotron self-absorption peak frequency. Fermi-LAT γ-ray data were reduced and analysed. The jet was spectrally decomposed at multiple locations along the jet. From this, we could derive estimates of the magnetic field using equipartition and synchrotron self-absorption arguments. How the field decreases down the jet provided an estimate of the distance to the jet apex and an estimate of the magnetic field strength at the jet apex and in the broad line region. Combined with accurate kinematics, we attempt to locate the site of γ-ray activity, radio flares, and spectral changes. Results. Strong γ-ray flares appeared to originate from either the so-called core region, a downstream stationary feature, or both, with γ-ray activity significantly correlated with radio flaring in the downstream quasi-stationary feature. Magnetic field estimates were determined at multiple locations along the jet, with the magnetic field found to be ≥1.6G in the core and ≤0.4G in the downstream quasi-stationary feature.We therefore found upper limits on the location of the VLBI core as ≤6.0 pc from the jet apex and determined an upper limit on the magnetic field near the jet base of the order of thousands of Gauss.
Techniques: high angular resolution
Techniques: interferometric
Galaxies: active
BL Lacertae objects: individual: OJ 287
Galaxies: jets
Magnetic fields
Author
J.A. Hodgson
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
Max Planck Society
T.P. Krichbaum
Max Planck Society
A.P. Marscher
Boston University
S.G. Jorstad
Saint Petersburg State University - Spsu
Boston University
B. Rani
Max Planck Society
Ivan Marti-Vidal
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory
U. Bach
Max Planck Society
S. Sanchez
Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM)
M. Bremer
Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM)
Michael Lindqvist
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory
M. Uunila
Aalto University
J. Kallunki
Aalto University
P. Vicente
Yebes Observatory
L. Fuhrmann
Max Planck Society
E. Angelakis
Max Planck Society
V. Karamanavis
Max Planck Society
I. Myserlis
Max Planck Society
I. Nestoras
Max Planck Society
C. Chidiac
Max Planck Society
A. Sievers
Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM)
M. Gurwell
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
A.J. Zensus
Max Planck Society
Astronomy and Astrophysics
0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)
Vol. 597 80- A80Subject Categories
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Infrastructure
Onsala Space Observatory
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/201526727