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- A80

Subject Categories

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Infrastructure

Onsala Space Observatory

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201526727

More information

Latest update

9/6/2018 1