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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
INTEGRAL observations of the blazar Mrk 421 in outburst Results of a multi-wavelength campaign
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 486, No. 3, Year 2008
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Description
Context. If one wants to understand the physics of blazars, better simultaneous observations are important at all wavelengths, so it was fortunate that a ToO observation of the TeV-emitting blazar Mrk 421 with INTEGRAL could be triggered in June 2006 by an increase in the RXTE count rate to more than 30 mCrab. The source was then observed with all INTEGRAL instruments, with the exception of the spectrometer SPI, for a total exposure of 829 ks. During this time several outbursts were observed by IBIS and JEM-X. Multiwavelength observations were immediately triggered, and the source was observed at radio, optical, and X-ray wavelengths up to TeV energies. Aims. The data obtained during these observations were analysed with respect to time variability, time lags, correlated variability, and spectral evolution and then compiled in a v Fv spectrum. Methods. The observations of the different instruments/telescopes were analysed with the usual correlation and time-analysis methods. The spectral analysis of the X-ray data was performed with XSPEC. Results. Four strong flares at X-rays were observed that were not seen at other wavelengths (partially because of missing data). From the fastest rise in the X-rays, an upper limit could be derived to the extension of the emission region. A time lag between high-energy and low-energy X-rays was observed, which allowed an estimation of the magnetic-field strength. The spectral analysis of the X-rays revealed a slight spectral hardening of the low-energy (3-∼43 keV) spectral index. The hardness-ratio analysis of the Swift-XRT (0.2-10 keV) data indicated a small correlation with the intensity; i.e., a hard-to-soft evolution was observed. At the energies of IBIS/ISGRI (20-150 keV), such correlations are less obvious. A multiwavelength spectrum was composed and the X-ray luminosities were calculated. Conclusions. The observed flaring activity of Mrk 421 is mainly visible at X-rays. It is found that the spectral change with intensity is small. But at least one flare showed a completely different spectral behaviour than the other flares, so one can conclude that each blob of relativistic-moving electrons has its own individual physical environment that leads to different emission characteristics. From a fit of a leptonic emission model to the data, one finds that the observed variability may be due to a varying efficiency of particle acceleration. © ESO 2008.
Authors & Co-Authors
Bottacini, Eugenio
Germany, Garching Bei Munchen
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Ajello, Marco
Germany, Garching Bei Munchen
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Charlot, Patrick
France, Bordeaux
Université de Bordeaux
Collmar, Werner
Germany, Garching Bei Munchen
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Falcone, Abraham D.
United States, University Park
Pennsylvania State University
Horan, Deirdre
United States, Lemont
Argonne National Laboratory
von Kienlin, Andreas
Germany, Garching Bei Munchen
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
L¨ahteenm¨aki, Anne A.
Finland, Espoo
Aalto University
Lindfors, Elina J.
Finland, Espoo
Aalto University
Finland, Kaarina
Tuorlan Observatorio
Morris, David C.
United States, University Park
Pennsylvania State University
Nilsson, Kari
Finland, Kaarina
Tuorlan Observatorio
Petry, Dirk
Germany, Garching Bei Munchen
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Sillanp̈äa, Aimo K.
Finland, Kaarina
Tuorlan Observatorio
Spanier, Felix
Germany, Wurzburg
Julius-maximilians-universität Würzburg
Tornikoski, Merja
Finland, Espoo
Aalto University
Statistics
Citations: 45
Authors: 15
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1051/0004-6361:20079199
ISSN:
14320746
Research Areas
Environmental