arXiv subjects

Aykut Özdönmez

Publications and source records attributed to Aykut Özdönmez.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Shortterm optical variability of 4C 29.45

We observed the flat-spectrum radio quasar 4C 29.45 in the BVRI optical bands for 39 nights from February 2022 to July 2022 with the T60 telescope at TÜBİTAK National Observatory (TUG) in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to study flux, color, and spectral variability on short timescales. The object was in an active (bright) phase with an average optical R-band brightness of 14.7 mag and was variable in the BVRI bands throughout the monitoring period. We analyzed the flux variability during our observation period, and the variability amplitudes in V, R, and I bands were determined to be 220%, 208%, and 209%, respectively. Optical spectral energy distributions of 4C 29.45 were derived from the observational data of 33 nights, indicating spectral indices ranging from 1.032 to 1.573. We found modest correlations between optical light curves, and between R-band light curve and spectral indices, suggesting that the time lag ranges from several hours to days. Investigation on relation between spectral and color indices versus R-band magnitude revealed achromatic trend during the bright phase of 4C 29.45 in the first half of 2022. Our periodicity search suggested that the periodicity would be larger than 100 days, and no significant signal for periodicity was found for short timescales.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Multi-Band Optical Variability of Blazar 1ES 2344+514 on Diverse Time-Scales

This study presents the results of multi-band observations from 2022 to 2024 and Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) observations from 2018 to 2023, examining the flux variability of the blazar 1ES 2344+514 on diverse time-scales in the optical bands. The blazar has mild short-term variability (STV) and long-term variability (LTV), with small amplitudes of $\sim0.7$ mag and 0.4 mag for the host subtracted- and included-light curves, respectively. The power-enhanced F-test and the nested Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical tests of the six intra-day light curves show that the blazar has no minute-scale variability. The multiband color behavior analysis revealed a moderate redder-when-brighter (RWB) trend on intra-day time scales, while the LTV shows no detectable color behavior. We found a strong correlation between the ZTF optical light curves without any time lag, but no detectable correlations for the optical band emissions. From our periodicity searches using WWZ and LS methods, three significant quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) signals in the ZTF light curves are found at about 1.02, 1.3, and 2.85 years. The observational results indicate that the blazar 1ES 2344+514 has a complex variability while emphasizing the need for future observations to unravel its underlying mechanisms.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Multi-band optical variability on diverse timescales of blazar 1E 1458.8+2249

This study presents an analysis of the optical variability of the blazar 1E 1458.8+2249 on diverse timescales using multi-band observations, including observations in the optical BVRI bands carried out with the T60 and T100 telescopes from 2020 to 2023 and ZTF gri data from 2018 to 2023. On seven nights, we searched for intraday variability using the power-enhanced F-test and the nested ANOVA test, but no significant variability was found. The long-term light curve shows a variability behaviour in the optical BVRI bands with amplitudes of $\sim100\%$ and in the gri bands with amplitudes of $\sim120\%$, including short-term variability of up to $\sim1.1$ mag. Correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation between the optical multi-band emissions without any time lag.From 62 nightly SEDs, we obtained spectral indices between 0.826 and 1.360, with an average of $1.128\pm0.063$. The relationships of both spectral indices and colour with respect to brightness indicate a mild BWB trend throughout the observation period, both intraday and long-term. We also performed a periodicity search using the Weighted Wavelet Z-transform (WWZ) and Lomb-Scargle methods. A recurrent optical emission pattern with a quasi-periodicity of $\sim340$ days is detected in the combined V- and R-band light curves. The observational results indicate that the blazar 1E 1458.8+2249 has a complex variability, while emphasising the need for future observations to unravel its underlying mechanisms.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Investigating Optical Variability of the Blazar S5 0716+714 On Diverse Time-scales

We present the results of the observational study of the blazar S5 0716+716 in the optical bands B, V, R, and I between March 2019 and August 2023 to investigate its variability on diverse time-scales. The blazar was followed up by the T60 robotic telescope in Turkey for 416 nights to obtain long-term variability during this period. In order to search for intraday variability of the object, we have carried out 21 nights of observations with the T100 telescope for at least 1 hour. The blazar showed a ~2.47 mag variation in the optical R-band during our monitoring period, the brightest state on 18.01.2020 (MJD 58866) as R=12.109$\pm$0.011 and the faintest state on 23.03.2019 (MJD 58565) as R=14.580$\pm$0.013. We employed the nested ANOVA test and the power enhanced F-test to quantify intraday variability which showed that the blazar was significantly variable in the R-band on 12 out of 21 nights. Correlation analysis of the light curves shows that the emission in the BVRI optical bands was strongly correlated both in the short and long term without any time lag. The blazar has likely quasi-periods of 186$\pm$30, 532$\pm$76 days in the optical R-band light curve according to the WWZ, and the LS periodogram. The IDV and LTV features are discussed within the frame of prospective scenarios.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Orbital Period Variation Analysis of the HS 0705+6700 Post-Common Envelope Binary

To detect additional bodies in binary systems, we performed a potent approach of orbital period variation analysis. In this work, we present 90 new mid-eclipse times of a short-period eclipsing binary system. Observations were made using two telescopes from 2014 to 2024, extending the time span of the O-C diagram to 24 years. The data obtained in the last seven years indicate significant deviations in the O-C diagram from the models obtained in previous studies. We investigated whether this variation could be explained by mechanisms such as the LTT effect or Applegate. To investigate the cyclic behaviour observed in the system with the LTT effect, we modelled the updated O-C diagram using different models including linear/quadratic terms and additional bodies. The updated O-C diagram is statistically consistent with the most plausible solutions of models that include multiple brown dwarfs close to each other. However, it has been found that the orbit of the system is unstable on short time scales. Using three different theoretical definitions, we have found that the Applegate mechanism cannot explain the variation in the orbital period except for the model containing the fifth body. Therefore, due to the complex nature of the system, further mid-eclipse time is required before any conclusions can be drawn about the existence of additional bodies.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

Investigation on the Orbital Period Variations of NN Ser: Implications for the Hypothetical Planets, the Applegate Mechanism and the Orbital Stability

We present 36 new mid-eclipse times obtained between 2017 and 2023 using the T100 telescope in Turkey, extending the time span of the $O-C$ diagram to 25 years. Once again, these new observations show significant deviations from previous published models that were able to explain the observed variations of the binary period. We investigate two plausible explanations for this variability: the LTT effect due to the presence of one or two invisible low-mass (planetary) companion(s) in distant circumbinary orbits; other mechanisms, like e.g. the Applegate mechanism, associated with the magnetic cycles of the M-dwarf component of the WD+dM binary. Through MCMC analyzes, we demonstrate that the observed $O-C$ variability can be explained by the presence of a planet with a minimum mass of $\sim9.5 M_J$. This circumbinary planet orbits around the binary system with a period of about 19.5 years, maintaining a stable orbit for a timeline of 10 Myr. By adding a weak LTT signal from a secondary hypothetical planet we achieve statistically better results. However, the orbits of the bodies in a two-planet system remain stable only for a small range of the parameter space. The energy required to power the Applegate and other Applegate-like mechanisms is too high to explain the period variations observed. Thus, on the one hand there is substantial evidence supporting the existence of a planet in the NN Ser system, but on the other hand there are also compelling indications that cast doubt on the existence of a second hypothetical planet.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2023

Multi-wavelength study of TeV blazar 1ES 1218+304 using gamma-ray, X-ray and optical observations

We report the multi-wavelength study for a high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lac 1ES 1218+304 using near-simultaneous data obtained during the period from January 1, 2018, to May 31, 2021 (MJD 58119-59365) from various instruments including Fermi-LAT, Swift-XRT, AstroSat, and optical from Swift-UVOT $\&$ TUBITAK observatory in Turkey. The source was reported to be flaring in TeV $γ$-ray band during 2019, but no significant variation is observed with Fermi-LAT. A sub-hour variability is seen in the SXT light curve, suggesting a compact emission region for their variability. However, hour scale variability is observed in the $γ$-ray light curve. A "softer-when-brighter" trend is observed in $γ$-rays, and an opposite trend is seen in X-rays suggesting both emissions are produced via two different processes as expected from an HBL source. We have chosen the two epochs in January 2019 to study and compare their physical parameters. A joint fit of SXT and LAXPC provides a constraint on the synchrotron peak, roughly estimated to be $\sim$1.6 keV. A clear shift in the synchrotron peak is observed from $\sim$1 keV to above 10 keV revealing its extreme nature or behaving like an EHBL-type source. The optical observation provides color-index variation as "blue-when-brighter". The broadband SED is fitted with a single-zone SSC model, and their parameters are discussed in the context of a TeV blazar and the possible mechanism behind the broadband emission.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Characterizing the optical nature of the blazar S5 1803+784 during its 2020 flare

We report the results from our study of the blazar S5 1803+784 carried out using the quasi-simultaneous $B$, $V$, $R$, and $I$ observations from May 2020 to July 2021 on 122 nights. Our observing campaign detected the historically bright optical flare during MJD 59063.5$-$MJD 59120.5. We also found the source in its brightest ($R_{mag}$= 13.617) and faintest ($R_{mag}$= 15.888) states till date. On 13 nights, covering both flaring and non-flaring periods, we searched for the intraday variability using the power-enhanced $F-$test and the nested ANOVA test. We found significant variability in 2 out of these 13 nights. However, no such variability was detected during the flaring period. From the correlation analysis, we observed that the emission in all optical bands were strongly correlated with a time lag of $\sim$ 0 days. To get insights into its dominant emission mechanisms, we generated the optical spectral energy distributions of the source on 79 nights and estimated the spectral indices by fitting the simple power law. Spectral index varied from 1.392 to 1.911 and showed significant variations with time and $R-$band magnitude. We have detected a mild bluer-when-brighter trend (BWB) during the whole monitoring period while a much stronger BWB trend during the flare. We also carried out a periodicity search using four different methods and found no significant periodicity during our observation duration. Based on the analysis during the flaring state of the source one can say that the emissions most likely originate from the jet rather than the accretion disk.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

New Observations of the Eclipsing Binary System NY Vir and its Candidate Circumbinary Planets

As a result of various studies, it has been determined that several post-common envelope eclipsing binaries have variations in their orbital periods. These variations are thought to be caused by the existence of additional bodies in the system (hypothetical stars or planets) and/or other physical effects (such as angular momentum loss, magnetic activity) of the binary system. It is also known that the sdB+M eclipsing system NY Vir has shown such variations in the last decade, indicating additional objects and/or other physical effects. In this work, we present 51 new eclipse times for this system, which extend the time span of it is $O-C$ diagram by about three years, obtained between 2015 and 2021 using two different telescopes in Turkey. The data obtained in the last 3 years shows a new trend in the $O-C$ diagram differently from the predictions of the previous studies. Our model is consistent with the new $O-C$ diagram, which is statistically well fitted with the quadratic term and the additional two planets with masses of $M_3=2.74 \: M_\text{Jup}$ and $M_4=5.59 \: M_\text{Jup}$. However, the orbital period variation can also be related to magnetic activity. In order to better understand the mechanism causing the changes in the orbital period, new observation data is needed that will show at least one full cycle of the change in the O-C diagram.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Multi-band optical variability of 3C 279 on diverse timescales

We have monitored the flat spectrum radio quasar, 3C 279, in the optical $B$, $V$, $R$ and $I$ passbands from 2018 February to 2018 July for 24 nights, with a total of 716 frames, to study flux, colour and spectral variability on diverse timescales. 3C\,279 was observed using seven different telescopes: two in India, two in Argentina, two in Bulgaria and one in Turkey to understand the nature of the source in optical regime. The source was found to be active during the whole monitoring period and displayed significant flux variations in $B$, $V$, $R$, and $I$ passbands. Variability amplitudes on intraday basis varied from 5.20\% to 17.9\%. A close inspection of variability patterns during our observation cycle reveals simultaneity among optical emissions from all passbands. During the complete monitoring period, progressive increase in the amplitude of variability with frequency was detected for our target. The amplitudes of variability in $B$, $V$, $R$ and $I$ passbands have been estimated to be 177\%, 172\%, 171\% and 158\%, respectively. Using the structure function technique, we found intraday timescales ranging from $\sim 23$ minutes to about 115 minutes. We also studied colour-magnitude relationship and found indications of mild bluer-when-brighter trend on shorter timescales. Spectral indices ranged from 2.3 to 3.0 with no clear trend on long term basis. We have also generated spectral energy distributions for 3C\,279 in optical $B$, $V$, $R$ and $I$ passbands for 17 nights. Finally, possible emission mechanisms causing variability in blazars are discussed briefly.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

A New Catalogue of Galactic Novae: Investigation of the MMRD relation & Spatial Distribution

In this study, a new Galactic novae catalogue is introduced collecting important parameters of these sources such as their light curve parameters, classifications, full width half maximum (FWHM) of H$_α$ line, distances and interstellar reddening estimates. The catalogue is also published on a website with a search option via a SQL query and an online tool to re-calculate the distance/reddening of a nova from the derived reddening-distance relations. Using the novae in the catalogue, the existence of a maximum magnitude-rate of decline (MMRD) relation in the Galaxy is investigated. Although an MMRD relation was obtained, a significant scattering in the resulting MMRD distribution still exists. We suggest that the MMRD relation likely depends on other parameters in addition to the decline time, as FWHM H$_α$, the light curve shapes. Using two different samples depending on the distances in the catalogue and from the derived MMRD relation, the spatial distributions of Galactic novae as a function of their spectral and speed classes were studied. The investigation on the Galactic model parameters implies that best estimates for the local outburst density are 3.6 and 4.2 $\times 10^{-10}$ pc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$ with a scale height of 148 and 175 pc, while the space density changes in the range of $0.4 - 16 \ \times 10^{-6}$ pc$^{-3}$. The local outburst density and scale height obtained in this study infer that the disk nova rate in the Galaxy is in the range of $\sim20$ to $\sim100$ yr$^{-1}$ with an average estimate $67^{+21}_{-17}$ yr$^{-1}$.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

The Distances of the Galactic Novae

Utilising the unique location of red clump giants on colour-magnitude diagrams obtained from various near-IR surveys, we derived specific reddening-distance relations towards 119 Galactic novae for which independent reddening measurements are available. Using the derived distance-extinction relation and the independent measurements of reddening we calculated the most likely distances for each system. We present the details of our distance measurement technique and the results of this analysis, which yielded the distances of 73 Galactic novae and allowed us to set lower limits on the distances of 46 systems. We also present the reddening-distance relations derived for each nova, which may be useful to analyze the different Galactic components present in the line of sight.

astro-ph.SR↗