arXiv subjects

J. L. Richards

Publications and source records attributed to J. L. Richards.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

The first gamma-ray outburst of a Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy: the case of PMN J0948+0022 in July 2010

We report on a multiwavelength campaign on the radio-loud Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) Galaxy PMN J0948+0022 (z=0.5846) performed in 2010 July-September and triggered by a high-energy gamma-ray outburst observed by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The peak flux in the 0.1-100 GeV energy band exceeded, for the first time in this type of source, the value of 10^-6 ph cm^-2 s^-1, corresponding to an observed luminosity of 10^48 erg s^-1. Although the source was too close to the Sun position to organize a densely sampled follow-up, it was possible to gather some multiwavelength data that confirmed the state of high activity across the sampled electromagnetic spectrum. The comparison of the spectral energy distribution of the NLS1 PMN J0948+0022 with that of a typical blazar - like 3C 273 - shows that the power emitted at gamma rays is extreme.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

J16021+3326: New Multi-Frequency Observations of a Complex Source

We present multifrequency Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of J16021+3326. These observations, along with variability data obtained from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) candidate gamma-ray blazar monitoring program, clearly indicate this source is a blazar. The peculiar characteristic of this blazar, which daunted previous classification attempts, is that we appear to be observing down a precessing jet, the mean orientation of which is aligned with us almost exactly.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

The Connection between Radio and Gamma-ray Emission in Active Galactic Nuclei

Radio and gamma-ray emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) are thought to share a common origin, related to the ejection phenomena in the vicinity of supermassive black holes. Thanks to its sensitivity, surveying capability, and broad energy range, the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has permitted us to discover and characterize a huge number of extragalactic gamma-ray sources. Similarly to what was found by EGRET, these sources are typically associated with blazars, characterized by significant radio emission and flat spectrum. The radio luminosity distribution is extended over 7 orders of magnitudes, with flat spectrum radio quasars clustered at higher powers and BL Lacs more scattered; the average spectral index is consistent with alpha=0, although a few remarkable sources have alpha>0.5. A comparison of the radio flux density and the gamma-ray photon flux is presented, although claims on its significance require a detailed discussion and Monte Carlo simulations which will be presented in a future paper.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

15 GHz Monitoring of Gamma-ray Blazars with the OVRO 40 Meter Telescope in Support of Fermi

We present results from the first two years of our fast-cadence 15 GHz gamma-ray blazar monitoring program, part of the F-GAMMA radio monitoring project. Our sample includes the 1158 blazars north of -20 degrees declination from the Candidate Gamma-Ray Blazar Survey (CGRaBS), which encompasses a significant fraction of the extragalactic sources detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. We introduce a novel likelihood analysis for computing a time series variability amplitude statistic that separates intrinsic variability from measurement noise and produces a quantitative error estimate. We use this method to characterize our radio light curves. We also present results indicating a statistically significant correlation between simultaneous average 15 GHz radio flux density and gamma-ray photon flux.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

AGN astrophysics via multi-frequency monitoring of gamma-ray blazars in the Fermi-GST era

The F-GAMMA-project is the coordinated effort of several observatories to understand the AGN phenomenon and specifically blazars via multi-frequency monitoring in collaboration with the {\sl Fermi}-GST satellite since January 2007. The core observatories are: the Effelsberg 100-m, the IRAM 30-m and the OVRO 40-m telescope covering the range between 2.6 and 270 GHz. Effelsberg and IRAM stations do a monthly monitoring of the cm to sub-mm radio spectra of 60 selected blazars whereas the OVRO telescope is observing roughly 1200 objects at 15 GHz with a dense sampling of 2 points per week. The calibration uncertainty even at high frequencies, is of a few percent. 47% of the Effelsberg/Pico Veleta sample is included in the LBAS list. An update of the monitored sample is currently underway.

astro-ph.GA↗