arXiv subjects

M. Ajello

Publications and source records attributed to M. Ajello.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Singular Spectrum Analysis of Fermi-LAT Blazar Light Curves: A Systematic Search for Periodicity and Trends in the Time Domain

A majority of blazars exhibit variable emission across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, observed over various time scales. In particular, discernible periodic patterns are detected in the $γ$-ray light curves of a few blazars, such as PG 1553+113, S5 1044+71, and PKS 0426-380. The presence of trends, flares, and noise complicates periodicity detection, requiring careful analysis to determine whether these patterns arise from emission mechanisms or occur by chance. We employ Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) for the first time on data from the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to systematically search for periodicity using 28-day binned light curves. We aim to isolate any potential periodic nature of the emission from trends and noise, reducing uncertainties in revealing periodicity. Additionally, we characterize long-term trends and develop a forecasting algorithm based on SSA to predict future emission behavior. We apply SSA to analyze 494 sources detected by Fermi-LAT, focusing on isolating oscillatory components from trends and noise in their $γ$-ray light curves. We compute the Lomb-Scargle Periodogram for oscillatory components extracted by SSA to determine the most significant periods, assessing their local and global significance. Our analysis identifies 46 blazars as potential candidates for quasi-periodic $γ$-ray emissions, each with a local significance $\geq 2σ$. Notably, 33 exhibit a local significance of $\geq 4σ$ (corresponding to a global significance of $\geq 2.2σ$). Our findings introduce 25 new $γ$-ray candidates, doubling the number of potentially periodic sources. This study provides a foundation for future investigations by identifying promising candidates and their significance in blazar variability.

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arXiv2025

X-ray polarization observations of NGC 2110 with IXPE

X-ray polarimetric observations from the Imaging X-ray Polarimeter Explorer (IXPE) is an excellent tool for probing the geometry and dynamics of X-ray emitting corona in active galactic nuclei (AGN). This work aims to investigate the geometry of the X-ray corona in the Seyfert 2 AGN, NGC 2110, using its first polarimetric observation with IXPE, conducted over a net exposure of 554 ks beginning on October 16, 2024. We performed a model-independent analysis of the 2-8 keV IXPE polarimetric observation to estimate the polarization properties of NGC 2110. Furthermore, we performed spectral and spectro-polarimetric analyses combining IXPE data with archival observations from NuSTAR, XMM-Newton, and Swift-XRT to derive detailed spectral and polarization properties. From the spectro-polarimetric analyses, an upper limit on the polarization degree (PD) of 7.6% (at the 99% confidence) was estimated in the 2-8 keV band. The spectro-polarimetric analysis in the 5.66-8 keV band yielded a looser upper limit of 27% at the 99 % confidence. Comparing the measured polarization properties, coronal parameters, and inclination angle of NGC 2110 with the Monte Carlo radiative transfer (MONK) simulations suggest that the current polarization measurements lack the sensitivity to place definitive constraints on the coronal geometry. The upper limits on PD, as derived from our analysis at the 99% confidence level, indicate that polarization remains undetected at a statistically significant level. Consequently, we are unable to determine whether the corona is elongated along the disk or more compact and spherical. Future observations with improved sensitivity will be crucial to breaking these degeneracies and providing deeper insight into the coronal structure of NGC 2110.

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arXiv2025

Search for Kink Events in Variable Fermi-LAT Blazars

This study explores the detection of Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) in blazars as a method to identify kink events within their jets, utilizing both $γ$-ray and polarized light observations. Focusing on a sample of 9 blazars, we analyze $γ$-ray light curves to identify significant QPOs. In addition to $γ$-ray data, we incorporated polarized light data corresponding to the same temporal segments to cross-validate the presence of QPOs. However, the limited availability of comprehensive polarized data restricted our ability to perform a thorough analysis across all datasets. Despite these limitations, our analysis reveals a segment where QPOs in polarized light coincided with those observed in $γ$-rays, providing preliminary evidence supporting the kink origin of these oscillations.

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arXiv2025

Swift-XRT and NuSTAR Monitoring of Obscuration Variability in Mrk 477

We present the analysis of 15 X-ray observations of Mrk 477, a nearby Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus, with the objective to monitor its obscuring column density variability. The full dataset consists of five archival observations, split into two XMM-Newton, two NuSTAR and one Chandra observation, plus two dedicated monitoring campaigns. The monitoring campaigns were performed with Swift-XRT and NuSTAR, containing five observations each. We performed a simultaneous analysis using self-consistent torus models, deriving geometric properties of the torus as well as the obscuration along the line of sight. Mrk 477 is best modeled with a torus with large covering factor yet low column density (on average). Its line of sight column density oscillates between $1.5-7\times10^{23}$~cm$^{-2}$. Mrk~477 presents frequent obscuring column density variability, on timescales as short as $\sim2$~weeks. The probability of drawing a pair of obscuration-variable observations for Mrk~477 when having 2, 3, and 4 observations is 40\%, 78\% and 95\%, respectively. Adding the results of this work to those of another 26 sources, we find a trend of increasing obscuration variability with time (from $\sim20$\% at $Δt<10$~days, to $\sim60-70$\% at timescales larger than 5 years). We discuss whether this is compatible with the majority of obscuration variability coming from broad line region clouds.

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arXiv2025

Systematic Search for Long-Term Trends in Fermi-LAT Jetted Active Galactic Nuclei

Jetted Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) exhibit variability across a wide range of time scales. Traditionally, this variability can often be modeled well as a stochastic process. However, in certain cases, jetted AGN variability displays regular patterns, enabling us to conduct investigations aimed at understanding its origins. Additionally, a novel type of variability has emerged in jetted AGN lightcurves, specifically, the observation of a long-term trend characterized by a linear increase of the flux with time in blazars such as PG 1553+113, which is among the objects most likely to display periodic behavior. In this paper, we present the results of a systematic search for long-term trends, spanning $\approx$10\, years, utilizing 12 years of Fermi-LAT observations. The study is focused on detecting the presence of linear or quadratic long-term trends in a sample of 3308 jetted AGN. Our analysis has identified 40 jetted AGN that exhibit long-term trends, each with distinct properties, which we also characterize in this study. These long-term trends may originate from the dynamics of a supermassive black hole binary system, or they could be the result of intrinsic phenomena within the jet itself. Our findings can help in addressing questions pertaining to the astrophysical origins of variability and periodicity within jetted AGN.

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arXiv2024

Evaluating the Potential to Constrain Dark Matter Annihilation with Fermi-LAT Observations of Ultra-Faint Compact Stellar Systems

Recent results from numerical simulations and models of galaxy formation suggest that recently discovered ultra-faint compact stellar systems (UFCSs) in the halo of the Milky Way (MW) may be some of the smallest and faintest galaxies. If this is the case, these systems would be attractive targets for indirect searches of weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter (DM) annihilation due to their relative proximity and high expected DM content. In this study, we analyze 14.3 years of gamma-ray data collected by the Fermi-LAT coincident with 26 UFCSs. No significant excess gamma-ray emission is detected, and we present gamma-ray flux upper limits for these systems. Assuming that the UFCSs are dark-matter-dominated galaxies consistent with being among the faintest and least massive MW dwarf spheroidal (dSphs) satellite galaxies, we derive the projected sensitivity for a dark matter annihilation signal. We find that observations of UFCSs have the potential to yield some of the most powerful constraints on DM annihilation, with sensitivity comparable to observations of known dSphs and the Galactic center. This result emphasizes the importance of precise kinematic studies of UFCSs to empirically determine their DM content.

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arXiv2024

Search for Extended GeV Sources in the Inner Galactic Plane

The recent detection of extended $γ$-ray emission around middle-aged pulsars is interpreted as inverse-Compton scattering of ambient photons by electron-positron pairs escaping the pulsar wind nebula, which are confined near the system by unclear mechanisms. This emerging population of $γ$-ray sources was first discovered at TeV energies and remains underexplored in the GeV range. To address this, we conducted a systematic search for extended sources along the Galactic plane using 14 years of Fermi-LAT data above 10 GeV, aiming to identify a number of pulsar halo candidates and extend our view to lower energies. The search covered the inner Galactic plane ($\lvert l\rvert\leq$ 100$^{\circ}$, $\lvert b\rvert\leq$ 1$^{\circ}$) and the positions of known TeV sources and bright pulsars, yielding broader astrophysical interest. We found 40 such sources, forming the Second Fermi Galactic Extended Sources Catalog (2FGES), most with 68% containment radii smaller than 1.0$^{\circ}$ and relatively hard spectra with photon indices below 2.5. We assessed detection robustness using field-specific alternative interstellar emission models and by inspecting significance maps. Noting 13 sources previously known as extended in the 4FGL-DR3 catalog and five dubious sources from complex regions, we report 22 newly detected extended sources above 10 GeV. Of these, 13 coincide with H.E.S.S., HAWC, or LHAASO sources; six coincide with bright pulsars (including four also coincident with TeV sources); six are associated with 4FGL point sources only; and one has no association in the scanned catalogs. Notably, six to eight sources may be related to pulsars as classical pulsar wind nebulae or pulsar halos.

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arXiv2024

A Multi-Wavelength Characterization of the Obscuring Medium at the Center of NGC 6300

Most of the super-massive black holes in the Universe accrete material in an obscured phase. While it is commonly accepted that the "dusty torus" is responsible for the nuclear obscuration, its geometrical, physical, and chemical properties are far from being properly understood. In this paper, we take advantage of the multiple X-ray observations taken between 2007 and 2020, as well as of optical to far infra-red (FIR) observations of NGC 6300, a nearby ($z=0.0037$) Seyfert 2 galaxy. The goal of this project is to study the nuclear emission and the properties of the obscuring medium, through a multi-wavelength study conducted from X-ray to IR. We perform a simultaneous X-ray spectral fitting and optical-FIR spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to investigate the obscuring torus. For the X-ray spectral fitting, physically motivated torus models, such as borus02, UXClumpy and XClumpy are used. The SED fitting is done using XCIGALE. Through joint analysis, we constrain the physical parameters of the torus and the emission properties of the accreting supermassive black hole. Through X-ray observations taken in the last 13 years, we have not found any significant line-of-sight column density variability for this source, but observed the X-ray flux dropping $\sim40-50\%$ in 2020 with respect to previous observations. The UXClumpy model predicts the presence of an inner ring of Compton-thick gaseous medium, responsible for the reflection dominated spectra above 10 keV. Through multi-wavelength SED fitting, we measure an Eddington accretion rate $λ_{\rm{Edd}}\sim2\times10^{-3}$, which falls in the range of the radiatively inefficient accretion solutions.

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arXiv2024

GRB 221009A: the B.O.A.T Burst that Shines in Gamma Rays

We present a complete analysis of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data of GRB 221009A, the brightest Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) ever detected. The burst emission above 30 MeV detected by the LAT preceded by 1 s the low-energy (< 10 MeV) pulse that triggered the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM), as has been observed in other GRBs. The prompt phase of GRB 221009A lasted a few hundred seconds. It was so bright that we identify a Bad Time Interval (BTI) of 64 seconds caused by the extremely high flux of hard X-rays and soft gamma rays, during which the event reconstruction efficiency was poor and the dead time fraction quite high. The late-time emission decayed as a power law, but the extrapolation of the late-time emission during the first 450 seconds suggests that the afterglow started during the prompt emission. We also found that high-energy events observed by the LAT are incompatible with synchrotron origin, and, during the prompt emission, are more likely related to an extra component identified as synchrotron self-Compton (SSC). A remarkable 400 GeV photon, detected by the LAT 33 ks after the GBM trigger and directionally consistent with the location of GRB 221009A, is hard to explain as a product of SSC or TeV electromagnetic cascades, and the process responsible for its origin is uncertain. Because of its proximity and energetic nature, GRB 221009A is an extremely rare event.

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arXiv2024

High-energy neutrinos from the vicinity of the supermassive black hole in NGC 1068

We present a comprehensive multi-messenger study of NGC 1068, the prototype Seyfert II galaxy recently associated with high-energy IceCube neutrinos. Various aspects of the source, including its nuclear activity, jet, outflow, and starburst region, are analyzed in detail using a multi-wavelength approach and relevant luminosities are derived. We then explore its gamma-ray and neutrino emissions and investigate potential mechanisms underlying these phenomena and their relations with the different astrophysical components to try to understand which one is responsible for the IceCube neutrinos. By first using simple order-of-magnitude arguments and then applying specific theoretical models, we infer that only the region close to the accretion disc around the supermassive black hole has both the right density of X-ray photons needed to provide the targets for protons to sustain neutrino production and of optical/infrared photons required to absorb the associated but unobserved gamma rays. We conclude by highlighting ongoing efforts to constrain a possible broad connection between neutrinos and active galactic nuclei, as well as future synergies between astronomical and neutrino facilities.

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arXiv2024

XMM-NuSTAR Observation and Multiwavelength SED Modeling of Blazar 4FGL J1520.8-0348

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) can power relativistic jets, which are called blazars when pointed close to our line of sight. Depending on the presence or absence of emission lines in their optical spectra, blazars are categorized into flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) or BL Lacertae (BL Lacs) objects. According to the 'blazar sequence', as synchrotron peak frequency ($ν^{sy}_{pk}$) shifts to higher energies, the synchrotron peak luminosity decreases. This means that BL Lacs as luminous as FSRQs, and with synchrotron peak frequencies $ν^{sy}_{pk}>10^{15}$ Hz, should not exist. Detected as a high-synchrotron peak (HSP; $ν^{sy}_{pk}>10^{15}$ Hz) BL Lac, 4FGL J1520.8-0348 shows high gamma-ray luminosity ($L_γ>10^{46}\,\rm erg~s^{-1}$), being at a high redshift of $z=$1.46. Since it is an outlier in the 'blazar sequence', the process of its jet acceleration and power may be different from bona fide BL Lacs. In this work, we constrain its spectral energy distribution (SED) by modeling the multi-wavelength data from infrared to $γ$-ray regime. Simultaneous X-ray data was obtained from X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array to constrain the synchrotron emission and underlying electron distribution. On undertaking the SED modeling of the source, including the effect of extragalactic background light, we conclude that the source is more likely to be a 'blue FSRQ' or 'masquerading BL Lac' where the BL Lac is actually a FSRQ in disguise.

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arXiv2024

Hydrogen Column Density Variability in a Sample of Local Compton-Thin AGN II

We present the multi-epoch analysis of 13 variable, nearby (z<0.1), Compton-thin (22<logN_H<24) active galactic nuclei (AGN) selected from the 105-month BAT catalog. Analyzing all available archival soft and hard X-ray observations, we investigate the line-of-sight hydrogen column density (N_H) variability on timescales ranging from a few days to approximately 20 years. Each source is analyzed by simultaneously modeling the data with three physical torus models, providing tight constraints on torus properties, including the covering factor, the cloud dispersion, and the torus average hydrogen column density (N_H,av). For each epoch, we measure the N_H and categorize the source as `N_H Variable', `Non-variable in N_H', or `Undetermined' based on the degree of variability. Our final sample includes 27 variable, Compton-thin AGN after implementing another 14 AGN analyzed in our previous work. We find that all sources require either flux or N_H variability. We classify 37% of them as `N_H Variable', 44% as `Non-variable in N_H', and 19% as `Undetermined'. Noticeably, there is no discernible difference between geometrical and intrinsic properties among the three variability classes, suggesting no intrinsic differences between the N_H-variable and non-variable sources. We measure the median variation in N_H between any observation pair of the same source to be 25% with respect to the lowest N_H measure in the pair. Furthermore, 48% of the analyzed sources require the inclusion of a Compton-thick reflector in the spectral fitting. Among these, the 30% exhibits recorded 22 GHz water megamaser emission, suggesting a potential shared nature between the two structures.

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arXiv2024

Multiwavelength Variability Analysis of Fermi-LAT Blazars

Blazars present highly variable $γ$-ray emission. This variability, which can range from a few minutes to several years, is also observed at other wavelengths across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. We make use of the first 12 years of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), complemented with multiwavelength (MWL) archival data from different observatories and facilities in radio, infrared and optical bands, to study the possible periodic emission from 19 blazars previously claimed as periodic candidates. A periodicity analysis is performed with a pipeline for periodicity searches. Moreover, we study the cross-correlations between the $γ$-ray and MWL light curves. Additionally, we use the fractional variability and the structure function to evaluate the variability timescales. We find five blazars showing hints of periodic modulation with $\geq$3.0$σ$ ($\approx$0$σ$ post-trials), with periods ranging from 1.2 to 4 years, both in their $γ$-ray and MWL emission. The results provide clues for understanding the physical mechanisms generating the observed periodicity.

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arXiv2023

Constraints on redshifts of blazars from extragalactic background light attenuation using Fermi-LAT data

The extragalactic high-energy $γ$-ray sky is dominated by blazars, which are active galactic nuclei with their jets pointing towards us. Distance measurements are of fundamental importance yet for some of these sources are challenging because any spectral signature from the host galaxy may be outshone by the non-thermal emission from the jet. In this paper, we present a method to constrain redshifts for these sources that relies only on data from the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. This method takes advantage of the signatures that the pair-production interaction between photons with energies larger than approximately 10 GeV and the extragalactic background light leaves on $γ$-ray spectra. We find upper limits for the distances of 303 $γ$-ray blazars, classified as 157 BL Lacertae objects, 145 of uncertain class, and 1 flat-spectrum-radio quasar, whose redshifts are otherwise unknown. These derivations can be useful for planning observations with imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes and also for testing theories of supermassive black hole evolution. Our results are applied to estimate the detectability of these blazars with the future Cherenkov Telescope Array, finding that at least 21 of them could be studied in a reasonable exposure of 20 h.

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arXiv2023

A new derivation of the Hubble constant from $γ$-ray attenuation using improved optical depths for the Fermi and CTA era

We present $γ$-ray optical-depth calculations from a recently published extragalactic background light (EBL) model built from multiwavelength galaxy data from the Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Assembly Near-Infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (HST/CANDELS). CANDELS gathers one of the deepest and most complete observations of stellar and dust emissions in galaxies. This model resulted in a robust derivation of the evolving EBL spectral energy distribution up to $z\sim 6$, including the far-infrared peak. Therefore, the optical depths derived from this model will be useful for determining the attenuation of $γ$-ray photons coming from high-redshift sources, such as those detected by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and for multi-TeV photons that will be detected from nearby sources by the future Cherenkov Telescope Array. From these newly calculated optical depths, we derive the cosmic $γ$-ray horizon and also measure the expansion rate and matter content of the Universe including an assessment of the impact of the EBL uncertainties. We find $H_{0}=61.9$ $^{+2.9}_{-2.4}$ km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$ when fixing $Ω_{m}=0.32$, and $H_{0}=65.6$ $^{+5.6}_{-5.0}$ km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$ and $Ω_{m}=0.19\pm 0.07$, when exploring these two parameters simultaneously.

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arXiv2023

Multiwavelength Analysis of Fermi-LAT Blazars with High-Significance Periodicity: Detection of a Long-Term Rising Emission in PG 1553+113

Blazars display variable emission across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, with timescales that can range from a few minutes to several years. Our recent work has shown that a sample of five blazars exhibit hints of periodicity with a global significance $\gtrsim2\,σ$ at $γ$-ray energies, in the range of 0.1~GeV$<$E$<$800~GeV. In this work, we study their multiwavelength (MWL) emission, covering the X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, and radio bands. We show that three of these blazars present similar periodic patterns in the optical and radio bands. Additionally, fluxes in the different bands of the five blazars are correlated, suggesting a co-spatial origin. Moreover, we detect a long-term ($\approx$10 year) rising trend in the light curves of PG~1553+113, and we use it to infer possible constraints on the binary black hole hypothesis.

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arXiv2023

Fermi-GBM Discovery of GRB 221009A: An Extraordinarily Bright GRB from Onset to Afterglow

We report the discovery of GRB 221009A, the highest flux gamma-ray burst ever observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). This GRB has continuous prompt emission lasting more than 600 seconds which smoothly transitions to afterglow visible in the GBM energy range (8 keV--40 MeV), and total energetics higher than any other burst in the GBM sample. By using a variety of new and existing analysis techniques we probe the spectral and temporal evolution of GRB 221009A. We find no emission prior to the GBM trigger time (t0; 2022 October 9 at 13:16:59.99 UTC), indicating that this is the time of prompt emission onset. The triggering pulse exhibits distinct spectral and temporal properties suggestive of the thermal, photospheric emission of shock-breakout, with significant emission up to $\sim$15 MeV. We characterize the onset of external shock at t0+600 s and find evidence of a plateau region in the early-afterglow phase which transitions to a slope consistent with Swift-XRT afterglow measurements. We place the total energetics of GRB 221009A in context with the rest of the GBM sample and find that this GRB has the highest total isotropic-equivalent energy ($\textrm{E}_{γ,\textrm{iso}}=1.0\times10^{55}$ erg) and second highest isotropic-equivalent luminosity ($\textrm{L}_{γ,\textrm{iso}}=9.9\times10^{53}$ erg/s) based on redshift of z = 0.151. These extreme energetics are what allowed us to observe the continuously emitting central engine of GBM from the beginning of the prompt emission phase through the onset of early afterglow.

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arXiv2023

Simultaneous Millimeter-wave, Gamma-ray, and Optical Monitoring of the Blazar PKS 2326-502 During a Flaring State

Including millimeter-wave (mm-wave) data in multi-wavelength studies of the variability of active galactic nuclei (AGN) can provide insights into AGN physics that are not easily accessible at other wavelengths. We demonstrate in this work the potential of cosmic microwave background (CMB) telescopes to provide long-term, high-cadence mm-wave AGN monitoring over large fractions of sky. We report on a pilot study using data from the SPTpol instrument on the South Pole Telescope (SPT), which was designed to observe the CMB at arcminute and larger angular scales. Between 2013 and 2016, SPTpol was used primarily to observe a single 500 deg^2 field, covering the entire field several times per day with detectors sensitive to radiation in bands centered at 95 and 150 GHz. We use SPT 150 GHz observations to create AGN light curves, and we compare these mm-wave light curves to those at other wavelengths, in particular gamma-ray and optical. In this Letter, we focus on a single source, PKS 2326-502, which has extensive, day-timescale monitoring data in gamma-ray, optical, and now mm-wave between 2013 and 2016. We find PKS 2326-502 to be in a flaring state in the first two years of this monitoring, and we present a search for evidence of correlated variability between mm-wave, optical R band, and gamma-ray observations. This pilot study is paving the way for AGN monitoring with current and upcoming CMB experiments such as SPT-3G, Simons Observatory, and CMB-S4, including multi-wavelength studies with facilities such as VRO-LSST.

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