arXiv subjects

Merja Tornikoski

Publications and source records attributed to Merja Tornikoski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Connecting the long-term variability behaviour of active galactic nuclei to their central engines

Analysing the long-term radio variability of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is essential to understanding the physics of relativistic jets launched by supermassive black holes. We aim to connect the characteristic timescales obtained from a prior power spectral density (PSD) analysis to the decomposed timescales of the light curves. In addition, we probe for potential associations between the timescales and the physical characteristics of the relativistic jet as well as the central engine. We decomposed the long-term radio light curves of 54 sources observed at the Aalto University Metsähovi Radio Observatory into individual flares to understand which timescale of variability is related to the low-frequency bend in the PSD. In addition, we used the obtained rise times of the brightest flares to look for associations between the emission-region size in the jet and different central engine parameters. We found that the inverse of the PSD bend frequency of radio light curves best corresponds to the mean duration of the brightest flares. For some sources, the mean flare separation had a similar timescale. Using the flare durations and separations as proxies for the PSD timescale, we found a positive correlation with black hole mass divided by the normalised mass accretion rate. This suggests that the variability timescales obtained from the PSDs of radio light curves are associated with the central engine. Furthermore, when comparing the obtained rise times of the brightest flares to the jet and central engine parameters, we found weak tentative correlations, but they may be driven by a common dependency on redshift.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

A long-term multiwavelength study of the flat spectrum radio quasar OP 313

The Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar OP 313 is a high-redshift (z = 0.997) blazar that entered an intense gamma-ray active phase from November 2023 to March 2024, as observed by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. We present a multiwavelength analysis covering 15 years of data, from August 2008 to March 2024, to contextualize this period of extreme gamma-ray activity within the long-term emission of the source. We analyzed a long-term, comprehensive, multiwavelength dataset from different facilities and projects from radio to gamma-rays. We identified the 7 most intense gamma-ray flaring periods and performed a kinematic analysis of Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) data to determine whether new jet components emerged before or during these flares. For 2 of these flaring periods, we performed the modeling of the spectral energy distribution (SED). The VLBA-BU-BLAZAR and MOJAVE datasets reveal a new jet component appearing in both visibility datasets prior to the onset of one of the strongest gamma-ray flares. By comparing the timing of the VLBA-BU-BLAZAR knots ejection with the gamma-ray flaring periods, we constrained the setup of the SED modeling. We also found that the first gamma-ray flaring period is less Compton-dominated than the others. Our results suggest that the recent activity of OP 313 is triggered by new jet components emerging from the core and interacting with a standing shock. The γ-ray emission likely arises from dusty torus photons upscattered via Inverse Compton (IC) by relativistic jet electrons. The SED modeling indicates that this component is less dominant during the first γ-ray flaring period than the later ones.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Modeling the Multiwavelength Emission of 3C 279 during the 14 years of Fermi-LAT Era

We report the results of our long-term multiwavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) study on the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 during the $\sim14$ years (2008--2022) of {\sl Fermi}-LAT (Large Area Telescope) observing period. The {\sl Fermi}-LAT data were complemented with data in other wavebands obtained from {\sl Swift}-XRT/UVOT, Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT), along with other optical and radio data from several observatories. Different activity states were identified from the weekly binned $γ$-ray light curve, and it was possible to create 168 high-quality and quasi-simultaneous broadband SEDs. We modeled the SEDs using a one-zone leptonic scenario, including the emission region outside the broad-line region (BLR), involving synchrotron, synchrotron self-Compton, and external Compton mechanisms. Such extensive broadband modeling is essential for constraining the underlying multiwavelength radiative mechanisms in the 3C 279 jet and permits to estimate the physical parameters and explore their evolution in time. Our SED modeling study suggests that the increase in the Doppler beaming factor along with the variation of the emitting electrons is the cause for the flares in this source. The multiwavelength emission of 3C 279 was found to be well explained by the scenario in which the emission region is outside the BLR at a distance of $\sim6.42\times10^{3} R_S$. However, for two of the very bright $γ$-ray states, the emission region was found to be close to the outer boundary of the BLR at a distance of $\sim1.28\times10^{3} R_S$ from the central black hole.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Gamma-ray flares from the jet of the blazar CTA 102 in 2016-2018

CTA 102 is a $γ$-ray bright blazar that exhibited multiple flares in observations by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope during the period of 2016-2018. We present results from the analysis of multi-wavelength light curves aiming at revealing the nature of $γ$-ray flares from the relativistic jet in the blazar. We analyse radio, optical, X-ray, and $γ$-ray data obtained in a period from 2012 September 29 to 2018 October 8. We identify six flares in the $γ$-ray light curve, showing a harder-when-brighter-trend in the $γ$-ray spectra. We perform a cross-correlation analysis of the multi-wavelength light curves. We find nearly zero time lags between the $γ$-ray and optical and X-ray light curves, implying a common spatial origin for the emission in these bands. We find significant correlations between the $γ$-ray and radio light curves as well as negative/positive time lags with the $γ$-ray emission lagging/leading the radio during different flaring periods. The time lags between $γ$-ray and radio emission propose the presence of multiple $γ$-ray emission sites in the source. As seen in 43 GHz images from the Very Long Baseline Array, two moving disturbances (or shocks) were newly ejected from the radio core. The $γ$-ray flares from 2016 to 2017 are temporally coincident with the interaction between a traveling shock and a quasi-stationary one at $\sim$0.1 mas from the core. The other shock is found to emerge from the core nearly simultaneous with the $γ$-ray flare in 2018. Our results suggest that the $γ$-ray flares originated from shock-shock interactions.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Spectral Energy Distribution Variability of the Blazar OJ 287 during 2009-2021

Using nearly simultaneous radio, near-infrared, optical, and ultraviolet data collected since 2009, we constructed 106 spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the blazar OJ 287. These SEDs were well-fitted by a log-parabolic model. By classifying the data into `flare' and `quiescent' segments, we found that the median flux at peak frequency of the SEDs during flare segments was 0.37$\pm$0.22 dex higher compared to quiescent segments, while no significant differences were observed in the median values of the curvature parameter $b$ or the peak frequency $\log ν_{\mathrm{p}}$. A significant bluer-when-brighter trend was confirmed through a relation between $V$ magnitude and $B-V$ color index, with this trend being stronger in the flare segments. Additionally, a significant anti-correlation was detected between $\log ν_{\mathrm{p}}$ and $b$, with a slope of 5.79 in the relation between $1/b$ and $\log ν_{\mathrm{p}}$, closer to the prediction from a statistical acceleration model other than a stochastic acceleration interpretation, though a notable discrepancy persists. This discrepancy indicates that additional factors, such as deviations from idealized conditions or radiative contributions-such as thermal emission from the accretion disk in the optical-UV range during quiescent states-may play a role in producing the observed steeper slope. Within the framework of statistical acceleration mechanism, lack of correlation between change in peak intensity and change in peak frequency suggests that change in electron energy distribution is unlikely to be responsible for the time-dependent SED changes. Instead, changes in Doppler boosting or magnetic fields may have a greater influence.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Revisiting radio variability of the blazar 3C 454.3

We examine lengthy radio light curves of the flat spectrum radio galaxy 3C 454.3 for possible quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). The data used in this work were collected at five radio frequencies, 4.8, 8.0, 14.5, 22.0, and 37.0 GHz between 1979--2013 as observed at the University of Michigan Radio Astronomical Observatory, Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, and Aalto University Mets{ä}hovi Radio Observatory. We employ generalized Lomb-Scargle periodogram and weighted wavelet transform analyses to search for periodicities in these light curves. We confirm a QPO period of $\sim$ 2000 day to be at least 4$σ$ significant using both methods at all five radio frequencies between 1979 and 2007, after which a strong flare changed the character of the light curve. We also find a $\sim$~600 day period which is at least 4$σ$ significant, but only in the 22.0 and 37.0 GHz light curves. We briefly discuss physical mechanisms capable of producing such variations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Long-term radio variability of active galactic nuclei at 37 GHz

We present the results of analysing the long-term radio variability of active galactic nuclei at 37 GHz using data of 123 sources observed in the Aalto University Metsähovi Radio Observatory. Our aim was to constrain the characteristic timescales of the studied sources and to analyse whether up to 42 years of monitoring was enough to describe their variability behaviour. We used a periodogram to estimate the power spectral density of each source. The power spectral density is used to analyse the power content of a time series in the frequency domain, and it is a powerful tool in describing the variability of active galactic nuclei. We were interested in finding a bend frequency in the power spectrum, that is, a frequency at which the slope $β$ of the spectrum changes from a non-zero value to zero. We fitted two models to the periodograms of each source, namely the bending power law and the simple power law. The bend frequency in the bending power law corresponds to a characteristic timescale. We were able to constrain a timescale for 11 out of 123 sources, with an average characteristic timescale x_b = 1300 days and an average power-law slope $β$ = 2.3. The results suggest that up to 42 years of observations may not always be enough for obtaining a characteristic timescale in the radio domain. This is likely caused by a combination of both slow variability as well as sampling induced effects. We also compared the obtained timescales to 43 GHz very long baseline interferometry images. The maximum length of time a knot was visible was often close to the obtained characteristic timescale. This suggests a connection between the characteristic timescale and the jet structure.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Active galactic nucleus time-variability analysis and its caveats

In this study, we demonstrate some of the caveats in common statistical methods used for analysing astronomical variability timescales. We consider these issues specifically in the context of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and use a more practical approach compared to mathematics literature, where the number of formulae may sometimes be overwhelming. We conducted a thorough literature review both on the statistical properties of light-curve data, specifically in the context of sampling effects, as well as on the methods used to analyse them. We simulated a wide range of data to test some of the known issues in AGN variability analysis as well as to investigate previously unknown or undocumented caveats. We discovered problems with some commonly used methods and confirmed how challenging it is to identify timescales from observed data. We find that interpolation of a light curve with biased sampling, specifically with bias towards flaring events, affects its measured power spectral density in a different manner than those of simulated light curves. We also find that an algorithm aiming to match the probability density function of a light curve has often been used incorrectly. These new issues appear to have been mostly overlooked and not necessarily addressed before, especially in astronomy literature.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

The power of relativistic jets: a comparative study

We present the results of a comparison between different methods to estimate the power of relativistic jets from active galactic nuclei (AGN). We selected a sample of 32 objects (21 flat-spectrum radio quasars, 7 BL Lacertae Objects, 2 misaligned AGN, and 2 changing-look AGN) from the Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) observations at 43 GHz of the Boston University blazar program. We then calculated the total, radiative, and kinetic jet power from both radio and high-energy gamma-ray observations, and compare the values. We found an excellent agreement between the radiative power calculated by using the Blandford and Königl model with 37 or 43 GHz data, and the values derived from the high-energy $γ-$ray luminosity. The agreement is still acceptable if 15 GHz data are used, although with a larger dispersion, but it improves if we use a constant fraction of the $γ-$ray luminosity. We found a good agreement also for the kinetic power calculated with Blandford and Königl model with 15 GHz data, and the value from the extended radio emission. We also propose some easy-to-use equations to estimate the jet power.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Almost fifty years of Metsähovi solar observations on 37 GHz with recovered digitised historical maps

Context. Aalto University Metsähovi Radio Observatory has collected solar intensity maps for over 45 years. Most data coverage is on the 37 GHz frequency band, tracking emissions primarily at the chromosphere and coronal transition region. The data spans four sunspot cycles or two solar magnetic cycles. Aims. We present solar maps, including recently restored data prior to 1989, spanning 1978 to 2020 after correcting for observational and temporal bias. Methods. The solar maps consist of radio intensity sampled along scanlines of the antenna sweep. We fit a circular disk to the set of intensity samples, neglecting any exceptional features in the fitting process to improve accuracy. Applying a simple astronomical model of Sun and Earth, we assign each radio specimen its heliographic coordinates at the time of observation. We bin the sample data by time and heliographic latitude to construct a diagram analoguous to the classic butterfly diagram of sunspot activity. Results. Radio butterfly diagram at 37 GHz, spanning solar cycles 21 to 24 and extending near to the poles. Conclusions. We have developed a method for compensating for seasonal and atmospheric bias in the radio data, as well as correcting for the effects of limb brightening and beamwidth convolution to isolate physical features. Our observations are consistent with observations in nearby bandwidths and indicate the possibility of polar cyclic behaviour with a period exceeding the solar 11 year cycle. Key words. Solar physics, radioastronomy, butterfly diagram, solar cycle

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

A Near Magnetic-to-kinetic Energy Equipartition Flare from the Relativistic Jet in AO 0235+164 during 2013-2019

We present the multiwavelength flaring activity of the blazar AO 0235+164 during its recent active period from 2013 to 2019. From a discrete correlation function (DCF) analysis, we find a significant (>95%) correlation between radio and $γ$-ray light curves with flares at longer wavelengths following flares at shorter wavelengths. We identify a new jet component in 43 GHz VLBA data that was ejected from the radio core on MJD $57246^{+26}_{-30}$ (2015 August 12), during the peak of the 2015 radio flare. From the analysis of the jet component, we derived a Doppler factor of $δ_{\rm var}=28.5\pm8.4$, a bulk Lorentz factor of $Γ=16.8^{+3.6}_{-3.1}$, and an intrinsic viewing angle of $θ_{\rm v}=1.42^{+1.07}_{-0.52}\textrm{ degrees}$. Investigation of the quasi-simultaneous radio data revealed a partially absorbed spectrum with the turnover frequency varying in the range of $10-70$ GHz and the peak flux density varying in the range of $0.7-4$ Jy. We find the synchrotron self-absorption magnetic field strength to be $B_{\rm SSA}=15.3^{+12.6}_{-14.0}$ mG at the peak of the 2015 radio flare, which is comparable to the equipartition magnetic field strength of $B_{\rm EQ}=43.6^{+10.6}_{-10.4}$ mG calculated for the same epoch. Additional analysis of the radio emission region in the relativistic jet of AO 0235+164 suggests that it did not significantly deviate from equipartition during its recent flaring activity.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

On the need of an ultramassive black hole in OJ 287

The highly variable blazar OJ~287 is commonly discussed as an example of a binary black hole system. The 130 year long optical light curve is well explained by a model where the central body is a massive black hole of 18.35$\times$10$^9$ solar mass that supports a thin accretion disc. The secondary black hole of 0.15$\times$10$^9$ solar mass impacts the disc twice during its 12 year orbit, and causes observable flares. Recently, it has been argued that an accretion disc with a typical AGN accretion rate and above mentioned central body mass should be at least six magnitudes brighter than OJ~287's host galaxy and would therefore be observationally excluded. Based on the observations of OJ~287's radio jet, detailed in Marscher and Jorstad (2011), and up-to-date accretion disc models of Azadi et al. (2022), we show that the V-band magnitude of the accretion disc is unlikely to exceed the host galaxy brightness by more than one magnitude, and could well be fainter than the host. This is because accretion power is necessary to launch the jet as well as to create electromagnetic radiation, distributed across many wavelengths, and not concentrated especially on the optical V-band. Further, we note that the claimed V-band concentration of accretion power leads to serious problems while interpreting observations of other Active Galactic Nuclei. Therefore, we infer that the mass of the primary black hole and its accretion rate do not need to be smaller than what is determined in the standard model for OJ~287.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Observational Implications of OJ 287's Predicted 2022 Disk Impact in the Black Hole Binary Model

We present a summary of the results of the OJ 287 observational campaign, which was carried out during the 2021/2022 observational season. This season is special in the binary model because the major axis of the precessing binary happens to lie almost exactly in the plane of the accretion disc of the primary. This leads to pairs of almost identical impacts between the secondary black hole and the accretion disk in 2005 and 2022. In 2005, a special flare called "blue flash" was observed 35 days after the disk impact, which should have also been verifiable in 2022. We did observe a similar flash and were able to obtain more details of its properties. We describe this in the framework of expanding cloud models. In addition, we were able to identify the flare arising exactly at the time of the disc crossing from its photo-polarimetric and gamma-ray properties. This is an important identification, as it directly confirms the orbit model. Moreover, we saw a huge flare that lasted only one day. We may understand this as the lighting up of the jet of the secondary black hole when its Roche lobe is suddenly flooded by the gas from the primary disk. Therefore, this may be the first time we directly observed the secondary black hole in the OJ 287 binary system.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Multi-wavelength temporal variability of the blazar PKS 1510-089

We perform correlation and periodicity search analyses on long-term multi-band light curves of the FSRQ 1510-089 observed by the space-based Fermi--Large Area Telescope in gamma-rays, the SMARTS and Steward Observatory telescopes in optical and near-infrared (NIR) and the 13.7 m radio telescope in Metsahovi Radio Observatory between 2008 and 2018. The z-transform discrete correlation function method is applied to study the correlation and possible time lags among these multi band light curves. Among all pairs of wavelengths, the gamma-ray vs. optical/NIR and optical vs. NIR correlations show zero time lags; however, both the gamma-ray and optical/NIR emissions precede the radio radiation. The Generalized Lomb-Scargle periodogram, Weighted Wavelet Z-transform, and REDFIT techniques are employed to investigate the unresolved-core-emission dominated 37 GHz light curve and yield evidence for a quasi-period around 1540 days, although given the length of the whole data set it cannot be claimed to be significant. We also investigate the optical/NIR color variability and find that this source shows a simple redder-when-brighter behavior over time, even in the low flux state.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

VERITAS discovery of very high energy gamma-ray emission from S3 1227+25 and multiwavelength observations

We report the detection of very high energy gamma-ray emission from the blazar S3 1227+25 (VER J1230+253) with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS). VERITAS observations of the source were triggered by the detection of a hard-spectrum GeV flare on May 15, 2015 with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT). A combined five-hour VERITAS exposure on May 16th and May 18th resulted in a strong 13$σ$ detection with a differential photon spectral index, $Γ$ = 3.8 $\pm$ 0.4, and a flux level at 9% of the Crab Nebula above 120 GeV. This also triggered target of opportunity observations with Swift, optical photometry, polarimetry and radio measurements, also presented in this work, in addition to the VERITAS and Fermi-LAT data. A temporal analysis of the gamma-ray flux during this period finds evidence of a shortest variability timescale of $τ_{obs}$ = 6.2 $\pm$ 0.9 hours, indicating emission from compact regions within the jet, and the combined gamma-ray spectrum shows no strong evidence of a spectral cut-off. An investigation into correlations between the multiwavelength observations found evidence of optical and gamma-ray correlations, suggesting a single-zone model of emission. Finally, the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution is well described by a simple one-zone leptonic synchrotron self-Compton radiation model.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Refining the 2022 OJ 287 impact flare arrival epoch

The bright blazar OJ~287 routinely parades high brightness bremsstrahlung flares, which are explained as being a result of a secondary supermassive black hole (SMBH) impacting the accretion disc of a more massive primary SMBH in a binary system. The accretion disc is not rigid but rather bends in a calculable way due to the tidal influence of the secondary. Below we refer to this phenomenon as a variable disc level. We begin by showing that these flares occur at times predicted by a simple analytical formula, based on general relativity inspired modified Kepler equation, which explains impact flares since 1888. The 2022 impact flare, namely flare number 26, is rather peculiar as it breaks the typical pattern of two impact flares per 12-year cycle. This is the third bremsstrahlung flare of the current cycle that follows the already observed 2015 and 2019 impact flares from OJ~287. It turns out that the arrival epoch of flare number 26 is sensitive to the level of primary SMBH's accretion disc relative to its mean level in our model. We incorporate these tidally induced changes in the level of the accretion disc to infer that the thermal flare should have occurred during July-August 2022, when it was not possible to observe it from the Earth. Thereafter, we explore possible observational evidence for certain pre-flare activity by employing spectral and polarimetric data from our campaigns in 2004/05 and 2021/22. We point out theoretical and observational implications of two observed mini-flares during January-February 2022.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Interactions between the jet and disk wind in a nearby radio intermediate quasar III Zw 2

Disk winds and jets are ubiquitous in active galactic nuclei (AGN), and how these two components interact remains an open question. We study the radio properties of a radio-intermediate quasar III Zw 2. We detect two jet knots J1 and J2 on parsec scales, which move at a mildly apparent superluminal speed of $1.35\,c$. Two $γ$-ray flares were detected in III Zw 2 in 2009--2010, corresponding to the primary radio flare in late 2009 and the secondary radio flare in early 2010. The primary 2009 flare was found to be associated with the ejection of J2. The secondary 2010 flare occurred at a distance of $\sim$0.3 parsec from the central engine, probably resulting from the collision of the jet with the accretion disk wind. The variability characteristics of III Zw 2 (periodic radio flares, unstable periodicity, multiple quasi-periodic signals and possible harmonic relations between them) can be explained by the global instabilities of the accretion disk. These instabilities originating from the outer part of the warped disk propagate inwards and can lead to modulation of the accretion rate and consequent jet ejection. At the same time, the wobbling of the outer disk may also lead to oscillations of the boundary between the disk wind and the jet tunnel, resulting in changes in the jet-wind collision site. III Zw 2 is one of the few cases observed with jet-wind interactions, and the study in this paper is of general interest for gaining insight into the dynamic processes in the nuclear regions of AGN.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

A New Sample of Gamma-Ray Emitting Jetted Active Galactic Nuclei

We considered the fourth catalog of gamma-ray point sources produced by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and selected only jetted active galactic nuclei (AGN) or sources with no specific classification, but with a low-frequency counterpart. Our final list is composed of 2980 gamma-ray point sources. We then searched for optical spectra in all the available literature and publicly available databases, to measure redshifts and to confirm or change the original LAT classification. Our final list of gamma-ray emitting jetted AGN is composed of BL Lac Objects (40%), flat-spectrum radio quasars (23%), misaligned AGN (2.8%), narrow-line Seyfert 1, Seyfert, and low-ionization nuclear emission-line region galaxies (1.9%). We also found a significant number of objects changing from one type to another, and vice versa (changing-look AGN, 1.1%). About 30% of gamma-ray sources still have an ambiguous classification or lack one altogether.

astro-ph.HE↗