arXiv subjects

R. Nesci

Publications and source records attributed to R. Nesci.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Optical variability of the strong-lined and X-ray bright source 1WGA J0447.9-0322

We present the historic light curve of 1WGA J0447.9-0322, spanning the time interval from 1962 to 1991, built using the Asiago archive plates. The source shows small fluctuations of about 0.3 mag around B=16 until 1986 and a fast dimming of its average level by about 0.5 mag after that date, again with small short term variations. The variability pattern is within the values shown by other QSOs with long term monitoring, notwithstanding its high X-ray/optical ratio. We present also its overall SED using literature data and recent UV-optical SWIFT observations.

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arXiv2006

SWIFT observations of TeV BL Lac objects

Context: We present the results of a set of observations of nine TeV detected BL Lac objects performed by the XRT and UVOT detectors on board the Swift satellite between March and December 2005. Aims: We are mainly interested in measuring the spectral parameters, and particularly the intrinsic curvature in the X-ray band. Methods: We perform X-ray spectral analysis of observed BL Lac TeV objects using either a log-parabolic or a simple power-law model . Results: We found that many of the objects in our sample do show significant spectral curvature, whereas those having the peak of the spectral energies distribution at energies lower than ~0.1 keV show power law spectra. In these cases, however, the statistics are generally low thus preventing a good estimate of the curvature. Simultaneous UVOT observations are important to verify how X-ray spectra can be extrapolated at lower frequencies and to search for multiple emission components. Conclusions: The results of our analysis are useful for the study of possible signatures of statistical acceleration processes predicting intrinsically curved spectra and for modelling the SED of BL Lacertae objects up to TeV energies where a corresponding curvature is likely to be present.

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arXiv2006

Swift XRT and UVOT deep observations of the high energy peaked BL Lac object PKS 0548-322 close to its brightest state

We present the results of a spectral analysis of 5 Swift XRT and UVOT observations of the BL Lac object PKS 0548-322 carried out over the period April-June 2005. The X-ray flux of this high energy peaked BL Lac (HBL) source was found to be approximately constant at a level of F(2-10 keV) ~ 4x10^-11 erg cm^-2 s^-1, a factor of 2 brighter than when observed by BeppoSAX in 1999 and close to the maximum intensity reported in the Einstein Slew Survey. The very good statistics obtained in the 0.3-10 keV Swift X-ray spectrum allowed us to detect highly significant deviations from a simple power law spectral distribution. A log-parabolic model describes well the X-ray data and gives a best fit curvature parameter of 0.18 and peak energy in the Spectral Energy Distribution of about 2 keV. The UV spectral data from Swift UVOT join well with a power law extrapolation of the soft X-ray data points suggesting that the same component is responsible for the observed emission in the two bands. The combination of synchrotron peak in the X-ray band and high intensity state confirms PKS 0548-322 as a prime target for TeV observations. X-ray monitoring and coordinated TeV campaigns are highly advisable.

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arXiv2005

The Intra-Night Optical Variability of the bright BL Lac object S5 0716+714

We address the topic of the Intra-Night Optical Variability of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714. To this purpose a long term observational campaign was performed, from 1996 to 2003, which allowed the collection of a very large data set, containing 10,675 photometric measurements obtained in 102 nights. The source brightness varied in a range of about 2 mag, although the majority of observations were performed when it was in the range 13.0 < R < 13.75. Variability time scales were estimated from the rates of magnitude variation, which were found to have a distribution function well fitted by an exponential law with a mean value of 0.027 mag/h, corresponding to an e-folding time scale of the flux tau_F = 37.6 h. The highest rates of magnitude variation were around 0.10--0.12 mag/h and lasted less than 2 h. These rates were observed only when the source had an R magnitude < 13.4, but this finding cannot be considered significant because of the low statistical occurrence. The distribution of tau_F has a well defined modal value at 19 h. Assuming the recent estimate of the beaming factor delta about 20, we derived a typical size of the emitting region of about 5 times 10^{16}/(1 + z) cm. The possibility to search for a possible correlation between the mean magnitude variation rate and the long term changes of the velocity of superluminal components in the jet is discussed.

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arXiv2005

The Long Term Optical Variability of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714: Evidence for a Precessing Jet

We present the historic light curve of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714, spanning the time interval from 1953 to 2003, built using Asiago archive plates and our recent CCD observations, together with literature data. The source shows an evident long term variability, over which well known short term variations are superposed. In particular, in the period from 1961 to 1983 the mean brightness of S5 0716+714 remained significantly fainter than that observed after 1994. Assuming a constant variation rate of the mean magnitude we can estimate a value of about 0.11 magnitude/year. The simultaneous occurrence of decreasing ejection velocities of superluminal moving components in the jet reported by Bach et al. (2005) suggests that both phenomena are related to the change of the direction of the jet to the line of sight from about 5 to 0.7 degrees for an approximately constant bulk Lorentz factor of about 12. A simple explanation is that of a precessing relativistic jet, which should presently be close to the smallest orientation angle. One can therefore expect in the next ten years a decrease of the mean brightness of about 1 magnitude.

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arXiv2005

Optical follow-up of BL Lac candidates in the 2BL sample

We investigate the nature of the BL Lac candidates in the northern part of the 2BL sample (\cite{Londish02}) searching for optical variability by means of $R_C$ band photometry with the Asiago 1.8 and Loiano 1.5 meter telescopes during years 2002, 2003 and 2004. We also made aperture photometry of the candidates on the plates available on the web from the Palomar and UK Schmidt telescopes. No significant variability was detected for the majority of the objects without detected radio and/or X-ray emissions, while clear variability was found for the few sources of the sample with strong radio and/or X-ray emission, which is a constant feature of the "classical" BL Lacs. Some considerations on the nature of the 2BL sources are made, taking into account their most recent data available in proper motions catalogues (SuperCOSMOS, USNO-B1) and in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

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arXiv2004

EVN Observations of the BL Lac object ON 231

New EVN images at 5.0 GHz and 8.4 GHz of ON 231 confirm the complex structure of the source, the identification of the core, the presence of components on the two sides of the core itself and a low brightness extension South-East of the main jet. The optical behaviour of the source is discussed in connection to changes in the radio structure.

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arXiv2004

Log-parabolic spectra and particle acceleration in blazars - II: The BeppoSAX wide band X-ray spectra of Mkn 501

We present the results of a spectral and temporal study of the complete set of BeppoSAX NFI (11) and WFC (71) observations of the BL Lac object Mkn 501. The WFC 2-28 keV data, reported here for the first time, were collected over a period of about five years, from September 1996 to October 2001. These observations, although not evenly distributed, show that Mkn 501, after going through a very active phase from spring 1997 to early 1999, remained in a low brightness state until late 2001. The data from the LECS, MECS and PDS instruments, covering the wide energy interval 0.1-150 keV, have been used to study in detail the spectral variability of the source. We show that the X-ray energy distribution of Mkn 501 is well described by a log-parabolic law in all luminosity states. This model allowed us to obtain good estimates of the SED synchrotron peak energy and of its associated power. The strong spectral variability observed, consisting of strictly correlated changes between the synchrotron peak energy and bolometric flux, suggests that the main physical changes are not only due to variations of the maximum Lorentz factor of the emitting particles but that other quantities must be varying as well. During the 1997 flare the high energy part of the spectrum of Mkn 501 shows evidence of an excess above the best fit log-parabolic law suggesting the existence of a second emission component that may be responsible for most of the observed variability.

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arXiv2003

Log-parabolic spectra and particle acceleration in the BL Lac object Mkn 421: spectral analysis of the complete BeppoSAX wide band X-ray data set

We report the results of a new analysis of 13 wide band BeppoSAX observations of the BL Lac object Mkn 421. The data from LECS, MECS and PDS, covering an energy interval from 0.1 to over 100 keV, have been used to study the spectral variability of this source. We show that the energy distributions in different luminosity states can be fitted very well by a log-parabolic law F(E)=K*(E/E_1)^(-(a+b*Log(E/E_1))), which provides good estimates of the energy and flux of the synchrotron peak in the SED. In the first four short observations of 1997 Mkn 421 was characterized by a very stable spectral shape, with average values a=2.25 and b=0.45. In the observations of 1998 smaller values for both parameters, a~2.07 and b~0.34, were found and the peak energy in the SED was in the range 0.5-0.8 keV. Also in the observations of May 1999 and April-May 2000 the log-parabolic model gave a satisfactory description of the overall SED of Mkn 421. In particular, in the observations of spring 2000 the source was brighter than the other observations and showed a large change of the spectral curvature. Spectral parameters estimates gave a~1.8 and b~0.19 and the energy of the maximum in the SED moved to the range 1-5.5 keV. We give a possible interpretation of the log-parabolic spectral model in terms of particle acceleration mechanisms. An energy distribution of emitting particles with curvature close to the one observed can be explained by a simple model for statistical acceleration with the assumption that the probability for a particle to increase its energy is a decreasing function of the energy itself. A consequence of this mechanism is the existence of a linear relation between the spectral parameters a and b, well confirmed by the estimated values of these two parameters for Mkn421.(Abridged)

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arXiv2003

Wide band X-ray and optical observations of the BL Lac object 1ES 1959+650 in high state

The blazar 1ES 1959+650 was observed twice by BeppoSAX in September 2001 simultaneously with optical observations. We report here the X-ray data together with the optical, R_C magnitude, light curve since August 1995. The BeppoSAX observations were triggered by an active X-ray status of the source. The X-ray spectra are brighter than the previously published X-ray observations, although the source was in an even higher state a few months later, as monitored by the ASM onboard RossiXTE, when it was also detected to flare in the TeV band. Our X-ray spectra are well represented by a continuosly curved model up to 45 keV and are interpreted as synchrotron emission, with the peak moving to higher energies. This is also confirmed by the slope of the X-ray spectrum which is harder than in previous observations. Based on our optical and X-ray data, the synchrotron peak turns out to be in the range 0.1-0.7 keV. We compare our data with non simultaneous radio to TeV data and model the spectral energy distribution with a homogeneous, one-zone synchrotron inverse Compton model. We derive physical parameters that are typical of low power High Energy peaked Blazar, characterised by a relatively large beaming factor, low luminosity and absence of external seed photons.

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arXiv2003

Optical and radio behaviour of the BL Lacertae object 0716+714

Eight optical and four radio observatories have been intensively monitoring the BL Lac object 0716+714 in the last years: 4854 data points have been collected in the UBVRI bands since 1994, while radio light curves extend back to 1978. Many of these data are presented here for the first time. The long-term trend shown by the optical light curves seems to vary with a characteristic time scale of about 3.3 years, while a longer period of 5.5-6 years seems to characterize the radio long-term variations. In general, optical colour indices are only weakly correlated with brightness. The radio flux behaviour at different frequencies is similar, but the flux variation amplitude decreases with increasing wavelength. The radio spectral index varies with brightness (harder when brighter), but the radio fluxes seem to be the sum of two different-spectrum contributions: a steady base level and a harder-spectrum variable component. Once the base level is removed, the radio variations appear as essentially achromatic, similarly to the optical behaviour. Flux variations at the higher radio frequencies lead the lower-frequency ones with week-month time scales. The behaviour of the optical and radio light curves is quite different, the broad radio outbursts not corresponding in time to the faster optical ones and the cross-correlation analysis indicating only weak correlation with long time lags. However, minor radio flux enhancements simultaneous with the major optical flares can be recognized, which may imply that the mechanism producing the strong flux increases in the optical band also marginally affects the radio one.

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arXiv2003

The BL Lac objects OQ 530 and S5 0716+714. Simultaneous observations in the X-rays, radio, optical and TeV bands

We present the results of the BeppoSAX observations of two BL Lacs, OQ 530 and S5 0716+714, as part of a ToO program for the simultaneous observation at radio, optical, X-ray and TeV energies. Both sources are detected in the LECS and MECS, with S5 0716+714 visible also in the PDS band, up to about 60 keV. The X-ray spectra of both sources are better fitted by a double power-law model, with a steep soft X-ray component flattening at harder energies, with breaks at 0.3 and 1.5 keV, respectively. The concave shape of the spectra in both objects is consistent with soft X-rays being produced by the synchrotron and harder X-rays by the inverse Compton processes. Also the X-ray variability properties confirm this scenario, in particular for S5 0716+714 our observation shows variations by about a factor 3 over one hour below 3 keV and no variability above. Their simultaneous broad band energy spectral distributions can be successfully interpreted within the frame of a homogeneous synchrotron and inverse Compton model, including a possible contribution from an external source of seed photons with the different spectral states of S5 0716+714 being reproduced by changing the injected power. The resulting parameters are fully consistent with the two sources being intermediate objects within the "sequence" scenario proposed for blazars.

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arXiv2002

Optical and Radio monitoring of S5 1803+74

The optical (BVRI) and radio (8.4 GHz) light curves of S5 1803+784 on a time span of nearly 6 years are presented and discussed. The optical light curve showed an overall variation greater than 3 mag, and the largest changes occured in three strong flares. No periodicity was found in the light curve on time scales up to a year. The variability in the radio band is very different, and shows moderate oscillations around an average constant flux density rather than relevant flares, with a maximum amplitude of $\sim$30%, without a simultaneous correspondence between optical and radio luminosity. The optical spectral energy distribution was always well fitted by a power law. The spectral index shows small variations and there is indication of a positive correlation with the source luminosity. Possible explanations of the source behaviour are discussed in the framework of current models.

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arXiv2002

BL Lacertae: complex spectral variability and rapid synchrotron flare detected with BeppoSAX

We report on two BeppoSAX observations of BL Lac (2200+420) performed respectively in June and December 1999, as part of a ToO program to monitor blazars in high states of activity. During both runs the source has been detected up to 100 keV, but it showed quite different spectra: in June it was concave with a very hard component above 5-6 keV (alpha_1 ~ 1.6; alpha_2 ~ 0.15); in December it was well fitted by a single power law (alpha ~ 0.6). During the first BeppoSAX observation BL Lac showed an astonishing variability episode: the 0.3 - 2 keV flux doubled in ~ 20 minutes, while the flux above 4 keV was almost constant. This frequency-dependent event is one of the shortest ever recordered for BL Lac objects and places lower limits on the dimension and the magnetic field of the emitting region and on the energy of the synchrotron radiating electrons. A similar but less extreme behaviour is detected also in optical light curves, that display non-simultaneous, smaller fluctuations of ~ 20% in 20 min. We fit the spectral energy distributions with a homogeneous, one-zone model to constrain the emission region in a very simple but effective SSC + external Compton scenario, highlightning the importance of the location of the emitting region with respect to the Broad Line Region and the relative spectral shape dependence. We compare our data with historical radio to gamma-ray Spectral Energy Distributions.

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arXiv2001

Optical and radio variability of the BL Lac object AO 0235+16: a possible 5-6 year periodicity

New optical and radio data on the BL Lacertae object AO 0235+16 have been collected in the last four years by a wide international collaboration, which confirm the intense activity of this source. The optical data also include the results of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) first-light campaign organized in November 1997. The optical spectrum is observed to basically steepen when the source gets fainter. We have investigated the existence of typical variability time scales and of possible correlations between the optical and radio emissions by means of visual inspection, Discrete Correlation Function analysis, and Discrete Fourier Transform technique. The major radio outbursts are found to repeat quasi-regularly with a periodicity of about 5.7 years; this period is also in agreement with the occurrence of some of the major optical outbursts, but not all of them.

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arXiv2001

Two-sided radio emission in ON231 (W Comae)

Recent radio images of the BL Lac object ON231 (W Com, 1219+285) show remarkable new features in the source structure compared to those previously published. The images were obtained from observations made with the European VLBI Network plus MERLIN at 1.6 GHz and 5 GHz after the exceptional optical outburst occurred in Spring 1998. The up-to-date B band historic light curve of ON231 is also presented together with the R band luminosity evolution in the period 1994--1999. We identify the source core in the radio images with the brightest component having the flattest spectrum. A consequence of this assumption is the existence of a two--sided emission in ON231 not detected in previous VLBI images. A further new feature is a large bend in the jet at about 10 mas from the core. The emission extends for about 20 mas after the bend, which might be due to strong interaction with the environment surrounding the nucleus. We suggest some possible interpretations to relate the changes in the source structure with the optical and radio flux density variation in the frame of the unification model.

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arXiv2000

Variability Modes of Blazars from Intensive Optical Monitoring

We report the main results of our six year long intensive optical monitoring on blazars ON 231 (W Com), BL Lac, and 3C 273. Intensive optical monitoring is an indispensable tool to obtain well sampled light curves and thus to understand the correlation with the variability in other bands and to discriminate among the proposed emission models. The curves based on our work show different variability modes: intermittent mode, quasi-regular mode and mixed mode. It is not clear if different variability modes can be present, at various times, in the life of an object suggesting that their occurrence can be related to the evolution of blazars. An optimized and nearly continuous optical monitoring is the only way to know the activity status of the sources and to retrieve useful information on their physical dynamics. Also, the rapid availability of information about the luminosity of a source is very important to trigger space based observations and to activate large multifrequency collaborations. We stress that a significant sample of blazars can be observed with small size telescopes (0.35-0.80 cm) equipped with CCD cameras. A world-wide network of several instruments in different countries, is very useful to increase the time coverage and to reduce the number of nights lost for bad meteorological conditions.

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arXiv2000

Two BeppoSAX observations of BL Lac

We present the results of two ToO BeppoSAX observations of BL Lac. During the first observation we detected both the synchrotron and the Compton components. Fast time variability was present, but only for the synchrotron component. During the second observation the spectrum was flatter and only the Compton component was present. Four different SED are presented and can be described by a blob moving along a jet and responsible for the SSC emission. The seed photons for the Compton scattering are the synchrotron photons themself plus possibly external photons coming from the broad line region.

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