arXiv subjects

Sunil Chandra

Publications and source records attributed to Sunil Chandra.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Multi-wavelength study of flaring activity in BL Lac object S5 0716+714 during 2015 outburst

We present a detailed investigation of the flaring activity observed from a BL Lac object, S5 0716+714 , during its brightest ever optical state in the second half of January 2015. Observed almost simultaneously in the optical, X-rays and γ-rays, a significant change in the degree of optical polarization (PD) and a swing in the position angle (PA) of polarization were recorded. A detection in the TeV (VHE) was also reported by the MAGIC consortium during this flaring episode. Two prominent sub-flares, peaking about 5-days apart, were seen in almost all the energy bands. The multi-wavelength light-curves, spectral energy distribution (SED) and polarization are modeled using the time-dependent code developed by Zhang et al. (2014). This model assumes a straight jet threaded by large scale helical magnetic fields taking into account the light travel time effects, incorporating synchrotron flux and polarization in 3D geometry. The rapid variation in PD and rotation in PA are most likely due to re-connections happening in the emission region in the jet, as suggested by the change in the ratio of toroidal to poloidal components of magnetic field during quiescent and flaring states.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Understanding the nature of the blazar CGRaBS~J0211$+$1051

The source CGRaBS~J0211$+$1051 (MG1 J021114+1051, z=0.20) flared up on 2011 January 23 in high-energy $γ$-rays as reported by {\it Fermi}/LAT. This event was followed by the increased activity at the UV, optical and radio frequencies as detected by the observing facilities worldwide. The source also showed a high and variable optical polarization based on which it was proposed to be a low-energy peaked BL Lac Object (LBL). Present work reports first comprehensive multi-wavelength study of this source using data in the radio, optical, UV, X- and $γ$-rays and optical polarization. Using these multi-wavelength data on the source, we have estimated various parameters and verified it's classification vis-a-vis blazar sequence. Multi-waveband light-curves are used to discuss flaring events of 2011 January in an attempt to address the nature of the source and pinpoint the possible physical processes responsible for the emission. The light-curves show variations in the high energy $γ$-rays to be correlated with X-ray, UV and optical variations, perhaps indicating to their co-spatial origin. Our optical data, quasi-simultaneous with UV (Swift-UVOT) and X-ray (Swift-XRT) data, enabled us to trace low energy (Synchrotron) component of the spectral energy distribution (SED) for CGRaBS J0211+1051, for the first time. The SED shows the synchrotron peak to lie at $\sim 1.35\times10^{14}$~Hz, confirming CGRaBS~J0211+1051 to be an LBL. Some other parameters, such as local magnetic field ($\sim 5.93 $ Gauss) and black hole mass ($\sim 2.4 \times 10^{8} M_{\odot}$) are also estimated which are in agreement with their typical values for the blazars. Based on the present study, identification of the Fermi/LAT source, 2FGL J0211.2+1050, with its BL Lac counterpart CGRaBS J0211+1051 is confirmed.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Optical polarimetry of the blazar CGRaBS~ J0211+1051 from MIRO

We report the detection of high polarization in the first detailed optical linear polarization measurements on the BL Lac object CGRaBS J0211+1051, which flared in $γ$-rays on 2011 January 23 as reported by Fermi. The observations were made during 2011 January 30 - February 3 using photo-polarimeter mounted at the 1.2m telescope of Mt Abu InfraRed Observatory(MIRO). The CGRaBS J0211+1051 was detected to have $\sim21.05\pm 0.41%$ degree of polarization (DP) with steady position angle (PA) at 43$^\circ$ on 2011 January 30. During Jan 31 and Feb 1, while polarization shows some variation, position angle remains steady for the night. Several olarization flashes occurred during February 2 and 3 resulting in changes in the DP by more than 4% at short time scales ($\sim$ 17 to 45 mins). A mild increase in the linear polarization with frequency is noticed during the nights of February 2 & 3. The source exhibited significant inter-night variations in the degree of polarization (changed by about 2 to 9%) and position angle (changed by 2 to 22$^\circ$) during the five nights of observations. The intra-night activity shown by the source appears to be related to turbulence in the relativistic jet. Sudden change in the PA accompanied by a rise in the DP could be indicative of the fresh injection of electrons in the jet. The detection of high and variable degree of polarization categorizes the source as low energy peaked blazar.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Rapid optical variability in blazar S5 0716+71 during 2010 March

We report rapid optical variability for the blazar S5 0716+71 during 2010 March 08-10 & 19-20 in the CCD observations made from Mt.Abu Infrared Observatory. The light curves are constructed for the duration longer than 3-hours each night, with very high temporal resolution(~ 45 seconds in R-band). During 2010 March 08 source smoothly decayed by about 0.15 mag in 2.88 hours, apart from a fast flicker lasting about 30 mins. S5 0716+71 brightened up during March 09 and 10 showing high activity while it was relatively faint (> 14 mag in R) albeit variable during March 19-20. During March 9 & 10, rapid flickers in the intensity modulate the long term intra-night (~ 3 hours) variation. The present observations suggest that the blazar S5 0716+71 showed night-to-night and intra-night variability at various time scales with 100% duty cycle for variation along with microvariability at significant levels. On night-to-night basis, the source exhibits mild bluer when brighter nature. The interaction of shocks with local inhomogeneities in the jet appears to cause intra-night variations while microvariations could be due to small scale perturbations intrinsic to the jet.

astro-ph.HE↗