Day-Scale Variability of 3C 279 and Searches for Correlations in Gamma-Ray, X-Ray, and Optical Bands

R. C. Hartman, M. Villata, T. J. Balonek, D. L. Bertsch, H. Bock, M. Böttcher, M. T. Carini, W. Collmar, G. De Francesco, E. C. Ferrara, J. Heidt, G. Kanbach, S. Katajainen, M. Koskimies, O. M. Kurtanidze, L. Lanteri, A. Lawson, Y. C. Lin, A. P. Marscher, J. P. McFarlandI. M. McHardy, H. R. Miller, M. Nikolashvili, K. Nilsson, J. C. Noble, G. Nucciarelli, L. Ostorero, T. Pursimo, C. M. Raiteri, R. Rekola, T. Savolainen, A. Sillanpää, A. Smale, G. Sobrito, L. O. Takalo, D. J. Thompson, G. Tosti, S. J. Wagner, J. W. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Light curves of 3C 279 are presented in optical (R band), X-rays (RXTE/PCA), and γ rays (CGRO/EGRET) for 1999 January-February and 2000 January-March. During both of those epochs the γ-ray levels were high and all three observed bands demonstrated substantial variation, on timescales as short as 1 day. Correlation analyses provided no consistent pattern, although a rather significant optical/γ-ray correlation was seen in 1999, with a γ-ray lag of ~2.5 days, and there are other suggestions of correlations in the light curves. For comparison, correlation analysis is also presented for the γ-ray and X-ray light curves during the large γ ray flare in 1996 February and the two γ-bright weeks leading up to it; the correlation at that time was strong, with a γ-ray/X-ray offset of no more than 1 day.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)583-589
JournalThe Astrophysical Journal
Volume558
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Gamma Rays: Observations
  • Galaxies: Quasars: Individual: Alphanumeric: 3C 279

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