Multiwavelength Monitoring of TeV Blazars

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Multiwavelength Monitoring of TeV Blazars

• Andy Smith
• Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
• (Whipple 10m Telescope)

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X-Ray
Gamma Ray
Whipple 10m
RXTE All Sky Monitor
350 GeV -gt 10 TeV
2-gt10keV
IR
I
OPTICAL
PAIRITEL
FLWO 48in
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Catalog of TeV AGN c. 2005
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Wondering Why?

• Previous MW campaigns show strong correlation
  between emission variability across bands
• Understanding HE emission from AGN requires
  understanding of jet ejection events- need MW
  data to trace evolution and constrain models with
  improved SED
• Previous campaigns have been limited by time-
  current Whipple campaign is longest HE monitoring
  campaign to date- also utilizes instruments with
  close proximity

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AGN Jet Emission Mechanisms

• Electron Progenitors
• Synchrotron Self Compton
• External Compton
• Proton Progenitors
• Proton Cascades
• Proton Synchrotron

Electron Synchrotron Self Compton Models most
consistent with TeV AGN-but observations are
complex and require more sophisticated modeling
of jets. Need MW data to model accretion/ejection
phenomena.
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MRK421 SED from previous MW
SYNCHROTRON
COMPTON
COMPTON
Similar double peaked Power Spectra seen in other
AGN
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MRK 421 PAIRITEL DATA

• Bright stars in FOV and galaxy nearby to target
  make analysis of thermal band data tricky......
• Performed night to night photometry in J,H,K
  bands for 34 nights (Dec-gt May)
• FOV issues only allowed use of 7 comparison
  stars (statistics issues?)

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PRELIMINARY Courtesy of D. Horan
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Courtesy of ASM/RXTE team
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Results

• Similar trend in variability seen in all H, J, K
  bands. Inconclusive as to whether this
  variability is linked to HE flaring events.
• Need further IR (analyzed optical data) in
  between and during flares to determine
  correlation between low energy emission and
  flaring events.

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To Be Continued....

• Will continue to monitor blazars with Whipple and
  FLWO 48in next season, as well as RXTE (ToO with
  SWIFT), hopefully PAIRITEL also?
• Upcoming VERITAS array will join in next spring
  (100 GeV -gt 50TeV)