Engineering topics

Sadun, A. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Sadun, A. C..

6 records

DOE OSTI2025

VERITAS and Multiwavelength Observations of the Blazar B3 2247+381 in Response to an IceCube Neutrino Alert

While the sources of the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory are still largely unknown, one of the promising methods to improve our understanding of them is investigating the potential temporal and spatial correlations between neutrino alerts and the electromagnetic radiation from blazars. We report on the multiwavelength target-of-opportunity observations of the blazar B3 2247+381, taken in response to an IceCube multiplet alert for a cluster of muon neutrino events compatible with the source location between 2022 May 20 and 2022 November 10. B3 2247+381 was not detected with VERITAS during this time period. The source was found to be in a low-flux state in the optical, ultraviolet, and gamma-ray bands for the time interval corresponding to the neutrino event, but was detected in the hard X-ray band with NuSTAR during this period. We find the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution is described well using a simple one-zone leptonic synchrotron self-Compton radiation model. Moreover, assuming the neutrinos originate from hadronic processes within the jet, the neutrino flux would be accompanied by a photon flux from the cascade emission, and the integrated photon flux required in such a case would significantly exceed the total multiwavelength fluxes and the VERITAS upper limits presented here. The lack of flaring activity observed with VERITAS, combined with the low multiwavelength flux levels, as well as the significance of the neutrino excess being at a 3σ level (uncorrected for trials), makes B3 2247+381 an unlikely source of the IceCube multiplet. We conclude that the neutrino excess is likely a background fluctuation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2000

Optical Variability of BL Lacertae During the Major Outburst of 1997

We have undertaken an investigation of recent flux variability in BL Lac. We present optical observations taken over 22 nights documenting major as well as minor outbursts. This has been combined, for purposes of multifrequency analysis, with published X-ray and T-ray data taken for an additional single night, On two nights in particular, including the night of the X-ray observations, a major outburst of about a full magnitude of variation was recorded. All the data have been analyzed with theoretical models. Attempts were made to use synchrotron self-Compton and external Comptonization models to explain the data; however, both classes of models were found lacking. More satisfactory results were obtained using an analytical model proposed by Wang et al. that involves the evolution of synchrotron spectra in a homogeneous jet due to the injection of relativistic electrons, taking into account radiation losses during the outbursts. It is hoped that the results of this study of BL Lac, an archetype for the class of blazars in general, represent a more generic phenomenon applicable to the entire class.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Optical Variability of Blazars

In this paper we show the results of our monitoring the flux variability of 15 blazars, within the redshift range of 0.07 - 2.06, all with a visual magnitude range between 14 and 20 mag. Because blazars have displayed variability on diverse timescales, we have chosen to study them over both short and long timescales, ranging from minutes to years. These blazars were observed on 58 nights between 1995 March and 1998 June. Individual sources are discussed in detail. For example, one of our sources, Mrk 501, showed microvariability of as much as 0.13 mag change within 12 minutes. The usual parameters for size, mass, and luminosity are calculated. Relativistic beaming is implied by the data. We also searched for correlations between amplitude of variability, redshift, and luminosity. We found few, if any, such correlations. Discussion and conclusions are given for these and other results as implied by the data.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Optical Variability of Blazars

In this paper we show the results of our monitoring the flux variability of 15 blazars, within the redshift range of 0.07 to 2.06, all with a visual magnitude range between 14 and 20 mag. Because blazars have displayed variability on diverse timescales, we have chosen to study them over both short and long timescales, ranging from minutes to years. These blazars were observed on 58 nights between March 1995 and June 1998. Individual sources are discussed in detail. For example, one of our sources, Mkn5Ol showed microvariability of as much as 0.13 mag change within 12 minutes. The usual parameters for size, mass, and luminosity are calculated. Relativistic beaming is implied by the data. We also searched for correlations between amplitude of variability, redshift, and luminosity. We found few if any such correlations. Discussion and conclusions are given for these and other results as implied by the data.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Optical Variability of BL Lacertae During the Major Outburst of 1997

We have undertaken an investigation of recent flux variability in BL Lac. We present optical observations taken over 12 nights documenting major as well as minor outbursts. This has been combined, for purposes of multifrequency analysis, with published X-ray and gamma ray data taken for an additional single night. On two nights in particular, which includes the night of the X-ray observations, a major outburst of about a full magnitude of variation was recorded. All the data have been analyzed with theoretical models. Attempts were made to use synchrotron self-Compton and external Comptonization models to explain the data; however both classes of models were found lacking. More satisfactory results were obtained using an analytical model proposed by Wang et al. that involves the evolution of synchrotron spectra in a homogeneous jet due to the injection of relativistic electrons, taking into account radiation losses during the outbursts. It is hoped that the results of this study of BL Lac, an archetype for the class of blazars in general, represent a more generic phenomenon applicable to the entire class.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Relativistic dynamics of expanding sources

Given a relativistically expanding source, the transformation of the emission spectrum from the comoving frame of the source to the observer's frame is calculated. In particular, two special cases are dealt with, that of a uniformly expanding sphere and that of a cylinder. In each case a power-law spectrum with two distinct regions - the optically thick and thin parts - is considered, and those regions are transformed separately. The results are discussed, and a generalized procedure for transforming a spectrum of unspecified form is outlined. This procedure takes into account any bulk motion by the source as well as expansion. Finally, applications of this procedure to astrophysical sources are briefly discussed.

Sadun, A. C.↗