The blazar Mrk 421 (redshift 𝑧 = 0.031) is one of the brightest and closest BL Lac type objects, making it an ideal target to probe blazar physics. We report on an extensive multi-wavelength observing campaign in 2017, during which the intra-band correlation patterns show some disparity and complex behaviours. Observations from several instruments are used to achieve an optimal temporal coverage from radio to TeV energies. In particular, four multi-hour NuSTAR observations organised simultaneously with MAGIC allow to obtain a precise measurement of the falling segments of the two spectral components. A detailed investigation of the very-high-energy (VHE; > 100 GeV) versus X-ray flux correlation is performed, by binning the data into several sub-energy bands. A positively correlated variability is observed, but the correlation characteristics change substantially across the various bands probed. Furthermore, during the simultaneous MAGIC and NuSTAR observations a clear change of the Compton dominance is detected without a simultaneous change in the synchrotron regime, indicating "orphan gamma-ray activity". We also investigate an intriguing bright flare at VHE without a substantial flux increase in the X-rays. Within a leptonic scenario, this behaviour is best explained by the appearance of a second population of highly-energetic electrons spanning a narrow range of energies. Finally, our multi-wavelength correlation study also reveals an anti-correlation between the UV/optical and X-ray bands at a significance level above 3𝜎.
Unveiling the complex correlation patterns in Mrk 421
Longo, Francesco;Prada Moroni, Pier Giorgio;Ventura, Sofia;
2022-01-01
Abstract
The blazar Mrk 421 (redshift 𝑧 = 0.031) is one of the brightest and closest BL Lac type objects, making it an ideal target to probe blazar physics. We report on an extensive multi-wavelength observing campaign in 2017, during which the intra-band correlation patterns show some disparity and complex behaviours. Observations from several instruments are used to achieve an optimal temporal coverage from radio to TeV energies. In particular, four multi-hour NuSTAR observations organised simultaneously with MAGIC allow to obtain a precise measurement of the falling segments of the two spectral components. A detailed investigation of the very-high-energy (VHE; > 100 GeV) versus X-ray flux correlation is performed, by binning the data into several sub-energy bands. A positively correlated variability is observed, but the correlation characteristics change substantially across the various bands probed. Furthermore, during the simultaneous MAGIC and NuSTAR observations a clear change of the Compton dominance is detected without a simultaneous change in the synchrotron regime, indicating "orphan gamma-ray activity". We also investigate an intriguing bright flare at VHE without a substantial flux increase in the X-rays. Within a leptonic scenario, this behaviour is best explained by the appearance of a second population of highly-energetic electrons spanning a narrow range of energies. Finally, our multi-wavelength correlation study also reveals an anti-correlation between the UV/optical and X-ray bands at a significance level above 3𝜎.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
