Monitoring of Gamma-ray Bright AGN : The Multi-Frequency Polarization of the Flaring Blazar 3C 279

  • 발행 : 2016.04.12

초록

We present results of long-term multi-wavelength polarization observations of the powerful blazar 3C 279 after its ${\gamma}$-ray flare on 2013 December 20. We followed up this flare by means of single-dish polarization observations with two 21-m telescopes of the Korean VLBI Network, carried out weekly from 2013 December 25 to January 11, and at 22, 43, and 86 GHz, simultaneously. These observations were part of the Monitoring Of GAmma-ray Bright AGNs (MOGABA) program. We Measured 3C 279 total flux densities at 22, 43, and 86 GHz, showing a mild variability of a factor of ${\leq}50%$ over the period of our observations. The spectral index ranged from -0.13 to -0.36 at between 22 and 86 GHz. The degree of linear polarization was in the range of 6 ~ 12 %, and slightly decreased with time at all frequencies. We found Faraday rotation measures (RM) of -300 to $-1200rad\;m^{-2}$ between 22 and 43 GHz, and -800 to $-5100rad\;m^{-2}$ between 43 and 86 GHz. The RM values follow a power law ${\mid}RM{\mid}{\propto}{\nu}^{\alpha}$, with a mean ${\alpha}$ of 2.2, implying that the polarized emission at these frequencies travels through a Faraday screen in or near the jet. We conclude that the regions emitting polarized radio emission may be different from the region responsible for the 2013 December ${\gamma}$-ray flare, and that these regions are maintained by the dominant magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of the radio jet at milliarcsecond scales.

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