Multiwavelength Temporal Variability of the Blazar PKS 1510-089
Abstract
We perform correlation and periodicity search analyses on long-term multiband light curves of the flat-spectrum radio quasar PKS 1510-089 observed by the space-based Fermi-Large Area Telescope in γ-rays, the SMARTS and Steward Observatory telescopes in optical and near-infrared (NIR), and the 13.7 m radio telescope in Metsähovi Radio Observatory between 2008 and 2018. The z-transform discrete correlation function method is applied to study the correlation and possible time lags among these multiband light curves. Among all pairs of wavelengths, the γ-ray versus optical/NIR and optical versus NIR correlations show zero time lags; however, both the γ-ray and optical/NIR emissions precede the radio radiation. The generalized Lomb-Scargle periodogram, weighted wavelet z-transform, and REDFIT techniques are employed to investigate the unresolved core emission-dominated 37 GHz light curve and yield evidence for a quasi period around 1540 days, although given the length of the whole data set it cannot be claimed to be significant. We also investigate the optical/NIR color variability and find that this source shows a simple redder-when-brighter behavior over time, even in the low-flux state.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 2023
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/acdd74
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2306.10248
- Bibcode:
- 2023ApJ...953...47Y
- Keywords:
-
- Active galactic nuclei;
- Blazars;
- Flat-spectrum radio quasars;
- Observational astronomy;
- 16;
- 164;
- 2163;
- 1145;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in ApJ