Center for Astrophysics Research and Technologies Seminar Series
Polarization-dependent emission modeling of the blazar emission
Presented by Haocheng Zhang, LANL
The radiation and polarization signatures are known to be highly variable during blazar flaring activities. In addition to the typical erratic polarization fluctuations, large (> 180 degree) polarization angle swings are sometimes detected, accompanied by major flares. We suggest that such phenomena can be interpreted as arising from a disturbance propagating through a cylindrical emission region, with full consideration of light-travel-time effects. We present the simultaneous fitting of the multi-wavelength spectrum, variability, and time-dependent polarization signatures of a multi-wavelength flaring event of the blazar 3C 279. This fitting combination stringently constrain the particle acceleration and the magnetic field evolution of the blazar emission region, implying active participation of the magnetic field during the flaring activity. Based on this model, we perform detail relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations to self-consistently evolve the magnetic field. By comparing the associated radiation and polarization signatures to the observations, we favor an emission region with strong magnetization, while a shock can produce both the erratic fluctuations and the smooth swings of the polarization signatures reported in the observations.
2:00 pm, Thursday, September 3, 2015
PAIS-2540, PAIS
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