Fermi gamma-ray space telescope observations of gamma-ray outbursts from 3C 454.3 in 2009 december and 2010 april

M. Ackermann; M. Ajello; L. Baldini; J. Ballet; G. Barbiellini; D. Bastieri; K. Bechtol; R. Bellazzini; B. Berenji; R. D. Blandford; E. Bonamente; A. W. Borgland; J. Bregeon; M. Brigida; P. Bruel; R. Buehler; T. H. Burnett; S. Buson; G. A. Caliandro; R. A. Cameron; P. A. Caraveo; S. Carrigan; J. M. Casandjian; E. Cavazzuti; C. Cecchi; Ö Çelik; A. Chekhtman; C. C. Cheung; J. Chiang; S. Ciprini; R. Claus; J. Cohen-Tanugi; S. Corbel; S. Cutini; F. D'Ammando; C. D. Dermer; A. De Angelis; F. De Palma; S. W. Digel; E. Do Couto E Silva; P. S. Drell; R. Dubois; D. Dumora; L. Escande; C. Favuzzi; S. J. Fegan; E. C. Ferrara; L. Fuhrmann; Y. Fukazawa; P. Fusco; F. Gargano; D. Gasparrini; N. Gehrels; S. Germani; B. Giebels; N. Giglietto; P. Giommi; F. Giordano; M. Giroletti; T. Glanzman; G. Godfrey; I. A. Grenier; J. E. Grove; S. Guiriec; D. Hadasch; M. Hayashida; E. Hays; G. Jóhannesson; A. S. Johnson; W. N. Johnson; T. Kamae; H. Katagiri; J. Kataoka; J. Knödlseder; M. Kuss; J. Lande; S. Larsson; L. Latronico; S. H. Lee; M. Llena Garde; F. Longo; F. Loparco; B. Lott; P. Lubrano; G. M. Madejski; A. Makeev; N. Marchili; M. N. Mazziotta; J. E. McEnery; J. Mehault; P. F. Michelson; T. Mizuno; C. Monte; M. E. Monzani; A. Morselli; I. V. Moskalenko; S. Murgia; T. Nakamori; K. Nalewajko

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383

Fermi gamma-ray space telescope observations of gamma-ray outbursts from 3C 454.3 in 2009 december and 2010 april

M. Ackermann^*, M. Ajello, L. Baldini, J. Ballet, G. Barbiellini, D. Bastieri, K. Bechtol, R. Bellazzini, B. Berenji, R. D. Blandford, E. Bonamente, A. W. Borgland, J. Bregeon, M. Brigida, P. Bruel, R. Buehler, T. H. Burnett, S. Buson, G. A. Caliandro, R. A. CameronP. A. Caraveo, S. Carrigan, J. M. Casandjian, E. Cavazzuti, C. Cecchi, Ö Çelik, A. Chekhtman, C. C. Cheung, J. Chiang, S. Ciprini, R. Claus, J. Cohen-Tanugi, S. Corbel, S. Cutini, F. D'Ammando, C. D. Dermer, A. De Angelis, F. De Palma, S. W. Digel, E. Do Couto E Silva, P. S. Drell, R. Dubois, D. Dumora, L. Escande, C. Favuzzi, S. J. Fegan, E. C. Ferrara, L. Fuhrmann, Y. Fukazawa, P. Fusco, F. Gargano, D. Gasparrini, N. Gehrels, S. Germani, B. Giebels, N. Giglietto, P. Giommi, F. Giordano, M. Giroletti, T. Glanzman, G. Godfrey, I. A. Grenier, J. E. Grove, S. Guiriec, D. Hadasch, M. Hayashida, E. Hays, G. Jóhannesson, A. S. Johnson, W. N. Johnson, T. Kamae, H. Katagiri, J. Kataoka, J. Knödlseder, M. Kuss, J. Lande, S. Larsson, L. Latronico, S. H. Lee, M. Llena Garde, F. Longo, F. Loparco, B. Lott, P. Lubrano, G. M. Madejski, A. Makeev, N. Marchili, M. N. Mazziotta, J. E. McEnery, J. Mehault, P. F. Michelson, T. Mizuno, C. Monte, M. E. Monzani, A. Morselli, I. V. Moskalenko, S. Murgia, T. Nakamori, K. Nalewajko

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Advanced Science and Engineering

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128 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 454.3 underwent an extraordinary outburst in 2009 December when it became the brightest γ -ray source in the sky for over 1 week. Its daily flux measured with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope at photon energiesE > 100 MeV reached F100 = 22 ± 1 × 10 ^-6 photon cm^-2 s^-1, representing the highest daily flux of any blazar ever recorded in high-energy γ -rays. It again became the brightest source in the sky in 2010 April, triggering a pointed-mode observation by Fermi. The correlated γ -ray temporal and spectral properties during these exceptional events are presented and discussed. The main results show flux variability over time scales less than 3 hr and very mild spectral variability with an indication of gradual hardening preceding major flares. The light curves during periods of enhanced activity in 2008 July-August and 2010 December show strong resemblance, with a flux plateau of a few days preceding the major flare. No consistent loop pattern emerged in the γ -ray spectral index versus the flux plane as would be expected in acceleration and cooling scenarios. The maximum energy of a photon from 3C 454.3 is ≈20 GeV and a minimum Doppler factor of ≈13 is derived. The γ -ray spectrum of 3C 454.3 shows a significant spectral break between ≈2 and 3 GeV that is very weakly dependent on the flux state, even when the flux changes by an order of magnitude.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1383-1396
Number of pages	14
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	721
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383
Publication status	Published - 2010 Oct 1

Keywords

Galaxies: active
Gamma rays: galaxies
Quasars: individual (3C 454.3)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383

Cite this

Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Bechtol, K., Bellazzini, R., Berenji, B., Blandford, R. D., Bonamente, E., Borgland, A. W., Bregeon, J., Brigida, M., Bruel, P., Buehler, R., Burnett, T. H., Buson, S., Caliandro, G. A., ... Nalewajko, K. (2010). Fermi gamma-ray space telescope observations of gamma-ray outbursts from 3C 454.3 in 2009 december and 2010 april. Astrophysical Journal, 721(2), 1383-1396. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383

Ackermann, M, Ajello, M, Baldini, L, Ballet, J, Barbiellini, G, Bastieri, D, Bechtol, K, Bellazzini, R, Berenji, B, Blandford, RD, Bonamente, E, Borgland, AW, Bregeon, J, Brigida, M, Bruel, P, Buehler, R, Burnett, TH, Buson, S, Caliandro, GA, Cameron, RA, Caraveo, PA, Carrigan, S, Casandjian, JM, Cavazzuti, E, Cecchi, C, Çelik, Ö, Chekhtman, A, Cheung, CC, Chiang, J, Ciprini, S, Claus, R, Cohen-Tanugi, J, Corbel, S, Cutini, S, D'Ammando, F, Dermer, CD, De Angelis, A, De Palma, F, Digel, SW, Do Couto E Silva, E, Drell, PS, Dubois, R, Dumora, D, Escande, L, Favuzzi, C, Fegan, SJ, Ferrara, EC, Fuhrmann, L, Fukazawa, Y, Fusco, P, Gargano, F, Gasparrini, D, Gehrels, N, Germani, S, Giebels, B, Giglietto, N, Giommi, P, Giordano, F, Giroletti, M, Glanzman, T, Godfrey, G, Grenier, IA, Grove, JE, Guiriec, S, Hadasch, D, Hayashida, M, Hays, E, Jóhannesson, G, Johnson, AS, Johnson, WN, Kamae, T, Katagiri, H, Kataoka, J, Knödlseder, J, Kuss, M, Lande, J, Larsson, S, Latronico, L, Lee, SH, Llena Garde, M, Longo, F, Loparco, F, Lott, B, Lubrano, P, Madejski, GM, Makeev, A, Marchili, N, Mazziotta, MN, McEnery, JE, Mehault, J, Michelson, PF, Mizuno, T, Monte, C, Monzani, ME, Morselli, A, Moskalenko, IV, Murgia, S, Nakamori, T & Nalewajko, K 2010, 'Fermi gamma-ray space telescope observations of gamma-ray outbursts from 3C 454.3 in 2009 december and 2010 april', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 721, no. 2, pp. 1383-1396. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383

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title = "Fermi gamma-ray space telescope observations of gamma-ray outbursts from 3C 454.3 in 2009 december and 2010 april",

abstract = "The flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 454.3 underwent an extraordinary outburst in 2009 December when it became the brightest γ -ray source in the sky for over 1 week. Its daily flux measured with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope at photon energiesE > 100 MeV reached F100 = 22 ± 1 × 10 -6 photon cm-2 s-1, representing the highest daily flux of any blazar ever recorded in high-energy γ -rays. It again became the brightest source in the sky in 2010 April, triggering a pointed-mode observation by Fermi. The correlated γ -ray temporal and spectral properties during these exceptional events are presented and discussed. The main results show flux variability over time scales less than 3 hr and very mild spectral variability with an indication of gradual hardening preceding major flares. The light curves during periods of enhanced activity in 2008 July-August and 2010 December show strong resemblance, with a flux plateau of a few days preceding the major flare. No consistent loop pattern emerged in the γ -ray spectral index versus the flux plane as would be expected in acceleration and cooling scenarios. The maximum energy of a photon from 3C 454.3 is ≈20 GeV and a minimum Doppler factor of ≈13 is derived. The γ -ray spectrum of 3C 454.3 shows a significant spectral break between ≈2 and 3 GeV that is very weakly dependent on the flux state, even when the flux changes by an order of magnitude.",

keywords = "Galaxies: active, Gamma rays: galaxies, Quasars: individual (3C 454.3)",

author = "M. Ackermann and M. Ajello and L. Baldini and J. Ballet and G. Barbiellini and D. Bastieri and K. Bechtol and R. Bellazzini and B. Berenji and Blandford, {R. D.} and E. Bonamente and Borgland, {A. W.} and J. Bregeon and M. Brigida and P. Bruel and R. Buehler and Burnett, {T. H.} and S. Buson and Caliandro, {G. A.} and Cameron, {R. A.} and Caraveo, {P. A.} and S. Carrigan and Casandjian, {J. M.} and E. Cavazzuti and C. Cecchi and {\"O} {\c C}elik and A. Chekhtman and Cheung, {C. C.} and J. Chiang and S. Ciprini and R. Claus and J. Cohen-Tanugi and S. Corbel and S. Cutini and F. D'Ammando and Dermer, {C. D.} and {De Angelis}, A. and {De Palma}, F. and Digel, {S. W.} and {Do Couto E Silva}, E. and Drell, {P. S.} and R. Dubois and D. Dumora and L. Escande and C. Favuzzi and Fegan, {S. J.} and Ferrara, {E. C.} and L. Fuhrmann and Y. Fukazawa and P. Fusco and F. Gargano and D. Gasparrini and N. Gehrels and S. Germani and B. Giebels and N. Giglietto and P. Giommi and F. Giordano and M. Giroletti and T. Glanzman and G. Godfrey and Grenier, {I. A.} and Grove, {J. E.} and S. Guiriec and D. Hadasch and M. Hayashida and E. Hays and G. J{\'o}hannesson and Johnson, {A. S.} and Johnson, {W. N.} and T. Kamae and H. Katagiri and J. Kataoka and J. Kn{\"o}dlseder and M. Kuss and J. Lande and S. Larsson and L. Latronico and Lee, {S. H.} and {Llena Garde}, M. and F. Longo and F. Loparco and B. Lott and P. Lubrano and Madejski, {G. M.} and A. Makeev and N. Marchili and Mazziotta, {M. N.} and McEnery, {J. E.} and J. Mehault and Michelson, {P. F.} and T. Mizuno and C. Monte and Monzani, {M. E.} and A. Morselli and Moskalenko, {I. V.} and S. Murgia and T. Nakamori and K. Nalewajko",

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doi = "10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383",

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pages = "1383--1396",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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T1 - Fermi gamma-ray space telescope observations of gamma-ray outbursts from 3C 454.3 in 2009 december and 2010 april

AU - Ackermann, M.

AU - Ajello, M.

AU - Baldini, L.

AU - Ballet, J.

AU - Barbiellini, G.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Bechtol, K.

AU - Bellazzini, R.

AU - Berenji, B.

AU - Blandford, R. D.

AU - Bonamente, E.

AU - Borgland, A. W.

AU - Bregeon, J.

AU - Brigida, M.

AU - Bruel, P.

AU - Buehler, R.

AU - Burnett, T. H.

AU - Buson, S.

AU - Caliandro, G. A.

AU - Cameron, R. A.

AU - Caraveo, P. A.

AU - Carrigan, S.

AU - Casandjian, J. M.

AU - Cavazzuti, E.

AU - Cecchi, C.

AU - Çelik, Ö

AU - Chekhtman, A.

AU - Cheung, C. C.

AU - Chiang, J.

AU - Ciprini, S.

AU - Claus, R.

AU - Cohen-Tanugi, J.

AU - Corbel, S.

AU - Cutini, S.

AU - D'Ammando, F.

AU - Dermer, C. D.

AU - De Angelis, A.

AU - De Palma, F.

AU - Digel, S. W.

AU - Do Couto E Silva, E.

AU - Drell, P. S.

AU - Dubois, R.

AU - Dumora, D.

AU - Escande, L.

AU - Favuzzi, C.

AU - Fegan, S. J.

AU - Ferrara, E. C.

AU - Fuhrmann, L.

AU - Fukazawa, Y.

AU - Fusco, P.

AU - Gargano, F.

AU - Gasparrini, D.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Germani, S.

AU - Giebels, B.

AU - Giglietto, N.

AU - Giommi, P.

AU - Giordano, F.

AU - Giroletti, M.

AU - Glanzman, T.

AU - Godfrey, G.

AU - Grenier, I. A.

AU - Grove, J. E.

AU - Guiriec, S.

AU - Hadasch, D.

AU - Hayashida, M.

AU - Hays, E.

AU - Jóhannesson, G.

AU - Johnson, A. S.

AU - Johnson, W. N.

AU - Kamae, T.

AU - Katagiri, H.

AU - Kataoka, J.

AU - Knödlseder, J.

AU - Kuss, M.

AU - Lande, J.

AU - Larsson, S.

AU - Latronico, L.

AU - Lee, S. H.

AU - Llena Garde, M.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - Loparco, F.

AU - Lott, B.

AU - Lubrano, P.

AU - Madejski, G. M.

AU - Makeev, A.

AU - Marchili, N.

AU - Mazziotta, M. N.

AU - McEnery, J. E.

AU - Mehault, J.

AU - Michelson, P. F.

AU - Mizuno, T.

AU - Monte, C.

AU - Monzani, M. E.

AU - Morselli, A.

AU - Moskalenko, I. V.

AU - Murgia, S.

AU - Nakamori, T.

AU - Nalewajko, K.

PY - 2010/10/1

Y1 - 2010/10/1

N2 - The flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 454.3 underwent an extraordinary outburst in 2009 December when it became the brightest γ -ray source in the sky for over 1 week. Its daily flux measured with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope at photon energiesE > 100 MeV reached F100 = 22 ± 1 × 10 -6 photon cm-2 s-1, representing the highest daily flux of any blazar ever recorded in high-energy γ -rays. It again became the brightest source in the sky in 2010 April, triggering a pointed-mode observation by Fermi. The correlated γ -ray temporal and spectral properties during these exceptional events are presented and discussed. The main results show flux variability over time scales less than 3 hr and very mild spectral variability with an indication of gradual hardening preceding major flares. The light curves during periods of enhanced activity in 2008 July-August and 2010 December show strong resemblance, with a flux plateau of a few days preceding the major flare. No consistent loop pattern emerged in the γ -ray spectral index versus the flux plane as would be expected in acceleration and cooling scenarios. The maximum energy of a photon from 3C 454.3 is ≈20 GeV and a minimum Doppler factor of ≈13 is derived. The γ -ray spectrum of 3C 454.3 shows a significant spectral break between ≈2 and 3 GeV that is very weakly dependent on the flux state, even when the flux changes by an order of magnitude.

AB - The flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 454.3 underwent an extraordinary outburst in 2009 December when it became the brightest γ -ray source in the sky for over 1 week. Its daily flux measured with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope at photon energiesE > 100 MeV reached F100 = 22 ± 1 × 10 -6 photon cm-2 s-1, representing the highest daily flux of any blazar ever recorded in high-energy γ -rays. It again became the brightest source in the sky in 2010 April, triggering a pointed-mode observation by Fermi. The correlated γ -ray temporal and spectral properties during these exceptional events are presented and discussed. The main results show flux variability over time scales less than 3 hr and very mild spectral variability with an indication of gradual hardening preceding major flares. The light curves during periods of enhanced activity in 2008 July-August and 2010 December show strong resemblance, with a flux plateau of a few days preceding the major flare. No consistent loop pattern emerged in the γ -ray spectral index versus the flux plane as would be expected in acceleration and cooling scenarios. The maximum energy of a photon from 3C 454.3 is ≈20 GeV and a minimum Doppler factor of ≈13 is derived. The γ -ray spectrum of 3C 454.3 shows a significant spectral break between ≈2 and 3 GeV that is very weakly dependent on the flux state, even when the flux changes by an order of magnitude.

KW - Galaxies: active

KW - Gamma rays: galaxies

KW - Quasars: individual (3C 454.3)

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U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383

DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/721/2/1383

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VL - 721

SP - 1383

EP - 1396

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

ER -

Fermi gamma-ray space telescope observations of gamma-ray outbursts from 3C 454.3 in 2009 december and 2010 april

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