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Flux and spectral variability of the blazar PKS 2155[formula omitted]304 with XMM–Newton: Evidence of particle acceleration and synchrotron cooling.
- Source :
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New Astronomy . Apr2016, Vol. 44, p21-28. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- We have analyzed XMM–Newton observations of the high energy peaked blazar, PKS 2155 − 304, made on 24 May 2002 in the 0.3–10 keV X-ray band. These observations display a mini–flare, a nearly constant flux period and a strong flux increase. We performed a time-resolved spectral study of the data, by dividing the data into eight segments. We fitted the data with a power-law and a broken power-law model, and in some of the segments we found a noticeable spectral flattening of the source’s spectrum below 10 keV. We also performed “time-resolved” cross-correlation analyses and detected significant hard and soft lags (for the first time in a single observation of this source) during the first and last parts of the observation, respectively. Our analysis of the spectra, the variations of photon-index with flux as well as the correlation and lags between the harder and softer X-ray bands indicate that both the particle acceleration and synchrotron cooling processes make an important contribution to the emission from this blazar. The hard lags indicate a variable acceleration process. We also estimated the magnetic field value using the soft lags. The value of the magnetic field is consistent with the values derived from the broad-band SED modeling of this source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13841076
- Volume :
- 44
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- New Astronomy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 110942272
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newast.2015.08.005