Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A prolonged flare in the blazar 3C 454.3

  • Published:
Astronomy Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present an analysis of data from multi-frequency monitoring of the blazar 3C 454.3 in 2010–2012, when the source experienced an unusually prolonged flare with a duration of about two years. This corresponds to the orbital period of the companion in a scenario in which two supermassive black holes are present in the nucleus of 3C 454.3. The flare’s shape, duration, and amplitude can be explained as a result of precession, if the plane of the accretion disk and the orbital plane of the binary are coincident. We detected small-scale structure of the flare, on time scales of no more than a month. These features probably correspond to inhomogeneities in the accretion disk and surrounding regions, with sizes of the order of 1015 cm. We estimated the size of the accretion disk based on the dynamical and geometrical parameters of this binary system: its diameter is comparable to the size of the orbit of the supermassive binary black hole, and its thickness does not exceed the gravitational radius of the central black hole. The presence of characteristic small-scale features during the flare makes it possible to estimate the relative time delays of variations in different spectral ranges: from gamma-ray to millimeter wavelengths.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. E. Vol’vach, L. N. Vol’vach, M. G. Larionov, et al., Astron. Rep. 51, 450 (2007).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. A. E. Vol’vach, L. N. Vol’vach, M. G. Larionov, et al., Astron. Rep. 52, 867 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. A. E. Vol’vach, A. M. Kut’kin, M. G. Larionov, et al., Astron. Rep. 54, 28 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. A. E. Volvach, A. M. Kutkin, M. G. Larionov, et al., Astrophysics 54, 363 (2011).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. V. A. Efanov, I. G. Moiseev, and N. S. Nesterov, Izv. Krymsk. Astrofiz. Observ. 60, 3 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. M. F. Aller, H. D. Aller, and P. A. Hughes, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 33, 1516 (2001).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. M. Sasada, M. Uemura, Y. Fukazawa, et al., Publ. Astron. Soc. Jpn. 64, 58 (2012).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Extract LAT Data, NASA, FERMI Science Support Center http://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/data/analysis/sci-tools/extract_latdata.html.

  9. A. E. Vol’vach, A. M. Kut’kin, M. G. Larionov, et al., Astron. Rep. 55, 608 (2011).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. A. E. Vol’vach, M. G. Larionov, N. S. Kardashev, et al., Astron. Rep. 53, 777 (2009).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. G. Bonnoli, G. Ghisellini, L. Foschini, et al., Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 410, 368 (2011).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radio Astronomy Laboratory of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Katsiveli, Crimea, 98688, Ukraine

    A. E. Vol’vach & L. N. Vol’vach

  2. Astro Space Center, P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya ul. 84/32, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    A. M. Kutkin & M. G. Larionov

  3. Metsähovi Radio Observatory, Aalto University, Metsähovintie 114, Kylmälä, 02540, Finland

    L. N. Vol’vach, A. Lahteenmaki, M. Tornikoski, J. Tammi, J. Léon-Tavares & E. Järvelä

  4. Astronomy Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1120, USA

    M. F. Aller & H. D. Aller

Authors
  1. A. E. Vol’vach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. M. Kutkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. G. Larionov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. N. Vol’vach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Lahteenmaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Tornikoski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. Tammi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. Léon-Tavares
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. E. Järvelä
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. M. F. Aller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. H. D. Aller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. E. Vol’vach.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © A.E. Vol’vach, A.M. Kutkin, M.G. Larionov, L.N. Vol’vach, A. Lahteenmaki, M. Tornikoski, J. Tammi, J. Léon-Tavares, E. Järvelä, M.F. Aller, H.D. Aller, 2013, published in Astronomicheskii Zhurnal, 2013, Vol. 90, No. 1, pp. 53–59.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vol’vach, A.E., Kutkin, A.M., Larionov, M.G. et al. A prolonged flare in the blazar 3C 454.3. Astron. Rep. 57, 46–51 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063772912120098

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063772912120098

Keywords

Search

Navigation