Blazars: the gamma-ray view of AGILE
on behalf of the AGILE WG-AGN
Filippo D’AmmandoUniversità degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
INAF - Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica RomaINAF - Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica Roma
44th Recontres de Moriond, 1 - 8 February 44th Recontres de Moriond, 1 - 8 February 20092009
AGILE flaring blazars and paper list
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Most of the sources lie in the Northern Hemisphere Several AGILE detection triggered by northern-based telescopes
AGILE flaring blazars sky distribution
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Giuliani, D’Ammando, Vercellone, et al., A&A in press
First extragalactic source detected by AGILE-GRID, monitored simultaneously in optical by REM telescope and in X-rays by Swift
<F> = (210 38) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E > 100 MeV
Gamma-ray flux similar to the EGRET high state
Soft spectrum during a flaring episode, could be an indication of a dominant contribution of EDC emission compared to ECC emission model
9 - 13 July 2007
First AGILE multi-λ campaign: 3C 279
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Pucella, Vittorini, D’Ammando, et al. 2008, A&A, 491, L21
<F> = (195 30) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV
Possible correlation between optical and gamma-ray bands: contemporaneous decrease in fluxes
The IC contribution from the BLR can explain the observed hard gamma-ray spectrum
23 August - 1 September 2007
PKS 1510 - 089
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
D’Ammando et al., in preparation
Serendipitous detection during an AGILE pointing towards the Galactic Center
3 ToO by Swift/XRT: the spectrum becomes harder when the source is brighter
GASP-WEBT observed intense optical activity between January and April 2008
17 - 21 March 2008
PKS 1510-089: a rapid gamma-ray flare in March 2008
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Chen, D’Ammando, Villata, et al. 2008, A&A, 489, L37
<F> = (97 15) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV
with a peak level of (193 42) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1
z = 0.31 0.08 (Nilsson et al., 2008)
Total power transported in the jet is extremely
high ( Ltot > 3 x 1045 erg s-1)
To fit the SED we use two SSC components
4 - 23 September 2007
S5 0716+714 in September - October 2007
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Giommi, Colafrancesco, Cutini, et al., 2008, A&A, 487, L49
<F> = ( 47 ± 11 ) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV
The-ray flux about a factor of 2 lower than in September
Strong variability in soft X-ray, moderate at optical/UV and approximately constant in hard X-ray
The SED is consistent with a two-component SSC model
23 October - 13 November 2007
Swift and AGILE simultaneous observations in October - November 2007
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Pacciani, Donnarumma, Vittorini, et al., A&A, 494, 49
<F> = (22 6) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV
F [peak] = (33 11) 10-8 ph cm-2s-1 E >100 MeV
Multi-campaign: REM, Swift, RXTE, INTEGRAL and AGILE
Indication of an anti-correlated variability between X-rays and gamma-rays
SSC + EC: spectral variability consistent with an acceleration episode of the electron population
16 December 2007 – 8 January 2008
3C 273: simultaneous detection by GRID & SA
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Vercellone, Chen, Giuliani, et al, 2008, ApJL, 676, 13
AGILE repointing the source during a period of strongly enhanced optical emission
<F> = (280 40) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV
Highest gamma-ray flux from this source (published … but see Fermi: ATel #1628)
3C 454.3: July 2007
24 - 30 July 2007
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
MW Observations of 3C 454.3 in November 2007
10 November - 1 December 2007
Vercellone, Chen, Vittorini, et al. 2009, ApJ, 690, 1018
<F> = (170 13) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV
Emission in the optical range appears to be correlated with that at gamma-ray energies
The gamma-ray emission is dominated by inverse Compton scattering of the external photons from the broad line region clouds
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Donnarumma et al., in preparation
Multi-campaign with the contribution of Spitzer, REM, WEBT, MITSuME, Swift,
Suzaku and AGILE
<F> ~ 250 x 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E > 100 MeV
The SED seems to require external Compton of seed photons from a hot
corona with T = 106 K
1 - 16 December 2007
3C 454.3: December 2007 campaign
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
W Comae: a ToO triggered by VERITAS
This source belongs to an AGILE Guest Investigator: E. Pian
The results of a multi-wavelength campaign involving WEBT, Swift, AGILE and VERITAS will be published (Acciari et al., in preparation)
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Mrk 421: WEBT + AGILE + VERITAS + MAGIC = …
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
Donnarumma et al., 2009, ApJ 691, L13
<F> = (42 13) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV
Swift/XRT: Flux (2 - 10 keV) = 2.6 x 10-9 ph cm-2 s-1
Possible correlated variability between optical, X-rays and high-energy parts of the spectrum
SSC model: hardening/softening of electron energy distribution caused by particle
acceleration process
Mrk 421 from optical to TeV energies
Other papers in preparation:
• PKS 0537−441: October 2008 flare
• 3C 454.3: One year of AGILE monitoring
• Detailed analysis of Virgo region
• Two articles on theoretical models for emission mechanisms in BL Lacs and FSRQs
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
• After 18 months, 7 flaring blazars detected by AGILE
• No blazar candidates flared above 100 MeV at a
significance greater than 5- (..but see Fermi GST)
• 6 other Blazars or Blazar candidates detected in the
AGILE First Catalogue
• Multi-wavelength campaigns promptly activated
• 8 multi- papers already out, several others very
soon
44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009
AGILE results on Blazars