Exploring the Gamma-Ray/Optical Connection in Blazars

Edward Montiel,U. Arizona

Paul Smith (Space Grant Mentor), Gary Schmidt, Buell Jannuzi, Shane

RightleyU. Arizona

Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Launched June 11,

2008 Builds upon the

successes of EGRET/Compton

30 times more sensitive than EGRET

Surveys the entire sky every 3 hours (2 orbits) at energies of 0.1 – 300 GeV

Fermi's First Four Days

Gamma Rays and Blazars Blazars are a form of Active

Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) Highly variable at all

wavelengths Optical portion of spectrum

highly polarized UV to radio emission

dominated by Synchrotron radiation

X-rays and gamma-rays believed to be inverse Compton scatteringRelativistic jet of M87

The Project

• Find if there are connections between optical and gamma-ray emission in blazars: Are they from the same region of the jet?• Specifically, we are investigating if there is a

connection between the high energy emission and the optical linear polarization.

• Have data available for public use in ~1 month after run at:

http://james.as.arizona.edu/~psmith/Fermi/

Observations

8 runs over the year lasting ~1 week each

Steward Observatory 2.5-m Bart J. Bok and 1.55-m Gerard Kuiper Telescopes

Measured the polarization and brightness of the brightest gamma-ray emitting blazars

Steward Observatory 1.55-m Kuiper Telescope

3C 454.3

SPOL

Designed by Schmidt and H.S. Stockman (STSci)

Used at various telescopes around the world for over 15 years

Still one of the most sensitive and efficient astronomical polarimeters in use

Preliminary Analysis

Conclusions

Fermi is very important to our understanding of the high energy universe

Have been able to observe 43 out of 49 nights, and approaching 1000 measurements

So far, easy connections between the wavelength bands have not been found

We have reapplied to NASA for funding to continue the project for a minimum of 3 more years

Where to Find the Data

If you are interested in doing your own investigating, data can be found at:

Fermi gamma-ray:

http://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/data/access/

Optical polarization:

http://james.as.arizona.edu/~psmith/Fermi/