Variability of the BL Lacertae object AO0235+164

Details Variability of the BL Lacertae object AO0235+164 Variability of the BL Lacertae object AO0235+164

Feb 1977

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977natur.265..608c&link_type=abstract

Nature, vol. 265, Feb. 17, 1977, p. 608, 609. ERDA-NSF-supported research.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

12

Infrared Astronomy, Quasars, Synchrotron Radiation, X Ray Sources, Compton Effect, Rotating Matter, Spin Dynamics, Stellar Magnetic Fields

Scientific paper

A crude model is presented for the recently observed outburst of AO0235+164 in the near-IR and visible regions, where variability of up to 30% on time scales of 1 or 2 days has been noted. The general picture is that of a strong dipole magnetic field with curved field lines and anchored to a spinning massive object or 'spinar'; electrons are accelerated by strong electric fields near the surface of the spinar, move freely along the magnetic-field lines, and acquire large momentum components parallel to the magnetic field. The generation of synchrotron radiation at predominantly 10 to the 13th power Hz is analyzed, assuming small electron pitch angles, and the problem of excessive Compton-scattered X-ray flux is considered. The results show that a model with a magnetic-field-line radius of curvature equal to 3 light years provides a description of the observed outbursts characterized by total magnetic fields of 10 to 200 G, electron pitch angles of 0.0001 to 0.001, Lorentz factors of 10,000, a magnetosphere about 1 pc in extent, and total burst energies between 3 by 10 to the 47th power and 10 to the 51st power erg.

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