Radio and X-ray observations of an exceptional radio flare in the extreme z=4.72 blazar GB B1428+4217

Details Radio and X-ray observations of an exceptional radio flare in the extreme z=4.72 blazar GB B1428+4217 Radio and X-ray observations of an exceptional radio flare in the extreme z=4.72 blazar GB B1428+4217

2006-02-15

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0602355v1

Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.368:844-850,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

8 pages, 5 figures, MNRAS accepted

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10173.x

We report on the extreme behaviour of the high redshift blazar GB B1428+4217 at z=4.72. A continued programme of radio measurements has revealed an exceptional flare in the lightcurve, with the 15.2 GHz flux density rising by a factor ~3 from ~140 mJy to ~430 mJy in a rest-frame timescale of only ~4 months -- much larger than any previous flares observed in this source. In addition to new measurements of the 1.4-43 GHz radio spectrum we also present the analysis and results of a target-of-opportunity X-ray observation using XMM-Newton, made close to the peak in radio flux. Although the X-ray data do not show a flare in the high energy lightcurve, we are able to confirm the X-ray spectral variability hinted at in previous observations. GB B1428+4217 is one of several high-redshift radio-loud quasars that display a low energy break in the X-ray spectrum, probably due to the presence of excess absorption in the source. X-ray spectral analysis of the latest XMM-Newton data is shown to be consistent with the warm absorption scenario which we have hypothesized previously. Warm absorption is also consistent with the observed X-ray spectral variability of the source, in which the spectral changes can be successfully accounted-for with a fixed column density of material in which the ionization state is correlated with hardness of the underlying power-law emission.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Radio and X-ray observations of an exceptional radio flare in the extreme z=4.72 blazar GB B1428+4217 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Radio and X-ray observations of an exceptional radio flare in the extreme z=4.72 blazar GB B1428+4217, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Radio and X-ray observations of an exceptional radio flare in the extreme z=4.72 blazar GB B1428+4217 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-102660