Issue |
A&A
Volume 567, July 2014
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A113 | |
Number of page(s) | 8 | |
Section | Astrophysical processes | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322205 | |
Published online | 23 July 2014 |
PKS 1510-089: a rare example of a flat spectrum radio quasar with a very high-energy emission
1
Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center,
00-716
Warsaw,
Poland
e-mail:
abarnacka@cfa.harvard.edu
2
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics,
Cambridge
MA
02138,
USA
3
CEA Irfu, Centre de Saclay, 91191
Gif-sur-Yvette,
France
4
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY),
Platanenallee 6,
15738
Zeuthen,
Germany
5
Landessternwarte, Universitat Heidelberg,
Konigstuhl 69117,
Heidelberg,
Germany
Received:
4
July
2013
Accepted:
18
May
2014
Context. The blazar PKS 1510-089 is an example of flat spectrum radio quasars. High-energy emissions from this class of objects are believed to have been produced by IC radiation with seed photons originating from the broad line region. In such a paradigm, a lack of very high-energy emissions is expected because of the Klein-Nishina effect and strong absorption in the broad line region. Recent detection of at least three such blazars by Cherenkov telescopes has forced a revision of our understanding of these objects.
Aims. We have aimed to model the observed spectral energy distribution of PKS 1510-089 from the high-energy flares in March 2009, during which very high-energy emission were also detected by H.E.S.S.
Methods. We have applied the single-zone internal shock scenario to reproduce the multiwavelength spectrum of PKS 1510-089. We have followed the evolution of the electrons as they propagate along the jet and emit synchrotron and IC radiation. We have considered two sources of external photons: the dusty torus and the broad line region. We have also examined the effects of the gamma-gamma absorption of the high-energy photons both in the AGN environment (the broad line region and the dusty torus), as well as while traveling over cosmological distances: the extragalactic background light.
Results. We have successfully modeled the observed spectrum of PKS 1510-089. In our model, the highest energy emission is the result of the Comptonization of the infrared photons from the dusty torus, thus avoiding Klein-Nishina regime, while the bulk of the emissions in the GeV range may still be dominated by the Comptonization of radiation coming from the broad line region.
Key words: galaxies: jets / galaxies: active / quasars: individual: PKS 1510-089
© ESO, 2014
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