Issue |
A&A
Volume 669, January 2023
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A151 | |
Number of page(s) | 15 | |
Section | Astrophysical processes | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202244683 | |
Published online | 26 January 2023 |
Exploring the evolution of the particle distribution and the cascade in a moving, expanding emission region in blazar jets
1
Laboratoire Univers et Théories, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, Université Paris-Cité, CNRS, 92190 Meudon, France
e-mail: michael.zacharias@obspm.fr
2
Centre for Space Research, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
e-mail: mzacharias.phys@gmail.com
Received:
4
August
2022
Accepted:
21
November
2022
Aims. Models built to explain blazar flares display a broad variety of results. In this work, we study the flare profile induced by a moving and expanding blob, with a special emphasis on γ − γ pair production.
Methods. We first developed a simple semi-analytical model to study the evolution of the particle distribution in the expanding blob and show the influence of the pair production. In a second step, we produced a realistic simulation using the OneHaLe code based upon the parameters of PKS 1510−089.
Results. The applied semi-analytical model shows that the pair production significantly influences the flare evolution, while the opening angle and the expansion can prolong flares considerably. The simulation based on PKS 1510−089 indicates that flares of a moving, expanding blob result in strongly wavelength-dependent light curves that may include delayed, secondary flares.
Conclusions. A moving, expanding blob can cause significant flaring events, with a broad variety in terms of the light curve profiles. High-cadence multiwavelength observations are necessary for deriving the details behind the cause of the flare. Extended observations beyond the initial burst may provide important information on the opening angle and the particle content attributed to delayed secondary flares in some energy bands.
Key words: radiation mechanisms: non-thermal / galaxies: active / galaxies: jets / gamma rays: galaxies
© The Authors 2023
Open Access article, published by EDP Sciences, under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This article is published in open access under the Subscribe-to-Open model. Subscribe to A&A to support open access publication.
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.