Bibcode
DOI
Hartman, R. C.; Böttcher, M.; Aldering, G.; Aller, H.; Aller, M.; Backman, D. E.; Balonek, T. J.; Bertsch, D. L.; Bloom, S. D.; Bock, H.; Boltwood, P.; Carini, M. T.; Collmar, W.; De Francesco, G.; Ferrara, E. C.; Freudling, W.; Gear, W. K.; Hall, P. B.; Heidt, J.; Hughes, P.; Hunter, S. D.; Jogee, S.; Johnson, W. N.; Kanbach, G.; Katajainen, S.; Kidger, M.; Kii, T.; Koskimies, M.; Kraus, A.; Kubo, H.; Kurtanidze, O.; Lanteri, L.; Lawson, A.; Lin, Y. C.; Lisenfeld, U.; Madejski, G.; Makino, F.; Maraschi, L.; Marscher, A. P.; McFarland, J. P.; McHardy, I.; Miller, H. R.; Nikolashvili, M.; Nilsson, K.; Noble, J. C.; Nucciarelli, G.; Ostorero, L.; Pian, E.; Pursimo, T.; Raiteri, C. M.; Reich, W.; Rekola, R.; Richter, G. M.; Robson, E. I.; Sadun, A.; Savolainen, T.; Sillanpää, A.; Smale, A.; Sobrito, G.; Sreekumar, P.; Stevens, J. A.; Takalo, L. O.; Tavecchio, F.; Teräsranta, H.; Thompson, D. J.; Tornikoski, M.; Tosti, G.; Ungerechts, H.; Urry, C. M.; Valtaoja, E.; Villata, M.; Wagner, S. J.; Wehrle, A. E.; Wilson, J. W.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 553, Issue 2, pp. 683-694.
Advertised on:
6
2001
Journal
Citations
145
Refereed citations
115
Description
Of the blazars detected by EGRET in GeV γ-rays, 3C 279 is not only
the best observed by EGRET but also one of the best monitored at lower
frequencies. We have assembled 11 spectra, from GHz radio through GeV
γ-rays, from the time intervals of EGRET observations. Although
some of the data have appeared in previous publications, most are new,
including data taken during the high states in early 1999 and early
2000. All of the spectra show substantial γ-ray contribution to
the total luminosity of the object; in a high state, the γ-ray
luminosity dominates over that at all other frequencies by a factor of
more than 10. There is no clear pattern of time correlation; different
bands do not always rise and fall together, even in the optical, X-ray,
and γ-ray bands. The spectra are modeled using a leptonic jet,
with combined synchrotron self-Compton plus external Compton γ-ray
production. Spectral variability of 3C 279 is consistent with variations
of the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet, accompanied by changes in the
spectral shape of the electron distribution. Our modeling results are
consistent with the UV spectrum of 3C 279 being dominated by accretion
disk radiation during times of low γ-ray intensity.