Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421
Blazars are highly variable and display complex characteristics. A key characteristic is the flux probability distribution function or flux PDF whose shape depends upon the form of the underlying physical process driving variability. The BL Lacertae Mrk 421 is one of the brightest and most variable...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Galaxies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/8/1/7 |
| _version_ | 1819078621021601792 |
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| author | Nachiketa Chakraborty |
| author_facet | Nachiketa Chakraborty |
| author_sort | Nachiketa Chakraborty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Blazars are highly variable and display complex characteristics. A key characteristic is the flux probability distribution function or flux PDF whose shape depends upon the form of the underlying physical process driving variability. The BL Lacertae Mrk 421 is one of the brightest and most variable blazars across the electromagnetic spectrum. It has been reported to show hints of lognormality across the spectrum from radio to gamma-ray histograms of observed fluxes. This would imply that the underlying mechanisms may not conform to the “standard” additive, multi-zone picture, but could potentially have multiplicative processes. This is investigated by testing the observed lightcurves at different wavelengths with time-series simulations. We find that the simulations reveal a more complex scenario, than a single lognormal distribution explaining the multiwavelength lightcurves of Mrk 421. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:16:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f481dfd7a3954afdb47eecffe1524458 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4434 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:16:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Galaxies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f481dfd7a3954afdb47eecffe15244582022-12-21T18:53:04ZengMDPI AGGalaxies2075-44342020-01-0181710.3390/galaxies8010007galaxies8010007Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421Nachiketa Chakraborty0Data Assimilation Research Centre, University of Reading, Whiteknights Rd., Reading RG6 6AH, UKBlazars are highly variable and display complex characteristics. A key characteristic is the flux probability distribution function or flux PDF whose shape depends upon the form of the underlying physical process driving variability. The BL Lacertae Mrk 421 is one of the brightest and most variable blazars across the electromagnetic spectrum. It has been reported to show hints of lognormality across the spectrum from radio to gamma-ray histograms of observed fluxes. This would imply that the underlying mechanisms may not conform to the “standard” additive, multi-zone picture, but could potentially have multiplicative processes. This is investigated by testing the observed lightcurves at different wavelengths with time-series simulations. We find that the simulations reveal a more complex scenario, than a single lognormal distribution explaining the multiwavelength lightcurves of Mrk 421.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/8/1/7blazarsvariabilitylognormalitymrk 421 |
| spellingShingle | Nachiketa Chakraborty Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421 Galaxies blazars variability lognormality mrk 421 |
| title | Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421 |
| title_full | Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421 |
| title_fullStr | Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421 |
| title_short | Investigating Multiwavelength Lognormality with Simulations—Case of Mrk 421 |
| title_sort | investigating multiwavelength lognormality with simulations case of mrk 421 |
| topic | blazars variability lognormality mrk 421 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/8/1/7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nachiketachakraborty investigatingmultiwavelengthlognormalitywithsimulationscaseofmrk421 |