Optical variability of blazars

The analysis of blazars' parameters from BZCAT leads to a conclusion that they do not have the same properties. The preliminary criterion to include an object in the catalog was the strong radio emission; however, two type of radio sources were selected: BL Lacertae (BLL) objects and Flat Spect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astronomische Nachrichten 2019-06, Vol.340 (5), p.437-444
Main Authors: Abrahamyan, H. V., Mickaelian, Areg M., Paronyan, G. M., Mikayelyan, G. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
active galactic nuclei
blazar
Blazars
Emission spectra
Gamma rays
Luminosity
Mathematical analysis
Optical properties
Photometry
quasar
Quasars
Radio emission
Variability
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Summary:The analysis of blazars' parameters from BZCAT leads to a conclusion that they do not have the same properties. The preliminary criterion to include an object in the catalog was the strong radio emission; however, two type of radio sources were selected: BL Lacertae (BLL) objects and Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQ). As a number of properties are typical of blazars (strong radio emission, optical variability, continuum optical spectra, polarization, high luminosity, etc.), using the optical data, we investigate them to clarify which property plays the most significant role in their classification as blazars. We found that 60% of blazars have optical variability. We use a technique developed based on POSS1 and POSS2 photometry and group the variability into extreme, strong, medium, and low classes. In the optical range, 51 blazars have powerful variability (extreme variables), and 126 are high variables. In addition, 63% of blazars have detected radiation in X‐ray and 28% have detected radiation in gamma rays. We give the average statistical characteristics of blazars based on our analysis and calculations.
ISSN:0004-6337
1521-3994
DOI:10.1002/asna.201913603