QUASI-PERIODIC OSCILLATIONS OF ∼15 MINUTES IN THE OPTICAL LIGHT CURVE OF THE BL LAC S5 0716+714

2010/07/18 by Bindu Rani, Alok C. Gupta, U. Joshi +3 · 104 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #BL Lac object #Blazar #Jet (fluid) #Light curve #Neutrino Physics Research #Optics #Physics #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Wavelength #astro-ph.CO

paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/2041-8205/719/2/l153

published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters 719(2), L153-L157 (IOP Publishing) · 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters

arxiv created 2010/07/18 · openalex publication_date 2010/07/29 · arxiv updated 2015/05/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Over the course of 3 hr on 2008 December 27, we obtained optical ( R band) observations of the blazar S5 0716+714 at a very fast cadence of 10 s. Using several different techniques, we find fluctuations with an approximately 15 minute quasi-period to be present in the first portion of these data at a >3σ confidence level. This is the fastest quasi-periodic oscillation that has been claimed to be observed in any blazar at any wavelength. While these data are insufficient to strongly constrain models for such fluctuations, the presence of such a short timescale when the source is not in a very low state seems to favor the action of turbulence behind a shock in the blazar's relativistic jet.

Citations

• PERIODIC OSCILLATIONS IN THE INTRA-DAY OPTICAL LIGHT CURVES OF THE BLAZAR S5 0716+714
• Least-squares frequency analysis of unequally spaced data
• Studies in astronomical time series analysis. II - Statistical aspects of spectral analysis of unevenly spaced data
• A simple test for periodic signals in red noise
• The Long-Term Optical Variability of the BL Lacertae Object S5 0716+714: Evidence for a Precessing Jet
• On characterizing the variability properties of X-ray light curves from active galaxies