TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zhang, Haocheng
A1  - Chen, Xuhui
A1  - Böttcher, Markus
A1  - Guo, Fan
A1  - Li, Hui
T1  - Polarization swings reveal magnetic energy dissipation in blazars
JF  - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics
N2  - The polarization signatures of blazar emissions are known to be highly variable. In addition to small fluctuations of the polarization angle around a mean value, large (greater than or similar to 180 degrees) polarization angle swings are sometimes observed. We suggest that such phenomena can be interpreted as arising from light travel time effects within an underlying axisymmetric emission region. We present the first simultaneous fitting of the multi-wavelength spectrum, variability, and time-dependent polarization features of a correlated optical and gamma-ray flaring event of the prominent blazar 3C279, which was accompanied by a drastic change in its polarization signatures. This unprecedented combination of spectral, variability, and polarization information in a coherent physical model allows us to place stringent constraints on the particle acceleration and magnetic field topology in the relativistic jet of a blazar, strongly favoring a scenario in which magnetic energy dissipation is the primary driver of the flare event.
KW  - galaxies: active
KW  - galaxies: jets
KW  - gamma-rays: galaxies
KW  - radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
KW  - relativistic processes
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/804/1/58
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
VL  - 804
IS  - 1
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  -