Blazars: the gamma-ray view of AGILE

on behalf of the AGILE WG-AGN

Filippo D’AmmandoUniversità degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”

INAF - Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica RomaINAF - Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica Roma

44th Recontres de Moriond, 1 - 8 February 44th Recontres de Moriond, 1 - 8 February 20092009

AGILE flaring blazars and paper list

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Most of the sources lie in the Northern Hemisphere Several AGILE detection triggered by northern-based telescopes

AGILE flaring blazars sky distribution

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Giuliani, D’Ammando, Vercellone, et al., A&A in press

First extragalactic source detected by AGILE-GRID, monitored simultaneously in optical by REM telescope and in X-rays by Swift

<F> = (210 38) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E > 100 MeV

Gamma-ray flux similar to the EGRET high state

Soft spectrum during a flaring episode, could be an indication of a dominant contribution of EDC emission compared to ECC emission model

9 - 13 July 2007

First AGILE multi-λ campaign: 3C 279

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Pucella, Vittorini, D’Ammando, et al. 2008, A&A, 491, L21

<F> = (195 30) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV

Possible correlation between optical and gamma-ray bands: contemporaneous decrease in fluxes

The IC contribution from the BLR can explain the observed hard gamma-ray spectrum

23 August - 1 September 2007

PKS 1510 - 089

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

D’Ammando et al., in preparation

Serendipitous detection during an AGILE pointing towards the Galactic Center

3 ToO by Swift/XRT: the spectrum becomes harder when the source is brighter

GASP-WEBT observed intense optical activity between January and April 2008

17 - 21 March 2008

PKS 1510-089: a rapid gamma-ray flare in March 2008

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Chen, D’Ammando, Villata, et al. 2008, A&A, 489, L37

<F> = (97 15) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV

with a peak level of (193 42) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1

z = 0.31 0.08 (Nilsson et al., 2008)

Total power transported in the jet is extremely

high ( Ltot > 3 x 1045 erg s-1)

To fit the SED we use two SSC components

4 - 23 September 2007

S5 0716+714 in September - October 2007

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Giommi, Colafrancesco, Cutini, et al., 2008, A&A, 487, L49

<F> = ( 47 ± 11 ) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV

The-ray flux about a factor of 2 lower than in September

Strong variability in soft X-ray, moderate at optical/UV and approximately constant in hard X-ray

The SED is consistent with a two-component SSC model

23 October - 13 November 2007

Swift and AGILE simultaneous observations in October - November 2007

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Pacciani, Donnarumma, Vittorini, et al., A&A, 494, 49

<F> = (22 6) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV

F [peak] = (33 11) 10-8 ph cm-2s-1 E >100 MeV

Multi-campaign: REM, Swift, RXTE, INTEGRAL and AGILE

Indication of an anti-correlated variability between X-rays and gamma-rays

SSC + EC: spectral variability consistent with an acceleration episode of the electron population

16 December 2007 – 8 January 2008

3C 273: simultaneous detection by GRID & SA

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Vercellone, Chen, Giuliani, et al, 2008, ApJL, 676, 13

AGILE repointing the source during a period of strongly enhanced optical emission

<F> = (280 40) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV

Highest gamma-ray flux from this source (published … but see Fermi: ATel #1628)

3C 454.3: July 2007

24 - 30 July 2007

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

MW Observations of 3C 454.3 in November 2007

10 November - 1 December 2007

Vercellone, Chen, Vittorini, et al. 2009, ApJ, 690, 1018

<F> = (170 13) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV

Emission in the optical range appears to be correlated with that at gamma-ray energies

The gamma-ray emission is dominated by inverse Compton scattering of the external photons from the broad line region clouds

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Donnarumma et al., in preparation

Multi-campaign with the contribution of Spitzer, REM, WEBT, MITSuME, Swift,

Suzaku and AGILE

<F> ~ 250 x 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E > 100 MeV

The SED seems to require external Compton of seed photons from a hot

corona with T = 106 K

1 - 16 December 2007

3C 454.3: December 2007 campaign

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

W Comae: a ToO triggered by VERITAS

This source belongs to an AGILE Guest Investigator: E. Pian

The results of a multi-wavelength campaign involving WEBT, Swift, AGILE and VERITAS will be published (Acciari et al., in preparation)

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Mrk 421: WEBT + AGILE + VERITAS + MAGIC = …

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

Donnarumma et al., 2009, ApJ 691, L13

<F> = (42 13) 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 E >100 MeV

Swift/XRT: Flux (2 - 10 keV) = 2.6 x 10-9 ph cm-2 s-1

Possible correlated variability between optical, X-rays and high-energy parts of the spectrum

SSC model: hardening/softening of electron energy distribution caused by particle

acceleration process

Mrk 421 from optical to TeV energies

Other papers in preparation:

• PKS 0537−441: October 2008 flare

• 3C 454.3: One year of AGILE monitoring

• Detailed analysis of Virgo region

• Two articles on theoretical models for emission mechanisms in BL Lacs and FSRQs

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

• After 18 months, 7 flaring blazars detected by AGILE

• No blazar candidates flared above 100 MeV at a

significance greater than 5- (..but see Fermi GST)

• 6 other Blazars or Blazar candidates detected in the

AGILE First Catalogue

• Multi-wavelength campaigns promptly activated

• 8 multi- papers already out, several others very

soon

44th Reconstres de Moriond Filippo D’Ammando 4 February 2009

AGILE results on Blazars