A Possible Periodicity in the Radio Lightcurves of 3C454.3

TL;DR

This paper reports a quasi-periodic 12.8-year cycle in the radio lightcurves of quasar 3C454.3, interpreted as resulting from a binary black hole system with precessing jets causing observed flux variations.

Contribution

It introduces a rotating double-jet model linked to a binary black hole system to explain periodic radio flux variations in 3C454.3.

Findings

Detected a ~12.8-year periodicity in radio lightcurves.

Proposed a double-jet precession model involving binary black holes.

Attributed flux variations to Doppler boosting and jet precession effects.

Abstract

During the period 1966.5 - 2006.2 the 15GHz and 8GHz lightcurves of 3C454.3 (z=0.859) show a qsasi-periodicity of ~12.8 yr (~6.9 yr in the rest frame of the source) with a double-bump structure. This periodic behaviour is interpreted in terms of a rotating double-jet model in which the two jets are created from the black holes in a binary system and rotate with the period of the orbital motion. The periodic variations in the radio fluxes of 3C454.3 are suggested to be mainly due to the lighthouse effects (or the variation in Doppler boosting) of the precessing jets which are caused by the orbital motion. In addition, variations in the mass-flow rates accreting onto the black holes may be also involved.