Variability and stability in optical blazar jets: the case of OJ287

TL;DR

This study analyzes optical polarization data of OJ287 over several years, revealing magnetic field reorientations linked to outbursts, challenging existing binary black hole models and proposing magnetic field changes as the outburst driver.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the magnetic field dynamics in OJ287's jet and questions the validity of current binary black hole models for its outbursts.

Findings

Optical polarization core is stable and aligned with the jet.

Magnetic field reorientation correlates with double-peaked outbursts.

Existing binary black hole models cannot fully explain observations.

Abstract

OJ287 is a BL Lac object at redshift z=0.306 that has shown double-peaked bursts at regular intervals of ~12 yr during the last ~ 40 yr. Due to this behavior, it has been suggested that OJ287 might host a close supermassive binary black hole. We present optical photopolarimetric monitoring data from 2005-2009, during which the latest double-peaked outburst occurred. We find a stable component in the optical jet: the optical polarization core. The optical polarization indicates that the magnetic field is oriented parallel to the jet. Using historical optical polarization data, we trace the evolution of the optical polarization core and find that it has showed a swing in the Stokes plane indicating a reorientation of the jet magnetic field. We also find that changes in the optical jet magnetic field seem tightly related to the double-peaked bursts. We use our findings as a new constraint on possible binary black hole models. Combining all available observations, we find that none of the proposed binary black bole models is able to fully explain the observations. We suggest a new approach to understanding OJ287 that is based on the assumption that changes in the jet magnetic field drive the regular outbursts.