The Aftermath of an Exceptional TeV Flare in the AGN Jet of IC 310

TL;DR

This paper reports on a multi-wavelength observational campaign following an exceptional gamma-ray flare in the AGN jet of IC 310, revealing its blazar-like properties and jet response to the flare.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the behavior of IC 310 during a major TeV flare, highlighting its blazar-like characteristics and multi-wavelength response.

Findings

Detection of a bright TeV flare reaching >0.5 Crab units

Identification of blazar-like properties in IC 310

Multi-wavelength observations of jet response

Abstract

The nearby active galaxy IC 310 (z=0.019), located in the Perseus cluster of galaxies is a bright and variable multi-wavelength emitter from the radio regime up to very high gamma-ray energies above 100 GeV. Very recently, a blazar-like compact radio jet has been found by parsec-scale VLBI imaging. Along with the unusually flat gamma-ray spectrum and variable high-energy emission, this suggests that IC 310 is the closest known blazar and therefore a key object for AGN research. As part of an intense observing program at TeV energies with the MAGIC telescopes, an exceptionally bright flare of IC 310 was detected in November 2012 reaching a flux level of up to >0.5 Crab units above 300 GeV. We have organized a multi-wavelength follow-up program, including the VLBA, Effelsberg 100 m, KVA, Swift, INTEGRAL, Fermi/LAT, and the MAGIC telescopes. We present preliminary results from the multi-wavelength follow-up program with the focus on the response of the jet to this exceptional gamma-ray flare.