The High Redshift Blazar S5 0836+71: A Broadband Study

TL;DR

This study presents a detailed broadband analysis of the high-redshift blazar S5 0836+71, revealing its extreme gamma-ray luminosity, rapid variability, and emission mechanisms, with implications for understanding jet physics at high redshift.

Contribution

First detailed broadband multi-frequency study of S5 0836+71, showing hour-scale gamma-ray variability and modeling emission regions within the broad line region.

Findings

Detected one of the most luminous gamma-ray flares from a blazar.

Observed hour-scale gamma-ray variability at high redshift.

Modeled emission regions consistent with single zone leptonic processes.

Abstract

A broadband study of the high redshift blazar S5 0836+71 (z = 2.172) is presented. Multi-frequency light curves show multiple episodes of X-ray and $\gamma$-ray flares, while optical-UV fluxes show little variations. During the GeV outburst, the highest $\gamma$-ray flux measured is (5.22 $\pm$ 1.10) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ ph cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ in the range of 0.1-300 GeV, which corresponds to an isotropic $\gamma$-ray luminosity of (1.62 $\pm$ 0.44) $\times$ 10$^{50}$ erg s$^{-1}$, thereby making this as one of the most luminous $\gamma$-ray flare ever observed from any blazar. A fast $\gamma$-ray flux rising time of $\sim$3 hours is also noticed which is probably the first measurement of hour scale variability detected from a high redshift (z > 2) blazar. The various activity states of S5 0836+71 are reproduced under the assumption of single zone leptonic emission model. In all the states, the emission region is located inside the broad line region, and the optical-UV radiation is dominated by the accretion disk emission. The modeling parameters suggests the enhancement in bulk Lorentz factor as a primary cause of the $\gamma$-ray flare. The high X-ray activity with less variable $\gamma$-ray counterpart can be due to emission region to be located relatively closer to the black hole where the dominating energy density of the disk emission results in higher X-ray flux due to inverse-Compton scattering of disk photons.