Perplexing correlations between Gamma-ray emission and parsec-scale jet orientation variations in the BL Lac object S5 0716+714

TL;DR

This study reveals a significant correlation between gamma-ray flux variability and the local jet orientation in the blazar S5 0716+714, indicating a close physical connection between high-energy emission and jet morphology.

Contribution

It is the first to report a correlation between gamma-ray flux and jet orientation variations in a blazar, linking high-energy emission to inner jet dynamics.

Findings

Gamma-ray flux variations lead core flux by 82±32 days.

Gamma-ray emission region is approximately 3.8 parsecs closer to the black hole.

Strong physical connection between gamma-ray emission and jet morphology.

Abstract

The analysis of $\gamma$-ray flux variability along with the parsec-scale jet kinematics suggests that the high-energy radiation in the BL Lac object S5 0716+714 has a significant correlation with the mm-VLBI core flux density and with the local orientation of the inner jet flow. For the first time in any blazar, we report a significant correlation between the $\gamma$-ray flux variations and the variations in the local orientation of the jet outflow (position angle). We find that the $\gamma$-ray flux variations lead the 7~mm VLBI core flux variations by 82$\pm$32~days, which suggests that the high-energy emission in S5 0716+714 is coming from a region located 3.8$\pm$1.9~parsecs closer to the central black hole than the "core" seen on the mm-VLBI images. The results imply a strong physical and casual connection between $\gamma$-ray emission and the inner jet morphology in the source.