Multi-band optical variability of the Blazar S5 0716+714 in outburst state during 2014-2015

TL;DR

This study presents a detailed analysis of the optical variability of the blazar S5 0716+714 during its 2014-2015 outburst, revealing intense, correlated multi-band flux changes with no measurable time lags and a high duty cycle.

Contribution

First multi-band optical variability study during the outburst of S5 0716+714 with simultaneous observations across four bands and detailed analysis of flux, spectral, and timescale variations.

Findings

Intense variability observed across all bands during outburst.

No measurable time lag between bands, indicating a common emission region.

Maximum brightness of R=11.6 on 18 Jan 2015, the brightest recorded for this source.

Abstract

We analyzed the multi-band optical behaviour of the BL Lacertae object, S5 0716+714, during its outburst state from 2014 November - 2015 March. We took data on 23 nights at three observatories, one in India and two in Bulgaria, making quasi-simultaneous observations in B, V, R, and I bands. We measured multi-band optical fluxes, colour and spectral variations for this blazar on intraday and short timescales. The source was in a flaring state during the period analyzed and displayed intense variability in all wavelengths. R band magnitude of 11.6 was attained by the target on 18 Jan 2015, which is the brightest value ever recorded for S5 0716+714. The discrete correlation function method yielded good correlation between the bands with no measurable time lags, implying that radiation in these bands originate from the same region and by the same mechanism. We also used the structure function technique to look for characteristic timescales in the light curves. During the times of rapid variability, no evidence for the source to display spectral changes with magnitude was found on either of the timescales. The amplitude of variations tends to increase with increasing frequency with a maximum of $\sim$ 22% seen during flaring states in B band. A mild trend of larger variability amplitude as the source brightens was also found. We found the duty cycle of our source during the analyzed period to be $\sim$ 90%. We also investigated the optical spectral energy distribution of S5 0716+714 using B, V, R, and I data points for 21 nights. We briefly discuss physical mechanisms most likely responsible for its flux and spectral variations.