Multi-Wavelength Observations of the Blazar 1ES 1011+496 in Spring 2008

TL;DR

This study presents a comprehensive multi-wavelength observational campaign of the blazar 1ES 1011+496 in spring 2008, revealing its spectral characteristics, variability, and classification, with results consistent with a synchrotron self-Compton model.

Contribution

First simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign of 1ES 1011+496 providing detailed spectral and variability data, clarifying its classification as borderline between intermediate and high synchrotron peak BL Lac objects.

Findings

No significant VHE variability observed.

X-ray flare with harder-when-brighter trend detected.

Spectral energy distribution consistent with one-zone SSC model.

Abstract

The BL Lac object 1ES 1011+496 was discovered at Very High Energy gamma-rays by MAGIC in spring 2007. Before that the source was little studied in different wavelengths. Therefore a multi-wavelength (MWL) campaign was organized in spring 2008. Along MAGIC, the MWL campaign included the Metsahovi radio observatory, Bell and KVA optical telescopes and the Swift and AGILE satellites. MAGIC observations span from March to May, 2008 for a total of 27.9 hours, of which 19.4 hours remained after quality cuts. The light curve showed no significant variability. The differential VHE spectrum could be described with a power-law function. Both results were similar to those obtained during the discovery. Swift XRT observations revealed an X-ray flare, characterized by a harder when brighter trend, as is typical for high synchrotron peak BL Lac objects (HBL). Strong optical variability was found during the campaign, but no conclusion on the connection between the optical and VHE gamma-ray bands could be drawn. The contemporaneous SED shows a synchrotron dominated source, unlike concluded in previous work based on nonsimultaneous data, and is well described by a standard one zone synchrotron self Compton model. We also performed a study on the source classification. While the optical and X-ray data taken during our campaign show typical characteristics of an HBL, we suggest, based on archival data, that 1ES 1011+496 is actually a borderline case between intermediate and high synchrotron peak frequency BL Lac objects.