Multiband Observations of the Quasar PKS 2326-502 during Active and Quiescent Gamma-Ray States in 2010-2012

TL;DR

This study presents multiwavelength observations of the quasar PKS 2326-502 during different gamma-ray activity states, revealing insights into the physical mechanisms driving its flaring and quiescent behaviors.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed spectral energy distribution analysis during multiple activity states of PKS 2326-502, constraining leptonic emission models and identifying different physical changes during flares.

Findings

Different flares involve distinct changes in electron spectra and emission region size.

Modeling suggests two broad classes of blazar flaring states.

Data supports a pattern of physical conditions during gamma-ray flares.

Abstract

Quasi-simultaneous observations of the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar PKS 2326-502 were carried out in the gamma-ray, X-ray, UV, optical, near-infrared, and radio bands. Thanks to these observations we are able to characterize the spectral energy distribution of the source during two flaring and one quiescent gamma-ray states. These data were used to constrain one-zone leptonic models of the spectral energy distributions of each flare and investigate the physical conditions giving rise to them. While modeling one flare only required changes to the electron spectrum, the other flare needed changes in both the electron spectrum and the size of the emitting region with respect to the quiescent state. These results are consistent with an emerging pattern of two broad classes of flaring states seen in blazars.