The ever-surprising blazar OJ 287: multi-wavelength study and appearance of a new component in X-rays

TL;DR

This study provides a detailed multi-wavelength analysis of blazar OJ 287 during a year of activity, revealing complex variability, spectral changes, and a new X-ray component, explained by a two-zone leptonic model with dynamic magnetic fields.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive multi-wavelength investigation of OJ 287's activity, identifying a new X-ray component and proposing a two-zone leptonic emission model with evolving magnetic field properties.

Findings

X-ray and optical/UV emissions show variable time lags.

Spectral energy distributions indicate a two-zone emission model.

Magnetic field and turbulence dynamics influence polarization and variability.

Abstract

We present a multi-wavelength spectral and temporal investigation of OJ 287 emission during its strong optical-to-X-ray activity between July 2016 - July 2017. The daily $\gamma$-ray fluxes from \emph{Fermi}-LAT are consistent with no variability. The strong optical-to-X-ray variability is accompanied by a change in power-law spectral index of the X-ray spectrum from $< 2$ to $>2$, with variations often associated with changes in optical polarization properties. Cross-correlations between optical-to-X-ray emission during four continuous segments show simultaneous optical-ultraviolet (UV) variations while the X-ray and UV/optical are simultaneous only during the middle two segments. In the first segment, the results suggest X-rays lag the optical/UV, while in the last segment X-rays lead by $\sim$ 5-6 days. The last segment also shows a systematic trend with variations appearing first at higher energies followed by lower energy ones. The LAT spectrum before the VHE activity is similar to preceding quiescent state spectrum while it hardens during VHE activity period and is consistent with the extrapolated VHE spectrum during the latter. Overall, the broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) during high activity periods are a combination of a typical OJ 287 SED and an HBL SED, and can be explained in a two-zone leptonic model, with the second zone located at parsec scales, beyond the broad line region, being responsible for the HBL-like spectrum. The change of polarization properties from systematic to chaotic and back to systematic, before, during and after the VHE activity, suggest dynamic roles for magnetic fields and turbulence.