Progress in Multiwavelength and Multi-Messenger Observations of Blazars and Theoretical Challenges

TL;DR

This review summarizes recent observational advances in blazar studies across multiple wavelengths and messengers, discusses current theoretical models, and highlights future prospects with upcoming facilities like IXPE and CTA.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent observational results and theoretical challenges in multi-wavelength and multi-messenger blazar research, emphasizing future developments.

Findings

Detection of blazars as sources of IceCube neutrinos

Advances in gamma-ray observations with Fermi, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, VERITAS

Anticipated progress with IXPE and CTA

Abstract

This review provides an overview of recent advances in multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observations of blazars, the current status of theoretical models for blazar emission, and prospects for future facilities. The discussion of observational results will focus on advances made possible through the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope and ground-based gamma-ray observatories (H.E.S.S., MAGIC, VERITAS) as well as the recent first evidence for a blazar being a source of IceCube neutrinos. The main focus of this review will be the discussion of our current theoretical understanding of blazar multi-wavelength and multi-messenger emission, in the spectral, time, and polarization domains. Future progress will be expected in particular through the development of the first X-ray polarimeter, IXPE, and the installation of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), both expected to become operational in the early to mid 2020s.