Multiwavelength Analysis of the Variability of the Blazar 3C 273

TL;DR

This study provides a comprehensive multiwavelength analysis of the blazar 3C 273 over eight years, revealing unique variability patterns and the dominance of accretion disk emission in optical wavelengths.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed multiwavelength and polarimetric dataset for 3C 273 spanning radio to gamma-rays over eight years, highlighting its distinct variability characteristics.

Findings

Optical emission dominated by accretion disk throughout the study period.

No correlation between gamma-ray spectral index and gamma-ray luminosity.

Anti-correlation between 15 GHz and V-band light curves during specific time range.

Abstract

We present multiwavelength light curves and polarimetric data of the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar 3C 273 over 8 years. The wavelength range of our data set extends from radio to gamma-rays. We found that the optical emission in this source is dominated by the accretion disk during the entire time-frame of study. We additionally find that in contrast with the observed behaviour in other blazars, 3C 273 does not show a correlation between the gamma-ray spectral index and the gamma-ray luminosity. Finally, we identified an anti-correlation between the 15 GHz and V-band light curves for the time-range $JD_{245} = 4860 - 5760$, which we speculate is the consequence of the inner part of the accretion disk falling into the black hole, followed by the ejection of a component into the jet.