Probable low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in blazars from the ZTF survey

TL;DR

This study identifies low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in five blazars from the ZTF survey, suggesting jet precession or plasma motion as potential origins for these periodic signals.

Contribution

First detection of low-frequency QPOs in blazars using ZTF data, with multi-band confirmation and implications for jet dynamics.

Findings

QPO periods range from 144 to 196 days.

Detected at >4σ significance in optical r-band.

Consistent results across multiple analysis techniques.

Abstract

We investigate the possible presence of quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) signals in 2103 blazars from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) time-domain survey. We detect a low-frequency QPO signal in five blazars observed over these 3.8-year-long optical r-band ZTF light curves. These periods range from 144 days to 196 days detected at $\gtrsim 4\sigma$ significance levels in both the Lomb-Scargle periodogram and Weighted Wavelet Z-transform analyses. We find consistent results using the phase dispersion minimization technique. A similar peak is detected in the g-band light curves at a slightly lower significance of 3$\sigma$. Such nearly periodic signals on these timescales in optical wavebands most likely originate from a precessing jet with high Lorentz factor, closely aligned to the observer's line of sight or the movement of plasma blobs along a helical structure in the jet.