Discovering High-$z$ BL Lacs Using Swift/UVOT and SARA Observations with the Dropout Technique

TL;DR

This study employs the dropout technique with Swift/UVOT and SARA observations to estimate redshifts of BL Lac objects, successfully identifying several high-redshift sources and expanding the known sample.

Contribution

Introduces a photometric dropout method using combined space and ground-based data to determine redshifts of BL Lacs, including new high-$z$ discoveries.

Findings

Identified four new high-$z$ BL Lacs with $z>1.3$

Increased high-$z$ BL Lac sample to 23 sources

Provided redshift upper limits for 50 sources

Abstract

Measuring spectroscopic redshifts for BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects, a class of blazar, is challenging because their optical spectrum lacks, or has weak, emission lines ( equivalent width $\leqslant5\AA$). In this situation, alternative techniques are necessary for the estimation of distances to these sources. In this paper, we estimate the redshift by the photometric dropout technique for a sample of 64 blazars (59 BL Lacs and five blazar candidates of uncertain type). Two telescopes are utilized to observe the sample. The Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) on board {\it Swift} ({\it Swift}/UVOT) observes sources in $uvw2,\ uvm2,\ uvw1,\ u,\ b,\ v$ filters, while the ground-based telescopes SARA-CT/RM observed sources in $g',\ r,' \ i',\ z'$ filters. We fit the photometric data with the LePHARE package and report four new high-$z$ ($z>1.3$) BL Lacs at $2.03^{+0.07}_{-0.05}$, $1.84^{+0.10}_{-0.03}$, $2.04^{+0.16}_{-0.14}$, and $2.93^{+0.01}_{-0.04}$ as well as upper limits for 50 sources. This work increased the number of high-$z$ BL Lacs found by this method up to 23. The high-$z$ sources are discussed in the context of the cosmic gamma-ray horizon, blazar sequence, Fermi blazar divide, and masquerading BL Lacs.