SMBH binary candidate PKS J2134-0153: Possible multi-band periodic variability and inter-band time lags

TL;DR

This study detects multi-band periodic variability in the blazar PKS J2134-0153, revealing correlated flux variations and inter-band time lags, supporting a common emission origin and providing insights into supermassive black hole binary systems.

Contribution

First detection of multi-band periodic variations and inter-band time lags in PKS J2134-0153, linking emission regions and supporting SMBH binary models.

Findings

Infrared and optical periods are consistent with radio period (~1760 days).

Inter-band time lags are approximately 300 days, indicating emission region offsets.

Emission regions are estimated to be within 0.37 and 0.33 parsecs of each other.

Abstract

Studying the periodic flux-variation behavior of blazars is vital for probing supermassive black hole binaries and the kinematics of relativistic jets. In this work, we report the detection of the multi-band possible periodic variations of the blazar PKS J2134-0153, including the infrared ($1.6(\pm0.4)\times 10^3$ days) and optical ($1.8(\pm1)\times 10^3$ days). The periods in the infrared and optical bands are statistically consistent with the period in the radio band ($P_{\mathrm{Radio}}$$ = 1760\pm33$ days, obtained from our previous work). Moreover, flux variations in different bands are correlated with evident inter-band time delays, and the time lags of infrared and optical emission with respect to radio emission are $(3.3\pm2.3)\times10^{2}$ days and $(3.0\pm2.3)\times10^{2}$ days, respectively. The cross-correlations indicate a common origin of radio, infrared, and optical emission. The relative positions between emission regions of infrared and optical emission to radio emission are estimated according to the time lags, i.e., $0.37\pm0.26$ pc and $0.33\pm0.26$ pc. The relative distances seem to be quantitatively consistent with the theoretical prediction.