Multi-wavelength variability analysis of the blazar S5 0716+714 during a long-lasting period of low activity

TL;DR

This study presents a comprehensive multi-wavelength monitoring of the blazar S5 0716+714, revealing a long-term activity decline, short-term quasi-periodic oscillations, and insights into jet dynamics during a low activity phase.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed multi-wavelength observational analysis of S5 0716+714 during low activity, including modeling of flares and jet parameters, which is novel in capturing the source's behavior over extended periods.

Findings

Gradual decrease in activity since 2020 in optical and gamma-ray bands.

Detection of a 43.5-day quasi-periodic oscillation in optical light curves.

Absence of intranight flares suggests a homogeneous jet flow during low activity.

Abstract

We conducted a multi-wavelength monitoring campaign of the blazar S5 0716+714 from 2022 November 26 to 2023 May 28 using optical telescopes in Egypt and Bulgaria. Data were taken during 84 nights in 11 of which intranight monitoring was performed. We also use optical and gamma-ray survey data. On long-term time-scales, we find a gradual decrease of the S5 0716+714 activity since the beginning of 2020 in both optical and gamma-rays. On short-term time-scales, the individual optical light curves are strongly correlated among each other with no time lags observed. The V-band percentage variability amplitude equals 97.59 +/- 0.02 per cent. We find moderate flatter-when-brighter spectral behaviour with the strength of the 'spectral index - flux' anti-correlation decreasing towards the longer wavelengths. The main feature of the short-term light curves is a transient quasi-periodic oscillation with a period of 43.5 +/- 3.6 d. The V-band light curve is modelled with two helically moving blobs and a synchrotron flare. We estimate the resulting parameters, as well as limits on the radius, magnetic field strength, and electron Lorentz factor of the region responsible for the flare. On intranight time-scales, we find smooth flux variations with no flares and derive a duty cycle in the range ~10-20 per cent. The lack of flares on intranight time-scales could result from a temporarily homogeneous jet flow without formation of turbulent cells in terms of prevented Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The analysis of the data reveals a low activity of S5 0716+714 on all time-scales during the observation period.