A multi-wavelength view of the multi-messenger sources NGC 1068 and PKS 1502+1061

TL;DR

This study combines multi-wavelength and neutrino data to investigate the high-energy processes in two active galactic nuclei, aiming to better understand their role as potential sources of astrophysical neutrinos.

Contribution

It provides new multi-wavelength observations and neutrino flux estimates for NGC 1068 and PKS 1502+106, advancing multi-messenger modeling of AGNs.

Findings

Neutrino fluxes constrained for both AGNs.

Multi-wavelength data supports model testing.

Highlights importance of combined observational approaches.

Abstract

Multi-messenger astronomy offers a powerful approach to studying high-energy radiative processes in astrophysical sources. A notable example was seen in 2017, when the IceCube Neutrino Observatory detected a high-energy neutrino event that was found to coincide with a gamma-ray flare from a blazar. Since then, numerous multi-messenger studies combining neutrino and photon data have been conducted, yet the origin of neutrinos from active galactic nuclei (AGN) remains uncertain. In this work, we present the results of an X-ray observing program targeting two AGNs, NGC 1068 and PKS 1502+106. The multi-wavelength dataset includes new observations from NICER and NuSTAR from the observing proposal along with gamma-ray data collected using Fermi-LAT, and one archival observation from Chandra. Additionally, we derive the neutrino fluxes for both AGNs using ten years of IceCube data and neutrino spectra predicted by theoretical models. These results demonstrate the value of combining multi-messenger data in building and constraining theoretical models. They also highlight the importance of testing model predictions against observational data to refine measurements of both the neutrino flux and spectral shape.