Possible Quasi-Periodic Gamma-ray Emission from Blazar PG 1553+113

ORAL

Abstract

We report an update on a possible gamma-ray and multiwavelength nearly periodic oscillation in an active galactic nucleus. Data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope exhibit an apparent quasi-periodicity in the gamma-ray flux (E $>$ 100 MeV) from the GeV/TeV BL Lac object PG 1553+113. The indication of a 2.18 $\pm$ 0.08 year period gamma-ray cycle is strengthened by correlated oscillations observed in radio and optical fluxes, through data collected in the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, Tuorla, Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope, and Catalina Sky Survey monitoring programs and Swift-UVOT. Further long-term multiwavelength monitoring of this blazar may discriminate among the possible explanations for this quasi-periodicity.

Authors

  • David Thompson

    NASA/GSFC

  • Sara Cutini

    Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) Science Data Center, I-00133 Roma, Italy

  • Stefano Ciprini

    Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) Science Data Center, I-00133 Roma, Italy

  • Stefan Larsson

    Department of Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Al- baNova, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

  • Antonio Stamerra

    INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, I-10025 Pino Torinese (TO), Italy