2025MNRAS.537.2380Z -
Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 537, 2380-2386 (2025/March-1)
Evidence for magneto-gravitational processes in supermassive black hole binary PG 1553+113.
ZHANG H., YAN D., ZHANG L. and TANG N.
Abstract (from CDS):
PG 1553+113 has drawn significant attention for its quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in $\gamma$-ray variability, though the origin of its variability remains uncertain. In this study, we propose a physical mechanism to explain the observed $\gamma$-ray variability within the framework of a supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) system, supported by a newly identified component hidden in the light curve. A detailed analysis for its $\sim$16-yr light curve obtained from Fermi-LAT observations is performed by Gaussian process. As anticipated, the QPO of 2.1 yr ($771\pm 8$ d) is effectively captured by the stochastically driven damped simple harmonic oscillator kernel within the underdamped regime, and the overall stochastic nature of the variability is described by the damped random walk (DRW) kernel albeit with an unconstrained damping time-scale. Additionally, our results reveal a previously unrecognized component in active galactic nuclei variability, characterized by the Mat$\acute{\rm e}$rn$-3/2$ kernel, which is typically associated with systems undergoing abrupt energy release. These findings can be consistently interpreted within the SMBHB framework. The QPO of $\sim$2.1 yr is likely attributed to the orbital motion in a SMBHB system. The Mat$\acute{\rm e}$rn$-3/2$ component is interpreted as resulting from magnetic reconnection events triggered by gravitational perturbations of the magnetic field within the jet, occurring as one black hole approaches the other. Meanwhile, in this case, the damping time-scale of the common DRW kernel remains unconstrained due to the influence of new perturbations within the system.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.
Journal keyword(s):
methods: data analysis - BL Lacertae objects: individual: PG 1553+113 - galaxies: jets - gamma rays: galaxies
Simbad objects:
3
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