Multiwavelength variability of the high-energy neutrino candidate PKS 0735+178 over three decades
高能中微子候选体 PKS 0735+178 三十年的多波段光变
We present the multiwavelength variability of the BL Lac object PKS 0735+178, associated with the high-energy neutrino event IC211208A. The light curves cover the radio (1─230 GHz), optical, and Fermi-LAT <inline-formula><tex-math>$\gamma$</tex-math></inline-formula>-ray bands over a <inline-formula><tex-math>$\sim$</tex-math></inline-formula>30 yr time-scale. The light curves are correlated, with delays from 0 to 1200 d increasing towards lower frequencies, consistent with emission from an opacity-stratified jet. The bright flare after the IC211208A event indicates emission from a compact, optically thick region with enhanced activity and more efficient particle acceleration. Short optical and <inline-formula><tex-math>$\gamma$</tex-math></inline-formula>-ray bursts have been detected very close to the neutrino event, within a few days. The <inline-formula><tex-math>$\sim$</tex-math></inline-formula>12-d lag between the <inline-formula><tex-math>$\gamma$</tex-math></inline-formula>-ray and optical emissions is detected for the first time, suggesting that the emission regions are not co-spatial. A characteristic variability time-scale of <inline-formula><tex-math>$\sim$</tex-math></inline-formula>10─11 yr is robustly detected in the radio─mm bands (<inline-formula><tex-math>${\ge} 3\sigma$</tex-math></inline-formula>), while the optical and <inline-formula><tex-math>$\gamma$</tex-math></inline-formula>-ray data show weaker, shorter period signals. The independent constraints from the VLBI core-shift measurements and radio time delays yield consistent estimates of the jet geometry and disturbance propagation, supporting variability governed by jet propagation effects. The long-term modulation is consistent with a slow variation in energy release at the jet base, while individual flares arise from shocks propagating downstream. Jet precession may contribute to the long-term modulation; however, the required viewing angles are inconsistent with the VLBI constraints, indicating that precession alone cannot explain the observed variability.
展开 ▾首次可靠测定PKS 0735+178伽马射线与光学波段间约12天延迟,表明辐射区非共空间;在射电至毫米波段稳健探测到~10–11年准周期光变,并结合VLBI核位移测量对喷流几何和扰动传播给出自洽约束。
PKS 0735+178作为高能中微子事件IC211208A的可能对应体(IceCube Collaboration 2021;Acharyya+ 2023),先前已被发现具有长期光变和准周期行为(Fan+ 1997;Qian and Tao 2004;Ciprini+ 2007)。VLBI观测揭示其喷流视角很小、存在弯曲和超光速运动(Weaver+ 2022;Agudo+ 2006)。本研究通过约30年的多波段数据,将频率依赖的时间延迟与VLBI核位移测量相结合,支持了激波在分层喷流中传播的图像(如Konigl 1981;Lobanov 1998所描述的模型框架)。未来更高时间分辨率和更多中微子候选体的联合监测,有望进一步区分喷流几何进动(例如Britzen+ 2023讨论的进动模型)与内禀能量释放调制对长期光变的贡献,并检验多区域辐射机制。
预印本 2026-06-20 · 刊出 2026-06-22 · 收录 2026-07-22