Multiwavelength astrophysics of the blazar OJ 287 and the project MOMO

We are carrying out the densest and longest multiyear, multiwavelength monitoring project of OJ 287 ever done. The project MOMO (Multiwavelength Observations and Modelling of OJ 287) covers wavelengths from the radio to the high-energy regime. A few selected observations are simultaneous with those of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). MOMO aims at understanding disk-jet physics and at testing predictions of the binary black hole scenario of OJ 287. Here, we present a discussion of extreme outburst and minima states in context, and then focus on the recent flux and spectral evolution between 2021 and May 2022, including an ongoing bright radio flare. Further, we show that there is no evidence for precursor flare activity in our optical-UV-X-ray light curves that would be associated with any secondary supermassive black hole (SMBH) disk impact and that was predicted to start as thermal flare on 2021 December 23.

[1]  A. Gopakumar,et al.  Unraveling the Innermost Jet Structure of OJ 287 with the First GMVA + ALMA Observations , 2022, The Astrophysical Journal.

[2]  A. Moiseev,et al.  Incremental Fermi Large Area Telescope Fourth Source Catalog , 2022, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.

[3]  A. Gopakumar,et al.  Promise of Persistent Multi-Messenger Astronomy with the Blazar OJ 287 , 2021, Galaxies.

[4]  D. Grupe,et al.  MOMO. IV. The Complete Swift X-Ray and UV/Optical Light Curve and Characteristic Variability of the Blazar OJ 287 during the Last Two Decades , 2021, The Astrophysical Journal.

[5]  F. D’Ammando.  NICER, NuSTAR and swift follow-up observations of the γ-ray flaring blazar BL Lacertae in 2020 August–October , 2021, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

[6]  D. Grupe,et al.  Project MOMO: Multiwavelength Observations and Modeling of OJ 287 , 2021, Universe.

[7]  A. Gopakumar,et al.  X-ray spectral components of the blazar and binary black hole candidate OJ 287 (2005–2020) , 2021, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

[8]  A. Gopakumar,et al.  The 2020 April–June super-outburst of OJ 287 and its long-term multiwavelength light curve with Swift: binary supermassive black hole and jet activity , 2020, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.

[9]  A. Gopakumar,et al.  Spitzer Observations of the Predicted Eddington Flare from Blazar OJ 287 , 2020, The Astrophysical Journal.

[10]  R. Blandford,et al.  Relativistic Jets in Active Galactic Nuclei , 2018, 1812.06025.

[11]  D. Grupe,et al.  High cadence, linear, and circular polarization monitoring of OJ 287 , 2018, Astronomy & Astrophysics.

[12]  F. G. Pinilla,et al.  Authenticating the Presence of a Relativistic Massive Black Hole Binary in OJ 287 Using Its General Relativity Centenary Flare: Improved Orbital Parameters , 2018, The Astrophysical Journal.

[13]  B. Rani,et al.  Location of γ-ray emission and magnetic field strengths in OJ 287 , 2016, 1607.00725.

[14]  J. P. Osborne,et al.  An online repository of Swift/XRT light curves of Γ-ray bursts , 2007, 0704.0128.

[15]  Cambridge,et al.  On characterizing the variability properties of X-ray light curves from active galaxies , 2003, astro-ph/0307420.

[16]  M. Aller,et al.  Radio Monitoring of OJ 287 and Binary Black Hole Models for Periodic Outbursts , 2000 .

[17]  M. Wahde,et al.  A Numerical Simulation of the Brightness Variations of OJ 287 , 1997 .

[18]  A. Sillanpää,et al.  OJ 287 - Binary pair of supermassive black holes , 1988 .

[19]  OUP accepted manuscript , 2022, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

[20]  Joseph P. Near,et al.  How to cite this article , 2011 .