Multi-wavelength observations of the BL Lac object Fermi J1544-0649: One year after its awakening

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Abstract

We report observations of a transient source Fermi J1544-0649 from radio to γ-rays. Fermi J1544-0649 was discovered by the Fermi-LAT in May 2017. Follow-up Swift-XRT observations revealed three flaring episodes through March 2018, and the peak X-ray flux is about 103 higher than the ROSAT all-sky survey (RASS) flux upper limit. Optical spectral measurements taken by the Magellan 6.5-m telescope and the Lick-Shane telescope both show a largely featureless spectrum, strengthening the BL Lac interpretation first proposed by Bruni et al. (2018). The optical and mid-infrared (MIR) emission goes to a higher state in 2018, when the flux in high energies goes down to a lower level. Our RATAN-600 m measurements at 4.8 GHz and 8.2 GHz do not indicate any significant radio flux variation over the monitoring seasons in 2017 and 2018, nor deviate from the archival NVSS flux level. During GeV flaring times, the spectrum is very hard (Γγ1.7) in the GeV band and at times also very hard ((ΓX2) in the X-rays, similar to a high-synchrotron-peak (or even an extreme) BL Lac object, making Fermi J1544-0649 a good target for ground-based Cherenkov telescopes.

Graphical abstract

We report observations of a transient source Fermi J1544-0649 from radio to γ-rays. Fermi J1544-0649 was discovered by the Fermi-LAT in May 2017. Follow-up Swift-XRT observations revealed three flaring episodes through March 2018, and the peak X-ray flux is about 103 higher than the ROSAT all-sky survey (RASS) flux upper limit. Optical spectral measurements taken by the Magellan 6.5-m telescope and the Lick-Shane telescope both show a largely featureless spectrum, strengthening the BL Lac interpretation first proposed by Bruni et al. (2018). The optical and mid-infrared (MIR) emission goes to a higher state in 2018, when the flux in high energies goes down to a lower level. Our RATAN-600 m measurements at 4.8 GHz and 8.2 GHz do not indicate any significant radio flux variation over the monitoring seasons in 2017 and 2018, nor deviate from the archival NVSS flux level. During GeV flaring times, the spectrum is very hard (Γγ1.7) in the GeV band and at times also very hard ((ΓX2) in the X-rays, similar to a high-synchrotron-peak (or even an extreme) BL Lac object, making Fermi J1544-0649 a good target for ground-based Cherenkov telescopes.

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Keywords

Galaxies
BL Lacertae objects
General
Radiation mechanisms
Non-thermal
Surveys

Cited by (0)

MWL observations of Fermi J1544-0649.