Multiwavelength Temporal Variability of the Blazar PKS 1510–089

Abstract

We perform correlation and periodicity search analyses on long-term multiband light curves of the flat-spectrum radio quasar PKS 1510−089 observed by the space-based Fermi-Large Area Telescope in γ -rays, the SMARTS and Steward Observatory telescopes in optical and near-infrared (NIR), and the 13.7 m radio telescope in Metsähovi Radio Observatory between 2008 and 2018. The z -transform discrete correlation function method is applied to study the correlation and possible time lags among these multiband light curves. Among all pairs of wavelengths, the γ -ray versus optical/NIR and optical versus NIR correlations show zero time lags; however, both the γ -ray and optical/NIR emissions precede the radio radiation. The generalized Lomb–Scargle periodogram, weighted wavelet z -transform, and REDFIT techniques are employed to investigate the unresolved core emission–dominated 37 GHz light curve and yield evidence for a quasi period around 1540 days, although given the length of the whole data set it cannot be claimed to be significant. We also investigate the optical/NIR color variability and find that this source shows a simple redder-when-brighter behavior over time, even in the low-flux state.

Keywords

• Active galactic nuclei
• Blazars
• Flat-spectrum radio quasars
• Observational astronomy