Emission models and EBL as a tool to measure the redshift of BL Lac objects

We introduce a new method to determine the redshift of unknown-redshift BL Lac Objects. The method relies on simultaneous multi-wavelength (MWL) observations of BL Lac objects in optical, X-ray, HE (E>100 MeV) gamma-rays and VHE (E>100 GeV)gamma-rays. It involves best-fitting spectral energy distribution (SED) from optical through HE gamma-rays with a Synchrotron-Self-Compton (SSC) model. We extrapolate such best fitting model into VHE regime, and assume that it represents the intrinsic emission of the object. We then compare the observed VHE flux which has been affected by the interaction with Extragalactic Background Light (EBL). Constraining the measured vs intrinsic emission leads to the determination of gamma-gamma opacity. Comparing the obtained opacity with the predicted opacity based on EBL model, we obtain the redshift of the photon source.

BL Lac Objects: Laboratories to study the environment and properties of emitting particles in relativistic jets

We report the variation of the spectral energy distribution (SED) of blazars as a function of source activity, based on available, simultaneous multi-wavelength (MWL) observations of BL Lac objects. We use a fully automatized c{hi}2 minimization procedure, instead of the commonly used eye-ball fit, to model the data sets with a one-zone Synchrotron-Self-Compton (SSC) model. The obtained SSC parameters are then analyzed as a function of source luminosity, and the correlation between parameters is shown. Possibilities of improving the present observational and modeling status of BL Lac objects are also discussed.

Environment and properties of emitting electrons in blazar jets: Mrk 421 as a laboratory

Here we report our recent study on the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the high frequency BL Lac object Mrk 421 in different luminosity states. We used a full-fledged chi2-minimization procedure instead of more commonly used eyeball fit to model the observed flux of the source (from optical to very high energy), with a Synchrotron-Self-Compton (SSC) emission mechanism. Our study shows that the synchrotron power and peak frequency remain constant with varying source activity, and the magnetic field decreases with the source activity while the break energy of electron spectrum and the Doppler factor increase. Since a lower magnetic field and higher density of electrons result in increased electron-photon scattering efficiency, the Compton power increases, so does the total emission.

The environment and distribution of emitting electrons as a function of source activity in Markarian 421

For the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object Mrk 421 we study the variation of the spectral energy distribution (SED) as a function of source activity, from quiescent to active. We use a fully automatized chi-squared minimization procedure, instead of the eyeball procedure more commonly used in the literature, to model nine SED datasets with a one-zone Synchrotron-Self-Compton (SSC) model and examine how the model parameters vary with source activity. The latter issue can finally be addressed now, because simultaneous broad-band SEDs (spanning from optical to VHE photon energies) have finally become available. Our results suggest that in Mrk 421 the magnetic field decreases with source activity, whereas the electron spectrums break energy and the Doppler factor increase -- the other SSC parameters turn out to be uncorrelated with source activity. In the SSC framework these results are interpreted in a picture where the synchrotron power and peak frequency remain constant with varying source activity, through a combination of decreasing magnetic field and increasing number density of electrons below the break energy: since this leads to an increased electron-photon scattering efficiency, the resulting Compton power increases, and so does the total (= synchrotron plus Compton) emission.