Optical EVPA rotations in blazars: testing a stochastic variability model with RoboPol data

Abstract

We identify rotations of the polarization angle in a sample of blazars observed for three seasons with the RoboPol instrument. A simplistic stochastic variability model is tested against this sample of rotation events. The model is capable of producing samples of rotations with parameters similar to the observed ones, but fails to reproduce the polarization fraction at the same time. Even though we can neither accept nor conclusively reject the model, we point out various aspects of the observations that are fully consistent with a random walk process.

17 pages, 18 figures, 4 tables. Accepted 2017 August 17 for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (18)

• Fermi Large Area Telescope Second Source Catalog
• Turbulent, Extreme Multi-Zone Model for Simulating Flux and Polarization Variability in Blazars
• Probing the Inner Jet of the Quasar PKS 1510-089 with Multi-waveband Monitoring during Strong Gamma-ray Activity
• Magnetic Driving of Relativistic Outflows in Active Galactic Nuclei. I. Interpretation of Parsec-Scale Accelerations
• Results of WEBT, VLBA and RXTE monitoring of 3C 279 during 2006-2007
• The Outburst of the Blazar S5 0716+71 in 2011 October: Shock in a Helical Jet
• RoboPol: The optical polarization of gamma-ray--loud and gamma-ray--quiet blazars
• RoboPol: First season rotations of optical polarization plane in blazars
• RoboPol: optical polarization-plane rotations and flaring activity in blazars
• MAGIC gamma-ray and multifrequency observations of flat spectrum radio quasar PKS 1510-089 in early 2012
• Synchrotron Polarization in Blazars
• Polarization Swings Reveal Magnetic Energy Dissipation in Blazars
• The RoboPol optical polarization survey of gamma-ray - loud blazars
• The RoboPol Pipeline and Control System
• RoboPol: Do optical polarization rotations occur in all blazars?
• MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar 3C 279 in 2011
• The effect of poloidal velocity shear on the local development of current-driven instabilities
• Polarization swings from curved trajectories of the emitting regions

Cited by in corpus (29)

• Polarized Blazar X-rays imply particle acceleration in shocks
• RoboPol: Connection between optical polarization plane rotations and gamma-ray flares in blazars
• Large-Amplitude Blazar Polarization Angle Swing as a Signature of Magnetic Reconnection
• RoboPol: A four-channel optical imaging polarimeter
• RoboPol: AGN polarimetric monitoring data
• Kink-driven magnetic reconnection in relativistic jets: consequences for X-ray polarimetry of BL Lacs
• Two Flares with One Shock: the Interesting Case of 3C 454.3
• Radiation and Polarization Signatures from Magnetic Reconnection in Relativistic Jets--I. A Systematic Study
• Prospects for Detecting X-ray Polarization in Blazar Jets
• The detection of the blazar S4 0954+65 at very-high-energy with the MAGIC telescopes during an exceptionally high optical state
• Reversals in the Direction of Polarization Rotation in OJ 287
• Probing shock acceleration in BL Lac jets through X-ray polarimetry: the time-dependent view
• First-Principle-Integrated Study of Blazar Synchrotron Radiation and Polarization Signatures from Magnetic Turbulence
• The optical behaviour of BL Lacertae at its maximum brightness levels: a blend of geometry and energetics
• A Model of Polarisation Rotations in Blazars from Kink Instabilities in Relativistic Jets
• The Time-Dependent Distribution of Optical Polarization Angle Changes in Blazars
• Repeated pattern of gamma-ray flares in the lightcurve of the blazar 3C 279
• The RoboPol Program: Optical Polarimetric Monitoring of Blazars
• The University of Michigan Centimeter-Band All Stokes Blazar Monitoring Program: Single-Dish Polarimetry as a Probe of Parsec-Scale Magnetic Fields
• First-Principle Prediction of X-ray Polarization from Magnetic Reconnection in High-Frequency BL Lacs
• The variability of blazars throughout the electromagnetic spectrum
• Variability and evolution of the optical polarization of a sample of gamma-ray blazars
• 180${}^{\circ }$ Rotations in the Polarization Angle for Blazars
• Probing the unidentified Fermi blazar-like population using optical polarization and machine learning
• The beamed jet and quasar core of the distant blazar 4C 71.07
• Optical polarisation variability of radio loud narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies. Search for long rotations of the polarisation plane
• The Method of Searching for Rotations of the Polarization Position Angle of Quasars
• Probing Magnetic Fields and Acceleration Mechanisms in Blazar Jets with X-ray Polarimetry
• Automating the detection of polarization angle rotations in blazars. Re-analysis of RoboPol data reveals 27 new rotations