Probing the Emission Mechanism and Magnetic Field of Neutrino Blazars with Multi-Wavelength Polarization Signatures

Abstract

The characteristic two-component blazar spectral energy distribution (SED) can be of either leptonic and/or hadronic origins. The potential association of the high-energy neutrino event IceCube-170922A with the flaring blazar TXS~0506+056 indicates that hadronic processes may operate in a blazar jet. Despite multi-wavelength follow-ups of the event and extensive theoretical modelings, the radiation mechanisms and the underlying magnetic field strength and configuration remain poorly understood. In this paper, we consider generic leptonic and hadronic blazar spectral models with distinct magnetic field strengths and radiation mechanisms. We analytically reproduce the SEDs and the neutrino flux of hadronic models, and predict their X-ray to $\gamma$-ray polarization degrees. Furthermore, by performing relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (RMHD) simulations taking into account the polarization-dependent radiation transfer, we study the time-dependent multi-wavelength polarization variability of the proton synchrotron model under a shock scenario. Our results suggest that the high-energy polarization degree and the neutrino flux can be jointly used to pinpoint the leptonic and/or hadronic blazar radiation mechanisms in the X-ray and $\gamma$-ray bands, and to infer the magnetic field strength in the emission region. Additionally, the temporal multi-wavelength polarization signatures in the proton synchrotron model shed light on the jet energy composition and the dynamical importance of magnetic fields in the blazar emission region. Future multi-wavelength polarimetry facilities such as {\it IXPE} and {\it AMEGO} together with neutrino telescopes such as {\it IceCube} can provide unprecedented observational constraints to probe the blazar radiation mechanisms and jet dynamics.

arXiv commentSubmitted to ApJ

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• The All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory eXplorer (AMEGO-X) Mission Concept
• A two-zone model for blazar emission: implications for TXS 0506+056 and the neutrino event IceCube-170922A
• POEMMA's Target of Opportunity Sensitivity to Cosmic Neutrino Transient Sources
• Patterns in the multi-wavelength behavior of candidate neutrino blazars
• X-ray Polarization Observations of BL Lacertae
• Radiation and Polarization Signatures from Magnetic Reconnection in Relativistic Jets--I. A Systematic Study
• Detection of X-ray Polarization from the Blazar 1ES 1959+650 with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer
• First-Principle-Integrated Study of Blazar Synchrotron Radiation and Polarization Signatures from Magnetic Turbulence
• Hadronic X-ray Flares from Blazars
• High optical to X-ray polarization ratio reveals Compton scattering in BL Lacertae's jet
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• The hunt for extraterrestrial high-energy neutrino counterparts
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• Determining the origin of the X-ray emission in blazars through multiwavelength polarization
• Prospects for Time-Domain and Multi-Messenger Science with eXTP
• Monte-Carlo Applications for Partially Polarised Inverse External-Compton Scattering (MAPPIES) -- I. Description of the code and First Results
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• Did IceCube discover Dark Matter around Blazars?
• Monte-Carlo Applications for Partially Polarized Inverse External-Compton Scattering (MAPPIES) II -- Application to the UV/Soft X-ray Excess in Blazar Spectra
• Diffuse astrophysical neutrinos from dark matter around blazars
• X-ray Spectral Variability as Probe of Multimessenger Emission in Blazar 5BZB J0630-24064
• Testing High-Energy Emission Models for Blazars with X-ray Polarimetry
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• A multi-wavelength view of the multi-messenger sources NGC 1068 and PKS 1502+1061