Long-Term X-Ray and TeV variability of Mrk 501

Abstract

We present X-ray observations of the blazar Mrk501 obtained with RXTE during 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2004. The goal of this study is twofold: 1) characterize the long-term X-ray flux and spectral variability of the source with a model-independent analysis, and 2) investigate the X-ray and TeV correlation on long timescales. The spectral and temporal variability properties appear to be markedly different compared to those of non-jet-dominated radio-loud and radio-quiet AGN monitored with RXTE. To investigate the X-ray/TeV correlation on long timescales we compared RXTE data with HEGRA and Whipple historical light curves. We confirm the presence of a direct correlation, which appears to be stronger when the source is brighter. The analysis of individual flares shows that the X-ray\TeV correlated activity is heterogeneous. However, more sensitive TeV observations are necessary to confirm these findings, and to put tighter constraints on jet models (abridged).

20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Does the Blazar Gamma-Ray Spectrum Harden with Increasing Flux? Analysis of 9 Years of EGRET Data
• Multi-color Optical Variability of the TeV Blazar Mrk 501 in the Low-State
• The nature of a broad line radio galaxy: Simultaneous RXTE and Chandra HETG observations of 3C 382
• Long-Term X-Ray spectral variability of the radio-loud NLS1 galaxy PKS 0558-504
• Long-Term X-Ray monitoring of NGC6251: Evidence for a jet-dominated radio galaxy