The Connection between the Radio Jet and the γ-ray Emission in the Radio Galaxy 3C 120 and the Blazar CTA 102

We present multi-wavelength studies of the radio galaxy 3C 120 and the blazar CTA 102 during unprecedented gamma-ray flares for both sources. In both studies the analysis of gamma-ray data has been compared with a series of 43 GHz VLBA images from the VLBA-BU-BLAZAR program, providing the necessary spatial resolution to probe the parsec scale jet evolution during the high energy events. To extend the radio dataset for 3C 120 we also used 15 GHz VLBA data from the MOJAVE sample. These two objects which represent very different classes of AGN, have similar properties during the gamma-ray events. The gamma-ray flares are associated with the passage of a new superluminal component through the mm VLBI core, but not all ejections of new components lead to gamma-ray events. In both sources gamma-ray events occurred only when the new components are moving in a direction closer to our line of sight. We locate the g-ray dissipation zone a short distance from the radio core but outside of the broad line region, suggesting synchrotron self-Compton scattering as the probable mechanism for the gamma-ray production.open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu