Unveiling blazar synchrotron emission: A multiwavelength polarimetric study of high-synchrotron and low-synchrotron peaked populations

Capecchiacci, S orcid iconORCID: 0009-0007-1918-577X, Liodakis, I, Middei, R, Kim, DE orcid iconORCID: 0000-0001-5717-3736, Di Gesu, L orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-5614-5028, Agudo, I orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-3777-6182, Agís-González, B orcid iconORCID: 0000-0001-7702-8931, Arbet-Engels, A orcid iconORCID: 0000-0001-9076-9582, Blinov, D orcid iconORCID: 0000-0003-0611-5784, Chen, CT, Ehlert, SR orcid iconORCID: 0000-0003-4420-2838, Gau, E, Heckmann, L orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-6653-8407, Hu, K, Jorstad, SG orcid iconORCID: 0000-0001-6158-1708, Kaaret, P orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-3638-0637, Kouch, PM orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-9328-2750, Krawczynski, H orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-1084-6507, Lindfors, E, Marin, F orcid iconORCID: 0000-0003-2049-2690 et al (2025) Unveiling blazar synchrotron emission: A multiwavelength polarimetric study of high-synchrotron and low-synchrotron peaked populations. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 703. A19-A19. ISSN 0004-6361

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Abstract

The polarimetric properties of blazars enable us to place constraints on the acceleration mechanisms that fuel their powerful jets. By studying the multiwavelength polarimetric behaviour of high-synchrotron peaked (HSP) and low-synchrotron peaked (LSP) blazars, we aim to explore differences in their emission mechanisms and magnetic field structure in the acceleration region. In this study, we take advantage of several X-ray polarisation observations of HSP by the IXPE, including four new observations of Mrk 501, along with optical polarisation observations of LSP from RoboPol and other instruments. We find that the polarisation degree (PD) distribution of HSP in X-rays is systematically higher than in optical and mm-radio wavelengths, as reported in previous IXPE publications. The distribution of the X-ray electric vector position angles (PA) is centred around the jet axis with most of the observations consistent with zero difference within uncertainties. In fact, the distribution of the offset of the PA from the jet axis is consistent between the LSP and HSP populations (with PA measured in optical for the first, X-ray for the latter), suggesting a common magnetic field structure close to the acceleration region. These results offer strong support for the emerging energy stratified scenario of particle acceleration followed by energy loss in blazar jets.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 5101 Astronomical Sciences; 51 Physical Sciences; 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences; Astronomy & Astrophysics; 5101 Astronomical sciences; 5107 Particle and high energy physics; 5109 Space sciences
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date of acceptance: 12 August 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access: 27 November 2025
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2025 13:46
Last Modified: 27 Nov 2025 13:46
DOI or ID number: 10.1051/0004-6361/202555392
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27635
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