Hagen-Thorn, Vladimir

Optical variability of  the blazar 3C 454.3 during 2007-2010.

Author list: V. A. Hagen-Thorn, V. M. Larionov, A. A. Arkharov, E. I. Hagen-Thorn, D. A. Blinov

The color variability of the blazar 3C 454.3 during 2007-2010 has been studied using the results of multicolor (BVRIJHK) observations carried out in the Astronomical Institute of St.-Petersburg State University and Pulkovo Observatory. The existence of two variable synchrotron sources was found. The first is responsible for the flux variability of small amplitude, the second – for the flares. In each flare the relative SED of variable source was found to be constant but spectral indexes were different in different flares. This fact points to impossibility to explain the global variability only by geometrical reasons.