3C 279: where are the flare gamma rays produced?
Question
Where do gamma rays originate in the jet of 3C 279 during flares, and what evidence supports different emission scenarios?
Answer
Flare-dependent, probably multi-zone. The literature does not place all 3C 279 flares at one distance.
- The brightest, fastest flares fit inside or near the outer edge of the BLR (2014 giant flare; 2017–18 flares at d ≈ 4.4×1017 cm vs RBLR ≈ 1.4×1017 cm).
- Other major flares sit outside the BLR, at sub-parsec to parsec scales (2009–10: rmin ≈ 0.62 pc).
- Long-term modeling (2008–2022): most states outside the BLR, the two brightest near its outer edge.
8 referencesExcerpt, abridged
How this answer was made
The literature agent searched published work on 3C 279 flares, compared the emission-site distances each study derives, and grouped the flares by where they fit. The answer cites papers for its statements, and each reference links to its NASA ADS record. The full answer cites 8 papers; four are shown here.
More on this part of AstroGenesis: Literature analysis for astrophysics questions.
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