Abstract
The flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C454.3 underwent an extraordinary 5 day γ-ray outburst in 2010 November when the daily flux measured with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) at photon energies E > 100MeV reached (66 2) × 10-6 photons cm-2 s-1. This is a factor of three higher than its previous maximum flux recorded in 2009 December and ≳ 5 times brighter than the Vela pulsar, which is normally the brightest source in the γ-ray sky. The 3hr peak flux was (85 5)×10-6 photons cm-2 s-1, corresponding to an apparent isotropic luminosity of (2.1 0.2)×1050 erg s-1, the highest ever recorded for a blazar. In this Letter, we investigate the features of this exceptional event in the γ-ray band of the Fermi-LAT. In contrast to previous flares of the same source observed with the Fermi-LAT, clear spectral changes are observed during the flare.
Original language | English |
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Article number | L26 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal Letters |
Volume | 733 |
Issue number | 2 PART 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2011 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- galaxies: active
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science