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Paper: Are the time lags in TeV blazars an artifact of periodic gaps in the light curves?
Volume: 290, Active Galactic Nuclei: from Central Engine to Host Galaxy
Page: 365
Authors: Zhang, Y. H.; Treves, A.; Cagnoni, I.
Abstract: The three famous TeV blazars, i.e., Mrk 421, Mrk 501 and PKS 2155-304, show violent variability in the X-rays. We will discuss the important issue regarding the variability, i.e., the inter-band X-ray time lags of these sources. Recent long-look and intensive monitoring of these sources with ASCA, BeppoSAX, RXTE and XMM-Newton have revealed that the X-ray time lags are variable from flare to flare. Both the soft and hard lags have been found to be energy-dependent. These discoveries impose strong implications on the acceleration and cooling mechanism of the relativistic electrons responsible for the observed X-ray emission. We will also discuss how the interplay between the acceleration, injection and synchrotron cooling time may interpret the observed variations of the time lags and their energy-dependence, from which the parameters of the emitting region are constrained. The evolution of the X-ray time lags in TeV blazars are explored on the basis of the internal shock models taking place in the blazar jets.
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