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| Paper: |
The Western Kentucky University Blazar Monitoring Program: The First Four Years |
| Volume: |
350, Blazar Variability Workshop II: Entering the GLAST Era |
| Page: |
82 |
| Authors: |
Walters, R.; Barnaby, D.; Carini, M. |
| Abstract: |
In 2000, we began a blazar monitoring program utilizing the 0.6m telescope of the Bell Observatory at Western Kentucky University. We chose a sample of objects from across the αro - αox plane in order to characterize the variability characteristics of HBLs, IBLs and LBLs. The most rapid timescale variations, known as microvariability, provide information on differences in jet characteristics and observations of microvariability at different colors provides insight into the nature of the particle acceleration mechanisms in the different subclasses of blazars during different activity levels. On longer timescales (days to weeks) multiwavelength observations (via our participation in WEBT campaigns, VERITAS campaigns, etc) can be used to confront models describing the origin of the seed photons responsible for the observed high energy emission in these objects. Through our ability to obtain well sampled light curves, we will, at the longest timescales (weeks to decades), establish the differences in the variability properties between different sub-classes. We present here the results of the first fours years of this program. |
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