Multiwavelength Observations of 6 BL Lac Objects in 2008-2012

• Published in: EPJ Web of conferences Vol. 61; pp. 4018 - np
• Main Authors: Morozova, D.A., Jorstad, S.G., Marscher, A.P., Larionov, V.M., Troitskiy, I.S., Blinov, D.A., Agudo, I., Smith, P.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Blazars; Evolution; Flares; Flux; Jets; Knots; Monitoring; Photometry
• ISSN: 2100-014X; 2100-014X
• DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20136104018

We present results of 4 years of VLBA monitoring along with gamma -ray and optical R-band photometric observations of 6 BL Lac objects (3C 66A, S5 0716+71, PKS 0735+17, S4 0954+68, W Com, and OT 081). We have analyzed total intensity images obtained with the VLBA at 43 GHz and investigated the kinematic evolution of the parsec scale jets of the sources. For all sources we compare flux variations in the VLBI core and bright superluminal knots with gamma -ray and optical light curves. The majority of gamma -ray flares have optical counterparts. 67% of the gamma -ray events are coincident with the appearance of new superluminal knots and/or flares in the millimeter-wave core. These results support the conclusion that for many flares in blazars the region of the gamma -ray and optical emission is located in the vicinity or downstream of the mmwave VLBI core.