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Late-time Radio Brightening and Emergence of a Radio Jet in the Changing-look AGN 1ES 1927+654

  • Eileen T. Meyer
  • , Sibasish Laha
  • , Onic I. Shuvo
  • , Agniva Roychowdhury
  • , David A. Green
  • , Lauren Rhodes
  • , Amelia M. Hankla
  • , Alexander Philippov
  • , Rostom Mbarek
  • , Ari Laor
  • , Mitchell C. Begelman
  • , Dev R. Sadaula
  • , Ritesh Ghosh
  • , Gabriele Bruni
  • , Francesca Panessa
  • , Matteo Guainazzi
  • , Ehud Behar
  • , Megan Masterson
  • , Haocheng Zhang
  • , Xiaolong Yang
  • Mark A. Gurwell, Garrett K. Keating, David Williams-Baldwin, Justin D. Bray, Emmanuel K. Bempong-Manful, Nicholas Wrigley, Stefano Bianchi, Federica Ricci, Fabio La Franca, Erin Kara, Markos Georganopoulos, Samantha Oates, Matt Nicholl, Main Pal, S. Bradley Cenko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present multifrequency (5-345 GHz) and multiresolution radio observations of 1ES 1927+654, widely considered one of the most unusual and extreme changing-look active galactic nuclei (CL-AGNs). The source was first designated a CL-AGN after an optical outburst in late 2017 and has since displayed considerable changes in X-ray emission, including the destruction and rebuilding of the X-ray corona in 2019-2020. Radio observations prior to 2023 show a faint and compact radio source typical of a radio-quiet AGN. Starting in 2023 February, 1ES 1927+654 began exhibiting a radio flare with a steep exponential rise, reaching a peak 60 times previous flux levels, and has maintained this higher level of radio emission for over a year to date. The 5-23 GHz spectrum is broadly similar to gigahertz-peaked radio sources, which are understood to be young radio jets less than ∼1000 yr old. Recent high-resolution Very Long Baseline Array observations at 23.5 GHz now show resolved extensions on either side of the core, with a separation of ∼0.15 pc, consistent with a new and mildly relativistic bipolar outflow. A steady increase in the soft X-ray band (0.3-2 keV) concurrent with the radio may be consistent with jet-driven shocked gas, though further observations are needed to test alternate scenarios. This source joins a growing number of CL-AGNs and tidal disruption events that show late-time radio activity, years after the initial outburst.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL2
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume979
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2025

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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