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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sharma, Ajay, Prince, Raj, Bose, Debanjan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.05867
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Table of Contents:
  • We report the detection of a potential quasi-periodic signal with a period of $\sim2$ years in the blazar ON 246, based on Fermi-LAT ($γ$-rays) and ASAS-SN (optical) observations spanning 11.5 years (MJD 55932-60081). We applied various techniques to investigate periodic signatures in the light curves, including the Lomb-Scargle periodogram (LSP), Weighted Wavelet Z-transform (WWZ), and REDFIT. The significance of the signals detected in LSP and WWZ was assessed using two independent approaches: Monte Carlo simulations and red noise modeling. Our analysis revealed a dominant peak in the $γ$-ray and optical light curves, with a significance level exceeding 3$σ$ in both LSP and WWZ, consistently persisting throughout the observation period. Additionally, the REDFIT analysis confirmed the presence of a quasi-periodic signal at $\sim$0.00134 $day^{-1}$ with a 99% confidence threshold. To explain the observed quasi-periodic variations in $γ$-ray and optical emissions, we explored various potential physical mechanisms. Our analysis suggests that the detected periodicity could originate from a supermassive binary black hole (SMBBH) system or the jet-induced orbital motion within such a system. Based on variability characteristics, we estimated the black hole mass of ON 246. The study suggests that the mass lies within the range of approximately $(0.142 - 8.22) \times 10^9 \ M_{\odot}$.