Characteristics of the Flare Phenomenon in Blazar AO0235+164 in Gamma, Optical, and Radio Bands

Abstract

The active core of the galaxy AO0235+164 is monitored in the optical and radio bands at millimeter wavelengths. Using the multifrequency data obtained in gamma, optical and radio bands, the characteristics of its radiation in the active phase of 2015–2016 are studied. The cross-correlation method was used to determine the delays of the 2015 flare that took place in AO0235+164 in different bands. The analysis made it possible to establish that, in comparison with the previous flare phenomena, changes in the orientation of the emissions (jets) have occurred. The angle θ between the jets and the direction towards the observer has decreased by a factor of \(\sqrt 2 \), resulting in a twofold increase in the γ-factor. The obtained value γ ≈ 40 is the most extreme value ever observed in AO0235+164 over the entire span of observations.