A NICER view of the multi-messenger processes in AGN
ORAL
Abstract
On 22 September 2017, IceCube reported a high-energy neutrino event, which was found to be coincident with a flaring blazar, TXS 0506+056. This multi-messenger observation, with IceCube neutrinos and gamma-rays detected by Fermi-LAT, hinted at blazars being sources of observed high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. However, a separate time-integrated study using IceCube data reported that a Seyfert galaxy, NGC 1068, is a source of astrophysical neutrinos. Because of the different nature of the two sources and the lack of significant neutrino and gamma-ray correlation, this causes confusion regarding the processes that lead to the production of these neutrinos in Active Galaxies. This issue can be tackled by more multi-messenger and multi-wavelength observations and relevant studies. Our work will provide the first results of such a study which uses joint photon and neutrino observations to compare it to theoretical model predictions. The photon observations are taken from NICER, NuSTAR, CHANDRA and Fermi-LAT for a blazar and a seyfert galaxy. This talk will also address the future implications of our study and how upcoming telescopes can help us better understand AGN processes.
*Funded by the NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowship and NICER Cycle 7 GO program.
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Publication: https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.10194
(Submitted to ApJ, in final review stage)
Presenters
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Abhishek Desai
- NASA GSFC and ORAU