Paper detail

Flaring activity of Mrk 421 in 2012 and 2013: orphan flare and multiwavelength analysis

The first one started in 2012 July 16 (MJD 56124) and the second one in 2013 April 9 (MJD 56391). The multiwavelength data analysis shows that the $γ$-ray flare observed in 2012 was not detected in the hard-X ray bands. This result is usually interpreted as an "orphan" flare. In 2013, the analysis of the multiwavelength light curves shows that there are two very bright states detected in the optical R-band. The first one in 2013 April 9 (R =11.74 $\pm$ 0.04) and the second one in May 12 (R =11.62 $\pm$ 0.04). Also, high activity states were detected in the soft and hard X-rays. A discrete correlation function analysis of this last flare shows a strong correlation between the GeV $γ$-rays and the optical/hard-X ray emission. These results are discussed in terms of the more adequate standard scenarios that could explain the multiwavelength variations displayed by this blazar.