The Infrared/Gamma-ray Blazar Connection (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

The Infrared/Gamma-ray Blazar Connection

Caption

An analysis of blazar properties observed by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and Fermi's Large Area Telescope (LAT) reveal a correlation in emissions from the mid-infrared to gamma rays, an energy range spanning a factor of 10 billion. When plotted by gamma-ray and mid-infrared colors, confirmed Fermi blazars (gold dots) form a unique band not shared by other sources beyond our galaxy. A blue line marks the best fit of these values. The relationship allows astronomers to identify potential new gamma-ray blazars by studying WISE infrared data.

Credit

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Francesco Massaro, University of Turin

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