Multi-wavelength Observations of Markarian 501

Abstract

The very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray blazar Markarian 501 has a history of extreme spectral variability and is an excellent laboratory for studying the physical processes within the jets of active galactic nuclei. A short term multi-wavelength study of Markarian 501 was coordinated in March 2009 using the Suzaku X-ray satellite as well as the VERITAS and MAGIC experiments to cover the critical X-ray and VHE gamma-ray bands. The results of the quiescent-state observations with VERITAS and Suzaku are combined with public data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and compared to historical observations of the source during an extreme outburst, to examine the spectral variability, particularly how the spectral energy distribution varies with flux.