Rapid variability of blazars

Abstract

Blazars are characterized by large amplitude and fast variability, indicating that the electron distribution is rapidly changing, often on time scales shorter than the light crossing time. We study the time dependent behavior of the electron distribution after episodic electron injection phases, and calculate the observed synchrotron and self Compton radiation spectra. Since photons produced in different part of the source have different travel times, the observed spectrum is produced by the electron distribution at different stages of evolution. Time delays between the light curves of fluxes at different frequencies are possible, as illustrated for the specific case of the BL Lac object Mkn 421.