Towards modeling gamma-ray blazar light curves

Abstract

Blazars are known as inherently variable extragalactic objects emitting non-thermal radiation from its jet across the whole electromagnetic band. Variability time scales range from weeks (in the radio band) up to a few minutes at the highest gamma-ray energies. Such information has so far been used for modeling the observed jet radiation only to a limited extent, owing to the capabilities of current jet emission codes. We have developed a self-consistent time-dependent code to model the temporal evolution of the spectral energy distribution of astrophysical jet sources taking into account all relevant radiation processes including both hadronic and leptonic interactions. Here we report on first preliminary results of a parameter study with particular focus on the temporal behaviour of the emission at gamma-ray and optical energies upon instantaneous injection of a relativistic particle population of various composition. Our results demonstrate that complex relationships between the light curves at low and high energies are possible.