The gamma-ray blazar quest: new optical spectra, state of art and future perspectives

Abstract

We recently developed a procedure to recognize γ -ray blazar candidates within the positional uncertainty regions of the unidentified/unassociated γ -ray sources (UGSs). Such procedure was based on the discovery that Fermi blazars show peculiar infrared colors. However, to confirm the real nature of the selected candidates, optical spectroscopic data are necessary. Thus, we performed an extensive archival search for spectra available in the literature in parallel with an optical spectroscopic campaign aimed to reveal and confirm the nature of the selected γ -ray blazar candidates. Here, we first search for optical spectra of a selected sample of γ -ray blazar candidates that can be potential counterparts of UGSs using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS DR12). This search enables us to update the archival search carried out to date. We also describe the state-of-art and the future perspectives of our campaign to discover previously unknown γ -ray blazars.