14568541
Origin of power-law X-ray emission in the steep power-law state of X-ray binaries
We present a new explanation for the origin of the steep power-law (SPL) state of X-ray binaries. The power-law component of X-ray emission is the synchrotron radiation of relativistic electrons in highly magnetized compact spots orbiting near the inner stable circular orbit of a black hole. It has a hard spectrum that extends to above MeV energies, which is determined by the electron acceleration rate. These photons are then down-scattered by the surrounding plasma to form an observed steep spectrum. We discuss the relevance of the model to high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations and the extremely high luminosity of the SPL state.
14071619
The Mass Distribution of Black Holes in BL Lacertae Objects
In this {\it Letter}, we make an attempt to estimate the masses of black holes and their distributions in BL Lac objects. We find there is a bimodal population of black hole masses in BL Lacs: the first has a lower-mass peak centred at $\sim 7.0 \times 10^6\sunm$ composed of high frequency-peaked BL Lacs (HBLs) and the second is a higher-mass ($>10^9\sunm$) population composed of low frequency-peaked BL Lacs (LBLs). The low mass family of black holes in HBLs does not satisfy the Magorrian et al. relation whereas the high mass family in LBLs does this relation and is in agreement with Laor's limit. The origination of the bimodal distribution of black hole mass remains open.
118436895
Mechanism of very high energy radiation in BL Lacertae object 3C 66A
Aims. Our goal is to understand the nature of blazars and the mechanisms for generating high-energy.-rays, through investigation of the blazar 3C 66A. Methods. We model the high-energy spectrum of 3C 66A, which was observed recently with the Fermi-LAT and VERITAS telescopes. The spectrum has a hard change from the energy range of 0.2-100 GeV to 200-500 GeV in recent almost contemporaneous observations of two telescopes. Results. The de-absorbed VERITAS spectrum depends strongly on redshift, which is highly uncertain. If z = 0.444 is adopted, we are able to use the SSC model to produce the Fermi-LAT component and the EC model to the VERITAS component. However, if z = 0.1, the intrinsic VERITAS spectrum will be softer, and there will be a smooth link between the Fermi-LAT and VERITAS spectra that can be explained using an SSC model.
17685255
Knot in centaurus A: A stochastic magnetic field for diffusive synchrotron radiation?
The emission of relativistic electrons moving in the random and small-scale magnetic field is presented by diffusive synchrotron radiation (DSR). In this Letter, we revisit the perturbative treatment of DSR. We propose that a random and small-scale magnetic field might be generated by the turbulence. As an example, multiband radiation of the knot in Cen A comes from the electrons with energy gamma(e) similar to 10(3 -) 10(4) in the magnetic field of 10(-3) G. The multiband spectrum of DSR is well determined by the feature of a stochastic magnetic field. These results put strong constraints on the models of particle acceleration.
17321754
Implications of Bulk Velocity Structures in AGN Jets
Synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) models and External Compton (EC) models of AGN jets with continually longitudinal and transverse bulk velocity structures have been constructed. The observed spectra show complex and interesting patterns in different velocity structures and viewing angles. These models were used to calculate the synchrotron and inverse Compton spectra of two typical BL Lac objects (BLO) (Mrk 421 and 0716+714) and (one) Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQs) (3C 279), and to discuss the implications of jet bulk velocity structures in a unification of the BLO and FR I radio galaxies (FRI). By calculating the synchrotron spectra and SSC spectra of BL Lac object jets with continually bulk velocity structures, we have found that the spectra are much different from those in jets with a uniform velocity structure under increasing viewing angles. The unification of BLO and FRI is less constrained by the viewing angles, and would be imprinted by velocity structures intrinsic to the jets, themselves. By considering jets with bulk velocity structures constrained by the apparent speed, we discuss the velocity structures imprinted on the observed spectra for different viewing angles. We find that the spectra are greatly impacted by longitudinal velocity structures, because the volume elements are compressed or expanded. Finally, we present the EC spectra of FSRQs and FR II radio galaxies (FRII), and find that they are weakly affected by the velocity structures compared to synchrotron and SSC spectra.
118677286
Gamma-ray Burst Prompt Emission: Jitter Radiation in Stochastic Magnetic Field Revisited
We revisit the radiation mechanism of relativistic electrons in the stochastic magnetic field and apply it to the high-energy emissions of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We confirm that jitter radiation is a possible explanation for GRB prompt emission in the condition of a large electron deflection angle. In the turbulent scenario, the radiative spectral property of GRB prompt emission is decided by the kinetic energy spectrum of turbulence. The intensity of the random and small-scale magnetic field is determined by the viscous scale of the turbulent eddy. The microphysical parameters epsilon(e) and epsilon(B) can be obtained. The acceleration and cooling timescales are estimated as well. Due to particle acceleration in magnetized filamentary turbulence, the maximum energy released from the relativistic electrons can reach a value of about 10(14) eV. The GeV GRBs are possible sources of high-energy cosmic-ray.
17200560
Ionized ultraviolet and soft X-ray absorption in the low-redshift active galactic nucleus PG 1126−041
We present here the analysis of ultraviolet spectra from IUE and an X-ray spectrum from ROSAT PSPC observations of the X-ray-weak, far-infrared-loud AGN, PG 1126−041 (Mrk 1298). The first UV spectra taken in 1992 June, simultaneously with ROSAT, show strong absorption lines of N v, C iv and Si iv, extending over a velocity range from −1000 to −5000 km s−1 with respect to the corresponding line centre. Our analysis shows that the broad emission-line region (BELR) is, at least partially, covered by the material causing these absorption lines. In the IUE spectrum taken in 1995 January, the continuum was a factor of 2 brighter and the UV absorption lines are found to be considerably weaker than in 1992, but little variation in the emission-line fluxes is found. With UV spectral indices of αUV≃1.82 and 1.46 for the 1992 and 1995 data, the far-UV spectrum is steep. Based on the emission-line ratios and the broad-band spectral energy distribution, we argue that the steepness of the UV spectrum is unlikely to be caused by reddening. 
 
 
 
The soft X-ray emission in the ROSAT band is weak. A simple power-law model yields a very poor fit with a UV-to-X-ray spectral index αUVX=2.3. Highly ionized (warm) absorption is suggested by the ROSAT data. After correcting for a warm absorber, the optical to X-ray spectral slope is close to the average of αUVX≃1.67 for radio-quiet quasars. 
 
 
 
From photoionization calculations we find the following results. (1) A single-zone absorption model cannot explain simultaneously the UV absorption lines and the ionized X-ray absorption if metal abundances are solar. Furthermore, in order to be consistent with the equivalent width of the observed Lyα absorption line, the turbulent velocity of the warm absorber must be less than 190 km s−1, which imposes serious constraints on a disc wind model. (2) The UV absorption lines and their variability cannot be explained by a single-zone model with solar abundances and the large variability in the absorption lines suggests that C iv and N v absorption lines are not severely saturated. (3) The absorption of the ionizing continuum by warm material strongly affects the emission-line spectrum.
44348987
Searches for violation of lepton flavour and baryon number in tau lepton decays at LHCb
Searches for the lepton flavour violating decay tau(-) -> mu(-)mu(+)mu(-) and the lepton flavour and baryon number violating decays tau(-) -> (p) over bar mu(+)mu(-) and tau(-) -> p mu(-)mu(-) have been carried out using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1), taken by the LHCb experiment at root s = 7 TeV. No evidence has been found for any signal, and limits have been set at 90% confidence level on the branching fractions: B(tau(-) -> mu(-)mu(+)mu(-) mu(+)mu(-)) p mu(-)mu(-)) (p) over bar mu(+)mu(-) and tau(-) -> p mu(-)mu(-) decay modes represent the first direct experimental limits on these channels. (C) 2013 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
15380121
A Puzzling X-Ray Source Found in the Chandra Deep Field-South
In this Letter, we report the detection of an extremely strong X-ray emission line in the 940 ks Chandra ACIS-I spectrum of CXOCDFS J033225.3-274219. The source was identified as a type 1 active galactic nucleus at a redshift of z = 1.617, with a 2.0-10.0 keV rest-frame X-ray luminosity of ~1044 ergs s-1. The emission line was detected at 6.2 keV, with an equivalent width (EW) of 4.4 keV; both quantities refer to the observed frame. In the rest frame, the line is at 16.2 keV with an EW of 11.5 keV. An X-ray emission line at a similar energy (~17 keV, in the rest frame) in PKS 2149-306 was discovered before using ASCA data. We reject the possibility that the line is due to a statistical or instrumental artifact. The line is most likely due to blueshifted Fe K emission from an relativistic outflow, probably an inner X-ray jet, with velocities of the order of ~0.6c-0.7c. Other possible explanations are also discussed.
118509207
The 2009 outburst from the new X-ray transient and black-hole candidate XTE J1652-453
We analyse the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and Swift observations of the 2009 outburst from a newly discovered transient and black hole candidate XTE J1652-453. The behaviour of the source was observed by RXTE to be a sequence of spectral states that are typical of black-hole X-ray binaries. During the first seven observations, it is determined that the source remains in a high/soft state. This is determined from the spectrum that is dominated by a soft thermal component, which contributes an average of similar to 85 per cent to the X-ray flux at 2-20 keV, and from the hardness similar to 0.1 showing up in the hardness-intensity diagram. For the last 20 observations, the spectral state is classified as low/hard, according to an average hardness of similar to 0.8 and a balance between the thermal and the non-thermal components; a power-law component takes >= 80 per cent of the total 2-20 keV flux. Located in between is an intermediate state that the source might have experienced. The usual relationship between the rms and hardness is also present in the hardness-rms diagram. Throughout the outburst, no quasi-periodic oscillations are found in XTE J1652-453.
5695154
Precision measurements of the timelike electromagnetic form factors of pion, kaon, and proton.
Using 20.7 pb(-1) of e(+)e(-) annihilation data taken at sq.rt(r) = 3.671 GeV with the CLEO-c detector, precision measurements of the electromagnetic form factors of the charged pion, charged kaon, and proton have been made for timelike momentum transfer of |Q(2)| = 13.48 GeV(2) by the reaction e(+)e(-) --> h(+)h(-). The measurements are the first ever with identified pions and kaons of |Q(2)| > 4 GeV(2), with the results F(13.48 GeV(2)) = 0.075 +/- 0.008(stat) +/- 0.005(syst) and F(K)(13.48 GeV(2)) = 0.063 +/- 0.004(stat) +/- 0.001(syst). The result for the proton, assuming G(p)(E) = G(p)(M), is G(p)(M)(13.48 GeV(2)) = 0.014 +/- 0.002(stat) +/- 0.001(syst), which is in agreement with earlier results.