118446261
ON THE X-RAY BALDWIN EFFECT IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI OBSERVED BY THE CHANDRA HIGH-ENERGY GRATING
Using Chandra high-energy grating (HEG) observations of 32 active galactic nuclei (AGNs), we present a systematic study of the X-ray Baldwin effect (XBE; i.e., the anti-correlation between the narrow Fe Kα line equivalent width (EW) and X-ray continuum luminosity for AGN samples) with the highest spectral resolution currently available. We have previously reported an anti-correlation with EW∝L –0.22 2-10 keV in an HEG sample, and the correlation is much weaker after averaging multiple observations of individual AGNs (EW∝L –0.13 2-10 keV). This indicates that rapid variation in the X-ray continuum plays an important role in producing the XBE, and such an effect should also be visible in individual AGNs. In this Letter, by normalizing the line EWs and continuum luminosities to the time-averaged values for each AGN in our sample with multiple HEG observations, we find a strong anti-correlation between EW and LX (EW/EW∝(L/L)–0.82 ± 0.10), consistent with the XBE expected in an individual AGN if the narrow line flux remains constant while the continuum varies. This is first observational evidence that the Fe Kα line flux in a large sample of AGNs lacks a corresponding response to the continuum variation, supporting the fact that the narrow Fe-K line emission originates from a region far from the nucleus. We then performed Monte Carlo simulations to address whether the global XBE can be produced by X-ray continuum variation solely, and found that such an interpretation of the XBE cannot be ruled out statistically. One should thus be very cautious before drawing any scientific conclusion based on an observed XBE.
121240830
Relation between Starlight and Nebular Emission Lines of Star-Forming Galaxies
We present an exercise that intends to establish a relationship between the strength of nebular emission lines and optical stellar features in the spectrum of a galaxy. After accurately subtracting the stellar continuum and the underlying stellar absorption, we made reliable measurements of the emission lines of all the galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 2 (SDSS DR2). More than 4000 star-forming galaxies with high S/N ratio of both the stellar spectrum and the emission lines are selected. These galaxy spectra are fitted with the 10 PCs of Yip et al., after all the emission line regions have been filtered out. We find that the flux of hydrogen Balmer emission lines, H α and H β can be well recovered from the PCs, while the metal lines are not well reproduced. The fluxes of H α and H β measured from the PC-reconstructed spectra and from the observed spectra agree well with an rms scatter of only ~0.1 dex. This result suggests that, with moderate spectral resolution and S/N ratio, the optical stellar spectrum of a galaxy can serve as an indicator of star formation rate.
13062064
Polar outflows in six broad absorption line quasars
Using radio observations by FIRST and NVSS, we build a sample of 151 radio-variable quasars selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 3 (SDSS DR3). Six (and probably another two) of these objects are classified as broad absorption line (BAL) quasars and show radio flux variations of a few tens of percent within 1.5-5 yr. Such large amplitudes of variations imply brightness temperatures much higher than the inverse Compton limits (10(12) K) in all these BAL quasars, suggesting the presence of relativistic jets beaming toward the observer. The angles between the outflow and the jet are constrained to be less than similar to 20 degrees. Such BAL quasars with polar outflows are beyond the simple unification models of BAL and non-BAL quasars, which hypothesize BAL quasars as otherwise normal quasars seen nearly edge-on.
119360994
The 172 ks Chandra Exposure of the LALA Bootes Field: X-Ray Source Catalog
We present an analysis of a deep, 172 ks Chandra observation of the Large Area Lyman Alpha survey (LALA) Bootes field, obtained with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS-I) on board the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. This is one of the deepest Chandra images of the extragalactic sky; only the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field North (CDF-N) and 1 Ms Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S) are substantially deeper. In this paper we present the X-ray source catalog obtained from this image, along with an analysis of source counts and optical identifications. The X-ray image is composed of two individual observations obtained in 2002 and reaches 0.5–2.0 and 2.0–10.0 keV flux limits of 1.5 × 10-16 and 1.0 × 10-15 ergs cm-2 s-1, respectively, for point sources near the aim point. A total of 168 X-ray sources were detected: 160 in the 0.5–7.0 keV band, 132 in the 0.5–2.0 keV band, and 111 in the 2.0–7.0 keV band. The X-ray source counts were derived and compared with those from other Chandra deep surveys; the hard X-ray source density of the LALA Bootes field is 33% higher than that of CDF-S at the flux level of 2.0 × 10-15 ergs cm-2 s-1, confirming the field-to-field variances of the hard-band source counts reported by previous studies. The deep exposure resolves 72% of the 2.0–10.0 keV X-ray background. Our primary optical data are R-band imaging from the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS), with a limiting magnitude of R = 25.7 (Vega, 3 σ, and 4'' diameter aperture). We have found optical counterparts for 152 of the 168 Chandra sources (90%); 144 of these are detected in the R-band image, and eight have optical counterparts in other bands (either BW, V, I, or z'). Among the R-band nondetected sources, not more than 11 of them can possibly be at z > 5, based on the hardness ratios of their X-ray emission and nondetections in bluer bands (BW, V). The majority (~76%) of the X-ray sources are found to have log(fX/fR) within 0.0 ± 1; these are believed to be AGNs. Most of the X-ray–faint/optically bright sources [log(fX/fR) 1.0], which are harder in X-ray and are probably obscured AGNs.
119329374
Polarization of Quasars: Rotated and Funnel-shaped Outflow
Polarization is a useful probe to investigate the geometries and dynamics of outflow in BAL QSOs. We perform a Monte-Carlo simulation to calculate the polarization produced by resonant and electron scattering in BALR. We find: 1)A rotated and funnel-shaped outflow is preferred to explain many observed polarization features. 2)The resonant scattering can contribute a significant part of NV emission line in some QSOs.
16103411
Partially obscured quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Early Data Release
We have compiled a sample of 21 low redshift (z . 0.3), luminous active galactic nuclei (AGN) with large Balmer decrements (Hα/Hβ > 7) using the galaxy and QSO catalogs of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Early Data Release. Using this sample we attempt to determine the fraction of quasars with large internal absorption. We find that these AGN have Strong [O III] λ5007 and broad Hα emission, and that starlight dominates the spectra in the blue band, suggesting that these objects are heavily reddened. Their narrow emission line ratios are similar to those of Seyfert 2 galaxies, yet the average [O III] λ5007 emission is ∼10 times more luminous. Applying the empirical relation between the optical continuum and the Balmer line luminosity for blue quasars, we find that the intrinsic luminosities of these 21 objects are in the range for quasars. We propose that they are obscured, intermediate type quasars analogous to type 1.8 and 1.9 Seyfert galaxies. The ratio of these optically selected, intermediate type quasars to type 1 quasars are found to be around 1, similar to that for local Seyfert galaxies. Preliminary study indicates that most of these quasars are hosted in early type galaxies. Subject headings: galaxies: active — quasars: general — galaxies: nuclei
59132262
Quantifying solar superactive regions with vector magnetic field observations
Context. The vector magnetic field characteristics of superactive regions (SARs) hold the key for understanding why SARs are extremely active and provide the guidance in space weather prediction. Aims. We aim to quantify the characteristics of SARs using the vector magnetograms taken by the Solar Magnetic Field Telescope at Huairou Solar Observatory Station. Methods. The vector magnetic field characteristics of 14 SARs in solar cycles 22 and 23 were analyzed using the following four parameters: 1) the magnetic flux imbalance between opposite polarities; 2) the total photospheric free magnetic energy; 3) the length of the magnetic neutral line with its steep horizontal magnetic gradient; and 4) the area with strong magnetic shear. Furthermore, we selected another eight large and inactive active regions (ARs), which are called fallow ARs (FARs), to compare them with the SARs. Results. We found that most of the SARs have a net magnetic flux higher than 7.0×10 21 Mx, a total photospheric free magnetic energy higher than 1.0 ×10 24 ergcm −1 , a magnetic neutral line with a steep horizontal magnetic gradient (≥300 GMm −1 ) longer than 30 Mm, and an area with strong magnetic shear (shear angle ≥80 ◦ ) greater than 100 Mm 2 . In contrast, the values of these parameters for the FARs are mostly very low. The Pearson χ 2 test was used to examine the significance of the difference between the SARs and FARs, and the results indicate that these two types of ARs can be fairly distinguished by each of these parameters. The significance levels are 99.55%, 99.98%, 99.98%, and 99.96%, respectively. However, no single parameter can distinguish them perfectly. Therefore we propose a composite index based on these parameters, and find that the distinction between the two types of ARs is also significant with a significance level of 99.96%. These results are useful for a better physical understanding of the SAR and FAR.
119217895
Constraining extragalactic background light from TeV blazars
Aims. Our goal is to research the upper limits to the extragalactic background light (EBL). Methods. The upper limits to the extragalactic background light (EBL) are presented, using the Fermi and very high energy (VHE) spectra recently observed in TeV blazars. We use an assumption that the VHE intrinsic photon index cannot be harder than the Fermi index measured by the Fermi-LAT. Results. These upper limits are compatible with ones given by most EBL models; however, the models of high EBL density are contradicted by TeV blazars.
17304996
EDDINGTON RATIO GOVERNS THE EQUIVALENT WIDTH OF Mg II EMISSION LINE IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
We have investigated the ensemble regularities of the equivalent widths (EWs) of Mg II lambda 2800 emission line of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), using a uniformly selected sample of 2092 Seyfert 1 galaxies and quasars at 0.45 <= z <= 0.8 in the spectroscopic data set of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Fourth Data Release. We find a strong correlation between the EW of Mg II and the AGN Eddington ratio (L/L(Edd)): EW(Mg II) proportional to (L/L(Edd))(-0.4). Furthermore, for AGNs with the same L/L(Edd), their EWs of Mg II show no correlation with luminosity, black hole mass, or line width, and the Mg II line luminosity is proportional to continuum luminosity, as expected by photoionization theory. Our result shows that Mg II EW is not dependent on luminosity, but is solely governed by L/L(Edd).
54682320
INTEGRAL and Swift/XRT observations of the source PKS 0208-512
Aims. The active galaxy PKS 0208-512, detected at lower energies by COMPTEL, has been claimed to be a MeV blazar from EGRET. We report on the most recent INTEGRAL observations of the blazar PKS 0208-512, which are supplemented by Swift ToO observations. Methods. The high energy X-ray and gamma-ray emission of PKS 0208-512 during August-December 2008 has been studied using 682 ks of INTEGRAL guest observer time and similar to 56 ks of Swift/XRT observations. These data were collected during the decay of a gamma-ray flare observed by Fermi/LAT. Results. At X-ray energies (0.2-10 keV) PKS 0208-512 is significantly detected by Swift/XRT, showing a power-law spectrum with a photon index of similar to 1.64. Its X-ray luminosity varied by roughly 30% during one month. At hard X-/soft gamma-ray energies PKS 0208-512 shows a marginally significant (similar to 3.2 sigma) emission in the 0.5-1 MeV band when combining all INTEGRAL/SPI data. Non-detections at energies below and above this band by INTEGRAL/SPI may indicate intrinsic excess emission. If this possible excess is produced by the blazar, one possible explanation could be that its jet consists of an abundant electron-positron plasma, which may lead to the emission of an annihilation radiation feature. Assuming this scenario, we estimate physical parameters of the jet of PKS 0208-512.
18385480
Rapidly variable Fe K$\alpha$ line in NGC 4051
We present a detailed analysis on the variability of the Fe K emission line in NGC 4051 using ASCA data. Through simple Gaussian line fits, we find not only obvious Fe K line variability with no significant difference in the X-ray continuum flux between two ASCA observations which were separated by $\sim$ 440 days, but also rapid variability of Fe K line on time scales $\sim 10^4$ s within the second observation. During the second observation, the line is strong (EW = 733$^{+206}_{-219}$ eV) and broad ($\sigma = 0.96^{+0.49}_{-0.35}$ keV) when the source is brightest, and become weaker (EW = 165$^{+87}_{-86}$ eV) and narrower ($\sigma<0.09$ keV) whilst the source is weakest. The equivalent width of Fe K line correlates positively with the continuum flux, which shows an opposite trend with another Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG --6-30-15.