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Full-Text Articles in Astrophysics and Astronomy
The Recent High State Of The Bl Lacertae Object Ao 0235 And Cross-Correlations Between Optical And Radio Bands, M. Roy, I. E. Papadikis, E. Ramos-Colon, R. Sambruna, K. Tsinganos, J. Papamastorkis, Menas Kafatos
The Recent High State Of The Bl Lacertae Object Ao 0235 And Cross-Correlations Between Optical And Radio Bands, M. Roy, I. E. Papadikis, E. Ramos-Colon, R. Sambruna, K. Tsinganos, J. Papamastorkis, Menas Kafatos
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
We present new optical (B, V , R, I) and radio (at 14.5, 8.5, and 4.8 GHz) observations of the γ-ray- loud blazar AO 0235+164 obtained during the high state of 1997 December-1998 January. The data were combined with historical light curves from the literature to study correlated optical and radio variations over a time span of more than 20 years. Flux variability with large and energy-dependent amplitude is observed at both wave bands, with the source varying over all timescales sampled (years-months- days), in agreement with previous reports. We have performed a cross-correlation analysis of optical and radio light …
Contemporaneous Iue, Euve, And High-Energy Observations Of 3c 273, E. Ramos, Menas Kafatos, A. Fruscione, F. C. Bruhweiler, I. M. Mchardy, R. C. Hartman, L. G. Titarchuk, C. Von Montigny
Contemporaneous Iue, Euve, And High-Energy Observations Of 3c 273, E. Ramos, Menas Kafatos, A. Fruscione, F. C. Bruhweiler, I. M. Mchardy, R. C. Hartman, L. G. Titarchuk, C. Von Montigny
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
We present the results of our 1994 January and 1995 January observations of the quasar 3C 273 obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and the Extreme-Ultraviolet Explorer (EUV E). These observations were part of a large multiwavelength campaign to observe 3C 273 from radio through γ-rays. Our 1995 January photometric observations with the EUV E Lexan/B Deep Survey (DS) instrument indicate strong evidence for variability, at a 99% confidence level, during the 12 day observing period. We have utilized ROSAT PSPC soft X-ray power-law models to correlate with EUV E count rates. Besides variations in the normalization level between …
Multiwavelength Blazar Studies, Menas Kafatos
Multiwavelength Blazar Studies, Menas Kafatos
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
The present report concerns the following projects 'High energy emission from hot accretion disks from active galactic nuclei'; 'OSSE spectral timing and monitoring observations of Cygnus X- 1'; 'OSSE observations of blazars'; and 'Search for correlated time variations of bright EGRET blazars'. The most favored model for the central engine inAGNs is the supermassive black hole hypothesis (Rees 1978). The observed luminosities range from approx. 10 logical and 44-45 erg /s for objects such as Mk 421 and Seyferts to as much as approx. 10logical and 47 for powerful QSOs such as 3C 273 and 3C 279, a large fraction …
Implications Of Gamma-Ray Transparency Constraints In Blazars: Minimum Distances And Gamma-Ray Collimation, P. A. Becker, Menas Kafatos
Implications Of Gamma-Ray Transparency Constraints In Blazars: Minimum Distances And Gamma-Ray Collimation, P. A. Becker, Menas Kafatos
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
We develop a general expression for the γ-γ absorption coefficient, αγγ, for γ-rays propagating in an arbitrary direction at an arbitrary point in space above an X-ray-emitting accretion disk. The X-ray intensity is assumed to vary as a power law in energy and radius between the outer disk radius, R0 , and the inner radius, Rm., which is the radius of marginal stability for a Schwarzschild black hole. We use our result for αγγ to calculate the γ-γ optical depth, Tγγ, for γ-rays created at height z and propagating at angle Φ relative to the disk axis, and we show …
Osse Observations In Blazars, K. Mcnaron-Brown, W. N. Johnson, G. V. Jung, R. L. Kinzer, J. D. Kurfess, M. S. Strickman, C. D. Dermer, D. A. Grabelsky, W. R. Purcell, M. P. Ulmer, Menas Kafatos, P. A. Becker, R. Staubert, M. Maisack
Osse Observations In Blazars, K. Mcnaron-Brown, W. N. Johnson, G. V. Jung, R. L. Kinzer, J. D. Kurfess, M. S. Strickman, C. D. Dermer, D. A. Grabelsky, W. R. Purcell, M. P. Ulmer, Menas Kafatos, P. A. Becker, R. Staubert, M. Maisack
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
Results are reported on observations obtained with the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) of 17 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known to exhibit blazar properties at other wavelengths. These observations span the period from 1991 June through 1994 May. Of the 33 high-confidence EGRET detections of blazars during CGRO observing phases 1 and 2 (1991 May 16-1993 September 7), OSSE has observed eight and detected five, namely 3C 273, 3C 279, PKS 0528+134, CTA 102, and 3C 454.3. Additionally, OSSE has detected the BL Lac sources H1517+65.6 and PKS 2155-304, which were not …
Relativistic Particle Transport In Hot Accretion Disks, P. A. Becker, Menas Kafatos, M. Maisack
Relativistic Particle Transport In Hot Accretion Disks, P. A. Becker, Menas Kafatos, M. Maisack
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
Accretion disks around rapidly rotating black holes provide one of the few plausible models for the production of intense radiation in AGNs above energies of several hundred MeV. The rapid rotation of the hole increases the binding energy per nucleon in the last stable orbit relative to the Schwarzschild case, and naturally leads to ion temperatures in the range 10^12-10^13 K for sub-Eddington accretion rates. The protons in the hot inner region of a steady, two-temperature disk form a reservoir of energy that is sufficient to power the observed EGRET outbursts if the black hole mass is 10^10 M0 • …
The High-Energy Spectrum Of Hot Accretion Disks, J. A. Eilek, Menas Kafatos
The High-Energy Spectrum Of Hot Accretion Disks, J. A. Eilek, Menas Kafatos
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
A hot, two-temperature accretion disk can be a strong γ-ray and relativistic particle source. This occurs when the accretion rate is high enough -- M/ M ≥ 3 X 10^-9 α γr^-1 for a canonical Kerr black hole-due to the high ion temperature in the inner disk. We present detailed photon and particle spectra for specific disk models. The predicted γ-ray flux is as high as 10% of the bolometric luminosity in sub-Eddington models. Most of the γ-radiation is continuous, due to the π^0 decay, emitted around 100 MeV but degraded to a few MeV in optically thick models. Spectral …
Observations Of Two Peculiar Emission Objects In The Large Magellanic Cloud, Menas Kafatos, A. G. Michalitsianos, D. A. Allen, R. E. Stencel
Observations Of Two Peculiar Emission Objects In The Large Magellanic Cloud, Menas Kafatos, A. G. Michalitsianos, D. A. Allen, R. E. Stencel
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
Ultraviolet and visual wavelength spectra were obtained of two peculiar emission objects, Henize S63 and Sanduleak.'s star in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Previously not observed in the near- or far-ultraviolet, both objects exhibit strong permitted and semiforbidden line emission. Estimates based on the absolute continuum flux of the hot companion star in Hen S63 indicate that it rivals the luminosity of the carbon star primary. The emission-line profile structure in both objects does not suggest Wolf-Rayet type emission. Carbon in Sanduleak.'s star (LMC anonymous) is conspicuously absent, while N v, N IV], and N III] dominate the UV emission-line spectrum. …
Gamma Rays From Penrose Powered Black Holes In Centaurus A, 3c 273, And Ngc 4151, Menas Kafatos
Gamma Rays From Penrose Powered Black Holes In Centaurus A, 3c 273, And Ngc 4151, Menas Kafatos
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
Gamma-ray observations of active galaxies have important consequences for theories of the activity in their nuclei. The observations of Cen A, 3C 273, and NGC 4151 are examined under the assumption that Penrose collision processes in the ergospheres of massive black holes power their nuclei. The observed sharp break in the MeV region of the NGC 4151 spectrum cannot be due to the γ-γ pair production process. We attribute this break to the Penrose Compton scattering (PCS), in which γ-rays escape from the ergosphere as a result of Penrose processes involving electrons and lower energy X-ray photons in the ergosphere …
The Central, Compact Source In The Cygnus A Galaxy, Menas Kafatos
The Central, Compact Source In The Cygnus A Galaxy, Menas Kafatos
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
Single, optically thin, component models as well as double, optically thick at low frequencies, component models have been examined in trying to explain the central source in the nucleus of Cygnus A. In the course of exploring those models, it is found that this compact radio source may be quite similar to other compact and variable sources in Seyfert galaxies and quasars. Double component models generally do better because they fit the X-rays, and there is a good chance that the X-rays arise in the central source; these models can naturally explain variability which may already have been detected in …
Penrose Pair Production In Massive, Extreme Kerr Black Holes, D. Leiter, Menas Kafatos
Penrose Pair Production In Massive, Extreme Kerr Black Holes, D. Leiter, Menas Kafatos
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
We show that in the case of very massive (M > 108 M0 ) Kerr black holes with extreme ranges of angular momentum 1 ≥ a/M > 0.998, the possibility of photon-induced Penrose pair production (PPP) in the ergosphere is very plausible. The pairs that escape the ergosphere are very high energy and on the order of the GeV rest mass of the Penrose accreted protons which participate in the photon-induced pair production process. Application of this model to the case of quasistellar objects (QSOs) is shown to lead to reasonable predictions about their masses, lifetimes, and luminosities. The physical mechanism is …