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Full-Text Articles in Physics

The Physical Properties Of Low-Redshift Felobal Quasars. I. Spectral-Synthesis Analysis Of The Broad Absorption-Line (Bal) Outflows Using Simbal, Hyunseop Choi, Karen M. Leighly, Donald M. Terndrup, Collin Dabbieri, Sarah C. Gallagher, Gordon T. Richards Oct 2022

The Physical Properties Of Low-Redshift Felobal Quasars. I. Spectral-Synthesis Analysis Of The Broad Absorption-Line (Bal) Outflows Using Simbal, Hyunseop Choi, Karen M. Leighly, Donald M. Terndrup, Collin Dabbieri, Sarah C. Gallagher, Gordon T. Richards

Physics and Astronomy Publications

We present the first systematic study of 50 low-redshift (0.66 < z < 1.63) iron low-ionization broad absorption-line quasars (FeLoBALQs) using SimBAL, which represents a more than five-fold increase in the number of FeLoBALQs with detailed absorption line spectral analyses. We found the outflows have a wide range of ionization parameters, − 4 ≲ log U ≲ 1.2 and densities, 2.8 ≲ log n ≲ 8 [ cm − 3 ] . The objects in our sample showed FeLoBAL gas located at a wide range of distances 0 ≲ log R ≲ 4.4 [pc], although we do not find any evidence for disk winds (with R ≪ 0.01 pc) in our sample. The outflow strength primarily depends on the outflow velocity with faster outflows found in quasars that are luminous or that have flat or redder spectral energy distributions. We found that ∼18% of the FeLoBALQs in the sample have the significantly powerful outflows needed for quasar feedback. Eight objects showed overlapping troughs in the spectra, and we identified eleven loitering outflow objects, a new class of FeLoBALQs that are characterized by low outflow velocities and high column density winds located log R ≲ 1 [pc] from the central engine. The FeLoBALs in loitering outflows objects do not show properties expected for radiatively driven winds, and these objects may represent a distinct population among FeLoBALQs. We discuss how the potential acceleration mechanisms and the origins of the FeLoBAL winds may differ for outflows at different locations in quasars.


Nustar Observations Of Intrinsically X-Ray Weak Quasar Candidates: An Obscuration-Only Scenario, Chaojun Wang, B. Luo, W. N. Brandt, D. M. Alexander, F. E. Bauer, Sarah C. Gallagher, Jian Huang, Hezhen Liu, D. Stern Sep 2022

Nustar Observations Of Intrinsically X-Ray Weak Quasar Candidates: An Obscuration-Only Scenario, Chaojun Wang, B. Luo, W. N. Brandt, D. M. Alexander, F. E. Bauer, Sarah C. Gallagher, Jian Huang, Hezhen Liu, D. Stern

Physics and Astronomy Publications

We utilize recent NuSTAR observations (co-added depth ≈55-120 ks) of PG 1001+054, PG 1254+047, and PHL 1811 to constrain their hard X-ray (≳5 keV) weakness and spectral shapes and thus to investigate the nature of their extreme X-ray weakness. These quasars showed very weak soft X-ray emission, and they were proposed to be intrinsically X-ray weak, with the X-ray coronae producing weak continuum emission relative to their optical/UV emission. However, the new observations suggest an alternative explanation. The NuSTAR 3-24 keV spectral shapes for PG 1001+054 and PHL 1811 are likely flat (effective power-law photon indices Γeff=1.0-0.6+0.5 and Γeff=1.4-0.7+0.8, respectively), …


The Physical Properties Of Low-Redshift Felobal Quasars. Iii. The Location And Geometry Of The Outflows, Hyunseop Choi, Karen M. Leighly, Collin Dabbieri, Donald M. Terndrup, Sarah C. Gallagher, Gordon T. Richards Sep 2022

The Physical Properties Of Low-Redshift Felobal Quasars. Iii. The Location And Geometry Of The Outflows, Hyunseop Choi, Karen M. Leighly, Collin Dabbieri, Donald M. Terndrup, Sarah C. Gallagher, Gordon T. Richards

Physics and Astronomy Publications

We present continued analysis of a sample of low-redshift iron low-ionization broad-absorption-line quasars (FeLoBALQs). Choi et al. presented SimBAL spectral analysis of broad-absorption-line (BAL) outflows in 50 objects. Leighly et al. analyzed the optical emission lines of 30 of those 50 objects and found that they are characterized by either a high accretion rate (L Bol/L Edd > 0.3) or low accretion rate (0.03 < L Bol/L Edd < 0.3). We report that the outflow velocity is inversely correlated with the BAL location among the high-accretion-rate objects, with the highest velocities observed in parsec-scale outflows. In contrast, the low-Eddington-ratio objects showed the opposite trend. We confirmed the known relationship between the outflow velocity and L Bol/L Edd and found that the scatter plausibly originates in the force multiplier (launch radius) in the low(high)-accretion-rate objects. A log volume filling factor between −6 and −4 was found in most outflows but was as high as −1 for low-velocity compact outflows. We investigated the relationship between the observed [O iii] emission and that predicted from the BAL gas. We found that these could be reconciled if the emission-line covering fraction depends on the Seyfert type and BAL location. The difference between the predicted and observed [O iii] luminosity is correlated with the outflow velocity, suggesting that [O iii] emission in high-Eddington-ratio objects may be broad and hidden under Fe ii emission. We suggest that the physical differences in the outflow properties as a function of location in the quasar and accretion rate point to different formation, acceleration, and confinement mechanisms for the two FeLoBALQ types.


Complex Energies And The Lambert W Function, A Das, B.G. Sidharth, K. Roberts, Sree Ram Valluri Jun 2022

Complex Energies And The Lambert W Function, A Das, B.G. Sidharth, K. Roberts, Sree Ram Valluri

Physics and Astronomy Publications

We apply the Lambert W function in the context of complex energy values in statistical systems of fermions and bosons. We derive the condition for the transformation connecting fermions and bosons. We discuss the physical significance of these results and investigate the conditions under which bosonization effects take place. The fermion and boson statistical and structural distributions discussed in this work suggest the possibility of their extensions to generalized Planck distributions.


Exploring Changes In Quasar Spectral Energy Distributions Across C Iv Parameter Space, Angelica B. Rivera, Gordon T. Richards, Sarah C. Gallagher, Trevor V. Mccaffrey, Amy L. Rankine, Paul C. Hewett, Ohad Shemmer Jun 2022

Exploring Changes In Quasar Spectral Energy Distributions Across C Iv Parameter Space, Angelica B. Rivera, Gordon T. Richards, Sarah C. Gallagher, Trevor V. Mccaffrey, Amy L. Rankine, Paul C. Hewett, Ohad Shemmer

Physics and Astronomy Publications

We examine the UV/X-ray properties of 1378 quasars in order to link empirical correlations to theoretical models of the physical mechanisms dominating quasars as a function of mass and accretion rate. The clarity of these correlations is improved when (1) using C iv broad emission line equivalent width (EQW) and blueshift (relative to systemic) values calculated from high signal-to-noise ratio reconstructions of optical/UV spectra and (2) removing quasars expected to be absorbed based on their UV/X-ray spectral slopes. In addition to using the traditional C iv parameter space measures of C iv EQW and blueshift, we define a “C iv …


Extremely Broad Ly Α Line Emission From The Molecular Intragroup Medium In Stephan's Quintet: Evidence For A Turbulent Cascade In A Highly Clumpy Multiphase Medium?, P. Guillard, P. N. Appleton, F. Boulanger, J. M. Shull, M. D. Lehnert, G. Pineau Des Forets, E. Falgarone, M. E. Cluver, C. K. Xu, Sarah C. Gallagher, P. A. Duc Jan 2022

Extremely Broad Ly Α Line Emission From The Molecular Intragroup Medium In Stephan's Quintet: Evidence For A Turbulent Cascade In A Highly Clumpy Multiphase Medium?, P. Guillard, P. N. Appleton, F. Boulanger, J. M. Shull, M. D. Lehnert, G. Pineau Des Forets, E. Falgarone, M. E. Cluver, C. K. Xu, Sarah C. Gallagher, P. A. Duc

Physics and Astronomy Publications

We present Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origin Spectrograph (COS) UV line spectroscopy and integral-field unit (IFU) observations of the intragroup medium in Stephan's Quintet (SQ). SQ hosts a 30 kpc long shocked ridge triggered by a galaxy collision at a relative velocity of 1000 km s-1, where large amounts of molecular gas coexist with a hot, X-ray-emitting, plasma. COS spectroscopy at five positions sampling the diverse environments of the SQ intragroup medium reveals very broad (≈2000 km s-1) Lyα line emission with complex line shapes. The Lyα line profiles are similar to or much broader than those of Hβ, [C …