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Articles 1 - 28 of 28
Full-Text Articles in Physics
The X-Rays Wind Connection In Pg 2112+059, C. Saez, W. N. Brandt, F. E. Bauer, G. Chartas, T. Misawa, F. Hamann, Sarah C. Gallagher
The X-Rays Wind Connection In Pg 2112+059, C. Saez, W. N. Brandt, F. E. Bauer, G. Chartas, T. Misawa, F. Hamann, Sarah C. Gallagher
Physics and Astronomy Publications
We study the connection between the X-ray and ultraviolet (UV) properties of the broad absorption line (BAL) wind in the highly X-ray variable quasar PG 2112+059 by comparing Chandra-ACIS data with contemporaneous UV HST/STIS spectra in three different epochs. We observe a correlation whereby an increase in the equivalent widths (EWs) of the BALs is accompanied by a redder UV spectrum. The growth in the BAL EWs is also accompanied by a significant dimming in soft X-ray emission (≳2, keV), consistent with increased absorption. Variations in the hard X-ray emission (≳2, keV) are only accompanied by minor spectral variations of …
Agn Photoionization Of Gas In Companion Galaxies As A Probe Of Agn Radiation In Time And Direction, William C. Keel, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Anna Pancoast, Chelsea E. Harris, Anna Nierenberg, S. Drew Chojnowski, Alexei V. Moiseev, Dmitry V. Oparin, Chris J. Lintott, Kevin Schawinski, Graham Mitchell, Claude Cornen
Agn Photoionization Of Gas In Companion Galaxies As A Probe Of Agn Radiation In Time And Direction, William C. Keel, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Anna Pancoast, Chelsea E. Harris, Anna Nierenberg, S. Drew Chojnowski, Alexei V. Moiseev, Dmitry V. Oparin, Chris J. Lintott, Kevin Schawinski, Graham Mitchell, Claude Cornen
Physics
We consider active galactic nucleus (AGN) photoionization of gas in companion galaxies (cross-ionization) as a way to sample the intensity of AGN radiation in both direction and time, independent of the gas properties of the AGN host galaxies. From an initial set of 212 AGN+companion systems, identified with the help of Galaxy Zoo participants, we obtained long-slit optical spectra of 32 pairs that were a priori likely to show cross-ionization based on projected separation or angular extent of the companion. From emission-line ratios, 10 of these systems are candidates for cross-ionization, roughly the fraction expected if most AGNs have ionization …
Studying The [O Iii]Λ5007 Å Emission-Line Width In A Sample Of ∼ 80 Local Active Galaxies: A Surrogate For Σ⋆?, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Donald Loveland, Edward Donohue, Maren Cosens, Sean Lewis, S. Komossa, Tommaso Treu, Matthew A. Malkan, Nathan Milgram, Kelsi Flatland, Matthew W. Auger, Daesong Park, Mariana S. Lazarova
Studying The [O Iii]Λ5007 Å Emission-Line Width In A Sample Of ∼ 80 Local Active Galaxies: A Surrogate For Σ⋆?, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Donald Loveland, Edward Donohue, Maren Cosens, Sean Lewis, S. Komossa, Tommaso Treu, Matthew A. Malkan, Nathan Milgram, Kelsi Flatland, Matthew W. Auger, Daesong Park, Mariana S. Lazarova
Physics
For a sample of ∼ 80 local (0.02 ≤ z" role="presentation">z ≤ 0.1) Seyfert-1 galaxies with high-quality long-slit Keck spectra and spatially resolved stellar-velocity dispersion (σ⋆) measurements, we study the profile of the [O iii]λ5007 Å emission line to test the validity of using its width as a surrogate for σ⋆. Such an approach has often been used in the literature, since it is difficult to measure σ⋆ for type-1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) due to the AGN continuum outshining the stellar-absorption lines. Fitting the [O iii] line with a single Gaussian or Gauss–Hermite …
Measurement Of Atmospheric Neutrino Oscillations At 6–56 Gev With Icecube Deepcore, Karen Andeen
Measurement Of Atmospheric Neutrino Oscillations At 6–56 Gev With Icecube Deepcore, Karen Andeen
Physics Faculty Research and Publications
We present a measurement of the atmospheric neutrino oscillation parameters using three years of data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The DeepCore infill array in the center of IceCube enables the detection and reconstruction of neutrinos produced by the interaction of cosmic rays in Earth’s atmosphere at energies as low as ∼5 GeV. That energy threshold permits measurements of muon neutrino disappearance, over a range of baselines up to the diameter of the Earth, probing the same range of L/Eν as long-baseline experiments but with substantially higher-energy neutrinos. This analysis uses neutrinos from the full sky with reconstructed energies …
Multiwavelength Follow-Up Of A Rare Icecube Neutrino Multiplet, Karen Andeen
Multiwavelength Follow-Up Of A Rare Icecube Neutrino Multiplet, Karen Andeen
Physics Faculty Research and Publications
On February 17, 2016, the IceCube real-time neutrino search identified, for the first time, three muon neutrino candidates arriving within 100 s of one another, consistent with coming from the same point in the sky. Such a triplet is expected once every 13.7 years as a random coincidence of background events. However, considering the lifetime of the follow-up program the probability of detecting at least one triplet from atmospheric background is 32%. Follow-up observatories were notified in order to search for an electromagnetic counterpart. Observations were obtained by Swift’s X-ray telescope, by ASAS-SN, LCO and MASTER at optical wavelengths, …
H0licow Vii: Cosmic Evolution Of The Correlation Between Black Hole Mass And Host Galaxy Luminosity, Xuheng Ding, Tommaso Treu, Sherry H. Suyu, Kenneth C. Wong, Takahiro Morishita, Daesong Park, Dominique Sluse, Matthew W. Auger, Adriano Agnello, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Thomas E. Collett
H0licow Vii: Cosmic Evolution Of The Correlation Between Black Hole Mass And Host Galaxy Luminosity, Xuheng Ding, Tommaso Treu, Sherry H. Suyu, Kenneth C. Wong, Takahiro Morishita, Daesong Park, Dominique Sluse, Matthew W. Auger, Adriano Agnello, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Thomas E. Collett
Physics
Strongly lensed active galactic nuclei (AGN) provide a unique opportunity to make progress in the study of the evolution of the correlation between the mass of supermassive black holes (MBH) and their host galaxy luminosity (Lhost). We demonstrate the power of lensing by analysing two systems for which state-of-the-art lens modelling techniques have been applied to deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging data. We use (i) the reconstructed images to infer the total and bulge luminosity of the host and (ii) published broad-line spectroscopy to estimate MBH using the so-called virial method. We then enlarge …
Compact Resolved Ejecta In The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event, Eric S. Perlman, Eileen T. Meyer, Q. Daniel Wang, Qiang Yuan, Richard N. Henriksen, Judith A. Irwin, Marita Krause, Theresa Wiegert, Eric J. Murphy, George H. Heald, Ralf-Jürgen Dettmar
Compact Resolved Ejecta In The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event, Eric S. Perlman, Eileen T. Meyer, Q. Daniel Wang, Qiang Yuan, Richard N. Henriksen, Judith A. Irwin, Marita Krause, Theresa Wiegert, Eric J. Murphy, George H. Heald, Ralf-Jürgen Dettmar
Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications
Tidal disruption events (TDEs) occur when a star or substellar object passes close enough to a galaxy's supermassive black hole to be disrupted by tidal forces. NGC 4845 (d = 17 Mpc) was host to a TDE, IGR J12580+0134, detected in 2010 November. Its proximity offers us a unique close-up of the TDE and its aftermath. We discuss new Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) and Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array observations, which show that the radio flux from the active nucleus created by the TDE has decayed in a manner consistent with predictions from a jet-circumnuclear medium interaction model. …
Extending The Calibration Of C Iv-Based Single-Epoch Black Hole Mass Estimators For Active Galactic Nuclei, Daeseong Park, Aaron J. Barth, Jong-Hak Woo, Matthew A. Malkan, Tommaso Treu, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Roberto J. Assef, Anna Pancoast
Extending The Calibration Of C Iv-Based Single-Epoch Black Hole Mass Estimators For Active Galactic Nuclei, Daeseong Park, Aaron J. Barth, Jong-Hak Woo, Matthew A. Malkan, Tommaso Treu, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Roberto J. Assef, Anna Pancoast
Physics
We provide an updated calibration of C iv broad emission line–based single-epoch (SE) black hole (BH) mass estimators for active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using new data for six reverberation-mapped AGNs at redshift with BH masses (bolometric luminosities) in the range ( erg s−1). New rest-frame UV-to-optical spectra covering 1150–5700 Å for the six AGNs were obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Multicomponent spectral decompositions of the HST spectra were used to measure SE emission-line widths for the C iv, Mg ii, and Hβ lines, as well as continuum luminosities in the spectral region around each line. …
All-Sky Search For Time-Integrated Neutrino Emission From Astrophysical Sources With 7 Yr Of Icecube Data, Karen Andeen
All-Sky Search For Time-Integrated Neutrino Emission From Astrophysical Sources With 7 Yr Of Icecube Data, Karen Andeen
Physics Faculty Research and Publications
Since the recent detection of an astrophysical flux of high-energy neutrinos, the question of its origin has not yet fully been answered. Much of what is known about this flux comes from a small event sample of high neutrino purity, good energy resolution, but large angular uncertainties. In searches for point-like sources, on the other hand, the best performance is given by using large statistics and good angular reconstructions. Track-like muon events produced in neutrino interactions satisfy these requirements. We present here the results of searches for point-like sources with neutrinos using data acquired by the IceCube detector over 7 …
On R - W1 As A Diagnostic To Discover Obscured Active Galactic Nuclei In Wide-Area X-Ray Surveys, Stephanie M. Lamassa, Francesca Civano, Marcella Brusa, Daniel Stern, Eilat Glikman, Sarah Gallagher, C. Meg Urry, Sabrina Cales, Nico Cappelluti, Carolin Cardamone, Andrea Comastri, Duncan Farrah, Jenny E. Greene, S. Komossa, Andrea Merloni, Tony Mroczkowski, Priyamvada Natarajan, Gordon Richards, Mara Salvato, Kevin Schawinski, Ezequiel Treister
On R - W1 As A Diagnostic To Discover Obscured Active Galactic Nuclei In Wide-Area X-Ray Surveys, Stephanie M. Lamassa, Francesca Civano, Marcella Brusa, Daniel Stern, Eilat Glikman, Sarah Gallagher, C. Meg Urry, Sabrina Cales, Nico Cappelluti, Carolin Cardamone, Andrea Comastri, Duncan Farrah, Jenny E. Greene, S. Komossa, Andrea Merloni, Tony Mroczkowski, Priyamvada Natarajan, Gordon Richards, Mara Salvato, Kevin Schawinski, Ezequiel Treister
Physics and Astronomy Publications
Capitalizing on the all-sky coverage of WISE and the 35% and 50% sky coverage from Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Pan-STARRS, respectively, we explore the efficacy of mR (optical) - (mid-infrared), hereafter , as a color diagnostic to identify obscured supermassive black hole accretion in wide-area X-ray surveys. We use the ∼16.5 deg2 Stripe 82 X-ray survey data as a test bed to compare with R - K, an oft-used obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) selection criterion, and examine where different classes of objects lie in this parameter space. Most stars follow a well-defined path in R - K versus …
Evolution Of Broad-Line Emission From Active Galactic Nuclei, Moshe Elitzur, Luis C. Ho, Jonathan R. Trump
Evolution Of Broad-Line Emission From Active Galactic Nuclei, Moshe Elitzur, Luis C. Ho, Jonathan R. Trump
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Apart from viewing-dependent obscuration, intrinsic broad-line emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) follows an evolutionary sequence: type 1 → 1.2/1.5 → 1.8/1.9 → 2 as the accretion rate on to the central black hole is decreasing. This spectral evolution is controlled, at least in part, by the parameter Lbol/M2/3, where Lbol is the AGN bolometric luminosity and M is the black hole mass. Both this dependence and the double-peaked profiles that emerge along the sequence arise naturally in the disc-wind scenario for the AGN broad-line region.
Interpreting The Ionization Sequence In Agn Emission-Line Spectra, Chris T. Richardson, James T. Allen, Jack A. Baldwin, Paul C. Hewett, Gary J. Ferland
Interpreting The Ionization Sequence In Agn Emission-Line Spectra, Chris T. Richardson, James T. Allen, Jack A. Baldwin, Paul C. Hewett, Gary J. Ferland
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
We investigate the physical cause of the great range in the ionization level seen in the spectra of narrow-lined active galactic nuclei (AGN). We used a recently developed technique called mean field independent component analysis to identify examples of individual Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxies whose spectra are not dominated by emission due to star formation (SF), which we therefore designate as AGN. We assembled high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) composite spectra of a sequence of these AGN defined by the ionization level of their narrow-line regions (NLR), and extending down to very low ionization cases. We then used a local …
The Second-Generation Z (Redshift) And Early Universe Spectrometer. I. First-Light Observation Of A Highly Lensed Local Ulirg Analog At High-Z, Carl Ferkinhoff, Drew Brisbin, Stephen Parshley, Thomas Nikola, Gordon J. Stacey, Justin Schoenwald, James L. Higdon, Sarah J.U. Higdon, Aprajit Verma, Dominik Riechers, Steven Hailey-Dunsheath, Karl M. Menten, Rolf Güsten, Axel Weiß, Kent Irwin, Hsiao M. Cho, Michael Niemack, Mark Halpern, Mandana Amiri, Matthew Hasselfield, D.V. Wiebe, Peter A.R. Ade, Carol E. Tucker
The Second-Generation Z (Redshift) And Early Universe Spectrometer. I. First-Light Observation Of A Highly Lensed Local Ulirg Analog At High-Z, Carl Ferkinhoff, Drew Brisbin, Stephen Parshley, Thomas Nikola, Gordon J. Stacey, Justin Schoenwald, James L. Higdon, Sarah J.U. Higdon, Aprajit Verma, Dominik Riechers, Steven Hailey-Dunsheath, Karl M. Menten, Rolf Güsten, Axel Weiß, Kent Irwin, Hsiao M. Cho, Michael Niemack, Mark Halpern, Mandana Amiri, Matthew Hasselfield, D.V. Wiebe, Peter A.R. Ade, Carol E. Tucker
Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
We recently commissioned our new spectrometer, the second-generation z(Redshift) and Early Universe Spectrometer (ZEUS-2) on the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment telescope. ZEUS-2 is a submillimeter grating spectrometer optimized for detecting the faint and broad lines from distant galaxies that are redshifted into the telluric windows from 200 to 850 μm. It uses a focal plane array of transition-edge sensed bolometers, the first use of these arrays for astrophysical spectroscopy. ZEUS-2 promises to be an important tool for studying galaxies in the years to come because of its synergy with Atacama Large Millimeter Array and its capabilities in the short submillimeter …
A Transition Mass For Black Holes To Show Broad Emission Lines, Susmita Chakravorty, Martin Elvis, Gary J. Ferland
A Transition Mass For Black Holes To Show Broad Emission Lines, Susmita Chakravorty, Martin Elvis, Gary J. Ferland
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Although the supermassive (AGN) and stellar mass (BHBs) black holes have many properties in common, the broad emission lines (BELs) are exclusively signatures of the active galactic nuclei (AGN). Based on the detection of these lines from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data bases, there seems to be no AGN with mass MBH ≲ 105 M⊙. In this paper, we investigate if such low-mass black holes are really non-existent or they are undetected because the BELs in them are not produced efficiently. Using the ionizing spectral energy distribution for a wide range of black hole mass, …
Estimations Of The Magnetic Field Strength In The Torus Of Ic 5063 Using Near-Infrared Polarimetry, E. Lopez-Rodriguez, C. Packham, S. Young, Moshe Elitzur, N. A. Levenson, R. E. Mason, C. Ramos Almeida, A. Alonso-Herrero, T. J. Jones, E. Perlman
Estimations Of The Magnetic Field Strength In The Torus Of Ic 5063 Using Near-Infrared Polarimetry, E. Lopez-Rodriguez, C. Packham, S. Young, Moshe Elitzur, N. A. Levenson, R. E. Mason, C. Ramos Almeida, A. Alonso-Herrero, T. J. Jones, E. Perlman
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
An optically and geometrically thick torus obscures the central engine of active galactic nuclei (AGN) from some lines of sight. From a magnetohydrodynamical framework, the torus can be considered to be a particular region of clouds surrounding the central engine where the clouds are dusty and optically thick. In this framework, the magnetic field plays an important role in the creation, morphology and evolution of the torus. If the dust grains within the clouds are assumed to be aligned by paramagnetic alignment, then the ratio of the intrinsic polarization and visual extinction, P(per cent)/Av, is a …
Classification And Analysis Of Emission-Line Galaxies Using Mean Field Independent Component Analysis, James T. Allen, Paul C. Hewett, Chris T. Richardson, Gary J. Ferland, Jack A. Baldwin
Classification And Analysis Of Emission-Line Galaxies Using Mean Field Independent Component Analysis, James T. Allen, Paul C. Hewett, Chris T. Richardson, Gary J. Ferland, Jack A. Baldwin
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
We present an analysis of the optical spectra of narrow emission-line galaxies, based on mean field independent component analysis (MFICA), a blind source separation technique. Samples of galaxies were drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and used to generate compact sets of ‘continuum’ and ‘emission-line’ component spectra. These components can be linearly combined to reconstruct the observed spectra of a wider sample of galaxies. Only 10 components – five continuum and five emission line – are required to produce accurate reconstructions of essentially all narrow emission-line galaxies to a very high degree of accuracy; the median absolute deviations …
Residual Cooling And Persistent Star Formation Amid Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback In Abell 2597, G. R. Tremblay, C. P. O'Dea, S. A. Baum, T. E. Clarke, C. L. Sarazin, J. N. Bregman, F. Combes, M. Donahue, A. C. Edge, A. C. Fabian, Gary J. Ferland, B. R. Mcnamara, R. Mittal, J. B. R. Oonk, A. C. Quillen, H. R. Russell, J. S. Sanders, P. Salomé, G. M. Voit, R. J. Wilman, M. W. Wise
Residual Cooling And Persistent Star Formation Amid Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback In Abell 2597, G. R. Tremblay, C. P. O'Dea, S. A. Baum, T. E. Clarke, C. L. Sarazin, J. N. Bregman, F. Combes, M. Donahue, A. C. Edge, A. C. Fabian, Gary J. Ferland, B. R. Mcnamara, R. Mittal, J. B. R. Oonk, A. C. Quillen, H. R. Russell, J. S. Sanders, P. Salomé, G. M. Voit, R. J. Wilman, M. W. Wise
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
New Chandra X-ray and Herschel Far-Infrared (FIR) observations enable a multiwavelength study of active galactic nucleus (AGN) heating and intracluster medium (ICM) cooling in the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of Abell 2597 (z= 0.0821). The new Chandra observations reveal the central ≲30 kpc X-ray cavity network to be more extensive than previously thought, and associated with enough enthalpy to theoretically inhibit the inferred classical cooling flow. Nevertheless, we present new evidence, consistent with previous results, that a moderately strong residual cooling flow is persisting at 4–8 per cent of the classically predicted rates in a spatially structured manner …
The Influence Of Soft Spectral Components On The Structure And Stability Of Warm Absorbers In Active Galactic Nuclei, Susmita Chakravorty, Ranjeev Misra, Martin Elvis, Ajit K. Kembhavi, Gary J. Ferland
The Influence Of Soft Spectral Components On The Structure And Stability Of Warm Absorbers In Active Galactic Nuclei, Susmita Chakravorty, Ranjeev Misra, Martin Elvis, Ajit K. Kembhavi, Gary J. Ferland
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
The radiation from the central regions of active galactic nuclei, including that from the accretion disc surrounding the black hole, is likely to peak in the extreme-ultraviolet ∼13–100 eV. However, due to Galactic absorption, we are limited to constrain the physical properties, i.e. the black hole mass and the accretion rate, from what observations we have below ∼10 eV or above ∼100 eV. In this paper, we predict the thermal and ionization states of warm absorbers as a function of the shape of the unobservable continuum. In particular we model an accretion disc at kTin∼ 10 eV and …
Multiphase Signatures Of Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback In Abell 2597, G. R. Tremblay, C. P. O'Dea, S. A. Baum, T. E. Clarke, C. L. Sarazin, J. N. Bregman, F. Combes, M. Donahue, A. C. Edge, A. C. Fabian, Gary J. Ferland, B. R. Mcnamara, R. Mittal, J. B. R. Oonk, A. C. Quillen, H. R. Russell, J. S. Sanders, P. Salomé, G. M. Voit, R. J. Wilman, M. W. Wise
Multiphase Signatures Of Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback In Abell 2597, G. R. Tremblay, C. P. O'Dea, S. A. Baum, T. E. Clarke, C. L. Sarazin, J. N. Bregman, F. Combes, M. Donahue, A. C. Edge, A. C. Fabian, Gary J. Ferland, B. R. Mcnamara, R. Mittal, J. B. R. Oonk, A. C. Quillen, H. R. Russell, J. S. Sanders, P. Salomé, G. M. Voit, R. J. Wilman, M. W. Wise
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
We present new Chandra X-ray observations of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in the cool-core cluster Abell 2597 (z= 0.0821). The data reveal an extensive kpc-scale X-ray cavity network as well as a 15-kpc filament of soft-excess gas exhibiting strong spatial correlation with archival Very Large Array radio data. In addition to several possible scenarios, multiwavelength evidence may suggest that the filament is associated with multiphase (103–107 K) gas that has been entrained and dredged-up by the propagating radio source. Stemming from a full spectral analysis, we also present profiles and 2D spectral maps of …
Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Of Post-Starburst Quasars, S. Cales, M. Brotherton, Zhaohui Shang, Vardha Bennert, Gabriela Canalizo, R. Stoll, R. Ganguly, D. Berk, Cassandra Paul, A. Diamond-Stanic
Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Of Post-Starburst Quasars, S. Cales, M. Brotherton, Zhaohui Shang, Vardha Bennert, Gabriela Canalizo, R. Stoll, R. Ganguly, D. Berk, Cassandra Paul, A. Diamond-Stanic
Faculty Publications
We present images of 29 post-starburst quasars (PSQs) from a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) Wide Field Channel Snapshot program. These broadlined active galactic nuclei (AGNs) possess the spectral signatures of massive (Mburst ∼ 1010 M⊙), moderate-aged stellar populations (hundreds of Myr). Thus, their composite nature provides insight into the AGN–starburst connection. We measure quasar-to-host galaxy light contributions via semi-automated two-dimensional light profile fits of point-spread-function-subtracted images. We examine the host morphologies and model the separate bulge and disk components. The HST/ACS-F606W images reveal an equal number of spiral (13/29) and early-type (13/29) hosts, with the …
Herschel Observations Of The Centaurus Oluster - The Dynamics Of Cold Gas In A Cool Core, R. Mittal, C. P. O'Dea, Gary J. Ferland, J. B. R. Oonk, A. C. Edge, R. E. A. Canning, H. Russell, S. A. Baum, H. Böhringer, F. Combes, M. Donahue, A. C. Fabian, N. A. Hatch, A. Hoffer, R. Johnstone, B. R. Mcnamara, P. Salomé, G. Tremblay
Herschel Observations Of The Centaurus Oluster - The Dynamics Of Cold Gas In A Cool Core, R. Mittal, C. P. O'Dea, Gary J. Ferland, J. B. R. Oonk, A. C. Edge, R. E. A. Canning, H. Russell, S. A. Baum, H. Böhringer, F. Combes, M. Donahue, A. C. Fabian, N. A. Hatch, A. Hoffer, R. Johnstone, B. R. Mcnamara, P. Salomé, G. Tremblay
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) in the cores of galaxy clusters have distinctly different properties from other low-redshift massive ellipticals. The majority of the BCGs in cool-core clusters show signs of active star formation. We present observations of NGC 4696, the BCG of the Centaurus galaxy cluster, at far-infrared (FIR) wavelengths with theHerschel space telescope. Using the PACS spectrometer, we detect the two strongest coolants of the interstellar medium, [C II] at 157.74 μm and [O I] at 63.18 μm, and in addition [N II] at 121.90 μm. The [C II] emission is extended over a region of 7 kpc …
On The Disappearance Of The Broad-Line Region In Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei, Moshe Elitzur, Luis C. Ho
On The Disappearance Of The Broad-Line Region In Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei, Moshe Elitzur, Luis C. Ho
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
The disk-wind scenario for the broad-line region (BLR) and toroidal obscuration in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) predicts the disappearance of the BLR at low luminosities. In accordance with the model predictions, data from a nearly complete sample of nearby AGNs show that the BLR disappears at luminosities lower than 5 × 1039(M/107 M⊙)2/3 erg s-1, where M is the black hole mass. The radiative efficiency of accretion onto the black hole is ≲10-3 for these sources, indicating that their accretion is advection-dominated.
Dusty Structure Around Type-I Active Galactic Nuclei: Clumpy Torus Narrow-Line Region And Near-Nucleus Hot Dust, Rivay Mor, Hagai Netzer, Moshe Elitzur
Dusty Structure Around Type-I Active Galactic Nuclei: Clumpy Torus Narrow-Line Region And Near-Nucleus Hot Dust, Rivay Mor, Hagai Netzer, Moshe Elitzur
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
We fitted Spitzer/IRS ~ 2-35 μm spectra of 26 luminous quasi-stellar objects in an attempt to define the main emission components. Our model has three major components: a clumpy torus, dusty narrow-line region (NLR) clouds, and a blackbody-like dust. The models utilize the clumpy torus of Nenkova et al. and are the first to allow its consistent check in type-I active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Single torus models and combined torus-NLR models fail to fit the spectra of most sources, but three-component models adequately fit the spectra of all sources. We present torus inclination, cloud distribution, covering factor, and …
Properties Of Warm Absorbers In Active Galaxies: A Systematic Stability Curve Analysis, Susmita Chakravorty, Ajit K. Kembhavi, Martin Elvis, Gary J. Ferland
Properties Of Warm Absorbers In Active Galaxies: A Systematic Stability Curve Analysis, Susmita Chakravorty, Ajit K. Kembhavi, Martin Elvis, Gary J. Ferland
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Signatures of warm absorbers are seen in soft X-ray spectra of about half of all type 1 Seyfert galaxies observed and in some quasars and blazars. We use the thermal equilibrium curve to study the influence of the shape of the ionizing continuum, density and the chemical composition of the absorbing gas on the existence and nature of the warm absorbers. We describe circumstances in which a stable warm absorber can exist as a multiphase medium or one with continuous variation in pressure. In particular, we find the following results: (i) the warm absorber exists only if the spectral index …
Dielectronic Recombination And Stability Of Warm Gas In Active Galactic Nuclei, Susmita Chakravorty, Ajit K. Kembhavi, Martin Elvis, Gary J. Ferland, N. R. Badnell
Dielectronic Recombination And Stability Of Warm Gas In Active Galactic Nuclei, Susmita Chakravorty, Ajit K. Kembhavi, Martin Elvis, Gary J. Ferland, N. R. Badnell
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Understanding the thermal equilibrium (stability) curve may offer insights into the nature of the warm absorbers often found in active galactic nuclei. Its shape is determined by factors such as the spectrum of the ionizing continuum and the chemical composition of the gas. We find that the stability curves obtained under the same set of the above-mentioned physical factors, but using recently derived dielectronic recombination rates, give significantly different results, especially in the regions corresponding to warm absorbers, leading to different physical predictions. Using the current rates we find a larger probability of having a thermally stable warm absorber at …
Modelling Continuum Optical And Ultraviolet Polarization Of Active Galactic Nuclei, René W. Goosmann, C. Martin Gaskell
Modelling Continuum Optical And Ultraviolet Polarization Of Active Galactic Nuclei, René W. Goosmann, C. Martin Gaskell
Department of Physics and Astronomy: Faculty Publications
We present results from a new Monte Carlo radiative transfer computer code, STOKES, developed to model polarization induced by scattering off free electrons and dust grains. STOKES is freely available on the web and can be used to model scattering in a wide variety of astrophysical situations. For edge-on (type-2) viewing positions, the polarization produced by a dusty torus alone is largely wavelength-independent.
This is because the torus is optically thick and the change in albedo with wavelength is slight. Wavelength-independent polarization therefore does not necessarily imply electron scattering. We are able to fully explain wavelength independent type-2 polarization without …
The Narrow-Line Region In The Seyfert 2 Galaxy Ngc 3393, Andrew J. Cooke, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, Hagai Netzer, Andrew S. Wilson
The Narrow-Line Region In The Seyfert 2 Galaxy Ngc 3393, Andrew J. Cooke, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, Hagai Netzer, Andrew S. Wilson
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
The narrow-line region (NLR) of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3393 is dominated by a symmetric structure which appears as S-shaped arms in Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images. These arms, which occupy the central few arcseconds of the nucleus, border a linear, triple-lobed radio source. We use HST imaging and spectra, ground-based optical images, long-slit spectra, Fabry-Perot imaging spectroscopy, and VLA radio data to perform a detailed investigation of the kinematics and ionization of the line-emitting gas in NGC 3393 and of its relationship with the relativistic gas responsible for the radio emission. The excitation map [O III] …
A Look At What Is (And Isn't) Known About Quasar Broad Line Regions And How Narrow-Line Seyfert 1s Fit In, C. Martin Gaskell
A Look At What Is (And Isn't) Known About Quasar Broad Line Regions And How Narrow-Line Seyfert 1s Fit In, C. Martin Gaskell
Department of Physics and Astronomy: Faculty Publications
The evidence is reviewed that the Broad Line Region (BLR) probably has two distinct components located at about the same distance from the central black hole. One component, BLR II, is optically-thick, low-ionization emission at least some of which arises from a disc and the other, BLR I, is probably optically-thin emission from a more spherically symmetric halo or atmosphere. The high Fe II/Hβ ratios seen in Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) are not due to strong Fe II emission, as is commonly thought, but to unusually weak Balmer emission, probably caused by higher densities. NLS1s probably differ from non-NLS1s …