Fine-grained EPR-steering inequalities

We derive a new steering inequality based on a fine-grained uncertainty relation to capture EPR-steering for bipartite systems. Our steering inequality improves over previously known ones since it can experimentally detect all steerable two-qubit Werner state with only two measurement settings on each side. According to our inequality, pure entangle states are maximally steerable. Moreover, by slightly changing the setting, we can express the amount of violation of our inequality as a function of their violation of the CHSH inequality. Finally, we prove that the amount of violation of our steering inequality is, up to a constant factor, a lower bound on the key rate of a one-sided device independent quantum key distribution protocol secure against individual attacks. To show this result, we first derive a monogamy relation for our steering inequality.Comment: 5 pages, Accepted for publication as a Rapid Communication in Physical Review

Black hole mass measurements using ionized gas discs: systematic dust effects

Using detailed Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations in realistic models for galactic nuclei, we investigate the influence of interstellar dust in ionized gas discs on the rotation curves and the resulting black hole mass measurements. We find that absorption and scattering by interstellar dust leaves the shape of the rotation curves basically unaltered, but slightly decreases the central slope of the rotation curves. As a result, the "observed" black hole masses are systematically underestimated by some 10 to 20% for realistic optical depths. We therefore argue that the systematic effect of dust attenuation should be taken into account when estimating SMBH masses using ionized gas kinematics.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in "Observational Evidence for Black Holes in the Universe", AIP Conference Proceeding

Spectral Properties of M87 Using Two-Component Flow

We fit the observational data for M87 using two-component advective disk model. We show that the flat spectrum from the nucleus of M87 is due to synchrotron radiation produced by non-thermal electrons in the CENBOL. The non-thermal distribution is produced due to acceleration of electrons across the shock in a sub-Keplerian flow.Comment: 4 Pages, 1 Figures, Proceeding of the 2nd Kolkata Conference on "Observational Evidence for the Black Holes in the Universe", Published in AIP, 200

Typical AGN at intermediate redshifts

We study the host galaxies and black holes of typical X-ray selected AGN at intermediate redshifts (z~0.5-1.4). The AGN are selected such that their spectral energy distributions are dominated by stellar emission, i.e., they show a prominent 1.6micron bump thus minimizing the AGN emission contamination. This AGN population comprises approximately 50% of the X-ray selected AGN at these redshifts. AGN reside in the most massive galaxies at the redshifts probed here, with characteristic stellar masses that are intermediate between those of local type 2 AGN and high redshift (z~2) AGN. The inferred black hole masses of typical AGN are similar to those of optically identified quasars at similar redshifts. Since the AGN in our sample are much less luminous than quasars, typical AGN have low Eddington ratios. This suggests that, at least at intermediate redshifts, the cosmic AGN 'downsizing' is due to both a decrease in the characteristic stellar mass of the host galaxies, and less efficient accretion. Finally there is no strong evidence in AGN host galaxies for either highly suppressed star formation, expected if AGN played a role in quenching star formation, or elevated star formation when compared to mass selected galaxies of similar stellar masses and redshifts.Comment: Conference proceedings of the meeting "Observational Evidence for Black Holes" held in Calcutta, Feb 2008. Paper will be published by AI

Black Hole Accretion: From Quasars to Nano-Quasars

In this review we shall comment on a few recent findings which strengthen the view that the black hole accretion has substantial amount of sub-Keplerian component. The manifestation of this component is many fold. We discuss some of them. A general outline of the complex structure that emerges from the multitude of observations is presented. A detailed outline of what might be going on in outburst sources is also discussed. The relationship amount the spectral and timing properties can be best understood by this picture. We claim that the sub-Keplerian advective disk paradigm is a complete package. Since signatures of sub-Keplerian motion is already increasing in the literature, the whole package must be correct.Comment: 7 Pages, 2 Figures, Proceeding of the 2nd Kolkata Conference on "Observational Evidence for the Black Holes in the Universe", Published in AIP, 200

Black hole masses and accretion states in ULXs

We summarize indirect empirical arguments used for estimating black hole (BH) masses in ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs). The interpretation of the X-ray data is still too model-dependent to provide tight constraints, but masses <~ 100 Msun seem the most likely. It is getting clearer that ULXs do not show the same evolutionary sequence between canonical spectral states as stellar-mass BHs, nor the same timescale for state transitions. Most ULX spectra are consistent either with a power-law-dominated state (apparently identical to the canonical low/hard state), or with a very high state (or slim-disk state). Despite often showing luminosity variability, there is little evidence of ULXs settling into a canonical high/soft state, dominated by a standard disk (disk-blackbody spectrum). It is possible that the mass accretion rate (but not necessarily the luminosity) is always higher than Eddington; but there may be additional physical differences between stellar-mass BHs and ULXs, which disfavour transitions to the standard-disk, radio-quiet state in the latter class. We speculate that the hard state in ULXs is associated with jet or magnetic processes rather than an ADAF, can persist up to accretion rates ~ Eddington, and can lead directly to the very high state.Comment: 8 pages; to appear in the proceedings of the conference "Observational Evidence of Black Holes", Kolkata, February 200