493 research outputs found
Ultraviolet Broad Absorption Features and the Spectral Energy Distribution of the QSO PG 1351+64
We present a moderate-resolution (~20 km/s) spectrum of the mini
broad-absorption-line QSO PG1351+64 between 915-1180 A, obtained with the Far
Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). Additional spectra at longer
wavelengths were also obtained with the HST and ground-based telescopes. Broad
absorption is present on the blue wings of CIII 977, Ly-beta, OVI 1032,1038,
Ly-alpha, NV 1238,1242, SiIV 1393,1402, and CIV 1548,1450. The absorption
profile can be fitted with five components at velocities of ~ -780, -1049,
-1629, -1833, and -3054 km/s with respect to the emission-line redshift of z =
0.088. All the absorption components cover a large fraction of the continuum
source as well as the broad-line region. The OVI emission feature is very weak,
and the OVI/Lyalpha flux ratio is 0.08, one of the lowest among low-redshift
active galaxies and QSOs. The UV continuum shows a significant change in slope
near 1050 A in the restframe. The steeper continuum shortward of the Lyman
limit extrapolates well to the observed weak X-ray flux level. The absorbers'
properties are similar to those of high-redshift broad absorption-line QSOs.
The derived total column density of the UV absorbers is on the order of 10^21
cm^-2, unlikely to produce significant opacity above 1 keV in the X-ray. Unless
there is a separate, high-ionization X-ray absorber, the QSO's weak X-ray flux
may be intrinsic. The ionization level of the absorbing components is
comparable to that anticipated in the broad-line region, therefore the
absorbers may be related to broad-line clouds along the line of sight.Comment: 23 pages, Latex, 5 figure
Associated Absorption Lines in the Radio-Loud Quasar 3C 351: Far-Ultraviolet Echelle Spectroscopy from the Hubble Space Telescope
As one of the most luminous radio-loud quasars showing intrinsic ultraviolet
(UV) and X-ray absorption, 3C 351 provides a laboratory for studying the
kinematics and physical conditions of such ionized absorbers. We present an
analysis of the intrinsic absorption lines in the high-resolution ( 7
km/s) far-UV spectrum which was obtained from observations with the Space
Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope
(HST). The spectrum spans wavelengths from 1150 \AA to 1710 \AA, and shows
strong emission lines from O VI and Ly. Associated absorption lines are
present on the blue wings of the high-ionization emission doublets O VI
1032,1038 and N V 1238,1242, as well as the
Lyman lines through Ly. These intrinsic absorption features are
resolved into several distinct kinematic components, covering rest-frame
velocities from -40 to -2800 km/s, with respect to the systemic redshift of
. For the majority of these absorption line regions, strong
evidence of partial covering of both the background continuum source and the
BELR is found, which supports the intrinsic absorption origin and rules out the
possibility that the absorption arises in some associated cluster of galaxies.
The relationship between the far-UV absorbers and X-ray `warm' absorbers are
studied with the assistance of photoionization models. Most of the UV
associated absorption components have low values of the ionization parameter
and total hydrogen column densities, which is inconsistent with previous claims
that the UV and X-ray absorption arises in the same material. Analysis of these
components supports a picture with a wide range of ionization parameters,
temperatures, and column densities in AGN outflows.Comment: 27 pages with 5 figures, accepted by Ap
FUSE Observations of Intrinsic Absorption in the Seyfert 1 Galaxy Mrk 509
We present far-ultraviolet spectra of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509 obtained
in 1999 November with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). Our
data span the observed wavelength range 915-1185 A at a resolution of ~20 km/s.
The spectrum shows a blue continuum, broad OVI 1032,1038 emission, and a broad
CIII 977 emission line. Superposed on these emission components, we resolve
associated absorption lines of OVI 1032,1038, CIII 977, and Lyman lines through
Lzeta. Seven distinct kinematic components are present, spanning a velocity
range of -440 to +170 km/s relative to the systemic velocity. The absorption is
clustered in two groups, one centered at -370m km/s and another at the systemic
velocity. The blue-shifted cluster may be associated with the extended line
emission visible in deep images of Mrk 509 obtained by Phillips et al. Although
several components appear to be saturated, they are not black at their centers.
Partial covering or scattering permits ~7% of the broad-line or continuum flux
to be unaffected by absorption. Of the multiple components, only one has the
same ionization state and column density as highly ionized gas that produces
the OVII and OVIII ionization edges in X-ray spectra of Mrk 509.
This paper will appear in a special issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters
devoted to the first scientific results from the FUSE mission.Comment: To appear in the Astrophysical Journal (Letters). 4 pages, 3 color
PostScript figures. Figures are best viewed and printed in color. Added
acknowledgment that this is one of many papers to be published in a special
issue of ApJL devoted to the first scientific results from the FUSE missio
Cosmological Constraints on Lorentz Violation in Electrodynamics
Infrared, optical, and ultraviolet spectropolarimetry of cosmological sources
is used to constrain the pure electromagnetic sector of a general
Lorentz-violating standard-model extension. The coefficients for Lorentz
violation are bounded to less than 3x10^{-32}.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter
Quasars and the Big Blue Bump
We investigate the ultraviolet-to-optical spectral energy distributions
(SEDs) of 17 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using quasi-simultaneous
spectrophotometry spanning 900-9000 Angstrom (rest frame). We employ data from
the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE), the Hubble Space Telescope
(HST), and the 2.1-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO).
Taking advantage of the short-wavelength coverage, we are able to study the
so-called "big blue bump," the region where the energy output peaks, in detail.
Most objects exhibit a spectral break around 1100 Angstrom. Although this
result is formally associated with large uncertainty for some objects, there is
strong evidence in the data that the far-ultraviolet spectral region is below
the extrapolation of the near-ultraviolet-optical slope, indicating a spectral
break around 1100 Angstrom. We compare the behavior of our sample to those of
non-LTE thin-disk models covering a range in black-hole mass, Eddington ratio,
disk inclination, and other parameters. The distribution of ultraviolet-optical
spectral indices redward of the break, and far-ultraviolet indices shortward of
the break, are in rough agreement with the models. However, we do not see a
correlation between the far-ultraviolet spectral index and the black hole mass,
as seen in some accretion disk models. We argue that the observed spectral
break is intrinsic to AGNs, although intrinsic reddening as well as
Comptonization can strongly affect the far-ultraviolet spectral index. We make
our data available online in digital format.Comment: 32 pages (10pt), 12 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
Intrinsic Absorption in the Spectrum of NGC 7469: Simultaneous Chandra, FUSE, and STIS Observations
We present simultaneous X-ray, far-ultraviolet, and near-ultraviolet spectra
of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469 obtained with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory,
the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, and the Space Telescope Imaging
Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. Previous non-simultaneous
observations of this galaxy found two distinct UV absorption components, at
-560 and -1900 km/s, with the former as the likely counterpart of the X-ray
absorber. We confirm these two absorption components in our new UV
observations, in which we detect prominent O VI, Ly alpha, N V, and C IV
absorption. In our Chandra spectrum we detect O VIII emission, but no
significant O VIII or O VII absorption. We also detect a prominent Fe K alpha
emission line in the Chandra spectrum, as well as absorption due to
hydrogen-like and helium-like neon, magnesium, and silicon at velocities
consistent with the -560 km/s UV absorber. The FUSE and STIS data reveal that
the H I and C IV column densities in this UV- and X-ray- absorbing component
have increased over time, as the UV continuum flux decreased. We use measured H
I, N V, C IV, and O VI column densities to model the photoionization state of
both absorbers self-consistently. We confirm the general physical picture of
the outflow in which the low velocity component is a highly ionized, high
density absorber with a total column density of 10^20 cm^-2, located near the
broad emission line region, although due to measurable columns of N V and C IV,
we assign it a somewhat smaller ionization parameter than found previously,
U~1. The high velocity UV component is of lower density, log N=18.6, and likely
resides farther from the central engine as we find its ionization parameter to
be U=0.08.Comment: Minor correction to abstract; STScI eprint #1683; 50 pages, incl. 19
figures, 4 tables; Accepted to Ap
Is it Round? Spectropolarimetry of the Type II-P Supernova 1999em
We present the first multi-epoch spectropolarimetry of a type II plateau
supernova (SN II-P), with optical observations of SN 1999em on days 7, 40, 49,
159, and 163 after discovery. These data are used to probe the geometry of the
electron-scattering atmosphere before, during, and after the plateau phase,
which ended roughly 90 days after discovery. Weak continuum polarization with
an unchanging polarization angle (theta ~ 160 deg) is detected at all epochs,
with p ~ 0.2% on day 7, p ~ 0.3% on days 40 and 49, and p ~ 0.5% in the final
observations. Distinct polarization modulations across strong line features are
present on days 40, 49, 159, and 163. Uncorrected for interstellar polarization
(which is believed to be quite small), polarization peaks are associated with
strong P Cygni absorption troughs and nearly complete depolarization is seen
across the H-alpha emission profile. The temporal evolution of the continuum
polarization and sharp changes across lines indicate polarization intrinsic to
SN 1999em. When modeled in terms of the oblate, electron-scattering atmospheres
of Hoeflich, the observed polarization implies anasphericity of at least 7%
during the period studied. The temporal polarization increase may indicate
greater asphericity deeper into the ejecta. We discuss the implications of
asphericity on the use of type II-P supernovae as primary extragalactic
distance indicators through the expanding photosphere method (EPM). If
asphericity produces directionally dependant flux and peculiar galaxy motions
are characterized by sigma_v_rec = 300 km/s, it is shown that the agreement
between previous EPM measurements of SNe II and distances to the host galaxies
predicted by a linear Hubble law restrict mean SN II asphericity to values less
than 30% (3-sigma) during the photospheric phase.Comment: 65 pages (29 Figures, 4 Tables), Accepted for publication in the June
1, 2001 edition of ApJ. Revised statistical analysis of scatter in Hubble
diagram of previous EPM distances and the implications for mean SN II
asphericit
Chandra X-Ray Observations of Two Unusual BAL Quasars
We report sensitive Chandra X-ray non-detections of two unusual, luminous
Iron Low-Ionization Broad Absorption Line Quasars (FeLoBALs). The observations
do detect a non-BAL, wide-binary companion quasar to one of the FeLoBAL
quasars. We combine X-ray-derived column density lower limits (assuming solar
metallicity) with column densities measured from ultraviolet spectra and CLOUDY
photoionization simulations to explore whether constant density slabs at broad
line region densities can match the physical parameters of these two BAL
outflows, and find that they cannot. In the "overlapping-trough" object SDSS
J0300+0048, we measure the column density of the X-ray absorbing gas to be N_H
>= 1.8 x 1024 cm-2. From the presence of Fe II UV78 absorption but lack of Fe
II UV195/UV196 absorption, we infer the density in that part of the absorbing
region to be n_e ~ 106 cm-3. We do find that a slab of gas at that density
might be able to explain this object's absorption. In the Fe III-dominant
object SDSS J2215-0045, the X-ray absorbing column density of N_H >= 3.4 x 1024
cm-2 is consistent with the Fe III-derived N_H >= 2 x 1022 cm-2 provided the
ionization parameter is log U > 1.0 for both the n_e = 1011 cm-3 and n_e = 1012
cm-3 scenarios considered (such densities are required to produce Fe III
absorption without Fe II absorption). However, the velocity width of the
absorption rules out its being concentrated in a single slab at these
densities. Instead, this object's spectrum can be explained by a low density,
high ionization and high temperature disk wind that encounters and ablates
higher density, lower ionization Fe III-emitting clumps.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure
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