889 research outputs found
The unusual host galaxy of the BL Lac object PKS 1413+135
The BL Lacertae object PKS 1413+135 is associated with a disk dominated
galaxy which heavily absorbs the BL Lac nucleus at optical and X-ray
wavelengths. It has been argued whether this galaxy is actually the host galaxy
of PKS 1413+135 or whether the BL Lac is a background QSO, gravitationally
lensed by the apparent host galaxy. We have obtained deep high resolution
H-band images of this unusual BL Lac object using the UKIRT IRCAM3. Our
observations show that the BL Lac nucleus is centered within < 0.05 arcsec of
the galaxy. Based on this result we assess the probability for the lensing
scenario and come to the conclusion that the disk galaxy is indeed the host of
PKS 1413+135. The galaxy shows peanut-shaped isophotes, suggesting the presence
of a central bar which is a common feature of AGNComment: accepted for publication in MNRAS, 5 pages with 2 Postscript figure
Detection of the high energy cut-off from the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy NGC 5273
We perform the NuSTAR and Swift/XRT joint energy spectral fitting of
simultaneous observations from the broad-line Seyfert 1.5 galaxy NGC 5273. When
fitted with the combination of an exponential cut-off power-law and a
reflection model, a high energy cut-off is detected at 143 keV
with 2-sigma significance. Existence of such cut-off is also consistent with
the observed Comptonizing electron temperature when fitted with a
Comptonization model independently. We observe a moderate hard X-ray
variability of the source over the time-scale of ~12 years using INTEGRAL/ISGRI
observations in the energy range of 20-100 keV. When the hard band count rate
(6-20 keV) is plotted against the soft band count rate (3-6 keV), a hard offset
is observed. Our results indicate that the cut-off energy may not correlate
with the coronal X-ray luminosity in a simple manner. Similarities in
parameters that describe coronal properties indicate that the coronal structure
of NGC 5273 may be similar to that of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 390.3 and
another galaxy MCG-5-23-16 where the coronal plasma is dominated by electrons,
rather than electron-positron pairs. Therefore, the coronal cooling is equally
efficient to the heating mechanism keeping the cut-off energy at low even at
the low accretion rate.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in MNRA
An absorption event in the X-ray lightcurve of NGC 3227
We have monitored the Seyfert galaxy NGC 3227 with the Rossi X-ray Timing
Explorer (RXTE) since January 1999. During late 2000 and early 2001 we observed
an unusual hardening of the 2-10 keV X-ray spectrum which lasted several
months. The spectral hardening was not accompanied by any correlated variation
in flux above 8 keV. We therefore interpret the spectral change as transient
absorption by a gas cloud of column density 2.6 10^23 cm^-2 crossing the line
of sight to the X-ray source. A spectrum obtained by XMM-Newton during an early
phase of the hard-spectrum event confirms the obscuration model and shows that
the absorbing cloud is only weakly ionised. The XMM-Newton spectrum also shows
that ~10% of the X-ray flux is not obscured, but this unabsorbed component is
not significantly variable and may be scattered radiation from a large-scale
scattering medium. Applying the spectral constraints on cloud ionisation
parameter and assuming that the cloud follows a Keplerian orbit, we constrain
the location of the cloud to be R~10-100 light-days from the central X-ray
source, and its density to be n_H~10^8cm^-3, implying that we have witnessed
the eclipse of the X-ray source by a broad line region cloud.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS letter
A comparison of the modern and classic golf swing: a clinician's perspective
Objective. There is little descriptive research on the motion the body displays during the golf swing. The purpose of this research is to review the modern golf swing and
compare its motion to the classic golf swing.
Discussion. The comparison revealed subtle but significant differences in the backswing and the follow-through positions. The potential implications for power and injury,
particularly of the lower back, are discussed. The discussion describes a third swing, the hybrid swing, which is a combination of the classic and modern swing. The hybrid
swing may potentially reduce the chances of sustaining a low back injury while still retaining the power of the modern swing.
Conclusion. The golf swing has evolved over time as a result of a combination of advanced equipment, course design and human experimentation. The hybrid swing is
being taught by some golf professionals as a balance between the power-potential of the modern swing and the âback-friendly\' nature of the classic swing, though no studies
have so far been conducted on its efficacy. Further investigation into the three golf swings, classic, modern and hybrid, is required to determine which swing is the most effective
while also being friendly to the body. Such research will make possible the development programmes aimed at reducing golf injury rates, particularly to the lower back. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 18 (3) 2006: pp. 80-9
Hard - X-rays selected Active Galactic Nuclei. I. A radio view at high-frequencies
A thorough study of radio emission in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is of
fundamental importance to understand the physical mechanisms responsible for
the emission and the interplay between accretion and ejection processes. High
frequency radio observations can target the nuclear contribution of smaller
emitting regions and are less affected by absorption. We present JVLA 22 and 45
GHz observations of 16 nearby (0.003z0.3) hard - X-rays selected AGN
at the (sub)-kpc scale with tens uJy beam sensitivity. We detected 15/16
sources, with flux densities ranging from hundreds uJy beam to tens Jy
(specific luminosities from 10 to 10 at
22 GHz). All detected sources host a compact core, with 8 being core-dominated
at either frequencies, the others exhibiting also extended structures. Spectral
indices range from steep to flat/inverted. We interpret this evidence as either
due to a core+jet system (6/15), a core accompanied by surrounding star
formation (1/15), to a jet oriented close to the line of sight (3/15), to
emission from a corona or the base of a jet (1/15), although there might be
degeneracies between different processes. Four sources require more data to
shed light on their nature. We conclude that, at these frequencies, extended,
optically-thin components are present together with the flat-spectrum core. The
relation is roughly followed, indicating a possible
contribution to radio emission from a hot corona. A weakly significant
correlation between radio core (22 and 45 GHz) and X-rays luminosities is
discussed in the light of an accretion-ejection framework.Comment: Accepted for publication on MNRA
X-ray spectral variability of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4051
We report on the X-ray spectral variability of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051
observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) during a 1000 day period
between May 1996 and March 1999. The spectra were obtained as part of
monitoring observations and from two long observations using the RXTE
Proportional Counter Array (PCA). During the monitoring period the 2-10 keV
flux of NGC 4051 varied between 10E-12 and 7x 10E11 (cgs). We re-analysed RXTE
PCA observations from a distinct low state in May 1998 using the latest
background and detector response models. The RXTE and BeppoSAX observations of
NGC 4051 during the low state show a very hard spectrum with a strong
unresolved fluorescence line. This emission, probably due to reflection from a
molecular torus, is likely to be constant over long time-scales and is
therefore assumed as an underlying component at all flux states. By subtracting
the torus component we are able to determine the spectral variability of the
primary continuum. In the variable component we observe a strong
anti-correlation of X-ray flux and spectral hardness in the PCA energy band. We
show that the changes in hardness are caused by slope variability of the
primary power law spectrum rather than by changing reflection or variable
photoelectric absorption. The primary spectral index varies between Gamma=1.6
for the faintest states and Gamma=2.3 during the brightest states, at which
level the spectral index approaches an asympotic value. We find that the
response of the flux of the 6.4 keV iron fluorescence line to changes in the
continuum flux depends on the timescale of the observation. The profile of the
line is very broad and indicates an origin in the innermost regions of the
accretion disk.Comment: accepted for publication in MNRA
The warm absorber in NGC 5548: The lean years
We study the variability of the warm absorber and the gas responsible for the
emission lines in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548, in order to constrain the
location and physical properties of these components. Using X-ray spectra taken
with the \textit{Chandra}LETGS in 2002 and 2005, we study variability in the
ionic column densities and line intensities. We find a lower \ion{O}{vii}
forbidden emission line flux in 2005, while the Fe K line flux stays
constant. The warm absorber is less ionized in 2005, allowing us to constrain
its location to within 7 pc of the central source. Using both the observed
variability and the limit on the FWHM of the \ion{O}{vii} f line, we have
constrained the location of the narrow line region to a distance of 1 pc from
the central source. The apparent lack of variability of the Fe K line
flux does not allow for a unique explanation.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, accepted by A&
Catching NGC4051 in the low state with XMM-Newton
The Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC4051 shows unusual low flux states,
lasting several months, when the 2-10 keV X-ray spectrum becomes unusually hard
(photon index<1) while the spectrum at lower X-ray energies is dominated by a
large soft excess. A Chandra TOO of the low state has shown that the soft
excess and hard components are variable and well-correlated. The variability of
the hard component rules out an origin in a distant reflector. Here we present
results from a recent XMM-Newton TOO of NGC4051 in the low state, which allows
a much more detailed examination of the nature of the hard and soft spectral
components in the low state. We demonstrate that the spectral shape in the low
state is consistent with the extrapolation of the spectral pivoting observed at
higher fluxes. The XMM-Newton data also reveals the warm absorbing gas in
emission, as the drop in the primary continuum flux unmasks prominent emission
lines from a range of ion species.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Proc. of the meeting: "The Restless High-Energy
Universe" (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), E.P.J. van den Heuvel, J.J.M. in 't
Zand, and R.A.M.J. Wijers Ed
The HST Survey of BL Lacertae Objects. I. Surface Brightness Profiles, Magnitudes, and Radii of Host Galaxies
We report on a large HST imaging survey of BL Lac objects, at spatial
resolution ~10 times better than previous ground-based surveys. We focus on
data reduction and analysis, describing the procedures used to model the host
galaxy surface brightness radial profiles. A total of 69 host galaxies were
resolved out of 110 objects observed, including almost all sources at z < 0.5.
We classify them morphologically by fitting with either an exponential disk or
a de~Vaucouleurs profile; when one fit is preferred over the other, in 58 of 69
cases, it is invariably the elliptical morphology. This is a very strong result
given the large number of BL Lac objects, the unprecedented spatial resolution,
and the homogeneity of the data set. With the present reclassification of the
host galaxy of 1418+546 as an elliptical, there remain no undisputed examples
of a disk galaxy hosting a BL Lac nucleus. This implies that, at 99%
confidence, fewer than 7% of BL Lacs can be in disk galaxies. The apparent
magnitude of the host galaxies varies with distance as expected if the absolute
magnitudes are approximately the same, with a spread of +-1 mag, out to
redshift z < 0.5. At larger redshifts, only 6 of 23 BL Lacs are resolved so the
present data do not constrain possible luminosity evolution of the host
galaxies. The collective Hubble diagram for BL Lac host galaxies and radio
galaxies strongly supports their unification.Comment: Accepted for publication on ApJS. 43 pages. 10 figures. Figure 1 can
also be downloaded from http://icarus.stsci.edu/~scarpa/tmp/hst_figure1.ta
- âŠ