3,738 research outputs found
X-ray spectral variability of seven LINER nuclei with XMM-Newton and Chandra data
One of the most important features in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is the
variability of their emission. Variability has been discovered at X-ray, UV,
and radio frequencies on time scales from hours to years. Among the AGN family
and according to theoretical studies, Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission Line
Region (LINER) nuclei would be variable objects on long time scales. Our
purpose is to investigate spectral X-ray variability in LINERs and to
understand the nature of these kinds of objects, as well as their accretion
mechanism. Chandra and XMM-Newton public archives were used to compile X-ray
spectra of seven LINER nuclei at different epochs with time scales of years. To
search for variability we fit all the spectra from the same object with a set
of models, in order to identify the parameters responsible for the variability
pattern. We also analyzed the light curves in order to search for short time
scale (from hours to days) variability. Whenever possible, UV variability was
also studied. We found spectral variability in four objects, with variations
mostly related to hard energies (2-10 keV). These variations are due to changes
in the soft excess, and/or changes in the absorber, and/or intrinsic variations
of the source. Another two galaxies seem not to vary. Short time scale
variations during individual observations were not found. Our analysis confirms
the previously reported anticorrelation between the X-ray spectral index and
the Eddington ratio, and also the correlation between the X-ray to UV flux
ratio and the Eddington ratio. These results support an Advection Dominated
Accretion Flow (ADAF) as the accretion mechanism in LINERs.Comment: 35 pages, 53 figures, recently accepted pape
X-ray spectral variability of Seyfert 2 galaxies
Variability across the electromagnetic spectrum is a property of AGN that can
help constraining the physical properties of these galaxies. This is the third
of a serie of papers with the aim of studying the X-ray variability of
different families of AGN. The main purpose of this work is to investigate the
variability pattern in a sample of optically selected type 2 Seyfert galaxies.
We use the 26 Seyferts in the Veron-Cetty and Veron catalogue with data
available from Chandra and/or XMM-Newton public archives at different epochs,
with timescales ranging from a few hours to years. All the spectra of the same
source are simultaneously fitted and we let different parameters to vary in the
model. Whenever possible, short-term variations and/or long-term UV flux
variations are studied. We divide the sample in Compton-thick, Compton-thin,
and changing-look candidates. Short-term variability at X-rays is not found.
From the 25 analyzed sources, 11 show long-term variations; eight (out of 11)
are Compton-thin, one (out of 12) is Compton-thick, and the two changing-look
candidates are also variable. The main driver for the X-ray changes is related
to the nuclear power (nine cases), while variations at soft energies or related
with absorbers at hard X-rays are less common, and in many cases these
variations are accompained with variations of the nuclear continuum. At UV
frequencies nuclear variations are nor found. We report for the first time two
changing-look candidates, MARK273 and NGC7319. A constant reflection component
located far away from the nucleus plus a variable nuclear continuum are able to
explain most of our results; the Compton-thick candidates are dominated by
reflection, which supresses their continuum making them seem fainter, and not
showing variations, while the Compton-thin and changing-look candidates show
variations.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
X-ray spectral variability of LINERs selected from the Palomar sample
Variability is a general property of active galactic nuclei (AGN). At X-rays,
the way in which these changes occur is not yet clear. In the particular case
of low ionisation nuclear emission line region (LINER) nuclei, variations on
months/years timescales have been found for some objects, but the main driver
of these changes is still an open question. The main purpose of this work is to
investigate the X-ray variability in LINERs, including the main driver of such
variations, and to search for eventual differences between type 1 and 2
objects. We use the 18 LINERs in the Palomar sample with data retrieved from
Chandra and/or XMM-Newton archives corresponding to observations gathered at
different epochs. All the spectra for the same object are simultaneously fitted
in order to study long term variations. The nature of the variability patterns
are studied allowing different parameters to vary during the spectral fit.
Whenever possible, short term variations from the analysis of the light curves
and UV variability are studied.Comment: 49 pages, accepted. arXiv admin note: text overlap with
arXiv:1305.222
Full two-photon downconversion of just a single photon
We demonstrate, both numerically and analytically, that it is possible to
generate two photons from one and only one photon. We characterize the output
two photon field and make our calculations close to reality by including
losses. Our proposal relies on real or artificial three-level atoms with a
cyclic transition strongly coupled to a one-dimensional waveguide. We show that
close to perfect downconversion with efficiency over 99% is reachable using
state-of-the-art Waveguide QED architectures such as photonic crystals or
superconducting circuits. In particular, we sketch an implementation in circuit
QED, where the three level atom is a transmon
Scattering of surface plasmons by one-dimensional periodic nanoindented surfaces
In this work, the scattering of surface plasmons by a finite periodic array
of one-dimensional grooves is theoretically analyzed by means of a modal
expansion technique. We have found that the geometrical parameters of the array
can be properly tuned to achieve optimal performance of the structure either as
a Bragg reflector or as a converter of surface plasmons into light. In this
last case, the emitted light is collimated within a few degrees cone.
Importantly, we also show that a small number of indentations in the array are
sufficient to fully achieve its functional capabilities.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures; changed sign convention in some definition
Optical bistability in subwavelength apertures containing nonlinear media
We develop a self-consistent method to study the optical response of metallic
gratings with nonlinear media embedded within their subwavelength slits. An
optical Kerr nonlinearity is considered. Due to the large E-fields associated
with the excitation of the transmission resonances appearing in this type of
structures, moderate incoming fluxes result in drastic changes in the
transmission spectra. Importantly, optical bistability is obtained for certain
ranges of both flux and wavelength.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Terahertz surface plasmon polariton propagation and focusing on periodically corrugated metal wires
In this letter we show how the dispersion relation of surface plasmon
polaritons (SPPs) propagating along a perfectly conducting wire can be tailored
by corrugating its surface with a periodic array of radial grooves. In this
way, highly localized SPPs can be sustained in the terahertz region of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Importantly, the propagation characteristics of these
spoof SPPs can be controlled by the surface geometry, opening the way to
important applications such as energy concentration on cylindrical wires and
superfocusing using conical structures.Comment: accepted at PRL, submitted 29th May 200
Universal Conductance Distributions in the Crossover between Diffusive and Localization Regimes
The full distribution of the conductance in quasi-one-dimensional
wires with rough surfaces is analyzed from the diffusive to the localization
regime. In the crossover region, where the statistics is dominated by only one
or two eigenchannels, the numerically obtained P(G) is found to be independent
of the details of the system with the average conductance as the only
scaling parameter. For < e^2/h, P(G) is given by an essentially
``one-sided'' log-normal distribution. In contrast, for e^2/h <= 2e^2/h,
the shape of P(G) remarkable agrees with those predicted by random matrix
theory for two fluctuating transmission eigenchannels.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Effect of long range spatial correlations on the lifetime statistics of an emitter in a two-dimensional disordered lattice
The effect of spatial correlations on the Purcell effect in a bidimensional
dispersion of resonant nanoparticles is analyzed. We perform extensive
calculations on the fluorescence decay rate of a point emitter embedded in a
system of nanoparticles statistically distributed according to a simple 2D
lattice-gas model near the critical point. For short-range correlations (high
temperature thermalization) the Purcell factors present a long-tailed statistic
which evolves towards a bimodal distribution when approaching the critical
point where the spatial correlation length diverges. Our results suggest
long-range correlations as a possible origin of the large fluctuations of
experimental decay rates in disordered metal films.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
On the transmission of light through a single rectangular hole
In this Letter we show that a single rectangular hole exhibits transmission
resonances that appear near the cutoff wavelength of the hole waveguide. For
light polarized with the electric field pointing along the short axis, it is
shown that the normalized-to-area transmittance at resonance is proportional to
the ratio between the long and short sides, and to the dielectric constant
inside the hole. Importantly, this resonant transmission process is accompanied
by a huge enhancement of the electric field at both entrance and exit
interfaces of the hole. These findings open the possibility of using
rectangular holes for spectroscopic purposes or for exploring non-linear
effects.Comment: Submitted to PRL on Feb. 9th, 200
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