389 research outputs found
X-ray sources and their optical counterparts in the globular cluster M 22
Using XMM-Newton EPIC imaging data, we have detected 50 low-luminosity X-ray
sources in the field of view of M 22, where 5 +/- 3 of these sources are likely
to be related to the cluster. Using differential optical photometry, we have
identified probable counterparts to those sources belonging to the cluster.
Using X-ray spectroscopic and timing studies, supported by the optical colours,
we propose that the most central X-ray sources in the cluster are cataclysmic
variables, millisecond pulsars, active binaries and a blue straggler. We also
identify a cluster of galaxies behind this globular cluster.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Multi-wavelength analysis of the field of the dark burst GRB 031220
We have collected and analyzed data taken in different spectral bands (from
X-ray to optical and infrared) of the field of GRB031220 and we present results
of such multiband observations. Comparison between images taken at different
epochs in the same filters did not reveal any strong variable source in the
field of this burst. X-ray analysis shows that only two of the seven Chandra
sources have a significant flux decrease and seem to be the most likely
afterglow candidates. Both sources do not show the typical values of the R-K
colour but they appear to be redder. However, only one source has an X-ray
decay index (1.3 +/- 0.1) that is typical for observed afterglows. We assume
that this source is the best afterglow candidate and we estimate a redshift of
1.90 +/- 0.30. Photometric analysis and redshift estimation for this object
suggest that this GRB can be classified as a Dark Burst and that the
obscuration is the result of dust extinction in the circum burst medium or
inside the host galaxy.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication on A&
The CoNFIG Catalogue - II. Comparison of Space Densities in the FR Dichotomy
This paper focuses on a comparison of the space densities of FRI and FRII
sources at different epochs, with a particular focus on FRI sources. First, we
present the concluding steps in constructing the Combined NVSS-FIRST Galaxy
catalogue (CoNFIG), including new VLA observations, optical identifications and
redshift estimates. The final catalogue consists of 859 sources over 4 samples
(CoNFIG-1, 2, 3 and 4 with flux density limits of S_1.4GHz = 1.3, 0.8, 0.2 and
0.05 Jy respectively). It is 95.7% complete in radio morphology classification
and 74.3% of the sources have redshift data. Combining CoNFIG with
complementary samples, the distribution and evolution of FRI and FRII sources
are investigated. We find that FRI sources undergo mild evolution and that, at
the same radio luminosity, FRI and FRII sources show similar space density
enhancements in various redshift ranges, possibly implying a common evolution.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, 6 tables + appendix (80 pages). accepted in
M.N.R.A.
Toward an optimal search strategy of optical and gravitational wave emissions from binary neutron star coalescence
Observations of an optical source coincident with gravitational wave emission
detected from a binary neutron star coalescence will improve the confidence of
detection, provide host galaxy localisation, and test models for the
progenitors of short gamma ray bursts. We employ optical observations of three
short gamma ray bursts, 050724, 050709, 051221, to estimate the detection rate
of a coordinated optical and gravitational wave search of neutron star mergers.
Model R-band optical afterglow light curves of these bursts that include a
jet-break are extrapolated for these sources at the sensitivity horizon of an
Advanced LIGO/Virgo network. Using optical sensitivity limits of three
telescopes, namely TAROT (m=18), Zadko (m=21) and an (8-10) meter class
telescope (m=26), we approximate detection rates and cadence times for imaging.
We find a median coincident detection rate of 4 yr^{-1} for the three bursts.
GRB 050724 like bursts, with wide opening jet angles, offer the most optimistic
rate of 13 coincident detections yr^{-1}, and would be detectable by Zadko up
to five days after the trigger. Late time imaging to m=26 could detect off-axis
afterglows for GRB 051221 like bursts several months after the trigger. For a
broad distribution of beaming angles, the optimal strategy for identifying the
optical emissions triggered by gravitational wave detectors is rapid response
searches with robotic telescopes followed by deeper imaging at later times if
an afterglow is not detected within several days of the trigger.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters (2011
April 22
GRB 070518: A Gamma-ray Burst with Optically Dim Luminosity
We present our optical observations of {\em Swift} GRB 070518 afterglow
obtained at the 0.8-m Tsinghua University-National Astronomical Observatory of
China telescope (TNT) at Xinglong Observatory. Our follow-up observations were
performed from 512 sec after the burst trigger. With the upper limit of
redshift 0.7, GRB 070518 is found to be an optically dim burst. The
spectra indices of optical to X-ray are slightly larger than 0.5,
which implies the burst might be a dark burst. The extinction of the
host galaxy is 3.2 mag inferred from the X-ray hydrogen column density with
Galactic extinction law, and 0.3 mag with SMC extinction law. Also, it is
similar to three other low-redshift optically dim bursts, which belong to XRR
or XRF, and mid-term duration(, except for GRB 070419A,
=116s). Moreover, its band afterglow flux is well fitted by a
single power-law with an index of 0.87. The optical afterglow and the X-ray
afterglow in the normal segment might have the same mechanism, as they are
consistent with the prediction of the classical external shock model. Besides,
GRB 070518 agrees with Amati relation under reasonable assumptions. The
Ghirlanda relation is also tested with the burst.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, MNRAS accepte
The link between accretion mode and environment in radio-loud active galaxies
The interactions between radio-loud AGN and their environments play an important rôle in galaxy and cluster evolution. Recent work has demonstrated fundamental differences between high- and low-excitation radio galaxies (HERGs and LERGs), and shown that they may have different relationships with their environments. In the Chandra Large Project ERA (Environments of Radio-loud AGN), we made the first systematic X-ray environmental study of the cluster environments of radio galaxies at a single epoch (z ~ 0.5), and found tentative evidence for a correlation between radio luminosity and cluster X-ray luminosity. We also found that this relationship appeared to be driven by the LERG subpopulation. We have now repeated the analysis with a low-redshift sample (z ~ 0.1), and found strong correlations between radio luminosity and environment richness and between radio luminosity and central density for the LERGs but not for the HERGs. These results are consistent with models in which the HERGs are fuelled from accretion discs maintained from local reservoirs of gas, while LERGs are fuelled more directly by gas ingested from the intracluster medium. Comparing the samples, we found that although the maximum environment richness of the HERG environments is similar in both samples, there are poorer HERG environments in the z ~ 0.1 sample than in the z ~ 0.5 sample. We have therefore tentative evidence of evolution of the HERG environments. We found no differences between the LERG subsamples for the two epochs, as would be expected if radio and cluster luminosities are related.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio
Swift multi-wavelength observations of the bright flaring burst GRB051117A
We report on the temporal and spectral characteristics of the early X-ray
emission from the Gamma Ray Burst 051117A as observed by Swift. The superb
quality of the early X-ray light-curve and spectra of this source, one of the
brightest seen by the X-ray Telescope at such early times, allows an
unprecedented look at the spectral and temporal evolution of the prompt and
early afterglow emission for this GRB and allows us to place stringent limits
on the detection of lines. The X-ray light-curve at early times is
characteristic of a shot-noise process, with individual shots well-modelled by
a fast-rise and exponential decay spanning a broad range in rise-times and
decay rates. A temporal spectral analysis of the early light-curve shows that
the photon index and source intensity are highly correlated with the spectrum
being significantly harder when brighter, consistent with the movement of the
peak of the Band function to lower energies following individual flares. The
high quality spectrum obtained from the first orbit of WT mode data, enables us
to place a 3 sigma upper limit on the strength of any emission line features of
EW < 15 eV, assuming a narrow emission-line of 100 eV at the peak of the
effective area (abridged).Comment: Accepted 15/3/2007 - To appear in A&
XMM-Newton X-ray and optical observations of the globular clusters M 55 and NGC 3201
We have observed two low concentration Galactic globular clusters with the
X-ray observatory XMM-Newton. We detect 47 faint X-ray sources in the direction
of M 55 and 62 in the field of view of NGC 3201. Using the statistical Log
N-Log S relationship of extragalactic sources derived from XMM-Newton Lockman
Hole observations, to estimate the background source population, we estimate
that very few of the sources (1.5+/-1.0) in the field of view of M 55 actually
belong to the cluster. These sources are located in the centre of the cluster
as we expect if the cluster has undergone mass segregation. NGC 3201 has
approximately 15 related sources, which are centrally located but are not
constrained to lie within the half mass radius. The sources belonging to this
cluster can lie up to 5 core radii from the centre of the cluster which could
imply that this cluster has been perturbed. Using X-ray (and optical, in the
case of M 55) colours, spectral and timing analysis (where possible) and
comparing these observations to previous X-ray observations, we find evidence
for sources in each cluster that could be cataclysmic variables, active
binaries, millisecond pulsars and possible evidence for a quiescent low mass
X-ray binary with a neutron star primary, even though we do not expect any such
objects in either of the clusters, due to their low central concentrations. The
majority of the other sources are background sources, such as AGN.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted to be published in A&
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