6,776 research outputs found
The mass-metallicity relation of local active galaxies
We systematically measure the gas-phase metallicities and the
mass-metallicity relation of a large sample of local active galaxies for the
first time. Observed emission-line fluxes from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
(SDSS) are compared to a four-dimensional grid of photoionization models using
the Bayesian parameter estimation code NebulaBayes. For the first time we take
into account arbitrary mixing between HII region and narrow-line region (NLR)
emission, and the models are also varied with metallicity, ionization parameter
in the NLR, and the gas pressure. The active galactic nucleus (AGN) oxygen
abundance is found to increase by dex as a function
of host galaxy stellar mass over the range .
We also measure the metallicity and ionization parameter of 231000 star-forming
galaxies for comparison with the sample of 7670 Seyfert 2 galaxies. A
systematic offset in oxygen abundance of 0.09 dex is observed between the
mass-metallicity relations of the star-forming and active galaxies. We
investigate potential causes of the offset, including sample selection and the
treatment in the models of diffuse ionized gas, pressure, and ionization
parameter. We cannot identify the major cause(s), but suspect contributions due
to deficiencies in modeling the ionizing spectra and the treatment of dust
physics. Optical diagnostic diagrams are presented with the star-forming and
Seyfert data colored by the inferred oxygen abundance, ionization parameter and
gas pressure, clearly illustrating the trends in these quantities.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures and 1 table; accepted for publication in Ap
Dusty, Radiation Pressure Dominated Photoionization. II. Multi-Wavelength Emission Line Diagnostics for Narrow Line Regions
Seyfert narrow line region (NLR) emission line ratios are remarkably uniform,
displaying only ~0.5 dex variation between galaxies, and even less within an
individual object. Previous photoionization and shock models of this region
were unable to explain this observation without the introduction of arbitrary
assumptions or additional parameters. Dusty, radiation pressure dominated
photoionization models provide a simple physical mechanism which can reproduce
this spectral uniformity between different objects. In the first paper of this
series we described this model and its implementation in detail, as well as
presenting grids of model emission lines and examining the model structures.
Here we explore these models further, demonstrating their ability to reproduce
the observed Seyfert line ratios on standard line diagnostic diagrams in both
the optical and UV. We also investigate the effects that the variation of
metallicity, density and ionizing spectrum have upon both the new paradigm and
the standard photoionization models used hitherto. Along with the standard
diagnostic diagrams we provide several new diagnostic diagrams in the UV,
Optical and IR. These new diagrams can provide further tests of the dusty,
radiation pressure photoionization paradigm as well as being used as
diagnostics of the metallicity, density and ionizing spectrum of the emission
line clouds.Comment: Accepted by ApJS, full pdf including figures can be obtained at
http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~bgroves/Papers/ApJS2.pd
Interrogating Seyferts with NebulaBayes: Spatially probing the narrow-line region radiation fields and chemical abundances
NebulaBayes is a new Bayesian code that implements a general method of
comparing observed emission-line fluxes to photoionization model grids. The
code enables us to extract robust, spatially resolved measurements of
abundances in the extended narrow line regions (ENLRs) produced by Active
Galactic Nuclei (AGN). We observe near-constant ionization parameters but
steeply radially-declining pressures, which together imply that radiation
pressure regulates the ENLR density structure on large scales. Our sample
includes four `pure Seyfert' galaxies from the S7 survey that have extensive
ENLRs. NGC2992 shows steep metallicity gradients from the nucleus into the
ionization cones. An {\it inverse} metallicity gradient is observed in
ESO138-G01, which we attribute to a recent gas inflow or minor merger. A
uniformly high metallicity and hard ionizing continuum are inferred across the
ENLR of Mrk573. Our analysis of IC5063 is likely affected by contamination from
shock excitation, which appears to soften the inferred ionizing spectrum. The
peak of the ionizing continuum E_peak is determined by the nuclear spectrum and
the absorbing column between the nucleus and the ionized nebula. We cannot
separate variation in this intrinsic E_peak from the effects of shock or HII
region contamination, but E_peak measurements nevertheless give insights into
ENLR excitation. We demonstrate the general applicability of NebulaBayes by
analyzing a nuclear spectrum from the non-active galaxy NGC4691 using a HII
region grid. The NLR and HII region model grids are provided with NebulaBayes
for use by the astronomical community.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; 29 pages with 10 figures and 3
table
Modelling the Pan-Spectral Energy Distributions of Starburst & Active Galaxies
We present results of a self-consistent model of the spectral energy
distribution (SED) of starburst galaxies. Two parameters control the IR SED,
the mean pressure in the ISM and the destruction timescale of molecular clouds.
Adding a simplified AGN spectrum provides mixing lines on IRAS color : color
diagrams. This reproduces the observed colors of both AGNs and starbursts.Comment: Poster Paper for IAU 222: The Interplay among Black Holes, Stars and
ISM in Galactic Nucle
Are the Narrow Line Regions in Active Galaxies Dusty and Radiation Pressure Dominated?
The remarkable similarity between emission spectra of narrow line regions
(NLR) in Seyfert Galaxies has long presented a mystery. In photoionization
models, this similarity implies that the ionization parameter is nearly always
the same, about U ~ 0.01. Here we present dusty, radiation-pressure dominated
photoionization models that can provide natural physical insight into this
problem. In these models, dust and the radiation pressure acting on it provide
the controlling factor in moderating the density, excitation and surface
brightness of photoionized NLR structures. Additionally, photoelectric heating
by the dust is important in determining the temperature structure of the
models. These models can also explain the coexistence of the low-,
intermediate- and coronal ionization zones within a single self-consistent
physical structure. The radiation pressure acting on dust may also be capable
of driving the fast (~3000 km/s) outflows such as are seen in the HST
observations of NGC 1068.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, Accepted by Ap
The MAPPINGS III Library of Fast Radiative Shock Models
We present a new library of fully-radiative shock models calculated with the
MAPPINGS III shock and photoionization code. The library consists of grids of
models with shock velocities in the range v=100-1000 km/s and magnetic
parameters B/sqrt(n) of 10^-4 - 10 muG cm^(3/2) for five different atomic
abundance sets, and for a pre-shock density of 1.0 cm^(-3). Additionally, Solar
abundance model grids have been calculated for densities of 0.01, 0.1, 10, 100,
and 1000 cm^(-3) with the same range in v and B/sqrt(n). Each model includes
components of both the radiative shock and its photoionized precursor, ionized
by the EUV and soft X-ray radiation generated in the radiative gas. We present
the details of the ionization structure, the column densities, and the
luminosities of the shock and its precursor. Emission line ratio predictions
are separately given for the shock and its precursor as well as for the
composite shock+precursor structure to facilitate comparison with observations
in cases where the shock and its precursor are not resolved. Emission line
ratio grids for shock and shock+precursor are presented on standard line ratio
diagnostic diagrams, and we compare these grids to observations of radio
galaxies and a sample of AGN and star forming galaxies from the Sloan Digital
Sky Survey. This library is available online, along with a suite of tools to
enable the analysis of the shocks and the easy creation of emission line ratio
diagnostic diagrams. These models represent a significant increase in parameter
space coverage over previously available models, and therefore provide a unique
tool in the diagnosis of emission by shocks.Comment: 39 pages, 34 figures, accepted for publication in ApJS, April 200
Sequential pivotal mechanisms for public project problems
It is well-known that for several natural decision problems no budget
balanced Groves mechanisms exist. This has motivated recent research on
designing variants of feasible Groves mechanisms (termed as `redistribution of
VCG (Vickrey-Clarke-Groves) payments') that generate reduced deficit. With this
in mind, we study sequential mechanisms and consider optimal strategies that
could reduce the deficit resulting under the simultaneous mechanism. We show
that such strategies exist for the sequential pivotal mechanism of the
well-known public project problem. We also exhibit an optimal strategy with the
property that a maximal social welfare is generated when each player follows
it. Finally, we show that these strategies can be achieved by an implementation
in Nash equilibrium.Comment: 19 pages. The version without the appendix will appear in the Proc.
2nd International Symposium on Algorithmic Game Theory, 200
Anatomy-driven modelling of spatial correlation for regularisation of arterial spin labelling images
Arterial spin labelling (ASL) allows blood flow to be measured in the brain and other organs of the body, which is valuable for both research and clinical use. Unfortunately, ASL suffers from an inherently low signal to noise ratio, necessitating methodological advances in ASL acquisition and processing. Spatial regularisation improves the effective signal to noise ratio, and is a common step in ASL processing. However, the standard spatial regularisation technique requires a manually-specified smoothing kernel of an arbitrary size, and can lead to loss of fine detail. Here, we present a Bayesian model of spatial correlation, which uses anatomical information from structural images to perform principled spatial regularisation, modelling the underlying signal and removing the need to set arbitrary smoothing parameters. Using data from a large cohort (N = 130) of preterm-born adolescents and age-matched controls, we show our method yields significant improvements in test-retest reproducibility, increasing the correlation coefficient by 14% relative to Gaussian smoothing and giving a corresponding improvement in statistical power. This novel technique has the potential to significantly improve single inversion time ASL studies, allowing more reliable detection of perfusion differences with a smaller number of subjects
Internal Dust Correction Factors for Star Formation Rates Derived for Dusty \HII Regions and Starburst Galaxies
Star formation rates in galaxies are frequently estimated using the Balmer
line fluxes. However, these can be systematically underestimated because dust
competes for the absorption of Lyman continuum photons in the ionized gas. Here
we present theoretical correction factors in a simple analytic form. T These
factors scale as the product of the ionization parameter, , and the
nebular O/H abundance ratio, both of which can now be derived from the
observation of bright nebular line ratios. The correction factors are only
somewhat dependent upon the photoelectron production by grains, but are very
sensitive to the presence of complex PAH-like carbonaceous molecules in the
ionized gas, providing that these can survive in such an environment.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ. (Feb 1, 2003
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