EXITE2 Observation of the SIGMA Source GRS 1227+025

We report the EXITE2 hard X-ray imaging of the sky around 3C273. A 2h observation on May 8, 1997, shows a $\sim$260 mCrab source detected at $\sim4\sigma$ in each of two bands (50-70 and 70-93 keV) and located $\sim$30' from 3C273 and consistent in position with the SIGMA source GRS1227+025. The EXITE2 spectrum is consistent with a power law with photon index 3 and large low energy absorption, as indicated by the GRANAT/SIGMA results. No source was detected in more sensitive followup EXITE2 observations in 2000 and 2001 with 3$\sigma$ upper limits of 190 and 65 mCrab, respectively. Comparison with the flux detected by SIGMA shows the source to be highly variable, suggesting it may be non-thermal and beamed and thus the first example of a ``type 2'' (absorbed) Blazar. Alternatively it might be (an unprecedented) very highly absorbed binary system undergoing accretion disk instability outbursts, possibly either a magnetic CV, or a black hole X-ray nova.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Two-temperature coronal flow above a thin disk

We extended the disk corona model (Meyer & Meyer-Hofmeister 1994; Meyer, Liu, & Meyer-Hofmeister 2000a) to the inner region of galactic nuclei by including different temperatures in ions and electrons as well as Compton cooling. We found that the mass evaporation rate and hence the fraction of accretion energy released in the corona depend strongly on the rate of incoming mass flow from outer edge of the disk, a larger rate leading to more Compton cooling, less efficient evaporation and a weaker corona. We also found a strong dependence on the viscosity, higher viscosity leading to an enhanced mass flow in the corona and therefore more evaporation of gas from the disk below. If we take accretion rates in units of the Eddington rate our results become independent on the mass of the central black hole. The model predicts weaker contributions to the hard X-rays for objects with higher accretion rate like narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s), in agreement with observations. For luminous active galactic nuclei (AGN) strong Compton cooling in the innermost corona is so efficient that a large amount of additional heating is required to maintain the corona above the thin disk.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures. ApJ accepte

An RXTE Survey of Long-Term X-ray Variability in Seyfert 1 Galaxies

Data from the first three years of RXTE observations have been systematically analyzed to yield a set of 300 day, 2-10 keV light curves with similarly uniform, ~5 day sampling, for a total of nine Seyfert 1 galaxies. This is the first X-ray variability survey to consistently probe time scales longer than a few days in a large number of AGN. Comparison with ASCA data covering a similar band but much shorter (~1 day) time scales shows that all the AGN are more strongly variable on long time scales than on short time scales. This increase is greatest for the highest-luminosity sources. The well-known anticorrelation between source luminosity and variability amplitude is both stronger and shallower in power-law slope when measured on long time scales. This is consistent with a picture in which the X-ray variability of Seyfert 1s can be can be described by a single, universal fluctuation power density shape for which the cutoff moves to longer time scales for higher luminosity sources. All of the Seyfert 1s exhibit stronger variability in the relatively soft 2-4 keV band than in the harder 7-10 keV band. This effect is much too pronounced to be explained by simple models based on either the dilution of the power-law continuum by the Compton reflection component or on the hard X-rays being produced in a static, pair-dominated, plane-parallel Comptonizing corona.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Comparisons of various model fits to the Iron line profile in MCG-6-30-15

The broad Iron line in MCG-6-30-15 is fitted to the Comptonization model where line broadening occurs due to Compton down-scattering in a highly ionized optically thick cloud. These results are compared to the disk line model where the broadening is due to Gravitational/Doppler effects in the vicinity of a black hole. We find that both models fit the data well and it is not possible to differentiate between them by fitting only the ASCA data. The best fit temperature and optical depth of the cloud are found to be kT = 0.54 keV and $\tau = 4.0$ from the Comptonization model. This model further suggests that while the temperature can be assumed to be constant, the optical depth varies during the observation period. We emphasis an earlier conclusion that simultaneous broad band data ($3 - 50$ keV) can rule out (or confirm) the Comptonization model.Comment: 4 figures. uses aasms4.sty, accepted by ApJ, email: [email protected]

Visible spectroscopy of the new ESO Large Program on trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs: final results

A second large programme (LP) for the physical studies of TNOs and Centaurs, started at ESO Cerro Paranal on October 2006 to obtain high-quality data, has recently been concluded. In this paper we present the spectra of these pristine bodies obtained in the visible range during the last two semesters of the LP. We investigate the spectral behaviour of the TNOs and Centaurs observed, and we analyse the spectral slopes distribution of the full data set coming from this LP and from the literature. We computed the spectral slope for each observed object, and searched for possible weak absorption features. A statistical analysis was performed on a total sample of 73 TNOs and Centaurs to look for possible correlations between dynamical classes, orbital parameters, and spectral gradient. We obtained new spectra for 28 bodies, 15 of which were observed for the first time. All the new presented spectra are featureless, including 2003 AZ84, for which a faint and broad absorption band possibly attributed to hydrated silicates on its surface has been reported. The data confirm a wide variety of spectral behaviours, with neutral--grey to very red gradients. An analysis of the spectral slopes available from this LP and in the literature for a total sample of 73 Centaurs and TNOs shows that there is a lack of very red objects in the classical population. We present the results of the statistical analysis of the spectral slope distribution versus orbital parameters. In particular, we confirm a strong anticorrelation between spectral slope and orbital inclination for the classical population. A strong correlation is also found between the spectral slope and orbital eccentricity for resonant TNOs, with objects having higher spectral slope values with increasing eccentricity.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Colors and taxonomy of Centaurs and Trans-Neptunian Objects

The study of the surface properties of Centaurs and Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) provides essential information about the early conditions and evolution of the outer Solar System. Due to the faintness of most of these distant and icy bodies, photometry currently constitutes the best technique to survey a statistically significant number of them. Our aim is to investigate color properties of a large sample of minor bodies of the outer Solar System, and set their taxonomic classification. We carried out visible and near-infrared photometry of Centaurs and TNOs, making use, respectively, of the FORS2 and ISAAC instruments at the Very Large Telescope (European Southern Observatory). Using G-mode analysis, we derived taxonomic classifications according to the Barucci et al. (2005a) system. We report photometric observations of 31 objects, 10 of them have their colors reported for the first time ever. 28 Centaurs and TNOs have been assigned to a taxon. We combined the entire sample of 38 objects taxonomically classified in the framework of our programme (28 objects from this work; 10 objects from DeMeo et al. 2009a) with previously classified TNOs and Centaurs, looking for correlations between taxonomy and dynamics. We compared our photometric results to literature data, finding hints of heterogeneity for the surfaces of 4 objects.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Astronomy and Astrophysic

On Pair Content and Variability of Sub-Parsec Jets in Quasars

X-ray observations of blazars associated with the OVV (Optically Violently Variable) quasars put strong constraints on the electron - positron pair content of radio-loud quasar jets. From those observations, we infer that jets in quasars contain many more electron - positron pairs than protons, but dynamically are still dominated by protons. In particular, we show that pure electron - positron jet models can be excluded, as they overpredict soft X-ray radiation; likewise, pure proton - electron jets can be excluded, as they predict too weak nonthermal X-ray radiation. An intermediate case is viable. We demonstrate that jets which are initially proton-electron ("proto-jets") can be pair-loaded via interaction with 100 - 300 keV photons produced in hot accretion disc coronae, likely to exist in active galactic nuclei in general. If the coronal radiation is powered by magnetic flares, the pair loading is expected to be non-uniform and non-axisymmetric. Together with radiation drag, this leads to velocity and density perturbations in a jet and formation of shocks, where the pairs are accelerated. Such a scenario can explain rapid (time scale of about a day) variability observed in OVV quasars.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

High-Energy Spectral Complexity from Thermal Gradients in Black Hole Atmospheres

We show that Compton scattering of soft photons with energies near 100 eV in thermally stratified black-hole accretion plasmas with temperatures in the range 100 keV - 1 MeV can give rise to an X-ray spectral hardening near 10 keV. This could produce the hardening observed in the X-ray spectra of black holes, which is generally attributed to reflection or partial covering of the incident continuum source by cold optically thick matter. In addition, we show that the presence of very hot (kT=1 MeV) cores in plasmas leads to spectra exibiting high energy tails similar to those observed from Galactic black-hole candidates.Comment: 11 pages, uuencoded gziped postscript, ApJ Letters in pres

New constraints on the continuum-emission mechanism of AGN: Intensive monitoring of NGC 7469 in the X-ray and ultraviolet

We have undertaken near-continuous monitoring of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469 in the X-ray with RXTE over a ~30d baseline. The source shows strong variability with a root-mean-square (rms) amplitude of ~16 per cent, and peak-to-peak variations of a factor of order 2. Simultaneous data over this period were obtained in the ultraviolet (UV) using IUE, making this the most intensive X-ray UV/X-ray variability campaign performed for any active galaxy. Comparison of the continuum light curves reveals very similar amplitudes of variability, but different variability characteristics, with the X-rays showing much more rapid variations. The data are not strongly correlated at zero lag. The largest absolute value of the correlation coefficient occurs for an anticorrelation between the two bands, with the X-ray variations leading the UV by ~4d. The largest positive correlation is for the ultraviolet to lead the X-rays by ~4d. Neither option appears to be compatible with any simple interband transfer function. The peak positive correlation at ~4d occurs because the more prominent peaks in the UV light curve appear to lead those in the X-rays by this amount. However, the minima of the light curves are near-simultaneous. These observations provide new constraints on theoretical models of the central regions of active galactic nuclei. Models in which the observed UV emission is produced solely by re-radiation of absorber X-rays are ruled out by our data, as are those in which the X-rays are produced solely by Compton upscattering of the observed UV component by a constant distribution of particles.Comment: 33 pages, 8 figures. LaTeX with encapsulated postscript. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal. Also available via http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/users/nandra/pubs/7469/abstract.htm