7,851 research outputs found
Photoionization models for extreme Ly 1216 and HeII 1640 ratios in quasar halos, and PopIII vs AGN diagnostics
We explore mechanisms to produce extremely high Ly-alpha/HeII flux ratios, or
to enhance the observed number of Ly-alpha photons per incident ionizing
photon, in extended AGN-photoionized nebulae at high-redshift. Using
photoionization models, we explore the impact of ionization parameter, gas
metallicity, ionizing spectrum, electron energy distribution, and cloud viewing
angle on the relative fluxes of Ly-alpha, HeII and other lines, and on the
observed number of Ly-alpha photons per incident ionizing photon. We find that
low ionization parameter, a relatively soft or filtered ionizing spectrum, low
gas metallicity, kappa-distributed electron energies, or reflection of Ly-alpha
photons by HI can all result in significantly enhanced Ly-alpha relative to
other lines (>10%), with log Ly-alpha/HeII reaching values up to 4.6. In the
cases of low gas metallicity, reflection by HI, or a hard or filtered ionizing
spectrum, the observed number of Ly-alpha photons per incident ionizing photon
is itself significantly enhanced above the nominal Case B value of 0.66 due to
collisional excitation, reaching values up to 5.3 in our 'extreme case' model.
At low gas metallicity (e.g. 0.1 x Solar), the production of Ly-alpha is
predominantly via collisional excitation rather than recombination. In
addition, we find that collisional excitation of Ly-alpha becomes more
efficient if the ionizing continuum is pre-filtered through an optically thin
screen of gas closer to the AGN. We also show that Ly-alpha / HeII ratios of
the z~3.5 quasars studied by Borisova et al. (2016) are consistent with
AGN-photoionization of gas with moderate to low metallicity and/or low
ionization parameter, without requiring exotic ionization/excitation mechanisms
such as strong line-transfer effects. We also present UV-optical diagnostic
diagrams to distinguish between photoionization by Pop III stars and AGN
photoionization.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 14 pages, 9 figures. Abstract
slightly shortened to meet arxiv character limi
Liquid ethylene-propylene copolymers
Oligomers are prepared by heating solid ethylene-propylene rubber in container that retains solid and permits liquid product to flow out as it is formed. Molecular weight and viscosity of liquids can be predetermined by process temperature. Copolymers have low viscosity for given molecular weight
A new comparison between solid-state thermionics and thermoelectrics
It is shown that equations for electrical current in solid-state thermionic
and thermoelectric devices converge for devices with a width equal to the mean
free path of electrons, yielding a common expression for intensive electronic
efficiency in the two types of devices. This result is used to demonstrate that
the materials parameters for thermionic and thermoelectric devices are equal,
rather than differing by a multiplicative factor as previously thought
Deep spectroscopy of the FUV-optical emission lines from a sample of radio galaxies at z~2.5: metallicity and ionization
We present long-slit NIR spectra, obtained using the ISAAC instrument at the
Very Large Telescope, for nine radio galaxies at z~2.5. One-dimensional spectra
have been extracted and cross calibrated with optical spectra from the
literature to produce line spectra spanning a rest wavelength of ~1200-7000 A.
We have also produced a composite of the rest-frame UV-optical line fluxes of
powerful, z~2.5 radio galaxies. We have investigated the relative strengths of
Ly-alpha, H-beta, H-alpha, HeII 1640 and HeII 4687, and we find that Av can
vary significantly from object to object. In addition, we identify new line
ratios to calculate electron temperature: [NeV] 1575/[NeV] 3426, [NeIV]
1602/[NeIV] 2423, OIII] 1663/[OIII] 5008 and [OII] 2471/[OII]3728. We model the
emission line spectra and conclude they are best explained by
AGN-photoionization with the ionization parameter U varying between objects.
Single slab photoionization models are unable to reproduce the high- and the
low-ionization lines simultaneously: this may be alleviated either by combining
two or more single slab photoionization models with different U, or by using
mixed-medium models such as those of Binette, Wilson & Storchi-Bergmann (1996).
On the basis of NV/NIV] and NIV]/CIV we argue that shocks make a fractional
contribution to the ionization of the EELR. We find that in the EELR of z~2
radio galaxies the N/H abundance ratio is close to its solar value. We conclude
that N/H and metallicity do not vary by more than a factor of two in our
sample. This is consistent with the idea that massive ellipticals are assembled
very early in the history of the universe, and then evolve relatively passively
up to the present day.Comment: Accepted for publication by MNRA
VLT and GTC observations of SDSS J0123+00: a type 2 quasar triggered in a galaxy encounter?
We present long-slit spectroscopy, continuum and [OIII]5007 imaging data
obtained with the Very Large Telescope and the Gran Telescopio Canarias of the
type 2 quasar SDSS J0123+00 at z=0.399. The quasar lies in a complex, gas-rich
environment. It appears to be physically connected by a tidal bridge to another
galaxy at a projected distance of ~100 kpc, which suggests this is an
interacting system. Ionized gas is detected to a distance of at least ~133 kpc
from the nucleus. The nebula has a total extension of ~180 kpc. This is one of
the largest ionized nebulae ever detected associated with an active galaxy.
Based on the environmental properties, we propose that the origin of the nebula
is tidal debris from a galactic encounter, which could as well be the
triggering mechanism of the nuclear activity. SDSS J0123+00 demonstrates that
giant, luminous ionized nebulae can exist associated with type 2 quasars of low
radio luminosities, contrary to expectations based on type 1 quasar studies.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
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