Highly Variable Active Galactic Nuclei in the SRG/eROSITA All-Sky Survey: I. Constructing Sample and Catalog of Sources Detected in Low State

We present the results of our search for highly variable active galactic nuclei (AGNs) the X-ray flux from which changed by more than an order of magnitude during the SRG/eROSITA all-sky survey. Using the eROSITA data obtained in the period from December 2019 to February 2022, we have found 1325 sources the X-ray flux from which in the 0.3-2.3 keV energy band changed by more than a factor of 10 at a confidence level of at least 99.73 %. Of them, 635 objects have been classified as AGNs or AGN candidates. We describe the procedure of searching for highly variable sources and the selection of extragalactic objects among them and describe the statistical properties of the produced catalog. We provide a catalog of 49 sources for which a statistically significant flux in their low state was detected. For the latter we provide their light curves and X-ray spectra and discuss in detail the most interesting of them.Comment: 9 figures, 2 table

High-accuracy redshift measurements for galaxy clusters at z < 0.45 based on SDSS-III photometry

© 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Inc. A new method for measuring the redshifts of galaxy clusters based on photometric SDSSIII data is presented. Highly accurate photo-z measurements for red-sequence galaxies using machine learning techniques on a training sample of luminous red BOSS LOWZ galaxies allow the redshifts of clusters at z norm = 0.011. The accuracy of the proposed method has been estimated on galaxy clusters from the 400d catalog

The X-Ray and Radio Loud Fast Blue Optical Transient AT2020mrf: Implications for an Emerging Class of Engine-driven Massive Star Explosions

We present AT2020mrf (SRGe J154754.2+443907), an extra-galactic (z = 0.1353) fast blue optical transient (FBOT) with a rise time of t g,rise = 3.7 days and a peak luminosity of M g,peak = −20.0. Its optical spectrum around peak shows a broad (v ∼ 0.1c) emission feature on a blue continuum (T ∼ 2 × 104 K), which bears a striking resemblance to AT2018cow. Its bright radio emission (ν L ν = 1.2 × 1039 erg s−1; ν rest = 7.4 GHz; 261 days) is similar to four other AT2018cow-like events, and can be explained by synchrotron radiation from the interaction between a sub-relativistic (≳0.07-0.08c) forward shock and a dense environment ( M ̇ ≲ 10 − 3 M ⊙ yr − 1 for v w = 103 km s−1). AT2020mrf occurs in a galaxy with M * ∼ 108 M ⊙ and specific star formation rate ∼10−10 yr−1, supporting the idea that AT2018cow-like events are preferentially hosted by dwarf galaxies. The X-ray luminosity of AT2020mrf is the highest among FBOTs. At 35-37 days, SRG/eROSITA detected luminous (L X ∼ 2 × 1043 erg s−1; 0.3-10 keV) X-ray emission. The X-ray spectral shape (f ν ∝ ν −0.8) and erratic intraday variability are reminiscent of AT2018cow, but the luminosity is a factor of ∼20 greater than AT2018cow. At 328 days, Chandra detected it at L X ∼ 1042 erg s−1, which is >200 times more luminous than AT2018cow and CSS161010. At the same time, the X-ray emission remains variable on the timescale of ∼1 day. We show that a central engine, probably a millisecond magnetar or an accreting black hole, is required to power the explosion. We predict the rates at which events like AT2018cow and AT2020mrf will be detected by SRG and Einstein Probe

First tidal disruption events discovered by SRG/eROSITA: X-ray/optical properties and X-ray luminosity function at z < 0.6

High Energy Astrophysic

A trio of gamma-ray burst supernovae: GRB 120729A, GRB 130215A/SN 2013ez, and GRB 130831A/SN 2013fu

We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry for three gamma-ray burst supernovae (GRB-SNe): GRB 120729A, GRB 130215A/SN 2013ez, and GRB 130831A/SN 2013fu. For GRB 130215A/SN 2013ez, we also present optical spectroscopy at t − t0 = 16.1 d, which covers rest-frame 3000–6250 Å. Based on Fe ii λ5169 and Si ii λ6355, our spectrum indicates an unusually low expansion velocity of ~4000–6350 km s-1, the lowest ever measured for a GRB-SN. Additionally, we determined the brightness and shape of each accompanying SN relative to a template supernova (SN 1998bw), which were used to estimate the amount of nickel produced via nucleosynthesis during each explosion. We find that our derived nickel masses are typical of other GRB-SNe, and greater than those of SNe Ibc that are not associated with GRBs. For GRB 130831A/SN 2013fu, we used our well-sampled R-band light curve (LC) to estimate the amount of ejecta mass and the kinetic energy of the SN, finding that these too are similar to other GRB-SNe. For GRB 130215A, we took advantage of contemporaneous optical/NIR observations to construct an optical/NIR bolometric LC of the afterglow. We fit the bolometric LC with the millisecond magnetar model of Zhang & Mészáros (2001, ApJ, 552, L35), which considers dipole radiation as a source of energy injection to the forward shock powering the optical/NIR afterglow. Using this model we derive an initial spin period of P = 12 ms and a magnetic field of B = 1.1 × 1015 G, which are commensurate with those found for proposed magnetar central engines of other long-duration GRBs

Catalog of 3 < z < 5.5 Quasar Candidates Selected among XMM-Newton Sources and Its Spectroscopic Verification

We have compiled a catalog of 903 quasar candidates (including known quasars) at 3 &lt; z &lt; 5.5 selected among X-ray sources from the XMM-Newton serendipitous survey (3XMM-DR4 catalog). We used photometric SDSS, 2MASS, and WISE data to select the objects. The surface number density of objects in our sample exceeds that in the SDSS spectroscopic quasar sample at the same redshifts by a factor of 1.5. We have performed spectroscopic observations of a subsample of new quasar candidates using a new low- and medium-resolution spectrograph at the 1.6-m AZT-33IK telescope (Mondy, Russia) and demonstrated that the purity of these candidates is about 65%. We have discovered one of the most distant (z = 5.08) X-ray selected quasars

High-accuracy redshift measurements for galaxy clusters at z < 0.45 based on SDSS-III photometry

© 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Inc. A new method for measuring the redshifts of galaxy clusters based on photometric SDSSIII data is presented. Highly accurate photo-z measurements for red-sequence galaxies using machine learning techniques on a training sample of luminous red BOSS LOWZ galaxies allow the redshifts of clusters at z norm = 0.011. The accuracy of the proposed method has been estimated on galaxy clusters from the 400d catalog