3,524 research outputs found
The Classification of Extragalactic X-ray Jets
The overall classification of X-ray jets has clung to that prevalent in the
radio: FRI vs. FRII (including quasars). Indeed, the common perception is that
X-ray emission from FRI's is synchrotron emission whereas that from FRII's may
be IC/CMB and/or synchrotron. Now that we have a sizable collection of sources
with detected X-ray emission from jets and hotspots, it seems that a more
unbiased study of these objects could yield additional insights on jets and
their X-ray emission. The current contribution is a first step in the process
of analyzing all of the relevant parameters for each detected component for the
sources collected in the XJET website. This initial effort involves measuring
the ratio of X-ray to radio fluxes and evaluating correlations with other jet
parameters. For single zone synchrotron X-ray emission, we anticipate that
larger values of fx/fr should correlate inversely with the average magnetic
field strength (if the acceleration process is limited by loss time equals
acceleration time). Beamed IC/CMB X-rays should produce larger values of fx/fr
for smaller values of the angle between the jet direction and the line of sight
but will also be affected by the low frequency radio spectral index.Comment: 4 pages; to appear in the conference proceedings: "X-Ray Astronomy
2009: Present Status, Multiwavelength Approach and Future Perspectives";
Bologna, Italy, September 2009, Editors: A. Comastri, M. Cappi, L. Angelini,
2010 AIP (in press
The Long Term Optical Variability of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714: Evidence for a Precessing Jet
We present the historic light curve of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714,
spanning the time interval from 1953 to 2003, built using Asiago archive plates
and our recent CCD observations, together with literature data. The source
shows an evident long term variability, over which well known short term
variations are superposed. In particular, in the period from 1961 to 1983 the
mean brightness of S5 0716+714 remained significantly fainter than that
observed after 1994. Assuming a constant variation rate of the mean magnitude
we can estimate a value of about 0.11 magnitude/year. The simultaneous
occurrence of decreasing ejection velocities of superluminal moving components
in the jet reported by Bach et al. (2005) suggests that both phenomena are
related to the change of the direction of the jet to the line of sight from
about 5 to 0.7 degrees for an approximately constant bulk Lorentz factor of
about 12. A simple explanation is that of a precessing relativistic jet, which
should presently be close to the smallest orientation angle. One can therefore
expect in the next ten years a decrease of the mean brightness of about 1
magnitude.Comment: to appear on The Astronomical Journal, 17 pages, 7 figures. Fig.2 is
given as a separated jpg fil
Optical and Radio monitoring of S5 1803+74
The optical (BVRI) and radio (8.4 GHz) light curves of S5 1803+784 on a time
span of nearly 6 years are presented and discussed. The optical light curve
showed an overall variation greater than 3 mag, and the largest changes occured
in three strong flares. No periodicity was found in the light curve on time
scales up to a year. The variability in the radio band is very different, and
shows moderate oscillations around an average constant flux density rather than
relevant flares, with a maximum amplitude of 30%, without a simultaneous
correspondence between optical and radio luminosity. The optical spectral
energy distribution was always well fitted by a power law. The spectral index
shows small variations and there is indication of a positive correlation with
the source luminosity. Possible explanations of the source behaviour are
discussed in the framework of current models.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figure
Do investors trade too much?:A laboratory experiment
We run an experiment to investigate the emergence of excess and synchronised trading activity leading to market crashes. Although the environment clearly favours a buy-and-hold strategy, we observe that subjects trade too much, which is detrimental to their wealth given the implemented market impact (known to them). We find that preference for risk leads to higher activity rates and that price expectations are fully consistent with subjects\u2019 actions. In particular, trading subjects try to make profits by playing a buy low, sell high strategy. Finally, we do not detect crashes driven by collective panic, but rather a weak but significant synchronisation of buy activity
Near-IR spectroscopy of PKS1549-79: a proto-quasar revealed?
We present a near-IR spectrum of the nearby radio galaxy PKS1549-79 (z=0153).
These data were taken with the aim of testing the idea that this object
contains a quasar nucleus that is moderately extinguished, despite evidence
that its radio jet points close to our line-of-sight. We detect broad Paschen
Alpha emission (FWHM ~1745 km/s), relatively bright continuum emission, and a
continuum slope consistent with a reddened quasar spectrum (3.1 < Av < 7.3),
all emitted by an unresolved point source. Therefore we conclude that we have,
indeed, detected a hidden quasar nucleus in PKS1549-79. Combined with previous
results, these observations are consistent with the idea that PKS1549-79 is a
young radio source in which the cocoon of debric left over from the triggering
events has not yet been swept aside by circumnuclear outflows.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Monetary policy under behavioral expectations: Theory and experiment
Expectations play a crucial role in modern macroeconomic models. We consider a New Keynesian framework under a behavioral model of expectation formation and under rational expectations. Contrary to the rational model, the behavioral model predicts that inflation volatility can be lowered if the central bank reacts to the output gap in addition to inflation. We test the opposing theoretical predictions in a learning-to-forecast experiment. In line with the behavioral model, the results support the claim that output stabilization can lead to less volatile inflation
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