Relationship between X-ray and ultraviolet emission in 3C 273

In 3C 273, ultraviolet flux and X-ray flux measured by BATSE are not well correlated, contrarily to predictions of several models, unless the X-ray flux lags the UV emission by 1.75 yr. The absence of observed correlation at small lag cannot be due to spectral variability. A Comptonizing corona model is however compatible with all UV and X-ray observations covering the BATSE period.Comment: LaTeX, 4 pages, 6 figures. espcrc2.sty style file included. Poster contribution to the symposium "The Active X-ray Sky: Results from BepppoSAX and Rossi-XTE", Rome, October 199

The average X-ray/gamma-ray spectrum of radio-quiet Seyfert 1s

We have obtained the average 1--500 keV spectrum of radio-quiet Seyfert 1s using data from EXOSAT, Ginga, HEAO, and GRO/OSSE. The spectral fit to the combined average EXOSAT and OSSE data is fully consistent with that for Ginga and OSSE, confirming results from an earlier Ginga/OSSE sample. The average spectrum is well-fitted by a power-law X-ray continuum with an energy spectral index of $\alpha \simeq 0.9$ moderately absorbed by an ionized medium and with a Compton reflection component. A high-energy cutoff (or a break) in the the power-law component at a few hundred keV or more is required by the data. We also show that the corresponding average spectrum from HEAO A1 and A4 is fully compatible with that obtained from EXOSAT, Ginga and OSSE. These results confirm that the apparent discrepancy between the results of Ginga (with $\alpha \simeq 0.9$) and the previous results of EXOSAT and HEAO (with $\alpha \simeq 0.7$) is indeed due to ionized absorption and Compton reflection first taken into account for Ginga but not for the previous missions. Also, our results confirm that the Seyfert-1 spectra are on average cut off in gamma-rays at energies of at least a few hundred keV, not at $\sim 40$ keV (as suggested earlier by OSSE data alone). The average spectrum is compatible with emission from either an optically-thin relativistic thermal plasma in a disk corona, or with a nonthermal plasma with a power-law injection of relativistic electrons.Comment: 7 pages, 3 Postscript figures, MNRAS accepte

BeppoSAX observations of 3C 273

We present preliminary results of BeppoSAX AO1 observations of 3C 273 performed in January 1997. We also present a close comparison with data obtained during the satellite SVP, in July 1996. On average, the AO1 flux is about a factor 2 higher than the flux detected during the SVP, and roughly on the middle of the historical X-ray flux range. Power law fits with galactic absorption to all observations yield spectral indices in the range 1.53-1.6, with the spectrum extending from 0.2 to at least up to 200 keV without any significant slope change. The broad band spectrum appears basically featureless, marking a clear difference from the SVP data, where an absorption feature at low energy and a fluorescence iron emission line are present. The lack of cold/warm matter signatures in our data may indicate that, at this "high" level of luminosity, the featureless continuum produced in a relativistic jet overwhelms any thermal and/or reprocessing component, while the two components were at least comparable during the "low" state of July 1996.Comment: 1+4 pages, 3 ps inlined figures, espcrc2.sty. Proc. of the Conf. "The Active X-Ray Sky: Results from BeppoSAX and Rossi-XTE", Rome 21-24 October 199

Gamma-Ray Spectral States of Galactic Black Hole Candidates

OSSE has observed seven transient black hole candidates: GRO J0422+32, GX339-4, GRS 1716-249, GRS 1009-45, 4U 1543-47, GRO J1655-40, and GRS 1915+105. Two gamma-ray spectral states are evident and, based on a limited number of contemporaneous X-ray and gamma-ray observations, these states appear to be correlated with X-ray states. The former three objects show hard spectra below 100 keV (photon number indices Gamma < 2) that are exponentially cut off with folding energy ~100 keV, a spectral form that is consistent with thermal Comptonization. This "breaking gamma-ray state" is the high-energy extension of the X-ray low, hard state. In this state, the majority of the luminosity is above the X-ray band, carried by photons of energy ~100 keV. The latter four objects exhibit a "power-law gamma-ray state" with a relatively soft spectral index (Gamma ~ 2.5-3) and no evidence for a spectral break. For GRO J1655-40, the lower limit on the break energy is 690 keV. GRS 1716-249 exhibits both spectral states, with the power-law state having significantly lower gamma-ray luminosity. The power-law gamma-ray state is associated with the presence of a strong ultrasoft X-ray excess (kT ~ 1 keV), the signature of the X-ray high, soft (or perhaps very high) state. The physical process responsible for the unbroken power law is not well understood, although the spectra are consistent with bulk-motion Comptonization in the convergent accretion flow.Comment: 27 pages, 3 figures, uses aaspp.sty and psfig.st

COMPTEL Observations of the Gamma-ray Blazars 3C~454.3 and CTA 102 During the CGRO Mission

We have investigated the MeV behaviour of the \gray blazars 3C~454.3 and CTA 102 by analyzing all COMPTEL observations of this sky region during the complete CGRO mission. Both sources are detected by COMPTEL at the upper COMPTEL energies; although their flux estimates may be uncertain by possible minor contribution of nearby unidentified EGRET \gray sources. While CTA 102 was only detected at energies above 10 MeV during the early mission, 3C~454.3 is most significantly detected in the COMPTEL 3-10 MeV band in the sum of all data. Time-resolved analyses indicate a weak (near COMPTEL threshold) but likely steady 3-10 MeV emission over years, being independent of the observed time variability at energies above 100 MeV as observed by EGRET. This energy-dependent variability behaviour suggests different emission mechanisms at work at the two bands. Putting the COMPTEL fluxes in multifrequency perspective (radio to \grays), reveals for both sources the typical two-hump blazar spectra, with a low-energy maximum around the IR and a high-energy maximum at MeV energies. The latter one dominates the energy output across the whole electro-magnetic spectrum. The results of our analyses are discussed in the framework of current blazar modeling.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&

A synchrotron self-Compton model with low energy electron cut-off for the blazar S5 0716+714

Rapid inverse Compton cooling sets in when the brightness temperature (T_B) of a self-absorbed synchrotron source with power-law electrons reaches ~10^{12} K. However, T_B inferred from observations of intra-day variable sources (IDV) are well above the "Compton catastrophe" limit. This can be understood if the underlying electron distribution cuts off at low energy. We approximate a low-energy cut-off with monoenergetic electrons. We compute the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) spectrum of such distribution, and using the IDV source S5~0716+714 as an example, we compare it to the observed SED of S5~0716+714. The hard radio spectrum is well-fitted by this model, and the optical data can be accommodated by a power-law extension to the electron spectrum. We therefore examine the scenario of an injection of electrons that is a double power law in energy with a hard low-energy component that does not contribute to the synchrotron opacity. We show that the double power-law injection model is in good agreement with the observed SED of S5~0716+714. For intrinsic variability, we find that a Doppler factor of D\geq30 can explain the observed SED provided that low-frequency (<32 GHz) emission originates from a larger region than the higher-frequency emission. To fit the entire spectrum, D\geq65 is needed. We find the constraint imposed by induced Compton scattering at high T_B is insignificant in our model. We confirm that electron distribution with a low-energy cut-off can explain the high T_B in compact radio sources. We show that synchrotron spectrum from such distributions naturally accounts for the observed hard radio continuum with a softer optical component, without the need for an inhomogeneous source.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, to appear in A&A; refereces removed from caption of Fig.3, added acknowledgemen

OSSE Observations in Blazars

Results are reported on observations obtained with the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) of 17 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known to exhibit blazar properties at other wavelengths. These observations span the period from 1991 June through 1994 May. Of the 33 high-confidence EGRET detections of blazars during CGRO observing phases 1 and 2 (1991 May 16-1993 September 7), OSSE has observed eight and detected five, namely 3C 273, 3C 279, PKS 0528+134, CTA 102, and 3C 454.3. Additionally, OSSE has detected the BL Lac sources H1517+65.6 and PKS 2155-304, which were not detected with EGRET. Variability in the energy band 50-150 keV is observed for all of the detected AGNs. The OSSE blazar sources are all well described by simple power-law models with photon number indices, Γ, varying from 1.0 to 2.1 among sources. When combined with available, although not necessarily contemporaneous, COMPTEL and EGRET observations, four to five detected blazars show clear evidence for spectral breaks between the hard X-ray and medium-energy gamma-ray bands. The exception is the combined OSSE/EGRET data for 3C 279 during 1991 October, where a simple power law with Γ = 1.9 works equally well. Gamma-ray evidence for beaming in CT A 102, PKS 0528 + 134, and 3C 454.3 is presented

BeppoSAX/PDS identification of the true counterpart of the Piccinotti source H0917-074

High energy emission has been discovered serendipitously by the BeppoSAX/PDS telescope in the ~1.3 degree field of view around the Piccinotti source H0917-074. A re-pointing of BeppoSAX/NFI has allowed the association of this emission with the Seyfert 2 galaxy MCG-1-24-12 which lies within the original HEAO1/A2 error box of H0917-074. This is the first PDS serendipitous discovery of a Seyfert 2 galaxy and the first detection of MCG-1-24-12 in the X-ray domain. The measured 2-10 keV flux of MCG-1-24-12 is ~1 x 10^(-11) erg cm^(-2) s^(-1) compatible with the Piccinotti HEAO-1/A2 observation. This is a factor of ~6 greater than that observed from EXO0917.3-0722, originally suggested as the counterpart of the Piccinotti source. The 2-10 keV spectrum of MCG-1-24-12 shows the presence of Fe K_alpha emission together with an absorption feature at ~8.7 keV. At high energies, the Seyfert 2 still dominates and the observed 20-100 keV flux is ~4 x 10^(-11)erg cm^(-2) s^(-1).Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. to be published in A&

Gamma-ray blazars: the view from AGILE

During the first 3 years of operation the Gamma-Ray Imaging Detector onboard the AGILE satellite detected several blazars in a high gamma-ray activity: 3C 279, 3C 454.3, PKS 1510-089, S5 0716+714, 3C 273, W Comae, Mrk 421, PKS 0537-441 and 4C +21.35. Thanks to the rapid dissemination of our alerts, we were able to obtain multiwavelength data from other observatories such as Spitzer, Swift, RXTE, Suzaku, INTEGRAL, MAGIC, VERITAS, and ARGO as well as radio-to-optical coverage by means of the GASP Project of the WEBT and the REM Telescope. This large multifrequency coverage gave us the opportunity to study the variability correlations between the emission at different frequencies and to obtain simultaneous spectral energy distributions of these sources from radio to gamma-ray energy bands, investigating the different mechanisms responsible for their emission and uncovering in some cases a more complex behaviour with respect to the standard models. We present a review of the most interesting AGILE results on these gamma-ray blazars and their multifrequency data.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication on Advances in Space Research. Talk presented at the 38th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (Bremen, Germany; July 18-25, 2010

Quasars: the characteristic spectrum and the induced radiative heating

Using information on the cosmic X-ray background and the cumulative light of active galactic nuclei at infrared wavelengths, the estimated local mass density of galactic massive black holes (MBHs) and published AGN composite spectra in the optical, UV and X-ray, we compute the characteristic angular-integrated, broad-band spectral energy distribution of the average quasar in the universe. We demonstrate that the radiation from such sources can photoionize and Compton heat the plasma surrounding them up to an equilibrium Compton temperature (Tc) of 2x10^7 K. It is shown that circumnuclear obscuration cannot significantly affect the net gas Compton heating and cooling rates, so that the above Tc value is approximately characteristic of both obscured and unobscured quasars. This temperature is above typical gas temperatures in elliptical galaxies and just above the virial temperatures of giant ellipticals. The general results of this work can be used for accurate calculations of the feedback effect of MBHs on both their immediate environs and the more distant interstellar medium of their host galaxies.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures. Revised version accepted for publication in MNRA