8,217 research outputs found
Dynamics of the Lyman alpha and C IV emitting gas in 3C 273
In this paper we study the variability properties of the Lyman alpha and C IV
emission lines in 3C273 using archival IUE observations. Our data show for the
first time the existence of variability on time scales of several years. We
study the spatial distribution and the velocity field of the emitting gas by
performing detailed analyses on the line variability using correlations, 1D and
2D response functions, and principal component analysis. In both lines we find
evidence for two components, one which has the dynamic properties of gas in
Keplerian motion around a black hole with a mass of the order of 10^9 Mo, and
one which is characterized by high, blue-shifted velocities at large lag. There
is no indication of the presence of optically thick emission medium neither in
the Lya, nor in the Civ response functions. The component characterized by
blue-shifted velocities, which is comparatively much stronger in Civ than in
Lya, is more or less compatible with being the result of gas falling towards
the central black hole with free-fall acceleration. We propose however that the
line emission at high, blue-shifted velocities is better explained in terms of
entrainment of gas clouds by the jet. This gas is therefore probably
collisionally excited as a result of heating due to the intense infrared
radiation from the jet, which would explain the strength of this component in
Civ relative to Lya. This phenomenon might be a signature of disk-jet
interaction.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Uses aaste
Spectral Properties From Lyman-alpha to H-alpha For An Essentially Complete Sample of Quasars I: Data
We have obtained quasi-simultaneous ultraviolet-optical spectra for 22 out of
23 quasars in the complete PG-X-ray sample with redshift, z<0.4, and M_B<-23.
The spectra cover rest-frame wavelengths from at least Lyman-alpha to H-alpha.
Here we provide a detailed description of the data, including careful
spectrophotometry and redshift determination. We also present direct
measurements of the continua, strong emission lines and features, including
Lyman-alpha, SiIV+OIV], CIV, CIII], SiIII], MgII, H-beta, [OIII],
He5876+NaI5890,5896, H-alpha, and blended iron emission in the UV and optical.
The widths, asymmetries and velocity shifts of profiles of strong emission
lines show that CIV and Lyman-alpha are very different from H-beta and H-alpha.
This suggests that the motion of the broad line region is related to the
ionization structure, but the data appears not agree with the radially
stratified ionization structure supported by reverberation mapping studies, and
therefore suggest that outflows contribute additional velocity components to
the broad emission line profiles.Comment: 42 pages, 10 figures, 13 tables. Accepted by AJ. Supplemental figures
not included. Full version available at
http://physics.uwyo.edu/~shang/pgxpaper/ShangPaper.pd
Outer zone electrons
Spatial and temporal behavior of high energy trapped electrons in outer zone of magnetospher
Quantum Non-demolition Measurements on Qubits
We discuss the characterization and properties of quantum non-demolition
(QND) measurements on qubit systems. We introduce figures of merit which can be
applied to systems of any Hilbert space dimension thus providing universal
criteria for characterizing QND measurements. We discuss the controlled-NOT
gate and an optical implementation as examples of QND devices for qubits. We
also discuss the QND measurement of weak values
Swift observations of the 2006 outburst of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi: I. Early X-ray emission from the shocked ejecta and red giant wind
RS Ophiuchi began its latest outburst on 2006 February 12. Previous outbursts
have indicated that high velocity ejecta interact with a pre-existing red giant
wind, setting up shock systems analogous to those seen in Supernova Remnants.
However, in the previous outburst in 1985, X-ray observations did not commence
until 55 days after the initial explosion. Here we report on Swift observations
covering the first month of the 2006 outburst with the Burst Alert (BAT) and
X-ray Telescope (XRT) instruments. RS Oph was clearly detected in the BAT 14-25
keV band from t=0 to days. XRT observationsfrom 0.3-10 keV, started at
3.17 days after outburst. The rapidly evolving XRT spectra clearly show the
presence of both line and continuum emission which can be fitted by thermal
emission from hot gas whose characteristic temperature, overlying absorbing
column, , and resulting unabsorbed total flux decline monotonically
after the first few days. Derived shock velocities are in good agreement with
those found from observations at other wavelengths. Similarly, is in
accord with that expected from the red giant wind ahead of the forward shock.
We confirm the basic models of the 1985 outburst and conclude that standard
Phase I remnant evolution terminated by days and the remnant then
rapidly evolved to display behaviour characteristic of Phase III. Around t=26
days however, a new, luminous and highly variable soft X-ray source began to
appear whose origin will be explored in a subsequent paper.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures (2 updated), accepted by Ap
GMRT Observations of the 2006 outburst of the Nova RS Ophiuchi: First detection of emission at radio frequencies < 1.4 GHz
The first low radio frequency (<1.4 GHz) detection of the outburst of the
recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi is presented in this letter. Radio emission was
detected at 0.61 GHz on day 20 with a flux density of ~48 mJy and at 0.325 GHz
on day 38 with a flux density of ~ 44 mJy. This is in contrast with the 1985
outburst when it was not detected at 0.327 GHz even on day 66. The emission at
low radio frequencies is clearly non-thermal and is well-explained by a
synchrotron spectrum of index alpha ~ -0.8 (S propto nu^alpha) suffering
foreground absorption due to the pre-existing, ionized, warm, clumpy red giant
wind. The absence of low frequency radio emission in 1985 and the earlier
turn-on of the radio flux in the current outburst are interpreted as being due
to higher foreground absorption in 1985 compared to that in 2006, suggesting
that the overlying wind densities in 2006 are only ~30% of those in 1985.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in ApJ
Infrared afterglow of GRB041219 as a result of reradiation on dust in a circumstellar cloud
Observations of gamma ray bursts (GRB) afterglows in different spectral bands
provide a most valuable information about their nature, as well as about
properties of surrounding medium. Powerful infrared afterglow was observed from
the strong GRB041219. Here we explain the observed IR afterglow in the model of
a dust reradiation of the main GRB signal in the envelope surrounding the GRB
source. In this model we do not expect appearance of the prompt optical
emission which should be absorbed in the dust envelope. We estimate the
collimation angle of the gamma ray emission, and obtain restrictions on the
redshift (distance to GRB source), by fitting the model parameters to the
observational data.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Submited to Astrofizik
High-Resolution Keck Spectra of the Associated Absorption Lines in 3C 191
Associated absorption lines (AALs) are valuable probes of the gaseous
environments near quasars. Here we discuss high-resolution (6.7 km/s) spectra
of the AALs in the radio-loud quasar 3C 191 (redshift z=1.956). The measured
AALs have ionizations ranging from Mg I to N V, and multi-component profiles
that are blueshifted by ~400 to ~1400 km/s relative to the quasar's broad
emission lines. These data yield the following new results. 1) The density
based on Si II*/Si II lines is ~300 cm-3, implying a distance of ~28 kpc from
the quasar if the gas is photoionized. 2) The characteristic flow time is thus
\~3 x 10^7 yr. 3) Strong Mg I AALs identify neutral gas with very low
ionization parameter and high density. We estimate n_H > 5 x 10^4 cm-3 in this
region, compared to ~15 cm-3 where the N V lines form. 4) The total column
density is N_H < 4 x 10^18 cm-2 in the neutral gas and N_H ~ 2 x 10^20 cm-2 in
the moderately ionized regions. 5) The total mass in the AAL outflow is M ~ 2 x
10^9 Mo, assuming a global covering factor (as viewed from the quasar) of ~10%
>. 6) The absorbing gas only partially covers the background light source(s)
along our line(s) of sight, requiring absorption in small clouds or filaments
<0.01 pc across. The ratio N_H/n_H implies that the clouds have radial (line-
of-sight) thicknesses <0.2 pc. These properties might characterize a sub-class
of AALs that are physically related to quasars but form at large distances. We
propose a model for the absorber in which pockets of dense neutral gas are
surrounded by larger clouds of generally lower density and higher ionization.
This outflowing material might be leftover from a blowout associated with a
nuclear starburst, the onset of quasar activity or a past broad absorption line
(BAL) wind phase.Comment: 15 pages text plus 6 figures, in press with Ap
Measuring a photonic qubit without destroying it
Measuring the polarisation of a single photon typically results in its
destruction. We propose, demonstrate, and completely characterise a
\emph{quantum non-demolition} (QND) scheme for realising such a measurement
non-destructively. This scheme uses only linear optics and photo-detection of
ancillary modes to induce a strong non-linearity at the single photon level,
non-deterministically. We vary this QND measurement continuously into the weak
regime, and use it to perform a non-destructive test of complementarity in
quantum mechanics. Our scheme realises the most advanced general measurement of
a qubit: it is non-destructive, can be made in any basis, and with arbitrary
strength.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Expanding Nebular Remnant of the Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi (2006)
We report Hubble Space Telescope imaging obtained 155 days after the 2006
outburst of RS Ophiuchi. We detect extended emission in both [O III] and [Ne V]
lines. In both lines, the remnant has a double ring structure. The E-W
orientation and total extent of these structures (580+-50 AU at d=1.6kpc) is
consistent with that expected due to expansion of emitting regions imaged
earlier in the outburst at radio wavelengths. Expansion at high velocity
appears to have been roughly constant in the E-W direction (v_{exp} = 3200+-300
km/s in the plane of the sky), with tentative evidence of deceleration N-S. We
present a bipolar model of the remnant whose inclination is consistent with
that of the central binary. The true expansion velocities of the polar
components are then v = 5600+-1100 km/s. We suggest that the bipolar morphology
of the remnant results from interaction of the outburst ejecta with a
circumstellar medium that is significantly denser in the equatorial regions of
the binary than at the poles. This is also consistent with observations of
shock evolution in the X-ray and the possible presence of dust in the infrared.
Furthermore, it is in line with models of the shaping of planetary nebulae with
close binary central systems, and also with recent observations relating to the
progenitors of Type Ia supernovae, for which recurrent novae are a proposed
candidate. Our observations also reveal more extended structures to the S and E
of the remnant whose possible origin is briefly discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
- …