The Locus of Highly Accreting AGNs on the M_BH--sigma Plane: Selections, Limitations, and Implications

We re-examine the locus of narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies on the M_BH--sigma (black hole mass--bulge velocity dispersion) plane in the light of the results from large new optically selected samples. We find that (1) soft X-ray selected NLS1s have a lower ratio of BH mass to \sigma^{4}_{[OIII]} than broad line Seyfert 1 galaxies; this remains a robust statistical result contrary to recent claims otherwise; (2) optically selected NLS1s have systematically lower Eddington luminosity ratio compared to X-ray selected NLS1s; and (3) as a result, the locus of NLS1s on the M_BH--sigma plane is affected by selection effects. We argue that there is no single explanation for the origin of the M_BH--sigma relation; instead tracks of galaxies on the M_BH--sigma plane differ with redshift, consistent with the downsizing of AGN activity. If these results at face value are incorrect, then the data imply that AGNs with high Eddington accretion reside preferentially in relatively late type galaxies at the present epoch, perhaps a more interesting result and a challenge to theoretical models.Comment: To appear in Ap

A high velocity ionised outflow and XUV photosphere in the narrow emission line quasar PG1211+143

We report on the analysis of a ~60 ksec XMM observation of the bright, narrow emission line quasar PG 1211+143. Absorption lines are seen in both EPIC and RGS spectra corresponding to H- and He-like ions of Fe, S, Mg, Ne, O, N and C. The observed line energies indicate an ionised outflow velocity of ~24000 km s^-1. The highest energy lines require a column density of N_H ~ 5 x 10^23 cm^-2, at an ionisation parameter of log(xi) ~ 3.4. If the origin of this high velocity outflow lies in matter being driven from the inner disc, then the flow is likely to be optically thick within a radius ~130 Schwarzschild radii, providing a natural explanation for the Big Blue Bump (and strong soft X-ray) emission in PG 1211+143.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS; Table 1 correcte

Discovery of close companions to the nearby young stars HD 199143 and HD 358623

Young stellar systems in the solar neighborhood provide valuable laboratories for detailed studies of star and planet formation. The bright F8V star HD 199143 and the Li-rich late-type emission line star HD 358623 are among the nearest young stars identified to date, and may be members of a young association in Capricornus. We present high-resolution near-infrared images of these two sources, obtained using the adaptive optics system on the 3.6-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory in La Silla, Chile. Our observations reveal that both are in fact close binary systems. The newly discovered companion at a separation of $\sim$1'' may account for the unusual characteristics of HD 199143 --rapid rotation, emission lines, ultraviolet variability, and excess infrared emission-- recently discussed by van den Ancker and co-workers. HD 199143 may be a rare example of a close binary with only a circum{\it secondary} disk. With the detection of a $\sim$2'' companion, HD 358623 is now possibly one of the closest known T Tauri binaries. Both binary systems are prime targets for follow-up spectroscopic and astrometric observations.Comment: 9 pages, 1 PostScript figure, to appear in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

The XMM-Newton Iron Line Profile of NGC 3783

We report on observations of the iron K line in the nearby Seyfert 1 galaxy, NGC 3783, obtained in a long, 2 orbit (240 ks) XMM-Newton observation. The line profile obtained exhibits two strong narrow peaks at 6.4 keV and at 7.0 keV, with measured line equivalent widths of 120 and 35 eV respectively. The 6.4 keV emission is the K-alpha line from near neutral Fe, whilst the 7.0 keV feature probably originates from a blend of the neutral Fe K-beta line and the H-like line of Fe at 6.97 keV. The relatively narrow velocity width of the K-alpha line (<5000 km/s), its lack of response to the continuum emission on short timescales and the detection of a neutral Compton reflection component are all consistent with a distant origin in Compton-thick matter such as the putative molecular torus. A strong absorption line from highly ionized iron (at 6.67 keV) is detected in the time-averaged iron line profile, whilst the depth of the feature appears to vary with time, being strongest when the continuum flux is higher. The iron absorption line probably arises from the highest ionization component of the known warm absorber in NGC 3783, with an ionization of logxi=3 and column density of 5x10^{22}cm{-2} and may originate from within 0.1pc of the nucleus. A weak red-wing to the iron K line profile is also detected below 6.4 keV. However when the effect of the highly ionized warm absorber on the underlying continuum is taken into account, the requirement for a relativistic iron line component from the inner disk is reduced.Comment: 34 pages, including 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Variable iron-line emission near the black hole of Markarian 766

We investigate the link between ionised Fe X-ray line emission and continuum emission in the bright nearby AGN, Mrk 766. A new long (433 ks) XMM-Newton observation is analysed, together with archival data from 2000 and 2001. The contribution from ionised line emission is measured and its time variations on short (5-20 ks) timescales are correlated with the continuum emission. The ionised line flux is found to be highly variable and to be strongly correlated with the continuum flux, demonstrating an origin for the ionised line emission that is co-located with the continuum emission. Most likely the emission is ionised reflection from the accretion disc within a few A.U. of the central black hole, and its detection marks the first time that such an origin has been identified other than by fitting to spectral line profiles. Future observations may be able to measure a time lag and hence achieve reverberation mapping of AGN at X-ray energies.Comment: Accepted for publication, Astronomy and Astrophysics letter

Phase-resolved far-ultraviolet HST spectroscopy of the peculiar magnetic white dwarf RE J0317-853

We present phase resolved FUV HST FOS spectra of the rapidly rotating, highly magnetic white dwarf RE J0317-853. Using these data, we construct a new model for the magnetic field morphology across the stellar surface. From an expansion into spherical harmonics, we find the range of magnetic field strengths present is 180-800MG. For the first time we could identify an absorption feature present at certain phases at 1160A as a ``forbidden'' 1s_0 -> 2s_0 component, due to the combined presence of an electric and magnetic field.Comment: 15 pages including 4 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

A Multi-Cloud Warm-Absorber Model for NGC 4051

A multi-cloud model is presented which explains the soft X-ray excess in NGC 4051 and, consistently, the optical line spectrum and the SED of the continuum. The clouds are heated and ionized by the photoionizing flux from the active center and by shocks. Diffuse radiation, partly absorbed throughout the clouds, nicely fits the bump in the soft X-ray domain, while bremsstrahlung radiation from the gaseous clouds contribute to the fit of the continuum SED. Debris of high density fragmented clouds are necessary to explain the absorption oxygen throats observed at 0.87 keV and 0.74 keV. The debris are heated by shocks of about 200-300 km/s. Low velocity (100 km/s)-density (100 cm-3) clouds contribute to the line and continuum spectra, as well as high velocity (1000 km/s)-density (8000 cm-3) clouds which are revealed by the FWHM of the line profiles. The SED in the IR is explained by reradiation of dust, however, the dust-to-gas ratio is not particularly high. Radio emission is well fitted by synchrotron radiation created at the shock front by Fermi mechanism.Comment: 19 pages + 3 figures PostScrip

XMM-Newton observations of seven soft X-ray excess QSOs

XMM-Newton observations of seven QSOs are presented and the EPIC spectra analysed. Five of the AGN show evidence for Fe K-alpha emission, with three being slightly better fitted by lines of finite width; at the 99 per cent level they are consistent with being intrinsically narrow, though. The broad-band spectra can be well modelled by a combination of different temperature blackbodies with a power-law, with temperatures between kT ~ 100-300 eV. On the whole, these temperatures are too high to be direct thermal emission from the accretion disc, so a Comptonization model was used as a more physical parametrization. The Comptonizing electron population forms the soft excess emission, with an electron temperature of ~ 120-680 eV. Power-law, thermal plasma and disc blackbody models were also fitted to the soft X-ray excess. Of the sample, four of the AGN are radio-quiet and three radio-loud. The radio-quiet QSOs may have slightly stronger soft excesses, although the electron temperatures cover the same range for both groups.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

The X-ray spectrum of NGC 7213 and the Seyfert--LINER connection

We present an XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert-LINER galaxy NGC 7213. The RGS soft X-ray spectrum is well fitted with a power law plus soft X-ray collisionally ionised thermal plasma (kT = 0.18 +0.03/-0.01 keV). We confirm the presence of Fe I, XXV and XXVI K-alpha emission in the EPIC spectrum and set tighter constraints on their equivalent widths of 82 +10/-13, 24 +9/-11 and 24 +10/-13 eV respectively. We compare the observed properties together with the inferred mass accretion rate of NGC 7213, to those of other Seyfert and LINER galaxies. We find that NGC 7213 has intermediate X-ray spectral properties lying between those of the weak AGN found in the LINER M81 and higher luminosity Seyfert galaxies. There appears to be a continuous sequence of X-ray properties from the Galactic Centre through LINER galaxies to Seyferts, likely determined by the amount of material available for accretion in the central regions.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for MNRA