103 research outputs found
Discovery of Radio/X-ray/Optical Resolved Supernova Remnants in the Center of the Andromeda Galaxy
We have detected a spatially resolved supernova remnant (SNR) in the center
of the Andromeda Galaxy, in radio, X-ray, and optical wavelengths. These
observations provide the highest spatial resolution imaging of a
radio/X-ray/optical SNR in that galaxy to date. The multi-wavelength
morphology, radio spectral index, X-ray colors, and narrow-band optical imaging
are consistent with a shell-type SNR. A second SNR is also seen resolved in
both radio and X-ray. By comparing the morphological sturcture of the SNRs in
different wavelengths and with that in our own Galaxy, we can study the shock
morphologies of SNRs in the Andromeda Galaxy. The proximity of the SNRs to the
core suggests high interstellar medium density in the vicinity of the SNRs in
the center of the Andromeda Galaxy.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
Radio Continuum Emission from the Magnetar SGR J1745-2900: Interaction with Gas Orbiting Sgr A*
We present radio continuum light curves of the magnetar SGR J17452900 and
Sgr A* obtained with multi-frequency, multi-epoch Very Large Array observations
between 2012 and 2014. During this period, a powerful X-ray outburst from SGR
J17452900 occurred on 2013-04-24. Enhanced radio emission is delayed with
respect to the X-ray peak by about seven months. In addition, the flux density
of the emission from the magnetar fluctuates by a factor of 2 to 4 at
frequencies between 21 and 41 GHz and its spectral index varies erratically.
Here we argue that the excess fluctuating emission from the magnetar arises
from the interaction of a shock generated from the X-ray outburst with the
orbiting ionized gas at the Galactic center. In this picture, variable
synchrotron emission is produced by ram pressure variations due to
inhomogeneities in the dense ionized medium of the Sgr A West bar. The pulsar
with its high transverse velocity is moving through a highly blue-shifted
ionized medium. This implies that the magnetar is at a projected distance of
pc from Sgr A* and that the orbiting ionized gas is partially or
largely responsible for a large rotation measure detected toward the magnetar.
Despite the variability of Sgr A* expected to be induced by the passage of the
G2 cloud, monitoring data shows a constant flux density and spectral index
during this periodComment: 12 pages, 3 figures, ApJL (in press
X-ray and Radio Variability of M31*, The Andromeda Galaxy Nuclear Supermassive Black Hole
We confirm our earlier tentative detection of M31* in X-rays and measure its
light-curve and spectrum. Observations in 2004-2005 find M31* rather quiescent
in the X-ray and radio. However, X-ray observations in 2006-2007 and radio
observations in 2002 show M31* to be highly variable at times. A separate
variable X-ray source is found near P1, the brighter of the two optical nuclei.
The apparent angular Bondi radius of M31* is the largest of any black hole, and
large enough to be well resolved with Chandra. The diffuse emission within this
Bondi radius is found to have an X-ray temperature ~0.3 keV and density 0.1
cm-3, indistinguishable from the hot gas in the surrounding regions of the
bulge given the statistics allowed by the current observations. The X-ray
source at the location of M31* is consistent with a point source and a power
law spectrum with energy slope 0.9+/-0.2. Our identification of this X-ray
source with M31* is based solely on positional coincidence.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Ap
Long-period maser-bearing Miras in the Galactic center: period-luminosity relations and extinction estimates
We establish a sample of 370 Mira variables that are likely near the Galactic
center (GC). The sources have been selected from the OGLE and BAaDE surveys
based on their sky coordinates, OGLE classifications, and BAaDE maser-derived
line-of-sight velocities. As the distance to the GC is known to a high
accuracy, this sample is a test bed for reddening and extinction studies toward
the GC and in Mira envelopes. We calculated separate interstellar- and
circumstellar-extinction values for individual sources, showing that there is a
wide range of circumstellar extinction values (up to four magnitudes in the
K band) in the sample, and that circumstellar reddening is statistically
different from interstellar reddening laws. Further, the reddening laws in the
circumstellar environments of our sample and the circumstellar environments of
Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) Miras are strikingly similar despite the different
metallicities of the samples. Period-magnitude relations for the mid-infrared
(MIR) WISE and MSX bands are also explored, and in the WISE bands we compare
these to period-magnitude relationships derived from Miras in the LMC as it is
important to compare these LMC relations to those in a higher metallicity
environment. Emission from the envelope itself may contaminate MIR magnitudes
altering the relations, especially for sources with thick envelopes.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures; accepted to A&
X-ray/Optical/Radio Observations of a Resolved Supernova Remnant in NGC 6822
The supernova remnant (SNR), Ho 12, in the center of the dwarf irregular
galaxy NGC 6822 was previously observed at X-ray, optical, and radio
wavelengths. By using archival Chandra and ground-based optical data, we found
that the SNR is spatially resolved in X-rays and optical. In addition, we
obtained a ~5" resolution radio image of the SNR. These observations provide
the highest spatial resolution imaging of an X-ray/optical/radio SNR in that
galaxy to date. The multi-wavelength morphology, X-ray spectrum and
variability, and narrow-band optical imagings are consistent with a SNR. The
SNR is a shell-shaped object with a diameter of about 10" (24 pc). The
morphology of the SNR is consistent across the wavelengths while the Chandra
spectrum can be well fitted with a nonequilibrium ionization model with an
electron temperature of 2.8 keV and a 0.3-7 keV luminosity of 1.6e37 erg/s. The
age of the SNR is estimated to be 1700-5800 years.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in the Astronomical
Journa
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