191 research outputs found
On the Merging Cluster Abell 578 and Its Central Radio Galaxy 4C +67.13
Here we analyze radio, optical, and X-ray data for a peculiar cluster Abell
578. This cluster is not fully relaxed and consists of two merging sub-systems.
The brightest cluster galaxy, CGPG 0719.8+6704, is a pair of interacting
ellipticals with projected separation 10 kpc, the brighter of which hosts
the radio source 4C +67.13. The Fanaroff-Riley type-II radio morphology of 4C
+67.13 is unusual for central radio galaxies in local Abell clusters. Our new
optical spectroscopy revealed that both nuclei of the CGPG 0719.8+6704 pair are
active, albeit at low accretion rates corresponding to the Eddington ratio
(for the estimated black hole masses of and ). The gathered X-ray ({\it Chandra})
data allowed us to confirm and to quantify robustly the previously noted
elongation of the gaseous atmosphere in the dominant sub-cluster, as well as a
large spatial offset (\,kpc projected) between the position of the
brightest cluster galaxy and the cluster center inferred from the modeling of
the X-ray surface brightness distribution. Detailed analysis of the brightness
profiles and temperature revealed also that the cluster gas in the vicinity of
4C\,+67.13 is compressed (by a factor of about ) and heated (from
\,keV up to 2.7\,keV), consistent with the presence of a weak shock
(Mach number ) driven by the expanding jet cocoon. This would then
require the jet kinetic power of the order of \,erg\,s,
implying either a very high efficiency of the jet production for the current
accretion rate, or a highly modulated jet/accretion activity in the system.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Extremelt low rates of hypoglycemia following transfer of tight glucose control management to ICU nurses
Effects of the stellar wind on X-ray spectra of Cygnus X-3
We study X-ray spectra of Cyg X-3 from BeppoSAX, taking into account
absorption and emission in the strong stellar wind of its companion. We find
the intrinsic X-ray spectra are well modelled by disc blackbody emission, its
upscattering by hot electrons with a hybrid distribution, and by Compton
reflection. These spectra are strongly modified by absorption and reprocessing
in the stellar wind, which we model using the photoionization code cloudy. The
form of the observed spectra implies the wind is composed of two phases. A hot
tenuous plasma containing most of the wind mass is required to account for the
observed features of very strongly ionized Fe. Small dense cool clumps filling
<0.01 of the volume are required to absorb the soft X-ray excess, which is
emitted by the hot phase but not present in the data. The total mass-loss rate
is found to be (0.6--1.6) x 10^-5 solar masses per year. We also discuss the
feasibility of the continuum model dominated by Compton reflection, which we
find to best describe our data. The intrinsic luminosities of our models
suggest that the compact object is a black hole.Comment: MNRAS, in pres
Binaries with the eyes of CTA
The binary systems that have been detected in gamma rays have proven very
useful to study high-energy processes, in particular particle acceleration,
emission and radiation reprocessing, and the dynamics of the underlying
magnetized flows. Binary systems, either detected or potential gamma-ray
emitters, can be grouped in different subclasses depending on the nature of the
binary components or the origin of the particle acceleration: the interaction
of the winds of either a pulsar and a massive star or two massive stars;
accretion onto a compact object and jet formation; and interaction of a
relativistic outflow with the external medium. We evaluate the potentialities
of an instrument like the Cherenkov telescope array (CTA) to study the
non-thermal physics of gamma-ray binaries, which requires the observation of
high-energy phenomena at different time and spatial scales. We analyze the
capability of CTA, under different configurations, to probe the spectral,
temporal and spatial behavior of gamma-ray binaries in the context of the known
or expected physics of these sources. CTA will be able to probe with high
spectral, temporal and spatial resolution the physical processes behind the
gamma-ray emission in binaries, significantly increasing as well the number of
known sources. This will allow the derivation of information on the particle
acceleration and emission sites qualitatively better than what is currently
available.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle
Physics, special issue on Physics with the Cherenkov Telescope Arra
A weak compact jet in a soft state of Cygnus X-1
We present evidence for the presence of a weak compact jet during a soft
X-ray state of Cygnus X-1. Very-high-resolution radio observations were taken
with the VLBA, EVN and MERLIN during a hard-to-soft spectral state change,
showing the hard state jet to be suppressed by a factor of about 3-5 in radio
flux and unresolved to direct imaging observations (i.e. < 1 mas at 4 cm). High
time-resolution X-ray observations with the RXTE-PCA were also taken during the
radio monitoring period, showing the source to make the transition from the
hard state to a softer state (via an intermediate state), although the source
may never have reached the canonical soft state. Using astrometric VLBI
analysis and removing proper motion, parallax and orbital motion signatures,
the residual positions show a scatter of ~0.2 mas (at 4 cm) and ~3 mas (at 13
cm) along the position angle of the known jet axis; these residuals suggest
there is a weak unresolved outflow, with varying size or opacity, during
intermediate and soft X-ray states. Furthermore, no evidence was found for
extended knots or shocks forming within the jet during the state transition,
suggesting the change in outflow rate may not be sufficiently high to produce
superluminal knots.Comment: Accepted in MNRAS; 4 figures and 1 tabl
The structure and emission model of the relativistic jet in the quasar 3C 279 inferred from radio to high-energy gamma-ray observations in 2008-2010
We present time-resolved broad-band observations of the quasar 3C 279
obtained from multi-wavelength campaigns conducted during the first two years
of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission. While investigating the
previously reported gamma-ray/optical flare accompanied by a change in optical
polarization, we found that the optical emission appears delayed with respect
to the gamma-ray emission by about 10 days. X-ray observations reveal a pair of
`isolated' flares separated by ~90 days, with only weak gamma-ray/optical
counterparts. The spectral structure measured by Spitzer reveals a synchrotron
component peaking in the mid-infrared band with a sharp break at the
far-infrared band during the gamma-ray flare, while the peak appears in the
mm/sub-mm band in the low state. Selected spectral energy distributions are
fitted with leptonic models including Comptonization of external radiation
produced in a dusty torus or the broad-line region. Adopting the interpretation
of the polarization swing involving propagation of the emitting region along a
curved trajectory, we can explain the evolution of the broad-band spectra
during the gamma-ray flaring event by a shift of its location from ~ 1 pc to ~
4 pc from the central black hole. On the other hand, if the gamma-ray flare is
generated instead at sub-pc distance from the central black hole, the
far-infrared break can be explained by synchrotron self-absorption. We also
model the low spectral state, dominated by the mm/sub-mm peaking synchrotron
component, and suggest that the corresponding inverse-Compton component
explains the steady X-ray emission.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures 5 tables, Accepted for publication in The
Astrophysical Journa
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