234 research outputs found
On the Evidence for Axion-like Particles from Active Galactic Nuclei
Burrage, Davis, and Shaw recently suggested exploiting the correlations
between high and low energy luminosities of astrophysical objects to probe
possible mixing between photons and axion-like particles (ALP) in magnetic
field regions. They also presented evidence for the existence of ALP's by
analyzing the optical/UV and X-ray monochromatic luminosities of AGNs. We
extend their work by using the monochromatic luminosities of 320 unobscured
Active Galactic Nuclei from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Xmm-Newton Quasar
Survey (Young et al., 2009), which allows the exploration of 18 different
combinations of optical/UV and X-ray monochromatic luminosities. However, we do
not find compelling evidence for the existence of ALPs. Moreover, it appears
that the signal reported by Burrage et al. is more likely due to X-ray
absorption rather than to photon-ALP oscillation.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures. Updated to reflect the minor changes introduced
in the published versio
Data Integration by combining big data and survey sample data for finite population inference
The statistical challenges in using big data for making valid statistical
inference in the finite population have been well documented in literature.
These challenges are due primarily to statistical bias arising from
under-coverage in the big data source to represent the population of interest
and measurement errors in the variables available in the data set. By
stratifying the population into a big data stratum and a missing data stratum,
we can estimate the missing data stratum by using a fully responding
probability sample, and hence the population as a whole by using a data
integration estimator. By expressing the data integration estimator as a
regression estimator, we can handle measurement errors in the variables in big
data and also in the probability sample. We also propose a fully nonparametric
classification method for identifying the overlapping units and develop a
bias-corrected data integration estimator under misclassification errors.
Finally, we develop a two-step regression data integration estimator to deal
with measurement errors in the probability sample. An advantage of the approach
advocated in this paper is that we do not have to make unrealistic
missing-at-random assumptions for the methods to work. The proposed method is
applied to the real data example using 2015-16 Australian Agricultural Census
data
Temporal Variability of the X-ray Emission of the Crab Nebula Torus
We have analyzed five ROSAT HRI images of the Crab Nebula spanning the years
1991 to 1997 and have found significant changes in the emission structure of
the X-ray torus surrounding the pulsar. Certain regions increase in brightness
by about 20% over the six years, while others show decreases in surface
brightness. The origin of these changes is unclear, but a possible explanation
is that the bulk velocity of the synchrotron radiating electrons has decreased
on the order of 20% as well.Comment: 15 pages plus 6 figures, figure 1 and figure 6 are in color, to
appear in The Astrophysical Journal, Jan 1, 1999, Vol. 510, #
Long term X-ray spectral variability of the nucleus of M81
We have analysed the soft X-ray emission from the nuclear source of the
nearby spiral galaxy M81, using the available data collected with ROSAT, ASCA,
BeppoSAX and Chandra. The source flux is highly variable, showing (sometimes
dramatic: a factor of 4 in 20 days) variability at different timescales, from 2
days to 4 years, and in particular a steady increase of the flux by a factor of
>~ 2 over 4 years, broken by rapid flares. After accounting for the extended
component resolved by Chandra, the nuclear soft X-ray spectrum (from
ROSAT/PSPC, BeppoSAX/LECS and Chandra data) cannot be fitted well with a single
absorbed power-law model. Acceptable fits are obtained adding an extra
component, either a multi-color black body (MCBB) or an absorption feature. In
the MCBB case the inner accretion disk would be far smaller than the
Schwartzchild radius for the 3-60X 10^6 solar masses nucleus requiring a
strictly edge-on inclination of the disk, even if the nucleus is a rotating
Kerr black hole. The temperature is 0.27 keV, larger than expected from the
accretion disk of a Schwartzchild black hole, but consistent with that expected
from a Kerr black hole. In the power-law + absorption feature model we have
either high velocity (0.3 c) infalling C_v clouds or neutral C_i absorption at
rest. In both cases the C:O overabundance is a factor of 10.Comment: 30 pages with 15 figures. Accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
XMM-Newton Observations of High Redshift Quasars
We report on our XMM observations of the high redshift quasars BR 2237--0607
(z=4.558) and BR 0351--1034 (z=4.351), together with 14 other z>4 objects found
in the XMM public archive. Contrary to former reports, we do not find high
redshift radio-loud quasars to be more absorbed than their radio-quiet
counterparts. We find that the optical to X-ray spectral index alpha-ox is
correlated with the luminosity density at 2500 A, but does not show a
correlation with redshift. The mean 2-10 keV power-law slope of the 9 high
redshift radio-quiet quasars in our sample for which a spectral analysis can be
performed is alpha-x1.23+-0.48, similar to alpha-x=1.19 found from the ASCA
observations of low redshift Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s), and
significantly different from alpha-x=0.78 found for low redshift Broad-Line
Seyfert galaxies. While the optical/UV spectra of low to high redshift quasars
look remarkably similar, we find a first indication of a difference in their
X-ray spectrum. The steep X-ray spectral index suggests high Eddington ratios
L/L_Edd. These observations give credence to the hypothesis of Mathur (2000)
that NLS1s are low luminosity cousins of high redshift quasars, both likely to
be in their early evolutionary stage.Comment: 25 pages, AJ, in press (Jan 2006
Enhanced abundances in three large-diameter mixed-morphology supernova remnants
We present an X-ray study of three mixed-morphology supernova remnants
(SNRs), HB 21, CTB 1 and HB 3, using archival ASCA and ROSAT data. These data
are complemented by archival Chandra X-ray Observatory data for CTB 1 and
XMM-Newton X-ray Observatory data for HB 3. The spectra from HB 21 and HB 3 are
well-described with a single-temperature thermal plasma in ionization
equilibrium, while a two-temperature thermal plasma is found in CTB 1. We found
enhanced abundances in all three SNRs. The elemental abundance of Mg is clearly
enhanced in CTB 1, while HB 21 has enhanced abundances of Si and S. The
situation is not so clear in HB 3 -- the plasma in this SNR either has
significantly enhanced abundances of O, Ne and Mg, or it has marginally
enhanced abundances of Mg and under-abundant Fe. We discuss the plausibility of
mixed-morphology SNR models for the three SNRs and the presence of enhanced
abundances. We revise a list of MM SNRs and their properties, compare the three
SNRs studied here with other members of this class, and discuss the presence of
enhanced elemental abundances in MM SNRs. We also report the ASCA detection of
a compact source in the southern part of HB 3. The source spectrum is
consistent with a power law with a photon index of ~2.7, and an unabsorbed
X-ray flux of ~10^{-12} erg/cm^2/s in the 0.5--10.0 keV band. The column
density towards this source differs from that towards the SNR, and it is
therefore unlikely they are related.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, revised version (minor changes), accepted for
publication in ApJ (10 Aug 2006
The Asymmetric Wind in M82
We have obtained detailed imaging Fabry-Perot observations of the nearby
galaxy M82, in order to understand the physical association between the
high-velocity outflow and the starburst nucleus. The observed velocities of the
emitting gas in M82 reveal a bipolar outflow of material, originating from the
bright starburst regions in the galaxy's inner disk, but misaligned with
respect to the galaxy spin axis. The deprojected outflow velocity increases
with radius from 525 to 655 km/s. Spectral lines show double components in the
centers of the outflowing lobes, with the H-alpha line split by ~300 km/s over
a region almost a kiloparsec in size. The filaments are not simple surfaces of
revolution, nor is the emission distributed evenly over the surfaces. We model
these lobes as a composite of cylindrical and conical structures, collimated in
the inner ~500 pc but expanding at a larger opening angle of ~25 degrees beyond
that radius. We compare our kinematic model with simulations of
starburst-driven winds in which disk material surrounding the source is
entrained by the wind. The data also reveal a remarkably low [NII]/H-alpha
ratio in the region of the outflow, indicating that photoionization by the
nuclear starburst may play a significant role in the excitation of the optical
filament gas, particularly near the nucleus.Comment: 42 pages AASTeX with 16 figures; accepted for publication in ApJ;
figures reformatted for better printin
XMM-Newton Observations of Two BAL QSOs: Q1246-057 and SBS1542+541
We report on the results of XMM-Newton observations of two Broad Absorption
Line Quasars (BAL QSOs), Q1246-057 and SBS 1542+541. Unprecedented sensitivity
of XMM allows spectral analysis of these X-ray weak sources. The X-ray spectral
data of these sources can be fitted by a power-law with alpha_X=1.0-1.2 and
either a partially covering absorber or an ionized absorber model. Rest frame
UV spectroscopy together with polarimetry favors the model with a partially
covering absorber with column density a few times 10^22 cm^-2 and a covering
fraction of about 0.80. After correcting for absorption, the X-ray loudness of
these BAL QSOs appears to be similar to other, unabsorbed quasars. The mystery
of X-ray weakness of BAL QSOs appears to be all but solved, with strong
absorption being the primary reason. With the available X-ray data, however,
the issue of whether BAL QSOs represent highly accreting/ younger population of
quasars remains unsettled.Comment: accepted for publication in AJ, 14 pages, 4 figures, 5 table
X-ray and optical monitoring of the peculiar source 4U 1700+24/V934 Her
(Abridged) We report on ASCA and BeppoSAX observations of the X-ray source 4U
1700+24 and on (quasi-)simultaneous spectroscopy of its optical counterpart,
V934 Her, from the Loiano 1.5-meter telescope. Archival ROSAT and RXTE data as
well as the RXTE ASM light curve of 4U 1700+24 are also analyzed along with a
1985 EXOSAT pointing. The optical spectra are typical of a M2 III star; a
revised distance to the object of ~400 pc is inferred. While these spectra do
not show either any change between the two epochs or any peculiar feature, the
X-ray spectra reveal a complex and long-term variable shape, with a clear soft
excess. The X-ray spectral properties of the source are best described by a
thermal Comptonization spectrum plus a soft energy(<1 keV) excess, which can be
modeled with a blackbody emission with kT_BB ~ 1 keV; the latter component is
not detected at the lowest source flux levels. The ratio between the two
components varies substantially with the source flux. The X-ray emission from
the object appears to become harder as its luminosity increases, and the RXTE
data acquired during an outburst occurred during Fall 1997 display a hard tail
detected up to 100 keV. Apart from erratic shot-noise variability on timescales
of tens to thousands of seconds, no significant pulsations or QPOs are found
from the timing analysis of the X-ray light curves. With the new distance
determination, the 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity range spanned in the considered
observations lies between ~2x10^32 and ~1x10^34 erg/s. All this allows us to
suggest a scenario consisting of a wide binary system in which a neutron star
accretes matter from the wind of an M giant.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, to be published on Astronomy & Astrophysics,
Main Journa
Measuring the mean and scatter of the X-ray luminosity -- optical richness relation for maxBCG galaxy clusters
Determining the scaling relations between galaxy cluster observables requires
large samples of uniformly observed clusters. We measure the mean X-ray
luminosity--optical richness (L_X--N_200) relation for an approximately
volume-limited sample of more than 17,000 optically-selected clusters from the
maxBCG catalog spanning the redshift range 0.1<z<0.3. By stacking the X-ray
emission from many clusters using ROSAT All-Sky Survey data, we are able to
measure mean X-ray luminosities to ~10% (including systematic errors) for
clusters in nine independent optical richness bins. In addition, we are able to
crudely measure individual X-ray emission from ~800 of the richest clusters.
Assuming a log-normal form for the scatter in the L_X--N_200 relation, we
measure \sigma_\ln{L}=0.86+/-0.03 at fixed N_200. This scatter is large enough
to significantly bias the mean stacked relation. The corrected median relation
can be parameterized by L_X = (e^\alpha)(N_200/40)^\beta 10^42 h^-2 ergs/s,
where \alpha = 3.57+/-0.08 and \beta = 1.82+/-0.05. We find that X-ray selected
clusters are significantly brighter than optically-selected clusters at a given
optical richness. This selection bias explains the apparently X-ray
underluminous nature of optically-selected cluster catalogs.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures, revised after referee's comments. ApJ accepte
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