2,050 research outputs found
Application of the methods of celestial mechanics to the rigid body problem Final report, 1 Jul. 1965 - 1 Jun. 1966
Celestial mechanics perturbation methods applied to problem of describing motion of rigid artificial earth satellite about its center of mas
HST Observations of the Double-Peaked Emission Lines in the Seyfert Galaxy Markarian 78: Mass Outflows from a Single AGN
Previous ground based observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy Mrk 78 revealed a
double set of emission lines, similar to those seen in several AGN from recent
surveys. Are the double lines due to two AGN with different radial velocities
in the same galaxy, or are they due to mass outflows from a single AGN?We
present a study of the outflowing ionized gas in the resolved narrow-line
region (NLR) of Mrk 78 using observations from Space Telescope Imaging
Spectrograph (STIS) and Faint Object Camera (FOC) aboard the Hubble Space
Telescope(HST) as part of an ongoing project to determine the kinematics and
geometries of active galactic nuclei (AGN) outflows. From the spectroscopic
information, we deter- mined the fundamental geometry of the outflow via our
kinematics modeling program by recreating radial velocities to fit those seen
in four different STIS slit positions. We determined that the double emission
lines seen in ground-based spectra are due to an asymmetric distribution of
outflowing gas in the NLR. By successfully fitting a model for a single AGN to
Mrk 78, we show that it is possible to explain double emission lines with
radial velocity offsets seen in AGN similar to Mrk 78 without requiring dual
supermassive black holes.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures (2 color), accepted for publication in The
Astrophysical Journa
Observations of Outflowing UV Absorbers in NGC 4051 with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph
We present new Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph
observations of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051. These data were
obtained as part of a coordinated observing program including X-ray
observations with the Chandra/High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG)
Spectrometer and Suzaku. We detected nine kinematic components of UV
absorption, which were previously identified using the HST/Space Telescope
Imaging Spectrograph. None of the absorption components showed evidence for
changes in column density or profile within the \sim 10 yr between the STIS and
COS observations, which we interpret as evidence of 1) saturation, for the
stronger components, or 2) very low densities, i.e., n_H < 1 cm^-3, for the
weaker components. After applying a +200 km s^-1 offset to the HETG spectrum,
we found that the radial velocities of the UV absorbers lay within the O VII
profile. Based on photoionization models, we suggest that, while UV components
2, 5 and 7 produce significant O VII absorption, the bulk of the X-ray
absorption detected in the HETG analysis occurs in more highly ionized gas.
Moreover, the mass loss rate is dominated by high ionization gas which lacks a
significant UV footprint.Comment: 41 pages, 10 Figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Steering chiral swimmers along noisy helical paths
Chemotaxis along helical paths towards a target releasing a chemoattractant
is found in sperm cells and many microorganisms. We discuss the stochastic
differential geometry of the noisy helical swimming path of a chiral swimmer. A
chiral swimmer equipped with a simple feedback system can navigate in a
concentration gradient of chemoattractant. We derive an effective equation for
the alignment of helical paths with a concentration gradient which is related
to the alignment of a dipole in an external field. We discuss the chemotaxis
index in the presence of fluctuations.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur
Spitzer/IRS Observations of Seyfert 1.8s and 1.9s: A Comparison with Seyfert 1s and Seyfert 2s
We present Spitzer Space Telescope mid-infrared spectra of 12 Seyfert 1.8 and
1.9 galaxies over the 5-38 um region. We compare the spectral characteristics
of this sample to those of 58 Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies from the Spitzer
archives. An analysis of the spectral shapes, the silicate 10 um feature and
the emission line fluxes have enabled us to characterize the mid-IR properties
of Seyfert 1.8/1.9s. We find that the equivalent widths of the 10 um silicate
feature are generally weak in all Seyfert galaxies, as previously reported by
several studies. The few Seyfert galaxies in this sample that show deep 10 um
silicate absorption features are highly inclined and/or merging galaxies. It is
likely that these absorption features originate primarily in the dusty
interstellar medium of the host galaxy rather than in a dusty torus on parsec
scales close to the central engine. We find that the equivalent width of the
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) band at 6.2 um correlates strongly with
the 20-30 um spectral index. Either of these quantities are good indicators of
the amount of starburst contribution to the mid-IR spectra. The spectra of
Seyfert 1.8 and 1.9s are dominated by these starburst features, similar to most
Seyfert 2s. They show strong PAH bands and a strong red continuum toward 30 um.
The strengths of the high-ionization forbidden narrow emission lines [O IV]
25.89 um, [Ne III] 15.56 um and [Ne V] 14.32 um relative to [Ne II] 12.81 um
are weaker in Seyfert 1.8/1.9s and Seyfert 2s as compared to Seyfert 1s. The
weakness of high-ionization lines in Seyfert 1.8-1.9s is suggestive of
intrinsically weak active galactic nuclei (AGN) continua, and/or stronger star
formation activity leading to enhanced [Ne II]. We discuss the implications of
these observational results in the context of the Unified Model of AGN.Comment: 36 pages, 4 tables, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in The
Astrophysical Journal, December 200
The Kinematics and Physical Conditions pf the Ionized Gas in Markarian 509. II. STIS Echelle Observations
We present observations of the UV absorption lines in the luminous Seyfert 1
galaxy Mrk 509, obtained with the medium resolution (lambda/Delta-lambda ~
40,000) echelle gratings of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the
Hubble Space Telescope. The spectra reveal the presence of eight kinematic
components of absorption in Ly-alpha, C IV, and N V, at radial velocities of
-422, -328, -259, -62, -22, +34, +124, and +210 km s^-1 with respect to an
emission-line redshift of z = 0.03440, seven of which were detected in an
earlier Far Ultraviolet Spectrographic Explorer (FUSE) spectrum. The component
at -22 km s^-1 also shows absorption by Si IV. The covering factor and velocity
width of the Si IV lines were lower than those of the higher ionization lines
for this component, which is evidence for two separate absorbers at this
velocity. We have calculated photoionization models to match the UV column
densities in each of these components. Using the predicted O VI column
densities, we were able to match the O VI profiles observed in the FUSE
spectrum. Based on our results, none of the UV absorbers can produce the X-ray
absorption seen in simultaneous Chandra observations; therefore, there must be
more highly ionized gas in the radial velocity ranges covered by the UV
absorbers.Comment: 30 pages, three figures (Figure 1 is in color). Accepted for
publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Comparison of Quantum and Classical Local-field Effects on Two-Level Atoms in a Dielectric
The macroscopic quantum theory of the electromagnetic field in a dielectric
medium interacting with a dense collection of embedded two-level atoms fails to
reproduce a result that is obtained from an application of the classical
Lorentz local-field condition. Specifically, macroscopic quantum
electrodynamics predicts that the Lorentz redshift of the resonance frequency
of the atoms will be enhanced by a factor of the refractive index n of the host
medium. However, an enhancement factor of (n*n+2)/3 is derived using the
Bloembergen procedure in which the classical Lorentz local-field condition is
applied to the optical Bloch equations. Both derivations are short and
uncomplicated and are based on well-established physical theories, yet lead to
contradictory results. Microscopic quantum electrodynamics confirms the
classical local-field-based results. Then the application of macroscopic
quantum electrodynamic theory to embedded atoms is proved false by a specific
example in which both the correspondence principle and microscopic theory of
quantum electrodynamics are violated.Comment: Published version with rewritten abstract and introductio
Spatially-Resolved Spectra of the "Teacup" AGN: Tracing the History of a Dying Quasar
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Galaxy Zoo project has revealed a number
of spectacular galaxies possessing Extended Emission-Line Regions (EELRs), the
most famous being Hanny's Voorwerp galaxy. We present another EELR object
discovered in the SDSS endeavor: the Teacup Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN),
nicknamed for its EELR, which has a handle like structure protruding 15 kpc
into the northeast quadrant of the galaxy. We analyze physical conditions of
this galaxy with long-slit ground based spectroscopy from Lowell, Lick, and
KPNO observatories. With the Lowell 1.8m Perkin's telescope we took multiple
observations at different offset positions, allowing us to recover spatially
resolved spectra across the galaxy. Line diagnostics indicate the ionized gas
is photoionized primarily by the AGN. Additionally we are able to derive the
hydrogen density from the [S II] 6716/6731 ratio. We generated two-component
photoionization models for each spatially resolved Lowell spectrum. These
models allow us to calculate the AGN bolometric luminosity seen by the gas at
different radii from the nuclear center of the Teacup. Our results show a drop
in bolometric luminosity by more than two orders of magnitude from the EELR to
the nucleus, suggesting that the AGN has decreased in luminosity by this amount
in a continuous fashion over 46,000 years, supporting the case for a dying AGN
in this galaxy independent of any IR based evidence. We demonstrate that
spatially resolved photoionization modeling could be applied to EELRs to
investigate long time scale variability.Comment: 38 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Radial Velocity Offsets Due to Mass Outflows and Extinction in Active Galactic Nuclei
We present a study of the radial velocity offsets between narrow emission
lines and host galaxy lines (stellar absorption and H I 21-cm emission) in
Seyfert galaxies with observed redshifts less than 0.043. We find that 35% of
the Seyferts in the sample show [O III] emission lines with blueshifts with
respect to their host galaxies exceeding 50 km/s, whereas only 6% show
redshifts this large, in qualitative agreement with most previous studies. We
also find that a greater percentage of Seyfert 1 galaxies show blueshifts than
Seyfert 2 galaxies. Using HST/STIS spatially-resolved spectra of the Seyfert 2
galaxy NGC 1068 and the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151, we generate geometric models
of their narrow-line regions (NLRs) and inner galactic disks, and show how
these models can explain the blueshifted [O III] emission lines in collapsed
STIS spectra of these two Seyferts. We conclude that the combination of mass
outflow of ionized gas in the NLR and extinction by dust in the inner disk
(primarily in the form of dust spirals) is primarily responsible for the
velocity offsets in Seyfert galaxies. More exotic explanations are not needed.
We discuss the implications of this result for the velocity offsets found in
higher redshift AGN.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
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