Showing papers by "A. C. Fabian published in 1996"

The matter content of the jet in M87: evidence for an electron—positronjet

Abstract: Recent observations have allowed the geometry and kinematics of the M87 jet to be tightly constrained. We combine these constraints with historical Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) results and the theory of synchrotron self-absorbed radio cores in order to investigate the physical properties of the jet. Our results strongly suggest the jet to be dominated by an electron-positron (pair) plasma. Although our conservative constraints cannot conclusively dismiss an electron­ proton plasma, the viability of this solution is extremely vulnerable to further tightening of VLBI surface brightness limits. The arguments presented, coupled with future high-resolution multifrequency VLBI studies of the jet core, will be able to firmly distinguish these two possibilities.

The 'Quiescent' black hole in M87

Abstract: It is believed that most giant elliptical galaxies possess nuclear black holes with masses in excess of 10 8 M⊙. Bondi accretion from the interstellar medium might then be expected to produce quasar-like luminosities from the nuclei of even quiescent elliptical galaxies. It is a puzzle that such luminosities are not observed. Motivated by this problem, Fabian & Rees have recently suggested that the final stages of accretion in these objects occurs in an advection-dominated mode with a correspondingly small radiative efficiency. Despite possessing a long-known active nucleus and dynamical evidence for a black hole, the low radiative and kinetic luminosities of the core of M87 provide the best illustration of this problem. We examine an advection-dominated model for the nucleus of M87 and show that accretion at the Bondi rate is compatible with the best known estimates for the core flux from radio through to X-ray wavelengths. The success of this model prompts us to propose that FR-I radio galaxies and quiescent elliptical galaxies accrete in an advection dominated mode whereas FR-II type radio-loud nuclei possess radiatively efficient thin accretion disks.

The iron Kα line complex in Compton-thick Seyfert 2 galaxies

Abstract: We calculate the intensities of the fluorescent and resonantly scattered iron Kex lines in those active galactic nuclei (AGN) in which the primary radiation at the line energy is completely blocked by intervening matter along the line of sight (the so­ called 'Compton-thick' Seyfert 2 galaxies). In the framework of unification models for Seyfert galaxies, both a 'cold' fluorescent line from the obscuring torus and highly ionized lines from the warm material responsible for the scattering and polarization of optical photons are expected. The neutral iron line from the obscuring torus has an equivalent width, with respect to the continuum reflected by the same matter, of order 1-2 keY, provided that the matter is Compton thick. The line emission from the warm material, in the optically thin regime for all relevant processes, is dominated by the resonantly scattered lines. However, for plausible physical conditions of this matter, the resonant lines are likely to be optically thick in their centres. In this case, the resonant line intensity can significantly decrease, and for LT ~ 0.1 the fluorescent/recombination lines dominate the resonant lines. We present analytical formulae for the equivalent widths of iron lines in the optically thin case, and numerical results (obtained by means of Monte Carlo simulations) for the optically thick case. We apply the theoretical results to the most famous Compton-thick source, the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. The large uncertainties in the continuum spectral shape and line equivalent widths prevent any definite conclusions, but the application can be regarded as an example of how the results presented in this paper could be used to estimate physical and geometrical quantities in obscured AGN.

Iron K fluorescent lines from relativistic, ionized discs

Abstract: We present detailed Monte Carlo calculations of the iron KIX lines from X-ray photoionized, relativistic accretion discs. The vertical ionization structure of the matter has been taken into account, and Compton scattering and resonant absorption have been treated in detaiL We find that the ratio of lines emitted by different iron ions depends, apart from the ionization parameter, on the disc inclination angle. The line profiles with relativistic corrections have also been calculated; they can be used to distinguish between different source geometries.

X-ray reflection in Galactic Black Hole Candidates: Smeared edge profiles and resonant Auger destruction

Abstract: We consider the spectra of Thomson-thick, geometrically-thin accretion discs around Galactic black hole candidates in the reflection model and compute their iron K edges and iron K$\alpha$ lines. We compare the smeared iron K edge profiles that we compute with observation and find them to be a satisfactory description of the data. We find that a combination of Doppler broadening and resonant Auger destruction of line photons can make iron K$\alpha$ lines very difficult to detect in highly ionized inclined discs. We detail the physics of resonant Auger destruction at the level it is currently understood and point out its implications.

ASCA observations of the iron K complex of Circinus X-1 near zero phase: spectral evidence for partial covering

Abstract: We report on ASCA energy spectra of Cir X-1 taken near its zero phase on 1994 August 4-5. The ASCA SIS detectors allow a more detailed study of the iron K complex than has been possible before. We find that prior to a sudden upward flux transition the dominant iron K feature appears to consist of a large edge from neutral or nearly-neutral iron. The depth of the edge corresponds to an absorption column of about 1.5E24 cm^{-2}, while little absorption over that expected from the Galaxy is seen at lower X-ray energies. The differential absorption at high and low X-ray energies combined with the iron edge energy are strong evidence that partial covering is a crucial determinant of the behaviour observed from Cir X-1. The continuum spectral variability observed by ASCA can also be understood naturally in terms of partial covering column changes. There is evidence for a relatively weak emission line from neutral iron with an equivalent width of only about 65 eV. After the flux transition, the strength of the edge feature is greatly reduced, suggesting a large reduction in the amount of partial covering. For a large region of statistically acceptable chi-squared parameter space, the luminosity of Cir X-1, after correction for partial covering, need not change during the transition. We discuss models for the partial covering and suggest that X-ray scattering by electrons may be important. Aspects of the Cir X-1 spectrum are very similar to those of Seyfert 2 galaxies with Compton-thin tori.

ROSAT PSPC observations of the infrared quasar IRAS 13349+2438: evidence for a warm absorber with internal dust.

Abstract: We present spatial, temporal and spectral analyses of ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observations of the infrared loud quasar IRAS 13349+2438. IRAS 13349+2438 is the archetypal highly-polarized radio-quiet QSO and has an optical/infrared luminosity of about 2E46 erg/s. We detect variability in the ROSAT count rate by a factor of 4.1 in about one year, and there is also evidence for about 25 per cent variability within one week. We find no evidence for large intrinsic cold absorption of soft X-rays. These two facts have important consequences for the scattering-plus-transmission model of this object which was developed to explain its high wavelength-dependent polarization and other properties. The soft X-ray variability makes electron scattering of most of the soft X-rays difficult without a very peculiar scattering mirror. The lack of significant intrinsic cold X-ray absorption together with the large observed E(B-V) suggests either a very peculiar system geometry or, more probably, absorption by warm ionized gas with internal dust. There is evidence for an ionized oxygen edge in the X-ray spectrum. IRAS 13349+2438 has many properties that are similar to those of the Osterbrockian `narrow-line' Seyfert 1s.

ROSAT PSPC observations of Cygnus A: X-ray spectra of the cooling flow and hotspots

Abstract: We present a {\it ROSAT} Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observation of the powerful radio galaxy Cygnus-A. The X-ray emission in the {\it ROSAT} band is dominated by thermal emission from the hot intracluster medium of the associated cluster. Image deprojection confirms the existence of a significant cluster cooling flow with total mass deposition rate of $\sim 250\,{\rm M}_\odot\,{\rm yr}^{-1}$ and a (Hubble time) cooling radius of $\sim 180$\,kpc. Spectral data show the gradient in the emission-weighted mean temperature with the temperature decreasing towards the centre of the cluster. We also find signatures of the radio source: in particular, we detect the X-ray emission from the western radio hot spot previously found by the {\it ROSAT} High Resolution Imager (HRI). We find the emission from the hot spot to be hard and discuss the physical implications of this result.

The spectra of accretion discs in low-mass x-ray binaries

Abstract: We present self-consistent models for the radiative transfer in Shakura-Sunyaev accretion discs in bright low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB). Our calculations include the full effects of incoherent Compton scattering and the vertical temperature structure within the disc, as well as the effects of Doppler blurring and gravitational redshift. We find that the observed X-ray spectra are well fit by exponentially cutoff power-law models. The difference between the observed total spectrum and our calculated disc spectrum should reveal the spectrum of the disc/neutron star boundary layer and other emitting regions considered to be present in LMXB.

A ROSAT HRI observation of 3C 356: further evidence for a distant intracluster medium

Abstract: We report a 36-ks ROSAT HRI observation of the distant powerful radio galaxy 3C 356, which was detected in the PSpc. No point source is detected at the position of the radio galaxy at the flux expected from the PSPC observation, confirming that the PSPC source is extended. A weak extended source is detected in the HRI. We therefore rule out interpretations of the X-ray emission from this source as originating from the active nucleus, or a jet-cloud interaction. The emission observed with the PSPC most plausibly originates from the most distant intracluster medium yet detected in X-rays.

Joint European x-ray monitor (JEM-X): x-ray monitor for ESA's INTEGRAL mission

Abstract: JEM-X will extend the energy range of the gamma ray instruments on ESA's INTEGRAL mission (SPI, IBIS) to include the x-ray band. JEM-X will provide images with arcminute angular resolution in the 2 - 60 keV band. The baseline photon detection system consists of two identical, high pressure, imaging microstrip gas chambers, each with a collecting area of 500 cm2. They view the sky through a coded aperture mask (0.5 mm tungsten) at a separation of 3.4 m. The two detector boxes are formed from 2 mm thick stainless steel plate and are filled with 5 bar Xe. The field of view is defined by the collimator mounted on top of the detector. Each collimator consists of an array of bonded square tubes of Mo. The internal surface of these tubes is covered by a graded shield. The collimator provide also the support for the detector windows which are made out of 250 micrometer thick beryllium foils. The detector sensor elements consists of microstrip plates shaped as regular octagons with a diameter of 292 mm. The basic microstrip pattern is similar to the one chosen for the HEPC/LEPC detector system on SRG. The detector position resolution will be sufficient to ensure an angular resolution for JEM-X of better than 3 arcmin throughout the 2 - 60 keV band.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Jovian X-ray emissions.

Abstract: The Einstein and Rosat observations of X-ray emissions from Jupiter are summarized. Jupiter's soft X-ray emission is observed to originate from the planet's auroral zones, and specifically, from its equatorial region. The processes responsible for these emissions are not established. The brightness distribution of the Jovian X-rays is characterized by the dependence on central meridian longitude and by north-south and morning-afternoon asymmetries. The X-rays observed during the impact of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 are believed to be impact-induced brightenings of the X-ray aurora.

The Effect of a Surrounding Cooling flow on a Powerful Radio Source

Abstract: We review the evidence for powerful, distant radio galaxies and radio-loud quasars being found at the centres of clusters of galaxies undergoing strong cooling flows. We describe the situation in the cluster and host galaxy of a radio source before and after the initiation of emission from the central engine, based on an extension of the situation found in strong cooling flows at low redshift. We show that many of the commonly observed features of distant radio sources can be explained by the interaction between the radio source and the surrounding multi-phase intracluster medium in this scenario. Finally we note that this scenario is compatible with interaction-based scenarios for triggering radio sources.