Showing papers by "A. C. Fabian published in 2006"

Cold molecular gas in the Perseus cluster core - Association with X-ray cavity, Halpha filaments and cooling flow -

Abstract: Cold molecular gas has been recently detected in several cooling flow clusters of galaxies where huge optical nebulosities often stand. These optical filaments are tightly linked to the cooling flow and to the related phenomena, like the rising bubbles of relativistic plasma, fed by the radio jets. We present here a map in the CO(2-1) rotational line of the cold molecular gas associated with some Halpha filaments surrounding the central galaxy of the Perseus cluster: NGC 1275. The map, extending to about 50 kpc (135 arcsec) from the center of the galaxy, has been made with the 18-receiver array HERA, at the focus of the IRAM 30m telescope. Although most of the cold gas is concentrated to the center of the galaxy, the CO emission is also clearly associated to the extended filaments conspicuous in ionised gas and could trace a possible reservoir fueling the star formation there. Some of the CO emission is also found where the X-ray gas could cool down more efficiently: at the rims of the central X-ray cavity (where the hot gas is thought to have been pushed out and compressed by the central AGN expanding radio lobes). The CO global kinematics does not show any rotation in NGC 1275. The cold gas is probably a mixture of gas falling down on the central galaxy and of uplifted gas dragged out by a rising bubble in the intracluster medium. As recenlty suggested in other cluster cores, the cold gas peculiar morphology and kinematics argue for the picture of an intermittent cooling flow scenario where the central AGN plays an important role.

Cold molecular gas in the Perseus cluster core - Association with X-ray cavity, Hα filaments and cooling flow

Abstract: Cold molecular gas has recently been detected in several cooling flow clusters of galaxies containing huge optical nebula. These optical filaments are tightly linked to cooling flows and related phenomena, such as rising bubbles of relativistic plasma fed by radio jets. We present here a map, in the CO(2–1) rotational line, of the cold molecular gas associated with some of the Hα filaments surrounding the central galaxy of the Perseus cluster: NGC 1275. The map, extending to about 50 kpc (135 arcsec) from the center of the galaxy, has been made with the 18-receiver array HERA at the focus of the IRAM 30 m telescope. Although most of the cold gas is concentrated to the center of the galaxy, the CO emission is also clearly associated with the extended filaments conspicuous in ionised gas, and could trace a possible reservoir fueling the star formation there. Some of the CO emission is also found where the X-ray gas could cool down more efficiently at the rims of the central X-ray cavities (where the hot gas is thought to have been pushed out and compressed by the expanding radio lobes of the central AGN). The CO global kinematics do not show any rotation in NGC 1275. The cold gas is probably a mixture of gas falling down on the central galaxy and of uplifted gas dragged out by a rising bubble in the intracluster medium. As recently suggested in other cluster cores, the cold gas peculiar morphology and kinematics argue for the picture of an intermittent cooling flow scenario where the central AGN plays an important role.

Simultaneous Chandra and RXTE Spectroscopy of the Microquasar H1743–322: Clues to Disk Wind and Jet Formation from a Variable Ionized Outflow

Abstract: We observed the bright phase of the 2003 outburst of the Galactic black hole candidate H1743-322 in X-rays simultaneously with Chandra and RXTE on four occasions. The Chandra HETGS spectra reveal narrow, variable (He-like) Fe XXV and (H-like) Fe XXVI resonance absorption lines. In the first observation, the Fe XXVI line has a FWHM of 1800 ? 400 km s-1 and a blueshift of 700 ? 200 km s-1, suggesting that the highly ionized medium is an outflow. Moreover, the Fe XXV line is observed to vary significantly on a timescale of a few hundred seconds in the first observation, which corresponds to the Keplerian orbital period at approximately 104rg (where rg = GM/c2). Our models for the absorption geometry suggest that a combination of changing ionizing flux and geometric effects are required to account for the large changes in line flux observed between observations and that the absorption likely occurs at a radius between 102rg and 104rg for a 10 M? black hole. We suggest that the absorption occurs in an inhomogeneous accretion disk wind. If the wind in H1743-322 has unity filling factor, the highest implied mass outflow rate is 5% of the Eddington mass accretion rate. The observed wind may be a hotter, more ionized version of the Seyfert-like, outflowing warm absorber geometries recently found in the Galactic black holes GX 339-4 and XTE J1650-500. We discuss these findings in the context of ionized Fe absorption lines found in the spectra of other Galactic sources, and connections to warm absorbers, winds and jets in other accreting systems.

On the origin and excitation of the extended nebula surrounding NGC 1275

Abstract: We use line-of-sight velocity information on the filamentary emission-line nebula of NGC 1275 to infer a dynamical model of the nebula's flow through the surrounding intracluster gas. We detect outflowing gas and flow patterns that match simulations of buoyantly rising bubbles from which we deduce that some of the nebula filaments have been drawn out of NGC 1275. We find a radial gradient of the ratio [N II]λ6584/Hα which may be due to a variation in metallicity, interactions with the surrounding intracluster medium or a hardening of the excitation mechanism. We find no preferred spatial correlation of stellar clusters within the filaments and there is a notable lack of [O III]λ5007 emission, therefore it is unlikely that the filaments are ionized by stellar ultraviolet.

Magnetic fields in the centre of the Perseus cluster

Abstract: We present Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of the nucleus of NGC 1275, the central, dominant galaxy in the Perseus cluster of galaxies. These are the first observations to resolve the linearly polarized emission from 3C 84, and from them we determine a Faraday rotation measure (RM) ranging from 6500 to 7500 rad m -2 across the tip of the bright southern jet component. At 22 GHz some polarization is also detected from the central pc of 3C 84, indicating the presence of even more extreme RMs that depolarize the core at lower frequencies. The nature of the Faraday screen is most consistent with being produced by magnetic fields associated with the optical filaments of ionized gas in the Perseus cluster.

Magnetic Fields in the Center of the Perseus Cluster

Abstract: We present Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of the nucleus of NGC 1275, the central, dominant galaxy in the Perseus cluster of galaxies. These are the first observations to resolve the linearly polarized emission from 3C84, and from them we determine a Faraday rotation measure (RM) ranging from 6500 to 7500 rad/m^2 across the tip of the bright southern jet component. At 22 GHz some polarization is also detected from the central parsec of 3C84, indicating the presence of even more extreme RMs that depolarize the core at lower frequencies. The nature of the Faraday screen is most consistent with being produced by magnetic fields associated with the optical filaments of ionized gas in the Perseus Cluster.

O VI Observations of Galaxy Clusters: Evidence for Modest Cooling Flows

Abstract: A prediction of the galaxy-cluster cooling flow model is that as gas cools from the ambient cluster temperature, emission lines are produced in gas at subsequently decreasing temperatures. Gas passing through 105.5 K emits in the lines of O VI λλ1032, 1035, and here we report a FUSE study of these lines in three cooling flow clusters, Abell 426, Abell 1795, and AWM 7. No emission was detected from AWM 7, but O VI is detected from the centers of Abell 426 and Abell 1795, and possibly to the south of the center in Abell 1795, where X-ray and optical emission line filaments lie. In Abell 426 these line luminosities imply a cooling rate of 32 ± 6 M☉ yr-1 within the central r = 6.2 kpc region, while for Abell 1795 the central cooling rate is 26 ± 7 M☉ yr-1 (within r = 22 kpc), and about 42 ± 9 M☉ yr-1 including the southern pointing. Including other studies, three of six clusters have O VI emission, and they also have star formation as well as emission lines from 104 K gas. These observations are generally consistent with the cooling flow model, but at a rate closer to 30 M☉ yr-1 than to the originally suggested values of 102-10 3 M☉ yr-1.

OVI Observations of Galaxy Clusters: Evidence for Modest Cooling Flows

Abstract: A prediction of the galaxy cluster cooling flow model is that as gas cools from the ambient cluster temperature, emission lines are produced in gas at subsequently decreasing temperatures. Gas passing through 10^5.5 K emits in the lines of OVI 1032,1035, and here we report a FUSE study of these lines in three cooling flow clusters, Abell 426, Abell 1795, and AWM 7. No emission was detected from AWM 7, but OVI is detected from the centers of Abell 426 and Abell 1795, and possibly to the south of the center in Abell 1795, where X-ray and optical emission line filaments lie. In Abell 426, these line luminosities imply a cooling rate of 32+/-6 Msolar/yr within the central r = 6.2 kpc region, while for Abell 1795, the central cooling rate is 26+/-7 Msolar/yr (within r = 22 kpc), and about 42+/-9 Msolar/yr including the southern pointing. Including other studies, three of six clusters have OVI emission, and they also have star formation as well as emission lines from 1E4 K gas. These observations are generally consistent with the cooling flow model but at a rate closer to 30 Msolar/yr than originally suggested values of 100-1000 Msolar/yr.

Fe emission and ionized excess absorption in the luminous quasar 3C109 with XMM-Newton

Abstract: We report results from an XMM-Newton observation of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C109 (z=0.3056). Confirming previous results, an Fe emission line is detected, possibly comprising a broad component. However, the data cannot distinguish between an untruncated accretion disc and a case in which the innermost 20-30 gravitational radii are missing. In fact, a partial-covering plus narrow Fe line scenario is not ruled out statistically. However, the absorber would have to comprise hundreds/thousands very compact clouds close to the X-ray source, which seems rather extreme a requirement. The 2-10 keV intrinsic luminosity of 3C109 is of the order of 2-3x10^45 erg/s which, combined with a recent black hole mass estimate of ~2x10^8 M_sun, implies an Eddington ratio greater than unity. If partial covering is excluded, the observed reflection fraction (of the order of unity), steep photon index (1.86), and Fe line equivalent width (about 100 eV) all suggest to exclude that the X-ray continuum is strongly beamed, indicating that the large Eddington ratio is associated with a radiatively efficient accretion process. We also confirm previous findings on the detection of low energy absorption in excess of the Galactic value. The better quality of the XMM-Newton data enables us to attribute the excess absorption to slightly ionized gas in the line of sight, located at the redshift of 3C109. [abriged]

Discovery of a relativistic Fe line in PG 1425+267 with XMM-Newton and study of its short time-scale variability

Abstract: We report results from the XMM–Newton observation of the radio-loud quasar PG 1425+267 (z= 0.366). The X-ray data above 2 keV exhibit a double-peaked emission feature in the Fe K band. The higher energy peak is found at 6.4 keV and is consistent with being narrow, while the lower energy one is detected at 5.3 keV and is much broader than the detector resolution. We confirm the significance of the detection of the broad red part of the line via Monte Carlo simulations (99.1 per cent confidence level). We explore two possible origins of the line profile, i.e., a single relativistic iron line from the accretion disc, and the superposition of a narrow 6.4-keV line from distant material and a relativistic one. We find that a contribution from a distant reflector is not required by the data. We also perform a time-resolved analysis searching for short time-scale variability of the emission line. Results tentatively suggest that the line is indeed variable on short time-scales (at the 97.3 per cent confidence level according to simulations) and better quality data are needed to confirm it on more firm statistical grounds. We also detect clear signatures of a warm absorber in the soft X-ray energy band.

Can the unresolved X-ray background be explained by emission from the optically-detected faint galaxies of the GOODS project?

Abstract: The emission from individual X-ray sources in the Chandra Deep Fields and XMM-Newton Lockman Hole shows that almost half of the hard X-ray background above 6 keV is unresolved and implies the existence of a missing population of heavily obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN). We have stacked the 0.5-8 keV X-ray emission from optical sources in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS; which covers the Chandra Deep Fields) to determine whether these galaxies, which are individually undetected in X-rays, are hosting the hypothesised missing AGN. In the 0.5-6 keV energy range the stacked-source emission corresponds to the remaining 10-20 per cent of the total background -- the fraction that has not been resolved by Chandra. The spectrum of the stacked emission is consistent with starburst activity or weak AGN emission. In the 6-8 keV band, we find that upper limits to the stacked X-ray intensity from the GOODS galaxies are consistent with the ~40 per cent of the total background that remains unresolved, but further selection refinement is required to identify the X-ray sources and confirm their contribution.

Can the unresolved X-ray background be explained by the emission from the optically-detected faint galaxies of the GOODS project?

Abstract: The emission from individual X-ray sources in the Chandra Deep Fields and XMM‐Newton Lockman Hole shows that almost half of the hard X-ray background above 6 keV is unresolved and implies the existence of a missing population of heavily obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN). We have stacked the 0.5‐8 keV X-ray emission from optical sources in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS; which covers the Chandra Deep Fields) to determine whether these galaxies, which are individually undetected in X-rays, are hosting the hypothesized missing AGN. In the 0.5‐6 keV energy range, the stacked-source emission corresponds to the remaining 10‐20 per cent of the total background ‐ the fraction that has not been resolved by Chandra. The spectrum of the stacked emission is consistent with starburst activity or weak AGN emission. In the 6‐8 keV band, we find that upper limits to the stacked X-ray intensity from the GOODS galaxies are consistent with the ∼40 per cent of the total background that remains unresolved, but further selection refinement is required to identify the X-ray sources and confirm their contribution.

A longer XMM-Newton look at I Zwicky 1: Variability of the X-ray continuum, absorption, and iron Kalpha line

Abstract: We present the second XMM-Newton observation (85 ks) of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy (NLS1) I Zw 1 and describe its mean spectral and timing characteristics. On average, I Zw 1 is ~35 per cent dimmer in 2005 than in the shorter (20 ks) 2002 observation. Between the two epochs the intrinsic absorption column density diminished, but there were also subtle changes in the continuum shape. Considering the blurred ionised reflection model, the long-term changes can be associated with a varying contribution of the power law component relative to the total spectrum. Examination of normalised light curves indicates that the high-energy variations are quite structured and that there are delays, but only in some parts of the light curve. Interestingly, a hard X-ray lag first appears during the most-distinct structure in the mean light curve, a flux dip ~25 ks into the observation. The previously discovered broad, ionised Fe Ka line shows significant variations over the course of the 2005 observation. The amplitude of the variations is 25-45 per cent and they are unlikely due to changes in the Fe ka-producing region, but perhaps arise from orbital motion around the black hole or obscuration in the broad iron line-emitting region. The 2002 data are re-examined for variability of the Fe Ka line at that epoch. There is evidence of energy and flux variations that are associated with a hard X-ray flare that occurred during that observation.

The ultraluminous X-ray sources in the high-velocity system of NGC 1275

Abstract: We report the results of a study of X-ray point sources coincident with the high-velocity system (HVS) projected in front of NGC 1275. A very deep X-ray image of the core of the Perseus cluster, made with the Chandra X-ray Observatory, has been used. We find a population of ultraluminous X-ray sources [ULXs; seven sources with L X (0.5 - 7.0 keV) > 7 x 10 39 erg s -1 ]. As with the ULX populations in the Antennae and Cartwheel galaxies, those in the HVS are associated with a region of very active star formation. Several sources have possible optical counterparts found on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images, although the X-ray brightest one does not. Absorbed power-law models fit the X-ray spectra, with most having a photon index between 2 and 3.

A short introduction to broad and variable iron lines around black holes

Abstract: Accreting black holes often show iron line emission in their X-ray spectra. When this line emission is very broad or variable then it is likely to originate from close to the black hole. The theory and observations of such broad and variable iron lines are briefly reviewed here. In order for a clear broad line to be found, one or more of the following have to occur: high iron abundance, dense disk surface and minimal complex absorption. Several excellent examples are found from observations of Seyfert galaxies and Galactic Black Holes. In several cases there is strong evidence that the black hole is rapidly spinning. Further examples are expected as more long observations are made with XMM-Newton, Chandra and Suzaku. Intriguing instances of rapid variability of some narrow iron lines, both emission and absorption, have been reported. These may reflect variations in the irradiation or motion of physical structures on the accretion disk. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Magnetic Fields in the Center of the Perseus Cluster

Abstract: We present Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of the nucleus of NGC1275, the central, dominant galaxy in the Perseus cluster of galaxies. These are the first observations to resolve the linearly polarized emission from 3C84, and from them we determine a Faraday rotation measure (RM) ranging from 6500 to 7500 rad m{sup -2} across the tip of the bright southern jet component. At 22 GHz some polarization is also detected from the central parsec of 3C84, indicating the presence of even more extreme RMs that depolarize the core at lower frequencies. The nature of the Faraday screen is most consistent with being produced by magnetic fields associated with the optical filaments of ionized gas in the Perseus Cluster.

The new XEUS science case

Abstract: XEUS is the potential successor to ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatory and is being proposed in response to the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 long term plan for ESA's Science Programme. A new mission configuration was developed in the last year, accommodating the boundary conditions of a European-led mission with a formation-flying mirror and detector spacecraft in L2 with a focal length of 35m and an effective area of >5 m2 at 1 keV. Here the new capabilities are compared with the key scientific questions presented to the Cosmic Vision exercise: the evolution of large scale structure and nucleosynthesis, the co-evolution of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies, and the study of matter under extreme conditions.

Fe emission and ionized excess absorption in the luminous quasar 3C 109 with XMM–Newton

Abstract: We report results from an XMM-Newton observation of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 109 (z=0.3056). Previous ASCA data revealed the presence of a broad iron line from the accretion disc with which the XMM-Newton spectrum is fully consistent. However, although improving the ASCA constraints on the line parameters, the quality of the data is not high enough to distinguish between an untruncated accretion disc extending down to small radii close to the black hole and a scenario in which the innermost 20-30 gravitational radii are missing. For this reason, our results are model-dependent and the hard data can be modeled equally well by considering an absorption scenario in which a large column of neutral gas partially covers the X-ray continuum source. However, the absorber would have to comprise hundreds/thousands very compact clouds close to the X-ray source, which seems rather extreme a requirement. The 2-10 keV intrinsic luminosity of 3C 109 is of the order of 2-3 x 10{sup 45} erg s{sup -1} regardless of the adopted model. A recent black hole mass estimate of {approx} 2 x 10{sup 8} M{sub {circle_dot}} implies that L{sub bol}/L{sub Edd} > 1. If partial covering is excluded, the observed reflection fraction (of the order of unity), steep photon index (1.86), and Fe line equivalent width (about 100 eV) all suggest to exclude that the X-ray continuum is strongly beamed indicating that the large Eddington ratio is associated with a radiatively efficient accretion process and making it unlikely that the innermost accretion disc is replaced by a thick radiatively inefficient medium such as in advection-dominated accretion models. We also confirm previous findings on the detection of low energy absorption in excess of the Galactic value, where we find excellent agreement with previous results obtained in X-rays and at other wavelengths (optical and infrared). The better quality of the XMM-Newton data enables us to attribute the excess absorption to slightly ionized gas in the line of sight, located at the redshift of 3C 109. The most likely interpretation for the excess absorption is that the line-of-sight is grazing the obscuring torus of unified models, which is consistent with the inclination inferred from the Fe line profile (about 40{sup o}) and with the hybrid radio-galaxy/quasar nature of 3C 109.

Suzaku observation of NGC 3516: complex absorption and the broad and narrow Fe K lines

Abstract: We present results from a 150 ksec Suzaku observation of the Seyfert 1 NGC 3516 in October 2005. The source was in a relatively highly absorbed state. Our best-fit model is consistent with partial covering by a lowly-ionized absorber with a column density near 5x10(exp 22) cm(exp -2) and with a covering fraction 96-100 percent. Narrow K-shell absorption features due to He- and H-like Fe confirm the presence of a high-ionization absorbing component as well. A broad Fe K(alpha) diskline is required in all fits, even after the complex absorption is taken into account; an additional partial-covering component is an inadequate substitute for the continuum curvature associated with the broad line. The narrow Fe Ka line at 6.4 keV is resolved, yielding a velocity width commensurate with the optical Broad Line Region. The strength of the Compton reflection hump suggests a contribution mainly from the broad Fe line origin. We include in our model soft band emission lines from He- and H-like ions and radiative recombination lines, consistent with photo-ionization, though a small contribution from collisional ionization is possible.