Showing papers in "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1997"

Spectropolarimetric observations of active stars

Abstract: This paper reports the results of five years (five runs, 23 nights) of spectropolarimetric observations of active stars with the UCL Echelle Spectrograph of the Anglo-Australian Telescope. 225 circularly (and four linearly) polarized spectra were recorded on 28 objects (21 active stars and seven calibration standards) using the new technique of Zeeman-Doppler imaging. To extract polarization echelle spectra from raw frames, we developed a new dedicated automatic software package (called ESpRIT, which utilizes optimal extraction techniques) whose detailed description is given in the paper. For each recorded spectrum, we extract 'mean' polarized and unpolarized profiles using 'least-squares deconvolution', a technique similar to cross-correlation, which can enhance enormously the sensitivity of Zeeman-Doppler imaging, by up to 7.5 mag in flux with respect to a single average line analysis or by 4.5 mag compared with the older technique of Donati et al. in the particular case of a K1 star. Magnetic field is detected unambiguously on 14 objects, namely the weak-line T Tauri star V410 Tau, the pre-main-sequence binary HD 155555, the ZAMS stars AB Dor and LQ Hya, the dwarf flare star CC Eri, the RS CVn systems HR 1099, EI Eri, TY Pyx, CF Tue, SZ Psc, II Peg, IM Peg and IL Hya, and the FK Com star YY Men. Marginal field detections are also obtained for the weak-line T Tauri star HD 283572 and the Herbig Ae star HD 104237. Except on HR 1099 and II Peg, our results represent the first direct field detections ever reported on these objects, and in particular the first direct field detection on as young a star as V410 Tau. Most of the magnetic signatures we detect on cool stars show several sign reversals throughout the line profile, indicating that the parent field structure is rather complex and must feature (as expected) many small-scale magnetic regions of different polarities. For all stars on which Zeeman detections are recorded with sufficient accuracy (namely LQ Hya, CC Eri, HR 1099, El Eri, II Peg, IL Hya and YY Men), differential least-squares deconvolution from both the blue and the red parts of the spectral domain indicates that the magnetic regions we detect are mostly 500 to 1000 K cooler than, and sometimes at the same temperature as, but never warmer than the surrounding photosphere. Serendipitous results include the first detection (i) of small-amplitude radial velocity variations (1.3 kms -1 peak to peak) of the Herbig Ae star HD 104237 with small enough a period (37.5 ± 1 min) that they must be due to stellar pulsations and (ii) of the solar-like secondary component of the RS CVn system IL Hya.

Equation of state of the photoionized intergalactic medium

Abstract: We develop an efficient method to study the effects of reionization history on the temperature-density relation of the intergalactic medium in the low density limit (overdensity less than 5). It is applied to the study of photo-reionization models in which the amplitude, spectrum and onset epoch of the ionizing flux, as well as the cosmology, are systematically varied. We find that the mean temperature-density relation at z=2-4 is well approximated by a power-law equation of state for uniform reionization models. We derive analytical expressions for its evolution and exhibit its asymptotic behavior: it is found that for sufficiently early reionization, imprints of reionization history prior to z=10 on the temperature-density relation are washed out. In this limit the temperature at cosmic mean density is proportional to (\Omega_b h/\sqrt\Omega_0)^{1/1.7}. While the amplitude of the radiation flux at the ionizing frequency of HI is found to have a negligible effect on the temperature-density relation as long as the universe reionizes before z=5, the spectrum can change the overall temperature by about 20%, through variations in the abundances of helium species. However the slope of the mean equation of state is found to lie within a narrow range for all reionization models we study, where reionization takes place before z=5. We discuss the implications of these findings for the observational properties of the Lyman-alpha forest. In particular, uncertainties in the temperature of the intergalactic medium, due to the uncertain reionization history of our universe, introduces a 30% scaling in the amplitude of the column density distribution while the the slope of the distribution is only affected by about 5%. Finally, we discuss how a fluctuating ionizing field affects the above results. We argue that under

An X-ray spectral study of 24 type 1 active galactic nuclei

Abstract: I present a study of the X-ray spectral properties of a sample containing 24 type-1 active galactic nuclei using the medium spectral resolution of ``ASCA''. The sample consists of 20 radio-quiet objects and 4 radio-loud objects. A simple power-law continuum absorbed by Galactic material provides a very poor description of the spectra of most objects. Deviations from the power-law form are interpreted in terms of X-ray reprocessing/absorption processes. In particular, at least half of the objects show K-shell absorption edges of warm oxygen (O vii and O viii) characteristic of optically-thin, photoionized material along the line-of-sight to the central engine, the so-called warm absorber. It is found that objects with significant optical reddening display deep O vii edges. Coupled with other evidence, this suggests the existence of dusty warm plasma. A radiatively driven outflow originating from the molecular torus is probably the source of this plasma. Rapid variability of the warm absorber also points to there being another component closer to the central source and probably situated within the broad line region. Spectral features at energies characteristic of cold fluorescent iron K$\alpha$ emission are common. Radio-quiet objects have iron emission well described as originating from either the inner regions of an accretion disk or, in a small number of cases, from the molecular torus. Two of the radio-loud objects (3C~120 and 3C~382) have a much broader feature which presents problems for the relativistic disk model. The presence of radio-jets may be important in forming this spectral feature.

Resolution requirements for smoothed particle hydrodynamics calculations with self-gravity

Abstract: We determine a new resolution requirement for the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) numerical method when self-gravity is included. Comparison calculations between an SPH code and an Eulerian grid code are performed. The calculations are of a computationally demanding molecular cloud collapse and fragmentation problem. We demonstrate that the results given by the two different hydrodynamic methods are in good agreement, so long as the minimum resolvable mass in the SPH calculations is always less than the Jeans mass. If this criterion is not satisfied, SPH may give incorrect results, with the stability of near-jeans-mass clumps depending on the details of how the SPH code is implemented rather than on physical processes. We give examples, from the literature, of problems that have been encountered in simulations of star, galaxy and cosmological-structure formation where this resolution requirement is ignored.

The universality of the stellar initial mass function

Abstract: We propose that the stellar initial mass function (IMF) is universal in the sense that its functional form arises as a consequence of the statistics of random supersonic flows. A model is developed for the origin of the stellar IMF, that contains a dependence on the average physical parameters (temperature, density, velocity dispersion) of the large scale site of star formation. The model is based on recent numerical experiments of highly supersonic random flows that have a strong observational counterpart. It is shown that a Miller-Scalo like IMF is naturally produced by the model for the typical physical conditions in molecular clouds. A more “massive” IMF in star bursts is also predicted.

An investigation of cooling flows and general cluster properties from an X-ray image deprojection analysis of 207 clusters of galaxies

Abstract: We present an X-ray image deprojection analysis of Einstein Observatory imaging data on 207, clusters of galaxies. The resulting radial profiles for luminosity, temperature, and electron density variations are determined from the cluster surface-brightness profiles according to gravitational potential constraints from average Tx and Vopt observations. This enables us to determine cooling-flow and other cluster properties, such as baryon fractions, S-Z microwave decrements, and Thomson depths. We have compiled a catalogue of the detected cooling flows, and investigated their effects on general cluster properties. Self-consistent correlations between the cluster X-ray luminosity, temperature, and optical velocity-dispersion, are determined accounting for errors in both dimensions of the data. These fits indicate that the temperatures of clusters are isothermal and that they have spectral beta-values consistent with unity. We find that the X-ray Lx, Tx, and optical Vopt relations depend significantly on the cooling flow mass-deposition rate, through differences in the density profiles. Clusters of similar mass-deposition rate exhibit self-similar density profiles, with larger cooling flows showing higher central densities. This leads to scatter in the Lx related correlations within the Lx, Tx and Vopt plane. The segregation in density leads to dispersion in `half-light radii' and baryon fractions. The baryon fraction in the cores of cooling flow clusters appears to be higher, but all clusters appear to rise to a concordant value of greater than 10 percent at 1 Mpc. Thus, clusters are inconsistent with primordial nucleosynthesis baryon fraction, for a flat Universe, of 6 percent.

Shocked by GRB 970228: the afterglow of a cosmological fireball

Abstract: The location accuracy of the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras and acute ground-based follow-up have led to the detection of a decaying afterglow in X-rays and optical light following the classical gamma-ray burst GRB 970228. The afterglow in X-rays and optical light fades as a power law at all wavelengths. This behaviour was predicted for a relativistic blast wave that radiates its energy when it decelerates by ploughing into the surrounding medium. Because the afterglow has continued with unchanged behaviour for more than a month, its total energy must be of order 1051 erg, placing it firmly at a redshift of order 1. Further tests of the model are discussed, some of which can be performed with available data, and implications for future observing strategies are pointed out. We discuss how the afterglow can provide a probe for the nature of the burst sources.

A self-similar model for extragalactic radio sources

Abstract: An analytical model for extragalactic radio sources with pressure-confined jets is presented. We show that the properties of the bow shock and of the gas surrounding these objects force the sources to grow in a self-similar way provided the density in the external atmosphere falls less steeply than 1/d^2. Results from observations and numerical simulations are used to develop a self-consistent model for the large-scale structure of FRII objects. The jets in these sources are shown to be stable against turbulence for the observed properties of FRIIs and the divide between FRI and FRII objects in jet power is reproduced. The overall dynamics of a source are derived as a function of time and depend on the external density, the jet power and the scaleheight of the external atmosphere. Derived dynamical ages are consistent with observed spectral ages.

Stellar proper motions in the central 0.1 PC of the galaxy

Abstract: We report the first results of a programme to measure proper motions of stars in the innermost core of the Galaxy. From high-resolution near-infrared imaging over the last four years we have determined proper motions for 39 stars between 0.03 and 0.3 pc from the compact radio source Sgr A *. For 19 of these the derived motions are more significant than 40' in at least one coordinate. Proper motion and radial velocity dispersions are in very good agreement, indicating that the stellar velocity field on average is close to isotropic. Taking radial and proper motion data together the dynamic evidence is now strong that there is a 2.45 ( ± 0.4) x 106-Mo central dark mass located within ::;; 0.015 pc of Sgr A *. Its mass density is at least 6.5 x 109 Mo pc-3 , excluding the fact that the central mass concentration is in form of a compact white dwarf or neutron star cluster. In addition, we have detected significant changes in the structure of the innermost complex of stars in the immediate vicinity of Sgr A *, implying in at least one case stellar motions of z 1500 km s -1 within ~ 0.01 pc of the compact radio source. Including this preliminary evidence, the inferred density of the central dark mass would then have to be in excess of 10 12 Mo pc-3, implying that the central mass concentration is probably a single massive black hole.

The Pulsar kick velocity distribution

Abstract: We analyse the sample of pulsar proper motions, taking detailed account of the selection effects of the original surveys. We treat censored data using survival statistics. From a comparison of our results with Monte Carlo simulations, we find that the mean birth speed of a pulsar is 250-300 km/s, rather than the 450 km/s foundby Lyne & Lorimer (1994). The resultant distribution is consistent with a maxwellian with dispersion $ \sigma_v = 190 km/s$. Despite the large birth velocities, we find that the pulsars with long characteristic ages show the asymmetric drift, indicating that they are dynamically old. These pulsars may result from the low velocity tail of the younger population, although modified by their origin in binaries and by evolution in the galactic potential.

The dark and visible matter content of low surface brightness disc galaxies

Abstract: We present mass models of a sample of 19 low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies and compare the properties of their constituent mass components with those of a sample of high surface brightness (HSB) galaxies. We find that LSB galaxies are dark matter dominated. Their halo parameters are only slightly affected by assumptions on stellar mass-to-light ratios. Comparing LSB and HSB galaxies we find that mass models derived using the maximum disk hypothesis result in the disks of LSB galaxies having systematically higher stellar mass-to-light ratios than HSB galaxies of similar rotation velocity. This is inconsistent with all other available evidence on the evolution of LSB galaxies. We argue therefore that the maximum disk hypothesis does not provide a representative description of the LSB galaxies and their evolution. Mass models with stellar mass-to-light ratios determined by the colors and stellar velocity dispersions of galactic disks imply that LSB galaxies have dark matter halos that are more extended and less dense than those of HSB galaxies. Surface brightness is thus related to the halo properties. LSB galaxies are slowly evolving, low density and dark matter dominated galaxies.

Cross-correlation characteristics of OB stars from IUE spectroscopy

Abstract: We present a catalogue of homogeneous measures of the linewidth parameter, v(e) sin i, for 373 O-type stars and early B supergiants (including the separate components of 25 binary and three triple systems), produced by cross-correlating high-resolution, short-wavelength IUE spectra against a 'template' spectrum of tau Sco. We also tabulate terminal velocities. There are no O supergiants in our sample with v(e) sin i < 65 km s(-1), and only one supergiant earlier than B5 has v(e) sin i < 50 km s(-1), confirming that an important line broadening mechanism in addition to rotation must be present in these objects. A calibration of the area under the cross-correlation peak against spectral type is used to obtain estimates of continuum intensity ratios of the components in 28 spectroscopically binary or multiple systems. At least seven SB2 systems show evidence for the 'Struve-Sahade effect', a systematic variation in relative line strength as a function of orbital phase. The stellar wind profiles of the most rapid rotator in our sample, the O9 III:n* star HD 191423 (v(e) sin i = 436 km s(-1)), show it to have a 'wind-compressed disc' similar to that of HD 93521; this star and other rapid rotators are good candidates for studies of non-radial pulsation.

A planet on an inclined orbit as an explanation of the warp in the β Pictoris disc

Abstract: We consider the deformation that has recently been observed in the inner part of the circumstellar disc around f3 Pictoris with the HST. Our recent ground-based, adaptive optics coronographic observations confirm that the inner disc is warped. We investigate the hypothesis that a yet undetected planet is responsible for the observed warp, through simulations of the effect of the gravitational perturbation resulting from a massive companion on the disc. The physical processes assumed in the simulations are discussed: since the observed particles do not survive collisions, the apparent disc shape is driven by the underlying collisionless parent population. The resulting possible parameters for the planet that are consistent with the observed disc deformation are reviewed.

The photometric structure of the inner Galaxy

Abstract: The light distribution in the inner few kiloparsecs of the Milky Way is recovered non­ parametrically from a dust-corrected near-infrared COBEIDIRBE surface brightness map of the inner Galaxy. The best fits to the photometry are obtained when the Sun is assumed to lie -14 ± 4 pc above the plane. The recovered density distributions clearly show an elongated three-dimensional bulge set in a highly non-axisymmetric disc. In the favoured models, the bulge has axis ratios 1 : 0.6: 0.4 and semi-major axis length -2 kpc. Its nearer long axis lies in the first quadrant. The bulge is surrounded by an elliptical disc that extends to -2 kpc on the minor axis and -3.Skpc on the major axis. In all models there is a local density minimum -2.2kpc down the minor axis. The subsequent maximum - 3 kpc down the minor axis (corresponding to I = -22° and I = 17°) may be associated with the Lagrange point L4 . From this identification and the length of the bulge-bar, we infer a pattern speed Db = 60-70 km s -1 kpc -1 for the bar. Experiments in which pseudo-data derived from models with spiral structure were deprojected under the assumption that the Galaxy is either eight-fold or four-fold symmetric indicate that the highly non-axisymmetric discs recovered from the COBE data could reflect spiral structure within the Milky Way if that structure involves density contrasts greater than ~3 at near-infrared wavelengths. These experiments indicate that the angle CPo between the Sun-centre line and a major axis of the bulge lies near 20°.

Erratum: Self-similarity and scaling behaviour of infrared emission from radiatively heated dust — I. Theory

Abstract: Dust infrared emission possesses scaling properties. Overall luminosity is never an input parameter of the radiative transfer problem, spectral shape is the only relevant property of the heating radiation when the inner boundary of the dusty region is controlled by dust sublimation. Similarly, the absolute scales of densities and distances are irrelevant; the geometry enters only through angles, relative thicknesses and aspect ratios, and the actual magnitudes of densities and distances enter only through one independent parameter, the overall optical depth. Dust properties enter only through dimensionless, normalized distributions that describe the spatial variation of density and the wavelength dependence of scattering and absorption efficiencies. Scaling enables a systematic approach to modeling and classification of IR spectra. We develop a new, fully scale-free method for solving radiative transfer, present exact numerical results, and derive approximate analytical solutions for spherical geometry, covering the entire range of parameter space relevant to observations. Scaling implies tight correlations among the SEDs of various members of the same class of sources such as young stellar objects, late-type stars, etc. In particular, all members of the same class occupy common, well defined regions in color-color diagrams. The observational data corroborate the existence of these correlations.

Galaxy formation and large scale bias

Abstract: We outline a simple approach to understanding the physical origin of bias in the distribution of galaxies relative to that of dark matter. The first step is to specify how collapsed, virialized halos of dark matter trace the overall matter distribution. The next step is to make a connection between halos and the luminous galaxies we observe. We appeal to the results of semi-analytic models of galaxy formation that are tuned to fit the observed luminosity functions of local groups and clusters. We have also used a high-resolution N-body simulation of a cold dark matter (CDM) universe to study the bias relation in more detail. The differences between the galaxy and dark matter distributions are quantified using a number of different clustering statistics. We arrive at the following general conclusions: 1) A comparison of the galaxy and dark matter density fields shows that linear biasing is a good description on large scales. 2) The bias factor b depends on the shape and normalization of the power spectrum. The lower the normalization, the larger the bias. More bias is obtained for spectra with more power on large scales. For "realistic" models, b ranges from 1 to 2.5. 3) Galaxies of different luminosity or morphology have different bias factors. 4) The scale dependence of the bias factor is weak.

Galactic kinematics of Cepheids from Hipparcos proper motions

Abstract: The Hipparcos proper motions of 220 galactic Cepheids, together with relevant ground-based photometry, have been analysed. The effects of galactic rotation are very clearly seen. Mean values of the Oort constants, A = 14.82 +/- 0.84 km/s/kpc, and B = -12.37 +/- 0.64 km/s/kpc, and of the angular velocity of circular rotation at the Sun, Omega_0 = 27.19 +/- 0.87 km/s/kpc, are derived. Comparison of the value of A with values derived from recent radial velocity solutions confirm, within the errors, the zero-points of the PL and PLC relations derived directly from the Hipparcos trigonometrical parallaxes of the same stars. The proper motion results suggest that the galactic rotation curve is declining slowly at the solar distance from the galactic centre (dTheta/dR = -2.4 +/- 1.2 km/s/kpc). The component of the solar motion towards the North Galactic Pole is found to be +7.61 +/- 0.64 km/s. Based on the increased distance scale deduced in the present paper the distance to the galactic centre derived in a previous radial velocity study is increased to R_0 = 8.5 +/- 0.5 kpc.

The structure and dynamical evolution of dark matter haloes

Abstract: We use N-body simulations to investigate the structure and dynamical evolution of dark matter halos in clusters of galaxies. Our sample consists of nine massive halos from an Einstein-De Sitter universe with scale free power spectrum and spectral index n = 1. Halos are resolved by 20000 particles each, on average, and have a dynamical resolution of 20-25 kpc, as shown by extensive tests. Large scale tidal fields are included up to a scale L = 150 Mpc using background particles. We find that the halo formation process can be characterized by the alternation of two dynamical configurations: a merging phase and a relaxation phase, defined by their signature on the evolution of the total mass and root mean square (rms) velocity. Halos spend on average one third of their evolution in the merging phase and two thirds in the relaxation phase. Using this definition, we study the density profiles and show how they change during the halo dynamical history. In particular, we find that the average density profiles of our halos are fitted by the Navarro, Frenk & White (1995) analytical model with an rms residual of 17% between the virial radius Rv and 0.01Rv. The Hernquist (1990) analytical density profiles fits the same halos with an rms residual of 26%. The trend with mass of the scale radius of these fits is marginally consistent with that found by Cole & Lacey (1996): compared to their results our halos are more centrally concentrated, and the relation between scale radius and halo mass is slightly steeper. We find a moderately large scatter in this relation, due both to dynamical evolution within halos and to fluctuations in the halo population. We analyze the dynamical equilibrium of our halos using the Jeans’ equation, and find that on average they are approximately in equilibrium within their virial radius. Finally, we find that the projected mass profiles of our simulated halos are in very good agreement with the profiles of three rich galaxy clusters derived from strong and weak gravitational lensing observations.

On the effects of dynamical evolution on the initial mass function of globular clusters

Abstract: In this paper we show the results of a large set of N-body simulations modelling the evolution of globular clusters driven by relaxation, stellar evolution and disc shocking, and including the effects of the tidal field of the Galaxy. We investigate the evolution of multi-mass models with a power-law initial mass function (IMF) starting with different initial masses, concentrations, slopes of the IMF and located at different galactocentric distances. We show to what extent the effects of the various evolutionary processes alter the shape of the IMF and to what extent these changes depend on the position of the cluster in the Galaxy. The changes in both the global and the local mass functions (measured at different distances from the cluster centre) are investigated, showing whether and where the local mass function keeps memory of the IMF and where it provides a good indication of the current global mass function. The evolution of the population of white dwarfs is also followed in detail, and we supply an estimate of the fraction of the current value of the total mass expected to be in white dwarfs depending on the main initial conditions for the cluster (mass and position in the Galaxy). Simple analytical expressions have been derived by which it is possible to calculate the main quantities of interest (total mass, fraction of white dwarfs, slope of the mass function) at any time t for a larger number of different initial conditions than those investigated numerically.

Simultaneous X-ray and 7-ray observations of Cyg X-1 in the hard state by Ginga and OSSE

Abstract: We present four X-ray/gamma-ray spectra of Cyg X-1 observed in the hard ('low') state simultaneously by Ginga and GRO/OSSE on 1991 July 6. The 3-30 keV Ginga spectra are well represented by power laws with an energy spectral index of alpha~0.6 and a Compton reflection component including a fluorescent Fe K-alpha corresponding to the solid angle of the reflector of ~0.3 times 2 Pi. The overall Ginga/OSSE spectra can be modelled by repeated Compton scattering in a mildly-relativistic, tau ~1, plasma. However, the high-energy cutoff is steeper than that due to single-temperature thermal Comptonisation. It can be described by a superposition of dominant optically-thin, thermal emission at kT~140 keV and a Wien-like component from an optically-thick plasma at kT~50 keV. The X-ray spectra do not show the presence of an anisotropy break required if thermal Compton scattering takes place in a corona above a cold disc. Also, the flat spectral index shows that the plasma is soft-photon starved, i.e., the luminosity in incident soft X-ray seed photons is very much less than that in the hard X-rays. Furthermore, the observed solid angle of the reflector is significantly less than 2 pi. These facts taken together strongly rule out a disc-corona geometry. Rather, the observed spectra are consistent with a geometry in which the cold accretion disc (which both supplies the seed soft X-rays and reflects hard X-rays) only exists at large radii, while the Comptonising hot plasma is located in an inner region with no cold disc. This hot plasma consists of either pure electron-positron pairs if the source size is ~5 Schwarzschild radii or it contains also protons if the size is larger.

Jets and accretion processes in active galactic nuclei: further clues

Abstract: We present evidence in favour of a link between the luminosity radiatively dissipated in the central engine of radio-loud Active Galactic Nuclei and the kinetic power in their jets. This piece of evidence is based on the relation we find between the luminosity in broad emission lines and the kinetic power in pc-scale radio jets, for a sample of radio-loud quasars for which suitable data are available in the literature. We find that the ionizing luminosity and the kinetic one are of the same order of magnitude, suggesting that the processes responsible for them are somehow related. A strong magnetic field in equipartition with the radiation field could be responsible for regulating both processes. BL Lac objects seem to follow a similar behaviour, but with comparatively fainter broad line emission.

Observations of the Hubble Deep Field with the Infrared Space Observatory V. Spectral energy distributions starburst models and star formation history

Abstract: We have modelled the spectral energy distributions of the 13 Hubble Deep Field (HDF) galaxies reliably detected by the Infrared Space Observatoiy (ISO). For two galaxies the emission detected by ISO is consistent with being starlight or the infrared 'cirrus' in the galaxies. For the remaining 11 galaxies there is a clear mid-infrared excess, which we interpret as emission from dust associated with a strong starburst. 10 of these galaxies are spirals or interacting pairs, while the remaining one is an elliptical with a prominent nucleus and broad emission lines. We give a new discussion of how the star formation rate can be deduced from the far-infrared luminosity, and derive star formation rates for these galaxies of 8-1000o M? yr-1, where o takes account of the uncertainty in the initial mass function. The HDF galaxies detected by ISO are clearly forming stars at a prodigious rate compared with nearby normal galaxies. We discuss the implications of our detections for the history of star and heavy element formation in the Universe. Although uncertainties in the calibration, reliability of source detection, associations and starburst models remain, it is clear that dust plays an important role in star formation out to redshift 1 at least.