scholarly journals The Soft X-ray Excesses Observed by ROSAT

1994 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 338-338
Author(s):  
R. Walter ◽  
H.H. Fink

The properties of the soft X-ray excesses of bright Seyfert 1 galaxies and Quasars are described using the observations obtained with the PSPC (0.1–2.4 keV) detector of the XRT telescope aboard ROSAT during the ROSAT all sky survey (RASS). The sample consists of 58 Seyfert 1 type AGN detected with more than 300 counts during the RASS and observed at least once with IUE.The soft X-ray photon indices of our sample members range from 1.6 to 3.4 in a wide distribution (< Γ > = 2.50, σ = 0.48). The width of the distribution is considerably larger than the mean statistical uncertainty on the individual spectral slopes (σ = 0.33). Excepting for IC 4329A and Mrk 766, the mean contribution of absorbing cold matter intrinsic to the Seyfert galaxies of our sample to the absorbing column density is less than 1020cm−2. In IC 4329A and Mrk 766 intrinsic absorbtion is observed at soft X-ray. Both sources are also strongly reddened by dust.An excess of soft X-ray flux is detected in 90% of the sources above the exptrapolation of the hard X-ray power law. It can be shown that the PSPC spectral slope is a measure of the strength of the soft X-ray excess. If the reddened sources are excluded, a correlation appears between the strength of the ultraviolet blue bump and the soft X-ray photon index (figure 1). The ratio of the ultraviolet to infrared fluxes and the ultraviolet spectral slope are also related to the strength of the blue bump. The observations are compatible with a model where most of the spectral variations arising among the sources studied are driven by the strength of the bump component, which varies by a factor of 100 from object to object. A bump model consisting of a power law with a high energy cutoff at 80 eV can fit most of the sources. In any case, the spectral energy distribution of the ultraviolet to soft X-ray bump is characterised by vFv(1375 Å) = (1–5) ∫ε > 150eVFεdε.

2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A142 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ferrigno ◽  
E. Bozzo ◽  
A. Sanna ◽  
G. K. Jaisawal ◽  
J. M. Girard ◽  
...  

The object IGR J17503–2636 is a hard X-ray transient discovered by INTEGRAL on 2018 August 11. This was the first ever reported X-ray emission from this source. Following the discovery, follow-up observations were carried out with Swift, Chandra, NICER, and NuSTAR. Here we report on the analysis of all of these X-ray data and the results obtained. Based on the fast variability in the X-ray domain, the spectral energy distribution in the 0.5–80 keV energy range, and the reported association with a highly reddened OB supergiant at ∼10 kpc, we conclude that IGR J17503–2636 is most likely a relatively faint new member of the supergiant fast X-ray transients. Spectral analysis of the NuSTAR data revealed a broad feature in addition to the typical power-law with exponential roll-over at high energy. This can be modeled either in emission or as a cyclotron scattering feature in absorption. If confirmed by future observations, this feature would indicate that IGR J17503–2636 hosts a strongly magnetized neutron star with B ∼ 2 × 1012 G.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2145 (1) ◽  
pp. 012013
Author(s):  
A Eungwanichayapant ◽  
W Luangtip

Abstract Interactions between Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-rays from Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) and infrared photons from the Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) can start electromagnetic cascades. If the extragalactic magnetic field near a host galaxy is strong enough (∼1 µG), the cascades would develop isotropically around the AGN. As a result, the electron/positron pairs created along the development of the cascades would create an X-ray halo via synchrotron radiation process. It is believed that the VHE gamma-ray spectra from the AGNs could be approximated by a power-law model which is truncated at high energy end (i.e. maximum energy). In this work we studied the X-ray Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) of the halo generated from the AGN spectra with different power indices and maximum energy levels. The results showed that the SEDs were slightly higher and broader, as they were obtaining higher flux if the power indices were lower. On the other hand, the SEDs were sensitive to the maximum energy levels between 100-300 TeV. More flux could be obtained from the higher maximum energy. However, we found that the SED becomes insensitive to the varied parameters when the maximum energy and the power index are > 500 TeV and < 1.5, respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (3) ◽  
pp. 2553-2561
Author(s):  
Felicia Krauß ◽  
Emily Calamari ◽  
Azadeh Keivani ◽  
Alexis Coleiro ◽  
Phil A Evans ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT High-energy neutrinos are a promising tool for identifying astrophysical sources of high and ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Prospects of detecting neutrinos at high energies (≳TeV) from blazars have been boosted after the recent association of IceCube-170922A and TXS 0506+056. We investigate the high-energy neutrino, IceCube-190331A, a high-energy starting event (HESE) with a high likelihood of being astrophysical in origin. We initiated a Swift/XRT and UVOT tiling mosaic of the neutrino localization and followed up with ATCA radio observations, compiling a multiwavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) for the most likely source of origin. NuSTAR observations of the neutrino location and a nearby X-ray source were also performed. We find two promising counterpart in the 90 per cent confidence localization region and identify the brightest as the most likely counterpart. However, no Fermi/LAT γ-ray source and no prompt Swift/BAT source is consistent with the neutrino event. At this point, it is unclear whether any of the counterparts produced IceCube-190331A. We note that the Helix Nebula is also consistent with the position of the neutrino event and we calculate that associated particle acceleration processes cannot produce the required energies to generate a high-energy HESE neutrino.


2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (2) ◽  
pp. 1295-1306
Author(s):  
Alicja Wierzcholska ◽  
Stefan J Wagner

ABSTRACT The X-ray spectrum of extreme high-energy peaked BL Lac-type blazars is located in the synchrotron branch of the broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED), at energies below the peak. A joint fit of the extrapolated X-ray spectra together with a host galaxy template allows characterizing the synchrotron branch in the SED. The X-ray spectrum is usually characterized either with a pure or a curved power-law model. In the latter case, however, it is hard to distinguish an intrinsic curvature from excess absorption. In this paper, we focus on five well-observed blazars: 1ES 0229+200, PKS 0548−322, RX J 1136+6737, 1ES 1741+196, and 1ES 2344+514. We constrain the infrared to X-ray emission of these five blazars using a model that is characterized by the host galaxy, spectral curvature, absorption, and ultraviolet (UV) excess to separate these spectral features. In the case of four sources, namely 1ES 0229+200, PKS 0548−322, 1ES 1741+196, and 1ES 2344+514, the spectral fit with the atomic neutral hydrogen from the Leiden Argentina Bonn Survey results in a significant UV excess present in the broad-band SED. Such excess can be interpreted as an additional component, for example, a blue bump. However, in order to describe spectra of these blazars without such excess, additional absorption to the atomic neutral hydrogen from the Leiden Argentina Bonn Survey is needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (2) ◽  
pp. 1911-1919
Author(s):  
Fang-Wu Lu ◽  
Quan-Gui Gao ◽  
Li Zhang

ABSTRACT 3C 58 is a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) that shows an interesting energy-dependent nebula extent and spatial variations of the photon index and surface brightness in the X-ray band. These observations provide useful information with which to study the spatially dependent radiative cooling of electrons and the energy-dependent transport mechanisms within the nebula. In this paper, the energy-dependent nebula extent and spatially resolved spectra of this PWN are investigated in the framework of a spatially dependent particle transport model. The observations of the nebula, including the photon spectral energy distribution, spatial variations of the X-ray spectrum, and measurements of the nebula extent, can be naturally explained in this model. Our results show that the energy-dependent nebula extent favours an advection–diffusion scenario with advection-dominated transport, and the variations of the nebula extent with energy in the X-ray band can be attributed to the cooling losses of high-energy electrons affected by synchrotron burn-off. Particle diffusion plays an important role in modifying the spatial variations of the photon index and surface brightness in the X-ray band. The radial extents of the nebula at radio, GeV and TeV energies are predicted by the model, indicating that the nebula extent of 3C 58 varies with energy in these bands. The analyses show that the dependence of the adiabatic cooling rate and synchrotron radiation on the spectral index of injected particles is important for changing the nebula extent at different energies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S313) ◽  
pp. 225-230
Author(s):  
Giulia Migliori

AbstractWe present a multiwavelength study of the core and relativistic jet of the radio loud (RL) quasar RGB J1512+020A (z=0.20). We report the discovery of a bright, 13” extended X-ray jet with a short Chandra observation. We discuss the origin of the jet X-ray emission and its properties in comparison with sample of X-ray quasar jets. The broadband core spectrum is contributed by the emission of the central quasar, by a blazar component, responsible for the γ-ray emission detected by Fermi, and by the host galaxy. We model the non-thermal blazar spectral energy distribution (SED) and constrain the total jet power. The jet power inferred from the blazar SED modeling is in agreement with the values obtained from the total radio power, pointing to a jet that efficiently carries its power up to kiloparsec scales. The quasar emission appears intrinsically weak in the optical-UV band. The disk luminosity estimated from the broad emission lines is lower than the jet power, in agreement with recent results from observations and theory.


2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. A72 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ghisellini ◽  
M. Perri ◽  
L. Costamante ◽  
G. Tagliaferri ◽  
T. Sbarrato ◽  
...  

We observed three blazars at z >  2 with the NuSTAR satellite. These were detected in the γ-rays by Fermi/LAT and in the soft X-rays, but have not yet been observed above 10 keV. The flux and slope of their X-ray continuum, together with Fermi/LAT data allows us to estimate their total electromagnetic output and peak frequency. For some of them we were able to study the source in different states, and investigate the main cause of the different observed spectral energy distribution. We then collected all blazars at redshifts greater than 2 observed by NuSTAR, and confirm that these hard and luminous X-ray blazars are among the most powerful persistent sources in the Universe. We confirm the relation between the jet power and the disk luminosity, extending it at the high-energy end.


2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (1) ◽  
pp. 559-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bourrier ◽  
P J Wheatley ◽  
A Lecavelier des Etangs ◽  
G King ◽  
T Louden ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In this third paper of the MOVES (Multiwavelength Observations of an eVaporating Exoplanet and its Star) programme, we combine Hubble Space Telescope far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations with XMM–Newton/Swift X-ray observations to measure the emission of HD 189733 in various FUV lines, and its soft X-ray spectrum. Based on these measurements we characterize the interstellar medium towards HD 189733 and derive semisynthetic XUV spectra of the star, which are used to study the evolution of its high-energy emission at five different epochs. Two flares from HD 189733 are observed, but we propose that the long-term variations in its spectral energy distribution have the most important consequences for the environment of HD 189733b. Reduced coronal and wind activity could favour the formation of a dense population of Si2+ atoms in a bow-shock ahead of the planet, responsible for pre- and in-transit absorption measured in the first two epochs. In-transit absorption signatures are detected in the Lyman α line in the second, third, and fifth epochs, which could arise from the extended planetary thermosphere and a tail of stellar wind protons neutralized via charge-exchange with the planetary exosphere. We propose that increases in the X-ray irradiation of the planet, and decreases in its EUV irradiation causing lower photoionization rates of neutral hydrogen, favour the detection of these signatures by sustaining larger densities of H0 atoms in the upper atmosphere and boosting charge-exchanges with the stellar wind. Deeper and broader absorption signatures in the last epoch suggest that the planet entered a different evaporation regime, providing clues as to the link between stellar activity and the structure of the planetary environment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A14 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
V. A. Acciari ◽  
S. Ansoldi ◽  
L. A. Antonelli ◽  
A. Arbet Engels ◽  
...  

1ES 1959+650 is a bright TeV high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object exhibiting interesting features like “orphan” TeV flares and broad emission in the high-energy regime that are difficult to interpret using conventional one-zone Synchrotron Self-Compton (SSC) scenarios. We report the results from the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) observations in 2016 along with the multi-wavelength data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and Swift instruments. MAGIC observed 1ES 1959+650 with different emission levels in the very-high-energy (VHE, E >  100 GeV) γ-ray band during 2016. In the long-term data, the X-ray spectrum becomes harder with increasing flux and a hint of a similar trend is also visible in the VHE band. An exceptionally high VHE flux reaching ∼3 times the Crab Nebula flux was measured by MAGIC on the 13 and 14 of June, and 1 July 2016 (the highest flux observed since 2002). During these flares, the high-energy peak of the spectral energy distribution (SED) lies in the VHE domain and extends up to several TeV. The spectrum in the γ-ray (both Fermi-LAT and VHE bands) and the X-ray bands are quite hard. On 13 June and 1 July 2016, the source showed rapid variations in the VHE flux within timescales of less than an hour. A simple one-zone SSC model can describe the data during the flares requiring moderate to large values of the Doppler factors (δ ≥ 30−60). Alternatively, the high-energy peak of the SED can be explained by a purely hadronic model attributed to proton-synchrotron radiation with jet power Ljet ∼ 1046 erg s−1 and under high values of the magnetic field strength (∼100 G) and maximum proton energy (∼few EeV). Mixed lepto-hadronic models require super-Eddington values of the jet power. We conclude that it is difficult to get detectable neutrino emission from the source during the extreme VHE flaring period of 2016.


2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Osorio-Clavijo ◽  
O González-Martín ◽  
I E Papadakis ◽  
J Masegosa ◽  
L Hernández-García

ABSTRACT In this paper, we present a multi-epoch analysis of NGC 1052, a prototypical low-luminisity active galactic nucleus, using XMM–Newton, Suzaku and NuSTAR observations taken from 2001 to 2017. This is the first time that results from NuSTAR observations have been reported for NGC 1052. Regarding technical aspects, we found a wavelength-dependent calibration issue between simultaneous XMM–Newton and NuSTAR spectra, characterized by a change in the photon index of $\rm { \Gamma _{NuSTAR}- \Gamma _{XMM-Newton}=0.17\pm 0.04}$. We use ancillary Chandra data to decontaminate the nuclear spectrum from circumnuclear contributors. We find that two baseline models can fit the broad (0.5–50 keV) X-ray spectrum of the source. One consists of a power-law-like continuum that is absorbed by a uniform absorber, and is reflected by neutral material, and a separate power-law component in the soft band. The second model consists of a clumpy absorber. The reflection component is still present, but not the soft-band power law. Instead, absorption by a warm absorber is necessary to fit the spectra. This is the first time that a reflection component has been established in this object, thanks to high-energy data from NuSTAR. This component is constant in flux and shape, supporting the idea that it is produced away from the central source (probably in the torus). We find flux, spectral slope and absorption variations on time-scales of months to years. We also find that a patchy absorber can explain the behaviour of this source better, as it is ∼200 times more likely than the uniform absorber and yields smaller intrinsic variations.


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