The Influence of Selection Effects on the Properties of BL Lacs

1994 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 515-515
Author(s):  
M.J.M. Marchã ◽  
I.W.A. Browne
Keyword(s):  
Optical Emission ◽  
Statistical Properties ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Selection Effects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Luminous Galaxies ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Bl Lacs

The fact that the recognition of BL Lacs always requires optical confirmation, regardless of whether the objects were first selected in the radio, or X-ray frequencies means that deep surveys will miss some objects simply because the optical emission from the host galaxy outshines that of the BL Lac. In particular, the deeper the survey, the more difficult it will become to recognize low luminosity BL Lacs in the nuclei of luminous galaxies. This recognition effect will modify the intrinsic distribution of objects, and influence their statistical properties in general.

scholarly journals The γ-ray sky seen at X-ray energies

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A128 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Marchesini ◽  
A. Paggi ◽  
F. Massaro ◽  
N. Masetti ◽  
R. D’Abrusco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Positional Uncertainty ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Frequency Behavior ◽  
Bl Lacs ◽  
Selection Of

Context. Nearly 50% of all sources detected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope are classified as blazars or blazar candidates, one of the most elusive classes of active galaxies. Additional blazars can also be hidden within the sample of unidentified or unassociated γ-ray sources (UGSs) that constitute about one-third of all gamma-ray sources detected to date. We recently confirmed that the large majority of Fermi blazars of the BL Lac subclass have an X-ray counterpart. Aims. Using the X-ray properties of a BL Lac training set and combining these with archival multifrequency information, we aim to search for UGSs that could have a BL Lac source within their γ-ray positional uncertainty regions. Methods. We reduced and analyzed the Swift X-ray observations of a selected sample of 327 UGSs. We then compared the X-ray fluxes and hardness ratios of all sources detected in the pointed fields with those of known Fermi BL Lacs. Results. We find at least one X-ray source, lying within the γ-ray positional uncertainty at 95% confidence level, for 223 UGSs and a total of 464 X-ray sources in all fields analyzed. The X-ray properties of a large fraction of them, eventually combined with radio, infrared, and optical information, exhibit BL Lac multi-frequency behavior, thus allowing us to select high-confidence BL Lac candidates; some of them were recently observed during our optical spectroscopic campaign which confirmed their nature. Conclusions. We find that out of 50 X-ray sources that were confirmed as BL Lacs through optical spectroscopy, 12 do not show canonical mid-infrared or radio BL Lac properties. This indicates that the selection of X-ray BL Lac candidates is a strong method to find new counterparts within Fermi UGSs. Finally, we pinpoint a sample of 32 Swift/XRT candidate counterparts to Fermi UGSs that are most likely BL Lac objects.

scholarly journals The redshift and the host galaxy of the neutrino candidate 4FGL J0955.1+3551 (3HSP J095507.9+355101)

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (1) ◽  
pp. L108-L111
Author(s):  
Simona Paiano ◽  
Renato Falomo ◽  
Paolo Padovani ◽  
Paolo Giommi ◽  
Adriana Gargiulo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Equivalent Width ◽  
Absolute Magnitude ◽  
Emission Lines ◽  
Absorption Lines ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Source Image ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Bl Lacs

ABSTRACT The BL Lac object 4FGL J0955.1+3551 has been suggested as a possible source of ultra-energetic neutrinos detected by the IceCube observatory. The target was observed in 2020 January at the Large Binocular Telescope. Our spectroscopy (4100–8500 Å) yields a firm redshift z = 0.557 as deduced by the absorption lines of the host galaxy. The upper limit of the minimum equivalent width on emission lines is ∼0.3 Å. From the source image, we are able to resolve the host galaxy for which we measure an absolute magnitude M(R) = −22.9 and Re = 8 kpc, which are values which are typical of the host galaxies of BL Lacs.

scholarly journals X-Ray Observations of Active Galactic Nuclei

1983 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 347-347
Author(s):  
C. Megan Urry ◽  
Richard F. Mushotzky ◽  
Allyn F. Tennant ◽  
Elihu A. Boldt ◽  
Stephen S. Holt
Keyword(s):  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Seyfert Galaxies ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Relativistic Beaming ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Ultraviolet Observations ◽  
Bl Lacs

HEAO 1 A2 and Einstein SSS spectral observations of Seyfert galaxies and BL Lac objects suggest that in both cases, the X-ray emission is due to relativistic particles. The five BL Lac objects have very soft spectra and at higher energies (above 10 keV) may have hard tails. Combining our X-ray data with radio, infrared, optical, and ultraviolet observations, we can fit the BL Lac spectra with the familiar synchrotron self-Compton model if we allow for relativistic beaming (Urry and Mushotzky 1982, Urry et al. 1982). We show that Doppler beaming of an underlying (Seyfert-like) source population flattens the observed luminosity function, and we emphasize that the relative numbers of BL Lacs and quasars in given spectral intervals are strong functions of selection effects, the degree of Doppler beaming, and the form of the intrinsic luminosity function.

scholarly journals Probing shock acceleration in BL Lac jets through X-ray polarimetry: the time-dependent view

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (1) ◽  
pp. 599-608
Author(s):  
F Tavecchio ◽  
M Landoni ◽  
L Sironi ◽  
P Coppi
Keyword(s):  
High Energy ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Degree Of Polarization ◽  
Shock Acceleration ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Independent Degree ◽  
Bl Lacs ◽  
Relativistic Particles

ABSTRACT Polarimetric measurements, especially if extended at high energy, are expected to provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying the acceleration of relativistic particles in jets. In a previous work, we have shown that the polarization of the synchrotron X-ray emission produced by highly energetic electrons accelerated by a mildly relativistic shock carries essential imprints of the geometry and the structure of the magnetic fields in the downstream region. Here, we present the extension of our analysis to the non-stationary case, especially suitable to model the highly variable emission of high-energy emitting BL Lacs. We anticipate a large ($\Pi \approx 40{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$), almost time-independent degree of polarization in the hard/medium X-ray band, a prediction soon testable with the upcoming mission IXPE. The situation in other bands, in particular in the optical, is more complex. A monotonic decrease of the optical degree of polarization is observed during the development of a flare. At later stages, Π reaches zero and then it starts to increase, recovering large values at late times. The instant at which Π = 0 is marked by a rotation of the polarization angle by 90°. However, at optical frequencies, it is likely that more than one region contribute to the observed emission, potentially making it difficult to detect the predicted behaviour.

scholarly journals X-ray detected AGN in SDSS dwarf galaxies

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (2) ◽  
pp. 2268-2284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keir L Birchall ◽  
M G Watson ◽  
J Aird
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Accretion Rates ◽  
Parent Sample

ABSTRACT In this work we present a robust quantification of X-ray selected AGN in local (z ≤ 0.25) dwarf galaxies ($M_\mathrm{*} \le 3 \times 10^9 \, \mathrm{M_\odot }$). We define a parent sample of 4331 dwarf galaxies found within the footprint of both the MPA-JHU galaxy catalogue (based on SDSS DR8) and 3XMM DR7, performed a careful review of the data to remove misidentifications and produced a sample of 61 dwarf galaxies that exhibit nuclear X-ray activity indicative of an AGN. We examine the optical emission line ratios of our X-ray selected sample and find that optical AGN diagnostics fail to identify 85 per cent of the sources. We then calculated the growth rates of the black holes powering our AGN in terms of their specific accretion rates (∝ LX/M*, an approximate tracer of the Eddington ratio). Within our observed sample, we found a wide range of specific accretion rates. After correcting the observed sample for the varying sensitivity of 3XMM, we found further evidence for a wide range of X-ray luminosities and specific accretion rates, described by a power law. Using this corrected AGN sample we also define an AGN fraction describing their relative incidence within the parent sample. We found the AGN fraction increases with host galaxy mass (up to ≈6 per cent) for galaxies with X-ray luminosities between $10^{39} \, $ and $10^{42} \, \mathrm{erg\, s^{-1}}$, and by extrapolating the power law to higher luminosities, we found evidence to suggest the fraction of luminous AGN ($L_\mathrm{X} \ge 10^{42.4} \, \mathrm{erg\, s^{-1}}$) is constant out to z ≈ 0.7.

scholarly journals High-Energy Continuum Variability in Active Galactic Nuclei

1994 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 113-122
Author(s):  
Rick Edelson
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Thermal Source ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Optical Monitoring ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Bl Lacs

CGRO and IUE observations suggest that the strong, aperiodic variability seen in the Exosat long-look observations of AGN extends over a much wider energy band. Some BL Lac objects (but no Seyfert 1 galaxies) have shown X-ray variations which were so rapid that they violate the assumptions of isotropy inherent in the Eddington limit. In the ultraviolet, Seyfert 1s as a class show an anti-correlation between the variability amplitude and luminosity, while BL Lacs show a positive correlation. Furthermore, Seyfert 1s show strong flux-correlated spectral variability, while BL Lacs show little or none. All of this suggests that the high-energy continua of BL Lacs are beamed towards us, while the ultraviolet continua of Seyfert 1s are emitted isotropically.The November 1991 multi-waveband monitoring of the BL Lac PKS 2155−304 showed strong correlated variability, with the soft X-rays leading the ultraviolet by a few hours, and no measurable lag between the ultraviolet and optical down to a limit of ≲ 1.5 hr. This indicates that the X-rays from this BL Lac are not produced by Compton upscattering, and that the ultraviolet does not come directly from a thermal source such as an accretion disk. This also strongly constrains the relativistic jet model, suggesting that all of the radiation is produced in a flattened region like a shock front.Low temporal resolution ultraviolet/optical monitoring of the Seyfert 1 NGC 5548 in 1989 yielded a strong correlation with no measurable lag to a limit of ≲4 days, casting some doubt on the standard model of thermal emission from an accretion disk in Seyfert 1s. Upcoming X-ray/ultraviolet/optical monitoring of the Seyfert 1 NGC 4151 in December 1993 will have much faster sampling, to permit a strong test of both this model and the competing reprocessing model.

scholarly journals An X-ray Spectral Survey of BL Lac Objects

1989 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 191-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Barr ◽  
P. Giommi ◽  
A. Pollock ◽  
G. Tagliaferri ◽  
D. Maccagni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Energy ◽  
Oxygen Absorption ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
Synchrotron Source ◽  
X Ray ◽  
High Energy Tail ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Spectral Survey ◽  
Bl Lacs

A wide variety of X-ray spectral forms has been reported in BL Lac objects. Concave spectra, i.e. a steep soft X-ray spectrum with a flat high energy tail, have been reported in a few of the brightest BL Lacs (e.g Urry 1986). Conversely, convex spectra (steep hard X-rays, flat soft X-ray spectrum) have also been reported, sometimes in the same objects (Madejski 1985, Barr et al 1988, George et al 1988). The high energy tails have usually been invoked as a signature of synchrotron-self-Compton emission. Two conflicting interpretations of the convex spectra have been made. Urry et al (1986) suggest absorption by a partially ionised medium, probably intrinsic to the BL Lac object, following the identification of an Oxygen absorption trough in the Einstein OGS spectrum of PKS 2155-304 by Canizares and Kruper (1984). Conversely, Barr et al (1988) attribute the hard X-ray steepening to energy loss mechanisms operating on a synchrotron source.

scholarly journals The Search for a New BL Lac Sample

1996 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 269-270
Author(s):  
A. Wolter ◽  
A. Caccianiga ◽  
T. Maccacaro ◽  
C. Ruscica
Keyword(s):  
Optical Spectrum ◽  
Cosmological Evolution ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Bl Lacs

The number of BL Lacs discovered in the last 20 years is very small (≃ 200) if compared to that of quasars. Owing to their featureless optical spectrum, BL Lacs have been discovered mainly in radio (RBL) and X-ray surveys (XBL). The limited statistics available prevents a detailed study of the properties of BL Lacs and, in general, all the conclusions based on the present data sets are affected by large uncertainties. Yet, current results are intriguing, for instance RBL and XBL are found to have a cosmological evolution that differs not only in magnitude but most of all in sign (e.g. Stickel et al., 1991 and Wolter et al., 1994 and reference therein). Therefore, we have initiated a project aimed at discovering a significant number of new BL Lac objects (≃ 100), exploiting the fact that they are both radio and X-ray emitters and in particular the fact that they occupy a well defined region in the αox–αro plane. The method we use rests on the expertise grown during the construction of the EMSS sample (Gioia et al. 1990, Stocke et al. 1991) and is described in detail in Wolter et al. (1995).

scholarly journals TeV-peaked candidate BL Lac objects

2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (2) ◽  
pp. 2771-2778 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Costamante
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Flux Ratio ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cherenkov Telescopes ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Bl Lacs

ABSTRACT BL Lac objects can be extreme in two ways: with their synchrotron emission, peaking beyond 1 keV in their spectral energy distribution, or with their gamma-ray emission, peaking at multi-TeV energies up to and beyond 10–20 TeV, like 1ES 0229+200. This second type of extreme BL Lacs – which we can name TeV-peaked BL Lacs – is not well explained by the usual synchrotron self-Compton scenarios for BL Lacs. These sources are also important as probes for the intergalactic diffuse infrared background and cosmic magnetic fields, as well as possible sites of production of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and neutrinos. However, all these studies are hindered by their still very limited number. Here I propose a new, simple criterium to select the best candidates for TeV observations, specifically aimed at this peculiar type of BL Lac objects by combining X-ray, gamma-ray, and infrared data. It is based on the observation of a clustering towards a high X-ray to GeV gamma-ray flux ratio, and it does not rely on the radio flux or X-ray spectrum. This makes it suitable to find TeV-peaked sources also with very faint radio emission. Taking advantage of the Fermi all-sky gamma-ray survey applied to the ROMA-BZCAT and Sedentary Survey samples, I produce an initial list of 47 TeV-peaked candidates for observations with present and future air-Cherenkov telescopes.

scholarly journals X-Ray Properties of Compact Extragalactic Radio Sources

1988 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 109-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Worrall
Keyword(s):  
Radio Emission ◽  
Gaussian Distribution ◽  
Radio Sources ◽  
Radio Luminosity ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Logarithmic Plot ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
5 Ghz ◽  
Bl Lacs

A good correlation is known to exist between the X-ray and radio luminosity of flat-spectrum, core-dominated radio sources (e.g., Owen, Helfand and Spangler 1981). Worrall (1987) presents a logarithmic plot of spectral luminosity in the source frame at 2 keV versus that at 5 GHz for a variety of QSOs, Highly Polarized QSOs (HPQs), and BL Lac Objects. Friedmann cosmology with Ho = 100h km s−1 Mpc−1, qo = 0 is assumed. Exclusion of objects which are optically or X-ray selected, or in which the radio emission is not dominated by a flat-spectrum compact core, gives a sub-sample consisting of 50 QSOs, 20 HPQs, and 10 BL Lacs, of which 5,4,3, respectively, are known superluminals. The dispersion of these data about the log-log correlation (assuming a Gaussian distribution), is σobs = 0.44 ± 0.06 (90% confidence errors for one interesting parameter).

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