scholarly journals X-Ray and Ultraviolet Observations of AG Draconis during Quiescence and Outburst

1987 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 763-763
Author(s):  
A. Cassatella ◽  
F.A. Córdova ◽  
M. Friedjung ◽  
J. Kenyom ◽  
L. Piro ◽  
...  

AbstractWe describe the first X-ray monitoring of a symbiotic star during phases of enhanced activity. AG Dra is a Pop II object with a composite spectrum, characterized by a cool K-type component, prominent high ionization emission lines and a strong UV continuum which is attributed to a hot dwarf companion. Periodic variability of the UV radiation during minimum could be attributed to the orbital motion of the system. In April 1980 HEAO-2 detected an intense, soft X-ray flux from AG Dra, stronger than in other symbiotic stars. After one major outburst of November 1980, which continued until 1983, two more outbursts occurred in February 1985 and January 1986, and coordinated X-ray (EXOSAT) and ultraviolet (IUE) observations were organized to study the behaviour of AG Dra during different activity phases. EXOSAT observations made during decline after the 1985 outburst, revealed a weak X-ray flux in the Thin Lexan filter of the Low Energy dedtector. Observations made during minimum, in June and November 1985, at phases 0.22 and 0.50 of the UV light curve, disclosed the presence of an intense X-ray flux, which was not occulted in November. AG Dra was again observed with EXOSAT in February 1986 when the stellar luminosity was still at maximum. No X-ray flux was detected, in spite of the prominent, high ionization UV spectrum observed with IUE.A detailed discussion of the X-ray and ultraviolet results on AG Dra in the light of possible models is in progress.

1982 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 217-218
Author(s):  
D. Ponz ◽  
A. Cassatella ◽  
R. Viotti

The ultraviolet spectrum of RR Tel was extensively studied with the IUE satellite since 1978 in both the high and low resolution modes. A comprehensive study of these observations was made by Penston et al.(l98l) who measured more than 400 emission lines. As it is clearly shown in figure 1, the UV spectrum of this symbiotic star is very rich in emission lines. Like in the optical spectrum (Thackeray 1977), the UV spectrum presents emission lines of ions belonging to a wide range of ionization energies, from neutral up to four and five times ionized species (OV, MgV, CaVI, etc.). Permitted, intercombination and forbidden transitions were found which may allow a diagnosis of the physical conditions of the emitting regions. Electron temperatures of 1.2-1.9 104°K and densities of 106-108 cm-3 were derived by Penston et al.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (1) ◽  
pp. L12-L16
Author(s):  
Vipin Kumar ◽  
Mudit K Srivastava ◽  
Dipankar P K Banerjee ◽  
Vishal Joshi

ABSTRACT SU Lyn, a star that ostensibly appears to be an unremarkable late M type giant, has recently been proposed to be a symbiotic star largely based on its hard X-ray properties. The star does not display, in low-resolution optical spectra, the high excitation lines typically seen in the spectra of symbiotic stars. In this work, ultraviolet (UV), optical, and near-infrared observations are presented, aimed at exploring and strengthening the proposed symbiotic classification for this star. Our far-UV 1300–1800 Å spectrum of SU Lyn, obtained with the ASTROSAT mission’s UVIT payload, shows emission lines of Si iv, C iv, O iii, and N iii in a spectrum typical of symbiotic stars. The UV spectrum robustly confirms SU Lyn’s symbiotic nature. The detection of high excitation lines in a high-resolution optical spectrum further consolidates its symbiotic nature. As is being recognized, the potential existence of other similar symbiotic systems could significantly impact the census of symbiotic stars in the Galaxy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
pp. A118 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. G. Saturni ◽  
M. Bischetti ◽  
E. Piconcelli ◽  
A. Bongiorno ◽  
C. Cicone ◽  
...  

We present the analysis of the restframe optical-to-UV spectrum of APM 08279+5255, a well-known lensed broad absorption line (BAL) quasar at z = 3.911. The spectroscopic data were taken with the optical DOLoRes and near-IR NICS instruments at TNG, and include the previously unexplored range between C III] λ1910 and [O III] λλ4959,5007. We have investigated the possible presence of multiple BALs by computing “balnicity” and absorption indexes (i.e., BI, BI0, and AI) for the transitions Si IV λ1400, C IV λ1549, Al III λ1860, and Mg II λ2800. No clear evidence for the presence of absorption features is found in addition to the already known, prominent BAL associated to C IV, which supports a high-ionization BAL classification for APM 08279+5255. We also studied the properties of the [O III], Hβ, and Mg II emission lines. We find that [O III] is intrinsically weak (F[OIII]∕FHβ ≲ 0.04), as it is typically found in luminous quasars with a strongly blueshifted C IV emission line (~2500 km s−1 for APM 08279+5255). We computed the single-epoch black hole mass based on Mg II and Hβ broad emission lines, finding MBH = (2 ÷ 3) × 1010μ−1 M⊙, with the magnification factor μ that can vary between 4 and 100 according to CO and restframe UV-to-mid-IR imaging respectively. Using a Mg II equivalent width (EW)-to-Eddington ratio relation, the EWMgII ~ 27 Å measured for APM 08279+5255 translates into an Eddington ratio of ~0.4, which is more consistent with μ = 4. This magnification factor also provides a value of MBH that is consistent with recent reverberation-mapping measurements derived from C IV and Si IV.


2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (3) ◽  
pp. 3107-3127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian B Lucy ◽  
J L Sokoloski ◽  
U Munari ◽  
Nirupam Roy ◽  
N Paul M Kuin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT How are accretion discs affected by their outflows? To address this question for white dwarfs accreting from cool giants, we performed optical, radio, X-ray, and ultraviolet observations of the outflow-driving symbiotic star MWC 560 (≡V694 Mon) during its 2016 optical high state. We tracked multi-wavelength changes that signalled an abrupt increase in outflow power at the initiation of a months-long outflow fast state, just as the optical flux peaked: (1) an abrupt doubling of Balmer absorption velocities; (2) the onset of a 20 μJy per month increase in radio flux; and (3) an order-of-magnitude increase in soft X-ray flux. Juxtaposing to prior X-ray observations and their coeval optical spectra, we infer that both high-velocity and low-velocity optical outflow components must be simultaneously present to yield a large soft X-ray flux, which may originate in shocks where these fast and slow absorbers collide. Our optical and ultraviolet spectra indicate that the broad absorption-line gas was fast, stable, and dense (≳106.5  cm−3) throughout the 2016 outflow fast state, steadily feeding a lower density (≲105.5 cm−3) region of radio-emitting gas. Persistent optical and ultraviolet flickering indicate that the accretion disc remained intact. The stability of these properties in 2016 contrasts to their instability during MWC 560’s 1990 outburst, even though the disc reached a similar accretion rate. We propose that the self-regulatory effect of a steady fast outflow from the disc in 2016 prevented a catastrophic ejection of the inner disc. This behaviour in a symbiotic binary resembles disc/outflow relationships governing accretion state changes in X-ray binaries.


1987 ◽  
Vol 122 ◽  
pp. 487-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mikołajewska ◽  
M. Mikołajewski ◽  
R. Biernikowicz ◽  
P.L. Selvelli ◽  
Z. Turło

CH Cyg is a binary (P∼5750 days) consisting of a normal M6-7 giant and an unseen companion. During active phase its spectrum is similar to that of a symbiotic star - the strong B-A continuum and numerous low-excitation emission lines dominate the visual and UV spectrum. The last outburst, started in 1977, is conspicuous by the highest brightness level observed since monitoring begun in 1935. In mid 1984, a drop in brightness was accompanied by large continuum and emission line changes and correlated with a radio outburst and two expanding jets appearance (Taylor et al. 1985).


1998 ◽  
Vol 184 ◽  
pp. 83-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Lira ◽  
A. Lawrence

The spectrum of the dwarf Seyfert 1 nucleus in NGC 4395 was first reported about a decade ago (Filippenko & Sargent 1989), showing high ionization narrow emission lines and broad permitted lines. The later detection of radio and X-ray compact nuclear sources and of a featureless UV continuum gave support to the idea that NGC 4395 is a genuine low luminosity AGN (Sramek 1992; Filippenko, Ho & Sargent 1993). However, it has been claimed that, unlike classic Seyferts, NGC 4395 does not vary at all (Shields & Filippenko 1992).


2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (3) ◽  
pp. 3991-3995
Author(s):  
Jiren Liu

ABSTRACT Recently, a retrograde neutron star is proposed for the classical wind-fed X-ray pulsar, GX 301-2, to explain the orbital spin-up to spin-down reversal near periastron, based on the stream model invoked to explain the pre-periastron flare of GX 301-2 previously. We study in detail three rare spin-up events detected by Fermi/GBM and find that the spin derivatives are correlated with the Swift/BAT fluxes, following a relation of $\dot{\nu }\propto F^{0.75\pm 0.05}$. All the spin-up events of GX 301-2 started about 10 d after the periastron, which is the time needed for tidally stripped gas to reach the neutron star. The slow rotation of the optical companion implies that the accreted matter is likely to have angular momentum in the direction of the orbital motion, as in a Roche lobe-like overflow. As a result, the spin-up events of GX 301-2 would favour accretion of a prograde disc to a prograde neutron star. We also find that the flare of intrinsic X-ray emission of GX 301-2 happened 0.4 d before periastron, while the flare of low-energy emission (2–10 keV) happened about 1.4 d before periastron. The preceding low-energy flare can be explained by stronger absorption of the intrinsic X-ray emission closer to the periastron. This finding weakened the need of the stream model. The pulse fraction of GX 301-2 near periastron is reduced heavily, which is likely caused by Compton-scattering process. Compton reflection from the optical companion might be responsible for the observed orbital spin reversal of GX 301-2.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S279) ◽  
pp. 329-330
Author(s):  
Romanus Eze ◽  
Kei Saitou ◽  
Ken Ebisawa

AbstractThe Galactic Ridge X-ray Emission (GRXE) spectrum has strong iron emission lines at 6.4, 6.7, and 7.0 keV, each corresponding to the neutral (or low-ionized), He-like, and H-like iron ions. The 6.4 keV fluorescence line is due to irradiation of neutral (or low ionized) material (iron) by hard X-ray sources, indicating uniform presence of the cold matter in the Galactic plane. In order to resolve origin of the cold fluorescent matter, we examined the contribution of the 6.4 keV line emission from white dwarf surfaces in the hard X-ray emitting symbiotic stars (hSSs) and magnetic cataclysmic variables (mCVs) to the GRXE. In our spectral analysis of 4 hSSs and 19 mCVs observed with Suzaku, we were able to resolve the three iron emission lines. We found that the equivalent-widths (EWs) of the 6.4 keV lines of hSSs are systematically higher than those of mCVs, such that the average EWs of hSSs and mCVs are 180−10+50 eV and 93−3+20 eV, respectively. The EW of hSSs compares favorably with the typical EWs of the 6.4 keV line in the GRXE of 90–300 eV depending on Galactic positions. Average 6.4 keV line luminosities of the hSSs and mCVs are 9.2 × 1039 and 1.6 × 1039 photons s−1, respectively, indicating that hSSs are intrinsically more efficient 6.4 keV line emitters than mCVs. We estimated required space densities of hSSs and mCVs to account for all the GRXE 6.4 keV line emission flux to be 2 × 10−7 pc−3 and 1 × 10−6 pc−3, respectively. We also estimated the actual 6.4 keV line contribution from the hSSs, which is as much as 30% of the observed GRXE flux, and that from the mCV is about 50%. We therefore conclude that the GRXE 6.4 keV line flux is primarily explained by hSSs and mCVs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S356) ◽  
pp. 127-131
Author(s):  
Victor L. Oknyansky ◽  
Sergey S. Tsygankov ◽  
Vladimir M. Lipunov ◽  
Evgeny S. Gorbovskoy ◽  
Nataly V. Tyurina

AbstractWe present continuation of the multi-wavelength (from X-ray to optical) monitoring of the nearby changing look (CL) active galactic nucleus in the galaxy NGC 1566 performed with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory,the MASTER Global Robotic Network over the period 2007–2019. We also present continuation of optical spectroscopy using the South African Astronomical Observatory 1.9-m telescope between Aug. 2018 and Mar. 2019. We investigate remarkable re-brightenings in of the light curve following the decline from the bright phase observed at Dec. 2018 and at the end of May 2019. For the last optical spectra (31 Nov. 2018–28 Mar. 2019) we see dramatic changes compared to 2 Aug. 2018, accompanied by the fading of broad emission lines and high-ionization [FeX]6374Å line. Effectively, one more CL was observed for this object: changing from Sy1.2 to the low state as Sy 1.8–Sy1.9 type. Some possible explanations of the observed CL are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (4) ◽  
pp. 4816-4830 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Wevers ◽  
D R Pasham ◽  
S van Velzen ◽  
G Leloudas ◽  
S Schulze ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present optical spectroscopic and Swift UVOT/XRT observations of the X-ray and UV/optical bright tidal disruption event (TDE) candidate AT 2018fyk/ASASSN–18ul discovered by ASAS–SN. The Swift light curve is atypical for a TDE, entering a plateau after ∼40 d of decline from peak. After 80 d the UV/optical light curve breaks again to decline further, while the X-ray emission becomes brighter and harder. In addition to broad H, He, and potentially O/Fe lines, narrow emission lines emerge in the optical spectra during the plateau phase. We identify both high-ionization (O iii) and low-ionization (Fe ii) lines, which are visible for ∼45 d. We similarly identify Fe ii lines in optical spectra of ASASSN–15oi 330 d after discovery, indicating that a class of Fe-rich TDEs exists. The spectral similarity between AT 2018fyk, narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, and some extreme coronal line emitters suggests that TDEs are capable of creating similar physical conditions in the nuclei of galaxies. The Fe ii lines can be associated with the formation of a compact accretion disc, as the emergence of low-ionization emission lines requires optically thick, high-density gas. Taken together with the plateau in X-ray and UV/optical luminosity this indicates that emission from the central source is efficiently reprocessed into UV/optical wavelengths. Such a two-component light curve is very similar to that seen in the TDE candidate ASASSN–15lh, and is a natural consequence of a relativistic orbital pericentre.


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