scholarly journals X-Ray Variability of Active Galactic Nuclei

1983 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 499-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Schwartz ◽  
Greg Madejski ◽  
William H.-M. Ku
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Active Galaxies ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Active Nucleus ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Structural Length

X-ray variability of active galactic nuclei is commonplace on scales from days to years. It also occurs, although rarely, on time scales as short as 200 seconds. Both these statements must be strongly qualified by the irregularity and insensitivity of the available observations. In the X-rays we expect that we are seeing deep within the active nucleus, near what is usually taken to be a massive black hole. The X-ray variability time scales may then give us the fundamental structural length scales. We would like to review data on active galaxies, present our new data on Einstein observations of BL Lac objects, and discuss all these in terms of a statistical quantification of the observations.

scholarly journals X-Rays from Active Galactic Nuclei

1983 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 491-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.C. Fabian
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Seyfert Galaxies ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bl Lac

Recent X-ray observations of active galactic nuclei and Seyfert galaxies in particular are briefly reviewed. The application of the efficiency limit to rapidly varying luminous sources such as NGC 6814 is discussed. It is argued that the variability and probable MeV spectral turnover imply that most of the electrons which radiate the observed flux are only mildly relativistic. A possible link between the steep soft X-ray spectra and featureless optical continua of BL Lac objects is considered.

scholarly journals X-Ray Variability in Active Galactic Nuclei: Two Things That Everybody Should Know

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 804-807
Author(s):  
Karen M. Leighly
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Central Engine ◽  
Distinguishing Property

X-ray variability is a distinguishing property of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), and the energetics and time scales of the emission dictate that the X-rays must originate very close to the central engine. In this review I discuss two basic topics from AGN variability research. The first is the correlation of the variability time scale with the X-ray luminosity, and the second is the structure of the X-ray light curve. In each case, I first review the old results that have been known for approximately the last 10 years and then I discuss very new results which may force us to modify our ideas about the origin of AGN X-ray variability. Note that I am discussing the variability of non-blazar type AGN.

scholarly journals X-ray variability time scales in active galactic nuclei

2009 ◽  
Vol 504 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ishibashi ◽  
T. J.-L. Courvoisier
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
X Ray

scholarly journals Non-equilibrium chemistry and destruction of CO by X-ray flares

2019 ◽  
Vol 486 (1) ◽  
pp. 1094-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Mackey ◽  
Stefanie Walch ◽  
Daniel Seifried ◽  
Simon C O Glover ◽  
Richard Wünsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Thermal Evolution ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Galactic Centre ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Uv Emission ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Fractal Cloud

ABSTRACT Sources of X-rays such as active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries are often variable by orders of magnitude in luminosity over time-scales of years. During and after these flares the surrounding gas is out of chemical and thermal equilibrium. We introduce a new implementation of X-ray radiative transfer coupled to a time-dependent chemical network for use in 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations. A static fractal molecular cloud is irradiated with X-rays of different intensity, and the chemical and thermal evolution of the cloud are studied. For a simulated $10^5\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ fractal cloud, an X-ray flux <0.01 erg cm−2 s−1 allows the cloud to remain molecular, whereas most of the CO and H2 are destroyed for a flux of ≥1 erg cm−2 s−1. The effects of an X-ray flare, which suddenly increases the X-ray flux by 105×, are then studied. A cloud exposed to a bright flare has 99 per cent of its CO destroyed in 10–20 yr, whereas it takes >103 yr for 99 per cent of the H2 to be destroyed. CO is primarily destroyed by locally generated far-UV emission from collisions between non-thermal electrons and H2; He+ only becomes an important destruction agent when the CO abundance is already very small. After the flare is over, CO re-forms and approaches its equilibrium abundance after 103–105 yr. This implies that molecular clouds close to Sgr A⋆ in the Galactic Centre may still be out of chemical equilibrium, and we predict the existence of clouds near flaring X-ray sources in which CO has been mostly destroyed but H is fully molecular.

scholarly journals X-Ray Surveys as Tools to Investigate the Cosmological Evolution of Quasars, BL Lac Objects and Clusters of Galaxies

1987 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 593-595
Author(s):  
Isabella M. Gioia ◽  
Tommaso Maccacaro ◽  
Anna Wolter
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Progress Report ◽  
Cosmological Evolution ◽  
Clusters Of Galaxies ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Basic Properties ◽  
Bl Lac ◽  
Einstein Observatory

We present a progress report on a major extension of the Einstein Observatory Medium Sensitivity Survey (MSS). The basic properties of the extragalactic sources identified with Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and clusters of galaxies are discussed. Results from previous work are briefly summarized.

scholarly journals High Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy of Active Galactic Nuclei

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 262-273
Author(s):  
Julian H. Krolik
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Light Sources ◽  
Clusters Of Galaxies ◽  
Relativistic Jets ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Interstellar Material ◽  
Scientific Value

AbstractHigh-resolution X-ray spectroscopy has the potential to reveal a number of interesting features of active galactic nuclei, primarily, though not exclusively, through the measurement of absorption lines. After a brief review of the principal problems of AGN research, selected potential high-resolution observations are discussed with a view toward assessing their scientific value and the degree of resolution they will require. Two classes of observations pertaining directly to AGNs are discussed: Fe Kα spectroscopy relevant to the dynamical and thermal character of the emission line zones; and measurement of resonance line absorption by highly-ionized species in BL Lac objects, which should tell us about entrainment of interstellar material by relativistic jets. A third class of potentially important observations uses AGNs as background light sources in order to directly measure the distance to clusters of galaxies.

scholarly journals Sources of X-rays from galaxies

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S284) ◽  
pp. 183-192
Author(s):  
Q. Daniel Wang
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Mass ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray

AbstractGalactic X-ray emission is a manifestation of various high-energy phenomena and processes. The brightest X-ray sources are typically accretion-powered objects: active galactic nuclei and low- or high-mass X-ray binaries. Such objects with X-ray luminosities of ≳ 1037 ergs s−1 can now be detected individually in nearby galaxies. The contributions from fainter discrete sources (including cataclysmic variables, active binaries, young stellar objects, and supernova remnants) are well correlated with the star formation rate or stellar mass of galaxies. The study of discrete X-ray sources is essential to our understanding of stellar evolution, dynamics, and end-products as well as accretion physics. With the subtraction of the discrete source contributions, one can further map out truly diffuse X-ray emission, which can be used to trace the feedback from active galactic nuclei, as well as from stars, both young and old, in the form of stellar winds and supernovae. The X-ray emission efficiency, however, is only about 1% of the energy input rate of the stellar feedback alone. The bulk of the feedback energy is most likely gone with outflows into large-scale galactic halos. Much is yet to be investigated to comprehend the role of such outflows in regulating the ecosystem, hence the evolution of galaxies. Even the mechanism of the diffuse X-ray emission remains quite uncertain. A substantial fraction of the emission cannot arise directly from optically-thin thermal plasma, as commonly assumed, and most likely originates in its charge exchange with neutral gas. These uncertainties underscore our poor understanding of the feedback and its interplay with the galaxy evolution.

scholarly journals Surveys for active galaxies: discovery and studies

2020 ◽  
pp. 149-158
Author(s):  
A. M. Mickaelian ◽  
H. V. Abrahamyan ◽  
G. M. Paronyan ◽  
G. A. Mikayelyan ◽  
M. V. Gyulzadyan
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Classification Scheme ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Active Galaxies ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Byurakan Survey ◽  
Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Astronomical Surveys

We present surveys and related studies of active galaxies carried out at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO). This was one of the main research subjects at BAO during many years, since mid-1950s, when Viktor Ambartsumian suggested the hypothesis of the activity of the galactic nuclei. A number of surveys and searches for Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and other active galaxies were accomplished during 1960s-1980s. Since mid-1990s, our research group carried out new surveys and studies of active galaxies based on the First Byurakan Survey (FBS or Markarian Survey) and then a number of others. Here we also present the recent results of studies on active galaxies (both AGN and Starbursts) by the Extragalactic group of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) Research Department “Astronomical Surveys”. These studies are characterized by multiwavelength approach to statistical analysis of large amount of data obtained in different wavelengths; from X-ray to radio. A fine classification scheme for active galaxies has also been suggested.

scholarly journals Variable jet Lorentz factors can explain soft self-absorbed radio spectra of accreting black holes

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (1) ◽  
pp. L58-L62
Author(s):  
Andrzej A Zdziarski
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Radio Galaxies ◽  
Viewing Angle ◽  
Bl Lac Objects ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Black Hole Binaries ◽  
Hard State ◽  
Doppler Factor ◽  
Quasars And Radio Galaxies

Abstract We study the effect of variable jet bulk Lorentz factors, i.e. either jet acceleration or deceleration, on partially synchrotron self-absorbed radio spectra from cores of radio-loud active galactic nuclei and black hole binaries in the hard state. In about a half of quasars and radio galaxies, their core radio spectra are observed to be soft, i.e. have the spectral index of α < 0. If they are emitted by jets with constant Lorentz factors, that softness implies deposition of large amounts of energy at large distances from the centre. We show here that such soft spectra can be explained without that energetic requirement by emission of jets with the Doppler factor increasing with the distance. This can happen for either jet acceleration or deceleration, depending on the jet viewing angle. We find our model can explain the quiescent radio to X-ray spectra of the BL Lac objects Mrk 421 and Mrk 501.

scholarly journals Active Galactic Nuclei: Variability at Many Wavelengths

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 808-811
Author(s):  
Thierry J.-L. Courvoisier
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Gravitational Energy ◽  
Heating Process ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Ultraviolet Emission ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Accretion Process

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are thought to be powered by accretion onto a massive black hole. Understanding how gravitational energy freed by the infall of matter into the black hole is transferred to the radiating regions of the nucleus is one of the main challenges of AGN research. The question is made very complex by the presence of several cooling mechanisms with very diverse physical properties: We observe synchrotron radiation, thermal emission from hot dust, possibly thermal optical and ultraviolet emission and Comptonization processes in the X-ray domain. For each component the radiation is a signature of the cooling process rather than of the heating process. It is our hope that by observing the links and correlations between the emission of the different components we will be able to understand how they are interrelated and how they get their energy supply from the accretion process.

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