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

2019 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. A150 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Marchesini ◽  
A. Paggi ◽  
F. Massaro ◽  
N. Masetti ◽  
R. D’Abrusco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Infrared Emission ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Energy Component ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Mid Infrared ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bl Lacs

Context. BL Lac objects are an extreme type of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that belong to the largest population of γ-ray sources: blazars. This class of AGNs shows a double-bumped spectral energy distribution that is commonly described in terms of a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission process, whereas the low-energy component that dominates their emission between the infrared and the X-ray band is tightly connected to the high-energy component that peaks in the γ-rays. Two strong connections that link radio and mid-infrared emission of blazars to the emission in the γ-ray band are well established. They constitute the basis for associating γ-ray sources with their low-energy counterparts. Aims. We searched for a possible link between X-ray and γ-ray emissions for the subclass of BL Lacs using all archival Swift/XRT observations combined with Fermi data for a selected sample of 351 sources. Methods. Analyzing ∼2400 ks of Swift/XRT observations that were carried out until December 2018, we discovered that above the γ-ray flux threshold Fγ ≈ 3 × 10−12 erg cm−2 s−1, 96% of all Fermi BL Lacs have an X-ray counterpart that is detected with signal-to-noise ratio > 3. Results. We did not find any correlation or clear trend between X-ray and γ-ray fluxes and/or spectral shapes, but we discovered a correlation between the X-ray flux and the mid-infrared color. Finally, we discuss on a possible interpretation of our results in the SSC framework.

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 Multimessenger observations of counterparts to IceCube-190331A

2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (3) ◽  
pp. 2553-2561
Author(s):  
Felicia Krauß ◽  
Emily Calamari ◽  
Azadeh Keivani ◽  
Alexis Coleiro ◽  
Phil A Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
High Energies ◽  
Neutrino Event ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Localization Region

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.

scholarly journals Constraining X-ray emission in HBL blazars using multiwavelength observations

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (2) ◽  
pp. 1295-1306
Author(s):  
Alicja Wierzcholska ◽  
Stefan J Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Additional Absorption ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Uv Excess ◽  
Survey Results

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.

Energy-dependent nebula extent and spatially resolved spectra of the pulsar wind nebula 3C 58

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (2) ◽  
pp. 1911-1919
Author(s):  
Fang-Wu Lu ◽  
Quan-Gui Gao ◽  
Li Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Surface Brightness ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spatial Variations ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Photon Index ◽  
Pulsar Wind ◽  
Energy Dependent

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.

scholarly journals Tracing the high energy emission of γ-ray detected radio loud quasars

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S313) ◽  
pp. 225-230
Author(s):  
Giulia Migliori
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Relativistic Jet ◽  
Quasar Jets ◽  
Γ Ray ◽  
High Energy Emission ◽  
Jet Power

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.

scholarly journals A NuSTAR view of powerful γ-ray loud blazars

2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. A72 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ghisellini ◽  
M. Perri ◽  
L. Costamante ◽  
G. Tagliaferri ◽  
T. Sbarrato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Peak Frequency ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Γ Ray ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Jet Power

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.

scholarly journals MOVES III. Simultaneous X-ray and ultraviolet observations unveiling the variable environment of the hot Jupiter HD 189733b

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (1) ◽  
pp. 559-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bourrier ◽  
P J Wheatley ◽  
A Lecavelier des Etangs ◽  
G King ◽  
T Louden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Variable Environment ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Far Ultraviolet ◽  
In Transit

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.

scholarly journals Broadband characterisation of the very intense TeV flares of the blazar 1ES 1959+650 in 2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A14 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
V. A. Acciari ◽  
S. Ansoldi ◽  
L. A. Antonelli ◽  
A. Arbet Engels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crab Nebula ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Proton Synchrotron ◽  
Large Area ◽  
X Ray ◽  
High Energy Peak ◽  
Energy Peak ◽  
Jet Power

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.

scholarly journals Centaurus A at Hard X-Rays and Soft Gamma-Rays

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Steinle
Keyword(s):  
Energy Range ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Gamma Rays ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Satellite Mission ◽  
X Ray

AbstractCen A, at a distance of less than 4 Mpc, is the nearest radio-loud AGN. Its emission is detected from radio to very-high energy gamma-rays. Despite the fact that Cen A is one of the best studied extragalactic objects the origin of its hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray emission (100 keV <E< 50 MeV) is still uncertain. Observations with high spatial resolution in the adjacent soft X-ray and hard gamma-ray regimes suggest that several distinct components such as a Seyfert-like nucleus, relativistic jets, and even luminous X-ray binaries within Cen A may contribute to the total emission in the MeV regime that has been detected with low spatial resolution. As the Spectral Energy Distribution of Cen A has its second maximum around 1 MeV, this energy range plays an important role in modeling the emission of (this) AGN. As there will be no satellite mission in the near future that will cover this energies with higher spatial resolution and better sensitivity, an overview of all existing hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray measurements of Cen A is presented here defining the present knowledge on Cen A in the MeV energy range.

scholarly journals IGR J17503–2636: a candidate supergiant fast X-ray transient

2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A142 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ferrigno ◽  
E. Bozzo ◽  
A. Sanna ◽  
G. K. Jaisawal ◽  
J. M. Girard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Broad Feature

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.

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