scholarly journals Multi-epoch X-ray spectral analysis of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 478

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (4) ◽  
pp. 5398-5412 ◽  
Author(s):  
S G H Waddell ◽  
L C Gallo ◽  
A G Gonzalez ◽  
S Tripathi ◽  
A Zoghbi
Keyword(s):  
Power Law ◽  
Emission Feature ◽  
Spectral Shape ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Narrow Line ◽  
Coronal Emission ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Reflection Model ◽  
Reflection Models

ABSTRACT A multi-epoch X-ray spectral and variability analysis is conducted for the narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) active galactic nucleus (AGN) Mrk 478. All available X-ray data from XMM–Newton and Suzaku satellites, spanning from 2001 to 2017, are modelled with a variety of physical models, including partial covering, soft Comptonization, and blurred reflection, to explain the observed spectral shape and variability over the 16 yr. All models are a similar statistical fit to the data sets, though the analysis of the variability between data sets favours the blurred reflection model. In particular, the variability can be attributed to changes in flux of the primary coronal emission. Different reflection models fit the data equally well, but differ in interpretation. The use of reflionx predicts a low disc ionization and power law dominated spectrum, while relxill predicts a highly ionized and blurred reflection dominated spectrum. A power law dominated spectrum might be more consistent with the normal X-ray-to-UV spectral shape (αox). Both blurred reflection models suggest a rapidly spinning black hole seen at a low inclination angle, and both require a sub-solar (∼0.5) abundance of iron. All physical models require a narrow emission feature at $6.7{\rm \, keV}$ likely attributable to Fe xxv emission, while no evidence for a narrow $6.4{\rm \, keV}$ line from neutral iron is detected.

scholarly journals A broad-band X-ray spectral study of the Seyfert 1 galaxy ESO 141–G055 with XMM–Newton and NuSTAR

2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (4) ◽  
pp. 4213-4221
Author(s):  
Ritesh Ghosh ◽  
Sibasish Laha
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Spectral Study ◽  
Column Density ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Reflection Model ◽  
Ionization Parameter

ABSTRACT We have extensively studied the broad--band X-ray spectra of the source ESO 141–G055 using all available XMM–Newton and NuSTAR observations. We detect a prominent soft excess below $2\rm \, \, {\rm keV}$, a narrow Fe line, and a Compton hump ($\gt 10\rm \, \, {\rm keV}$). The origin of the soft excess is still debated. We used two models to describe the soft excess: the blurred reflection from the ionized accretion disc and the intrinsic thermal Comptonization model. We find that both of these models explain the soft excess equally well. We confirm that we do not detect any broad Fe line in the X-ray spectra of this source, although both the physical models prefer a maximally spinning black hole scenario (a > 0.96). This may mean that either the broad Fe line is absent or blurred beyond detection. The Eddington rate of the source is estimated to be $\lambda _{\rm \, Edd}\sim 0.31$. In the reflection model, the Compton hump has a contribution from both ionized and neutral reflection components. The neutral reflector which simultaneously describes the narrow Fe K α and the Compton hump has a column density of $N_{\rm H} \ge 7\times 10^{24} \, \rm cm^{-2}$. In addition, we detect a partially covering ionized absorption with ionization parameter $\log \xi /\rm \, erg\, cm\, s^{-1}$  = $0.1^{+0.1}_{-0.1}$ and column density $N_{\rm H} =20.6^{+1.0}_{-1.0}\times 10^{22} \, \rm cm^{-2}$ with a covering factor of $0.21^{+0.01}_{-0.01}$.

scholarly journals Study on the escape timescale of high-energy particles from supernova remnants through thermal X-ray properties

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromasa Suzuki ◽  
Aya Bamba ◽  
Ryo Yamazaki ◽  
Yutaka Ohira
Keyword(s):  
Power Law ◽  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Spectral Shape ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy Particles ◽  
Accelerated Particles

Abstract In the current decade, GeV/TeV gamma-ray observations of several supernova remnants (SNRs) have implied that accelerated particles are escaping from their acceleration sites. However, when and how they escape from the SNR vicinities are yet to be understood. Recent studies have suggested that the particle escape might develop with thermal plasma ages of the SNRs. We present a systematic study on the time evolution of particle escape using thermal X-ray properties and gamma-ray spectra using 38 SNRs associated with GeV/TeV gamma-ray emissions. We conducted spectral fittings on the gamma-ray spectra using exponential cutoff power-law and broken power-law models to estimate the exponential cutoff or the break energies, both of which are indicators of particle escape. Plots of the gamma-ray cutoff/break energies over the plasma ages show similar tendencies to those predicted by analytical/numerical calculations of particle escape under conditions in which a shock is interacting with thin interstellar medium or clouds. The particle escape timescale is estimated as ∼100 kyr from the decreasing trends of the total energy of the confined protons with the plasma age. The large dispersions of the cutoff/break energies in the data may suggest an intrinsic variety of particle escape environments. This might be the cause of the complicated Galactic cosmic ray spectral shape measured on Earth.

scholarly journals The Origin of The Soft X-Ray Excess in the Seyfert 1.5 Galaxy ESO 362-G18

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
xiaogu zhong ◽  
Jiancheng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Hybrid Model ◽  
Temporal Frequency ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Fit Statistics ◽  
Reflection Model ◽  
Time Average ◽  
Moderate Scale ◽  
Reflection Models

Abstract We review the Seyfert 1.5 Galaxy ESO 362-G18 for exploring the origin of the soft X-ray excess. The Warm Corona and Relativistic Reflection models are two main scenarios to interpret the soft X-ray excess in AGNs at present. We use the simultaneous X-ray observation data of XMM-Newton and NuSTAR on Sep. 24th, 2016 to perform spectral analysis in two steps. First, we analyze the time-average spectra by using Warm Corona and Relativistic Reflection models. Moreover, we also explore the Hybrid model, Double Reflection model and Double Warm Corona model. We find that both of Warm Corona and Relativistic Reflection models can interpret the time-average spectra well but cannot be distinguished easily based on the time-averaged spectra fit statistics. Second, we add the RMS and covariance spectra to perform the spectral analysis with time-average spectra. The result shows that the warm corona could reproduce all of these spectra well. The the hot, optical thin corona and neutral distant reflection will increase their contribution with the temporal frequency, meaning that the corona responsible for X-ray continuum comes from the inner compact X-ray region and the neutral distant reflection is made of some moderate scale neutral clumps.

scholarly journals Relativistic Fe Kα line and ensemble spins of black holes in narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S312) ◽  
pp. 39-42
Author(s):  
Weimin Yuan ◽  
Zhu Liu ◽  
Youjun Lu ◽  
Xin-Lin Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Seyfert Galaxies ◽  
Emission Feature ◽  
Narrow Line ◽  
Massive Black Holes ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Accretion Rates ◽  
Black Hole Growth ◽  
Average Spin ◽  
Hole Growth

AbstractWhile a broad line of the Fe Kα emission is commonly found in the X-ray spectra of typical Seyfert galaxies, the situation is unclear in the case of Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s)—an extreme subset which are generally thought to harbor less massive black holes with higher accretion rates. We report results of our study of the assemble property of the Fe K line in NLS1s by stacking the X-ray spectra of a large sample of 51 NLS1s observed with XMM-Newton. We find in the stacked X-ray spectra a prominent, broad emission feature over 4–7 keV, which is characteristic of the broad Fe Kα line. Our results suggest that a relativistic broad Fe line may in fact be common in NLS1s. The line profile is used to study the average spin of the black holes in the sample. We find, for the first time, that their black holes are constrained to be likely spinning at averagely low or moderate rates as a population. The implications of the results are discussed in the context of the black hole growth in NLS1 galaxies.

A disc reflection model for ultra-soft narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (3) ◽  
pp. 3888-3901
Author(s):  
Jiachen Jiang ◽  
Luigi C Gallo ◽  
Andrew C Fabian ◽  
Michael L Parker ◽  
Christopher S Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Narrow Line ◽  
Ionization State ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Reflection Model ◽  
Photon Index

ABSTRACT We present a detailed analysis of the XMM–Newton observations of five narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s). They all show very soft continuum emission in the X-ray band with a photon index of Γ ≳ 2.5. Therefore, they are referred to as ‘ultra-soft’ NLS1s in this paper. By modelling their optical/UV–X-ray spectral energy distribution (SED) with a reflection-based model, we find indications that the disc surface in these ultra-soft NLS1s is in a higher ionization state than other typical Seyfert 1 AGN. Our best-fitting SED models suggest that these five ultra-soft NLS1s have an Eddington ratio of λEdd = 1–20 assuming available black hole mass measurements. In addition, our models infer that a significant fraction of the disc energy in these ultra-soft NLS1s is radiated away in the form of non-thermal emission instead of the thermal emission from the disc. Due to their extreme properties, X-ray observations of these sources in the iron band are particularly challenging. Future observations, e.g. from Athena, will enable us to have a clearer view of the spectral shape in the iron band and thus distinguish the reflection model from other interpretations of their broad-band spectra.

scholarly journals The origin of X-ray emission in the gamma-ray emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 1H 0323+342

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (3) ◽  
pp. 2922-2931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio A Mundo ◽  
Erin Kara ◽  
Edward M Cackett ◽  
A C Fabian ◽  
J Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Band Spectrum ◽  
Narrow Line ◽  
Model Assumption ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Disc Model ◽  
Reflection Model ◽  
Superluminal Motion ◽  
Low Energies

ABSTRACT We present the results of X-ray spectral and timing analyses of the closest gamma-ray emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 (γ-NLS1) galaxy, 1H 0323+342. We use observations from a recent, simultaneous XMM–Newton/NuSTAR campaign. As in radio-quiet NLS1s, the spectrum reveals a soft excess at low energies (≲2 keV) and reflection features such as a broad iron K emission line. We also find evidence of a hard excess at energies above ∼35 keV that is likely a consequence of jet emission. Our analysis shows that relativistic reflection is statistically required, and using a combination of models that includes the reflection model relxill for the broad-band spectrum, we find an inclination of $i=63^{+7}_{-5}$ degrees, which is in tension with much lower values inferred by superluminal motion in radio observations. We also find a flat (q = 2.2 ± 0.3) emissivity profile, implying that there is more reflected flux than usual being emitted from the outer regions of the disc, which in turn suggests a deviation from the thin disc model assumption. We discuss possible reasons for this, such as reflection off of a thick accretion disc geometry.

scholarly journals AstroSat observations of the first Galactic ULX pulsar Swift J0243.6+6124

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (1) ◽  
pp. 565-575
Author(s):  
Aru Beri ◽  
Sachindra Naik ◽  
Kulinder Pal Singh ◽  
Gaurava K Jaisawal ◽  
Sudip Bhattacharyya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Law ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Emission Feature ◽  
Iron Line ◽  
Strong Function ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Broad Emission ◽  
The Continuum

ABSTRACT Swift J0243.6+6124, the first Galactic ultraluminous X-ray pulsar, was observed during its 2017–2018 outburst with AstroSat at both sub- and super-Eddington levels of accretion with X-ray luminosities of LX ∼ 7 × 1037 and 6 × 1038 erg s−1, respectively. Our broad-band timing and spectral observations show that X-ray pulsations at ${\sim}9.85~\rm {s}$ have been detected up to 150 keV when the source was accreting at the super-Eddington level. The pulse profiles are a strong function of both energy and source luminosity, showing a double-peaked profile with pulse fraction increasing from ∼$10{{{\ \rm per\ cent}}}$ at $1.65~\rm {keV}$ to 40–80 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ at $70~\rm {keV}$. The continuum X-ray spectra are well modelled with a high-energy cut-off power law (Γ ∼ 0.6–0.7) and one or two blackbody components with temperatures of ∼0.35 and $1.2~\rm {keV}$, depending on the accretion level. No iron line emission is observed at sub-Eddington level, while a broad emission feature at around 6.9 keV is observed at the super-Eddington level, along with a blackbody radius ($121\!-\!142~\rm {km}$) that indicates the presence of optically thick outflows.

scholarly journals On the frequency correlations of low-frequency QPOs with kilohertz QPOs in accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (4) ◽  
pp. 5270-5284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke van Doesburgh ◽  
Michiel van der Klis
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Equations Of State ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Frame Dragging ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

ABSTRACT We investigate frequency correlations of low frequency (LF, <80 Hz) and kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) using the complete RXTE data sets on six accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars (AMXPs) and compare them to those of non-pulsating neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries with known spin. For the AMXPs SAX J1808.4−3658 and XTE J1807−294, we find frequency-correlation power-law indices that, surprisingly, are significantly lower than in the non-pulsars, and consistent with the relativistic precession model (RPM) prediction of 2.0 appropriate to test-particle orbital and Lense–Thirring precession frequencies. As previously reported, power-law normalizations are significantly higher in these AMXPs than in the non-pulsating sources, leading to requirements on the NS specific moment of inertia in this model that cannot be satisfied with realistic equations of state. At least two other AMXPs show frequency correlations inconsistent with those of SAX J1808.4−3658 and XTE J1807−294, and possibly similar to those of the non-pulsating sources; for two AMXPs no conclusions could be drawn. We discuss these results in the context of a model that has had success in black hole (BH) systems involving a torus-like hot inner flow precessing due to (prograde) frame dragging, and a scenario in which additional (retrograde) magnetic and classical precession torques not present in BH systems are also considered. We show that a combination of these interpretations may accommodate our results.

scholarly journals The spin measurement of the black hole in 4U 1543-47 constrained with the X-ray reflected emission

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (3) ◽  
pp. 4409-4417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanting Dong ◽  
Javier A García ◽  
James F Steiner ◽  
Lijun Gou
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Inclination Angle ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
Orbital Inclination ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Statistical Confidence ◽  
Reflection Model ◽  
Iron Abundance ◽  
Low Mass

ABSTRACT 4U 1543-47 is a low-mass X-ray binary that harbours a stellar-mass black hole located in our Milky Way galaxy. In this paper, we revisit seven data sets that were in the Steep Power Law state of the 2002 outburst. The spectra were observed by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. We have carefully modelled the X-ray reflection spectra and made a joint-fit to these spectra with relxill for the reflected emission. We found a moderate black hole spin, which is $0.67_{-0.08}^{+0.15}$ at 90 per cent statistical confidence. Negative and low spins (<0.5) at more than 99 per cent statistical confidence are ruled out. In addition, our results indicate that the model requires a supersolar iron abundance: $5.05_{-0.26}^{+1.21}$, and the inclination angle of the inner disc is $36.3_{-3.4}^{+5.3}$ deg. This inclination angle is appreciably larger than the binary orbital inclination angle (∼21 deg); this difference is possibly a systematic artefact of the artificially low density employed in the reflection model for this X-ray binary system.

scholarly journals Blueshifted absorption lines from X-ray reflection in IRAS 13224−3809

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (2) ◽  
pp. 2518-2522 ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Fabian ◽  
C S Reynolds ◽  
J Jiang ◽  
C Pinto ◽  
L C Gallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Absorption Lines ◽  
Narrow Line ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Absorbing Layer ◽  
Reflection Component

ABSTRACT We explore a disc origin for the highly blueshifted, variable absorption lines seen in the X-ray spectrum of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy IRAS 13224−3809. The blueshift corresponds to a velocity of ∼0.25c. Such features in other active galactic nuclei are often interpreted as ultrafast outflows. The velocity is of course present in the orbital motions of the inner disc. The absorption lines in IRAS 13224−3809 are best seen when the flux is low and the reflection component of the disc is strong relative to the power-law continuum. The spectra are consistent with a model in which the reflection component passes through a thin, highly ionized absorbing layer at the surface of the inner disc, the blueshifted side of which dominates the flux due to relativistic aberration (the disc inclination is about 70°). No fast outflow need occurs beyond the disc.

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