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At least 325 records · Page 18

Detection of Lyman continuum absorption in the BL Lacertae object PKS 0735+178

The detection of the Lyman edge in the BL Lac object PKS 0735+178 at the absorption red shift determined by optical measurements leads to a lower limit for the column density of atomic hydrogen, N(H I) not less than 4(17)/sq cm. The Lyman-alpha absorption line appears to have been detected, but only an approximate upper limit can be obtained from the data, of the order of 2(19)/sq cm. This amount of atomic hydrogen is less than that for a line of sight through the disk of a normal spiral galaxy. It is suggested that the absorbing material exists either in the halo of a galaxy or in the tenuous, extended, gaseous disk of a galaxy.

Bregman, J. N.↗

VLBI and X-ray observations of compact nuclei in pairs of galaxies

Five pairs of isolated pairs of galaxies with radio sources from the sample of Stocke et al. (1978) were observed with a three-element VLBI array operating at 4996 MHz. Parsec-scale components were detected in NGC 3894, Arp 102, and NGC 6500. Arp 102B was found to be a strong X-ray source with a luminosity in the 0.5-4.5 keV band of about 10 to the 43rd ergs/sec. Arp 102B was also found to be an elliptical galaxy for which no emission lines have been reported, and was the only source in the sample which appeared unresolved on the milli-arcsec scale, indicating that it may be related to BL Lac type objects.

Biermann, P.↗

Discovery of a Seyfert 1 galaxy with an unusually soft X-ray spectrum

A newly-discovered Seyfert 1 galaxy, E1615+061, is identified with the bright, soft X-ray source H1613+06. The object possesses a steep X-ray spectrum, an energy index lower than 2.0, and is similar to BL Lac objects' variable soft X-ray components. Such components may be present at times in all compact extragalactic X-ray emitters, and could represent high-luminosity states of the accretion disks around the supermassive black holes that are the underlying power sources. Many of the presently unidentified, bright, soft X-ray sources at high galactic latitudes may fall into the category of these compact extragalactic objects.

Pravdo, S. H.↗

PKS 2155-304 - Relativistically beamed synchrotron radiation from a BL Lacertae object

The previously reported variability by a factor of two in less than a day is confirmed for the newly discovered BL Lac object PKS 2155-304, by means of the HEAO 1 A-2 experiment's medium- and high-energy detectors. An interpretation of the overall spectrum from radio through X-rays in terms of a synchrotron self-Compton model yields a good description of the data if relativistic beaming is allowed for. The presence of jets is inferred without their direct observation through consideration of the spectrum, combined with an estimate of the size of the source.

Urry, C. M.↗

VLA observations of an unbiased sample of extragalactic X-ray sources

Results are presented of a Very Large Array survey at 6 cm of an unbiased sample of extragalactic X-ray sources serendipitously discovered with the Einstein X-ray Observatory. Fourteen of 42 X-ray sources are detected in the radio down to a limiting sensitivity of 1-2 mJy. Detections include eight of 31 examined active galactic nuclei (AGN-quasars or Seyferts), five of eight clusters of galaxies and one BL Lac object. The radio detection rate of X-ray selected AGNs is higher than that of optically selected AGNs, suggesting that a physical link between radio and X-ray emission is present. The radio properties of the X-ray selected clusters are similar to those of optically selected Abell clusters.

Feigelson, E. D.↗

The infrared properties of active extragalactic nuclei

The observed infrared properties of the general classes of active extragalactic nuclei are reviewed with the purpose of relating the observations to the mechanisms responsible for the emission processes. Those observations which define the energy distributions and emission line ratios of broad groups of objects are summarized, including infrared, optical, and radio energy distributions, H-K colors, and line ratios for Seyfert galaxies, quasars, and BL Lac objects. The nature of the mechanisms responsible for the observed infrared continuum emission is discussed, the main candidates being thermal emission by dust in the nuclei and incoherent synchrotron emission. It is concluded that the former mechanism is the most likely one.

Soifer, B. T.↗

Summary of the workshop on active galaxies and quasars

The paper reports highlights of discussions carried out at the Tenth Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics concerning BL Lacertae objects and quasars and their relationship to active galactic nuclei. The discussions considered X-ray, optical and radio observations of active galaxies and quasars showing features which may be interpreted as jets or beams, and X-ray and VLBI observations of core-jet structures exhibiting apparent supraluminal expansion. Attention was also given to the properties of the energy source in the center of the active galaxies and quasars, the nature of quasar emission line regions, the production of the continuum in quasars and active galactic nuclei, and evidence for the association of quasars and BL Lac objects with galaxies.

Weistrop, D.↗

Absorption spectra of typical space materials in the vacuum ultraviolet

In order to develop a data base for potential optical degradation of space vacuum ultraviolet instruments, the collected volatile condensed material (CVCM) transmittance was measured in the wavelength region from 115 nm to 300 nm. The parent outgassing materials included: the adhesives, Ablebond 36-2, Trabond BB-2116, EA-9309, and Scotchweld 2216; the paints, Chemglaze Z-306, Z-306 over 9922 primer, Z-306 over AP-131 primer, Cat-A-Lac 463-3-8, 463-3-8 over primer, 3M Nextel 401-C10, and 401-C10 over 901-P1 primer; the resins, Fiberite 934, Solithane 113/C113-300 Formulation no. 1, and 113/C113-300 Formulation no. 8; the lubricants, Lube-Lok 4306 and RT/Duroid 5813; and the double-sided adhesive tape 3M-415. The effect of thermal vacuum conditioning of selected materials was also studied. The transmittance measurements were used to calculate the absorption coefficient for each of 28 different source materials versus wavelength.

Muscari, J. A.↗

1 millimeter continuum observations of quasars

Broadband 1-mm continuum observations of 37 active extragalactic objects are discussed in the context of several models of the radio and IR continuum emission of compact extragalactic objects. The observed correlation of the 1-mm flux density of 'blazars', or BL Lac objects and optically violent, variable quasars, with both radio and IR emission, is a natural consequence of the attribution of the radio-to-optical blazar continuum to synchrotron radiation from a relativistic jet viewed nearly along its axis. It is shown that a Comptonization model in which the IR continuum of quasars is produced by the upscattering of radio photons into the IR by a thermal plasma will be in accord with the 1-mm and IR data, if these photons have frequencies in the 10 to the 12th to 10 to the 13th Hz range.

Ennis, D. J.↗

Extragalactic 1 millimeter sources - Simultaneous observations at centimeter, millimeter, and visual wavelengths

Observations simultaneously made at visual (B, V, and R) wavelengths, at 1, 1.4, and 3.4 mm and at 1.3, 2, 6, and 20 cm of 9 QSOs and BL Lac objects are reported. The range of the millimeter-visual spectral index alpha sub mv was only 0.65-0.82, typical of optically thin synchrotron emission. This may indicate that the electrons radiating synchrotron emission in this portion of the spectrum are not subjected to large radiation losses, and therefore relativistic bulk motion with Doppler factors of about 10 are required. The visual spectral index is much more broadly distributed and typically larger than alpha sub mv. The spectral energy distributions have not changed much in the last two to five years except for 2251+15 and perhaps 0235+164. Only 1749+09 shows a sharp spectral break shortward of 1 mm. Sixteen other sources were observed at 1 mm, of which seven were detected.

Landau, R.↗

CCD photometry of the BL Lacertae object 1400+162 and the associated group of galaxies

Surface photometry of the BL Lacertae object 1400+162 and an apparently associated group of galaxies has been obtained using a CCD camera. Observations were made in V, broad bandpasses centered on 0.75 micron and 1.0 micron and with no filter. The colors of all but two of the galaxies suggest they are ellipticals, with the colors of the remaining two considerably bluer. Analysis using a method described by Schechter and Press (1976) suggests the group is a small one. The group may be similar to the one associated with the quasar 3C 273. The spectral index of the BL Lac object is 1.49 + or 0.21. This value allows, but does not require, the presence of an underlying elliptical galaxy. The radio-optical and optical-X-ray indices for 1400+162 are similar to values found for quasars.

Weistrop, D.↗

VLA observations of a complete sample of extragalactic X-ray sources. II

A complete sample of 35 X-ray selected sources found with the Einstein Observatory has been observed with the Very Large Array at 6 cm to investigate the relationship between radio and X-ray emission in extragalactic objects. Detections include three active galactic nuclei (AGNs), two clusters or groups of galaxies, two individual galaxies, and two BL Lac objects. The frequency of radio emission in X-ray selected AGNs is compared with that of optically selected quasars using the integral radio-optical luminosity function. The result suggests that the probability for X-ray selected quasars to be radio sources is higher than for those optically selected. No obvious correlation is found in the sample between the richness of X-ray luminosity of the cluster and the presence of a galaxy with radio luminosity at 5 GHz larger than 10 to the 30th ergs/s/Hz.

Schild, R.↗

X-ray spectra and time variability of active galactic nuclei

The X-ray spectra of broad line active galactic nuclei (AGN) of all types (Seyfert I's, NELG's, broadline radio galaxies) are well fit by a power law in the .5 to 100 keV band of man energy slope alpha = .68 + or - .15. There is, as yet, no strong evidence for time variability of this slope in a given object. The constraints that this places on simple models of the central energy source are discussed. BL Lac objects have quite different X-ray spectral properties and show pronounced X-ray spectral variability. On time scales longer than 12 hours most radio quiet AGN do not show strong, delta I/I .5, variability. The probability of variability of these AGN seems to be inversely related to their luminosity. However characteristics timescales for variability have not been measured for many objects. This general lack of variability may imply that most AGN are well below the Eddington limit. Radio bright AGN tend to be more variable than radio quiet AGN on long, tau approx 6 month, timescales.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗

An X-ray survey of variable radio bright quasars

A sample consisting primarily of radio bright quasars was observed in X-rays with the Einstein Observatory for times ranging from 1500 to 5000 seconds. Detected sources had luminosities ranging from 0.2 to 41.0 x 10 to the 45th power ergs/sec in the 0.5 to 4.5 keV band. Three of the fourteen objects which were reobserved showed flux increases greater than a factor of two on a time scale greater than six months. No variability was detected during the individual observations. The optical and X-ray luminosities are correlated, which suggests a common origin. However, the relationship (L sub x is approximately L sub op to the (.89 + or - .15)) found for historic radio variables may be significantly different than that reported for other radio bright sources. Some of the observed X-ray fluxes were substantially below the predicted self-Compton flux, assuming incoherent synchrotron emission and using VLBI results to constrain the size of the emission region, which suggests relativistic expansion in these sources. Normal CIV emission in two of the sources with an overpredicted Compton component suggests that although they, like BL Lac objects, have highly relativistic material apparently moving at small angle to the line of sight, they have a smaller fraction of the continuum component in the beam.

Henriksen, M. J.↗

X-ray studies of BL Lacertae objects with the Einstein Observatory - Confrontation with the synchrotron self-Compton predictions

X-ray flux densities measured with the Einstein Observatory are presented for a set of LB Lac objects with available VLBI angular sizes. The static, single-component synchrotron self-Compton formalism is used to predict the X-ray flux densities. Ratios of 10 to the -6th to the 10 to the -8th are found for the observed to predicted flux densities and it is concluded that such a model, at least in its simplest form, does not explain the X-ray emission from these objects as a class. The hypothesis that the compact source is in relativistic motion allows a simple resolution of the discrepancy. The results agree qualitatively with a broad distribution of bulk Lorentz factors Gamma with a fairly low typical value of Gamma approximately equal to and with a quasi-isotropic distribution of the direction of ejection relative to our line of sight.

Madejski, G. M.↗

X-ray variability of quasars

Fifty-one previously known quasars observed with the Einstein Observatory have been analyzed for intensity variations on time scales ranging from a few hundred seconds to 18 months. While none of them has shown variability on a very short time scale, four of the quasars have been seen to vary on a time scale of about 1 day. As about 30 objects could be analyzed on this time scale, it is concluded that 1 day appears to be a relatively common time scale for variability. On longer time scales (6-18 months), nine out of 12 quasars which could be analyzed show variability. However, in contrast to results previously reported for BL Lac objects, no variation in quasar luminosity larger than a factor of 2 has been observed.

Zamorani, G.↗

Optical observations of the BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304 and implications regarding the X-ray absorption feature at 600-700 eV

The interpretation of the PKS 2155-304 identification as a BL Lac object whose X-ray spectrum contains an absorption trough has been hampered by the lack of a reliable redshift for the source. Spectra derived from extensive optical observations of this source imply a redshift of 0.117 + or - 0.002. With knowledge of the redshift, the range of mechanisms which can produce the X-ray trough can be reduced. Attention is given to these alternative mechanisms.

Bowyer, S.↗

X-ray spectral signatures of accreting black holes

The X-ray properties of the binary black hole candidates include distinctive bimodal spectral behavior where the X-ray spectra switch between being very soft (alpha greater than 3) and hard (alpha about 0.7). It is pointed out that this spectral transition occurs at about 1 percent L(edd) (for accretion onto a 10 solar masses black hole), and that this corresponds to the luminosity where an optically thick electron-positron pair plasma will form. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are often considered to be accreting black holes. An X-ray spectral similarity between the above binary sources and both the Seyfert I and BL Lac classes of AGN is demonstrated. As many of these objects radiate most of their luminosity as X-rays, such a similarity may be expected if the underlying mechanisms are similar.

White, N. E.↗