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At least 739 records · Page 41
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NASA NTRS1979

Evolutional schemes for objects with active nuclei

The observational properties of quasistellar objects (QSO) reveal that they are extremely violent nuclei of distant galaxies, but the evolutionary stage of these galaxies is still undetermined. Various published attempts to classify QSO under different criteria - including the one based on the morphological type of the surrounding galaxy E- or S- are analyzed. There are evidences that radioactive quasars reside in E-, while radio-quiet quasars reside in both E- and S- systems. The latter may be evolutionary connected to Seyfert-like objects. A correlation between the nuclei activity level in systems of different morphological type and the relative amount of gas in them is noted. From the point of view of activity level and the duration of active stage of nuclei it is concluded that an interaction of galaxies with the intergalactic medium is of particular importance and must be most conspicuous in spheriodal systems of central regions of rich clusters, in tight groups and binary galaxies.

Komberg, B. V.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The space telescope scientific instruments

The paper describes the space telescope with a 2.4 m aperture to be launched at 500 km altitude in late 1983. Four axial-bay and one radial-bay scientific instrument, a wide-field and planetary camera, a faint-object camera, a faint-object spectrograph, and a high-speed photometer are to be installed to conduct the initial observations. The axial instruments are constrained to envelopes with dimensions 0.9 x 0.9 x 2.2 m and their masses cannot exceed 317 kg. The observatory will also be equipped with fine-guidance sensors and a microprocessor. The design concepts of the instruments are outlined and some of the astronomical capabilities including studies of distant and local galaxies, physical properties of quasars, interrelations between quasars and active galactic nuclei are mentioned.

Leckrone, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Observation and search for gamma rays 1-20 MeV from the Crab, NGC 4151, Cyg X-1, Cyg X-3, CG 135+1 and 3C 273

Observations and limiting values for the flux of 1-20 MeV gamma rays from the Crab, the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151, the black hole candidate Cyg X-1, Cyg X-3 and the two nearest quasars CG 135+1 and 3C 273 are reported. Measurements of the energy and scatter angle of gamma rays at zenith angles between 10 and 30 deg were obtained by a balloon-borne double-scatter gamma-ray telescope. The flux from the Crab from 1.2 to 10 MeV is found to be 0.0039 + or - 0.0020 photons/sq cm per sec, and the energy distribution of the flux from 1.2 to 20 MeV is determined. Two-standard-deviation upper limits to the gamma-ray flux in the intervals 1.2-3, 3-5, 5-10 and 10-20 MeV of 0.0003, 0.0002, 0.00006 and 0.00004 photons/sq cm/sec are found for NGC 4151, Cyg X-1 and Cyg X-3, while those of 0.0005, 0.0003, 0.0001 and 0.00004 photons/sq cm per sec are determined for both quasars. These upper limits are interpreted as restricting confirmed gamma-ray sources to the Crab and NP 0532, and as evidence against Seyfert galaxies as the source of cosmic diffuse radiation.

White, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Infrared Astronomy

Several observational programs in infrared astronomy are described and significant findings are briefly discussed. The near infrared work concentrates largely on the use of the 5 m Hale telescope in spectroscopic and photometric studies of extragalactic sources. Observations of the P alpha line profile in a low redshift quasar, X-ray bursters, reflection nebula, and cataclysmic variables are included. Millimeter continuum observations of dust emission from quasars and galactic molecular clouds are also discussed. Finally, improvements to instrumentation are reported.

Neugebauer, G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

IUE and visual spectrophotometry of Markarian 9, Markarian 10, and 3C 390.3

Ultraviolet spectra from IUE are combined with visual spectra for the three type I Seyfert galaxies Mrk 9, Mrk 10, and 3C 390.3. The 2175 A interstellar feature is measured well enough in Mrk 9 to indicate that the extinction corresponding to E(B-V) = 0.14 + or - 0.04 is in the galaxy. Mrk 10 displays evidence for 2175 A absorption and also yields E(B-V) = 0.14 + or - 0.07, while the continuum for 3C 390.3 is too weak to positively detect the feature. It is found, after correcting for reddening, that the line-intensity ratio L(alpha)/H(beta) ranges from 8 to 18, while that for H(alpha)/H(beta) goes from 2.1 to 5.4. It is noted that the He II 1640/4686 line ratio is uncertain but appears to be consistent with the recombination value of about 8. If photoionization is assumed, a comparison of the strengths of L(alpha) and H(beta) with the UV ionizing flux suggests that H(beta) is enhanced rather than L(alpha) depressed. When a comparison is made with similar ratios in quasars, L(alpha) is found to be much stronger and H(beta) slightly stronger in Seyferts than in quasars.

Oke, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Effects of gamma-ray, neutrino, and particle production on the energetics and dynamics of compact extragalactic radio sources

Consideration is given to particle production and high-energy radiation within apparently superluminal radio components of extragalactic radio sources forming within the apparent region of nuclear activity of a quasar or active galaxy. The physical conditions in compact components observed as radio emitters are derived for the quasars 3C 273 and 3C 345 and extrapolated to those of initial components of sizes on the order of 10 to the 15th cm on the basis of two-dimensional relativistic jet and relativistic three-dimensional models of component expansion. Probabilities that a given particle avoids an inelastic collision in the relativistic plasma are calculated for both cases which show that collisions which produce particles and radiation may be very important during the formation of a compact radio component. The consequences of electron-positron production, bremsstrahlung and proton-proton inelastic collisions ultimately giving rise to neutrinos and gamma rays for the development and energetics of the radio component are then examined, and upper limits to the amount of energy which can be channeled into radio components from an active region without giving rise to a high-energy X-ray source are derived.

Vestrand, W. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Accretion disk models for QSOs and active galactic nuclei - The role of magnetic viscosity

The inner regions of standard accretion disk models are known to be thermally unstable, and when scaled to quasar black hole masses, optically thin. Alternative accretion disk models are constructed under the assumption of a purely magnetic viscosity in the limiting cases of equipartition of gas and magnetic pressures and global flux conservation. The inner regions of these models are considerably denser than the standard model and therefore remain optically thick in all regions. The equipartition model is thermally stable throughout, while flux conservation leads to a localized thermal instability at the gas pressure/radiation pressure boundary and marginal stability as the radial distance approaches zero. The outer regions of quasar scaled accretion disks are strongly self-gravitating, leading to a vertical scale height which is smaller than that found in the inner region. Most of the outer region is gravitationally unstable, implying that the outer parts of galactic nuclei accretion disks are populated by dense self-gravitating gas clouds or possibly by stars.

Sakimoto, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Coordinated observations of Markarian 180 at ultraviolet, X-ray, optical and radio wavelengths

The results of multifrequency observations of MrK 180 = 1133+704, a BL Lac object embedded in a giant elliptical galaxy are presented. The importance of MrK 180 derives mostly from its association of a quasar-like object with a galaxy whose absorption line redshift (z = 0.046) unambiguously determines its distance. This implies that physical conditions within this local quasar can be discussed without the confusion introduced by distance uncertainties.

Mufson, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Coordinated observations of Markarian 501 at ultraviolet, X-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths

The results of multifrequency observations of MrK 501 = B2 1652+39 are presented here. It is a BL Lac object embedded in a giant elliptical galaxy obtained during the period August 1980 - March 1981. It is argued that MrK 501 varies sufficiently slowly at ultraviolet, optical and radio wavelengths on time scales of months that the data are representative of a spectrum obtained at a single epoch. The importance of MrK 501 derives mostly from its association of a quasar-like object with a galaxy whose absorption-line redshift (z = 0.034) unambiguously determines its distance. This implies that physical conditions within this local quasar can be discussed without the confusion introduced by distance uncertainties.

Hutter, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A high-resolution optical survey of interstellar absorption lines toward globular clusters and extragalactic objects. II - Further data

A status report is given on an ongoing survey of narrow-line, visual absorption components, which has been expanded to include lines of sight to the 3C 273 quasar, the nucleus of M87, and the NGC 1851, NGC 2808, and 47 Tuc globular cluster cores. The number density of components of the halo is calculated to lie between one-third and one per 100 kpc, though with substantial uncertainty. This estimate is held to be consistent with the galactic halo interpretation of the origin of high column density, quasar absorption-line systems.

Songaila, A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Spectrophotometry of the broad absorption-line QSO PHL 5200

Spectrophotometric observations of PHL 5200 conducted from 1974 to 1979 are presented. The semiforbidden C III 1909 and Mg II 2799 emission lines give an emission redshift of 1.981 + or - 0.002 using the peak of the profile. The semiforbidden C III 1909/C IV 1549 emission line ratio, after correction for absorption, is more than the average for normal quasars. In addition, the spectrum shows more structure between C IV 1549 emission and semiforbidden C III 1909 emission than in the case of normal quasars. The absorption profiles are investigated by using symmetrical logarithmic profiles to model the emission lines. The residual intensities at different wavelengths in the absorption troughs are employed to map optical depth as a function of velocity, assuming that the absorption region covers a small part of the sky as seen from the central source. Spectra from five observing seasons are compared, and no apparent changes in the C IV and Si IV absorption troughs are found.

Junkkarinen, V. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Prominent ultraviolet emission lines from Type 1 Seyfert galaxies

IUE Explorer data with a 6-A resolution are reported for Ly-alpha, C IV 1550 A, C III semiforbidden line 1909 A, and Mg II 2800 A, as well as the continuum at 1450 A, for 20 Seyfert galaxies and one quasar. Good correlation is found between the continuum and the line fluxes, indicating that photoionization is the dominant heating mechanism for these active galactic nuclei. A combination of the data for Seyferts and high redshift quasars covering five orders of magnitude in continuum luminosity shows the lower luminosity objects to have higher equivalent widths for their emission lines, suggesting that the covering factor increases with decreasing luminosity.

Wu, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The dynamics and fueling of active nuclei

It is generally believed that quasars and active galactic nuclei produce their prodigious luminosities in connection with the release of gravitational energy associated with accretion and infall of matter onto a compact central object. In the present analysis, it is assumed that the central object is a massive black hole. The fact that a black hole provides the deepest possible central potential well does imply that it is the most natural candidate for the central engine. It is also assumed that the quasar is associated with the nucleus of a conventional galaxy. A number of difficulties arise in connection with finding a suitable stellar fueling model. A simple scheme is discussed for resolving these difficulties. Attention is given to fueling in a nonaxisymmetric potential, the effects of a massive accretion disk, and the variability in the disk luminosity caused by star-disk collisions assuming that the energy deposited in the disk is radiated.

Norman, C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Compton heated winds and coronae above accretion disks. I Dynamics

X rays emitted in the inner part of an accretion disk system can heat the surface of the disk farther out, producing a corona and possibly driving off a strong wind. The dynamics of Compton-heated coronae and winds are analyzed using an approximate two-dimensional technique to estimate the mass loss rate as a function of distance from the source of X rays. The findings have important dynamical implications for accretion disks in quasars, active galactic nuclei, X ray binaries, and cataclysmic variables. These include: mass loss from the disk possibly comparable with or exceeding the net accretion rate onto the central compact object, which may lead to unstable accretion; sufficient angular momentum loss in some cases to truncate the disk in a semidetached binary at a smaller radius than that predicted by tidal truncation theories; and combined static plus ram pressure in the wind adequate to confine line-emitting clouds in quasars and Seyfert galaxies.

Begelman, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

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.↗
NASA NTRS1983

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.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Soft X-ray active galactic nuclei

The discovery of 10 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) based upon optical observations of Einstein Observatory X-ray sources is reported. The new objects are optically similar to AGNs that have been identified by others with this technique. One notable exception, the quasar E1821 + 643, is associated with a previously unidentified X-ray source detected with both the low-energy and high-energy surveys of the HEAO 1 A-2 experiment. It is thus one of a small number of AGNs which were more intense in soft X-rays than in hard X-rays during 1977-1978. X-rays were also detected from two other quasars, known previously at other wavelengths.

Marshall, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The X-ray properties of high-redshift, optically selected QSOs

The X-ray properties of high redshift quasars were probed using grism/grens plates covering 13 sq deg of sky imaged to very sensitive X-ray flux levels with the Imaging Proportional Counter on the Einstein Observatory. Optical magnitudes are estimated from image diameter measurements to obtain an X-ray flux detection, or a sensitive X-ray flux upper limit, from the IPC image. Eleven out of 52 optically selected quasars are detected in X-rays at 3 sigma. The alpha ox value is 1.49 + or - 0.04 for the 52 objects.

Anderson, S. F.↗