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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Reanalysis of X-ray emission from M87. 2: The multiphase medium

In a previous paper, we showed that a single-phase model for the gas around M87 simultaneously explained most available X-ray data. Total enclosed masses derived from the model, however, fell well below the determinations from optical measurements. In this paper, we consider possible solutions to the inconsistency, including two multiphase medium models for the gas and the consequences of systematic errors of the Einstein Focal Point Crystal Spectrometer (FPCS). First, we find that when constraints from optical mass determinations are not considered, the best-fit model to the X-ray data is always the single-phase model. Multiphase models or consideration of FPCS systematic errors are required only when optical mass constraints are included. We find that the cooling time model of White & Sarazin adequately explains the available X-ray data and predicts total masses which agree with optical measurements. An ad hoc power-law multiphase does not. This shows both that the existence of mass dropping out of the ambient phase is consistent with the data and that the cooling-time model gives a reasonable parameterization of the dropout rate. Our derived mass accretion rate is similar to previous determinations. The implications of this result for cluster mass determinations in general are discussed. We then consider 'self absorbing' models where we assume that material dropping out of the ambient medium goes completely into X-ray absorbing gas. The resulting internal absorption is small compared to Galactic absorption at most radii. The models are therefore indistinguishable from models with only Galactic absorption. We finally show that it is alternatively possible to simultaneously fit optical mass measurements and X-ray data with a single-phase model if some of the observed FPCS line fluxes are too high by the maximum systematic error. This possiblity can be checked with new data from satellites such as ASCA.

Tsai, John C.↗
NASA NTRS1998

The Large Scale X-Ray Emission from M87

We describe asymmetrical features in a long exposure X-ray map of M87 made with the ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI). A bright triangular region is marked by a linear 'spur' along one edge. The structure of this spur suggests an interpretation of a tangential view of a shock front 18 kpc long. None of the brighter features are spatially coincident with radio or optical structures so we concur with earlier investigators that most of the emission arises from thermal processes.

Harris, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Comparison of the Extra Nuclear X-ray and Radio Features in M87

ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI) data from eight observations have been co-added to obtain an effective exposure of 230 ksec. We have identified a number of features and regions with excess X-ray brightness over that from a circularly symmetric model of the well known hot gas component. A prominent 'spur' extends 4feet from the vicinity of knot A towards the south-west. The brightness to the south and east of this spur is significantly higher than that to the north and west. Excess brightness is also found to the East of the nucleus, with a local maximum centered on the eastern radio lobe 3 feet from the core. There are two well known relationships between radio and X-ray emission for radio galaxies in clusters: coincidence of emissions because the X-rays come from inverse Compton or synchrotron processes; and anti-coincidence caused by exclusion of hot gas from radio entities. We present a radio/X-ray comparison to determine if either of these relationships can be isolated in M87. The greatest obstacle we face is the unknown projection which affects both bands.

Harris, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS2000

X-Ray Variability in M87

We present the evidence for X-ray variability from the core and from knot A in the M87 jet based on data from two observations with the Einstein Observatory High Resolution Imager (HRI) and three observations with the ROSAT HRI. The core intensity showed a 16% increase in 17 months ('79-'80); a 12% increase in the 3 years '92 to '95; and a 17% drop in the last half of 1995. The intensity of knot A appears to have decreased by 16% between 92Jun and 95Dec. Although the core variability is consistent with general expectations for AGB nuclei, the changes in knot A provide constraints on the x-ray emission process and geometry. Thus we predict that the x-ray morphology of knot A will differ significantly from the radio and optical structure.

Harris, Daniel E.↗
NASA NTRS1997

X-ray Variability in M87

We present evidence for X-ray variability from the core and from knot A in the M87 jet based on data from two observations with the Einstein Observatory High Resolution Imager (HRI) and three observations with the ROSAT HRI. The core intensity showed a 16 per cent increase in 17 months (1979-80); a 12 per cent increase in the 3 years 1992 to 1995; and a 17 per cent drop in the last half of 1995. The intensity of knot A appears to have decreased by 16 per cent between 1992 June and 1995 December. Although the core variability is consistent with general expectations for AGN, the changes in knot A provide constraints on the X-ray emission process and geometry. Thus we predict that the X-ray morphology of knot A will differ significantly from the radio and optical structure.

Harris, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Large and Small Scale Structures and Variability in M87

M87 is the nearest radio galaxy with a powerful jet, and hence is one of our best opportunities to study non-thermal emission in these types of galaxies. The primary objectives of this project were: a) Study the structure of the X-ray emission from both the jet and extended halo, and its relationship to the radio and optical emission regions, b) Search for variable in the X-ray emission form the galaxy core and jet using multi-epoch ROSAT images, c) Constrain possible emission mechanisms for the both the jet and diffuse X-rays.

Biretta, John↗
NASA NTRS2011

Optical Polarization and Spectral Variability in the M87 Jet

During the last decade, M87's jet has been the site of an extraordinary variability event, with one knot (HST-1) increasing by over a factor 100 in brightness. Variability was also seen on timescales of months in the nuclear flux. Here we discuss the optical-UV polarization and spectral variability of these components, which show vastly different behavior. HST -1 shows a highly significant correlation between flux and polarization, with P increasing from approx 20% at minimum to > 40% at maximum, while the orientation of its electric vector stayed constant. HST-l's optical-UV spectrum is very hard (alpha(sub uv-0) approx. 0.5, F(sub v) varies as (v(exp -alpha)), and displays "hard lags" during epochs 2004.9-2005.5, including the peak of the flare, with soft lags at later epochs. We interpret the behavior of HST-1 as enhanced particle acceleration in a shock, with cooling from both particle aging and the relaxation of the compression. We set 2alpha upper limits of 0.5 delta parsecs and 1.02c on the size and advance speed of the flaring region. The slight deviation of the electric vector orientation from the jet PA, makes it likely that on smaller scales the flaring region has either a double or twisted structure. By contrast, the nucleus displays much more rapid variability, with a highly variable electric vector orientation and 'looping' in the (I, P) plane. The nucleus has a much steeper spectrum ((alpha(sub uv-0) approx. 1.5) but does not show UV-optical spectral variability. Its behavior can be interpreted as either a helical distortion to a steady jet or a shock propagating through a helical jet.

Perlman, Eric S.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Discriminating Accretion States via Rotational Symmetry in Simulated Polarimetric Images of M87

In 2017 April, the Event Horizon Telescope observed the shadow of the supermassive black hole at the core of the elliptical galaxy Messier 87. While the original image was constructed from measurements of the total intensity, full polarimetric data were also collected, and linear polarimetric images are expected in the near future. We propose a modal image decomposition of the linear polarization field into basis functions with varying azimuthal dependence of the electric vector position angle. We apply this decomposition to images of ray traced general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations of the Messier 87 accretion disk. Furthermore, for simulated images that are physically consistent with previous observations, the magnitude of the coefficient associated with rotational symmetry, β2, is a useful discriminator between accretion states. We find that at 20 μas resolution, $| {\beta }_{2}| $ is greater than 0.2 only for models of disks with horizon-scale magnetic pressures large enough to disrupt steady accretion. We also find that images with a more radially directed electric vector position angle correspond to models with higher black hole spin. Our analysis demonstrates the utility of the proposed decomposition as a diagnostic framework to improve constraints on theoretical models.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1980

Velocity dispersion of M87 using a population model

The velocity dispersion of M 87 (NGC 4486) is determined using (1) a single star of class K0 III and (2) two different population models to represent the spectral region of the G-band. Although the models fit the overall spectrum better than the single-star, there is only a small difference in the derived velocity dispersion. This work revises the earlier velocity dispersion result of Brandt and Roosen (1969) down to 350 km/sec, in agreement with Faber and Jackson (1976) and Sargent et al. (1978).

Angione, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

X-rays from the radio halo of Virgo A = M87

The purpose of this study is to investigate in more detail the associated X-ray and radio emission in the Virgo A halo discovered by SGF. Improved Einstein HRI data and new radio maps obtained with the Very Large Array are described and the relation between the X-ray and radio structures is carefully examined. Several possible explanations are presented for the X-ray emission. The inverse compton model is found to be viable only if the magnetic field is variable and substantially weaker than the equipartition value. The principal alternative is excess thermal X-rays due to compression of the intracluster medium by the radio lobe. In either case, the association of such prominent radio and X-ray structures is unique among known radio galaxies.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1998

X-Ray Variability in M87: 1992-1998

Beginning in 1995 June, we have obtained an observation of M 87 with the ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI) every 6 months. We present the measurements of X-ray intensity for the core and knot A through 1998 January. We find significant changes in both components. For the core, intensities measured in June 1995, December 1996, and December 1997 are roughly 30% higher than values obtained at three intervening times. For knot A, a secular decrease of approximately 15% is interrupted only by an intensity jump (3 sigma) in December 1997. Because the background used for subtraction is probably underestimated, we suspect the actual variation is somewhat greater than these values indicate.

Harris, D. E.↗