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At least 163 records · Page 9
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NASA NTRS2005

Line asymmetry in the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3783

We have reanalyzed the 900 ks Chandra X-ray spectrum of NGC 3783, finding evidence on the asymmetry of the spectral absorption lines. The lines are fitted with a parametric expression that results from an analytical treatment of radiatively driven winds. The line asymmetry distribution derived from the spectrum is consistent with a non-spherical outflow with a finite optical depth. Within this scenario, our model explains the observed correlations between the line velocity shifts and the ionization parameter and between the line velocity shift and the line asymmetry. The present results may provide a framework for detailed testing of models for the dynamic and physical properties of warm absorber in Seyfert galaxies.

Ramirez, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Emission line region kinematics in selected Seyfert galaxies

The kinematic state of the emission line regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is a fundamental problem which addresses the very nature of these objects. The currently popular model of the energy source of the latter is accretion onto the supermassive black hole which is believed to reside in the nuclear regions of galaxies. If this picture is correct then the emission line gas may be expected to be infalling, and may eventually provide the fuel to power them. It is very difficult to determine the kinematic state of the emission line gas because of the technical problems associated with their small apparent sizes, as seen from the earth. One can only observe the net emission from a large ensemble of clouds, so the emission lines are by necessity composite. Several very long exposures of NGC 1068, one of the very nearest Seyfert galaxies, were obtained. Because of its proximity, it is expected to have the best resolved emission line regions as seen from earth. The La emission line of neutral hydrogen will radiate preferentially in the direction of the central object because of the effects of emission line gas opacity on the transfer of radiation out of the clouds. By obtaining high dispersion observations of Doppler broadening of the line through the small entrance aperture of the IUE one can determine whether this material is in a state of outflow (expected if explosions power the central engine), inflow (expected for accretion onto a massive black hole), or rotation (expected for gas with significant angular momentum near the central regions of a galaxy).

Ferland, G. J.↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Lick AGN Monitoring Project 2016: Dynamical Modeling of Velocity-resolved H β Lags in Luminous Seyfert Galaxies

We have modeled the velocity-resolved reverberation response of the Hβ broad emission line in nine Seyfert 1 galaxies from the Lick Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) Monitoring Project 2016 sample, drawing inferences on the geometry and structure of the low-ionization broad-line region (BLR) and the mass of the central supermassive black hole. Overall, we find that the Hβ BLR is generally a thick disk viewed at low to moderate inclination angles. We combine our sample with prior studies and investigate line-profile shape dependence, such as ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}(\mathrm{FWHM}/\sigma )$, on BLR structure and kinematics and search for any BLR luminosity-dependent trends. We find marginal evidence for an anticorrelation between the profile shape of the broad Hβ emission line and the Eddington ratio, when using the rms spectrum. However, we do not find any luminosity-dependent trends, and conclude that AGNs have diverse BLR structure and kinematics, consistent with the hypothesis of transient AGN/BLR conditions rather than systematic trends.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Neutrinos and Gamma Rays from Seyfert Galaxies Constrain the Properties of Coronal Turbulence

The TeV neutrino signal observed by IceCube from the active galactic nucleus NGC 1068 can probe its innermost coronal regions. If these neutrinos originate from hadrons accelerated within a magnetized turbulent corona, their intensity and spectrum depend on the turbulent magnetic field strength and turbulence coherence scale. The gamma rays accompanying neutrino production are absorbed in this optically thick environment, in a way that depends sensitively on the size of the corona. By a joint fit of the IceCube and Fermi-LAT observations, we translate the multimessenger signal from NGC 1068 and the tentative signal from NGC 7469 into quantitative constraints on coronal properties. NGC 1068, with a significant TeV neutrino excess, favors a compact, strongly magnetized corona with a large turbulence coherence length relative to the coronal size. NGC 7469, with two ∼100 TeV neutrino events, points instead to a somewhat larger corona with much smaller coherence length and high magnetization, but a very small fraction of energy in nonthermal protons. We obtain the diffuse flux from a population of Seyfert galaxies identical to either NGC 1068 or NGC 7469. Finally, we consider a third scenario, motivated by the spectral break observed in the diffuse neutrino flux at tens of TeV, with coronal properties intermediate between the two point-source-inspired models. To enable detailed comparisons with the IceCube and electromagnetic observations, we release our model predictions in a GitHub repository.

Testagrossa, Federico [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchr↗
NASA NTRS2001

The Detection of Circumnuclear X-Ray Emission from the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3516

We present the first high-resolution, X-ray image of the circumnuclear regions of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3516, using the Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO). All three of the CXO observations reported were performed with one of the two grating assemblies in place, and here we restrict our analysis to undispersed photons (i.e. those detected in the zeroth-order). A previously-unknown X-ray source is detected approximately 6 arcsec (1.1h(sub 75)(exp -1) kpc) NNE of the nucleus (position angle approximately 29 degrees) which we designate CXOU 110648.1 + 723412. Its spectrum can be characterized as a power law with a photon index (Gamma) approximately 1.8 - 2.6, or as thermal emission with a temperature kT approximately 0.7 - 3 keV. Assuming a location within NGC 3516, isotropic emission implies a luminosity L approximately 2 - 8 x 10(exp 39)h(sub 75)(exp-2) erg s(exp -1) in the 0.4 - 2 keV band. If due to a single point source, the object is super-Eddington for a 1.4 solar mass neutron star. However, multiple sources or a small, extended source cannot be excluded using the current data. Large-scale extended S-ray emission is also detected out to approximately 10 arcsec (approximately 2h(sub 75)(exp -1) kpc) from the nucleus to the NE and SW, and is approximately aligned with the morphologies of the radio emission and extended narrow emission line region (ENLR). The mean luminosity of this emission is 1 - 5 x 10(exp 37)h(sub 75)(exp -2) erg s(exp -1) arcsec(exp -2), in the 0.4 - 2 keV band. Unfortunately the current data cannot usefully constrain its spectrum. These results are consistent with earlier suggestions of circumnuclear X-ray emissi in NGC 3516 based on ROSAT observations, and thus provide the first clear detection of extended X-ray emission in a Seyfert 1.0 galaxy. If the extended emission is due to scattering of the nuclear X-ray continuum, then the pressure in the X-ray emitting gas is at least two orders of magnitude too small to provide the confining medium for the ENLR clouds.

George, I. M.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Chemical abundances in Seyfert galaxies – X. Sulphur abundance estimates

For the first time, the sulphur abundance relative to hydrogen (S/H) in the narrow-line regions of a sample of Seyfert 2 nuclei (Sy 2s) has been derived via direct estimation of the electron temperature. Narrow emission-line intensities from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 17 (DR17) [in the wavelength range 3000 < λ(Å) < 9100] and from the literature for a sample of 45 nearby (z < 0.08) Sy 2s were considered. Our direct estimates indicate that Sy 2s have similar temperatures in the gas region where most of the $\rm S\rm ^{+}$ ions are located in comparison with that of star-forming regions (SFs). However, Sy 2s present higher temperature values (${\sim} 10\, 000$ K) in the region where most of the $\rm S\rm ^{2+}$ ions are located relative to that of SFs. We derive the total sulphur abundance in the range of $6.2 \: \lesssim 12+\log (\rm S/H) \: \lesssim \: 7.5$, corresponding to 0.1–1.8 times the solar value. These sulphur abundance values are lower by ∼0.4 dex than those derived in SFs with similar metallicity, indicating a distinct chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium (ISM) for these object classes. The sulphur abundance relative to oxygen (S/O) values for our Sy 2 sample present an abrupt (∼0.5 dex) decrease with increasing oxygen abundance relative to hydrogen (O/H) for the high-metallicity regime [$\rm 12+\log (O/H) \: \gtrsim 8.7)$], what is not seen for the SFs. However, when our Sy 2 estimates are combined with those from a large sample of SFs, we did not find any dependence between S/O and O/H.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1998

ROSAT and ASCA Observations of the Seyfert Galaxy 1H0419-577, Identified with LB 1727

We discuss the properties of the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy LB 1727 based upon the analysis of two ASCA observations, a two-month Rosat monitoring campaign, and optical data. The target is identified with the HEAO-A1 source 1H0419-577, so it has been observed by ASCA and ROSAT in order to obtain better X-ray variability and spectra data. Only modest (20%) variability is observed within or between ASCA and BeppoSAX observations in the approximately 2 - 10 keV band. However, the soft X-ray flux increased by a factor of 3 over a period of 2 months, while it was monitored daily by the ROSAT HRI instrument. The hard X-ray continuum can be parameterized as a power-law of slope Gamma approximately 1.5 - 1.6 across 9.7 - 11 keV in the rest-frame. We also report the first detection of an iron K(alpha) line in this source, consistent with emission from neutral material. The X-ray spectrum steepens sharply below 0.7 keV yielding a power-law of slope Gamma approximately 3.2. There is no evidence for absorption by neutral material, instrinsic to the nucleus. If the nucleus is unattenuated, then the break energy between the soft-excess and hard component is 0.7+/-0.08 keV. An ionized absorber may produce some tum-up in the spectrum at low energies, but a steepening of the underlying continuum is also required to explain the simultaneous ASCA and HRI data. We cannot rule out the possibility that a significant column of ionized material exists in the line-of-sight, if that is true, then the continuum break-energy can only be constrained to lie within the approximately 0.1 - -0.7 keV band.

Turner, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

The Mass of the Central Black Hole in the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3783

Improved analysis of ultraviolet and optical monitoring data on the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3783 provides evidence for the existence of a supermassive, (8.7 +/- 1.1) x 10(exp 6) solar mass, black hole in this galaxy. By using recalibrated spectra from the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite and ground-based optical data, as well as refined techniques of reverberation mapping analysis, we have reduced the statistical uncertainties in the response of the emission lines to variations in the ionizing continuum. The different time lags in the emission-line responses indicate a stratification in the ionization structure of the broad-line region and are consistent with the virial relationship suggested by the analysis of similar active galaxies.

Onken, Christopher A.↗
NASA NTRS1998

ROSAT and ASCA Observations of the Seyfert Galaxy 1H0419-577-577, Identified with LB 1727

We discuss the properties of the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy LB 1727 based upon the analysis of two ASCA observations, a two-month Rosat monitoring campaign, and optical data. The target is identified with the HEAO-A1 source 1H0419-577, so it has been observed by ASCA and ROSAT in order to obtain better X-ray variability and spectra data. Only modest (20%) variability is observed within or between ASCA and BeppoSAX observations in the approximately 2 - 10 keV band. However, the soft X-ray flux increased by a factor of 3 over a period of 2 months, while it was monitored daily by the ROSAT HRI instrument. The hard X-ray continuum can be parameterized as a power-law of slope Gamma approximately 1.5 - 1.6 across 0.7 - 11 keV in the rest-frame. We also report the first detection of an iron K(alpha) line in this source, consistent with emission from neutral material. The X-ray spectrum steepens sharply below 0.7 keV yielding a power-law of slope Gamma approximately 3.2. There is no evidence for absorption by neutral material, intrinsic to the nucleus. If the nucleus is unattenuated, then the break energy between the soft-excess and hard component is 0.7+/-0.08 keV. An ionized absorber may produce some turn-up in the spectrum at low energies, but a steepening of the underlying continuum is also required to explain the simultaneous ASCA and HRI data. We cannot rule out the possibility that a significant column of ionized material exists in the line-of-sight, if that is true, then the continuum break-energy can only be constrained to lie within the approximately 0.1 - 0.7 keV band.

Turner, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Optical polarization of the Seyfert galaxies IC 4329A and MRK 376

Measurements of the optical polarizations of the two highly polarized Seyfert 1 galaxies IC 4329A and Mrk 376 are presented. Continuum and line polarization of the two objects were observed with the Steward Observatory 2.25-m telescope using a two-channel photoelectric Pockels cell polarimeter, a single-channel scanner, and a digicon attached to a flint prism spectrograph. Results indicate that, for both galaxies, the emission line polarization and underlying continuum polarization are identical, rising toward short wavelengths, and therefore must be explained by a common mechanism. Such a mechanism is suggested to involve polarization produced by aligned grains in the galactic disk. A model for polarization in IC 4329A by this mechanism predicts a grain size three times smaller than Galactic polarizing grains, as well as a visual extinction of about 2 magnitudes, a gas to dust mass ratio close to 100 and a polarization to extinction ratio comparable to the Galactic ratio.

Martin, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The discovery of an O VII emission line in the ASCA spectrum of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 3783

We report the first observation of an O VII 0.57 keV emission line in a Seyfert 1 galaxy. NGC 3783 was observed by ASCA twice over a period of 4 days in 1993 December. The source exhibited a approximately 30% change in intensity between the two observations, with most of the variability taking place as a result of steepening of the continuum less than or approximately equal to 1 keV. Spectra from both observations show intense absorption features in the 0.5-1.5 keV band, which can be well fitted by an ionized absorber model of solar composition, column density of 10(exp 22.2)/sq cm and ionization parameter of approximately 7-8; the strongest absorption features being due to O VII and O VIII. Two emission features are also seen in the spectra which we identify as O VII 0.57 keV (equivalent width approximately equals 36 eV) and O VIII 0.65 keV (equivalent width approximately equals 11 eV). We also show that the 3-6 keV continuum of the source is well fitted by a Gamma = 1.3-1.4 power-law continuum, a narrow neutral iron K-shell fluorescence line and a strong iron K-shell absorption edge, possibly corresponding to highly ionized iron.

George, I. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

0714 - 2914 (M4-1) - Another Seyfert galaxy with aligned radio continuum and optical emission-line morphologies

Direct imaging and long-slit spectroscopic mapping of the emission-line gas in the Seyfert 2 galaxy 0714 - 2914 (M4-1, MCG - 5-18-2) are reported. The nuclear regions contain an extended (1 kpc size), high-excitation nebulosity that is well aligned with the jet-like nonthermal radio source. The profiles of Forbidden O III 5007A are asymmetric, with extended red wings to the north and west of the nucleus and extended blue wings to the south and east. This switch in the sense of asymmetry is accounted for in terms of a combination of normal rotational motions in the galaxy disk and high-velocity outflow or infall associated with the Seyfert activity.

Wilson, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Studying the Iron Line Complex in the Bright Seyfert Galaxy NGC 5506

This grant was to support the reduction and analysis of our approved XMM observation of the nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 5506. The observation has been carried out simultaneously with a BeppoSAX observation of the same source. The proposal was aimed to study in detail the Compton reflection component and the complex Iron K line of this source, combining the still unique capability of BeppoSAX in hard X-rays (to strongly constrain the reflection component, and then the intrinsic nuclear continuum), and the sensitivity of XMM at the energy of the Iron Line complex. NGC 5506 is one of the brightest AGN in hard X-rays and has been intensively studied in the past. GINGA detected the complex iron line as well as the reflection component. Both ASCA (spectroscopically) and Rossi-XTE (through variability analysis) suggested that the FeK line is complex, possibly made up of several distinct components. The centroid of the FeK complex in a subsequent BeppoSAX observation was bluer than the 6.4 keV energy of the relatively low-ionization iron Kalpha transition. NGC 5506 has been observed simultaneously by NewtonXMM and BeppoSAX on February 2-3 2001. we have reduced and analyzed both the NewtonXMM and the BeppoSAX data, and have written and published a paper on our results (appeared in Volume 377 (page 31) of A&A-Letters). Our main results can be summarized as follows: (a) we confirm that the FeK line is complex, and for the first time disentangle its components: we find that at least two components made up the FeK complex, one neutral and narrow, at 6.4 keV (rest energy), and another one either broader and highly ionized, at about 6.7 keV (rest frame), or, in turn, made up of two narrow and unresolved components from the He-like and the H-like ions of Fe; (b) the two possible solution for the high-ionization Fe-K component, are statistically indistinguishable. However, physically, a blend of two narrow lines from photoionized matter seems to be preferable to emission of a relativistically broadened line from an ionized accretion disk; (c) The bulk of the Compton reflection continuum originates in neutral matter, and is therefore associated with the narrow FeK line at 6.4 keV: they are most likely emitted by distant matter.

Nicastro, Fabrizio↗
NASA NTRS1981

Rapid X-ray variability in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 6814

The HEAO-1 A-2 high time resolution X-ray observations of the X-ray emitting Seyfert I Galaxy NGC 6814 are reported. In sharp distinction with a sample of over 30 active galactic nuclei this object showed strong X-ray variability on timescales less than 3 hours. The mean flux on a timescale of 90 minutes varied by a factor of approximately 2.5 corresponding to Delta L sub x being approximately 1 x 10 to the 43rd power ergs/sec. An autocorrelation analysis shows a characteristic time for variability of 100 (+60 or -25) seconds. There is no indication of spectral variability with an upper limit on a change in the power law spectral index of the absolute value of Delta gamma .37, for a factor two change in intensity. The constraints of such rapid variability on a wide variety of X-ray source mechanisms are considered.

Tennant, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS2001

The Spectral Energy Distribution of the Seyfert Galaxy Ton S180

We present spectral results from a multi-satellite, broad-band campaign on the Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Ton S180 performed at the end of 1999. We discuss the spectral-energy distribution of the source, combining simultaneous Chandra, ASCA and EUVE data with contemporaneous FUSE, HST, and ground-based optical and infrared data. The resulting SED shows that most of the, energy is emitted in the 10 - 100 eV regime, which must be dominated by the primary energy source. No spectral turnover is evident in the UV regime. This, the strong soft X-ray emission, and the overall shape of the SED indicate that emission from the accretion disk peaks between 15 and 100 eV. High resolution FUSE spectra showing UV absorption due to OVI and the lack of detectable X-ray absorption in the Candra spectrum demonstrate the presence of a low column density of highly ionized gas along our line of sight.

Turner, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS2005

The Far-Infrared Emission Line and Continuum Spectrum of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 1068

We report on the analysis of the first complete far-infrared spectrum (43-197 microns) of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 as observed with the Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) onboard the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). In addition to the 7 expected ionic fine structure emission lines, the OH rotational lines at 79, 119 and 163 microns were all detected in emission, which is unique among galaxies with full LWS spectra, where the 119 micron line, where detected, is always in absorption. The observed line intensities were modelled together with IS0 Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS) and optical and ultraviolet line intensities from the literature, considering two independent emission components: the AGN component and the starburst component in the circumnuclear ring of approximately 3kpc in size. Using the UV to mid-IR emission line spectrum to constrain the nuclear ionizing continuum, we have confirmed previous results: a canonical power-law ionizing spectrum is a poorer fit than one with a deep absorption trough, while the presence of a big blue bump is ruled out. Based on the instantaneous starburst age of 5 Myr constrained by the Br gamma equivalent width in the starburst ring, and starburst synthesis models of the mid- and far-infrared fine-structure line emission, a low ionization parameter (U=10(exp -3.5)) and low densities (n=100 cm (exp -3)) are derived. Combining the AGN and starburst components, we succeed in modeling the overall UV to far-IR atomic spectrum of SGC 1068, reproducing the line fluxes to within a factor 2.0 on average with a standard deviation of 1.4. The OH 119 micron emission indicates that the line is collisionally excited, and arises in a warm and dense region. The OH emission has been modeled using spherically symmetric, non-local, non-LTE radiative transfer models. The models indicate that the bulk of the emission arises from the nuclear region, although some extended contribution from the starburst is not ruled out. The OH abundance in the nuclear region is expected to be approximately 10(exp -5), characteristic of X-ray dominated regions.

Spinoglio, Luigi↗
NASA NTRS1985

Evidence for supermassive stars in three Seyfert galaxy nuclei from IUE spectra

The variability in the ultraviolet continua and the C IV 1550 A emission profiles in the three Seyfert 1 galaxies NGC 4151, NGC 5548, and Fairall 9 are consistent with origin in supermassive stars undergoing explosive mass loss. Blackbody fits to continua of each imply a single thermal source whose area either remains constant or increases moderately as its temperature decreases, with the surface area consistent with stars having masses from 10 to the 6th to 10 to the 8th solar mass. Line emission profiles of C IV 1550 A in the same spectra are individually consistent with uniform expansion of shells of emitting gas expelled from the stars at radial velocities from 10,000 to 16,000 km/s. The kinetic energy removed by repetitive production of such massive shells approximately balances the nuclear energy production expected from supermassive stars of the indicated size. Finally, the observed nature and time scale of the variability of NGC 4151 is consistent with the relatively sudden appearance, and subsequent cooling, of the underlying superstellar surface as one such shell becomes transparent during its expansion.

Stoner, R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Broad-band properties of the CfA Seyfert galaxies. III - Ultraviolet variability

A total of 657 archived IUE spectra are used to study the UV variability properties of six members of the CfA Seyfert I galaxy sample. All show strong evidence for continuum and line variations and a tendency for less luminous objects to be more strongly variable. Most objects show a clear correlation at zero lag between UV spectral index and luminosity, evidence that the variable component is an accretion disk around a black hole which is systematically smaller in less luminous sources. No correlation is seen between the continuum luminosity and equivalent width of the C IV, Mg II, and semiforbidden C III emission lines when the entire sample is examined, but a clear anticorrelation is present when only repeated observations of individual objects are considered. This is due to a combination of light-travel time effects in the broad-line region and the nonlinear responses of lines to continuum fluctuations.

Edelson, R. A.↗