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Anna Wolter

Publications and source records attributed to Anna Wolter.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Radio spectra of a sample of X-ray selected BL Lacs

We present simultaneous multifrequency radio observations for a complete subsample of 26 XBLs from the Einstein Extended Medium-Sensitivity Survey, obtained with the Very Large Array (VLA). Spectra are computed using fluxes at 20, 6 and 3.6 cm. Unlike many radio selected samples, the EMSS did not impose any criterion on the radio spectrum to identify BL Lac objects. It is therefore possible to investigate the intrinsic radio spectral slope distribution and to determine the effect produced by this selection criterion. We find that 15% of the observed objects do not meet the flat-spectrum criterion imposed on some other BL Lac samples. A dataset that includes non-simultaneous data (that are also taken with different VLA configurations) shows an even higher percentage of steep spectrum sources. This effect can be ascribed to a larger fraction of extended flux detected with the more compact VLA configuration.Possible biases introduced by the flat--radio-spectrum criterion in the radio-selected BL Lac samples cannot explain the discrepancies observed in the evolutionary properties of Radio and X-ray selected samples of BL Lacs.

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An X-ray selected sample of radio-loud quasars

We construct the first X-ray selected sample of broad line radio-loud AGN from the EMSS survey. In order to test unifying schemes for radio-loud objects, their spectral and statistical properties (both flat and steep spectrum objects) are examined and compared with those of other samples of blazars. The X-ray selection allows us to explore properties of radio-loud quasars 10-100 weaker in the radio band than classical samples. The most convincing interpretation of our results is that there are no radio-loud quasars whose synchrotron emission peak reaches the EUV-soft X-ray band at these (radio) flux levels. Moreover, due to the comparatively weak non-thermal emission, a quasi-thermal component appears to contribute at optical-UV energies. The detection of sources at low radio fluxes also reveals a large population of steep spectrum quasars and the lack of the predicted turnover in the quasar (radio) counts. The evolution of X-ray selected radio-loud quasars does not significantly differ from that of radio-selected ones, and flat spectrum and steep spectrum sources appear to behave quite similarly.

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Radio Properties of REX BL Lacs and Galaxies

Detailed VLA observations have been gathered for a number of sources classified as either BL Lacs or galaxies, derived from the REX survey. We focus in particular on the sources identified by us, for which we have in hand homogeneous optical data, to study in more detail than allowed by the NVSS the radio properties of these sources in the framework of AGN unified models.

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The EMSS Radio Loud Quasar Sample

We construct the first X-ray selected sample of radio-loud quasars from the EMSS survey. The X-ray selection allows us to explore the properties of radio-loud quasars 10-100 weaker than classical samples in the radio band. There are no radio-loud quasars whose synchrotron peak reaches the UV-soft X-ray band at these (radio) flux levels (as occurs for BL Lac objects selected in the X-ray band), but they appear to have comparatively stronger optical-UV emission. We suggest that this can be ascribed to a significant contribution from a quasi-thermal optical-UV component, emerging due to the comparatively weak non-thermal emission. The detection of sources at low radio fluxes also shows the presence of a large population of steep spectrum quasars, and the lack of the predicted turnover in the quasar counts.

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New results from the HRX BL Lac sample

We present results for the Hamburg BL Lac sample, based on data provided by the RASS-BSC. By fitting a single power law to the X-ray data we find, in a number of objects, an additional absorbing component to the galactic value of NH, which might be attributed to intrinsic absorption. A more probable cause seems however to be a curvature in the X-ray spectra in the sense that they are more curved for steeper slopes. The known relation between the X-ray spectral slope and the ratio between optical and X-ray flux alpha_ox also applies to this BL Lac sample, even though less significant than in previous works. We also find a dependence of X-ray luminosity on alpha_ox.

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Hard synchrotron BL Lacs: the case of 1ES 1101-232

The bright X-ray selected BL Lac object 1ES1101--232 shows a flat X-ray spectrum, making it detectable with high statistics over the wide BeppoSAX energy range. We have observed it in two different epochs with BeppoSAX, and found a variation of the flux of about 30% that can be explained by a change in the spectral index above the synchrotron peak. We present here the data and infer limits on the strength of the magnetic field based on models of emission for High-frequency peaked BL Lacs.

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High energy phenomena in the Cartwheel's ring

We present the first X-ray detection of the Cartwheel's ring. The impact that created the characteristic optical structure is responsible also for an enhanced level of star formation to which we can ascribe the relatively high level of X-ray emission observed. Deeper images and spectroscopic information are needed to confirm or disprove the hypothesis that High Mass X-ray Binaries contribute most of the radiation in this band.

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