arXiv subjects

C. R. Canizares

Publications and source records attributed to C. R. Canizares.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

Probing Cosmology with the X-ray Forest

There is a growing consensus that in the present universe most baryons reside in galaxy clusters and groups in the form of highly ionized gas at temperatures of 10^6 ~ 10^8 K. The H-like and He-like ions of the heavy elements can produce absorption features - the so-called ``X-ray Forest'' - in the X-ray spectrum of a background quasar. We investigate the distribution of the X-ray absorption lines produced by this gas under three different cosmological models: the standard CDM with Omega_0=1, a flat model with Omega_0=0.3 and an open model with with Omega_0=0.3. We give a semi- analytic calculation of the X-ray forest distribution based on the Press- Schechter formalism, following Perna & Loeb (1998). We choose three ions (O VIII, Si XIV and Fe XXV) and calculate the distribution functions, the number of absorbers along the LOS to a distant quasar vs. redshift and column density in a given ion. We find that significant differences in the evolution of the distribution functions among the three cosmological models. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we simulate the distribution of X-ray absorption lines for 10,000 random LOS. We find there are at least several O VIII lines with column density higher than 10^16 cm^-2. Finally we explore the possibility of detecting the X-ray forest with current and upcoming X-ray missions and we present an XMM RGS simulation of a representative quasar X-ray spectrum.

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arXiv2000

Detection of X-ray Emission from Gravitationally Lensed Submillimeter Sources in the Field of Abell 370

We report the detection by Chandra of SMM J02399-0134 and SMM J02399-0136, two distant (z=1.06 and z=2.81, respectively) submillimeter sources gravitationally magnified by the galaxy cluster Abell 370. These are high-significance (> 7-sigma) X-ray detections of the high-redshift submillimeter source population. The X-ray positions are coincident with the optical positions to within one arcsecond. The X-ray spectra, while of low signal-to-noise ratio, are quite hard. Absorbed power law models with fixed photon indices of $Γ=2.0$ imply local absorbing columns $>2 \times 10^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$ and unabsorbed luminosities $>10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$ in both sources. These results imply that nuclear activity is responsible for the bulk of the luminosity in SMM J02399-0134, and for at least 20% of the luminosity of SMM J02399-0136, consistent with previous optical observations. We also place an upper limit on the X-ray flux of a third submillimeter source, SMM J02400-0134. Considered together with previously published Chandra upper limits on X-ray flux from submillimeter sources, our results imply that $20^{+30}_{-16}$ % of submillimeter sources exhibit X-ray emission from AGN (90% confidence), consistent with expectations of their contribution to the diffuse X-ray background.

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arXiv2000

High Resolution X-Ray Spectra of Capella: Initial Results from the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer

High resolution spectra of the active binary Capella (G8 III + G1 III) covering the energy range 0.4-8.0 keV (1.5-30 Angstroms) show a large number of emission lines, demonstrating the performance of the HETGS. A preliminary application of plasma diagnostics provides information on coronal temperatures and densities. Lines arising from different elements in a range of ionization states indicate that Capella has plasma with a broad range of temperatures, from log T = 6.3 to 7.2, generally consistent with recent results from observations with the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) and the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA). The electron density is determined from He-like O VII lines, giving the value N_e=10^10 cm^-3 at T_e=2*10^6 K; He-like lines formed at higher temperatures give only upper limits to the electron density. The density and emission measure from O VII lines together indicate that the coronal loops are significantly smaller than the stellar radius.

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arXiv1996

The `quiescent' black hole in M87

It is believed that most giant elliptical galaxies possess nuclear black holes with masses in excess of $10^8\Msun$. Bondi accretion from the interstellar medium might then be expected to produce quasar-like luminosities from the nuclei of even quiescent elliptical galaxies. It is a puzzle that such luminosities are not observed. Motivated by this problem, Fabian & Rees have recently suggested that the final stages of accretion in these objects occurs in an advection-dominated mode with a correspondingly small radiative efficiency. Despite possessing a long-known active nucleus and dynamical evidence for a black hole, the low radiative and kinetic luminosities of the core of M87 provide the best illustration of this problem. We examine an advection-dominated model for the nucleus of M87 and show that accretion at the Bondi rate is compatible with the best known estimates for the core flux from radio through to X-ray wavelengths. The success of this model prompts us to propose that FR-I radio galaxies and quiescent elliptical galaxies accrete in an advection dominated mode whereas FR-II type radio-loud nuclei possess radiatively efficient thin accretion disks.

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arXiv1993

Geometrical Evidence for Dark Matter: X-ray Constraints on the Mass of the Elliptical Galaxy NGC 720

(shortened for babbage) We describe (1) a new test for dark matter and alternate theories of gravitation based on the relative geometries of the X-ray and optical surface brightness distributions and an assumed form for the potential of the optical light, (2) a technique to measure the shapes of the total gravitating matter and dark matter of an ellipsoidal system which is insensitive to the precise value of the temperature of the gas and to modest temperature gradients, and (3) a method to determine the ratio of dark mass to stellar mass that is dependent on the functional forms for the visible star, gas and dark matter distributions, but independent of the distance to the galaxy or the gas temperature. We apply these techniques to X-ray data from the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) of the optically-flattened elliptical galaxy NGC 720. The X-ray isophotes are significantly elongated, $ε= 0.20 - 0.30$ (90% confidence) for semi-major axis $a\sim 100\arcsec$. The major axes of the optical and X-ray isophotes are misaligned by $\sim 30°\pm 15°$ (90% confidence). We conclude that matter distributed like the optical light cannot produce the observed ellipticities of the X-ray isophotes independent of the gas pressure, the gas temperature, and the value of the stellar mass.

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