arXiv subjects

Cosimo Bambi

Publications and source records attributed to Cosimo Bambi.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Possible ~ 1 hour quasi-periodic oscillation in narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG--06--30--15

We found a possible ~ 1 hour quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in a ~ 55 ks X-ray observation of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG--06--30--15 made with the XMM-Newton EPIC/pn detector in the energy range 0.3 -- 10 keV. We identify a total modulation of ~ 16% in the light curve and find a $\simeq$ 3670~s quasi-period using Lomb-Scargle periodogram (LSP) and weighted wavelet Z-transform (WWZ) techniques. Our analyses of eight light curves of MCG--06--30--15, indicated the possible presence of an oscillation during one of them. The LSP indicates a statistically significant ($\simeq$ 3$σ$) QPO detection. A WWZ analysis shows that the signal at this possible roughly 3670s period is present, and rather persistent, throughout the observation; however, a signal around 8735s is more persistent. We briefly discuss models that can produce X-ray QPOs with such periods in narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies, as both other claimed QPO detections in this class of AGN had very similar periods.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Iron Line Spectroscopy of Black Holes in Vector-Tensor Galileons Modified Gravity

Recently, a rotating black hole solution was found in Vector-Tensor Galileons modified gravity that has some significant differences from the Kerr black hole solution. We study the iron line shape that is part of the reflection spectrum of accretion disks around black holes in this new black hole solution. We simulate and compare the iron lines of this solution with those of the Kerr solution to see if the technique of iron line spectroscopy can be used as a tool to test Vector-Tensor Galileons modified gravity. Our analysis shows that current X-ray facilities can, in principle, be used to test and place constraints on Vector-Tensor Galileons modified gravity in the strong coupling and ultraspinning regimes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Testing the Kerr nature of the supermassive black hole in Ark 564

Einstein's theory of general relativity has been extensively tested in weak gravitational fields, mainly with experiments in the Solar System and observations of radio pulsars, and current data agree well with the theoretical predictions. Nevertheless, there are a number of scenarios beyond Einstein's gravity that have the same predictions for weak fields and present deviations only when gravity becomes strong. Here we try to test general relativity in the strong field regime. We fit the X-ray spectrum of the supermassive black hole in Ark 564 with a disk reflection model beyond Einstein's gravity, and we are able to constrain the black hole spin $a_*$ and the Johannsen deformation parameters $α_{13}$ and $α_{22}$ separately. For $α_{22} = 0$, we find $a_* > 0.96$ and $-1.0 < α_{13} < 0.2$ with a 99% confidence level. For $α_{13} = 0$, we get $a_* > 0.96$ and $-0.1 < α_{22} < 0.9$ with a 99% confidence level. Our measurements are thus consistent with the hypothesis that the supermassive compact object in Ark 564 can be described by the Kerr metric.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Weak gravitational lensing: a compact object with arbitrary quadrupole moment immersed in plasma

We study weak gravitational lensing around a compact object with arbitrary quadrupole moment in the presence of plasma. The studied compact objects are considered to be spherically symmetric. The additional parameter $ε$ regulating the quadrupole moment in the metric alters the deflection angle of light rays along with the plasma parameters. In the vacuum, the number of images due to the presence of the parameter $ε$ increases and causes the increase of the magnification of the image source. The effects of uniform and nonuniform plasma on gravitational lensing around the compact object are also studied.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

A general study of regular and singular black hole solutions in Einstein's conformal gravity

We study some general properties of two black hole solutions in Einstein's conformal gravity. Both solutions can be obtained from the Kerr metric with a suitable conformal rescaling, which leads, respectively, to a regular and a singular spacetime. In addition to the mass $M$ and the spin angular momentum $J$ of the black hole, these solutions are characterized by a new parameter, $L$, which may be expected to be of the order of the black hole mass. We study the geodesic motion and we calculate the radiative efficiency of a putative accretion disk around these black holes, which allows us to get an estimate of an upper bound on the value of $L$. Lastly, we explore the possibility of "destroying" the event horizon of these black holes. Within our approach, we are not able to destroy the event horizon of the regular black hole solution, while we can in the case of the singular one.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Multi-epoch analysis of the X-ray spectrum of the active galactic nucleus in NGC 5506

We present a multi-epoch X-ray spectroscopy analysis of the nearby narrow-line Seyfert I galaxy NGC 5506. For the first time, spectra taken by Chandra, XMM-Newton, Suzaku, and NuSTAR - covering the 2000-2014 time span - are analyzed simultaneously, using state-of-the-art models to describe reprocessing of the primary continuum by optical thick matter in the AGN environment. The main goal of our study is determining the spin of the supermassive black hole (SMBH). The nuclear X-ray spectrum is photoelectrically absorbed by matter with column density $\simeq 3 \times 10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$. A soft excess is present at energies lower than the photoelectric cut-off. Both photo-ionized and collisionally ionized components are required to fit it. This component is constant over the time-scales probed by our data. The spectrum at energies higher than 2 keV is variable. We propose that its evolution could be driven by flux-dependent changes in the geometry of the innermost regions of the accretion disk. The black hole spin in NGC 5506 is constrained to be 0.93$\pm _{ 0.04 }^{0.04}$ at 90% confidence level for one interesting parameter.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

RELXILL_NK: a relativistic reflection model for testing Einstein's gravity

Einstein's theory of general relativity was proposed over 100 years ago and has successfully passed a large number of observational tests in the weak field regime. However, the strong field regime is largely unexplored, and there are many modified and alternative theories that have the same predictions as Einstein's gravity for weak fields and present deviations when gravity becomes strong. RELXILL_NK is the first relativistic reflection model for probing the spacetime metric in the vicinity of astrophysical black holes and testing Einstein's gravity in the strong field regime. Here we present our current constraints on possible deviations from Einstein's gravity obtained from the black holes in 1H0707-495, Ark 564, GX 339-4, and GS 1354-645.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Iron line spectroscopy of black holes in asymptotically safe gravity

We study the iron line shape expected in the reflection spectrum of accretion disks around black holes in asymptotically safe gravity. We compare the results of our simulations with the iron line shapes expected in the reflection spectrum of accretion disks around Kerr black holes to see if the technique of iron line spectroscopy can be used as a tool to test asymptotically safe gravity. Our analysis shows that current X-ray facilities are surely unable to distinguish black holes in asymptotically safe gravity from black holes in Einstein's gravity. In the case of the next generation of X-ray missions, which promise to provide unprecedented high quality data, the question remains open because it cannot be addressed within our simplified model.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Electromagnetic fields of slowly rotating magnetized compact stars in conformal gravity

The exact analytical solutions for vacuum electromagnetic fields of slowly rotating magnetized compact stars in conformal gravity have been studied. Taking the realistic dipolar magnetic field configuration for the star, analytical solutions of the Maxwell equations for the near zone magnetic and the electric fields exterior to a slowly rotating magnetized relativistic star in conformal gravity are obtained. In addition, the dipolar electromagnetic radiation and energy losses from the rotating magnetized compact star in conformal gravity have been studied. With the aim to find observational constraints on the $L$ parameter of conformal gravity, the theoretical results for the electromagnetic radiation from the rotating magnetized relativistic star in conformal gravity have been combined with the precise observational data on the radio pulsars periods slow down and it is estimated that the upper limit i.e. the maximum value of the parameter of conformal gravity is less than $L \lesssim 9.5 \times 10^5\textrm{cm}$ ($L/M \lesssim 5$).

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Iron line spectroscopy with Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet black holes

Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity is a well-motivated alternative theory of gravity that emerges naturally from string theory. While black hole solutions have been known in this theory in numerical form for a while, an approximate analytical metric was obtained recently by some of us, which allows for faster and more detailed analysis. Here we test the accuracy of the analytical metric in the context of X-ray reflection spectroscopy. We analyze innermost stable circular orbits (ISCO) and relativistically broadened iron lines and find that both the ISCO and iron lines are determined sufficiently accurately up to the limit of the approximation. We also find that, though the ISCO increases by about 7% as dilaton coupling increases from zero to extremal values, the redshift at ISCO changes by less than 1%. Consequently, the shape of the iron line is much less sensitive to the dilaton charge than expected.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Unattainable extended spacetime regions in conformal gravity

The Janis-Newman-Winicour metric is a solution of Einstein's gravity minimally coupled to a real massless scalar field. The $γ$-metric is instead a vacuum solution of Einstein's gravity. These spacetimes have no horizon and possess a naked singularity at a finite value of the radial coordinate, where curvature invariants diverge and the spacetimes are geodetically incomplete. In this paper, we reconsider these solutions in the framework of conformal gravity and we show that it is possible to solve the spacetime singularities with a suitable choice of the conformal factor. Now curvature invariants remain finite over the whole spacetime. Massive particles never reach the previous singular surface and massless particles can never do it with a finite value of their affine parameter. Our results support the conjecture according to which conformal gravity can fix the singularity problem that plagues Einstein's gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Gravitational lensing by magnetized compact object in the presence of plasma

We study the gravitational lensing in the weak field approximation assuming the presence of a plasma and of a magnetic field around a compact gravitational source. The external magnetic field causes the split of the image, as the counterpart of the Zeeman effect. The magnetic field affects the magnification of images, creating additional components. We also study the time delay of an electromagnetic signal due to the geometry and the gravitational field around the source. We show that the time delay strongly depends on the plasma parameters. Lastly, we consider the effects of the presence of an inhomogeneous plasma on the gravitational lensing.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Testing general relativity with the reflection spectrum of the supermassive black hole in 1H0707$-$495

Recently, we have extended the X-ray reflection model relxill to test the spacetime metric in the strong gravitational field of astrophysical black holes. In the present Letter, we employ this extended model to analyze XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, and Swift data of the supermassive black hole in 1H0707-495 and test deviations from a Kerr metric parametrized by the Johannsen deformation parameter $α_{13}$. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the spacetime metric around the black hole in 1H0707-495 is described by the Kerr solution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Formation and evaporation of an electrically charged black hole in conformal gravity

Extending previous work on the formation and the evaporation of black holes in conformal gravity, in the present paper we study the gravitational collapse of a spherically symmetric and electrically charged thin shell of radiation. The process creates a singularity-free black hole. Assuming that in the evaporation process the charge $Q$ is constant, the final product of the evaporation is an extremal remnant with $M=Q$, which is reached in an infinite amount of time. We also discuss the issue of singularity and thermodynamics of black holes in Weyl's conformal gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Astrophysical Black Holes: A Compact Pedagogical Review

Black holes are among the most extreme objects that can be found in the Universe and an ideal laboratory for testing fundamental physics. This article will briefly review the basic properties of black holes as expected from general relativity, the main astronomical observations, and the leading astrophysical techniques to probe the strong gravity region of these objects. It is mainly intended to provide a compact introductory overview on astrophysical black holes to new students entering this research field, as well as to senior researchers working in general relativity and alternative theories of gravity and wishing to quickly learn the state of the art of astronomical observations of black holes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

The evolution of GX 339-4 in the low-hard state as seen by NuSTAR and Swift

We analyze eleven NuSTAR and Swift observations of the black hole X-ray binary GX 339-4 in the hard state, six of which were taken during the end of the 2015 outburst, five during a failed outburst in 2013. These observations cover luminosities from 0.5%-5% of the Eddington luminosity. Implementing the most recent version of the reflection model relxillCp, we perform simultaneous spectral fits on both datasets to track the evolution of the properties in the accretion disk including the inner edge radius, the ionization, and temperature of the thermal emission. We also constrain the photon index and electron temperature of the primary source (the "corona"). We find the disk becomes more truncated when the luminosity decreases, and observe a maximum truncation radius of $37R_g$. We also explore a self-consistent model under the framework of coronal Comptonization, and find consistent results regarding the disk truncation in the 2015 data, providing a more physical preferred fit for the 2013 observations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Testing the Kerr black hole hypothesis with RELXILL_NK

Astrophysical black hole candidates are thought to be the Kerr black holes of general relativity. However, macroscopic deviations from the Kerr background are predicted by a number of scenarios beyond Einstein's gravity. X-ray reflection spectroscopy can be a powerful tool to probe the strong gravity region of these objects and test the Kerr black hole hypothesis. Here I briefly review the state of the art of this line of research and I present some constraints on possible deviations from the Kerr metric obtained with the new X-ray reflection model relxill_nk and XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, and Swift data of the supermassive black hole in 1H0707-495.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Testing the performance and accuracy of the RELXILL model for the relativistic X-ray reflection from accretion disks

The reflection spectroscopic model RELXILL is commonly implemented in studying relativistic X-ray reflection from accretion disks around black holes. We present a systematic study of the model's capability to constrain the dimensionless spin and ionization parameters from $\sim$6,000 NuSTAR simulations of a bright X-ray source employing the lamppost geometry. We employ high count spectra to show the limitations in the model without being confused with limitations in signal-to-noise. We find that both parameters are well-recovered at 90% confidence with improving constraints at higher reflection fraction, high spin, and low source height. We test spectra across a broad range - first at 10$^6-$10$^7$ and then $\sim$10$^5$ total source counts across the effective 3-79 keV band of NuSTAR, and discover a strong dependence of the results on how fits are performed around the starting parameters, owing to the complexity of the model itself. A blind fit chosen over an approach that carries some estimates of the actual parameter values can lead to significantly worse recovery of model parameters. We further stress on the importance to span the space of nonlinear-behaving parameters like $log~ξ$ carefully and thoroughly for the model to avoid misleading results. In light of selecting fitting procedures, we recall the necessity to pay attention to the choice of data binning and fit statistics used to test the goodness of fit by demonstrating the effect on the photon index $Γ$. We re-emphasize and implore the need to account for the detector resolution while binning X-ray data and using Poisson fit statistics instead while analyzing Poissonian data.

astro-ph.HE↗