SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

D. E. Harris

Publications and source records attributed to D. E. Harris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Hidden treasures in the unknown 3CR extragalactic radio sky: a multi-wavelength approach

We present the analysis of multi-wavelength observations of seven extragalactic radio sources, listed as unidentified in the Third Cambridge Revised Catalog (3CR). X-ray observations, performed during Chandra Cycle 21, were compared to VLA, WISE and Pan-STARRS observations in the radio, infrared and optical bands, respectively. All sources in this sample lack a clear optical counterpart, and are thus missing their redshift and optical classification. In order to confirm the X-ray and infrared radio counterparts of core and extended components, here we present for the first time radio maps obtained manually reducing VLA archival data. As in previous papers on the Chandra X-ray snapshot campaign, we report X-ray detections of radio cores and two sources, out of the seven presented here, are found to be members of galaxy clusters. For these two cluster sources (namely, 3CR 409 and 3CR 454.2), we derived surface brightness profiles in four directions. For all seven sources, we measured X-ray intensities of the radio sources and we also performed standard X-ray spectral analysis for the four sources (namely, 3CR 91, 3CR 390, 3CR 409 and 3CR 428) with the brightest nuclei (more than 400 photons in the 2'' nuclear region). We also detected extended X-ray emission around 3CR 390 and extended X-ray emission associated with the northern jet of 3CR 158. This paper represents the first attempt to give a multi-wavelength view of the unidentified radio sources listed in the 3CR catalog.

astro-ph.HE

The $\textit{Chandra}$ 3CR extragalactic survey at high redshift

We present the analysis of nine radio sources belonging to the Third Cambridge Revised catalog (3CR) observed with $Chandra$ during Cycle 20 in the redshift range between 1.5 and 2.5. This study completes the 3CR $Chandra$ Snapshot Survey thus guaranteeing the X-ray coverage of all 3CR sources identified to date. This sample lists two compact steep spectrum sources, four radio galaxies and three quasars. We detected X-ray emission from all nuclei, with the only exception of 3C 326.1 and 3C 454.1 and from radio lobes in 6 out of 9 sources at level of confidence larger than $\sim$5$σ$. We measured X-ray fluxes and luminosities for all nuclei and lobes in the soft (0.5 - 1 keV), medium (1 - 2 keV) and hard (2 - 7 keV) X-ray bands. Since the discovered X-ray extended emission is spatially coincident with the radio structure in all cases, its origin could be due to Inverse Compton scattering of the Cosmic Microwave Background (IC/CMB) occurring in radio lobes.

astro-ph.GA

LOFAR observations of 4C+19.44. On the discovery of low frequency spectral curvature in relativistic jet knots

We present the first LOFAR observations of the radio jet in the quasar 4C+19.44 (a.k.a. PKS 1354+19) obtained with the long baselines. The achieved resolution is very well matched to that of archival Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) observations at higher radio frequencies as well as the archival X-ray images obtained with {\it Chandra}. We found that, for several knots along the jet, the radio flux densities measured at hundreds of MHz lie well below the values estimated by extrapolating the GHz spectra. This clearly indicates the presence of spectral curvature. Radio spectral curvature has been already observed in different source classes and/or extended radio structures and it has been often interpreted as due to intrinsic processes, as a curved particle energy distribution, rather than absorption mechanisms ({ Razin-Tsytovich} effect, free-free or synchrotron self absorption to name a few). Here we discuss our results according to the scenario where particles undergo stochastic acceleration mechanisms also in quasar jet knots.

astro-ph.GA

The 3CR Chandra snapshot survey: extragalactic radio sources with 0.5$<z<$1.0

This paper presents the analysis of Chandra X-ray snapshot observations of a subsample of the extragalactic sources listed in the revised Third Cambridge radio catalog (3CR), previously lacking X-ray observations and thus observed during Chandra Cycle 15. This data set extends the current Chandra coverage of the 3CR extragalactic catalog up to redshift $z$=1.0. Our sample includes 22 sources consisting of one compact steep spectrum (CSS) source, three quasars (QSOs), and 18 FR\,II radio galaxies. As in our previous analyses, here we report the X-ray detections of radio cores and extended structures (i.e., knots, hotspots and lobes) for all sources in the selected sample. We measured their X-ray intensities in three energy ranges: soft (0.5--1 keV), medium (1--2 keV) and hard (2-7 keV) and we also performed standard X-ray spectral analysis for brighter nuclei. All radio nuclei in our sample have an X-ray counterpart. We also discovered X-ray emission associated with the eastern knot of 3CR\,154, with radio hotspots in 3CR\,41, 3CR\,54 and 3CR\,225B and with the southern lobe of 3CR\,107. Extended X-ray radiation around the nuclei 3CR\,293.1 and 3CR\,323 on a scale of few tens kpc was also found. X-ray extended emission, potentially arising from the hot gas in the intergalactic medium and/or due to the high energy counterpart of lobes, is detected for 3CR\,93, 3CR\,154, 3CR\,292 and 3CR\, 323 over a few hundreds kpc-scale. Finally, this work also presents an update on the state-of-the-art of Chandra and XMM-Newton observations for the entire 3CR sample.

astro-ph.HE

The 3CR $Chandra$ extragalactic survey at 1.0$<z<$1.5

The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of newly acquired X-ray observations of 16 extragalactic radio sources, listed in the Third Cambridge Revised (3CR) catalog, and not previously observed by Chandra. Observations were performed during Chandra Cycle 17, extending X-ray coverage for the 3CR extragalactic catalog up to $z$=1.5. Among the 16 targets, two lie at $z<$0.5 (i.e., 3CR27, at $z$=0.184 and 3CR69, at $z$=0.458), all the remaining 14 have redshifts between 1.0 and 1.5. In the current sample there are three compact steep spectrum (CSS) sources, three quasars and an FRI radio galaxy, while the other nine are FRII radio galaxies. All radio sources have an X-ray counterpart. We measured nuclear X-ray fluxes as well as X-ray emission associated with radio jet knots, hotspots or lobes in three energy bands: soft (0.5-1 keV), medium (1-2 keV) and hard (2-7 keV). We also performed standard X-ray spectral analysis for the four brightest nuclei. We discovered X-ray emission associated with: the radio lobe of 3CR124; a hotspot of the quasar 3CR220.2; another hotspot of the radio galaxy 3CR238; and the jet knot of 3CR297. We also detected extended X-ray emission around the nuclear region of 3CR124 and 3CR297 on scales of several tens of kpc. Finally, we present an update on the X-ray observations performed with Chandra and XMM-Newton on the entire 3CR extragalactic catalog.

astro-ph.HE

Novel Analysis of the Multiwavelength Structure of Relativistic Jet in Quasar 3C 273

We present a detailed analysis of the best-quality multi-wavelength data gathered for the large-scale jet in the core-dominated quasar 3C 273. We analyze all the archival observations of the target with the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the far-ultraviolet observations with the Hubble Space Telescope, and the 8.4 GHz map obtained with the Very Large Array. In our study we focus on investigating the morphology of the outflow at different frequencies, and therefore we apply various techniques for the image deconvolution, paying particular attention to a precise modeling of the Chandra and Hubble point spread functions. We find that the prominent brightness enhancements in the X-ray and far-ultraviolet jet of 3C 273 - the "knots" - are not point-like, and can be resolved transversely as extended features with sizes of about $\simeq 0.5$ kpc. Also, the radio outflow is wider than the deconvolved X-ray/ultraviolet jet. We have also found circumstantial evidence that the intensity peaks of the X-ray knots are located systematically upstream of the corresponding radio intensity peaks, with the projected spatial offsets along the jet ranging from $\lesssim 0.2$ kpc up to $\simeq 1$ kpc. We discuss our findings in the wider context of multi-component models for the emission and structure of large-scale quasar jets, and speculate on the physical processes enabling an efficient acceleration of the emitting ultra-relativistic electrons along the entire jet length that exceeds 100 kpc.

astro-ph.HE

Swift observations of unidentified radio sources in the revised Third Cambridge Catalogue

We have investigated a group of unassociated radio sources included in the 3CR cat- alogue to increase the multi-frequency information on them and possibly obtain an identification. We have carried out an observational campaign with the Swift satellite to observe with the UVOT and the XRT telescopes the field of view of 21 bright NVSS sources within the positional uncertainty region of the 3CR sources. Furthermore, we have searched in the recent AllWISE Source Catalogue for infrared sources matching the position of these NVSS sources. We have detected significant emission in the soft X-ray band for nine of the investigated NVSS sources. To all of them, and in four cases with no soft X-ray association, we have associated a WISE infrared counterpart. Eight of these infrared candidates have not been proposed earlier in the literature. In the five remaining cases our candidate matches one among a few optical candidates suggested for the same 3CR source in previous studies. No source has been detected in the UVOT filters at the position of the NVSS objects, confirming the scenario that all of them are heavily obscured. With this in mind, a spectroscopic campaign, preferably in the infrared band, will be necessary to establish the nature of the sources that we have finally identified.

astro-ph.HE

The Chandra Survey of Extragalactic Sources in the 3CR Catalog: X-ray Emission from Nuclei, Jets, and Hotspots in the Chandra Archival Observations

As part of our program to build a complete radio and X-ray database of all the 3CR extragalactic radio sources, we present an analysis of 93 sources for which Chandra archival data are available. Most of these sources have been already published. Here we provide a uniform re-analysis and present nuclear X-ray fluxes and X-ray emission associated with radio jet knots and hotspots using both publicly available radio images and new radio images that have been constructed from data available in the VLA archive. For about 1/3 of the sources in the selected sample a comparison between the Chandra and the radio observations was not reported in the literature: we find X-ray detections of 2 new radio jet knots and 17 hotspots. We also report the X-ray detection of extended emission from the intergalactic medium of 15 galaxy clusters, two of which were most likely unknown previously.

astro-ph.HE

Detecting Relativistic X-ray Jets in High-Redshift Quasars

We analyze Chandra X-ray images of a sample of 11 quasars that are known to contain kiloparsec scale radio jets. The sample consists of five high-redshift (z >= 3.6) flat-spectrum radio quasars, and six intermediate redshift (2.1 < z < 2.9) quasars. The dataset includes four sources with integrated steep radio spectra and seven with flat radio spectra. A total of 25 radio jet features are present in this sample. We apply a Bayesian multi-scale image reconstruction method to detect and measure the X-ray emission from the jets. We compute deviations from a baseline model that does not include the jet, and compare observed X-ray images with those computed with simulated images where no jet features exist. This allows us to compute p-value upper bounds on the significance that an X- ray jet is detected in a pre-determined region of interest. We detected 12 of the features unambiguously, and an additional 6 marginally. We also find residual emission in the cores of 3 quasars and in the background of 1 quasar that suggest the existence of unresolved X-ray jets. The dependence of the X-ray to radio luminosity ratio on redshift is a potential diagnostic of the emission mechanism, since the inverse Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons (IC/CMB) is thought to be redshift dependent, whereas in synchrotron models no clear redshift dependence is expected. We find that the high-redshift jets have X-ray to radio flux ratios that are marginally inconsistent with those from lower redshifts, suggesting that either the X-ray emissions is due to the IC/CMB rather than the synchrotron process, or that high redshift jets are qualitatively different.

astro-ph.HE

On the Merging Cluster Abell 578 and Its Central Radio Galaxy 4C +67.13

Here we analyze radio, optical, and X-ray data for a peculiar cluster Abell 578. This cluster is not fully relaxed and consists of two merging sub-systems. The brightest cluster galaxy, CGPG 0719.8+6704, is a pair of interacting ellipticals with projected separation $\sim$10 kpc, the brighter of which hosts the radio source 4C +67.13. The Fanaroff-Riley type-II radio morphology of 4C +67.13 is unusual for central radio galaxies in local Abell clusters. Our new optical spectroscopy revealed that both nuclei of the CGPG 0719.8+6704 pair are active, albeit at low accretion rates corresponding to the Eddington ratio $\sim10^{-4}$ (for the estimated black hole masses of $\sim 3 \times 10^8\,M_\odot$ and $\sim 10^9 \, M_\odot$). The gathered X-ray ({\it Chandra}) data allowed us to confirm and to quantify robustly the previously noted elongation of the gaseous atmosphere in the dominant sub-cluster, as well as a large spatial offset ($\sim 60$\,kpc projected) between the position of the brightest cluster galaxy and the cluster center inferred from the modeling of the X-ray surface brightness distribution. Detailed analysis of the brightness profiles and temperature revealed also that the cluster gas in the vicinity of 4C\,+67.13 is compressed (by a factor of about $\sim 1.4$) and heated (from $\simeq 2.0$\,keV up to 2.7\,keV), consistent with the presence of a weak shock (Mach number $\sim 1.3$) driven by the expanding jet cocoon. This would then require the jet kinetic power of the order of $\sim 10^{45}$\,erg\,s$^{-1}$, implying either a very high efficiency of the jet production for the current accretion rate, or a highly modulated jet/accretion activity in the system.

astro-ph.HE

On the Interaction of the PKS B1358-113 Radio Galaxy with the Abell 1836 Cluster

[abridged] Here we present the analysis of multifrequency data gathered for the FRII radio galaxy PKS B1358-113, hosted in the brightest cluster galaxy of Abell 1836. The galaxy harbors one of the most massive black holes known to date and our analysis of the optical data reveals that this black hole is only weakly active. Based on new Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray observations and archival radio data we derive the preferred range for the jet kinetic luminosity $\sim (0.5-3) \times 10^{45}$ erg s$^{-1}$. This is above the values implied by various scaling relations proposed for radio sources in galaxy clusters, being instead very close to the maximum jet power allowed for the given accretion rate. We constrain the radio source lifetime as $\sim 40-70$ Myrs, and the total amount of deposited jet energy $\sim (2-8) \times 10^{60}$\,ergs. The detailed analysis of the X-ray data provides indication for the presence of a bow-shock driven by the expanding radio lobes into the Abell 1836 cluster environment, with the corresponding Mach number $\sim 2-4$. This, together with the recently growing evidence that powerful FRII radio galaxies may not be uncommon in the centers of clusters at higher redshifts, supports the idea that jet-induced shock heating may indeed play an important role in shaping the properties of clusters, galaxy groups, and galaxies in formation. We speculate on a possible bias against detecting jet-driven shocks in poorer environments, resulting from an inefficient electron heating at the shock front, combined with a relatively long electron-ion equilibration timescale.

astro-ph.GA

A Chandra Snapshot Survey for 3C Radio Galaxies with redshifts between 0.3 and 0.5

This paper contains an analysis of short Chandra observations of 19 3C sources with redshifts between 0.3 and 0.5 not previously observed in the X-rays. This sample is part of a project to obtain Chandra data for all of the extragalactic sources in the 3C catalogue. Nuclear X-ray intensities as well as any X-ray emission associated with radio jet knots, hotspots or lobes have been measured in 3 energy bands: soft, medium and hard. Standard X-ray spectral analysis for the 4 brightest nuclei has been also performed. X-ray emission was detected for all the nuclei of the radio sources in the current sample with the exception of 3C 435A. There is one compact steep spectrum (CSS) source while all the others are FRII radio galaxies. X-ray emission from two galaxy clusters (3C 19 and 3C 320); from 6 hotspots in 4 radio galaxies (3C 16, 3C 19, 3C 268.2, 3C 313); and extended X-ray emission on kpc scales in 3C 187 and 3C 313, has been detected.

astro-ph.HE

Imaging on PAPER: Centaurus A at 148 MHz

We present observations taken with the Precision Array for Probing the Epoch of Reionization (PAPER) of the Centaurus A field in the frequency range 114 to 188 MHz. The resulting image has a 25' resolution, a dynamic range of 3500 and an r.m.s. of 0.5 Jy\beam (for a beam size of 25' x 23'). A spectral index map of Cen A is produced across the full band. The spectral index distribution is qualitatively consistent with electron reacceleration in regions of excess turbulence in the radio lobes, as previously identified morphologically. Hence, there appears to be an association of 'severe weather' in radio lobes with energy input into the relativistic electron population. We compare the PAPER large scale radio image with the X-ray image from the ROSAT All Sky Survey. There is a tentative correlation between radio and X-ray features at the end of the southern lobe, some 200 kpc from the nucleus, as might be expected from inverse Compton scattering of the CMB by the relativistic electrons also responsible for the radio synchrotron emission. The magnetic fields derived from the (possible) IC and radio emission are of similar magnitude to fields derived under the minimum pressure assumptions, ~ 1 μG. However, the X-ray field is complex, with large scale gradients and features possibly unrelated to Cen A. If these X-ray features are unrelated to Cen A, then these fields are lower limits.

astro-ph.CO

Chandra Observations of 3C Radio Sources with z<0.3 II: completing the snapshot survey

We report on the second round of Chandra observations of the 3C snapshot survey developed to observe the complete sample of 3C radio sources with z<0.3 for 8 ksec each. In the first paper, we illustrated the basic data reduction and analysis procedures performed for the 30 sources of the 3C sample observed during the Chandra Cycle 9, while here, we present the data for the remaining 27 sources observed during Cycle 12. We measured the X-ray intensity of the nuclei and of any radio hotspots and jet features with associated X-ray emission. X-ray fluxes in three energy bands: soft, medium and hard for all the sources analyzed are also reported. For the stronger nuclei, we also applied the standard spectral analysis which provides the best fit values of X-ray spectral index and absorbing column density. In addition, a detailed analysis of bright X-ray nuclei that could be affected by pileup has been performed. X-ray emission was detected for all the nuclei of the radio sources in our sample except for 3C 319. Amongst the current sample, there are two compact steep spectrum radio sources; two broad line radio galaxies; and one wide angle tail radio galaxy, 3C 89, hosted in a cluster of galaxies clearly visible in our Chandra snapshot observation. In addition, we also detected soft X-ray emission arising from the galaxy cluster surrounding 3C 196.1. Finally, X-ray emission from hotspots have been found in three FR II radio sources and, in the case of 3C 459, we also report the detection of X-ray emission associated with the eastern radio lobe and as well as that cospatial with radio jets in 3C 29 and 3C 402.

astro-ph.HE

Discovery of a Kiloparsec Scale X-ray/Radio Jet in the z=4.72 Quasar GB 1428+4217

We report the discovery of a one-sided 3.6" (24 kpc, projected) long jet in the high-redshift, z=4.72, quasar GB 1428+4217 in new Chandra X-ray and VLA radio observations. This is the highest redshift kiloparsec-scale X-ray/radio jet known. Analysis of archival VLBI 2.3 and 8.6 GHz data reveal a faint one-sided jet extending out to ~200 parsecs and aligned to within ~30 deg of the Chandra/VLA emission. The 3.6" distant knot is not detected in an archival HST image, and its broad-band spectral energy distribution is consistent with an origin from inverse Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons for the X-rays. Assuming also equipartition between the radiating particles and magnetic field, the implied jet Lorentz factor is ~5. This is similar to the other two known z ~ 4 kpc-scale X-ray jet cases and smaller than typically inferred in lower-redshift cases. Although there are still but a few such very high-redshift quasar X-ray jets known, for an inverse Compton origin, the present data suggest that they are less relativistic on large-scales than their lower-redshift counterparts.

astro-ph.HE

The nature of the jet-driven outflow in the radio galaxy 3C305

We present Chandra X-ray and VLA radio observations of the radio galaxy 3C305. The X-ray observations reveal the details of the previously known extended X-ray halo around the radio galaxy. We show using X-ray spectroscopy that the X-ray emission is consistent with being shock-heated material and can be modelled with standard collisional-ionization models, rather than being photoionized by the active nucleus. On this basis, we can make a self-consistent model in which the X-ray-emitting plasma is responsible for the depolarization of some regions of the radio emission from the jets and hotspots, and to place lower and upper limits on the magnetic field strength in the depolarizing medium. On the assumption that the X-ray-emitting material, together with the previously-known extended emission-line region and the outflow in neutral hydrogen, are all being driven out of the centre of the galaxy by an interaction with the jets, we derive a detailed energy budget for the radio galaxy, showing that the X-ray-emitting gas dominates the other phases in terms of its energy content. The power supplied by the jets must be ~ 10^43 erg/s.

astro-ph.CO

An Experiment to Locate the Site of TeV Flaring in M87

We describe a Chandra X-ray ToO project designed to isolate the site of TeV flaring in the radio galaxy M87. To date, we have triggered the Chandra observations only once (2010 April) and by the time of the first of our 9 observations, the TeV flare had ended. However, we found that the X-ray intensity of the unresolved nucleus was at an elevated level for our first observation. Of the more than 60 Chandra observations we have made of the M87 jet covering 9 years, the nucleus was measured at a comparably high level only 3 times. Two of these occasions can be associated with TeV flaring, and at the time of the third event, there were no TeV monitoring activities. From the rapidity of the intensity drop of the nucleus, we infer that the size of the emitting region is of order a few light days times the unknown beaming factor; comparable to the same sort of estimate for the TeV emitting region. We also find evidence of spectral evolution in the X-ray band which seems consistent with radiative losses affecting the non-thermal population of the emitting electrons within the unresolved nucleus.

astro-ph.HE

The 2010 M 87 VHE flare and its origin: the multi-wavelength picture

The giant radio galaxy M 87, with its proximity (16 Mpc) and its very massive black hole ((3 - 6) \times 10^9 M_solar), provides a unique laboratory to investigate very high energy (E>100 GeV; VHE) gamma-ray emission from active galactic nuclei and, thereby, probe particle acceleration to relativistic energies near supermassive black holes (SMBH) and in relativistic jets. M 87 has been established as a VHE gamma-ray emitter since 2005. The VHE gamma-ray emission displays strong variability on timescales as short as a day. In 2008, a rise in the 43 GHz Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio emission of the innermost region (core; extension of < 100 Rs ; Schwarzschild radii) was found to coincide with a flaring activity at VHE. This had been interpreted as a strong indication that the VHE emission is produced in the direct vicinity of the SMBH. In 2010 a flare at VHE was again detected triggering further multi-wavelength (MWL) observations with the VLBA, Chandra, and other instruments. At the same time, M 87 was also observed with the Fermi-LAT telescope at MeV/GeV energies, the European VLBI Network (EVN), and the Liverpool Telescope (LT). Here, preliminary results from the 2010 campaign will be reported.

astro-ph.CO