arXiv subjects

E. Costantini

Publications and source records attributed to E. Costantini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Dust grain chemistry in the diffuse ISM towards the black hole transient GX 339-4

We present results on X-ray absorption and the dust grain chemistry in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM), based on a new Cycle 25 Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS) observational campaign targeting the black hole transient GX 339-4. The X-ray source offers an optimal combination of moderate hydrogen column density and high X-ray flux, enabling the first detailed simultaneous fitting of the photoabsorption edges of Fe, O, Si, and Mg which are key elemental constituents of interstellar dust. We performed a joint spectral analysis of Chandra/HETGS data and archival observations from the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) on board XMM-Newton. We found that the dust grain chemical composition along this diffuse Galactic line of sight is best described by the silicate Mg-rich amorphous pyroxene (Mg0.75Fe0.25SiO3) and metallic iron. We also discuss the elemental abundances and depletions of Fe, O, Si, and Mg, and the presence of absorption features in the X-ray spectrum of this source associated with highly ionised plasma.

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arXiv2026

Investigating interstellar dust along the line of sight of GX 13+1 using different dust size distributions

Context. High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy offers a powerful tool to investigate the physical and chemical properties of dust grains, especially through the analysis of absorption edges of elements such as oxygen, magnesium, silicon, and iron, which are the main constituents of interstellar dust. In all previous X-ray studies, these absorption edges have been modeled assuming the MRN grain size distribution. This model successfully reproduces the average interstellar extinction curve. However, with the advent of new observations, it shows important limitations, indicating that more complex grain-size distributions are required to fully describe interstellar dust properties. Aims. We aim to constrain the composition and size distribution of interstellar dust along the line of sight to the bright low-mass X-ray binary GX 13+1. Methods. We analyzed high-resolution X-ray spectra obtained with the Chandra HETG instrument (MEG+1 and MEG-3) and simultaneously modeled the Si K and Mg K absorption edges. For the first time, we compared the classical Mathis et al. 1977, ApJ, 217, 425 grain size distribution with other grain size distributions, thus exploring different ISM densities. Results. Our analysis rules out scenarios of both very diffuse and very dense ISM, favoring grain size distributions associated with average Galactic conditions along this line of sight. The dust composition is found to be dominated by amorphous olivine and the crystallinity contribution is about 2%. The depletion patterns and elemental abundances derived are consistent with prior X-ray and infrared studies.

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arXiv2026

A highly ionised outflow in the X-ray binary 4U 1624-49 detected with XRISM

The origin of accretion disc winds remains disputed to date. High inclination, dipping, neutron star Low Mass X-Ray Binaries (LMXBs) provide an excellent testbed to study the launching mechanism of such winds due to being persistently accreting and showing a nearly ubiquitous presence of highly-ionised plasmas. We aim to establish or rule out the presence of a wind in the high inclination LMXB 4U 1624-49, for which a highly ionised plasma has been repeatedly observed in X-ray spectra by Chandra and XMM-Newton, and a thermal-radiative pressure wind is expected. We leverage the exquisite spectral resolution of XRISM to perform phase-resolved spectroscopy of the full binary orbit to characterise the highly ionised plasma at all phases except during absorption dips. An outflow is clearly detected via phase-resolved spectroscopy of the source with XRISM/Resolve. Based on analysis of the radial velocity curve we determine an average velocity of ~200-320 km/s and a column density above 10$^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$. The line profiles are generally narrow, spanning from ~50 to ~100 km/s, depending on the orbital phase, pointing to a low velocity sheer or turbulence of the highly ionised outflow and a potential increase of turbulence as the absorption dip is approached, likely due to turbulent mixing. The line profiles, together with the derived launching radius and wind velocity are consistent with a wind being launched from the outskirts of the disc and without stratification, pointing to a thermal-radiative pressure origin.

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arXiv2026

A Stratification in Magnetic Field Structures: The Radio Outflow in NGC 4151

The nature of radio outflows in radio-quiet AGN remains poorly understood. In this study, we present kpc-scale polarization observations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC\,4151 using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in B-array at 3 and 10 GHz. We find that the inferred magnetic (B-) field structures show a stratification: a `spine-sheath'-like structure, with fields perpendicular to the jet direction in the `spine' and parallel in the `sheath', is observed in the higher resolution (0.5 arcsec) image at 10 GHz. In addition, a `wind'-like component with B-fields perpendicular to the radio outflow is observed in the 3 GHz image (resolution 2 arcsec); this feature is prominent along the `receding' (eastern) jet direction. Rotation measure (RM) ranges from $-230$ to 250 rad m$^{-2}$ over the polarized regions, indicating a low-electron-density ($10^{-2}-10^{-3}$ cm$^{-3}$) tenuous medium surrounding the source causing Faraday rotation. A {tentative} RM gradient of $+75$ to $-25$ rad m$^{-2}$ is observed transverse to the northern `wind' component, while a similar gradient with opposite sign is seen across the southern `wind' component, suggestive of a helical magnetic field threading the outflow. Based on an analysis of the available radio and X-ray data, we conclude that the stratified radio outflow in NGC 4151 is magnetically-driven. The bi-conical radio `wind' is found to be massive ($1050-3200 M_\odot$) with a high mass outflow rate ($0.01-0.03$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$) but low in kinetic power ($<0.01$% of L$_{\rm{bol}}$), making it less impactful for galactic-scale feedback. Our study suggests that radio-quiet AGN may also host magnetically dominant jets and winds, even while their jets are smaller and weaker compared to radio-loud AGN.

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arXiv2025

A XRISM/Resolve view of the dynamics in the hot gaseous atmosphere of M87

The XRISM/Resolve microcalorimeter directly measured the gas velocities in the core of the Virgo Cluster, the closest example of AGN feedback in a cluster. This proximity allows us to resolve the kinematic impact of feedback on scales down to 5 kpc. Our spectral analysis reveals a high velocity dispersion of $\sigma_v$=262 (+45 / -38) km/s near the AGN, which steeply declines to ~60 km/s between 5 and 25 kpc in the northwest direction. The observed line-of-sight bulk velocity in all regions is broadly consistent with the central galaxy, M87, with a mild trend toward blueshifted motions at larger radii. Systematic uncertainties have been carefully assessed and do not affect the measurements. The central velocities, if attributed entirely to isotropic turbulence, correspond to a transonic ICM at sub-6 kpc scales with three-dimensional Mach number 0.69 (+0.14 / -0.11) and a non-thermal pressure fraction of 21 (+7 / -5)%. Simple models of weak shocks and sound waves and calculations assuming isotropic turbulence both support the hypothesis that the velocity field reflects a mix of shock-driven expansion and turbulence. Compared to other clusters observed by XRISM to date, M87's central region stands out as the most kinematically disturbed, exhibiting both the highest velocity dispersion and the largest 3D Mach number, concentrated at the smallest physical scales.

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arXiv2025

The Feasibility of Using Fe XXIII Metastable Transitions as a Density Diagnostic for LMXB Disk Winds

Low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) occasionally show signs of outflowing material from the accretion disk. Studying these outflows can inform the understanding of the geometry of the systems, as well as the dynamics and energetics of accretion. One key variable for determining the location of these disk winds is the density of the outflowing material. In this paper we explore a density diagnostic based upon the absorption of ionizing photons by density-sensitive metastable states of Fe XXIII. This can yield a blue shifted complex of absorption features in the region of $6.61-6.64$ keV. We use the photoionization code {\sc pion} to test how varying the ionizing spectrum affects the detectability and interpretation of these features. We base these ionizing spectral energy distributions on GX~13$+$1 to represent a bright thermally dominated spectrum; 4U 1735$-$44 representing a harder, fainter LMXB spectrum; and MAXI J1820$+$070 representing a black hole LMXB spectrum completely dominated by Comptonized emission. For each of these, we find that the regime where Fe XXIII can be used as a density diagnostic is with an ionization parameter $\log{(\xi/{\rm erg~cm~s^{-1}})}\sim2-3$ and an outflow density $\log{(n_H/{\rm cm^{-3})}}\gtrsim14$. The typical range of ionization parameters for LMXBs indicates that this technique is more feasibly achieved with BH LMXBs than their NS counterparts.

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arXiv2025

The Structure of the Relativistic Fe Line in GX 340+0 as Viewed with XRISM/Resolve, NICER, and NuSTAR

We present a 152 ks XRISM/Resolve observation of the persistently accreting Z source GX 340+0. Simultaneous observations also occurred with NuSTAR and NICER for 22.47 ks and 2.7 ks, respectively. The source covered the normal branch to the flaring branching during the observations. The data from all three missions were modeled concurrently for each spectral branch. The superior energy resolution of XRISM/Resolve reveals structure within the iron emission line complex regardless of spectral state. We model the reprocessed Fe K line with a reflection model tailored for thermal illumination of the accretion disk by a neutron star. The currently available model encompasses the broad components, but narrow emission features remain at the ~5% level. These remaining features may be described by the presence of an ionized plasma in the system as has been observed in the Z source Cygnus X-2, but subsequent updates to the reflection model code may be able to explain these features.

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arXiv2025

Investigating the complex absorbers of Mrk 766 with XMM-Newton

Aims. We examine the high energy resolution X-ray spectrum of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 766 using 4 observations taken with XMM-Newton in 2005, to investigate the properties of the complex ionised absorber / emitter along the line of sight, as well as absorption by dust intrinsic to the source. Methods. We make use of the high-energy resolution RGS spectrum to infer the properties of the intervening matter. We also use the spectrum obtained by EPIC-pn and the photometric measurements of OM to obtain the spectral energy distribution of the source, necessary for the photoionisation modelling of the ionised outflow. Results. The warm absorber in Mrk 766 consists of two phases of photoionisation. In addition to these two warm absorber components with $\logξ\sim 2.15$ and $\logξ\sim -0.58$, we find evidence of absorption by a collisionally ionised component ($T\sim51$ eV). We discuss the implication of this additional component in light of theoretical predictions. Moreover, we detect signs of absorption by a dusty medium with $N_\text{dust}\sim 7.29\times 10^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$. Finally the relatively weak emission features in the spectrum seem to be unrelated to the absorbers and probably originated by an out-of sight-line ionised plasma.

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arXiv2024

The outflowing ionised gas of I Zw 1 observed by HST COS

We present an analysis of the HST COS spectrum of IZw1 aiming to probe the absorbing medium associated with the active galactic nucleus (AGN). We fitted the emission spectrum and performed spectral analysis of the identified absorption features to derive the corresponding ionic column densities and covering fractions of the associated outflows. We employed photoionisation modelling to constrain the total column density and the ionisation parameter of four detected kinematic components. By investigating the implications of the results together with the observed kinematic properties of both emission and absorption features, we derived constraints on the structure and geometry of the absorbing medium in the AGN environment. We find and characterise absorption line systems from outflowing ionised gas in four distinct kinematic components, located at -60, -280, -1950, and -2900 km/s with respect to the source rest frame. While the two slower outflows are consistent with a full covering of the underlying radiation source, the well-constrained doublet line ratios of the faster two, higher column density, outflows suggest partial covering, with a covering fraction of C_f~0.4. The faster outflows show also line-locking in the NV doublet, a signature of acceleration via line absorption. This makes IZw1 possibly the closest object that shows evidence for hosting line-driven winds. The observed -1950 km/s absorption is likely due to the same gas as an X-ray warm absorber. Furthermore, the behaviour in UV and X-ray bands implies that this outflow has a clumpy structure. We find that the highly asymmetric broad emission lines in IZw1, indicative of a collimated, outflowing broad line region, are covered by the absorbing gas. Finally, the strongest UV--X-ray absorber may be connected to some of the blueshifted line emission, indicative of a more spatially extended structure of this ionised medium.

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arXiv2024

Supermassive Black Hole Winds in X-rays -- SUBWAYS. III. A population study on ultra-fast outflows

The detection of blue-shifted absorption lines likely associated with ionized Iron K-shell transitions in the X-ray spectra of many Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) suggests the presence of a highly ionized gas outflowing with mildly relativistic velocities (0.03c-0.6c), named Ultra-Fast Outflow (UFO). Within the SUBWAYS project we characterized these winds starting from a sample of 22 radio-quiet quasars at 0.1 < z < 0.4, and compared the results with similar studies in the literature on samples of 42 local radio-quiet Seyfert galaxies and 14 high redshift radio-quiet quasars. The scope of our work is a statistical study of UFO parameters and incidence, considering key physical properties of the sources, e.g. supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass, bolometric luminosity, accretion rates and Spectral Energy Distribution, with the aim of gaining new insights into the UFO launching mechanisms. We find indications that highly luminous AGN with steeper X-ray/UV ratio, are more likely to host UFO. The presence of UFO is not significantly related to any other AGN property in our sample. These findings suggest that the UFO phenomenon may be transient. Focusing on AGN with UFO, other important results are: (1) faster UFO have larger ionization parameters and column densities; (2) X-ray radiation plays a more crucial role in driving highly ionized winds compared to UV; (3) the correlation between outflow velocity and luminosity is significantly flatter than what expected for radiatively driven winds; (4) more massive BH experience higher wind mass-losses, suppressing accretion of matter onto the BH; (5) the UFO launching radius is positively correlated with the Eddington ratio. Furthermore, our analysis suggest the involvement of multiple launching mechanisms, including radiation pressure and magneto-hydrodynamic processes, rather than pointing to a single, universally applicable mechanism.

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arXiv2024

Elemental abundances in the diffuse ISM from joint FUV and X-ray spectroscopy: iron, oxygen, carbon and sulfur

In this study, we investigate interstellar absorption lines along the line of sight toward the galactic low-mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-2. We combine absorption line data obtained from high-resolution X-ray spectra collected with Chandra and XMM-Newton satellites, along with Far-UV absorption lines observed by the Hubble Space Telescope's (HST) Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) Instrument. Our primary objective is to understand the abundance and depletion of oxygen, iron, sulfur, and carbon. To achieve this, we have developed an analysis pipeline that simultaneously fits both the UV and X-ray datasets. This novel approach takes into account the line spread function (LSF) of HST/COS, enhancing the precision of our results. We examine the absorption lines of FeII, SII, CII, and CI present in the FUV spectrum of Cygnus X-2, revealing the presence of at least two distinct absorbers characterized by different velocities. Additionally, we employ Cloudy simulations to compare our findings concerning the ionic ratios for the studied elements. We find that gaseous iron and sulfur exist in their singly ionized forms, Fe II and S II, respectively, while the abundances of CII and CI do not agree with the Cloudy simulations of the neutral ISM. Finally, we explore discrepancies in the X-ray atomic data of iron and discuss their impact on the overall abundance and depletion of iron.

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arXiv2024

Chandra/HETG Doppler velocity measurements in stellar coronal sources

Stellar coronal sources have been observed in the past not only for their astrophysical interest in the field of binary system evolution and interaction, but also for their invaluable roles as benchmarks for plasma spectral models and as calibration sources for high resolution spectroscopic X-ray instruments. These include the gratings on-board Chandra and XMM-Newton, as well as the new generation of high resolution capable-detectors recently flown on-board XRISM and planned for the future also on-board the Athena and the LEM missions. In our previous paper exploiting Chandra/HETG observations of the prototypical coronal source Capella, it has been shown that the centroid energies of the many X-ray emission lines detected in the spectrum of this object change as a function of time due to the Doppler modulation within the binary. This is an effect that needs to be corrected while performing calibrations of high resolution X-ray instruments. In this paper, we extend our previous work on Capella to other known stellar coronal sources which have been observed with the Chandra/HETG (11 objects in total). We measure in several objects clear trends in the velocity shifts along the orbit of the primary star, meaning that in these sources one of the two star components is largely dominating the high energy emission. In a number of systems the trend in the velocity shift is not obvious. This can be ascribed to the fact that both stellar components contribute significantly to the X-ray emission.

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arXiv2023

Study of the optical to X-ray broad emission lines of Mrk 110

In order to shed light on the characteristics of the broad line region (BLR) in a narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy, we present an analysis of X-ray, UV, and optical spectroscopic observations of the broad emission lines in Mrk 110. For the broad-band modelling of the emission-line luminosity, we adopt the `locally optimally emitting cloud' approach, which allows us to place constraints on the gas radial and density distribution. By exploring additional environmental effects, we investigate the possible scenarios resulting in the observed spectra. We find that the photoionised gas in Mrk 110 responsible for the UV emission can fully account for the observed low-ionisation X-ray lines. The overall ionisation of the gas is lower, and one radial power-law distribution with a high integrated covering fraction $C_{\mathrm{f}} \approx 0.5$ provides an acceptable description of the emission lines spanning from X-rays to the optical band. The BLR is likely more compact than the broad-line Seyfert 1s studied so far, extending from $\sim\!10^{16}$ to $\sim\!10^{18}$ cm, and limited by the dust sublimation radius at the outer edge. Despite the large colour excess predicted by the Balmer ratio, the best fit suggests $E(B-V)\approx0.03$ for both the ionising luminosity and the BLR, indicating that extinction might be uniform over a range of viewing angles. While the adopted data-modelling technique does not allow us to place constraints on the geometry of the BLR, we show that the addition of models with a clumpy, equatorial, wind-like structure may lead to a better description of the observed spectra.

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arXiv2023

Sulfur X-ray absorption in the local ISM

We present a study S K-edge using high-resolution HETGS {\it Chandra} spectra of 36 low-mas X-ray binaries. For each source, we have estimated column densities for {\rm S}~{\sc i}, {\rm S}~{\sc ii}, {\rm S}~{\sc iii}, {\rm S}~{\sc xiv}, {\rm S}~{\sc xv} and {\rm S}~{\sc xvi} ionic species, which trace the neutral, warm and hot phases of the Galactic interstellar medium. We also estimated column densities for a sample of interstellar dust analogs. We measured their distribution as a function of Galactic latitude, longitude, and distances to the sources. While the cold-warm column densities tend to decrease with the Galactic latitude, we found no correlation with distances or Galactic longitude. This is the first detailed analysis of the sulfur K-edge absorption due to ISM using high-resolution X-ray spectra.

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arXiv2023

A detailed analysis of X-ray emission line velocities of Capella from over 20 years of Chandra/HETG spectroscopy

Capella is the brightest chromospherically active binary in the sky, hosting a cooler G8III giant (Aa) and an hotter G1III companion (Ab). The source has been extensively observed in the X-rays in the past decades not only for its astrophysical interest in the field of corona sources, but also for in-flight calibrations of space-based X-ray instruments. In 2006, it was demonstrated using Chandra/HETG observations that Aa is the main contributor to Capella's X-ray emission, as the centroid energies of the emission lines are Doppler shifted along the orbit of the G8III giant (an aspect that has to be taken in consideration for calibration activities of X-ray instruments). In this paper, we extend the previous analysis performed in 2006 by re-analyzing in an homogeneous way all Chandra/HETG observations performed in the direction of Capella. By doubling the amount of data available, we strengthened the conclusion that Capella Aa is the dominant emitter in soft X-rays. We did not find any evidence of a statistically significant contribution to this emission by the Ab giant. Our findings are discussed also in light of the incoming launch of the XRISM mission (spring 2023).

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arXiv2022

Supermassive Black Hole Winds in X-rays -- SUBWAYS. I. Ultra-fast outflows in QSOs beyond the local Universe

We present a new X-ray spectroscopic study of $22$ luminous ($2\times10^{45}\lesssim L_{\rm bol}\rm /erg\,s^{-1} \lesssim 2\times10^{46}$) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at intermediate-redshift ($0.1 \lesssim z \lesssim 0.4$), as part of the SUpermassive Black hole Winds in the x-rAYS (SUBWAYS) sample, mostly composed of quasars (QSOs) and type\,1 AGN. Here, 17 targets were observed with \textit{XMM-Newton} between 2019--2020 and the remaining 5 are from previous observations. The aim of this large campaign ($1.45\,\rm Ms$ duration) is to characterise the various manifestations of winds in the X-rays driven from supermassive black holes in AGN. In this paper we focus on the search and characterization of ultra-fast outflows (UFOs), which are typically detected through blueshifted absorption troughs in the Fe\,K band ($E>7\,\rm keV$). By following Monte Carlo procedures, we confirm the detection of absorption lines corresponding to highly ionised iron (e.g., Fe\,\textsc{xxv}\,H$α$, Fe\,\textsc{xxvi}\,Ly$α$) in 7/22 sources at the $\gtrsim95\%$ confidence level (for each individual line). The global combined probability of such absorption features in the sample is $>99.9\%$. The SUBWAYS campaign extends at higher luminosity and redshifts than previous local studies on Seyferts, obtained using \xmm and \suzaku observations. We find a UFO detection fraction of $\sim30\%$ on the total sample that is in agreement with the previous findings. This work independently provides further support for the existence of highly-ionised matter propagating at mildly relativistic speed ($\gtrsim0.1c$) in a considerable fraction of AGN over a broad range of luminosities, which is expected to play a key role in the self-regulated AGN feeding-feedback cycle, as also supported by hydrodynamical multiphase simulations.

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arXiv2022

Supermassive Black Hole Winds in X-rays: SUBWAYS. II. HST UV spectroscopy of winds at intermediate redshifts

We present a UV spectroscopic study of ionized outflows in 21 active galactic nuclei (AGN), observed with the HST. The targets of the SUBWAYS sample were selected with the aim to probe the parameter space of the underexplored AGN between the local Seyfert galaxies and the luminous quasars at high redshifts. Our targets, spanning redshifts of 0.1-0.4 and bolometric luminosities (L_bol) of 10^45-10^46 erg/s, have been observed with a large multi-wavelength campaign. Here, we model the UV spectra and look for different types of AGN outflows. We find that 60% of our targets show a presence of outflowing H I absorption, while 40% exhibit ionized outflows seen as absorption by either C IV, N V, or O VI. This is comparable to the occurrence of ionized outflows seen in the local Seyfert galaxies. All UV absorption lines in the sample are relatively narrow, with outflow velocities reaching up to -3300 km/s. We did not detect any UV counterparts to the X-ray ultra-fast outflows (UFOs), most likely due to their being too highly ionized. However, all SUBWAYS targets with an X-ray UFO demonstrate the presence of UV outflows at lower velocities. We find significant correlations between the column density (N) of the UV ions and L_bol of the AGN, with N of H I decreasing with L_bol, while N of O VI is increasing with L_bol. This is likely to be a photoionization effect, where toward higher AGN luminosities, the wind becomes more ionized, resulting in less absorption by neutral or low-ionization ions and more absorption by high-ionization ions. In addition, we find that N of the UV ions decreases as their outflow velocity increases. This may be explained by a mechanical power that is evacuating the UV-absorbing medium. Our observed relations are consistent with multiphase AGN feeding and feedback simulations indicating that a combination of both radiative and mechanical processes are in play.

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arXiv2022

Oxygen and iron in interstellar dust: an X-ray investigation

Understanding the chemistry of the interstellar medium (ISM) is fundamental for the comprehension of the Galactic and stellar evolution. X-rays provide an excellent way to study the dust chemical composition and crystallinity along different sight-lines in the Galaxy. In this work we study the dust grain chemistry in the diffuse regions of the interstellar medium in the soft X-ray band (<1 keV). We use newly calculated X-ray dust extinction cross sections, obtained from laboratory data, in order to investigate the oxygen K and iron L shell absorption. We explore the XMM-Newton and Chandra spectra of 5 low-mass X-ray binaries located in the Galactic plane, and we model the gas and dust features of oxygen and iron simultaneously. The dust samples used for this study include silicates with different Mg:Fe ratios, sulfides, iron oxides and metallic iron. Most dust samples are in both amorphous and crystalline lattice configuration. The extinction cross sections have been computed using Mie scattering approximation and assuming a power law dust size distribution. We find that the Mg-rich amorphous pyroxene (Mg0.75Fe0.25SiO3) represents the largest fraction of dust towards most of the X-ray sources, about 70% on average. Additionally, we find that ~15% of the dust column density in our lines of sight is in Fe metallic. We do not find strong evidence for ferromagnetic compounds, such as Fe3O4 or iron sulfides (FeS, FeS2). Our study confirms that the iron is heavily depleted from the gas phase into solids; more than 90% of iron is in dust. The depletion of neutral oxygen is mild, between 10-20% depending on the line of sight.

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