Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

E. Hatziminaoglou

Publications and source records attributed to E. Hatziminaoglou.

104 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasars in the SWIRE ELAIS N1 Field: Properties and Spectral Energy Distributions

We present a mid-infrared analysis of 35 quasars with spectroscopic redshifts selected from the Spitzer Wide-area InfraRed Extragalactic Survey (SWIRE). We discuss their optical and mid-infrared (MIR) colors, and show that these quasars occupy well defined regions in MIR color-color space. We examine the issue of type-I AGN candidate selection in detail and propose new selection methods based on mid-IR colors. The available multi-band data allows us to construct two new, well-sampled quasar templates, covering wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the MIR.

astro-ph↗

A study of the 15 micron quasars in the ELAIS N1 and N2 fields

This paper discusses properties of the European Large Area ISO Survey 15 micron quasars and tries to establish a robust method of quasar selection for future use within the Spitzer Wide-Area Infrared Extragalactic Survey (SWIRE) framework. The importance of good quality ground-based optical data is stressed, both for the candidates selection and for the photometric redshifts estimates. Colour-colour plots and template fitting are used for these purposes. The properties of the 15 micron quasars sample are studied, including variability and black hole masses and compared to the properties of other quasars that lie within the same fields but have no mid-infrared counterparts. The two subsamples do not present substantial differences and are believed to come from the same parent population.

astro-ph↗

X-ray and optical coverage of 3EG J0616-3310 and 3EG J1249-8330

The limited angular resolution of gamma-ray telescopes prevents the straight identification of the majority of the sources detected so far. This is particularly true for the low latitude, probably galactic ones, only 10 % of which has been identified. Most of the counterparts are Isolated Neutron Stars, both radio-loud and radio-quiet, characterised by an extremely high value of X-ray-to-optical flux ratio. The best way to search for INSs in the error boxes of unidentified EGRET sources is to perform the X-ray coverage of the gamma-ray field, followed by the optical characterization of each X-ray source. We applied this procedure to two EGRET sources, which could belong to a local galactic population: 3EG J0616-3310 and 3EG J1249-8330. Here we report on the analysis of about 300 X-ray objects, as well as on their optical study.

astro-ph↗

QSO Photometric Redshift estimation for the XMM-Newton/2dF Survey

The technique of estimating redshifts using photometric rather than spectroscopic observations has recently received great attention due to its simplicity and the accuracy of the results obtained. In this work, we estimate photometric redshifts for an X-ray selected QSO sample. This is the first time this technique is applied on such a sample. We first calculate the accuracy of the results obtained by comparing photometric to spectroscopic redshifts for a sub-sample of our QSO sample: for the majority (~67%) of the objects in this sub-sample, photometric redshift estimates are correct within Dz<0.3. We then derive the photometric redshift distribution for the whole QSO sample. In the future, we expect to use the photometric redshift distribution in order to derive the distributions of properties such as the Hardness Ratio and hence the hydrogen column density, the luminosity function etc. As an example, we estimate here the dependence of the Hardness Ratio of the QSO sample on photometric redshift.

astro-ph↗

ESO Imaging Survey. The Stellar Catalogue in the Chandra Deep Field South

(abridged) Stellar catalogues in five passbands (UBVRI) over an area of approximately 0.3 deg^2, comprising about 1200 objects, and in seven passbands (UBVRIJK) over approximately 0.1 deg^2, comprising about 400 objects, in the direction of the Chandra Deep Field South are presented. The 90% completeness level of the number counts is reached at approximately U = 23.8, B = 24.0, V = 23.5, R = 23.0, I = 21.0, J = 20.5, K = 19.0. A scheme is presented to select point sources from these catalogues, by combining the SExtractor parameter CLASS_STAR from all available passbands. Probable QSOs and unresolved galaxies are identified by using the previously developed χ^2-technique (Hatziminaoglou et al 2002), that fits the overall spectral energy distributions to template spectra and determines the best fitting template. The observed number counts, colour-magnitude diagrams, colour-colour diagrams and colour distributions are presented and, to judge the quality of the data, compared to simulations based on the predictions of a Galactic Model convolved with the estimated completeness functions and the error model used to describe the photometric errors of the data. The resulting stellar catalogues and the objects identified as likely QSOs and unresolved galaxies with coordinates, observed magnitudes with errors and assigned spectral types by the $χ^2$-technique are presented and are publicly available.

astro-ph↗

XMM-Newton and Wide Field Optical Imaging to crack the mystery of unidentified gamma-ray sources

The limited angular resolution of gamma-ray telescopes prevents the straight identification of the majority of the sources detected so far. While the only certified galactic gamma-ray emitters are associated with pulsars, more than 90% of the nearly 100 low latitude sources detected by EGRET on the GRO lack an identification. The best identification strategy devised over the years relies on the use of X-ray and optical data to single out possible counterparts, rating them on the basis of their extreme F_x/F_opt. Here we describe our multiwavelength programme based on the EPIC mapping of selected EGRET sources complemented by the optical coverage of the same fields obtained through the Wide Field Imager (WFI) of the ESO 2.2 m telescope. The field of view of the WFI, comparable to that of EPIC, will allow to directly cross-correlate X and optical data speeding up significantly the selection of interesting candidates worth follow-up optical (and X-ray) studies.

astro-ph↗

ESO Imaging Survey. Exploring the optical/infrared imaging data of CDF-S: Point Sources

This paper describes the methodology currently being implemented in the EIS pipeline for analysing optical/infrared multi-colour data. The aim is to identify different classes of objects as well as possible undesirable features associated with the construction of colour catalogues. The classification method used is based on the xi^2-fitting of template spectra to the observed SEDs, as measured through broad-band filters. Its main advantage is the simultaneous use of all colours, properly weighted by the photometric errors. In addition, it provides basic information on the properties of the classified objects (eg redshift, effective temperature). These characteristics make the xi^2-technique ideal for handling large multi-band datasets. The results are compared to the more traditional colour-colour selection and, whenever possible, to model predictions. In order to identify objects with odd colours, either associated with rare populations or to possible problems in the catalogue, outliers are searched for in the multi-dimensional colour space using a nearest-neighbour criterion. Outliers with large xi^2-values are individually inspected to further investigate their nature. The tools developed are used for a preliminary analysis of the multi-colour point source catalogue constructed from the optical/infrared imaging data obtained for the Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S). These data are publicly available, representing the first installment of the ongoing EIS Deep Public Survey.

astro-ph↗

Pre-FLAMES Survey: Observations of Selected Stellar Fields

This paper presents the first set of fully calibrated images and associated stellar catalogs of the Pre-FLAMES survey being carried out by the ESO Imaging Survey (EIS) project. The primary goal of this survey is to provide the ESO community with data sets from which suitable target lists can be extracted for follow-up observations with the new VLT facility FLAMES. For this purpose 160 stellar fields have been selected for observations in B, V and I using the 8kx8k Wide Field Imager (WFI) at the MPG/ESO 2.2 m telescope at La Silla. These data have been used to assess the observing strategy adopted and to define suitable reduction techniques and procedures for the preparation of input catalogs for FLAMES. The images and catalogs presented here are publicly available and can be requested from the URL address ``http://www.eso.org/eis''.

astro-ph↗

ESO Imaging Survey. Deep Public Survey: Multi-Color Optical Data for the Chandra Deep Field South

This paper presents multi-passband optical data obtained from observations of the Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S), located at alpha ~ 3h 32m, delta ~ -27d 48m. The observations were conducted at the ESO/MPG 2.2m telescope at La Silla using the 8kx8k Wide-Field Imager (WFI). This data set, taken over a period of one year, represents the first field to be completed by the ongoing Deep Public Survey (DPS) being carried out by the ESO Imaging Survey (EIS) project. This paper describes the optical observations, the techniques employed for un-supervised pipeline processing and the general characteristics of the final data set. The paper includes data taken in six different filters U'UBVRI. The data cover an area of about 0.25 square degrees reaching 5 sigma limiting magnitudes of U'_AB=26.0, U_AB=25.7, B_AB=26.4$, V_AB=25.4, R_AB=25.5 and I_AB= 24.7 mag, as measured within a 2xFWHM aperture. The optical data covers the area of ~ 0.1

astro-ph↗

ESO Imaging Survey. Deep Public Survey: Infrared Data for the Chandra Deep Field South

This paper presents new J and Ks near-infrared data obtained from observations of the Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S) conducted at the ESO 3.5m New Technology Telescope (NTT). These data were taken as part of the ongoing Deep Public Survey (DPS) being carried out by the ESO Imaging Survey (EIS) program, extending the EIS-DEEP survey. Combined these surveys now provide a contiguous coverage over an area of 400 square arcmin in the near-infrared, nearly matching that covered by the deep X-ray observations of Chandra, four times the area of the original EIS-DEEP survey. The paper briefly describes the observations and the new techniques being employed for pipeline processing jittered infrared observations, which include unbiased de-fringing and sky-background subtraction, pixel-based astrometry and stacking and pixel registration based on a multi-resolution decomposition of the images. The astrometric solution is based on a pre-release of the GSC-II catalog and has an accuracy of < 0.15 arcsec. The final images for 12 pointings presented here reach median 5 sigma limiting magnitudes of J_AB~23.4 and K_AB~22.6 as measured within an aperture 2xFWHM. The frame to frame variation of the photometric zero-point is estimated to be <0.09 mag. The data are publicly available in the form of fully calibrated J and Ks pixel maps and source lists extracted for each pointing. These data can be requested through the URL ``http://www.eso.org/eis''.

astro-ph↗

Hierarchical Clustering and Active Galaxies

The growth of Super Massive Black Holes and the parallel development of activity in galactic nuclei are implemented in an analytic code of hierarchical clustering. The evolution of the luminosity function of quasars and AGN will be computed with special attention paid to the connection between quasars and Seyfert galaxies. One of the major interests of the model is the parallel study of quasar formation and evolution and the History of Star Formation.

astro-ph↗

Accretion Disk Instabilities, CDM models and their role in Quasar Evolution

We have developed a consistent analytical model to describe the observed evolution of the quasar luminosity function. Our model combines black hole mass distributions based on the Press - Schechter theory of the structure formation in the Universe with quasar luminosity functions resulting from a physics-based emission model that takes into account the time-dependent phenomena occurring in the accretion disks. Quasar evolution and CDM models are mutually constraining, therefore our model gives an estimation of the exponent, n, of the power spectrum, P(k), which is found to be -1.8 < n < -1.6. We were able to reject a generally assumed hypothesis of a constant ratio between Dark Matter Halo and the Black Hole mass, since the observed data could not be fitted under this assumption. We found that the relation between the Dark Matter Halos and Black Hole masses is better described by M_{BH}=M_{DMH}^{0.668}. This model provides a reasonable fit to the observed quasar luminosity function at redshifts higher than ~2.0. We suggest that the disagreement at lower redshift is due to mergers. Based on the agreement at high redshift, we estimated the merger rate at lower redshift, and argue that this rate should depend on the redshift, like (1+z)^3.

astro-ph↗

Quasar Candidate Multicolor Selection Technique: a different approach

We present a quasar candidate identification technique based on multicolor photometry. The traditional multi-dimensional method (2 $\times$ N dimensions, where N is the number of the color-color diagrams) is reduced to a one-dimensional technique, which consists in a standard fitting procedure, where the observed spectral energy distributions are compared to quasar simulated spectra and stellar templates. This new multicolor approach is firstly applied to simulated catalogues and its {\it efficiency} is examined in various redshift ranges, as a function of the filter combination and the available observing time for spectroscopy. We conclude that this method is better suited than the usual multicolor selection techniques to quasar identification, especially for high-redshift quasars. The application of the method to real quasar samples found in the literature results in an {\it efficiency} comparable to the one obtained from the use of color-color diagrams. The major advantage of the new method is the estimation of the {\it photometric} redshift of quasar candidates, enabling, in almost all cases, spectroscopy to be targeted to best suited wavelength ranges.

astro-ph↗

What can we learn from VIRMOS quasars?

Large, homogeneous quasar samples are necessary tools for the study of QSO statistics, cosmological tests, large scale structure and AGN evolution. These samples must be complete within well defined flux limits at all redshifts. An observational strategy without previous photometric selection of quasar candidates is described, based essentially on the VIRMOS Survey spectroscopy.

astro-ph↗