arXiv subjects

G. P. Garmire

Publications and source records attributed to G. P. Garmire.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Chandra Observations of Radio-Loud Quasars at z > 4: X-rays from the Radio Beacons of the Early Universe

We present the results of Chandra observations of six radio-loud quasars (RLQs) and one optically bright radio-quiet quasar (RQQ) at z = 4.1-4.4. These observations cover a representative sample of RLQs with moderate radio-loudness (R ~ 40-400), filling the X-ray observational gap between optically selected RQQs and the five known blazars at z > 4 (R ~ 800-27000). We study the relationship between X-ray luminosity and radio-loudness for quasars at high redshift and constrain RLQ X-ray continuum emission and absorption. From a joint spectral fit of nine moderate-R RLQs observed by Chandra, we find tentative evidence for absorption above the Galactic N_H, with a best-fit neutral intrinsic column density of N_H = 2.4^{+2.0}_{-1.8} x 10^{22} cm^{-2}, consistent with earlier claims of increased absorption toward high-redshift RLQs. We also search for evidence of an enhanced jet-linked component in the X-ray emission due to the increased energy density of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at high redshift, but we find neither spatial detections of X-ray jets nor a significant enhancement in the X-ray emission relative to comparable RLQs at low-to-moderate redshifts. Overall, the z ~ 4-5 RLQs have basic X-ray properties consistent with comparable RLQs in the local universe, suggesting that the accretion/jet mechanisms of these objects are similar as well.

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arXiv2004

Detection of x-rays from galaxy groups associated with the gravitationally lensed systems PG 1115+080 and B1422+231

Gravitational lenses that produce multiple images of background quasars can be an invaluable cosmological tool. Deriving cosmological parameters, however, requires modeling the potential of the lens itself. It has been estimated that up to a quarter of lensing galaxies are associated with a group or cluster which perturbs the gravitational potential. Detection of X-ray emission from the group or cluster can be used to better model the lens. We report on the first detection in X-rays of the group associated with the lensing system PG 1115+080 and the first X-ray image of the group associated with the system B1422+231. We find a temperature and rest-frame luminosity of 0.8 +/- 0.1 keV and 7 +/- 2 x 10^{42} ergs/s for PG 1115+080 and 1.0 +infty/-0.3 keV and 8 +/- 3 x 10^{42} ergs/s for B1422+231. We compare the spatial and spectral characteristics of the X-ray emission to the properties of the group galaxies, to lens models, and to the general properties of groups at lower redshift.

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arXiv2004

An X-ray measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent from its transit of the Crab Nebula

Saturn's largest satellite, Titan, transited the Crab Nebula on 5 January 2003. We observed this astronomical event with the {\it Chandra} X-ray Observatory. An ``occultation shadow'' has clearly been detected and is found to be larger than the diameter of Titan's solid surface. The difference gives a thickness for Titan's atmosphere of 880 $\pm$ 60 km. This is the first measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent at X-ray wavelengths. The value measured is consistent with or slightly larger than those estimated from earlier Voyager observations at other wavelengths. We discuss the possibility of temporal variations in the thickness of Titan's atmosphere.

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arXiv2003

X-ray Sources with Periodic Variability in a Deep Chandra Image of the Galactic Center

We report the discovery of eight X-ray sources with periodic variability in 487 ks of observations of the Galactic center with Chandra. The sources are identified from a sample of 285 objects detected with 100-4200 net counts. Their periods range from 300 s to 4.5 h with amplitudes between 40% and 70% rms. They have luminosities of (1 - 5) \times 10^{32} erg/sec (2--8 keV at 8 kpc). The spectra of seven of the eight sources are consistent with Gamma = 0 power laws absorbed by gas and dust with a column density equal to or higher than that toward the Galactic Center (6 times 10^{22} cm^{-2}). Four of these sources also exhibit emission lines near 6.7 keV from He-like Fe, with equivalent widths of 600-1000 eV. These properties are consistent with both magnetically accreting cataclysmic variables and wind-accreting neutron stars in high-mass X-ray binaries. The eighth source has an absorbing column of 5 \times 10^{21} cm^{-2} that places it in the foreground. Its spectrum is consistent with either a Gamma = 1.4 power law or kT = 25 keV bremsstrahlung emission. Its period-folded flux profile clearly identifies it as an eclipsing polar. We place an approximate upper limit of i^\prime > 23 magnitude on the optical counterpart to this source using a 5 min exposure obtained with the MagIC camera on the Clay telescope (Magellan II) at Las Campanas.

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arXiv2003

A Deep Chandra Catalog of X-ray Point Sources toward the Galactic Center

(abridged) We present a catalog of 2357 point sources detected during 590 ks of Chandra observations of the 17-by-17 arcminute field around Sgr A*. This field encompasses a physical area of 40 by 40 pc at a distance of 8 kpc. The completeness limit of the sample at the Galactic center is 10^{31} erg s^{-1} (2.0--8.0 keV), while the detection limit is an order of magnitude lower. The 281 sources detected below 1.5 keV are mainly in the foreground of the Galactic center, while comparisons to the Chandra deep fields at high Galactic latitudes suggest that only about 100 of the observed sources are background AGN. The surface density of absorbed sources (not detected below 1.5 keV) falls off as 1/theta away from Sgr A*, in agreement with the distribution of stars in infrared surveys. Point sources brighter than our completeness limit produce 10% of the flux previously attributed to diffuse emission. The log(N)-log(S) distribution of the Galactic center sources is extremely steep (power-law slope alpha = 1.7). If this distribution extends down to a flux of 10^{-17} erg cm^{-1} s^{-1} (10^{29} erg s^{-1} at 8 kpc, 2.0--8.0 keV) with the same slope, then point sources would account for all of the previously reported diffuse emission. Therefore, the 2.0--8.0 keV luminosity distribution must flatten between 10^{29} - 10^{31} erg s^{-1}. Finally, the spectra of more than half of the Galactic center sources are very hard, and can be described by a power law ($E^{-Gamma}) with photon index Gamma < 1. Such hard spectra have been seen previously only from magnetically accreting white dwarfs and wind-accreting neutron stars, suggesting that there are large numbers of these systems in our field.

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arXiv2003

Optical and Infrared Properties of the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North X-ray Sources

We present an optical and NIR catalog for the X-ray sources in the 2 Ms Chandra observation of the Hubble Deep Field-North region. We have high-quality multicolor images of all 503 X-ray point sources and reliable spectroscopic redshifts for 284. We spectroscopically identify six z>1 type II quasars. Our spectroscopic completeness for the R<24 sources is 87%. The spectroscopic redshift distribution shows two broad redshift spikes that have clearly grown over those originally seen in the 1 Ms exposure. The spectroscopically identified extragalactic sources already comprise 75% of the measured 2-8 keV light. Redshift slices versus 2-8 keV flux show that an impressive 54% of the measured 2-8 keV light arises from sources at z<1 and 68% from sources at z<2. We use seven broadband colors and a Bayesian photometric redshift estimation code to obtain photometric redshifts. The photometric redshifts are within 25% of the spectroscopic redshifts for 94% of the non-broad-line sources with both photometric and spectroscopic measurements. We use our wide wavelength coverage to determine rest-frame colors for the X-ray sources with spectroscopic or photometric redshifts. Many of the X-ray sources have the rest-frame colors of evolved red galaxies and there is very little evolution in these colors with redshift. We also determine absolute magnitudes and find that many of the non-broad-line sources are more luminous than Mstar, even at high redshifts. We therefore infer that deep X-ray observations may provide an effective way of locating Mstar galaxies with colors similar to present-day early-type galaxies to high redshifts. (Abridged)

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arXiv2003

Ten Million Degree Gas in M 17 and the Rosette Nebula: X-ray Flows in Galactic H II Regions

We present the first high-spatial-resolution X-ray images of two high-mass star forming regions, the Omega Nebula (M 17) and the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237--2246), obtained with the Chandra X-ray Observatory Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) instrument. The massive clusters powering these H II regions are resolved at the arcsecond level into >900 (M 17) and >300 (Rosette) stellar sources similar to those seen in closer young stellar clusters. However, we also detect soft diffuse X-ray emission on parsec scales that is spatially and spectrally distinct from the point source population. The diffuse emission has luminosity L_x ~ 3.4e33 ergs/s in M~17 with plasma energy components at kT ~0.13 and ~0.6 keV (1.5 and 7 MK), while in Rosette it has L_x \~6e32 ergs/s with plasma energy components at kT ~0.06 and ~0.8 keV (0.7 and 9 MK). This extended emission most likely arises from the fast O-star winds thermalized either by wind-wind collisions or by a termination shock against the surrounding media. We establish that only a small portion of the wind energy and mass appears in the observed diffuse X-ray plasma; in these blister H II regions, we suspect that most of it flows without cooling into the low-density interstellar medium. These data provide compelling observational evidence that strong wind shocks are present in H II regions.

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arXiv2003

The Chandra Deep Field-North Survey. XV. Optically Bright, X-ray Faint Sources

We have analyzed optically bright, X-ray faint [OBXF; i.e., log(fX/fR) < -2] sources identified in an 178.9 square arcminute area within the Chandra Deep Field-North (CDF-N) 2 Ms survey. We find 43 OBXF sources in this area, comprising ~15% of the X-ray sources above a 0.5--2 keV flux of 2.3e-17 erg cm^-2 s^-1. We present spectroscopic identifications for 42 of the OBXF sources and optical spectra for 25, including 5 previously unpublished redshifts. Deep optical imaging data (either HST or ground-based) are presented for all the OBXF sources. The OBXF population consists mainly of normal and starburst galaxies detected out to cosmologically significant distances (i.e., to a median redshift of z=0.297 and a full redshift range z=0.06-0.845). This is notable since these distances equate to look-back times of up to ~8 Gyr; we are thus provided with a window on the X-ray emission from galaxies at redshifts much closer to the cosmic star formation peak than was possible prior to Chandra. The X-ray luminosity distribution of OBXF sources extends to higher luminosity than does that of "normal" galaxies indicating that a significant fraction are likely dominated by low-luminosity AGN (LLAGN) or vigorous star formation. By combining the detected X-ray counts, we find the average OBXF X-ray spectrum to be consistent with a Gamma=2.0 power law. The 0.5--2 keV log N-log S for the OBXF galaxies is much steeper (alpha=-1.7) than for the general X-ray source population. Indeed, the number of OBXF sources has doubled between the 1~Ms and 2~Ms survey, rising sharply in numbers at faint fluxes. The extragalactic OBXF sources are found to contribute ~1-2% of the soft extragalactic X-ray background.

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arXiv2003

The Chandra Deep Field-North Survey. XIII. 2 Ms Point-Source Catalogs

We present catalogs for the ~2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North, currently the deepest X-ray observation of the Universe in the 0.5-8.0 keV band. Five hundred and three (503) X-ray sources are detected over an ~448 sq.arcmin area in up to seven bands; 20 of these X-ray sources lie in the Hubble Deep Field-North. Source positions are determined using matched-filter and centroiding techniques; the median positional uncertainty is ~0.3 arcsecs. The X-ray colors of the detected sources indicate a broad variety of source types, although absorbed AGNs (including some possible Compton-thick sources) are clearly the dominant type. We also match lower significance X-ray sources to optical counterparts and provide a list of 79 optically bright R<~23) lower significance Chandra sources. The majority of these sources appear to be starburst and normal galaxies. We investigate the source-free background, determine the maximum photon-limited exposures, and investigate source confusion. These analyses directly show that Chandra can achieve significantly higher sensitivities in an efficient nearly photon-limited manner and be largely free of source confusion. To allow consistent comparisons, we have also produced point-source catalogs for the ~1 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South (CDF-S). Three hundred and twenty-six (326) X-ray sources are included in the main Chandra catalog, and an additional 42 optically bright X-ray sources are included in a lower significance Chandra catalog. We find good agreement with the photometry of the previously published CDF-S catalogs; however, we provide significantly improved positional accuracy (ABRIDGED).

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arXiv2003

X-rays from the First Massive Black Holes

X-ray studies of high-redshift (z > 4) active galaxies have advanced substantially over the past few years, largely due to results from the new generation of X-ray observatories. As of this writing X-ray emission has been detected from nearly 60 high-redshift active galaxies. This paper reviews the observational results and their implications for models of the first massive black holes, and it discusses future prospects for the field.

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arXiv2003

Chandra Observations of QSO 2237+0305

We present the observations of the gravitationally lensed system QSO 2237+0305 performed with the Chandra X-ray Observatory on 2000 Sept. 6, and on 2001 Dec. 8 for 30.3 ks and 9.5 ks, respectively. Imaging analysis resolves the four X-ray images of the Einstein Cross. A possible fifth image is detected; however, this detection less certain. Fits to the combined spectrum of all images of the Einstein Cross assuming a simple power law with Galactic and intervening absorption at the lensing galaxy yield a photon index of 1.90(+0.05,-0.05). For the first observation, this spectral model yields a 0.4-8.0 keV X-ray flux of 4.6e-13 erg cm-2 s-1 and a 0.4-8.0 keV lensed luminosity of 1.0e46 erg s-1. The source exhibits variability both over long and short time scales. The X-ray flux has dropped by 20% between the two observations, and the K-S test showed that image A is variable at the 97% confidence level within the first observation. Furthermore, a possible time-delay of 2.7(+0.5,-0.9) hours between images A and B with image A leading is detected in the first observation. The X-ray flux ratios of the images are consistent with the optical flux ratios which are affected by microlensing suggesting that the X-ray emission is also microlensed. A comparison between our measured column densities and those inferred from extinction measurements suggests a higher dust-to-gas ratio in the lensing galaxy than the average value of our Galaxy. Finally, we report the detection at the 99.99% confidence level of a broad emission feature near the redshifted energy of the Fe Kαline in only the spectrum of image A. The rest frame energy, width, and equivalent width of this feature are E = 5.7(+0.2,-0.3) keV, sigma = 0.87(+0.30,-0.15) keV, and EW = 1200(+300,-200) eV, respectively.

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arXiv2003

The Redshift Evolution of the 2-8 keV X-ray Luminosity Function

The high angular resolution and sensitivity of the Chandra X-ray Observatory has yielded large numbers of faint X-ray sources with measured redshifts in the soft (0.5-2 keV) and hard (2-8 keV) energy bands. Many of these sources show few obvious optical signatures of active galactic nuclei (AGN). We use Chandra observations of the Hubble Deep Field North region, A370, and the Hawaii Survey Fields SSA13 and SSA22, together with the ROSAT Ultra Deep Survey soft sample and the ASCA Large Sky Survey hard sample, to construct rest-frame 2-8 keV luminosity functions versus redshift for all the X-ray sources, regardless of their optical AGN characteristics. At z=0.1-1 most of the 2-8 keV light density arises in sources with luminosities in the 10^42 erg/s to 10^44 erg/s range. We show that the number density of sources in this luminosity range is rising, or is at least constant, with decreasing redshift. Broad-line AGN are the dominant population at higher luminosities, and these sources show the well-known rapid positive evolution with increasing redshift to z~3. We argue that the dominant supermassive black hole formation has occurred at recent times in objects with low accretion mass flow rates rather than at earlier times in more X-ray luminous objects with high accretion mass flow rates.

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arXiv2003

Very High Redshift X-ray Selected AGN in the Chandra Deep Field-North

Deep Chandra X-ray exposures provide an efficient route for locating optically faint active galactic nuclei (AGN) at high redshifts. We use deep multicolor optical data to search for z>5 AGN in the 2 Ms X-ray exposure of the Chandra Deep Field-North. Of the 423 X-ray sources bright enough (z'<25.2) for a color-color analysis, at most one lies at z=5-6 and none at z>6. The z>5 object is spectroscopically confirmed at z=5.19. Only 31 of the 77 sources with z'>25.2 are undetected in the B or V bands at the 2-sigma level and could lie at z>5. There are too few moderate luminosity AGN at z=5-6.5 to ionize the intergalactic medium.

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arXiv2002

X-ray Spectroscopy and Variability of AGN Detected in the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North Survey

We investigate the nature of the faint X-ray source population through X-ray spectroscopy and variability analyses of 136 AGN detected in the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North survey with > 200 background-subtracted 0.5-8.0 keV counts [F(0.5-8.0 keV)=(1.4-200)e-15 erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}]. Our preliminary spectral analyses yield median spectral parameters of Gamma=1.61 and intrinsic N_H=6.2e21 cm^{-2} (z=1 assumed when no redshift available) when the AGN spectra are fitted with a simple absorbed power-law model. However, considerable spectral complexity is apparent (e.g., reflection, partial covering) and must be taken into account to model the data accurately. Moreover, the choice of spectral model (i.e., free vs. fixed photon index) has a pronounced effect on the derived N_H distribution and, to a lesser extent, the X-ray luminosity distribution. Ten of the 136 AGN (~7%) show significant Fe Kalpha emission-line features with equivalent widths in the range 0.1-1.3 keV. Two of these emission-line AGN could potentially be Compton thick (i.e., Gamma < 1.0 and large Fe Kalpha equivalent width). Finally, we find that 81 (~60%) of the 136 AGN show signs of variability, and that this fraction increases significantly (~80-90%) when better photon statistics are available.

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arXiv2002

Probing Broad Absorption Line Quasar Outflows: X-ray Insights

Energetic outflows appear to occur in conjunction with active mass accretion onto supermassive black holes. These outflows are most readily observed in the approximately 10% of quasars with broad absorption lines, where the observer's line of sight passes through the wind. Until fairly recently, the paucity of X-ray data from these objects was notable, but now sensitive hard-band missions such as Chandra and XMM-Newton are routinely detecting broad absorption line quasars. The X-ray regime offers qualitatively new information for the understanding of these objects, and these new results must be taken into account in theoretical modeling of quasar winds.

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arXiv2002

The Weak Outnumbering the Mighty: Normal Galaxies in Deep Chandra Surveys

Chandra is detecting a significant population of normal and starburst galaxies in extremely deep X-ray exposures. For example, approximately 15% of the sources arising in the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North survey are fairly normal galaxies, where "normal" means "Milky Way-type" X-ray emission rather than simply exhibiting an "optically normal" spectrum. Many of these galaxies are being detected at large look-back times z=0.1-0.5, allowing the study of the evolution of X-ray binary populations over significant cosmological timescales. We are also detecting individual off-nuclear ultraluminous X-ray sources (e.g., X-ray binaries), providing the first direct constraints on the prevalence of lower-mass black holes at significantly earlier times. The X-ray emission from such "normal" galaxies may also be a useful star-formation rate indicator, based on radio/X-ray cross-identifications. We describe the contribution of normal galaxies to the populations which make up the X-ray background and present their directly measured X-ray number counts. We find that normal and starburst galaxies should dominate the 0.5--2 keV number counts at X-ray fluxes fainter than 7e-18 erg cm^{-2} s^{-1} (thus they will outnumber the "mighty" AGN). Finally, we look to the future, suggesting that it is important that the population of X-ray faint normal and starburst galaxies be well constrained in order to design the next generation of X-ray observatories.

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arXiv2002

Resolving the Source Populations that Contribute to the X-ray Background: The 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North Survey

With ~2 Ms of Chandra exposure, the Chandra Deep Field-North (CDF-N) survey provides the deepest view of the Universe in the 0.5-8.0 keV band. Five hundred and three (503) X-ray sources are detected down to on-axis 0.5-2.0 keV and 2-8 keV flux limits of ~1.5x10^{-17} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1} and ~1.0x10^{-16} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}, respectively. These flux limits correspond to L_{0.5-8.0 keV}~3x10^{41} erg s^{-1} at z=1 and L_{0.5-8.0 keV}~2x10^{43} erg s^{-1} at z=6; thus this survey is sensitive enough to detect starburst galaxies out to moderate redshift and Seyfert galaxies out to high redshift. We present the X-ray observations, describe the broad diversity of X-ray selected sources, and review the prospects for deeper Chandra exposures.

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arXiv2002

The Chandra Deep Field-North Survey. XIV. X-ray detected Obscured AGNs and Starburst Galaxies in the Bright Submm Source Population

We provide X-ray constraints and perform the first X-ray spectral analyses for bright (f_850>=5mJy; S/N>=4) SCUBA sources in an 8.4'x8.4' area of the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North survey containing the Hubble Deep Field-North. X-ray emission is detected from 7 of the 10 bright submm sources in this region, corresponding to an X-ray detected submm source density of ~360 deg^-2 (>~36% of the bright submm source population). Two of the X-ray detected sources have nearby (within 3") X-ray companions, suggesting merging/interacting sources or gravitational lensing effects, and 3 lie within the approximate extent of a proto-cluster candidate. Five of the X-ray detected sources have flat X-ray spectral slopes, suggesting obscured AGN activity. X-ray spectral analyses suggest that one of these AGNs may be a Compton-thick source; of the other 4 AGNs, 3 appear to be Compton-thin sources and one has poor constraints. The rest-frame unabsorbed X-ray luminosities of these AGNs are more consistent with those of Seyfert galaxies than QSOs. Thus, the low X-ray detection rate of bright submm sources by moderately deep X-ray surveys appears to be due to the relatively low luminosities of the AGNs rather than Compton-thick absorption. A comparison of these sources to the well-studied heavily obscured AGN NGC6240 shows that the average AGN contribution is negligible at submm wavelengths. The X-ray properties of the other 2 X-ray detected sources are consistent with those expected from luminous star formation; however, we cannot rule out the possibility that low-luminosity AGNs are present. The 3 X-ray undetected sources appear to lie at high redshift (z>4) and could be either AGNs or starbust galaxies.

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