arXiv subjects

G. Pooley

Publications and source records attributed to G. Pooley.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

An integral monitoring of GRS1915+105: simultaneous observations with INTEGRAL, RXTE, the Ryle and Nancay radio telescopes

Since the launch of INTEGRAL in late 2002 we have monitored the Galactic microquasar GRS 1915+105 with long exposures (~100 ks) pointings. All the observations have been conducted simultaneously with other instruments, in particular RXTE and the Ryle Telescope, and in some cases with others (Spitzer, Nancay, GMRT, Suzaku,...). We report here the results of 3 observations performed simultaneously with INTEGRAL, RXTE, the Ryle and Nancay radio telescopes. These observations show the so-called $ν$ and $λ$ classes of variability during which a high level of correlated X-ray and radio variability is observed. We study the connection between the accretion processes seen in the X-ray behaviour, and the ejections seen in radio. By observing ejection during class $λ$, we generalise the fact that the discrete ejections in GRS 1915+105 occur after sequences of X-ray hard dips/soft spikes, and identify the most likely trigger of the ejection through a spectral approach to our INTEGRAL data. We show that each ejection is very probably the result of the ejection of a Comptonising medium responsible for the hard X-ray emission seen above 15 keV with INTEGRAL. We study the rapid variability of the source, an find that the Low Frequency Quasi-Periodic Oscillations are present during the X-ray dips and show variable frequency. The ubiquity of this behaviour, and the following ejection may suggest a link between the QPO and the mechanism responsible for the ejection

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arXiv2006

Integrally monitoring GRS 1915+105 with simultaneous INTEGRAL, RXTE, Ryle and Nancay observations

We report here the results of 2 observations performed simultaneously with INTEGRAL, RXTE, the Ryle and Nancay radio telescopes. These observations belong to the so-called $ν$ and $λ$ classes of variability during which a high level of correlated X-ray and radio variability is observed. We study the connection between the accretion processes seen in the X-rays, and the ejections seen in radio. By observing an ejection during class $λ$, we generalise the fact that the discrete ejections in GRS 1915+105 occur after sequences of soft X-ray dips/spikes. We then identify the most likely trigger of the ejection through a spectral approach to our INTEGRAL data. We show that each ejection is very probably the result of the ejection of a Comptonising medium responsible for the hard X-ray emission seen above 15 keV.

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arXiv2006

Relativistic ejecta from XRF 060218 and the rate of cosmic explosions

Over the last decade, long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) including the subclass of X-ray flashes (XRFs) have been revealed to be a rare variety of Type Ibc supernova (SN). While all these events result from the death of massive stars, the electromagnetic luminosities of GRBs and XRFs exceed those of ordinary Type Ibc SNe by many orders of magnitude. The essential physical process that causes a dying star to produce a GRB or XRF, and not just an SN, remains the crucial open question. Here we present radio and X-ray observations of XRF 060218 (associated with SN 2006aj), the second nearest GRB identified to-date, which allow us to measure its total energy and place it in the larger context of cosmic explosions. We show that this event is 100 times less energetic but ten times more common than cosmological GRBs. Moreover, it is distinguished from ordinary Type Ibc SNe by the presence of 10^48 erg coupled to mildly-relativistic ejecta, along with a central engine (an accretion-fed, rapidly rotating compact source) which produces X-rays for weeks after the explosion. This suggests that the production of relativistic ejecta is the key physical distinction between GRBs/XRFs and ordinary SNe, while the nature of the central engine (black hole or magnetar) may distinguish typical bursts from low-luminosity, spherical events like XRF 060218.

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arXiv2006

Deep spectroscopy of 9C J1503+4528: a very young CSS radio source at z=0.521

9C J1503+4528 is a very young CSS radio galaxy, with an age of order 10^4 years. This source is therefore an ideal laboratory for the study ofthe intrinsic host galaxy/IGM properties, interactions between the radio source and surrounding ISM, links between star formation and AGN activity and the radio source triggering mechanism. Here we present the results of a spectroscopic analysis of this source, considering each of these aspects of radio source physics. We find that shock ionization by the young radio source is important in the central regions of the galaxy on scales similar to that of the radio source itself, whilst evidence for an AGN ionization cone is observed at greater distances. Line and continuum features require the presence of a young stellar population, the best-fit model for which implies an age of 5x10^6 years, significantly older than the radio source. Most interestingly, the relative sizes of radio source and extended emission line region suggest that both AGN and radio source are triggered at approximately the same time. If both the triggering of the radio source activity and the formation of the young stellar population had the same underlying cause, this source provides a sequence for the events surrounding the triggering process. We propose that the AGN activity in 9C J1503+4528 was causedby a relatively minor interaction, and that a super-massive black hole powering the radio jets must have been in place before the AGN was triggered.

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arXiv2005

Bimodal spectral variability of Cygnus X-1 in an intermediate state

We report the results of an observation of Cygnus X-1 with INTEGRAL, that we combine with simultaneous radio observations with the Ryle telescope. Both spectral and variability properties of the source indicate that Cygnus X-1 was in an Intermediate State. The INTEGRAL spectrum shows a high-energy cut-off or break around 100 keV. The shape of this cut-off differs from pure thermal Comptonisation, suggesting the presence of a non-thermal component at higher energies.The average broad band spectrum is well represented by hybrid thermal/non-thermal Comptonisation models. During the 4 day long observation the source showed an important spectral and flux variability. A principal component analysis demonstrates that most of this variability occurs through 2 independent modes. The first mode consists in changes in the overall luminosity on time scale of hours with almost constant spectra that are strikingly uncorrelated with the variable radio flux. We interpret this variability mode as variations of the dissipation rate in the corona. The second variability mode consists in a pivoting of the spectrum around 10 keV. It acts on a longer time-scale: initially soft, the spectrum hardens in the first part of the observation and then softens again. This pivoting pattern is strongly correlated with the radio (15 GHz) emission: radio fluxes are stronger when the INTEGRAL spectrum is harder. We propose that the pivoting mode represents a 'mini' state transition from a nearly High Soft State to a nearly Low Hard State, and back. This mini-transition would be caused by changes in the soft cooling photons flux in the hot Comptonising plasma associated with an increase of the temperature of the accretion disc. The jet power then appears to be anti-correlated with the disc luminosity and unrelated to the coronal power.

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arXiv2005

High-significance Sunyaev-Zel'dovich measurement: Abell 1914 seen with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager

We report the first detection of a Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (S-Z) decrement with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI). We have made commissioning observations towards the cluster A1914 and have measured an integrated flux density of -8.61 mJy in a uv-tapered map with noise level 0.19 mJy/beam. We find that the spectrum of the decrement, measured in the six channels between 13.5-18GHz, is consistent with that expected for a S-Z effect. The sensitivity of the telescope is consistent with the figures used in our simulations of cluster surveys with AMI.

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arXiv2004

Integral observation of Cyg X-1 in an intermediate state

We present preliminary results of an observation of Cygnus X-1 with INTEGRAL performed on June 7-11 2003. Both spectral and variability properties of the source indicate that Cygnus X-1 was in an intermediate state. As expected during state transitions, we find an anticorrelation between the 3-10 keV and the 15 GHz radio fluxes and a strong correlation between the 3-200 keV hardness and radio flux.

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arXiv2003

A Common Origin for Cosmic Explosions Inferred from Fireball Calorimetry

Past studies suggest that long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have a standard energy of E_gamma ~ 10^51 erg in ultra-relativistic ejecta when corrected for asymmetry ("jets"). However, recently a group of sub-energetic bursts, including the peculiar GRB 980425 associated with SN 1998bw (E_gamma ~ 10^48 erg), has been identified. Here we report radio observations of GRB 030329, the nearest burst to date, which allow us to undertake calorimetry of the explosion. Our observations require a two-component explosion: a narrow (5 degrees) ultra-relativistic component responsible for the gamma-rays and early afterglow, and a wide, mildly relativistic component responsible for the radio and optical afterglow beyond 1.5 days. While the gamma-rays are energetically minor, the total energy release, dominated by the wide component, is similar to that of other GRBs. Given the firm link of GRB 030329 with SN 2003dh our result suggests a common origin for cosmic explosions in which, for reasons not understood, the energy in the highest velocity ejecta is highly variable

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arXiv2002

On the correlation between radio and X-ray flux in Low/Hard state Black Holes

Radio emission from X-ray binary systems (XRBs) has developed in recent years from being peculiar phenomenon to being recognised as an ubiquitous property of several classes of XRBs. In this scenario the synchrotron emission is interpreted as the radiative signature of jet-like outflows, some or all of which may possess relativistic bulk motion. We have analysed a collection of quasi-simultaneous radio/X-ray observations of Black Holes in the Low/Hard X-ray state, finding evidence of a clear correlation between their fluxes over many orders of magnitude in luminosity. Given that the correlation extends down to GX 339-4 and V404 Cyg in quiescence, we can confidently assert that even at accretion rates as low as ~ 10^{-5} dot{m}_{Edd} a powerful jet is being formed. The normalisation of the correlation is very similar across a sample of nine sources, implying that it is nearly independent of jet inclination angle. Remarkably, V 404 Cyg is the second source (after GX 339-4) to show the correlation S_{radio} proportional to S_{X}^{+0.7} from quiescent level up to close to the High/Soft state transition. Moreover, assuming the same physics and accretion:outflow coupling for all of these systems, the simplest interpretation for the observed scenario is that outflows in Low/Hard state do not have large bulk Lorentz factors.

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arXiv2001

Wide-band X-ray variability of GRS 1915+105 observed with BeppoSAX

The Galactic Microquasar GRS 1915+105 was observed by the Narrow Field Instruments onboard BeppoSAX in two pointings during year 2000. We present the preliminary results of wide-band study of the observed variability, carried out also with the wavelet analysis.

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arXiv2001

Radio Emission and the Timing Properties of the Hard X-ray State of GRS 1915+105

We combine a complete sample of 113 pointed observations taken with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer between 1996-1999, monitoring observations taken with the Ryle telescope and the Green Bank Interferometer, and selected observations with the Very Large Array to study the radio and X-ray properties of GRS 1915+105 when its X-ray emission is hard and steady. We establish that radio emission always accompanies the hard-steady state of GRS 1915+105, but that the radio flux density at 15.2 GHz and the X-ray flux between 2-200 keV are not correlated. Therefore we study the X-ray spectral and timing properties of GRS 1915+105 using three approaches: first, by describing in detail the properties of three characteristic observations, then by displaying the time evolution of the timing properties during periods of both faint and bright radio emission, and lastly by plotting the timing properties as a function of the the radio flux density. We find that as the radio emission becomes brighter and more optically thick, 1) the frequency of a ubiquitous 0.5-10 Hz QPO decreases, 2) the Fourier phase lags between hard (11.5-60 keV) and soft (2-4.3 keV) in the frequency range of 0.01-10 Hz change sign from negative to positive, 3) the coherence between hard and soft photons at low frequencies decreases, and 4) the relative amount of low frequency power in hard photons compared to soft photons decreases. We discuss how these results reflect upon basic models from the literature describing the accretion flow around black holes and the possible connection between Comptonizing electrons and compact radio jets.

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arXiv2001

GRB 000418: A Hidden Jet Revealed?

We report on optical, near-infrared and centimeter radio observations of GRB000418 which allow us to follow the evolution of the afterglow from 2 to 200 days after the gamma-ray burst. In modeling these broad-band data, we find that an isotropic explosion in a constant density medium is unable to simultaneously fit both the radio and optical data. However, a jet-like outflow with an opening angle of 10-20 degress provides a good description of the data. The evidence in favor of a jet interpretation is based on the behavior of the radio light curves, since the expected jet break is masked at optical wavelengths by the light of the host galaxy. We also find evidence for extinction, presumably arising from within the host galaxy, with A(V)=0.4 mag, and host flux densities of F_R=1.1 uJy and F_K=1.7 uJy. These values supercede previous work on this burst due to the availability of a broad-band data set allowing a global fitting approach. A model in which the GRB explodes into a wind-stratified circumburst medium cannot be ruled out by these data. However, in examining a sample of other bursts (e.g. GRB990510, GRB000301C) we favor the jet interpretation for GRB000418.

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arXiv2000

Exploring the high frequency emission of radio loud X-ray binaries

We report millimetre-wave continuum observations of the X-ray binaries Cygnus X-3, SS 433, LSI+61 303, Cygnus X-1 and GRS 1915+105. The observations were carried out with the IRAM 30 m-antenna at 250 GHz (1.25 mm) from 1998 March 14 to March 20. These millimetre measurements are complemented with centimetre observations from the Ryle Telescope, at 15 GHz (2.0 cm) and from the Green Bank Interferometer at 2.25 and 8.3 GHz (13 and 3.6 cm). Both Cygnus X-3 and SS 433 underwent moderate flaring events during our observations, whose main spectral evolution properties are described and interpreted. A significant spectral steepening was observed in both sources during the flare decay, that is likely to be caused by adiabatic expansion, inverse Compton and synchrotron losses. Finally, we also report 250 GHz upper limits for three additional undetected X-ray binary stars: LSI+65 010, LSI+61 235 and X Per.

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arXiv2000

A Jet Model for the Afterglow Emission from GRB000301C

We present broad-band radio observations of the afterglow of GRB000301C, spanning from 1.4 to 350 GHz for the period of 3 to 83 days after the burst. This radio data, in addition to measurements at the optical bands, suggest that the afterglow arises from a collimated outflow, i.e. a jet. To test this hypothesis in a self-consistent manner, we employ a global fit and find that a model of a jet, expanding into a constant density medium (ISM+jet), provides the best fit to the data. A model of the burst occurring in a wind-shaped circumburst medium (wind-only model) can be ruled out, and a wind+jet model provides a much poorer fit of the optical/IR data than the ISM+jet model. In addition, we present the first clear indication that the reported fluctuations in the optical/IR are achromatic with similar amplitudes in all bands, and possibly extend into the radio regime. Using the parameters derived from the global fit, in particular a jet break time, t_{jet}=7.5 days, we infer a jet opening angle of θ=0.2, and consequently the estimate of the emitted energy in the GRB itself is reduced by a factor of 50 relative to the isotropic value, giving E=1.1 \times 10^{51} ergs.

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arXiv1999

Inner accretion disk disappearance during a radio flare in GRS 1915+105

Simultaneous X-ray (BeppoSAX, 0.1-300 keV) and radio (Ryle Telescope, 15 GHz) observations of the superluminal galactic source GRS 1915+105 in high flux state were carried out starting October 1996. Here we present the simultaneous radio/X-ray light curves of the flare event and the spectral and timing analysis of the relevant BeppoSAX data. We obtain evidence for a temporary disappearance and subsequent restoring of the inner portion of the accretion disk during the flare from the spectral analysis of the X-ray data. We find a variable power law photon index positively correlated to the variability of the exponential cut-off energy. In addition, frequency and intensity variations of a $\sim$4-5~Hz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) are detected during the same time interval. The centroid frequency of the QPO is found to be correlated to the spectral power law photon index, and to the X-ray flux from the disk and the high energy flux from the power law. These observational results are discussed in the framework of the disk-instability model proposed for this source.

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arXiv1999

Variability of the extreme z=4.72 blazar, GB 1428+4217

We report X-ray and radio variability of GB 1428+4217 which confirm its blazar nature. IR observations reveal a powerful optical-UV component, not obscured by dust, which is suggestive of the presence of a billion solar mass black hole, already formed by z ~ 5. A detailed comparison of the broad band spectral properties of GB 1428+4217 with those of nearby blazars shows it to be extreme, but nevertheless consistent with the trend found for nearby sources.

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arXiv1999

Spectral Energy Distributions and Light Curves of GRB 990123 and its Afterglow

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are thought to result from the interaction of an extremely relativistic outflow interacting with a small amount of material surrounding the site of the explosion. Multi-wavelength observations covering the gamma-ray to radio wavebands allow investigations of this `fireball' model. On 23 January 1999 optical emission was detected while the gamma-ray burst was still underway. Here we report the results of gamma-ray, optical/infra-red, sub-mm, mm and radio observations of this burst and its afterglow, which indicate that the prompt and afterglow emissions from GRB 990123 are associated with three distinct regions in the fireball. The afterglow one day after the burst has a much lower peak frequency than those of previous bursts; this explains the short-lived nature of the radio emission, which is not expected to reappear. We suggest that such differences reflect variations in the magnetic-field strengths in the afterglow emitting regions.

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