arXiv subjects

Heino Falcke

Publications and source records attributed to Heino Falcke.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

arXiv1997

Sgr A* and Company - Multiwavelength observations of Sgr A* and VLA search of ``Sgr A*'s'' in LINERs

We report first results from a multiwavelength campaign to measure the simultaneous spectrum of Sgr A* from cm to mm wavelengths. The observations confirm that the previously detected submm-excess is not due to variability; the presence of an ultracompact component with a size of a few Schwarzschild radii is inferred. In a VLA survey of LINER galaxies, we found Sgr A*-like nuclei in one quarter of the galaxies searched, suggesting a link between those low-power AGN and the Galactic Center.

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arXiv1996

Accretion Disk Evolution With Wind Infall I. General Solution and Application to Sgr A*

The evolution of an accretion disk can be influenced significantly by the deposition of mass and angular momentum by an infalling Bondi-Hoyle wind. Such a mass influx impacts the long-term behavior of the disk by providing additional sources of viscosity and heating. In this paper, we derive and solve the disk equations when these effects are taken into account. We present a survey of models with various wind configurations and demonstrate that the disk spectrum may then differ substantially from that of a standard alpha-disk. In particular, it is likely that a wind-fed disk has a significant infrared bump due to the deposition of energy in its outer region. We apply some of the results of our calculations to the Galactic Center black hole candidate Sgr A* and show that if a fossil disk is present in this source, it must have a very low viscosity parameter (alpha<10^-4) and the Bondi-Hoyle wind must be accreting with a very high specific angular momentum to prevent it from circularizing in the inner disk region where its impact would be most noticeable.

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arXiv1996

Compact Radio Cores in the Galactic Center and Elsewhere

Compact radio cores are not only common in radio galaxies and quasars but also in many nearby galaxies with low-active, supermassive black holes. One famous example is the Galactic Center source Sgr A*. Recent studies of proper motions and radial velocities of stars in the inner parsec of the Galaxy convincingly demonstrate the presence of a compact dark mass of 2.5 10^6 Mo in the nucleus of the Milky Way. Millimeter VLBI and submm observations of Sgr A* thus probe a region of only a few Schwarzschild radii in diameter. In this paper I will review our current theoretical and observational knowledge of this source and compare it to some famous LINER galaxies like NGC 4258, NGC 3079, and NGC 6500. In all cases these radio cores can be well explained by a standard AGN jet model, and, with the exception of Sgr A*, large scale outflows are observed that have powers comparable to those inferred from the radio cores. Recent VLBI observations of radio-weak quasars and HST observations of Seyfert galaxies indicate that these AGN also produce powerful jets which, however, have relatively less luminous radio cores than radio-loud quasars and the LINERs discussed here. Therefore, jets and compact radio cores appear to be natural constituents of an AGN, but the reason why apparently some jets are radio-loud and others not remains a mystery.

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arXiv1996

EVN+MERLIN Observations of Radio-Intermediate Quasars: Evidence for Boosted Radio-Weak Quasars

We present VLBI (EVN+MERLIN) observations of a sample of three low-redshift radio-intermediate PG quasars (RIQ) with flat and variable radio spectrum (III Zw 2, PG 1309+355, PG 2209+184). Their radio-to-optical flux ratio (R) is slightly lower than the average R for steep-spectrum quasars, but their radio spectral properties are those of core-dominated quasars. It was proposed previously that these sources might be relativistically boosted jets in radio-weak quasars. Our VLBI observations now indeed confirm the presence of a high brightness temperature core in all three of these objects --- two of them have lower limits on T_B well in excess of 10^10 Kelvin. Moreover, we find no ``missing-flux'' which means that basically all the flux of these quasars is concentrated in the compact radio core. As the total radio flux is already at the low end for radio-loud quasars, we can place a strong limit on the presence of any extended emission. This limit is consistent with the extended emission in radio-weak quasars, but excludes that the flat-spectrum RIQ reside in typical radio-loud quasars. The observations therefore strongly support the idea that relativistic jets are present in radio-weak quasars and hence that radio-loud and radio-weak quasars have very similar central engines.

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arXiv1996

Helical Strands in the Jet-like Narrow Line Region of ESO 428-G14

We present HST/WFPC2 images of the narrow line region (NLR) of the Seyfert 2 galaxy ESO 428-G14 (0714-2914, M4-1). The NLR consists of many individual, thin strands, which are very closely related to the radio jet and produce a highly complex yet ordered structure. We find that the jet is two-sided with a double-helix of emission-line gas apparently wrapped around the NW side. To the SE, the jet seems to be deflected at a ridge of highly excited gas. The strands to the SE may also wrap around the radio jet, but here complete helices are not seen. The overall structure is reminiscent of the jet seen in NGC 4258. Faint symmetric features aligned with the nucleus could indicate the presence of a highly collimated beam of photons or plasma from the center.

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arXiv1996

The Nature of Radio-Intermediate Quasars: What is Radio-Loud and what is Radio-Quiet?

We have performed quasi-simultaneous radio flux density measurements at 2.7 and 10 GHz for all PG quasars with radio flux densities between 4-200 mJy. We find that a large fraction of these sources are variable, flat-spectrum quasars. This brings the total fraction of flat-spectrum quasars with a ratio between radio and optical flux of R>10 - a value previously used to define a radio-loud quasar - to 40% in the PG quasar sample. We also find that the median R-parameter of these flat-spectrum quasars is lower than those of steep-spectrum radio-loud quasars. This contradicts the predictions of the unified scheme and the idea that all flat-spectrum, core-dominated quasars are relativistically boosted lobe-dominated quasars. We show that this discrepancy is due to a population of flat-spectrum radio-intermediate quasars with 25<R<250 which can neither be explained as relativistically boosted radio-loud quasars nor as normal radio-weak quasars. We point out that a natural explanation for the flat-spectrum radio-intermediate quasars is relativistic boosting in radio-weak quasars. If the flat-spectrum radio-intermediate quasars are considered the boosted counterparts to usual radio-weak quasars, their fraction among radio-weak quasars is roughly 10%, similar to the fraction of boosted radio-loud quasars. This would point towards average Lorentz factors of gamma_jet=2-4 for radio-loud and radio-weak quasars. The presence of the flat-spectrum radio-intermediate quasars changes the definition of 'radio-loud' and can bias some conclusions drawn from optically selected quasar samples, where R ~ 1-10 is used as the dividing line for both, flat- and steep-spectrum quasars. Instead one should use separate R-parameters for the dividing line in steep- (R~25) and flat-spectrum (R~250) quasars.

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arXiv1996

Sgr A* and its siblings in nearby galaxies

We have proposed previously that Sgr A* is simply a scaled down AGN with a black hole, an accretion disk and a radio jet operating at a very low power. It appears as if M81* - the nuclear source in the nearby galaxy M81 - is an ideal laboratory to study a Sgr A*-like source at a higher power level. The jet/disk model can explain M81* in great detail with no basic changes in the model parameters other than the accretion rate. Radio cores in other LINERs may be explained by the same model and they appear to be low-power counterparts to radio-loud quasar cores. For Sgr A*, models without a supermassive black hole are facing difficulties - some of which are discussed here, but a persistent puzzle in any scenario are the non-detections and low flux limits for Sgr A* from IR to x-rays. Especially the IR limits are a threat to accretion models. I discuss whether a thin molecular disk (as seen in NGC 4258) around Sgr A* could intercept infalling material before it reaches the black hole.

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arXiv1996

The Nuclear Jet in M81

In this paper we apply the jet-disk symbiosis model developed for Sgr A* to M81* -- the nucleus of the nearby galaxy M81. The model accurately predicts radio flux and size of M81* for the observed bolometric luminosity of the nuclear source with no major free parameter except for the inclination angle. We point out that the usually applied free, conical jet emission model implies a longitudinal pressure gradient that must lead to a moderate acceleration of the jet along its flow direction. This, usually neglected, gradual acceleration naturally accounts for the inverted spectrum and the size/frequency relation of M81* and may be a general feature of radio cores. M81* is so far the best case for a radio-loud jet nature of the compact radio core in the nucleus of a nearby spiral galaxy. The fact that one can account for Sgr A* and M81* with the same model by simply changing the accretion rate, strongly supports the jet-disk symbiosis model as an explanation for the compact radio cores of galaxies in general.

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arXiv1996

Speckle-masking imaging polarimetry of Eta Carinae: evidence for an equatorial disk

With our new speckle imaging polarimeter we have obtained first polarimetric images with sub-arcsecond resolution of the Luminous Blue Variable eta Carinae in the Halpha line. The polarization patterns at the 3'' scale match well earlier conventional imaging photometry and can be interpreted as Mie scattering. In centered long-exposure images we detected in polarized light a bar in the NE part of the equatorial plane of eta Carinae. High-resolution 0.11'' polarimetric speckle reconstructions reveal a compact structure elongated in the same direction which is consistent, in degree and position angle of the polarisation, with the presence of a circumstellar, equatorial disk. The degree of polarization of the previously discovered speckle objects and the Halpha arm is relatively low (~10%) and thus may indicate a position within the equatorial plane. We also discovered a highly polarized (20%-40%) bipolar structure along the major axis of the Homunculus nebula which can be traced down to the sub-arcsecond scale. This is probably the inner part of a bipolar outflow into the Homunculus.

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arXiv1995

The missing x-rays in Sgr A*: evidence for - not against - a supermassive black hole

We present a simple argument that the missing x-ray flux from the Galactic Center source Sgr~A* ist not evidence {\it against} -- as claimed by Goldwurm et al. 1994 -- but rather indirect evidence {\it for} the presence of a supermassive black hole. The radio spectrum provides a strict {\it lower} limit for the size of Sgr~A* ($R>3\cdot 10^{11}$cm). A more compact source would be completely synchrotron self-absorbed. This size is $10^6$ times larger than a stellar-mass black hole, yet the bolometric radio luminosity is comparable to or even larger than the x-ray luminosity where matter accreting onto a {\it stellar-mass} black hole would inevitably radiate the {\it bulk} of its luminosity. Hence, either the bulk of the accretion power is radiated in the UV (where the limits are higher), or the accretion has to stop at the radio-scale to avoid producing x-rays brighter than the radio emission. Both would be a natural consequence of a supermasive black hole with $\sim10^6M_{\sun}$.

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arXiv1995

Black Hole, Jet, and Disk: The Universal Engine

In this paper I review the results of our ongoing project to investigate the coupling between accretion disk and radio jet in galactic nuclei and stellar mass black holes. We find a good correlation between the UV bump luminosity and the radio luminosities of AGN, which improves upon the usual [OIII]/radio correlations. Taking mass and energy conservation in the jet/disk system into account we can successfully model the correlation for radio-loud and radio-weak quasars. We find that jets are comparable in power to the accretion disk luminosity, and the difference between radio-loud and radio-weak may correspond to two natural stages of the relativistic electron distribution -- assuming that radio weak quasars have jets as well. The distribution of flat- and steep-spectrum sources is explained by bulk Lorentz factors gamma_j ~ 5-10. The absence of radio-loud quasars below a critical optical luminosity coincides with the FR I/FR II break and could be explained by a powerdependent, ``closing'' torus. This points towards a different type of obscuring torus in radio-loud host galaxies which might be a consequence of past mergers (e.g. by the temporary formation of a binary black-hole). Interaction of the jet with the closing torus might in principle also help to make a jet radio-loud. Turning to stellar-mass black holes we find that galactic jet sources can be described with the same coupled jet/disk model as AGN which is suggestive of some kind of universal coupling between jet and accretion disk around compact objects.

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arXiv1995

Cosmic rays V. The nonthermal radio emission of the old nova GK Per - a signature of hadronic interactions?

Using the model of particle acceleration in shocks in stellar winds developed by Biermann (1993) and Biermann and Cassinelli (1993) we demonstrate that the nonthermal radio emission spectrum from the cataclysmic variable binary star GK Per can be interpreted consistently. We propose that the radio spectrum results from hadronic secondary electrons/positrons, which, in the optically thin case, give a characteristic radio spectrum with a spectral index of +1/3 below a maximum and, for a strong shock in a wind slow compared to the shock speed, of -0.7 above the maximum. We test the proposed concept for consistency with the radio data for OB and Wolf Rayet stars as well as radiosupernovae. There is some evidence that this process is important for the radio emission from active galactic nuclei, both in compact and extended emission. We argue that such a radio spectrum is a unique characteristic for hadronic interactions.

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arXiv1995

Galactic jet sources and the AGN connection

In order to further test our hypothesis that jets and disk around compact accreting objects are symbiotic features we investigate the newly discovered superluminal galactic radio jets GRS 1915+105 and GRO J1655-40 and the two famous galactic radio jets 1E1740-2942 and SS 433 within the framework of our couple jet/disk model developed initially for active galactic nuclei (AGN) and the galactic center source Sgr A*. By comparing the ``disk'' and radio core luminosity of those galactic jet sources with our model prediction we can show that they can easily be understood as AGN-like jets where the accretion power onto a central compact object is scaled down by several orders of magnitude. The total power of the jets must be comparable to the disk luminosity - at least for the superluminal sources. To broaden our view we also shortly discuss the situation in other galactic flat spectrum radio source associated with compact objects -- the X-ray binaries Cyg X-1, Cyg X-2, Cyg X-3 and Sco X-1 -- where a jet origin has been proposed earlier on theoretical grounds. In an disk/radio luminosity their radio cores also fall within our model prediction for scaled down radio loud and radio weak AGN-jets. Taking all sources together and comparing their L_disk/radio ratio we find an indication for a similar radio loud/radio weak dichotomy as found earlier for quasar radio cores, however, a larger number of galactic jet sources is needed to confirm this trend.

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arXiv1994

Unified schemes for active galaxies: a clue from the missing Fanaroff-Riley type I quasar population

We link the lack of FR I type structure among quasars to the void of radio loud quasars below a critical disk luminosity of ~10^46 erg/sec in the PG sample. We argue that the opening angle of the obscuring torus in radio loud quasars depends on the power of the central engine, approaching the jet's beaming angle near the FR I/FR II break. Consequently, low power radio quasars would either be classified as radio galaxies (FR I) or strongly core-boosted (BL Lac) object, depending on the aspect angle, and no conspicuous transitional population would be expected for FR I sources. A closing torus with decreasing power would not only obscure the optical nucleus for most aspect angles but would also enhance the entrainment of the cool torus material into the jet stream, causing obscuration along the jet's periphery, as well as the jet's deceleration to form a FR I source. Above a critical luminosity, the wider torus allows for FR II type jets and visibility of the nuclear optical emission, characteristic of radio loud quasars. Apparently, at the same engine power the torus opening in radio weak quasars and Seyferts is substantially wider than in radio loud quasars, probably because of different dynamics or feeding mechanisms in disk and elliptical galaxies. This provides a clue for the radio-loud/radio-quiet dichotomy of quasars if the the jet/torus interaction leads to injection of relativistic e^+/- pairs via p-p collisions. Strong jet/torus interaction may lead to a substantial injection of secondary pairs and collimation in radio loud quasars, while weak interaction in radio weak quasars leads neither to pair injection nor to good collimation.

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arXiv1994

The jet-disk symbiosis. II. Interpreting the Radio/UV correlations in quasars

We investigate the correlation between the accretion disk (UV) luminosity and the radio core emission of a quasar sample. In a radio/$L_{\rm disk}$ plot we find the quasars to be separated into four classes: core dominated quasars (CDQ), lobe dominated quasars (LDQ), radio-intermediate quasars (RIQ) and radio weak quasars. In general the radio core emission scales with the disk luminosity, especially in the radio weak quasars. This shows that radio and UV emission have a common energy source and that the difference between radio loud and radio weak is established already on the parsec scale. We investigate the possibility that radio jets are responsible for the radio core emission in radio loud and radio weak quasars. Comparing our data with a simple jet emission model that takes the limits imposed by energy and mass conservation in a coupled jet-disk system into account, we find that radio loud jets carry a total power $Q_{\rm jet}$ that is at least 1/3 of the observed disk luminosity $L_{\rm disk}$. For the electron population one is forced to postulate an efficient process producing a large number of pairs and/or injecting electrons with a distribution with low-energy cut-off around 50 MeV -- secondary pair production in hadronic cascades could be such a process. The bulk Lorentz factor of the jet is limited to a narrow region ($3\laγ_{\rm j}\la10$)). The radio emission of radio weak quasars can be explained with exactly the same parameters for a powerful relativistic jet if secondary pair production, as suggested for radio loud jets, is inhibited. There is evidence that RIQ are the relativistically boosted population of radio weak quasar jets. We can estimate the hidden disk luminosity of FR II galaxies and find that this is consistent with FRII being misdirected quasars.

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arXiv1994

The jet-disk symbiosis. I. Radio to X-ray emission models for quasars

Starting from the assumption that radio jets and accretion disks are symbiotic features present in radio loud and radio quiet quasars we scale the bulk power of radio jets with the accretion power by adding mass- and energy conservation of the whole jet-disk system to the standard Blandford \& Königl theory for compact radio cores. The model depends on only few parameters and can be constrained by observations. Thus we are able to show that radio and X-ray fluxes (SSC emission) of cores and lobes and typical dimensions of radio loud quasars are consistent with a jet being produced in the central engine. We present a synthetic broadband spectrum from radio to X-ray for a jet-disk system. The only way to explain the high efficiency of radio loud objects is to postulate that these objects consist of `maximal jets' with `total equipartition' where the magnetic energy flow of the jet is comparable to the kinetic jet power and the total jet power is a large fraction of the disk power. As the number of electrons is limited by the accretion flow, this is only possible when the minimum Lorentz factor of the electron distribution is $γ_{\rm e,min}\ga100$ ($E\ga 50 {\rm MeV}$) or/and a large number of pairs are present. Such an electron/positron population would be a necessary consequence of hadronic interactions and may lead to some interesting effects in the low frequency self-absorbed spectrum. Emission from radio weak quasars can be explained with an initially identical jet. The difference between radio loud and radio weak could be due to a different efficiency in accelerating relativistic electrons on the sub-parsec scale. Finally we demonstrate that in order to appease the ravenous hunger of radio loud jets its production must be somehow linked to the dissipation process in the inner part of the disk.

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arXiv1994

WHAT IS SGR A*? The Starved Black Hole in the Center of the Milky Way

Sgr A* is the unique 1 Jy flat spectrum radio point source located at the dynamical center of the Galaxy and in the very center of the central star cluster. Due to its unusual appearance it has long been speculated that this source is powered by a supermassive black hole. The enormous increase in observational data obtained for Sgr A* in recent years has enabled us to develop, compare and constrain a variety of models for the emission characteristics of this source. Because of its relative proximity and further observational input to come Sgr A* may therefore become one of the best laboratories for studying supermassive black hole candidates and basic AGN physics. This paper briefly summarizes our current understanding of this enigmatic radio source and compares various models, i.e. disk/jet and wind-accretion models.

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arXiv1993

The Galactic Center - an AGN on a starvation diet

The Galactic Center shows evidence for the presence of three important AGN ingredients: a Black Hole ($M_\bullet\sim10^6M_\odot$), an accretion disk ($10^{-8.5} - 10^{-7} M_\odot/{\rm yr}$) and a powerful jet (jet power $\ge$ 10\% disk luminosity). However, the degree of activity is very low and can barely account for the energetics of the whole central region. Neverthelss, in the very inner arsecond the central engine becomes dominant and provides an interesting laboratory for the physics of central engines (Black Holes) in galactic nuclei. We therefore give an overall picture of the central arcsecond where we link the radio emission and the heating of the ambient medium to a weakly accreting disk surrounding a massive Black Hole. << >>

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