arXiv subjects

J. M. Wang

Publications and source records attributed to J. M. Wang.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

INTEGRAL and Swift/XRT observations on IGR J18179-1621

IGR J18179-1621 is a hard X-ray binary transient discovered recently by INTEGRAL. Here we report on detailed timing and spectral analysis on IGR J18179-1621 in X-rays based on available INTEGRAL and Swift data. From the INTEGRAL analysis, IGR J18179-1621 is detected with a significance of 21.6 sigma in the 18-40 keV band by ISGRI and 15.3 sigma in the 3-25 keV band by JEM-X, between 2012-02-29 and 2012-03-01. We analyze two quasisimultaneous Swift ToO observations. A clear 11.82 seconds pulsation is detected above the white noise at a confidence level larger than 99.99%. The pulse fraction is estimated as 22+/-8% in 0.2-10 keV. No sign of pulsation is detected by INTEGRAL/ISGRI in the 18-40 keV band. With Swift and INTEGRAL spectra combined in soft and hard X-rays, IGR J18179-1621 could be fitted by an absorbed power law with a high energy cutoff plus a Gaussian absorption line centered at 21.5 keV. An additional absorption intrinsic to the source is found, while the absorption line is evidence for most probably originated from cyclotron resonant scattering and suggests a magnetic field in the emitting region of \sim 2.4 \times 10^12 Gauss.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Constraining broad-line regions from time lags of broad emission lines relative to radio emission

In this paper, a new method is proposed to estimate the broad-line region sizes of UV lines $R^{\rm{uv}}_{\rm{BLR}}$. It is applied to 3C 273. First, we derive the time lags of radio emission relative to broad emission lines Ly$α$ and C IV by the ZDCF method. The broad lines lag the 5, 8, 15, 22 and 37 GHz emission. The measured lags $τ^{\rm{uv}}_{\rm{ob}}$ are of the order of years. For a given line, $τ^{\rm{uv}}_{\rm{ob}}$ decreases as the radio frequency increases. This trend results from the radiative cooling of relativistic electrons. Both UV lines have a lag of $τ^{\rm{uv}}_{\rm{ob}}=-2.74^{+0.06}_{-0.25}$ yr relative to the 37 GHz emission. These results are consistent with those derived from the Balmer lines in Paper I. Second, we derive the time lags of the lines Ly$α$, CIV, H$γ$, H$β$ and H$α$ relative to the 37 GHz emission by the FR/RSS Monte Carlo method. The measured lags are $τ_{\rm{ob}}=-3.40^{+0.31}_{-0.05}$, $-3.40^{+0.41}_{-0.14}$, $-2.06^{+0.36}_{-0.92}$, $-3.40^{+1.15}_{-0.20}$ and $-3.56^{+0.35}_{-0.18}$ yr for the lines Ly$α$, CIV, H$γ$, H$β$ and H$α$, respectively. These estimated lags are consistent with those derived by the ZDCF method within the uncertainties. Based on the new method, we derive $R^{\rm{uv}}_{\rm{BLR}}=2.54^{+0.71}_{-0.35}$--$4.01^{+0.90}_{-1.16}$ and $2.54^{+0.80}_{-0.43}$--$4.01^{+0.98}_{-1.24}$ light-years for the Ly$α$ and CIV lines, respectively. Considering the uncertainties, these estimated sizes are consistent with those obtained in the classical reverberation mapping for the UV lines and the Balmer lines. This indicates that their emitting regions are not separated so large as in the classical mapping of the UV and optical lines. These results seem to depart from the stratified ionization structures obtained in the classical mapping.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Locating positions of γ-ray--emitting regions in blazars

We propose a new method to locate the gamma-ray--emitting positions R_g from the measured time lags T_ob of gamma-ray emission relative to broad emission lines. The method is also applicable to lower frequencies. R_g depends on parameters T_ob, R_BLR, v_d and theta, where R_BLR is the size of broad-line region, v_d is the travelling speed of disturbances down the jet and theta is the viewing angle of the jet axis to the line of sight. As T_ob=0, T_ob<0 or T_ob>0, the broad lines zero-lag, lag or lead the gamma-rays, respectively. It is applied to 3C 273, in which the lines and the radio emission have enough data, but the gamma-rays have not. We find T_ob<0 and T_ob>0 for the 5, 8, 15, 22 and 37 GHz emission relative to the broad lines Ha, Hb and Hg. The lag may be positive or negative, however current data do not allow to discriminate between the two cases. The measured lags are on the order of years. For a given line, T_ob generally decreases as radio frequency increases. This trend most likely results from the radiative cooling of relativistic electrons. The negative lags have an average of T_ob=-2.86 years for the 37 GHz emission, which represents that the lines lag the radio emission. The positive lags have T_ob=3.20 years, which represents that the lines lead the radio emission. We obtain the radio emitting positions R_radio=0.40--2.62 pc and R_radio=9.43--62.31 pc for the negative and positive lags, respectively. From the constraint of R_g </~ R_radio (e.g. Dermer & Schlickeiser 1994; Jorstad et al. 2001), we have R_g </~ 0.40--2.62 pc for the negative lags. For the positive lags, 4.67--30.81<R_g </~ 9.43--62.31 pc. These estimated R_g are consistent with those of other researches. These agreements confirm the reliability of the method and assumptions. The method may be also applicable to BL Lacertae objects, in which broad lines were detected.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

The variability of optical \feii emission in PG QSO 1700+518

It is found that \feii emission contributes significantly to the optical and ultraviolet spectra of most active galactic nuclei. The origin of the optical/UV \feii emission is still a question open to debate. The variability of \feii would give clues to this origin. Using 7.5 yr spectroscopic monitoring data of one Palomer-Green (PG) quasi-stellar object (QSO), PG 1700+518, with strong optical \feii emission, we obtain the light curves of the continuum \lv, \feii, the broad component of \hb, and the narrow component of \hb by the spectral decomposition. Through the interpolation cross-correlation method, we calculate the time lags for light curves of \feii, the total \hb, the broad component of \hb, and the narrow component of \hb with respect to the continuum light curve. We find that the \feii time lag in PG1700+518 is $209^{+100}_{-147}$ days, and the \hb time lag cannot be determined. Assuming that \feii and \hb emission regions follow the virial relation between the time lag and the FWHM for the \hb and \feii emission lines, we can derive that the \hb time lag is $148^{+72}_{-104}$ days. The \hb time lag calculated from the empirical luminosity--size relation is 222 days, which is consistent with our measured \feii time lag. Considering the optical \feii contribution, PG 1700+518 shares the same characteristic on the spectral slope variability as other 15 PG QSOs in our previous work, i.e., harder spectrum during brighter phase.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Evolution of cross-correlation and time lag of Cyg X-2 along the branches

We report the detections of the anti-correlated soft and hard X-rays, and the time lags of $\sim$ hecto-second from the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary Cyg X-2, a well-known Z-type luminous source. Both the anti-correlation and the positive correlation were detected during the low-intensity states, while only the latter showed up during high-intensity states. Comparing with the lower part of normal branch and flaring branch, more observations located on the horizontal and the upper normal branches are accompanied with the anti-correlation, implying the occurrence of the anti-correlation under circumstance of a low mass accretion rate. So far the anti-correlated hard lag of thousand-second timescale are only reported from the Galactic black hole candidates in their hard states. Here we provide the first evidence that a similar feature can also establish in a neutron-star system like Cyg X-2. Finally, the possible origins of the observed time lags are discussed under the current LMXB models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Early Growth of Massive Black Holes in Quasars

Episodic activity of quasars is driving growth of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) via accretion of baryon gas. In this Letter, we develop a simple method to analyse the duty cycle of quasars up to redshift $z\sim 6$ universe from luminosity functions (LFs). We find that the duty cycle below redshift $z\sim 2$ follows the cosmic history of star formation rate (SFR) density. Beyond $z\sim 2$, the evolutionary trends of the duty cycle are just opposite to that of the cosmic SFR density history, implying the role of feedback from black hole activity. With the duty cycle, we get the net lifetime of quasars ($z\le 5$) about $\sim 10^9$yrs. Based on the local SMBHs, the mean mass of SMBHs is obtained at any redshifts and their seeds are of $10^5\sunm$ at the reionization epoch ($z_{\rm re}$) of the universe through the conservation of the black hole number density in comoving frame. We find that primordial black holes ($\sim 10^3\sunm$) are able to grow up to the seeds via a moderate super-Eddington accretion of $\sim 30$ times of the critical rate from $z=24$ to $z_{\rm re}$. Highly super-Eddington accretion onto the primordials is not necessary.

astro-ph↗