arXiv subjects

Jonathan Gelbord

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan Gelbord.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

AGN STORM 2: II. Ultraviolet Observations of Mrk817 with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope

We present reverberation mapping measurements for the prominent ultraviolet broad emission lines of the active galactic nucleus Mrk817 using 165 spectra obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. Our ultraviolet observations are accompanied by X-ray, optical, and near-infrared observations as part of the AGN Space Telescope and Optical Reverberation Mapping Program 2 (AGN STORM 2). Using the cross-correlation lag analysis method, we find significant correlated variations in the continuum and emission-line light curves. We measure rest-frame delayed responses between the far-ultraviolet continuum at 1180 A and Ly$α$ $\lambda1215$ A ($10.4_{-1.4}^{+1.6}$ days), N V $\lambda1240$ A ($15.5_{-4.8}^{+1.0}$days), SiIV + OIV] $\lambda1397$ A ($8.2_{-1.4}^{+1.4}$ days), CIV $\lambda1549$ A ($11.8_{-2.8}^{+3.0}$ days), and HeII $\lambda1640$ A ($9.0_{-1.9}^{+4.5}$ days) using segments of the emission-line profile that are unaffected by absorption and blending, which results in sampling different velocity ranges for each line. However, we find that the emission-line responses to continuum variations are more complex than a simple smoothed, shifted, and scaled version of the continuum light curve. We also measure velocity-resolved lags for the Ly$α$, and CIV emission lines. The lag profile in the blue wing of Ly$α$ is consistent with virial motion, with longer lags dominating at lower velocities, and shorter lags at higher velocities. The CIV lag profile shows the signature of a thick rotating disk, with the shortest lags in the wings, local peaks at $\pm$ 1500 $\rm km\,s^{-1}$, and a local minimum at line center. The other emission lines are dominated by broad absorption lines and blending with adjacent emission lines. These require detailed models, and will be presented in future work.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

UV/Optical disk reverberation lags despite a faint X-ray corona in the AGN Mrk 335

We present the first results from a 100-day Swift, NICER and ground-based X-ray/UV/optical reverberation mapping campaign of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Mrk 335, when it was in an unprecedented low X-ray flux state. Despite dramatic suppression of the X-ray variability, we still observe UV/optical lags as expected from disk reverberation. Moreover, the UV/optical lags are consistent with archival observations when the X-ray luminosity was >10 times higher. Interestingly, both low- and high-flux states reveal UV/optical lags that are 6-11 times longer than expected from a thin disk. These long lags are often interpreted as due to contamination from the broad line region, however the u band excess lag (containing the Balmer jump from the diffuse continuum) is less prevalent than in other AGN. The Swift campaign showed a low X-ray-to-optical correlation (similar to previous campaigns), but NICER and ground-based monitoring continued for another two weeks, during which the optical rose to the highest level of the campaign, followed ~10 days later by a sharp rise in X-rays. While the low X-ray countrate and relatively large systematic uncertainties in the NICER background make this measurement challenging, if the optical does lead X-rays in this flare, this indicates a departure from the zeroth-order reprocessing picture. If the optical flare is due to an increase in mass accretion rate, this occurs on much shorter than the viscous timescale. Alternatively, the optical could be responding to an intrinsic rise in X-rays that is initially hidden from our line-of-sight.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

AGN STORM 2: I. First results: A Change in the Weather of Mrk 817

We present the first results from the ongoing, intensive, multi-wavelength monitoring program of the luminous Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 817. While this AGN was, in part, selected for its historically unobscured nature, we discovered that the X-ray spectrum is highly absorbed, and there are new blueshifted, broad and narrow UV absorption lines, which suggest that a dust-free, ionized obscurer located at the inner broad line region partially covers the central source. Despite the obscuration, we measure UV and optical continuum reverberation lags consistent with a centrally illuminated Shakura-Sunyaev thin accretion disk, and measure reverberation lags associated with the optical broad line region, as expected. However, in the first 55 days of the campaign, when the obscuration was becoming most extreme, we observe a de-coupling of the UV continuum and the UV broad emission line variability. The correlation recovers in the next 42 days of the campaign, as Mrk 817 enters a less obscured state. The short CIV and Ly alpha lags suggest that the accretion disk extends beyond the UV broad line region.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Supermassive black holes with high accretion rates in active galactic nuclei. XI. Accretion disk reverberation mapping of Mrk 142

We performed an intensive accretion disk reverberation mapping campaign on the high accretion rate active galactic nucleus Mrk 142 in early 2019. Mrk 142 was monitored with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory for 4 months in X-rays and 6 UV/optical filters. Ground-based photometric monitoring was obtained from the Las Cumbres Observatory, Liverpool Telescope and Dan Zowada Memorial Observatory in ugriz filters and the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory in V. Mrk 142 was highly variable throughout, displaying correlated variability across all wavelengths. We measure significant time lags between the different wavelength light curves, finding that through the UV and optical the wavelength-dependent lags, $τ(λ)$, generally follow the relation $τ(λ) \propto λ^{4/3}$, as expected for the $T\propto R^{-3/4}$ profile of a steady-state optically-thick, geometrically-thin accretion disk, though can also be fit by $τ(λ) \propto λ^{2}$, as expected for a slim disk. The exceptions are the u and U band, where an excess lag is observed, as has been observed in other AGN and attributed to continuum emission arising in the broad-line region. Furthermore, we perform a flux-flux analysis to separate the constant and variable components of the spectral energy distribution, finding that the flux-dependence of the variable component is consistent with the $f_ν\proptoν^{1/3}$ spectrum expected for a geometrically-thin accretion disk. Moreover, the X-ray to UV lag is significantly offset from an extrapolation of the UV/optical trend, with the X-rays showing a poorer correlation with the UV than the UV does with the optical. The magnitude of the UV/optical lags is consistent with a highly super-Eddington accretion rate.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

A Multi-band Study of the remarkable Jet in Quasar 4C+19.44

We present arc-second-resolution data in the radio, IR, optical and X-ray for 4C+19.44 (=PKS 1354+195), the longest and straightest quasar jet with deep X-ray observations. We report results from radio images with half to one arc-second angular resolution at three frequencies, plus HST and Spitzer data. The Chandra data allow us to measure the X-ray spectral index in 10 distinct regions along the 18 arcsec jet and compare with the radio index. The radio and X-ray spectral indices of the jet regions are consistent with a value of $α=0.80$ throughout the jet, to within 2 sigma uncertainties. The X-ray jet structure to the south extends beyond the prominent radio jet and connects to the southern radio lobe, and there is extended X-ray emission in the direction of the unseen counter jet and coincident with the northern radio lobe. This jet is remarkable since its straight appearance over a large distance allows the geometry factors to be taken as fixed along the jet. Using the model of inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background (iC/CMB) by relativistic electrons, we find that the magnetic field strengths and Doppler factors are relatively constant along the jet. If instead the X-rays are synchrotron emission, they must arise from a population of electrons distinct from the particles producing the radio synchrotron spectrum.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

A survey of X-ray emission from 100 kpc radio jets

We have completed a Chandra snapshot survey of 54 radio jets that are extended on arcsec scales. These are associated with flat spectrum radio quasars spanning a redshift range z=0.3 to 2.1. X-ray emission is detected from the jet of approximately 60% of the sample objects. We assume minimum energy and apply conditions consistent with the original Felten-Morrison calculations in order to estimate the Lorentz factors and the apparent Doppler factors. This allows estimates of the enthalpy fluxes, which turn out to be comparable to the radiative luminosities.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Exploring Multiwavelength AGN Variability with Swift Archival Data

We are conducting an archival Swift program to measure multiwavelength variability in active galactic nuclei (AGN). This variability information will provide constraints on the geometry, physical conditions and processes of the structures around the central black holes that emit and reprocess the observed flux. Among our goals are: (1) to produce a catalog of type 1 AGN with time-resolved multi-wavelength data; (2) to characterize variability in the optical, UV and X-ay bands as well as changes in spectral slope; (3) to quantify the impact of variability on multi-wavelength properties; and (4) to measure correlated variability between bands. Our initial efforts have revealed a UVOT calibration issue that can cause a few percent of measured UV fluxes to be anomalously low, by up to 30%.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

G306.3-0.9: A newly discovered young galactic supernova remnant

We present X-ray and radio observations of the new Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G306.3-0.9, recently discovered by Swift. Chandra imaging reveals a complex morphology, dominated by a bright shock. The X-ray spectrum is broadly consistent with a young SNR in the Sedov phase, implying an age of 2500 yr for a distance of 8 kpc, plausibly identifying this as one of the 20 youngest Galactic SNRs. Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) imaging reveals a prominent ridge of radio emission that correlates with the X-ray emission. We find a flux density of ~ 160 mJy at 1 GHz, which is the lowest radio flux recorded for a Galactic SNR to date. The remnant is also detected at 24microns, indicating the presence of irradiated warm dust. The data reveal no compelling evidence for the presence of a compact stellar remnant.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

A Quasar Catalog with Simultaneous UV, Optical and X-ray Observations by Swift

We have compiled a catalog of optically-selected quasars with simultaneous observations in UV/optical and X-ray bands by the Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer. Objects in this catalog are identified by matching the Swift pointings with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 5 quasar catalog. The final catalog contains 843 objects, among which 637 have both UVOT and XRT observations and 354 of which are detected by both instruments. The overall X-ray detection rate is ~60% which rises to ~85% among sources with at least 10 ks of XRT exposure time. We construct the time-averaged spectral energy distribution for each of the 354 quasars using UVOT photometric measurements and XRT spectra. From model fits to these SEDs, we find that the big blue bump contributes about 0.3 dex to the quasar luminosity. We re-visit the alpha_ox-L_uv relation by selecting a clean sample with only type 1 radio-quiet quasars; the dispersion of this relation is reduced by at least 15% compared to studies that use non-simultaneous UV/optical and X-ray data. We only found a weak correlation between L/L_Edd and alpha_uv. We do not find significant correlations between alpha_x and alpha_ox, alpha_ox and alpha_uv, and alpha_x and Log L(0.3-10 keV). The correlations between alpha_uv and alpha_x, alpha_ox and alpha_x, alpha_ox and alpha_uv, L/L_Edd and alpha_x, and L/L_Edd and alpha_ox are stronger amongst low-redshift quasars, indicating that these correlations are likely driven by the changes of SED shape with accretion state.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Deep Multiwaveband Observations of the Jets of 0208-512 and 1202-262

We present deep {\it HST, Chandra, VLA} and {\it ATCA} images of the jets of PKS 0208--512 and PKS 1202--262, which were found in a {\it Chandra} survey of a flux-limited sample of flat-spectrum radio quasars with jets (see Marshall et al., 2005). We discuss in detail their X-ray morphologies and spectra. We find optical emission from one knot in the jet of PKS 1202--262 and two regions in the jet of PKS 0208--512. The X-ray emission of both jets is most consistent with external Comptonization of cosmic microwave background photons by particles within the jet, while the optical emission is most consistent with the synchrotron process. We model the emission from the jet in this context and discuss implications for jet emission models, including magnetic field and beaming parameters.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

Searching for Compton-thick active galactic nuclei at z~0.1

Using a suite of X-ray, mid-IR and optical active galactic nuclei (AGN) luminosity indicators, we search for Compton-thick (CT) AGNs with intrinsic L_X>10^42erg/s at z~0.03-0.2, a region of parameter space which is currently poorly constrained by deep narrow-field and high-energy (E>10keV) all-sky X-ray surveys. We have used the widest XMM-Newton survey (the serendipitous source catalogue) to select a representative sub-sample (14; ~10%) of the 147 X-ray undetected candidate CT AGNs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) with f_X/f_[OIII]<1; the 147 sources account for ~50% of the overall Type-2 AGN population in the SDSS-XMM overlap region. We use mid-IR spectral decomposition analyses and emission-line diagnostics, determined from pointed Spitzer-IRS spectroscopic observations of these candidate CT AGNs, to estimate the intrinsic AGN emission (predicted L_X,2-10keV (0.2-30)x10^42erg/s). On the basis of the optical [OIII], mid-IR [OIV] and 6um AGN continuum luminosities we conservatively find that the X-ray emission in at least 6/14 (>43%) of our sample appear to be obscured by CT material with N_H>1.5x10^24cm^-2. Under the reasonable assumption that our 14 AGNs are representative of the overall X-ray undetected AGN population in the SDSS-XMM parent sample, we find that >20% of the optical Type-2 AGN population are likely to be obscured by CT material. This implies a space-density of log(Phi) >-4.9Mpc^-3 for CT AGNs with L_X>10^42erg/s at z~0.1, which we suggest may be consistent with that predicted by X-ray background synthesis models. Furthermore, using the 6um continuum luminosity to infer the intrinsic AGN luminosity and the stellar velocity dispersion to estimate M_BH, we find that the most conservatively identified CT AGNs in this sample may harbour some of the most rapidly growing black holes (median M_BH~3x10^7M_o) in the nearby Universe, with a median Eddington ratio of ~0.2.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2004

X-ray Evidence for Multiple Absorbing Structures in Seyfert Galaxies

We have used X-ray spectra to measure attenuating columns in a large sample of Seyfert galaxies. Over 30 of these sources have resolved radio jets, allowing the relative orientation of the nucleus and host galaxy to be constrained. We have discovered that the distribution of absorbing columns is strongly correlated with the relative orientation of the Seyfert structures. This result is inconsistent with unification models including only a torus and is instead most readily explained if a second absorber is included: in addition to a Compton-thick, parsec-scale torus there would also be a larger-scale absorber with N_H < 10^{23} cm^{-2}. The second absorber is aligned with the host galactic plane while the torus is arbitrarily misaligned.

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