arXiv subjects

K. Nandra

Publications and source records attributed to K. Nandra.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

A deep Chandra observation of the Groth Strip. I. The X-ray data

We present the results of a 200 ks Chandra observation of part of the Groth Strip region, using the ACIS-I instrument. We present a relatively simple method for the detection of point-sources and calculation of limiting sensitivities, which we argue is at least as sensitive and more self-consistent than previous methods presented in the literature. 158 distinct X-ray sources are included in our point-source catalogue in the ACIS-I area. The number counts show a relative dearth of X-ray sources in this region. For example at a flux limit of 1E-15 (cgs) around 20 per cent more soft band sources are detected in the HDF-N and almost 50 per cent more in the ELAIS-N1 field, which we have analysed by the same method for comparison. We find, however, that these differences are consistent with Poisson variations at 2 sigma significance, and therefore there is no evidence for cosmic variance based on these number counts alone. We determine the average spectra of the objects and find a marked difference between the soft-band selected sources, which have Gamma=1.9 typical of unobscured AGN, and the hard-band selected sources, which have Gamma=1.0. Reassuringly, the sample as a whole has a mean spectrum of Gamma=1.4\pm 0.1, the same as the X-ray background. Nonetheless, our results imply that the fraction of sources with significant obscuration is only ~25 per cent, much less than predicted by standard AGN population synthesis models. This is confirmed by direct spectral fitting, with only a handful of objects showing evidence for absorption. After accounting for absorption, all objects are consistent with mean intrinsic spectrum of Gamma=1.76 \pm 0.08, very similar to local Seyferts (abridged).

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arXiv2004

On the variability of the iron line in Mrk 841

Petrucci et al. (2002; hereafter P02) have reported extraordinary behaviour of the iron K alpha line in the type 1 AGN Mrk 841. At the XMM-Newton/EPIC resolution, a narrow line was observed in a short observation, which then apparently disappeared around 0.5 days later when another observation was performed. The limits are such that the line cannot both be narrow, and variable at this level, as the light-travel time places the material at a radius where broadening by the black hole's gravitational field is inevitable. Adding an additional observation taken before the P02 data, we present a different interpretation of the apparent variability. The data support the hypothesis that the line in fact varies in width, not only in flux. Rather than showing no line, and despite the strong Compton reflection component, the final observation exhibits broad emission at ~ 6.2-6.4 keV, with a width of ~0.8 keV, typical of a relativistic accretion disc. We suggest that the apparently narrow line in the early observations arises from local illumination by a flare inducing an hotspot in the inner disc, which then becomes progressively broadened as the disc rotates.

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arXiv2004

The HDF-North SCUBA Super-map II: Multi-wavelength properties

We present radio, optical and X-ray detected counterparts to the sub-mm sources found using SCUBA in the Hubble Deep Field North region (GOODS-N). A new counterpart identification statistic is developed to identify properties of galaxies detected at other wavelengths that can be used to aid counterpart identification. We discriminate between criteria that can be used to pre-select sub-mm bright objects, and those that identify the counterpart to a known sub-mm object. Optically faint galaxies detected in the deepest 1.4 GHz radio continuum maps are the only effective way of pre-selecting SCUBA galaxies, and radio sources are the best way to identify counterparts to known sub-mm detections. Looking at radio spectral indices, only the steeper sources (indicative of star formation) are detected in the sub-mm. Although we find several X-ray identifications, we show that deep Chandra images do not contribute to counterpart identifications, since in all cases they are already detected in the more easily obtained VLA radio maps. We also find find no evidence for clustering between Chandra and SCUBA sources in this field. For a known SCUBA position, the reddest source tends to be the correct association, although we can find no cut on colour, magnitude, or clustering property that efficiently pre-selects for SCUBA sources. 15 micron ISO sources are statistically detected by SCUBA, but the limiting mid-IR flux is not low enough to provide useful constraints. We present postage stamp strips for each SCUBA detection in separate bands from X-ray to radio, providing direct visual evidence that approximately half of the sub-mm sources in this field remain unidentified, despite an abundance of deep multi-wavelength data.

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arXiv2004

XMM-Newton Surveys of the Canada-France Redshift Survey Fields - II: The X-ray Catalogues, the Properties of the Host Galaxies, and the Redshift Distribution

We present the X-ray source catalogues for the XMM surveys of the 3-h and 14-h Canada-France Redshift Survey fields (0.5-10 keV flux range ~2E-15 - 1E-13 erg cm^-2 s^-1). We use a subset of the XMM sources, which have Chandra positions, to determine the best method of obtaining optical identifications of sources with only XMM positions. We find optical identifications for 79% of the XMM sources for which there are deep optical images. The sources without optical identifications are likely to be optically fainter and have higher redshifts than the sources with identifications. We have estimated `photometric redshifts' for the identified sources, calibrating our method using ~200 galaxies in the fields with spectroscopic redshifts. We find that the redshift distribution has a strong peak at z~0.7. The host galaxies of AGN identified in this work cover a wide range of optical properties with every galaxy type being represented, and no obvious preference for one type over another. Redder types tend to be more luminous than blue types, particularly at lower redshifts. The host galaxies also span a wide range of optical luminosity, in contrast to the narrow range found for the starburst galaxies detected in micro Jy radio surveys. We find a strong correlation between optical and X-ray luminosity similar to the Magorrian relation, although selection effects cannot be ruled out.

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arXiv2003

X-ray and optical counterparts of hard X-ray selected sources from the SHEEP survey: first results

We present followup observations of five hard X-ray sources from the ASCA 5-10 keV SHEEP survey, which has a limiting flux of $\sim 10^{-13}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. Chandra data have been obtained to improve the X-ray positions from a few arcmin to $<1''$, which allows unambiguous optical identification. While the objects almost certainly house AGN based on their X-ray luminosity, optical spectroscopy reveals a variety of properties. The identifications indicate that the SHEEP survey samples the same populations as deeper surveys which probe the origin of the X-ray background, but because the SHEEP sources are far brighter, they are more amenable to detailed followup work. We find a variety of classifications and properties, including a type II QSO, a galaxy undergoing star formation, and a broad-line AGN which has a very hard X-ray spectrum, indicating substantial absorption in the X-ray but none in the optical. Two objects have X-ray/optical flux ratios which, were they at an X-ray flux level typical of objects in Chandra deep surveys, would place them in the ``optically faint'' category. They are both identified with broad line QSOs at z$\sim 1$. Clearly this survey - which is relatively unbiased against obscured objects - is revealing a set of remarkable objects quite different to the familiar classes of AGN found in previous optical and soft X-ray surveys.

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arXiv2003

The Properties and the Evolution of the Highly Ionized Gas in MR2251-178

We present the first XMM-Newton observations of the radio-quiet quasar MR2251-178. We model the X-ray spectrum with two power laws, one at high energies with a slope of Γ=1.6 and the other to model the soft excess with a slope of Γ=2.9, both absorbed by at least two warm absorbers (WAs). The high-resolution grating spectrum shows emission lines from N VI, O VII, O VIII, Ne IX, and Ne X, as well as absorption lines from the low ionization ions O III, O IV, and O V. A study of the spectral variations in MR2251-178 over a period of 8.5 years yields that all X-ray observations can be fitted with the above model. Luminosity variations over timescales of years seem to correlate with the soft excess variations but not with the WA properties variations. The overall picture is that of a stratified WA that enters and disappears from the line-of-sight on timescales of several months. We also present the first FUSE spectrum of MR2251-178. The general characteristics of the UV and X-ray absorbers seem to be consistent.

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arXiv2003

The XMM-Newton Iron Line Profile of NGC 3783

We report on observations of the iron K line in the nearby Seyfert 1 galaxy, NGC 3783, obtained in a long, 2 orbit (240 ks) XMM-Newton observation. The line profile obtained exhibits two strong narrow peaks at 6.4 keV and at 7.0 keV, with measured line equivalent widths of 120 and 35 eV respectively. The 6.4 keV emission is the K-alpha line from near neutral Fe, whilst the 7.0 keV feature probably originates from a blend of the neutral Fe K-beta line and the H-like line of Fe at 6.97 keV. The relatively narrow velocity width of the K-alpha line (<5000 km/s), its lack of response to the continuum emission on short timescales and the detection of a neutral Compton reflection component are all consistent with a distant origin in Compton-thick matter such as the putative molecular torus. A strong absorption line from highly ionized iron (at 6.67 keV) is detected in the time-averaged iron line profile, whilst the depth of the feature appears to vary with time, being strongest when the continuum flux is higher. The iron absorption line probably arises from the highest ionization component of the known warm absorber in NGC 3783, with an ionization of logxi=3 and column density of 5x10^{22}cm{-2} and may originate from within 0.1pc of the nucleus. A weak red-wing to the iron K line profile is also detected below 6.4 keV. However when the effect of the highly ionized warm absorber on the underlying continuum is taken into account, the requirement for a relativistic iron line component from the inner disk is reduced.

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arXiv2003

Physical interpretation of the UV/X-ray variability behavior of NGC 7469

We present a re-analysis of the simultaneous 30 day IUE/XTE observation of NGC 7469 done in 1996. Our main progress, in comparison to previous spectral analysis, is to adopt and fit directly to the data a detailed Comptonization model. This firstly allows to fit simultaneously the data from the UV to the hard X-ray band in a self-consistent way and secondly it gives direct constraints on the physical parameters of the disc-corona system. Our results are completely consistent with a slab geometry where all the observed UV emission is supposed to cross the corona but more photon-starved geometries also give acceptable fits. Whatever the geometry is, the UV seed photon emission appears to be dominated by the reprocessing of the X-rays. We also found very interesting correlations between the different model parameters, the most important one being the anticorrelation between the corona temperature and the UV flux. Such an anticorrelation is clearly inconsistent with a fixed disc-corona configuration and suggests a variation of the geometry of the system. We also find a correlation between the corona optical depth and the X-ray flux which may reflect processes linked to the corona formation. During the observations, NGC 7469 appears to accrete near its Eddington limit. This source could then be an example of magnetically dominated disc-corona system as recently proposed by Merloni (2003).

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arXiv2003

The Ionized Gas and Nuclear Environment in NGC 3783. IV. Variability and Modeling of the 900 ks CHANDRA Spectrum

We present a detailed spectral analysis of the data obtained from NGC 3783 during the period 2000-2001 using Chandra. This analysis leads us to the following results. 1) NGC 3783 fluctuated in luminosity by a factor ~1.5 during individual observations (~170 ks duration). These fluctuations were not associated with significant spectral variations. 2) On a longer time scale (20-120 days), we found the source to exhibit two very different spectral shapes. The main difference between these can be well-described by the appearance and disappearance of a spectral component that dominates the underlying continuum at the longest wavelengths. The spectral variations are not related to the brightening or the fading of the continuum at short wavelengths in any simple way. 3) The appearance of the soft continuum component is consistent with being the only spectral variation, and there is no need to invoke changes in the opacity of the absorbers. 4) Photoionization modeling indicates that a combination of three ionized absorbers, each split into two kinematic components, can explain the strengths of almost all the absorption lines and bound-free edges. All three components are thermally stable and seem to have the same gas pressure. 5) The only real discrepancy between our model and the observations concerns the range of wavelengths absorbed by the iron M-shell UTA feature. This most likely arises as the result of our underestimation of the poorly-known dielectronic recombination rates appropriate for these ions. 6) The lower limit on the distance of the absorbing gas in NGC 3783 is between 0.2 and 3.2 pc. The assumption of pressure equilibrium imposes an upper limit of about 25 pc on the distance of the least-ionized component from the central source. (abridged)

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arXiv2003

The complex FeK line of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy IRAS13349+2438

The observation of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy IRAS13349+2438 performed by XMM-Newton European Photon Imaging Camera between 0.3-10 keV, is presented here. The broadband spectrum of the source is dominated at low energies (E < 2 keV) by a strong excess of emission and by complex emission/absorption features between 5.5-8.0 keV. The soft X-ray spectrum is consistent with ionized absorption found by the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (Sako et al. (2001)). We focus on the 2-10 keV spectrum which shows clear evidence for a broad, complex FeK alpha line, previously unseen by ASCA, and for an Fe K-shell edge detected at ~7.3-7.4 keV (rest-frame). The presence of this edge could be explained by either partial covering or ionized/relativistic reflection models, with the latter being preferred and with a resulting power law slope of Gamma \~2.2. The line profile is complex, with a broad bump between ~ 5.5-6.5 keV and a narrow emission line at ~ 7 keV, separated by a sharp drop at ~ 6.8 keV. This profile is compatible with two possible scenarios: i) a broad, ionized and gravitationally redshifted Laor diskline plus a narrow and ionized emission line; ii) a broad, ionized and single Schwarzschild (double-peaked) diskline with a superimposed narrow absorption line.

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arXiv2003

The long time-scale X-ray variability of the radio-quiet quasar PG 0804+761

We present the results from a study of the timing properties and the energy spectrum of the radio-quiet quasar PG0804+761, based on monitoring RXTE PCA observations that lasted for a year. This is a systematic study of the X-ray variations on time scales of weeks/months of the most luminous radio-quiet quasar studied so far. We detect significant variations in the 2-10 keV band of an average amplitude of ~15%. The excess variance of the light curve is smaller than that of Seyfert galaxies, entirely consistent with the relationship between variability amplitude and luminosity defined from the Seyfert data alone. The power spectrum of the source follows a power-like form of slope ~ -1. However, when we extend the power spectrum estimation at higher frequencies using archival ASCA data, we find strong evidence for an intrinsic steepening to a slope of ~ -2 at around ~ 1x10^(-6) Hz. This "break frequency" corresponds to a time scale of ~ 10 days. The time-average energy spectrum is well fitted by a power law model with Gamma ~ 2. We also find evidence for an iron line at \~ 6.4 keV (rest frame) with EW 110 eV, similar to what is observed in Seyfert galaxies. The flux variations are not associated with any spectral variation. This is the only major difference that we find when we compare the variability properties of the source with those of Seyfert galaxies. Our results support the hypothesis that the same X-ray emission and variability mechanism operates in both Seyfert galaxies and quasars.

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arXiv2003

The Ionized Gas and Nuclear Environment in NGC 3783 III. Detection of a Decreasing Radial Velocity in an Intrinsic UV Absorber

We report an intrinsic absorber with decreasing outflow velocity in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3783. This is the first detection of a change in radial velocity in an outflow associated with a Seyfert galaxy. These results are based on measurements from 18 observations with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, obtained between 2000 February and 2002 January. In two intervals separated by ~13 and 9 months, the absorption lines in the kinematic component with highest outflow velocity exhibited mean redward velocity shifts of ~35 and 55 km/s, respectively. The rate of velocity decrease was 2.2 +/- 0.6 times more rapid in the second interval. No variations in absorption velocities were detected in the other kinematic components. We explore potential interpretations of the observed velocity shifts: radial deceleration of the UV absorber due to a change in either the speed or direction of motion of the outflow, and the evolution of a continuous flow across our line of sight to the emission source.

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arXiv2003

X-ray Fluctuation Power Spectral Densities of Seyfert 1 Galaxies

By combining complementary monitoring observations spanning long, medium and short time scales, we have constructed power spectral densities (PSDs) of six Seyfert~1 galaxies. These PSDs span $\gtrsim$4 orders of magnitude in temporal frequency, sampling variations on time scales ranging from tens of minutes to over a year. In at least four cases, the PSD shows a "break," a significant departure from a power law, typically on time scales of order a few days. This is similar to the behavior of Galactic X-ray binaries (XRBs), lower mass compact systems with breaks on time scales of seconds. NGC 3783 shows tentative evidence for a doubly-broken power law, a feature that until now has only been seen in the (much better-defined) PSDs of low-state XRBs. It is also interesting that (when one previously-observed object is added to make a small sample of seven), an apparently significant correlation is seen between the break time scale $T$ and the putative black hole mass $M_{\rm BH}$, while none is seen between break time scale and luminosity. The data are consistent with the linear relation $ T = M_{\rm BH}/10^{6.5} \Msun$; extrapolation over 6--7 orders of magnitude is in reasonable agreement with XRBs. All of this strengthens the case for a physical similarity between Seyfert~1s and XRBs.

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arXiv2002

X-ray continuum variability of MCG-6-30-15

This paper presents a comprehensive examination of the X-ray continuum variability of the bright Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15. The source clearly shows the strong, linear correlation between rms variability amplitude and flux first seen in Galactic X-ray binaries. The high frequency power spectral density (PSD) of MCG-6-30-15 is examined in detail using a Monte Carlo fitting procedure and is found to be well represented by a steep power-law at high frequencies (with a power-law index alpha ~ 2.5), breaking to a flatter slope (alpha ~ 1) below f_br ~ 0.6 - 2.0 x 10^-4 Hz, consistent with the previous results of Uttley, McHardy & Papadakis. The slope of the power spectrum above the break is energy dependent, with the higher energies showing a flatter PSD. At low frequencies the variations between different energy bands are highly coherent while at high frequencies the coherence is significantly reduced. Time lags are detected between energy bands, with the soft variations leading the hard. The magnitude of the lag is small (<200 s for the frequencies observed) and is most likely frequency dependent. These properties are remarkably similar to the temporal properties of the Galactic black hole candidate Cygnus X-1. The characteristic timescales in these two types of source differ by ~10^5; assuming that these timescales scale linearly with black hole mass then suggests a black hole mass ~10^6 M_sun for MCG-6-30-15. We speculate that the timing properties of MCG-6-30-15 may be analogous to those of Cyg X-1 in its high/soft state and discuss a simple phenomenological model, originally developed to explain the timing properties of Cyg X-1, that can explain many of the observed properties of MCG-6-30-15.

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arXiv2002

SHEEP: The Search for the High Energy Extragalactic Population

We present the SHEEP survey for serendipitously-detected hard X-ray sources in ASCA GIS images. In a survey area of $\sim 40$ deg$^{2}$, 69 sources were detected in the 5-10 keV band to a limiting flux of $\sim 10^{-13}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. The number counts agree with those obtained by the similar BeppoSAX HELLAS survey, and both are in close agreement with ASCA and BeppoSAX 2-10 keV surveys. Spectral analysis of the SHEEP sample reveals that the 2-10 and 5-10 keV surveys do not sample the same populations, however, as we find considerably harder spectra, with an average $Γ\sim1.0$ assuming no absorption. The implication is that the agreement in the number counts is coincidental, with the 5-10 keV surveys gaining approximately as many hard sources as they lose soft ones, when compared to the 2-10 keV surveys. This is hard to reconcile with standard AGN ``population synthesis'' models for the X-ray background, which posit the existence of a large population of absorbed sources. We find no evidence of the population hardening at faint fluxes, with the exception that the few very brightest objects are anomalously soft. 53 of the SHEEP sources have been covered by ROSAT in the pointed phase. Of these 32 were detected. An additional 3 were detected in the RASS. As expected the sources detected with ROSAT are systematically softer than those detected with ASCA alone, and of the sample as a whole (truncated).

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arXiv2002

Narrow Components within the Fe Kalpha Profile of NGC 3516: Evidence for the Importance of General Relativistic Effects?

We present results from a simultaneous Chandra HETG and XMM-Newton observation of NGC 3516. We find evidence for several narrow components of Fe Kalpha along with a broad line. We consider the possibility that the lines arise in an blob of material ejected from the nucleus with velocity ~0.25c. We also consider an origin in a neutral accretion disk, suffering enhanced illumination at 35 and 175 gravitational radii, perhaps due to magnetic reconnection. The presence of these narrow features indicates there is no Comptonizing region along the line-of-sight to the nucleus. This in turn is compelling support for the hypothesis that broad Fe Kalpha components are, in general, produced by strong gravity.

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arXiv2002

A long hard look at MCG-6-30-15 with XMM-Newton

We present first results from a 325 ks observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15 with XMM-Newton and BeppoSAX. The strong, broad, skewed iron line is clearly detected and is well characterised by a steep emissivity profile within 6r_g (i.e. 6GM/c^2) and a flatter profile beyond. The inner radius of the emission appears to lie at about 2r_g, consistent with results reported from both an earlier XMM-Newton observation of MCG-6-30-15 by Wilms et al. and part of an ASCA observation by Iwasawa et al. when the source was in a lower flux state. The radius and steep emissivity profile do depend however on an assumed incident power-law continuum and a lack of complex absorption above 2.5 keV. The blue wing of the line profile is indented, either by absorption at about 6.7 keV or by a hydrogenic iron emission line. The broad iron line flux does not follow the continuum variations in a simple manner.

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arXiv2002

X-ray properties of Lyman Break Galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field North region

We describe the X-ray properties of a large sample of $z\sim3$ Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) in the region of the Hubble Deep Field North, derived from the 1 Ms public Chandra observation. Of our sample of 148 LBGs, four are detected individually. This immediately gives a measure of the bright AGN fraction in these galaxies of $\sim 3$~per cent, which is in agreement with that derived from the UV spectra. The X-ray color of the detected sources indicates that they are probably moderately obscured. Stacking of the remainder shows a significant detection ($6σ$) with an average luminosity of $3.5 \times 10^{41}$~erg s$^{-1}$ per galaxy in the rest frame 2-10 keV band. We have also studied a comparison sample of 95 z$\sim 1$ ``Balmer Break'' galaxies. Eight of these are detected directly, with at least two clear AGN based on their high X-ray luminosity and very hard X-ray spectra respectively. The remainder are of relatively low luminosity ($<10^{42}$~erg s$^{-1}$), and the X-rays could arise from either AGN or rapid star-formation. The X-ray colors and evidence from other wavebands favor the latter interpretation. Excluding the clear AGN, we deduce a mean X-ray luminosity of $6.6 \times 10^{40}$~erg s$^{-1}$, a factor $\sim 5$ lower than the LBGs. The average ratio of the UV and X-ray luminosities of these starforming galaxies $L_{\rm UV}/L_{\rm X}$, however, is approximately the same at $z = 1$ as it is at $z = 3$. This scaling implies that the X-ray emission follows the current star formation rate, as measured by the UV luminosity. We use our results to constrain the star formation rate at $z\sim 3$ from an X-ray perspective (truncated).

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