arXiv subjects

M. Livio

Publications and source records attributed to M. Livio.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Evidence for a Starburst within 9 pc of the Active Nucleus of NGC 1097

We report evidence for a recent burst of star formation located within 9 pc of the active nucleus of NGC 1097. The observational signatures of the starburst include UV absorption lines and continuum emission from young stars observed in a small-aperture HST spectrum. The burst is a few times 10^6 yr old, has a mass of approximately 10^6 solar masses, an observed luminosity of 1.5 x 10^7 solar luminosities and is obscured by approximately 3 visual magnitudes. The importance of this finding is two-fold: (1) the proximity of the starburst to the active nucleus and thus possible association with it; (2) its obscuration by and apparent association with a dusty absorbing medium, while the broad emission lines appear unobscured, suggesting that the starburst could be embedded in a circumnuclear torus as predicted in the Unified Model of active galactic nuclei.

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arXiv2004

How special is the Solar System?

Most mechanisms proposed for the formation of planets are modified versions of the mechanism proposed for the solar system. Here we argue that, in terms of those planetary systems which have been observed, the case for the solar system being a typical planetary system has yet to be established. We consider the possibility that most observed planetary systems have been formed in some quite different way. If so, it may be that none of the observed planetary systems is likely to harbour an earth-like planet.

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arXiv2004

The Hubble Higher-Z Supernova Search: Supernovae to z=1.6 and Constraints on Type Ia Progenitor Models

We present results from the Hubble Higher-z Supernova Search, the first space-based open field survey for supernovae (SNe). In cooperation with the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey, we have used the Hubble Space Telescope with the Advanced Camera for Surveys to cover 300 square arcmin in the area of the Chandra Deep Field South and the Hubble Deep Field North on five separate search epochs (separated by 45 day intervals) to a limiting magnitude of z'=26. These deep observations have allowed us to discover 42 SNe in the redshift range 0.2 < z < 1.6. As these data span a large range in redshift, they are ideal for testing the validity of Type Ia supernova progenitor models with the distribution of expected ``delay times,'' from progenitor star formation to SN Ia explosion, and the SN rates these models predict. Through a Bayesian maximum likelihood test, we determine which delay-time models best reproduce the redshift distribution of SNe Ia discovered in this survey. We find that models that require a large fraction of ``prompt'' (less than 2 Gyr) SNe Ia poorly reproduce the observed redshift distribution and are rejected at 95% confidence. We find that Gaussian models best fit the observed data for mean delay times in the range of 3 to 4 Gyr.

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arXiv2004

The Ultraviolet Spectra of Active Galaxies With Double-Peaked Emission Lines

We present the results of UV spectroscopy of AGNs with double-peaked Balmer emission lines. In 2/3 of the objects, the far-UV resonance lines are strong, with single-peaked profiles resembling those of Seyfert galaxies. The Mg II line is the only UV line with a double-peaked profile. In the remaining objects, the far-UV resonance lines are relatively weak but still single-peaked. The latter group also displays prominent UV absorption lines, indicative of a low-ionization absorber. We interpret the difference in the profiles of the emission lines as resulting from two different regions: a dense, low-ionization accretion disk (the predominant source of the Balmer and Mg II lines), and a lower density, higher-ionization wind (the predominant source of the far-UV resonance lines). These results suggest a way of connecting the double-peaked emitters with the greater AGN population: in double-peaked emitters the accretion rate onto the black hole is low, making the wind feeble and allowing the lines from the underlying disk to shine through. This scenario also implies that in the majority of AGNs, the wind is the source of the broad emission lines.

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arXiv2004

Evolution of Disk Galaxies in the GOODS-South Field: Number Densities and Size Distribution

We examine the evolution of the sizes and number densities of disk galaxies using the high resolution images obtained by the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The multiwavelength (B,V,i,z) images allow us to classify galaxies based on their rest-frame B-band morphologies out to redshift z = 1.25. In order to minimize the effect of selection biases, we confine our analysis to galaxies which occupy the region of magnitude-size plane where the survey is almost 90% complete at all redshifts. The observed size distribution is consistent with a log-normal distribution as seen for the disk galaxies in the local Universe and does not show any significant evolution over the redshift range 0.25 < z < 1.25. We find that the number densities of disk galaxies remains fairly constant over this redshift range, although a modest evolution by a factor of four may be possible within the 2-sigma uncertainties.

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arXiv2003

Variability in black hole accretion discs

Observations of accreting systems often show significant variability (10-20 percent of accretion luminosity) on timescales much longer than expected for the disc regions releasing most of the luminosity. We propose an explicit physical model for disc variability, consistent with Lyubarskii's (1997) general scheme for solving this problem. We suggest that local dynamo processes can affect the evolution of an accretion disc by driving angular momentum loss in the form of an outflow (a wind or jet). We model the dynamo as a small-scale stochastic phenomenon, operating on roughly the local dynamical timescale. We argue that large-scale outflow can only occur when the small-scale random processes in neighbouring disc annuli give rise by chance to a coherent large-scale magnetic field. This occurs on much longer timescales, and causes a bright large-amplitude flare as a wide range of disc radii evolve in a coherent fashion. Most of the time, dynamo action instead produces small-amplitude flickering. We reproduce power spectra similar to those observed, including a 1/f power spectrum below a break frequency given by the magnetic alignment timescale at the inner disc edge. However the relation between the black hole mass and the value of the break frequency is less straightforward than often assumed in the literature. The effect of an outer disc edge is to flatten the spectrum below the magnetic alignment frequency there. We also find a correlation between the variability amplitude and luminosity, similar to that found in some AGN.

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arXiv2003

Metallicity, planetary formation and migration

Recent observations show a clear correlation between the probability of hosting a planet and the metallicity of the parent star. Since radial velocity surveys are biased, however, towards detecting planets with short orbital periods, the probability-metallicity correlation could merely reflect a dependence of migration rates on metallicity. We investigated the possibility, but find no basis to suggest that the migration process is sensitive to the metallicity. The indication is, therefore, that a higher metallicity results in a higher probability for planet formation.

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arXiv2003

The Rest-Frame UV Luminosity Density of Star-Forming Galaxies at Redshifts z>3.5

We have measured the rest--frame lambda~1500 Ang comoving specific luminosity density of star--forming galaxies at redshift 3.5<z<6.5 from deep images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)and the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), obtained as part of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS). We used color selection criteria to construct samples of star--forming galaxies at redshifts z~4, 5 and 6, identified by the signature of the 912 Ang Lyman continuum discontinuity and Lyman-alpha forest blanketing in their rest--frame UV colors (Lyman--break galaxies). The ACS samples cover ~0.09 square degree, and are also relatively deep, reaching between 0.2 and 0.5 L_3^*, depending on the redshift, where $L_3^*$ is the characteristic UV luminosity of Lyman--break galaxies at z~3. The specific luminosity density of Lyman--break galaxies appears to be nearly constant with redshift from z~3 to z~6, although the measure at z~6 remains relatively uncertain, because it depends on the accurate estimate of the faint counts of the z~6 sample. If Lyman--break galaxies are fair tracers of the cosmic star formation activity, our results suggest that at z~6 the universe was already producing stars as vigorously as it did near its maximum several Gyr later, at 1<~z<~3. Thus, the onset of large--scale star formation in the universe is to be sought at around z~6 or higher, namely at less than ~7% of the current cosmic age.

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arXiv2003

A Possible New Population of Sources with Extreme X-Ray / Optical Ratios

We describe a possible new class of X-ray sources that have robust detections in ultra-deep Chandra data, yet have no detections at all in our deep multi-band GOODS Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS images, which represent the highest quality optical imaging obtained to date on these fields. These extreme X-ray / Optical ratio sources ("EXO"s) have values of Fx/Fopt at least an order of magnitude above those generally found for other AGN, even those that are harbored by reddened hosts. We thus infer two possible scenarios: (1) if these sources lie at redshifts z < 6, then their hosts need to be exceedingly underluminous, or more reddened, compared with other known sources; (2) if these sources lie above z ~ 6-7, such that even their Lyman-alpha emission is redshifted out of the bandpass of our ACS z(850) filter, then their optical and X-ray fluxes can be accounted for in terms of relatively normal L* hosts and moderate-luminosity AGN.

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arXiv2003

A model for the jet-disk connection in BH accreting systems

Based on theoretical arguments and quasi-stationary radiative MHD calculations, a model for an accretion-powered jet is presented. It is argued that accretion disks around BHs consist of 1) a cold, Keplerian-rotating and weakly magnetized mediumin the outer part, 2) a highly advective and turbulent-free plasma inside $r_\mm{tr}=10-20$ Schwarzschild radii, where magnetic fields are predominantly of large scale topology and in excess of thermal equipartition, and 3) an ion-dominated torus in the vicinity of the hole, where magnetic fields undergo a topological change into a monopole like-configuration. The action of magnetic fields interior to $r_\mm{tr}$ is to initiate torsional {\Alfven} waves that extract angular momentum from the disk-plasma and deposit it into the transition layer (-TL) above the disk, where the plasma is dissipative and tenuous. A significant fraction of the shear-generated toroidal magnetic field reconnects in the TL, thereby heating the plasma up to the virial-temperature and forming a super-Keplerian rotating, and hence centrifugally accelerated outflow. The strong magnetic field in the TL forces the electrons to cool rapidly yielding thereby an ion-dominated outflow. The toroidal magnetic field in the TL is in thermal equipartition with the ions, whereas the poloidal component is in equipartition with the electrons. Such a strong toroidal magnetic field is essential for increasing the jet-disk luminosity in the radio regime.

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arXiv2002

Ion-dominated plasma and the origin of jets in quasars

Low cooling plasmas associated with large kinetic energies are likely to be the origin of the kpc-extended and well collimated extra-galactic jets. It is proposed that jets are launched from a layer, governed by a highly diffusive, super-Keplerian rotating and thermally dominated by virial-hot and magnetized ion-plasma. The launching layer is located between the accretion disk and the corona surrounding the nucleus. The matter in the layer is causally connected to both the disk and to the central engine. Moreover we find that coronae, in the absence of heating from below, are dynamically unstable to thermal ion-conduction, and that accretion disks become intrinsically advection-dominated. We confirm the capability of this multi-layer model to form jets by carrying out 3D axisymmetric quasi-stationary MHD calculations with high spatial resolution, and taking into account turbulent and magnetic diffusion. The new multi-layer topology accommodates several previously proposed elements for jet-initiation, in particular the ion-torus, the magneto-centrifugal and the truncated disk - advective tori models.

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arXiv2001

HST/STIS observations of GRB000301C: CCD imaging and NUV MAMA spectroscopy

We present HST/STIS observations of the optical counterpart (OT) of the gamma-ray burster GRB 000301C obtained on 2000 March 6, five days after the burst. CCD clear aperture imaging reveals a R ~ 21.50+/-0.15 source with no apparent host galaxy. An 8000 s, 1150 < lambda/A < 3300 NUV-MAMA prism spectrum shows a relatively flat continuum (in f_lambda) between 2800 and 3300 A, with a mean flux 8.7 (+0.8,-1.6)+/- 2.6 10^(-18) ergs/s/cm^2/A, and a sharp break centered at 2797+/-25 A. We interpret it as HI Lyman break at z = 2.067+/-0.025 indicating the presence of a cloud with a HI column density log(HI) > 18 on the line-of-sight to the OT. This value is conservatively a lower limit to the GRB redshift. However, the facts that large N(HI) system are usually considered as progenitors of present day galaxies and that other OTs are found associated with star forming galaxies strongly suggest that it is the GRB redshift. In any case, this represents the largest direct redshift determination of a gamma-ray burster to date. Our data are compatible with an OT spectrum represented by a power-law with an intrinsic index α= 1.2((f_nu \propto nu^-alpha) and no extinction in the host galaxy or with alpha = 0.5 and extinction by a SMC-like dust in the OT rest-frame with A_V = 0.15. The large N(HI) and the lack of detected host is similar to the situation for damped Ly-alpha absorbers at z > 2.

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arXiv2000

Tidal Disruption of a Solar Type Star by a Super-Massive Black Hole

We study the long term evolution of a solar type star that is being disrupted by a super massive (10^6 solar mass) black hole. The evolution is followed from the disruption event, which turns the star into a long thin stream of gas, to the point where some of this gas returns to pericenter and begins its second orbit around the black hole. Following the evolution for this long allows us to determine the amount of mass that is accreted by the black hole. We find that approximately 75% of the returning mass is not accreted but instead becomes unbound, following the large compression characterizing the return to pericenter. The impact of a tidal disruption on the surrounding gas may therefore be like that of two consecutive supernove-type events.

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arXiv2000

Symbiotic Miras can do it

Symbiotic Miras give a nice practical demonstration of the formation of bipolar and highly aspherical nebulae as a consequence of interaction in detached binaries. We believe that these binary systems are among the most promising candidates for the progenitors of bipolar planetary nebulae. We present a list of the optically extended nebulae known to date around symbiotic Miras, and illustrate their properties using recent HST and ESO-NTT [NII] images of He 2-104 and He 2-147.

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arXiv1999

Towards a Model for the Progenitors of Gamma-Ray Bursts

We consider models for gamma-ray bursts in which a collimated jet expands either into a homogeneous medium or into a stellar wind environment, and calculate the expected afterglow temporal behavior. We show that (i) following a break and a faster decay, afterglows should exhibit a flattening, which may be detectable in both the radio and optical bands; (ii) Only observations at times much shorter than a day can clearly distinguish between a fireball interacting with a homogeneous medium and one interacting with a stellar wind. Using our results we demonstrate that constraints can be placed on progenitor models. In particular, existing data imply that while some long duration bursts may be produced by collapses of massive stars, it is almost certain that not all long duration bursts are produced by such progenitors.

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arXiv1999

Supernovae Rates: A Cosmic History

We discuss the cosmic history of supernovae on the basis of various assumptions and recent data on the star formation history. We show that supernova rates as a function of redshift can be used to place significant constraints on progenitor models, on the star formation history, and on the importance of dust obscuration. We demonstrate that it is unlikely that the current observational indications for the existence of a cosmological constant are merely an artifact of the dominance of different progenitor classes at different redshift intervals.

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arXiv1999

The Fading Optical Counterpart of GRB~970228, Six Months and One Year Later

We report on observations of the fading optical counterpart of the gamma-ray burst GRB 970228, made with the Hubble Space Telescope STIS CCD approximately six months after outburst and with the HST/NICMOS and Keck/NIRC approximately one year after outburst. The unresolved counterpart is detected by STIS at V=28.0 +/- 0.25, consistent with a continued power-law decline with exponent -1.14 +/- 0.05. The counterpart is located within, but near the edge of, a faint extended source with diameter ~0."8 and integrated magnitude V=25.8 +/- 0.25. A reanalysis of HST and NTT observations performed shortly after the burst shows no evidence of proper motion of the point source or fading of the extended emission. Only the extended source is visible in the NICMOS images with a magnitude of H=23.3 +/- 0.1. The Keck observations find K = 22.8 +/- 0.3. Several distinct and independent means of deriving the foreground extinction in the direction of GRB 970228 all agree with A_V = 0.75 +/- 0.2. After adjusting for Galactic extinction, we find that the size of the observed extended emission is consistent with that of galaxies of comparable magnitude found in the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) and other deep HST images. Only 2% of the sky is covered by galaxies of similar or greater surface brightness; therefore the extended source is almost certainly the host galaxy. Additionally, we find that the extinction-corrected V - H and V - K colors of the host are as blue as any galaxy of comparable or brighter magnitude in the HDF. Taken in concert with recent observations of GRB 970508, GRB 971214, and GRB 980703 our work suggests that all four GRBs with spectroscopic identification or deep multicolor broad-band imaging of the host lie in rapidly star-forming galaxies.

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arXiv1999

The Progenitors of Type Ia Supernovae

Models for Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) are reviewed. It is shown that there are strong reasons to believe that SNe Ia represent thermonuclear disruptions of C-O white dwarfs, when these white dwarfs reach the Chandrasekhar limit and ignite carbon at their centers. Progenitor scenarios are reviewed critically and the strengths and weaknesses of each scenario are explicitly presented. It is argued that single-degenerate models, in which the white dwarf accretes from a subgiant or giant companion are currently favored. The relation of the different models to the use of SNe Ia for the determination of cosmological parameters is also discussed. Observational tests of the conclusions are suggested.

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