arXiv subjects

P. Gandhi

Publications and source records attributed to P. Gandhi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

X-ray bolometric corrections for Compton-thick active galactic nuclei

We present X-ray bolometric correction factors, $κ_{Bol}$ ($\equiv L_{Bol}/L_X$), for Compton-thick (CT) active galactic nuclei (AGN) with the aim of testing AGN torus models, probing orientation effects, and estimating the bolometric output of the most obscured AGN. We adopt bolometric luminosities, $L_{Bol}$, from literature infrared (IR) torus modeling and compile published intrinsic 2--10 keV X-ray luminosities, $L_{X}$, from X-ray torus modeling of NuSTAR data. Our sample consists of 10 local CT AGN where both of these estimates are available. We test for systematic differences in $κ_{Bol}$ values produced when using two widely used IR torus models and two widely used X-ray torus models, finding consistency within the uncertainties. We find that the mean $κ_{Bol}$ of our sample in the range $L_{Bol}\approx10^{42}-10^{45}$ erg/s is log$_{10}κ_{Bol}=1.44\pm0.12$ with an intrinsic scatter of $\sim0.2$ dex, and that our derived $κ_{Bol}$ values are consistent with previously established relationships between $κ_{Bol}$ and $L_{Bol}$ and $κ_{Bol}$ and Eddington ratio. We investigate if $κ_{Bol}$ is dependent on $N_H$ by comparing our results on CT AGN to published results on less-obscured AGN, finding no significant dependence. Since many of our sample are megamaser AGN, known to be viewed edge-on, and furthermore under the assumptions of AGN unification whereby unobscured AGN are viewed face-on, our result implies that the X-ray emitting corona is not strongly anisotropic. Finally, we present $κ_{Bol}$ values for CT AGN identified in X-ray surveys as a function of their observed $L_X$, where an estimate of their intrinsic $L_{X}$ is not available, and redshift, useful for estimating the bolometric output of the most obscured AGN across cosmic time.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Living on a Flare: Relativistic Reflection in V404 Cyg Observed by NuSTAR During its Summer 2015 Outburst

We present first results from a series of $NuSTAR$ observations of the black hole X-ray binary V404 Cyg obtained during its summer 2015 outburst, primarily focusing on observations during the height of this outburst activity. The $NuSTAR$ data show extreme variability in both the flux and spectral properties of the source. This is partly driven by strong and variable line-of-sight absorption, similar to previous outbursts. The latter stages of this observation are dominated by strong flares, reaching luminosities close to Eddington. During these flares, the central source appears to be relatively unobscured and the data show clear evidence for a strong contribution from relativistic reflection, providing a means to probe the geometry of the innermost accretion flow. Based on the flare properties, analogy with other Galactic black hole binaries, and also the simultaneous onset of radio activity, we argue that this intense X-ray flaring is related to transient jet activity during which the ejected plasma is the primary source of illumination for the accretion disk. If this is the case, then our reflection modelling implies that these jets are launched in close proximity to the black hole (as close as a few gravitational radii), consistent with expectations for jet launching models that tap either the spin of the central black hole, or the very innermost accretion disk. Our analysis also allows us to place the first constraints on the black hole spin for this source, which we find to be $a^* > 0.92$ (99% statistical uncertainty, based on an idealized lamppost geometry).

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Hard X-ray selected AGNs in low-mass galaxies from the NuSTAR serendipitous survey

We present a sample of 10 low-mass active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected from the 40-month NuSTAR serendipitous survey. The sample is selected to have robust NuSTAR detections at $3 - 24$~keV, to be at $z < 0.3$, and to have optical r-band magnitudes at least 0.5~mag fainter than an $L_\star$ galaxy at its redshift. The median values of absolute magnitude, stellar mass and 2--10 X-ray luminosity of our sample are $\langle M_r\rangle = -20.03$, $\langle M_\star\rangle = 4.6\times10^{9}M_\odot$, and $\langle L_{2-10\mathrm{keV}}\rangle = 3.1\times10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$, respectively. Five objects have detectable broad H$α$ emission in their optical spectra, indicating black-hole masses of $(1.1-10.4)\times 10^6 M_\odot$. We find that $30^{+17}_{-10}\%$ of the galaxies in our sample do not show AGN-like optical narrow emission lines, and one of the ten galaxies in our sample, J115851+4243.2, shows evidence for heavy X-ray absorption. This result implies that a non-negligible fraction of low-mass galaxies might harbor accreting massive black holes that are missed by optical spectroscopic surveys and $<10$ keV X-ray surveys. The mid-IR colors of our sample also indicate these optically normal low-mass AGNs cannot be efficiently identified with typical AGN selection criteria based on WISE colors. While the hard ($>10$ keV) X-ray selected low-mass AGN sample size is still limited, our results show that sensitive NuSTAR observations are capable of probing faint hard X-ray emission originating from the nuclei of low-mass galaxies out to moderate redshift ($z<0.3$), thus providing a critical step in understanding AGN demographics in low-mass galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

A New Compton-thick AGN in our Cosmic Backyard: Unveiling the Buried Nucleus in NGC 1448 with NuSTAR

NGC 1448 is one of the nearest luminous galaxies ($L_{8-1000μm} >$ 10$^{9} L_{\odot}$) to ours ($z$ $=$ 0.00390), and yet the active galactic nucleus (AGN) it hosts was only recently discovered, in 2009. In this paper, we present an analysis of the nuclear source across three wavebands: mid-infrared (MIR) continuum, optical, and X-rays. We observed the source with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), and combined this data with archival Chandra data to perform broadband X-ray spectral fitting ($\approx$0.5-40 keV) of the AGN for the first time. Our X-ray spectral analysis reveals that the AGN is buried under a Compton-thick (CT) column of obscuring gas along our line-of-sight, with a column density of $N_{\rm H}$(los) $\gtrsim$ 2.5 $\times$ 10$^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$. The best-fitting torus models measured an intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of $L_{2-10\rm{,int}}$ $=$ (3.5-7.6) $\times$ 10$^{40}$ erg s$^{-1}$, making NGC 1448 one of the lowest luminosity CTAGNs known. In addition to the NuSTAR observation, we also performed optical spectroscopy for the nucleus in this edge-on galaxy using the European Southern Observatory New Technology Telescope. We re-classify the optical nuclear spectrum as a Seyfert on the basis of the Baldwin-Philips-Terlevich diagnostic diagrams, thus identifying the AGN at optical wavelengths for the first time. We also present high spatial resolution MIR observations of NGC 1448 with Gemini/T-ReCS, in which a compact nucleus is clearly detected. The absorption-corrected 2-10 keV luminosity measured from our X-ray spectral analysis agrees with that predicted from the optical [OIII]$λ$5007Å emission line and the MIR 12$μ$m continuum, further supporting the CT nature of the AGN.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Dark jets in the soft X-ray state of black hole binaries?

X-ray binary observations led to the interpretation that powerful compact jets, produced in the hard state, are quenched when the source transitions to its soft state. The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility that a powerful dark jet is still present in the soft state. Using the black hole X-ray binaries GX339-4 and H1743-322 as test cases, we feed observed X-ray power density spectra in the soft state of these two sources to an internal shock jet model. Remarkably, the predicted radio emission is consistent with current upper-limits. Our results show that, for these two sources, a compact dark jet could persist in the soft state with no major modification of its kinetic power compared to the hard state.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

The NuSTAR Serendipitous Survey: The 40 month Catalog and the Properties of the Distant High Energy X-ray Source Population

We present the first full catalog and science results for the NuSTAR serendipitous survey. The catalog incorporates data taken during the first 40 months of NuSTAR operation, which provide ~20Ms of effective exposure time over 331 fields, with an areal coverage of 13 sq deg, and 497 sources detected in total over the 3-24 keV energy range. There are 276 sources with spectroscopic redshifts and classifications, largely resulting from our extensive campaign of ground-based spectroscopic followup. We characterize the overall sample in terms of the X-ray, optical, and infrared source properties. The sample is primarily comprised of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), detected over a large range in redshift from z = 0.002 - 3.4 (median of = 0.56), but also includes 16 spectroscopically confirmed Galactic sources. There is a large range in X-ray flux, from log( f_3-24keV / erg s^-1 cm^-2 ) ~ -14 to -11, and in rest-frame 10-40 keV luminosity, from log( L_10-40keV / erg s^-1 ) ~ 39 to 46, with a median of 44.1. Approximately 79% of the NuSTAR sources have lower energy (<10 keV) X-ray counterparts from XMM-Newton, Chandra, and Swift/XRT. The mid-infrared (MIR) analysis, using WISE all-sky survey data, shows that MIR AGN color selections miss a large fraction of the NuSTAR-selected AGN population, from ~15% at the highest luminosities (Lx > 10^44 erg s^-1) to ~80% at the lowest luminosities (Lx < 10^43 erg s^-1). Our optical spectroscopic analysis finds that the observed fraction of optically obscured AGNs (i.e., the Type 2 fraction) is F_Type2 = 53(+14-15)%, for a well-defined subset of the 8-24 keV selected sample. This is higher, albeit at a low significance level, than the Type 2 fraction measured for redshift- and luminosity-matched AGNs selected by <10 keV X-ray missions.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Broadband X-ray spectral analysis of the Seyfert 1 galaxy GRS 1734-292

We discuss the broadband X-ray spectrum of GRS 1734-292 obtained from non-simultaneous XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations, performed in 2009 and 2014, respectively. GRS1734-292 is a Seyfert 1 galaxy, located near the Galactic plane at $z=0.0214$. The NuSTAR spectrum ($3-80$ keV) is dominated by a primary power-law continuum with $Γ=1.65 \pm 0.05$ and a high-energy cutoff $E_c=53^{+11}_{-8}$ keV, one of the lowest measured by NuSTAR in a Seyfert galaxy. Comptonization models show a temperature of the coronal plasma of $kT_e=11.9^{+1.2}_{-0.9}$ keV and an optical depth, assuming a slab geometry, $τ=2.98^{+0.16}_{-0.19}$ or a similar temperature and $τ=6.7^{+0.3}_{-0.4}$ assuming a spherical geometry. The 2009 XMM-Newton spectrum is well described by a flatter intrinsic continuum ($Γ=1.47^{+0.07}_{-0.03}$) and one absorption line due to Fe\textsc{XXV} K$α$ produced by a warm absorber. Both data sets show a modest iron K$α$ emission line at $6.4$ keV and the associated Compton reflection, due to reprocessing from neutral circumnuclear material.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

NuSTAR observations of WISE J1036+0449, a Galaxy at z$\sim1$ obscured by hot dust

Hot, Dust-Obscured Galaxies (Hot DOGs), selected from the WISE all sky infrared survey, host some of the most powerful Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) known, and might represent an important stage in the evolution of galaxies. Most known Hot DOGs are at $z> 1.5$, due in part to a strong bias against identifying them at lower redshift related to the selection criteria. We present a new selection method that identifies 153 Hot DOG candidates at $z\sim 1$, where they are significantly brighter and easier to study. We validate this approach by measuring a redshift $z=1.009$, and an SED similar to higher redshift Hot DOGs for one of these objects, WISE J1036+0449 ($L_{\rm\,Bol}\simeq 8\times 10^{46}\rm\,erg\,s^{-1}$), using data from Keck/LRIS and NIRSPEC, SDSS, and CSO. We find evidence of a broadened component in MgII, which, if due to the gravitational potential of the supermassive black hole, would imply a black hole mass of $M_{\rm\,BH}\simeq 2 \times 10^8 M_{\odot}$, and an Eddington ratio of $λ_{\rm\,Edd}\simeq 2.7$. WISE J1036+0449 is the first Hot DOG detected by NuSTAR, and the observations show that the source is heavily obscured, with a column density of $N_{\rm\,H}\simeq(2-15)\times10^{23}\rm\,cm^{-2}$. The source has an intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of $\sim 6\times 10^{44}\rm\,erg\,s^{-1}$, a value significantly lower than that expected from the mid-infrared/X-ray correlation. We also find that the other Hot DOGs observed by X-ray facilities show a similar deficiency of X-ray flux. We discuss the origin of the X-ray weakness and the absorption properties of Hot DOGs. Hot DOGs at $z\lesssim1$ could be excellent laboratories to probe the characteristics of the accretion flow and of the X-ray emitting plasma at extreme values of the Eddington ratio.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Expanding hot flow in the black hole binary SWIFT J1753.5-0127: evidence from optical timing

We describe the evolution of optical and X-ray temporal characteristics during the outburst decline of the black hole X-ray binary SWIFT J1753.5-0127. The optical/X-ray cross-correlation function demonstrates a single positive correlation at the outburst peak, then it has multiple dips and peaks during the decline stage, which are then replaced by the precognition dip plus peak structure in the outburst tail. Power spectral densities and phase lags show a complex evolution, revealing the presence of intrinsically connected optical and X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations. For the first time, we quantitatively explain the evolution of these timing properties during the entire outburst within one model, the essence of which is the expansion of the hot accretion flow towards the tail of the outburst. The pivoting of the spectrum produced by synchrotron Comptonization in the hot flow is responsible for the appearance of the anti-correlation with the X-rays and for the optical quasi-periodic oscillations. Our model reproduces well the cross-correlation and phase lag spectrum during the decline stage, which could not be understood with any model proposed before.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

The nova-like nebular optical spectrum of V404 Cygni at the beginning of the 2015 outburst decay

We report on FORS2 optical spectroscopy of the black hole X-ray binary V404 Cygni, performed at the very beginning of its 2015 outburst decay, complemented by quasi-simultaneous $Swift$ X-ray and ultra-violet as well as REM near-infrared observations. Its peculiar spectrum is dominated by a wealth of emission signatures of HI, HeI, and higher ionisation species, in particular FeII. The spectral features are divided between broad red-shifted and narrow stationary varieties, the latter being emitted in the outer regions. Continuum and line variability at short time scale is high and we find Baldwin effect-like anti-correlations between the full-widths at half-maximum and equivalent widths of the broad lines with their local continua. The Balmer decrement Hα/Hβ is also abnormally large at $4.61\pm0.62$. We argue that these properties hint at the broad lines being optically thick and arising within a circumbinary component in which shocks between faster optically thick and slower optically thin regions may occur. We associate it to a nova-like nebula formed by the cooling remnant of strong accretion disc winds that turned off when the mass-accretion rate dropped following the last major flare. The FeII lines likely arise from the overlap region between this nebula and the companion star winds, whereas we favour the shocks within the nebula as responsible for the optical continuum via self-absorbed optically thin bremsstrahlung. The presence of a near-infrared excess also points towards the contribution of a strongly variable compact jet or a dusty component.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

IC 3639 - A new bona fide Compton thick AGN unveiled by NuSTAR

We analyse high-quality NuSTAR observations of the local (z = 0.011) Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus (AGN) IC 3639, in conjunction with archival Suzaku and Chandra data. This provides the first broadband X-ray spectral analysis of the source, spanning nearly two decades in energy (0.5-30 keV). Previous X-ray observations of the source below 10 keV indicated strong reflection/obscuration on the basis of a pronounced iron fluorescence line at 6.4 keV. The hard X-ray energy coverage of NuSTAR, together with self-consistent toroidal reprocessing models, enables direct broadband constraints on the obscuring column density of the source. We find the source to be heavily Compton-thick (CTK) with an obscuring column in excess of $3.6\times10^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$, unconstrained at the upper end. We further find an intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of $\textrm{log}_{10}(L_{\textrm{2-10 keV}} \textrm{[erg s}^{-1}]) = 43.4^{+0.6}_{-1.1}$ to 90% confidence, almost 400 times the observed flux, and consistent with various multi-wavelength diagnostics. Such a high intrinsic to observed flux ratio in addition to an Fe-K$α$ fluorescence line equivalent width exceeding 2 keV is extreme amongst known bona fide CTK AGN, which we suggest are both due to the high level of obscuration present around IC 3639. Our study demonstrates that broadband spectroscopic modelling with NuSTAR enables large corrections for obscuration to be carried out robustly, and emphasises the need for improved modelling of AGN tori showing intense iron fluorescence.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

Flares, wind and nebulae: the 2015 December mini-outburst of V404 Cygni

After more than 26 years in quiescence, the black hole transient V404 Cyg went into a luminous outburst in June 2015, and additional activity was detected in late December of the same year. Here, we present an optical spectroscopic follow-up of the December mini-outburst, together with X-ray, optical and radio monitoring that spanned more than a month. Strong flares with gradually increasing intensity are detected in the three spectral ranges during the ~10 days following the Swift trigger. Our optical spectra reveal the presence of a fast outflowing wind, as implied by the detection of a P-Cyg profile (He I - 5876 A) with a terminal velocity of ~2500 km/s. Nebular-like spectra -- with an H_alpha equivalent width of ~500 A -- are also observed. All these features are similar to those seen during the main June 2015 outburst. Thus, the fast optical wind simultaneous with the radio jet is most likely present in every V404 Cyg outburst. Finally, we report on the detection of a strong radio flare in late January 2016, when X-ray and optical monitoring had stopped due to Sun constraints.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Tracing the origin of the AGN fuelling reservoir in MCG--6-30-15

The active galaxy MCG--6-30-15 has a 400 pc diameter stellar kinematically distinct core, counter-rotating with respect to the main body of the galaxy. Our previous high spatial resolution (0".1) H-band observations of this galaxy mapped the stellar kinematics and [Fe II] 1.64 μm gas dynamics though mainly restricted to the spatial region of the counter-rotating core. In this work we probe the stellar kinematics on a larger field-of-view and determine the ionised and molecular gas dynamics to study the formation of the counter-rotating core and the implications for AGN fuelling. We present integral field spectroscopy observations with SINFONI in the H and K-bands in the central 1.2 kpc and with VIMOS HR-blue in the central 4 kpc of the galaxy. Ionised gas outflows of v ~ 100 km/s are traced by the [Ca VIII] 2.32 μm coronal line and extend out to at least a radius of r ~ 140 pc. The molecular gas, traced by the H2 2.12 μm emission is also counter rotating with respect to the main body of the galaxy, indicating that the formation of the distinct core was associated with inflow of external gas into the centre of MCG--6-30-15. The molecular gas traces the available gas reservoir for AGN fuelling and is detected as close as r ~ 50 - 100 pc. External gas accretion is able to significantly replenish the fuelling reservoir suggesting that the event that formed the counter-rotating core was also the main mechanism providing gas for AGN fuelling.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

Cosmology with AGN dust time lags -- Simulating the new VEILS survey

The time lag between optical and near-infrared continuum emission in active galactic nuclei (AGN) shows a tight correlation with luminosity and has been proposed as a standardisable candle for cosmology. In this paper, we explore the use of these AGN hot-dust time lags for cosmological model fitting under the constraints of the new VISTA Extragalactic Infrared Legacy Survey VEILS. This new survey will target a 9 deg^2 field observed in J- and Ks-band with a 14-day cadence and will run for three years. The same area will be covered simultaneously in the optical griz bands by the Dark Energy Survey, providing complementary time-domain optical data. We perform realistic simulations of the survey setup, showing that we expect to recover dust time lags for about 450 objects out of a total of 1350 optical type 1 AGN, spanning a redshift range of 0.1 < z < 1.2. We use the lags recovered from our simulations to calculate precise distance moduli, establish a Hubble diagram, and fit cosmological models. Assuming realistic scatter in the distribution of the dust around the AGN as well as in the normalisation of the lag-luminosity relation, we are able to constrain Ω_Λ in ΛCDM with similar accuracy as current supernova samples. We discuss the benefits of combining AGN and supernovae for cosmology and connect the present work to future attempts to reach out to redshifts of z > 4.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Chandra X-ray observations of the hyper-luminous infrared galaxy IRAS F15307+3252

Hyper-luminous infrared galaxies (HyLIRGs) lie at the extreme luminosity end of the IR galaxy population with $L_{\rm IR}>10^{13}$L$_\odot$. They are thought to be closer counterparts of the more distant sub-mm galaxies, and should therefore be optimal targets to study the most massive systems in formation. We present deep $Chandra$ observations of IRAS~F15307+3252 (100ks), a classical HyLIRG located at $z=$0.93 and hosting a radio-loud AGN ($L_{\rm 1.4 GHz}\sim3.5\times10^{25}$ W/Hz). The $Chandra$ images reveal the presence of extended ($r=160$ kpc), asymmetric X-ray emission in the soft 0.3-2.0 keV band that has no radio counterpart. We therefore argue that the emission is of thermal origin originating from a hot intragroup or intracluster medium virializing in the potential. We find that the temperature ($\sim2$ keV) and bolometric X-ray luminosity ($\sim3\times10^{43}$ erg s$^{-1}$) of the gas follow the expected $L_{\rm X-ray}-T$ correlation for groups and clusters, and that the gas has a remarkably short cooling time of $1.2$ Gyrs. In addition, VLA radio observations reveal that the galaxy hosts an unresolved compact steep-spectrum (CSS) source, most likely indicating the presence of a young radio source similar to 3C186. We also confirm that the nucleus is dominated by a redshifted 6.4 keV Fe K$α$ line, strongly suggesting that the AGN is Compton-thick. Finally, Hubble images reveal an over-density of galaxies and sub-structure in the galaxy that correlates with soft X-ray emission. This could be a snapshot view of on-going groupings expected in a growing cluster environment. IRAS~F15307+3252 might therefore be a rare example of a group in the process of transforming into a cluster.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

The NuSTAR Extragalactic Surveys: The Number Counts of Active Galactic Nuclei and the Resolved Fraction of the Cosmic X-ray Background

We present the 3-8 keV and 8-24 keV number counts of active galactic nuclei (AGN) identified in the NuSTAR extragalactic surveys. NuSTAR has now resolved 33-39% of the X-ray background in the 8-24 keV band, directly identifying AGN with obscuring columns up to approximately 1e25 /cm2. In the softer 3-8 keV band the number counts are in general agreement with those measured by XMM-Newton and Chandra over the flux range 5e-15 < S(3 - 8 keV)/(erg/cm2/s) < 1e-12 probed by NuSTAR. In the hard 8-24 keV band NuSTAR probes fluxes over the range 2e-14 < S(8-24 keV)/(erg/cm2/s) < 1e-12, a factor of approximately 100 fainter than previous measurements. The 8-24 keV number counts match predictions from AGN population synthesis models, directly confirming the existence of a population of obscured and/or hard X-ray sources inferred from the shape of the integrated cosmic X-ray background. The measured NuSTAR counts lie significantly above simple extrapolation with a Euclidian slope to low flux of the Swift/BAT 15-55 keV number counts measured at higher fluxes S(15-55 keV) > 1e-11 erg/cm2/s, reflecting the evolution of the AGN population between the Swift/BAT local (z<0.1) sample and NuSTAR's z~1 sample. CXB synthesis models, which account for AGN evolution, lie above the Swift/BAT measurements, suggesting that they do not fully capture the evolution of obscured AGN at low redshifts.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

The Phoenix galaxy as seen by NuSTAR

Aims. We study the long-term variability of the well-known Seyfert 2 galaxy Mrk 1210 (a.k.a. UGC 4203, or the Phoenix galaxy). Methods. The source was observed by many X-ray facilities in the last 20 years. Here we present a NuSTAR observation and put the results in context of previously published observations. Results. NuSTAR observed Mrk 1210 in 2012 for 15.4 ks. The source showed Compton-thin obscuration similar to that observed by Chandra, Suzaku, BeppoSAX and XMM-Newton over the past two decades, but different from the first observation by ASCA in 1995, in which the active nucleus was caught in a low flux state - or obscured by Compton-thick matter, with a reflection-dominated spectrum. Thanks to the high-quality hard X-ray spectrum obtained with NuSTAR and exploiting the long-term spectral coverage spanning 16.9 years, we can precisely disentangle the transmission and reflection components and put constraints on both the intrinsic long-term variability and hidden nucleus scenarios. In the former case, the distance between the reflector and the source must be at least ~ 2 pc, while in the latter one the eclipsing cloud may be identified with a water maser-emitting clump.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Disk-Jet quenching of the Galactic Black Hole Swift J1753.5-0127

We report on radio and X-ray monitoring observations of the BHC Swift J1753.5-0127 taken over a ~10 year period. Presented are daily radio observations at 15 GHz with the AMI-LA and X-ray data from Swift XRT and BAT. Also presented is a deep 2hr JVLA observation taken in an unusually low-luminosity soft-state (with a low disk temperature). We show that although the source has remained relatively radio-quiet compared to XRBs with a similar X-ray luminosity in the hard-state, the power-law relationship scales as $ζ=0.96\pm0.06$ i.e. slightly closer to what has been considered for radiatively inefficient accretion disks. We also place the most stringent limit to date on the radio-jet quenching in an XRB soft-state, showing the connection of the jet quenching to the X-ray power-law component; the radio flux in the soft-state was found to be $<21~μ$Jy, which is a quenching factor of $\gtrsim25$

astro-ph.HE↗