arXiv subjects

V. Jithesh

Publications and source records attributed to V. Jithesh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

X-ray Intraday Variability of HBL Blazars with XMM-Newton

We present an extensive study on the X-ray intraday variability of ten TeV-emitting high synchrotron peaked blazars (HBLs): 1ES 0229+200, 1ES 0414+009, PKS 0548-322, 1ES 1101-232, 1H 1219+301, H 1426+428, Mrk 501, 1ES 1959+650, PKS 2005-489, and 1ES 2344+514 made with twenty-five XMM-Newton pointed observations during its operational period. Intraday variability has been estimated in three energy bands: soft (0.3--2 keV), hard (2--10 keV) and total (0.3--10 keV). Although seven out of these ten TeV HBLs exhibited some intraday variability at three-sigma levels no major variations exceeding six percent were detected. We explored the spectral properties of the sample by extracting the hardness ratio from the soft and hard bands; no significant variations in the hardness ratio were observed in any source. We performed power spectral density analyses on the variable light-curves by fitting power-laws, yielding slopes lying in the range from 1.11 to 2.93 for different HBLs. We briefly discuss possible emission mechanisms and carry out rough estimates for magnetic fields, electron Lorentz factors and emission region sizes for seven of these HBLs.

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arXiv2021

Spectral and Temporal Properties of Ultra-luminous X-ray Source NGC 55 ULX1

We investigate the spectral and temporal properties of ultra-luminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC~55~ULX1 using {\it Swift}, {\it XMM-Newton} and {\it NuSTAR} observations conducted during 2013--2021. In these observations, the source flux varies by a factor of $\sim 5-6$, and we identify the source mainly in the $soft~ultraluminous$ (SUL) state of ULXs. We fit the X-ray spectra with a two thermal component model consisting of a blackbody (for the soft component) and a disc (for the hard component), and the soft component dominates in these observations. The soft component in the SUL state shows properties similar to that of ultraluminous supersoft sources, for example, an anti-correlation between the characteristic radius and temperature of the blackbody component. In addition, we observe a positive correlation between the blackbody and inner disc temperatures when the X-ray spectra are fitted with the two-thermal component model. The source exhibits marginal evidence of X-ray flux dips in the {\it Swift} and {\it XMM-Newton} observations at different intensity levels. We explain the observed spectral and temporal properties of the source by invoking the supercritical radiatively driven outflow mechanism.

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arXiv2021

Evidence for coronal temperature variation in Seyfert 2 ESO 103--035 using NuSTAR observations

We report flux-resolved spectroscopic analysis of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) ESO 103--035 using \textit{NuSTAR} observations. Following an earlier work, we fit the spectra using a thermal Comptonization model with a relativistic reflection component to obtain estimates of the coronal temperature for two flux levels. The coronal temperature was found to increase from 24.0$^{+6.8}_{-3.4}$ to 55.3$^{+54.6}_{-7.2}$ keV (errors at 1-$σ$ confidence level) as the flux increased from $9.8$ to $11.9 \times 10^{-11}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ in the 3--78 keV band. A marginal variation in the high energy photon index allows for both, a non-varying optical depth and for the optical depth to have varied by a factor of $\sim$2. This is in contrast to a previous work on \textit{NuSTAR} flux resolved spectroscopy of the AGN, Ark 564, where the temperature was found to decrease with flux along with a $10$\% variation in the optical depth. The results maybe understood in a framework where AGN variability is either dominated by coronal heating variation leading to correlated increase of temperature with flux and the opposite effect being seen when the variability is dominated by changes in the seed photon flux.

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arXiv2021

Broadband Spectral and Timing Properties of MAXI J1348-630 using AstroSat and NICER Observations

We present broadband X-ray spectral-timing analysis of the new Galactic X-ray transient MAXI~J1348--630 using five simultaneous {\it AstroSat} and {\it NICER} observations. Spectral analysis using {\it AstroSat} data identify the source to be in the soft state for the first three observations and in a faint and bright hard state for the next two. Quasi-periodic oscillations at $\sim 0.9$ and $\sim 6.9$\,Hz, belonging to the type-C and type-A class are detected. In the soft state, the power density spectra are substantially lower (by a factor $> 5$) for the {\it NICER} (0.5--12 keV) band compared to the {\it AstroSat}/LAXPC (3--80 keV) one, confirming that the disk is significantly less variable than the Comptonization component. For the first time, energy-dependent fractional rms and time lag in the 0.5--80 keV energy band was measured at different Fourier frequencies, using the bright hard state observation. Hard time lag is detected for the bright hard state, while the faint one shows evidence for soft lag. A single-zone propagation model fits the LAXPC results in the energy band 3--80 keV with parameters similar to those obtained for Cygnus X--1 and MAXI J1820+070. Extending the model to lower energies, reveals qualitative similarities but having quantitative differences with the {\it NICER} results. These discrepancies could be because the {\it NICER} and {\it AstroSat} data are not strictly simultaneous and because the simple propagation model does not take into account disk emission. The results highlight the need for more joint coordinated observations of such systems by {\it NICER} and {\it AstroSat}.

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arXiv2021

Unveiling the broadband spectral and temporal properties of PKS\,0903-57 during its brightest flare

We carried a detailed spectral and temporal study of blazar, \mbox{PKS\,0903-57} using the \emph{Fermi}-LAT and \emph{Swift}-XRT/UVOT observations, during its brightest flaring period MJD\,58931--58970. During this period, the maximum daily averaged $γ$-ray flux ($\rm F_{0.1-500\,GeV}$) of $\rm9.42\times10^{-6}\,ph\,cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}$ is observed on MJD\,58951.5, the highest $γ$-ray flux detected from \mbox{PKS\,0903-57} till now. Several high-energy (HE) photons ($>\,10$\,GeV) consistent with the source location at high probability (>\,99\%) are detected, and the $γ$-ray lightcurve in the active state shows multiple substructures with asymmetric profile. In order to understand the possible physical scenario responsible for the flux enhancement, we carried a detailed broadband spectral study of \mbox{PKS\,0903-57} by choosing different flux states from its active period. Neglecting the multi-band variability in each of the selected time intervals, we could reproduce their averaged broadband SEDs with a one-zone leptonic model whose parameters were derived with a $χ^2$-fit. We found that the broadband SED during different flux states can be reproduced by the synchrotron, synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC) and External-Compton (EC) processes. The seed photons for EC process from BLR or IR torus provide acceptable fits to the GeV spectrum in all the flux states; however, the detection of HE photons together with the equipartition condition suggest that the EC/IR process is a more likely scenario. Further, a detailed comparison between the fit parameters shows that the flux enhancement from quiescent-state to the flaring-state is mostly related to increase in the bulk Lorentz factor of the emission region and change in the break energy of the source spectrum.

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arXiv2020

Broadband X-ray Spectral Study of Ultra-luminous X-ray Source M81 X--6

Ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs) are a class of extra-galactic, point-like, off-nuclear X-ray sources with X-ray luminosity from $\sim 10^{39}$~erg s$^{-1}$ to $10^{41}$~erg s$^{-1}$. We investigated the temporal and broadband X-ray spectral properties of the ULX M81~X--6 using simultaneous \textit{Suzaku} and \textit{NuSTAR} observations. To understand the nature of the source, we searched for pulsating signals from the source using the \textit{NuSTAR} observation. However, we failed to identify any strong pulsating signals from the source. Alternatively, the broadband spectral modelling with accreting magnetic neutron star continuum model provides a statistically acceptable fit, and the inferred spectral parameters and X-ray colours are consistent with other pulsating ULXs. Thus, our analysis suggests that M81~X--6 is another candidate ULX pulsar.

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arXiv2020

NuSTAR observation of Ark 564 reveals the variation of coronal temperature with flux

The hard X-ray spectral index of some AGN has been observed to steepen with the source flux. This has been interpreted in a Comptonization scenario, where an increase in the soft flux decreases the temperature of the corona, leading to steepening of the photon index. However, the variation of the coronal temperature with flux has been difficult to measure due to the presence of complex reflection component in the hard X-rays and the lack of high-quality data at that energy band. Recently, a 200 ks {\it NuSTAR} observation of Ark 564 in 3--50 keV band, revealed the presence of one of the coolest coronae with temperature $kT_e \sim 15$ keV in the time-averaged spectrum. Here, we re-analyse the data and examined the spectra in four flux levels. Our analysis shows that the coronal temperature decreased from $\sim 17$ to $\sim 14$ keV as the flux increased. The high energy photon index $Γ\sim 2.3$ varied by less than $0.1$, implying that the optical depth of the corona increased by about 10\% as the flux increased. This first reporting of coronal temperature variation with flux shows that further long observation by {\it NuSTAR} of this and other sources would shed light on the geometry and dynamics of the inner regions of the accretion flow.

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arXiv2019

Spectral and Timing Properties of the Galactic X-ray transient Swift~J1658.2--4242 using Astrosat Observations

We present the X-ray timing and spectral analysis of the new Galactic X-ray transient Swift J1658.2-4242 observed with LAXPC and SXT instruments onboard {\it Astrosat}. We detect prominent C-type quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) of frequencies varying from $\sim 1.5$ Hz to $\sim 6.6$ Hz along with distinct 2nd harmonics and sub-harmonics. The QPO detected at $\sim 1.56$ Hz drifts to a higher centroid frequency of $\sim 1.74$ in the course of the observation, while the QPO detected at $\sim 6.6$\,Hz disappeared during hard flarings. The fractional rms at the QPO and the sub-harmonic frequencies increases with photon energy, while at the 2nd harmonic frequencies the rms seems to be constant. In addition, we have observed soft time lag at QPO and sub-harmonic frequencies up to a time scale of $\sim 35$ ms, however, at the 2nd harmonic frequencies there is weak/zero time lag. We attempt spectral modeling of the broadband data in the 0.7--25 keV band using the doubly absorbed disk plus thermal Comptonization model. Based on the spectral and timing properties, we identified the source to be in the hard intermediate state of black hole X-ray binaries. To quantitatively fit the energy and frequency-dependent fractional rms and time lag, we use a single zone fluctuation propagation model and discuss our results in the context of that model.

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arXiv2019

FERMI observation of the jets of the microquasar SS433

We report our analysis of the data obtained with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) for the SS 433/W50 region. The total data length is ten years. Different from the previous results reported for this region (for which an old version of database was used), we show that excess emission is detected around the w1 region in the western lobe of the jets from SS 433. The region is bright at X-rays due to the interaction between the jet and the ambient medium. This detection also matches well the recent results of the very-high-energy detection of SS 433/W50 with the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC). However, the eastern regions that are slightly brighter in HAWC's observation are not detected in the Fermi data. Constructing the broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) for the western region, we compare with the HAWC results for the eastern regions and discuss the possible origin of the emission. A leptonic scenario can provide a fit to the Fermi GeV spectrum and HAWC TeV detection, where the former and latter are due to the synchrotron radiation and inverse-Compton process respectively. However, the model can not explain the X-ray and radio emission from the region simultaneously, which thus requires further observational and theoretical studies of the region in order to clarify the reasons.

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arXiv2019

Study on Temporal and Spectral behavior of 3C 279 during 2018 January flare

We present a detailed temporal and spectral study of the blazar 3C\,279 using multi-wavelength observations from Swift-XRT, Swift-UVOT and Fermi-LAT during a flare in 2018 January. The temporal analysis of $γ$-ray light curve indicates a lag of $\sim 1$ d between the 0.1--3 GeV and 3--500 GeV emission. Additionally, the $γ$-ray light curve shows asymmetry with slow rise--fast decay in energy band 0.1--3 GeV and fast rise--slow decay in the 3--500 GeV band. We interpret this asymmetry as a result of shift in the Compton spectral peak. This inference is further supported by the correlation studies between the flux and the parameters of the log-parabola fit to the source spectra in the energy range 0.1--500 GeV. We found that the flux correlates well with the peak spectral energy and the log-parabola fit parameters show a hard index with large curvature at high flux states. Interestingly, the hardest index with large curvature was synchronous with a very high energy flare detected by H.E.S.S. Our study of the spectral behavior of the source suggests that $γ$-ray emission is most likely to be associated with the Compton up-scattering of IR photons from the dusty environment. Moreover, the fit parameters indicate the increase in bulk Lorentz factor of emission region to be a dominant cause for the flux enhancement.

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arXiv2018

Exploring the Spectral Variability of the Ultra-luminous X-ray source M81 X-6 with Suzaku and XMM-Newton

We present X-ray spectral variability studies of the ultra-luminous X-ray source (ULX) M81 X--6 using {\it Suzaku} and {\it XMM-Newton} observations performed during 2001--2015. The spectra were first fitted by a standard multi-temperature disk and a thermal Comptonization component which revealed spectral variability where the primary distinction is the change in the optical depth of the Comptonizing component, similar to what has been observed for other ULXs. We also fitted the spectra with a general relativistic accretion disk emission and a power-law component and found that it can reproduce a large part but not all of the spectral variability of the source. The parameters for the black hole mass and spin were found to be degenerate, but the high spin and larger mass ($20-100\,\rm M_\odot$) solutions provided near Eddington accretion rates consistent with the assumptions of the model. The spectral variation is found to be driven by accretion rate changes leading to three different spectral classes. Thus, our results suggest the possibility of a dominant relativistic disk emission component for some of the spectral states of the source.

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arXiv2017

High energy properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 4C 50.11

We investigate the $γ$-ray and X-ray properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) \4c50 at redshift $z= 1.517$. The {\it Fermi} Large Area Telescope (LAT) data indicate that this source was in an active state since 2013 July. During the active period, the $γ$-ray flux increased by more than a factor of three and two distinct flares were detected with the variability timescale as short as several hours. The $γ$-ray spectra can be well fitted by a log-parabola. From the fitting, we find a correlation between the peak energy and spectral curvature for the $γ$-ray spectra, which is the first time seen in $γ$-ray emission from a blazar. The {\it Swift} X-ray Telescope (XRT) data show that the source was variable at X-ray energies, but no evidence shows flux or spectral changes related to the $γ$-ray activity. The broad-band X-ray spectrum obtained with {\it Swift} XRT and {\it NuSTAR} is well described by a broken PL model, with an extremely hard spectrum ($Γ_{1} \sim 0.1$) below the break energy, $E_{\rm break} \sim 2.1 {\rm keV}$, and $Γ_{2} \sim 1.5$ above the break energy. The spectral steepening below $\sim 3$ keV is likely due to the low energy cut-off in the energy distribution of the photon-emitting electron population. Both the $γ$-ray and X-ray emission appear harder when brighter. The broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) is constructed for the source, and we provide a model fit to the SED. Our modeling suggests that the emission region should be outside the broad line region, and the properties of the region indicate a jet with 42\% of the Eddington power during the active state.

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arXiv2017

Long-term Spectral Variability of the Ultra-luminous X-ray source Holmberg IX X--1

We investigate the long-term spectral variability in the ultra-luminous X-ray source Holmberg IX X--1. By analyzing the data from eight {\it Suzaku} and 13 {\it XMM-Newton} observations conducted between 2001 and 2015, we perform a detailed spectral modeling for all spectra with simple models and complex physical models. We find that the spectra can be well explained by a disc plus thermal Comptonization model. Applying this model, we unveil correlations between the X-ray luminosity ($L_{\rm X}$) and the spectral parameters. Among the correlations, a particular one is the statistically significant positive correlation between $L_{\rm X}$ and the photon index ($Γ$), while at the high luminosities of $> 2\times10^{40}\,{\rm~erg\ s}^{-1}$, the source becomes marginally hard and that results a change in the slope of the $Γ- L_{\rm X}$ correlation. Similar variability behavior is observed in the optical depth of the source around $L_{\rm X} \sim 2\times10^{40}\,{\rm~erg\ s}^{-1}$ as the source becomes more optically thick. We consider the scenario that a corona covers the inner part of the disc, and the correlations can be explained as to be driven by the variability of seed photons from the disc input into the corona. On the basis of the disc-corona model, we discuss the physical processes that are possibly indicated by the variability of the spectral parameters. Our analysis reveals the complex variability behavior of Holmberg IX X--1 and the variability mechanism is likely related to the geometry of the X-ray emitting regions.

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arXiv2017

Identification of Candidate Millisecond Pulsars from Fermi LAT Observations II

Following our work presented in Dai et al. (2016), we report our detailed data analysis for another 38 Fermi gamma-ray un-associated sources. These sources are selected from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) third source catalog on the basis of the properties of known gamma-ray millisecond pulsars (MSPs) and for the purpose of finding likely candidate MSPs. From our analysis of the LAT data, we identify that among the 38 sources, 28 of them are single point-like sources with clean background and their spectra show significant curvature. We also conduct analysis of archival X-ray data available for 24 of the 28 sources. In the fields of 10 sources, there are at least one X-ray object, and in those of the other 14 sources, no X-ray object is detected but probably due to the X-ray observations being short. We discuss the possible MSP nature for these sources. Six of them(J0514.6-4406, J1035.7-6720, J1624.2-4041, J1744.1-7619, J1946.4-5403, and J2039.6-5618) are most likely associated with pulsars because of multi-wavelength identifications including direct radio or gamma-ray detection of pulsations. To firmly establish the associations or verify the MSP nature for other sources, deep X-ray and/or optical observations are needed.

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arXiv2016

Transient X-ray Sources in the Magellanic-type Galaxy NGC 4449

We report the identification of seven transient X-ray sources in the nearby Magellanic-type galaxy NGC 4449 using the archival multi-epoch X-ray observations conducted with {\it Chandra}, {\it XMM-Newton} and {\it Swift} telescopes over year 2001--2013. Among them, two sources are classified as supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) because of their soft X-ray color and rest of the sources are X-ray binaries (XRBs). Transient SSSs spectra can be fitted with a blackbody of effective temperature $\sim 80-105$ eV and luminosities were $\simeq 10^{37} - 10^{38} {\rm~erg\ s}^{-1}$ in 0.3--8 keV. These properties are consistent with the widely accepted model for SSSs, an accreting white dwarf with the steady nuclear burning on its surface, while the SSS emission has also been observed in many post-nova systems. Detailed analysis of one sufficiently bright SSS revealed the strong short-term variability, possibly showing a 2.3 hour periodic modulation, and long-term variability, detectable over 23 years with different X-ray telescopes before year 2003. The X-ray properties of four other transients are consistent with neutron star or black hole binaries in their hard state, while the remaining source is most likely an XRB with a quasi-soft X-ray spectrum. Analysis of archival {\it Hubble Space Telescope} image data was also conducted, and multiple massive stars were found as possible counterparts. We conclude that the X-ray transient properties in NGC 4449 are similar to those in other Magellanic-type galaxies.

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arXiv2016

Transient X-ray source population in the Magellanic-type galaxy NGC 55

We present the spectral and temporal properties of 15 candidate transient X-ray sources detected in archival {\it XMM-Newton} and {\it Chandra} observations of the nearby Magellanic-type, SB(s)m galaxy NGC 55. On the basis of an X-ray color classification scheme, the majority of the sources may be identified as X-ray binaries (XRBs), and six sources are soft, including a likely supernova remnant. We perform a detailed spectral and variability analysis of the data for two bright candidate XRBs. Both sources displayed strong short-term X-ray variability, and their X-ray spectra and hardness ratios are consistent with those of XRBs. These results, combined with their high X-ray luminosities ($\sim 10^{38}~\rm erg~s^{-1}$), strongly suggest that they are black hole (BH) binaries. Seven less luminous sources have spectral properties consistent with those of neutron star or BH XRBs in both normal and high-rate accretion modes, but one of them is the likely counterpart to a background galaxy (because of positional coincidence). From the spectral analysis, we find that the six soft sources are candidate super soft sources (SSSs), with dominant emission in the soft (0.3--2 keV) X-ray band. Archival {\it Hubble Space Telescope} optical images for 7 sources are available, and the data suggest that most of them are likely to be high-mass XRBs. Our analysis has revealed the heterogeneous nature of the transient population in NGC 55 (6 high-mass XRBs, 1 low-mass XRBs, 6 SSSs, 1 active galactic nucleus), helping establish the similarity of the X-ray properties of this galaxy to those of other Magellanic-type galaxies.

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arXiv2016

Identification of Candidate Millisecond Pulsars from Fermi LAT Observations

We report our detailed data analysis for 39 $γ$-ray sources selected from the 992 unassociated sources in the \textit{Fermi} Large Area Telescope (LAT) third source catalog. The selection criteria, which were set for finding candidate millisecond pulsars (MSPs), are non-variables with curved spectra and $>$5$^{\circ}$ Galactic latitudes. From our analysis, 24 sources were found to be point-like sources not contaminated by background or nearby unknown sources. Three of them, J1544.6$-$1125, J1625.1$-$0021, and J1653.6$-$0158, have been previously studied, indicating that they are likely MSPs. The spectra of J0318.1+0252 and J2053.9+2922 do not have properties similar to that of known $γ$-ray MSPs, and we thus suggest that they are not MSPs. Analysis of archival X-ray data for most of the 24 sources were also conducted. Four sources were found with X-ray objects in their error circles, and 16 with no detection. The ratios between the $γ$-ray fluxes and X-ray fluxes or flux upper limits are generally lower than those of the known $γ$-ray MSPs, suggesting that if the $γ$-ray sources are MSPs, none of the X-ray objects are the counterparts. Deep X-ray or radio observations of these sources are needed in order to identify their MSP nature.

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arXiv2015

Possible Fermi Detection of the Accreting Millisecond Pulsar Binary SAX J1808.4-3658

We report the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) detection of a $γ$-ray source at the position of SAX J1808.4$-$3658. This transient low-mass X-ray binary contains an accreting millisecond puslar, which is only seen during its month-long outbursts and likely switches to be rotation powered during its quiescent state. Emission from the $γ$-ray source can be described by a power law with an exponential cutoff, the characteristic form for pulsar emission. Folding the source's 2.0--300 GeV photons at the binary orbital period, a weak modulation is seen (with an H-test value of $\sim$17). In addition, three sets of archival XMM-Newton data for the source field are analyzed, and we find only one X-ray source with 3--4$σ$ flux variations in the 2$σ$ error circle of the $γ$-ray source. However based on the X-ray properties, this X-ray source is not likely a background AGN, the major class of Fermi sources detected by LAT. These results support the possible association between the $γ$-ray source and SAX J1808.4$-$3658 and thus the scenario that the millisecond pulsar is rotation powered in the quiescent state. Considering a source distance of 3.5 kpc for SAX J1808.4$-$3658, the 0.1--300 GeV luminosity is 5.7$\times 10^{33}$ erg s$^{-1}$, implying a $γ$-ray conversion efficiency of 63\% for the pulsar in this binary.

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