Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

W. Voges

Publications and source records attributed to W. Voges.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv1998

The ROSAT BRIGHT survey: I. Identification of an AGN sample with hard ROSAT X-ray spectra

The ROSAT Bright Survey (RBS) aims to completely optically identify the more than 2000 brightest sources detected in the ROSAT all-sky survey at galactic latitudes |b| > 30 degr (excluding LMC, SMC, Virgo cluster). This paper presents a subsample of 66 bright point-like ROSAT survey sources with almost hard PSPC spectra, the hardness ratio HR1 is > 0.5 for most of the sources. The subsample could be nearly completely identified by low-resolution optical spectroscopy with the following breakdown into object classes: 31 Seyfert galaxies, 22 BL Lac candidates, 5 clusters of galaxies 1 cataclysmic variable, and 5 bright stars. Only one object remained unidentified and one X-ray source was a spurious detect ion. The redshift distribution peaks around 0.06 for the Seyferts and around 0.13 for the BL Lac candidates. Observations with medium spectral resolution were obtained for most of the new S eyfert galaxies. A large fraction (20 objects) are type 1 Seyfert galaxies, the other fraction includes Seyfert galaxies of type 1.5 - 1.8 (5 objects), two LINERs, and 4 possible narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1). About one third of the new Seyfert's have nearby companion galaxies displaying either emission or absorption lines at the same redshift. Among them are a couple of systems showing direct morphological evidence for interaction. The large fraction of interacting galaxies among our sample suggests a scenario where interaction is the main trigger of AGN activity.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1998

Results from the REFLEX Cluster Survey

Based on the ROSAT All-Sky Survey we have conducted a large redshift survey as an ESO key programme to identify and secure redshifts for the X-ray brightest clusters found in the southern hemisphere. We present first results for a highly controlled sample for a flux limit of 3 10-12 erg/s/cm+2 comprising 475 clusters (87% with redshifts). The logN-logS function of the sample shows an almost perfect Euclidian slope and a preliminary X-ray luminosity function is presented.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1998

Broad band energy distribution of ROSAT detected quasars II: Radio-quiet objects

A database of radio-quiet quasars detected with ROSAT is presented containing 846 quasars seen in the All-Sky Survey and/or in pointed PSPC observations. About 70% of the objects have been detected in X-rays for the first time. We present the soft X-ray fluxes and spectra, if available. Using an optically selected subsample compiled from this database, we study the broad band properties of radio-quiet quasars with high statistical significance. We confirm that radio-quiet quasars have in general steeper soft X-ray spectra than radio-loud. The spectral differences persist to high redshifts. A spectral flattening with increasing redshift is confirmed up to redshift around 2, beyond which the spectral slopes seem to be independent of redshift. The spectral slopes of the ROSAT radio-quiet quasars at z>2.5 are consistent with those found for nearby quasars in the medium energy band (2-10keV), implying that the X-ray spectral evolution is not important. We show that there is, in a statistical sense, little or no excess absorption for most of the radio-quiet objects at z>2. The existence of a correlation between the X-ray luminosity and the luminosity at 2500A is confirmed. Individual objects show a large scatter from this correlation. The X-ray loudness alpha_ox appears to be independent of z, but the analyses indicate a slight increase of alpha_ox with optical luminosity. However, this behavior is likely not caused by physical properties inherent to the quasars but is the result of the intrinsic dispersion. Finally, we find a small fraction of objects which appear to be relatively `X-ray quiet' compared to the bulk of the other quasars.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1998

High resolution imaging of the X-ray afterglow of GRB970228 with ROSAT

We report results of a ROSAT High-Resolution Imager (HRI) observation of the X-ray error box given by the BeppoSAX Wide Field Camera for the gamma-ray burst that occurred on 1997 February 28. The observation started 10 days after the burst and ended three days later, with a total exposure of 34.3 ks. An X-ray source was detected within the 3' WFC error box and its position determined with a 10'' radius accuracy. The source position is in the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instrument source error box and is coincident (to within 2'') with the optical transient associated with GRB970228. This is the most precise position obtained for an X-ray afterglow and confirms that the X-ray and optical afterglows have the same origin. We present the 0.1--2.4 keV combined HRI and BeppoSAX Low-Energy Concentrator Spectrometer decay light curve which can be well fit with a power-law. The decay is consistent with that measured at higher energies (2--10 keV) with the BeppoSAX Medium-Energy Concentrator Spectrometer.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1998

On the evolutionary behaviour of BL Lac objects

We present a new well defined sample of BL Lac objects selected from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS). The sample consists of 39 objects with 35 forming a flux limited sample down to f_X = 8 x 10^{-13} cgs, redshifts are known for 33 objects (and 31 of the complete sample). X-ray spectral properties were determined for each object individually with the RASS data. The luminosity function of RASS selected BL Lac objects is compatible with results provided by objects selected with the Einstein observatory, but the RASS selected sample contains objects with luminosities at least tenfold higher. Our analysis confirms the negative evolution for X-ray selected BL Lac objects found in a sample by the Einstein observatory, the parameterization provides similar results. A subdivision of the sample into halves according to the X-ray to optical flux ratio yielded unexpected results. The extremely X-ray dominated objects have higher redshifts and X-ray luminosities and only this subgroup shows clear signs of strong negative evolution. The evolutionary behaviour of objects with an intermediate spectral energy distribution between X-ray and radio dominated is compatible with no evolution at all. Consequences for unified schemes of X-ray and radio selected BL Lac objects are discussed.We suggest that the intermediate BL Lac objects are the basic BL Lac population. The distinction between the two subgroups can be explained if extreme X-ray dominated BL Lac objects are observed in a state of enhanced X-ray activity.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1997

Identification of selected sources from the ROSAT Galactic Plane Survey - I

We report on optical searches in the error circles of 93 ROSAT survey sources located at low galactic latitudes (|b| < 20 deg). These sources were extracted from the ROSAT Galactic Plane Survey using various selection criteria on hardness ratio, X-ray and optical brightness and integrated galactic absorption in the direction of the source. We find optical identifications in 76 cases, among which are 25 new AGN, 6 new CVs and a new Be/X-ray binary. In order to illustrate the relevance of the source selections applied here, we cross-correlated the ROSAT all-sky survey bright source list with SIMBAD. Different classes of X-ray emitters populate distinct regions of a multi dimensional parameter space involving flux ratios, galactic latitude and Nh. This relatively good segregation offers the possibility to build source samples with enhanced probability of identification with a given class. Complete optical identification of such subsamples could eventually be used to compute meaningful probabilities of identification for all sources using as basis a restricted set of multi-wavelength information.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1997

ROSAT All-Sky Survey observations of IRAS galaxies; I. Soft X-ray and far-infrared properties

The 120,000 X-ray sources detected in the RASS II processing of the ROSAT All-Sky Survey are correlated with the 14,315 IRAS galaxies selected from the IRAS Point Source Catalogue: 372 IRAS galaxies show X-ray emission within a distance of 100 arcsec from the infrared position. By inspecting the structure of the X-ray emission in overlays on optical images we quantify the likelihood that the X-rays originate from the IRAS galaxy. For 197 objects the soft X-ray emission is very likely associated with the IRAS galaxy. Their soft X-ray properties are determined and compared with their far-infrared emission. X-ray contour plots overlaid on Palomar Digitized Sky Survey images are given for each of the 372 potential identifications. All images and tables displayed here are also available in electronic form.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1997

The Steepness Ratio Technique: A New Method to analyze ROSAT All-Sky Survey Extended Sources

In this first paper of a series we develop a new technique to analyze clusters of galaxies observed during the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS). We call this method the Steepness Ratio Technique (SRT). The SRT uses the convolution between the real RASS point-spread function and the cluster emission profile assumed to be a beta-model with the beta parameter fixed to the value of 2/3. From the convolved source emission profile the SRT extracts total flux and extension (i.e., core radius) for each cluster. Using the Steepness Ratio (SR) and a control sample of RASS pointlike sources we are able to assign to each RASS source a model-independent probability of extension. Potential biases arising from the hypotheses of a beta-model emission profile and from a fixed beta value are quantified. Tests with control samples of optically identified sources extracted from both the ROSAT survey database and from the ROSAT-PSPC pointed observations archive are performed to check the SRT output. We find that the source properties derived using the SRT on RASS data are consistent with those determined from ROSAT-PSPC pointed observations.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1997

RX J2115.7-5840: a short-period, asynchronous polar

We report phase-resolved optical polarimetric, photometric and spectroscopic observations of RX J2115.7-5840 (= EUVE J2115-58.6, Craig 1996) which confirms the system to be a magnetic cataclysmic binary of the polar (AM Herculis) subclass. The optical light curve is sometimes flat and occasionally displays a pronounced bright phase, reminiscent of the self-eclipse of a small accretion spot by the revolving white dwarf, as seen in self-eclipsing polars. Our period search reveals ambiguous results only which can be interpret assuming that the white dwarf is not synchronously rotating with the binary orbit. We find circularly polarized cyclotron radiation with V/I ranging from 0% to -15% on one occasion, from -8% to +15% on another occasion. Compared with other polars, the self-occulted accretion region of RXJ2115 had an extreme red cyclotron spectrum. In addition, the system has an extreme hard X-ray colour during the ROSAT all-sky survey observation. Both properties suggest a low value of the magnetic field strength, and our best estimate gives B = 11+-2 MG. Due to the absence of significant M-star features in our low-resolution spectra we estimate the minimum distance to RXJ2115 to be d > 250pc (for an M5+ secondary star).

astro-ph↗
arXiv1997

ROSAT Detection and High Precision Localization of X-ray Sources in the November 19, 1978 Gamma-Ray Burst Error Box

We report on observations of the 1978, November 19 Gamma-Ray Burst source, performed with the ROSAT X-ray HRI experiment. Two sources were detected, one of which is possibly variable. The latter source is identical to the source discovered in 1981 by the EINSTEIN satellite, and recently detected by ASCA. The precise localization of these sources is given, and our data are compared with optical, radio and previous X-ray data.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1996

Properties of the X-ray brightest Abell-type clusters of galaxies (XBACs) from ROSAT All-Sky Survey data --- I. The sample

We present an essentially complete, all-sky, X-ray flux limited sample of 242 Abell clusters of galaxies (six of which are double) compiled from ROSAT All-Sky Survey data. Our sample is uncontaminated in the sense that systems featuring prominent X-ray point sources such as AGN or foreground stars have been removed. The sample is limited to high Galactic latitudes ($|b| \geq 20^{\circ}$), the nominal redshift range of the ACO catalogue of $z \leq 0.2$, and X-ray fluxes above $5.0 \times 10^{-12}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ in the 0.1 -- 2.4 keV band. Due to the X-ray flux limit, our sample consists, at intermediate and high redshifts, exclusively of very X-ray luminous clusters. Since the latter tend to be also optically rich, the sample is not affected by the optical selection effects and in particular not by the volume incompleteness known to be present in the Abell and ACO catalogues for richness class 0 and 1 clusters. Our sample is the largest X-ray flux limited sample of galaxy clusters compiled to date and will allow investigations of unprecedented statistical quality into the properties and distribution of rich clusters in the local Universe.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1995

X-ray evolution in the ROSAT Brightest Cluster Sample

We present the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of the ROSAT Brightest Cluster Sample (BCS), an X-ray selected, flux limited sample of 172 clusters of galaxies at $z\leq 0.3$ compiled from ROSAT All-Sky Survey data. While the bulk of the BCS consists of Abell clusters, the sample also contains Zwicky clusters and purely X-ray selected systems. The BCS-XLF represents the best determination of the local X-ray luminosity function for galaxy clusters and thus provides an important reference for evolutionary studies. For the BCS itself, we find no convincing evidence for cluster evolution within a redshift of $z=0.3$. This result is not in conflict with the findings of the EMSS study on cluster evolution.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1995

Discovery of a Large Gravitational Arc in the X-ray Cluster A2280

This Letter presents the serendipitous discovery of a large arc in an X-ray selected cluster detected in the Rosat North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) survey. The cluster, associated with Abell 2280, is identified as the optical counterpart of the X-ray source RXJ 1743.5+6341. This object is a medium--distant z=0.326 and luminous (L_(0.5-2 kev) = 5.06x10**44 erg/s) cluster dominated by a central bright galaxy. The arc is located ~ 14 arcsec to the North-West of the cD and it is detected in the R and I bands but not in the B band. Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the cluster and of the arc are presented. Other similar discoveries in the course of imaging and spectroscopic surveys of Rosat are expected in the future.

astro-ph↗