arXiv subjects

William Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to William Zhang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

The X-ray reflection spectrum of the radio-loud quasar 4C 74.26

The relativistic jets created by some active galactic nuclei are important agents of AGN feedback. In spite of this, our understanding of what produces these jets is still incomplete. X-ray observations, which can probe the processes operating in the central regions in immediate vicinity of the supermassive black hole, the presumed jet launching point, are potentially particularly valuable in illuminating the jet formation process. Here, we present the hard X-ray NuSTAR observations of the radio-loud quasar 4C 74.26 in a joint analysis with quasi-simultaneous, soft X-ray Swift observations. Our spectral analysis reveals a high-energy cut-off of 183$_{-35}^{+51}$ keV and confirms the presence of ionized reflection in the source. From the average spectrum we detect that the accretion disk is mildly recessed with an inner radius of $R_\mathrm{in}=4-180\,R_\mathrm{g}$. However, no significant evolution of the inner radius is seen during the three months covered by our NuSTAR campaign. This lack of variation could mean that the jet formation in this radio-loud quasar differs from what is observed in broad-line radio galaxies.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

The Geometry of the Infrared and X-ray Obscurer in a Dusty Hyperluminous Quasar

We study the geometry of the AGN obscurer in IRAS 09104+4109, an IR-luminous, radio-intermediate FR-I source at $z=0.442$, using infrared data from Spitzer and Herschel, X-ray data from Nustar, Swift, Suzaku, and Chandra, and an optical spectrum from Palomar. The infrared data imply a total rest-frame 1-1000$μ$m luminosity of $5.5\times10^{46}$erg s$^{-1}$ and require both an AGN torus and starburst model. The AGN torus has an anisotropy-corrected IR luminosity of $4.9\times10^{46}$erg s$^{-1}$, and a viewing angle and half opening angle both of approximately $36$ degrees from pole-on. The starburst has a star formation rate of $(110\pm34)$M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ and an age of $<50$Myr. These results are consistent with two epochs of luminous activity in 09104: one approximately $150$Myr ago, and one ongoing. The X-ray data suggest a photon index of $Γ\simeq 1.8$ and a line-of-sight column of $N_{\rm H} \simeq 5\times10^{23}$cm$^{-2}$. This argues against a reflection-dominated hard X-ray spectrum, which would have implied a much higher $N_{\rm H}$ and luminosity. The X-ray and infrared data are consistent with a bolometric AGN luminosity of $L_{\rm bol}\sim(0.5-2.5)\times10^{47}$erg s$^{-1}$. The X-ray and infrared data are further consistent with coaligned AGN obscurers in which the line of sight "skims" the torus. This is also consistent with the optical spectra, which show both coronal iron lines and broad lines in polarized but not direct light. Combining constraints from the X-ray, optical, and infrared data suggests that the AGN obscurer is within a vertical height of $20$pc, and a radius of $125$pc, of the nucleus.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

Length Scale of Correlated Dynamics in Ultra-thin Molecular Glasses

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is widely used in manufacturing ultra-thin layers of amorphous organic solids. Here, we demonstrate that these films exhibit a sharp transition from glassy solid to liquid-like behavior with thickness below 30 nm. This liquid-like behavior persists even at temperatures well below the glass transition temperature, T$_{\mathrm{g}}$. The enhanced dynamics in these films can produce large scale morphological features during PVD and lead to a dewetting instability in films held at temperatures as low as T$_{\mathrm{g}}$-35 K. We measure the effective viscosity of organic glass films by monitoring the dewetting kinetics. These measurements combined with cooling rate-dependent T$_{\mathrm{g}}$ measurements show that the apparent activation barrier for rearrangement decreases sharply in films thinner than 30 nm. These observations suggest long-range facilitation of dynamics induced by the free surface, with dramatic effects on the properties of nano-scale amorphous materials.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2016

The rhythm of Fairall 9 -- I: Observing the spectral variability with XMM-Newton and NuSTAR

We present a multi-epoch X-ray spectral analysis of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Fairall 9. Our analysis shows that Fairall 9 displays unique spectral variability in that its ratio residuals to a simple absorbed power law in the 0.5-10 keV band remain constant with time in spite of large variations in flux. This behavior implies an unchanging source geometry and the same emission processes continuously at work at the timescale probed. With the constraints from NuSTAR on the broad-band spectral shape, it is clear that the soft excess in this source is a superposition of two different processes, one being blurred ionized reflection in the innermost parts of the accretion disk, and the other a continuum component such as spatially distinct Comptonizing region. Alternatively, a more complex primary Comptonization component together with blurred ionized reflection could be responsible.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

The Corona of the Broad-Line Radio Galaxy 3C 390.3

We present the results from a joint Suzaku/NuSTAR broad-band spectral analysis of 3C 390.3. The high quality data enables us to clearly separate the primary continuum from the reprocessed components allowing us to detect a high energy spectral cut-off ($E_\text{cut}=117_{-14}^{+18}$ keV), and to place constraints on the Comptonization parameters of the primary continuum for the first time. The hard over soft compactness is 69$_{-24}^{+124}$ and the optical depth 4.1$_{-3.6}^{+0.5}$, this leads to an electron temperature of $30_{-8}^{+32}$ keV. Expanding our study of the Comptonization spectrum to the optical/UV by studying the simultaneous Swift-UVOT data, we find indications that the compactness of the corona allows only a small fraction of the total UV/optical flux to be Comptonized. Our analysis of the reprocessed emission show that 3C 390.3 only has a small amount of reflection (R~0.3), and of that the vast majority is from distant neutral matter. However we also discover a soft X-ray excess in the source, which can be described by a weak ionized reflection component from the inner parts of the accretion disk. In addition to the backscattered emission, we also detect the highly ionized iron emission lines Fe XXV and Fe XXVI.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

NuSTAR observations of the powerful radio-galaxy Cygnus A

We present NuSTAR observations of the powerful radio galaxy Cygnus A, focusing on the central absorbed active galactic nucleus (AGN). Cygnus A is embedded in a cool-core galaxy cluster, and hence we also examine archival XMM-Newton data to facilitate the decomposition of the spectrum into the AGN and intracluster medium (ICM) components. NuSTAR gives a source-dominated spectrum of the AGN out to >70keV. In gross terms, the NuSTAR spectrum of the AGN has the form of a power law (Gamma~1.6-1.7) absorbed by a neutral column density of N_H~1.6x10^23 cm^-2. However, we also detect curvature in the hard (>10keV) spectrum resulting from reflection by Compton-thick matter out of our line-of-sight to the X-ray source. Compton reflection, possibly from the outer accretion disk or obscuring torus, is required even permitting a high-energy cutoff in the continuum source; the limit on the cutoff energy is E_cut>111keV (90% confidence). Interestingly, the absorbed power-law plus reflection model leaves residuals suggesting the absorption/emission from a fast (15,000-26,000km/s), high column-density (N_W>3x10^23 cm^-2), highly ionized (xi~2,500 erg cm/s) wind. A second, even faster ionized wind component is also suggested by these data. We show that the ionized wind likely carries a significant mass and momentum flux, and may carry sufficient kinetic energy to exercise feedback on the host galaxy. If confirmed, the simultaneous presence of a strong wind and powerful jets in Cygnus A demonstrates that feedback from radio-jets and sub-relativistic winds are not mutually exclusive phases of AGN activity but can occur simultaneously.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Phase-resolved NuSTAR and Swift-XRT Observations of Magnetar 4U 0142+61

We present temporal and spectral analysis of simultaneous 0.5-79 keV Swift-XRT and NuSTAR observations of the magnetar 4U 0142+61. The pulse profile changes significantly with photon energy between 3 and 35 keV. The pulse fraction increases with energy, reaching a value of ~20%, similar to that observed in 1E 1841-045 and much lower than the ~80% pulse fraction observed in 1E 2259+586. We do not detect the 55-ks phase modulation reported in previous Suzaku-HXD observations. The phase-averaged spectrum of 4U 0142+61 above 20 keV is dominated by a hard power law with a photon index, $Γ$ ~ 0.65, and the spectrum below 20 keV can be described by two blackbodies, a blackbody plus a soft power law, or by a Comptonized blackbody model. We study the full phase-resolved spectra using the electron-positron outflow model of Beloborodov (2013). Our results are consistent with the parameters of the active j-bundle derived from INTEGRAL data by Hascoet et al. (2014). We find that a significant degeneracy appears in the inferred parameters if the footprint of the j-bundle is allowed to be a thin ring instead of a polar cap. The degeneracy is reduced when the footprint is required to be the hot spot inferred from the soft X-ray data.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Broadband X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy of the Crab Nebula and Pulsar with NuSTAR

We present broadband (3 -- 78 keV) NuSTAR X-ray imaging and spectroscopy of the Crab nebula and pulsar. We show that while the phase-averaged and spatially integrated nebula + pulsar spectrum is a power-law in this energy band, spatially resolved spectroscopy of the nebula finds a break at $\sim$9 keV in the spectral photon index of the torus structure with a steepening characterized by $ΔΓ\sim0.25$. We also confirm a previously reported steepening in the pulsed spectrum, and quantify it with a broken power-law with break energy at $\sim$12 keV and $ΔΓ\sim0.27$. We present spectral maps of the inner 100\as\ of the remnant and measure the size of the nebula as a function of energy in seven bands. These results find that the rate of shrinkage with energy of the torus size can be fitted by a power-law with an index of $γ= 0.094\pm 0.018$, consistent with the predictions of Kennel and Coroniti (1984). The change in size is more rapid in the NW direction, coinciding with the counter-jet where we find the index to be a factor of two larger. NuSTAR observed the Crab during the latter part of a $γ$-ray flare, but found no increase in flux in the 3 - 78 keV energy band.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

NuSTAR Detection Of A Cyclotron Line In The Supergiant Fast X-ray Transient IGR J17544-2619

We present NuSTAR spectral and timing studies of the Supergiant Fast X-ray Transient (SFXT) IGR J17544-2619. The spectrum is well-described by a ~1 keV blackbody and a hard continuum component, as expected from an accreting X-ray pulsar. We detect a cyclotron line at 17 keV, confirming that the compact object in IGR J17544-2619 is indeed a neutron star. This is the first measurement of the magnetic field in a SFXT. The inferred magnetic field strength, B = (1.45 +/- 0.03) * 10^12 G * (1+z) is typical of neutron stars in X-ray binaries, and rules out a magnetar nature for the compact object. We do not find any significant pulsations in the source on time scales of 1-2000 s.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

NuSTAR Discovery of a Cyclotron Line in the Be/X-ray Binary RX J0520.5-6932 During Outburst

We present spectral and timing analysis of NuSTAR observations of RX J0520.5$-$6932 in the 3-79 keV band collected during its outburst in January 2014. The target was observed on two epochs and we report the detection of a cyclotron resonant scattering feature with central energies of $E_\mathrm{CRSF} = 31.3_{-0.7}^{+0.8}$ keV and $31.5_{-0.6}^{+0.7}$ keV during the two observations, respectively, corresponding to a magnetic field of $B \approx 2 \times10^{12}$ G. The 3-79 keV luminosity of the system during the two epochs assuming a nominal distance of 50 kpc was $3.667\pm0.007\times 10^{38}\,\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}$ and $3.983\pm0.007\times10^{38}\,\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}$. Both values are much higher than the critical luminosity of $\approx1.5\times10^{37}\,\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}$ above which a radiation dominated shock front may be expected. This adds a new object to the sparse set of three systems that have a cyclotron line observed at luminosities in excess of $10^{38}\,\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}$. A broad ($σ\approx0.45$ keV) Fe emission line is observed in the spectrum at a central energy of $6.58_{-0.05}^{+0.05}$ keV in both epochs. The pulse profile of the pulsar was observed to be highly asymmetric with a sharply rising and slowly falling profile of the primary peak. We also observed minor variations in the cyclotron line energy and width as a function of the rotation phase.% As in observations of other cyclotron absorption line sources, there is a small ($Δϕ\lesssim0.1$) phase difference between the peak of the cyclotron energy variation and the peak of the flux variation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

NuSTAR Observations of the State Transition of Millisecond Pulsar Binary PSR J1023+0038

We report NuSTAR observations of the millisecond pulsar - low mass X-ray binary (LMXB) transition system PSR J1023+0038 from June and October 2013, before and after the formation of an accretion disk around the neutron star. Between June 10-12, a few days to two weeks before the radio disappearance of the pulsar, the 3-79 keV X-ray spectrum was well fit by a simple power law with a photon index of Gamma=1.17 +/-0.08 (at 90% confidence) with a 3-79 keV luminosity of 7.4+/-0.4 x 10^32 erg/s. Significant orbital modulation was observed with a modulation fraction of 36+/-10%. During the October 19-21 observation, the spectrum is described by a softer power law (Gamma=1.66+/-0.06) with an average luminosity of 5.8+/-0.2 x 10^33 erg/s and a peak luminosity of ~1.2 x 10^34 erg/s observed during a flare. No significant orbital modulation was detected. The spectral observations are consistent with previous and current multi-wavelength observations and show the hard X-ray power law extending to 79 keV without a spectral break. Sharp edged, flat bottomed `dips' are observed with widths between 30-1000 s and ingress and egress time-scales of 30-60 s. No change in hardness ratio was observed during the dips. Consecutive dip separations are log-normal in distribution with a typical separation of approximately 400 s. These dips are distinct from dipping activity observed in LMXBs. We compare and contrast these dips to observations of dips and state changes in the similar transition systems PSR J1824-2452I and XSS J1227.0-4859 and discuss possible interpretations based on the transitions in the inner disk.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

NuSTAR Discovery of a cyclotron line in KS 1947+300

We present a spectral analysis of three simultaneous NuSTAR and Swift/XRT observations of the transient Be-neutron star binary KS 1947+300 taken during its outburst in 2013/2014. These broad-band observations were supported by Swift/XRT monitoring snap-shots every 3 days, which we use to study the evolution of the spectrum over the outburst. We find strong changes of the power-law photon index, which shows a weak trend of softening with increasing X-ray flux. The neutron star shows very strong pulsations with a period of P ~ 18.8 s. The 0.8-79 keV broad-band spectrum can be described by a power-law with an exponential cutoff and a black-body component at low energies. During the second observation we detect a cyclotron resonant scattering feature at 12.5 keV, which is absent in the phase-averaged spectra of observations 1 and 3. Pulse phase-resolved spectroscopy reveals that the strength of the feature changes strongly with pulse phase and is most prominent during the broad minimum of the pulse profile. At the same phases the line also becomes visible in the first and third observation at the same energy. This discovery implies that KS 1947+300 has a magnetic field strength of B ~ 1.1e12 (1+z)G, which is at the lower end of known cyclotron line sources.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

NuSTAR discovery of a luminosity dependent cyclotron line energy in Vela X-1

We present NuSTAR observations of Vela X-1, a persistent, yet highly variable, neutron star high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB). Two observations were taken at similar orbital phases but separated by nearly a year. They show very different 3-79 keV flux levels as well as strong variability during each observation, covering almost one order of magnitude in flux. These observations allow, for the first time ever, investigations on kilo-second time-scales of how the centroid energies of cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs) depend on flux for a persistent HMXB. We find that the line energy of the harmonic CRSF is correlated with flux, as expected in the sub-critical accretion regime. We argue that Vela X-1 has a very narrow accretion column with a radius of around 0.4 km that sustains a Coulomb interaction dominated shock at the observed luminosities of Lx ~ 3x10^36 erg/s. Besides the prominent harmonic line at 55 keV the fundamental line around 25 keV is clearly detected. We find that the strengths of the two CRSFs are anti-correlated, which we explain by photon spawning. This anti-correlation is a possible explanation for the debate about the existence of the fundamental line. The ratio of the line energies is variable with time and deviates significantly from 2.0, also a possible consequence of photon spawning, which changes the shape of the line. During the second observation, Vela X-1 showed a short off-state in which the power-law softened and a cut-off was no longer measurable. It is likely that the source switched to a different accretion regime at these low mass accretion rates, explaining the drastic change in spectral shape.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

The smooth cyclotron line in Her X-1 as seen with NuSTAR

Her X-1, one of the brightest and best studied X-ray binaries, shows a cyclotron resonant scattering feature (CRSF) near 37 keV. This makes it an ideal target for detailed study with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), taking advantage of its excellent hard X-ray spectral resolution. We observed Her X-1 three times, coordinated with Suzaku, during one of the high flux intervals of its 35d super-orbital period. This paper focuses on the shape and evolution of the hard X-ray spectrum. The broad-band spectra can be fitted with a powerlaw with a high-energy cutoff, an iron line, and a CRSF. We find that the CRSF has a very smooth and symmetric shape, in all observations and at all pulse-phases. We compare the residuals of a line with a Gaussian optical depth profile to a Lorentzian optical depth profile and find no significant differences, strongly constraining the very smooth shape of the line. Even though the line energy changes dramatically with pulse phase, we find that its smooth shape does not. Additionally, our data show that the continuum is only changing marginally between the three observations. These changes can be explained with varying amounts of Thomson scattering in the hot corona of the accretion disk. The average, luminosity-corrected CRSF energy is lower than in past observations and follows a secular decline. The excellent data quality of NuSTAR provides the best constraint on the CRSF energy to date.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

NuSTAR detection of hard X-ray phase lags from the accreting pulsar GS 0834-430

The NuSTAR hard X-ray telescope observed the transient Be/X-ray binary GS 0834-430 during its 2012 outburst - the first active state of this system observed in the past 19 years. We performed timing and spectral analysis, and measured the X-ray spectrum between 3-79keV with high statistical significance. We find the phase-averaged spectrum to be consistent with that observed in many other magnetized accreting pulsars. We fail to detect cyclotron resonance scattering features that would allow us to constrain the pulsar's magnetic field in either phase-averaged or phase-resolved spectra. Timing analysis shows a clearly detected pulse period of ~12.29s in all energy bands. The pulse profiles show a strong, energy-dependent hard phase lag of up to 0.3 cycles in phase, or about 4s. Such dramatic energy-dependent lags in the pulse profile have never before been reported in high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) pulsars. Previously reported lags have been significantly smaller in phase and restricted to low-energies (E<10keV). We investigate the possible mechanisms that might produce this energy-dependent pulse phase shift. We find the most likely explanation for this effect to be a complex beam geometry.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

NuSTAR discovery of a 3.76-second transient magnetar near Sagittarius A*

We report the discovery of 3.76-s pulsations from a new burst source near Sgr A* observed by the NuSTAR Observatory. The strong signal from SGR J1745-29 presents a complex pulse profile modulated with pulsed fraction 27+/-3 % in the 3-10 keV band. Two observations spaced 9 days apart yield a spin-down rate of Pdot = (6.5+/-1.4)x10^{-12}. This implies a magnetic field B = 1.6x10^14 G, spin-down power Edot = 5x10^33 erg/s, and characteristic age P/2Pdot = 9x10^3 yr, for the rotating dipole model. However, the current Pdot may be erratic, especially during outburst. The flux and modulation remained steady during the observations and the 3-79 keV spectrum is well fitted by a combined blackbody plus power-law model with temperature kT_BB = 0.96+/-0.02 keV and photon index = 1.5+/-0.4, respectively. The neutral hydrogen column density (nH ~ 1.4x10^23 cm^{-2}) measured by NuSTAR and Swift suggests that SGR J1745-29 is located at or near the Galactic Center. The lack of an X-ray counterpart in the published Chandra survey catalog sets a quiescent 2-8 keV luminosity limit of Lx ~< 10^32 erg/s. The bursting, timing, and spectral properties indicate a transient magnetar undergoing an outburst with 2-79 keV luminosity up to 3.5x10^35 erg/s for a distance of 8 kpc. SGR J1745-29 joins a growing subclass of transient magnetars, indicating that many magnetars in quiescence remain undetected in the X-ray band or have been detected as high-B radio pulsars. The peculiar location of SGR J1745-29 has important implications for the formation and dynamics of neutron stars in the Galactic Center region.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

The Black Hole Evolution and Space Time (BEST) Observatory

In this white paper, we discuss the concept of a next-generation X-ray mission called BEST (Black hole Evolution and Space Time). The mission concept uses a 3000 square centimeter effective area mirror (at 6 keV) to achieve unprecedented sensitivities for hard X-ray imaging spectrometry (5-70 keV) and for broadband X-ray polarimetry (2-70 keV). BEST can make substantial contributions to our understanding of the inner workings of accreting black holes, our knowledge about the fabric of extremely curved spacetime, and the evolution of supermassive black holes. BEST will allow for time resolved studies of accretion disks. With a more than seven times larger mirror area and a seven times wider bandpass than GEMS, BEST will take X-ray polarimetry to a new level: it will probe the time variability of the X-ray polarization from stellar mass and supermassive black holes, and it will measure the polarization properties in 30 independent energy bins. These capabilities will allow BEST to conduct tests of accretion disk models and the underlying spacetimes. With three times larger mirror area and ten times better angular resolution than NuSTAR, BEST will be able to make deep field observations with a more than 15 times better sensitivity than NuSTAR. The mission will be able to trace the evolution of obscured and unobscured black holes in the redshift range from zero to six, covering the most important epoch of supermassive black hole growth. The hard X-ray sensitivity of BEST will enable a deep census of non-thermal particle populations. BEST will give us insights into AGN feedback by measuring the particle luminosity injected by AGNs into the interstellar medium (ISM) of their hosts, and will map the emission from particles accelerated at large scale structure shocks. Finally, BEST has the potential to constrain the equation of state of neutron stars (NS).

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR)

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is a NASA Small Explorer mission that will carry the first focusing hard X-ray (5 -- 80 keV) telescope to orbit. NuSTAR will offer a factor 50 -- 100 sensitivity improvement compared to previous collimated or coded mask imagers that have operated in this energy band. In addition, NuSTAR provides sub-arcminute imaging with good spectral resolution over a 12-arcminute field of view. After launch, NuSTAR will carry out a two-year primary science mission that focuses on four key programs: studying the evolution of massive black holes through surveys carried out in fields with excellent multiwavelength coverage, understanding the population of compact objects and the nature of the massive black hole in the center of the Milky Way, constraining explosion dynamics and nucleosynthesis in supernovae, and probing the nature of particle acceleration in relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei. A number of additional observations will be included in the primary mission, and a guest observer program will be proposed for an extended mission to expand the range of scientific targets. The payload consists of two co-aligned depth-graded multilayer coated grazing incidence optics focused onto solid state CdZnTe pixel detectors. To be launched in early 2012 on a Pegasus rocket into a low-inclination Earth orbit. Data will be publicly available at GSFC's High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) following validation at the science operations center located at Caltech.

astro-ph.IM↗