scholarly journals Identification of a new ultraluminous X-ray source in NGC 1316

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (4) ◽  
pp. 5682-5689
Author(s):  
S Allak ◽  
A Akyuz ◽  
N Aksaker ◽  
M Ozdogan Ela ◽  
S Avdan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In this study, we report identification of a new ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) named as X-7 in NGC 1316, with an unabsorbed luminosity of 2.1 × 1039 erg s−1 using the two recent Chandra archival observations. The X-7 was detected in the Chandra 2001 observation and was included in the source list of the NGC 1316 as CXOUJ032240.8−371224 with a luminosity of 5.7 × 1038 erg s−1. Present luminosity implies a luminosity increase of a factor of ∼4. The best-fitting spectral model parameters indicate that X-7 has a relatively hot disc and hard spectra. If explained by a disc blackbody model, the mass of compact object is estimated as ∼8 M⊙ which is in the range of a stellar-mass black hole. The X-7 shows a relatively long-term count rate variability while no short-term variability is observed. We also identified a unique optical candidate within 0.22 arcsec error circle at 95 per cent confidence level for X-7 using the archival HST/ACS (Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys) and HST/WFC3 (The Wide Field Camera 3) data. Absolute magnitude (MV) of this candidate is −7.8 mag. Its spectral energy distribution is adequately fitted a blackbody model with a temperature of 3100 K indicating an M type supergiant, assuming the donor star dominates the optical emission. In addition, we identified a transient ULX candidate (XT-1) located 6 arcsec away from X-7 has a (high) luminosity of ∼1039 erg s−1 with no visible optical candidate.

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (4) ◽  
pp. 5935-5940 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Aksaker ◽  
A Akyuz ◽  
S Avdan ◽  
H Avdan

ABSTRACT We present the results of a search for optical counterparts of ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) X-1 in the nearby galaxy NGC 2500 by using archival images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera (WFC3)/UVIS. We identified four optical sources as possible counterparts within the 2σ error radius of 0$^{\prime \prime }_{.}$3 in the images. However, only two of them were investigated as candidates for counterparts due to their point-like features and their identification in various filters. These two faint candidates have absolute magnitudes of MV ≈ −3.4 and −3.7. The spectral energy distributions of two candidates were modelled by a power-law spectrum with a photon index (α) ∼1.5, but the spectrum of one candidate shows a deviation. This may suggest that at least two components are responsible for the optical emission. The red part of the spectrum could arise from the companion star and the blue part could be interpreted as an evidence of reprocessing of the X-rays from the disc.


2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 2138-2147
Author(s):  
A Akyuz ◽  
S Avdan ◽  
S Allak ◽  
N Aksaker ◽  
I Akkaya Oralhan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present the results of a search for the nature of ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) X-3 in the nearby galaxy NGC 4258. We use archival data from XMM–Newton, Chandra, NuSTAR, and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations. Total X-ray data were analysed to find that the model parameters of the system are indicative of a stellar-mass black hole, ∼10 M⊙, as the central compact object. Furthermore, analyses of the optical data from HST reveal two optical candidates at 90 per cent confidence level within an error radius of 0.28 arcsec. Assuming the optical emission is dominated by the donor star, both of these candidates are found to have spectral types that lie between B3 and F1 with absolute magnitudes of MV ≈ −6.4. Moreover, the age and mass estimates for the candidates are found to be 10 and 18 Myr and 13 and 20 M⊙, respectively.


2019 ◽  
Vol 487 (4) ◽  
pp. 5781-5787
Author(s):  
Ji-Yang Ren ◽  
Quan-Gui Gao ◽  
Huai-Zhen Li ◽  
Ju Ma ◽  
Shan-Shan Zhao ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The multiband photon emission and spectral evolution of G54.1+0.3 are investigated in the framework of leptonic and leptonic–hadronic models. We model the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) and find that both the leptonic and leptonic–hadronic models can well reproduce the multiband observations of the nebula with appropriate model parameters. Combining with dynamical evolution of the PWN, we investigate the time evolution of photon SED and radiative luminosity in the X-ray and TeV γ-ray bands of G54.1+0.3. The results indicate that the synchrotron spectrum and radiative luminosity in the X-ray band of the PWN calculated with these two models have obvious differences as the age increases to about 4 kyr, and the largest difference is present at about 40 kyr. The γ-ray luminosity calculated by the leptonic–hadronic model shows that the contribution of TeV photons arising from the decay of neutral pions produced in proton–proton interaction also changes with time and is always important for modifying the TeV γ-ray spectrum of G54.1+0.3 during the evolution of the PWN.


2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (1) ◽  
pp. 559-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bourrier ◽  
P J Wheatley ◽  
A Lecavelier des Etangs ◽  
G King ◽  
T Louden ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In this third paper of the MOVES (Multiwavelength Observations of an eVaporating Exoplanet and its Star) programme, we combine Hubble Space Telescope far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations with XMM–Newton/Swift X-ray observations to measure the emission of HD 189733 in various FUV lines, and its soft X-ray spectrum. Based on these measurements we characterize the interstellar medium towards HD 189733 and derive semisynthetic XUV spectra of the star, which are used to study the evolution of its high-energy emission at five different epochs. Two flares from HD 189733 are observed, but we propose that the long-term variations in its spectral energy distribution have the most important consequences for the environment of HD 189733b. Reduced coronal and wind activity could favour the formation of a dense population of Si2+ atoms in a bow-shock ahead of the planet, responsible for pre- and in-transit absorption measured in the first two epochs. In-transit absorption signatures are detected in the Lyman α line in the second, third, and fifth epochs, which could arise from the extended planetary thermosphere and a tail of stellar wind protons neutralized via charge-exchange with the planetary exosphere. We propose that increases in the X-ray irradiation of the planet, and decreases in its EUV irradiation causing lower photoionization rates of neutral hydrogen, favour the detection of these signatures by sustaining larger densities of H0 atoms in the upper atmosphere and boosting charge-exchanges with the stellar wind. Deeper and broader absorption signatures in the last epoch suggest that the planet entered a different evaporation regime, providing clues as to the link between stellar activity and the structure of the planetary environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idel Waisberg ◽  
Jason Dexter ◽  
Pierre Olivier-Petrucci ◽  
Guillaume Dubus ◽  
Karine Perraut

Context. The microquasar SS 433 is well known for its precessing, relativistic, and highly collimated baryonic jets, which manifest in its optical spectrum as pairs of hydrogen and helium emission lines moving with large Doppler shifts. Depending on their heating mechanism, the optical jet bullets may serve as a probe of the collimated radiation coming from the inner region close to the compact object, and which is not directly visible to observers on Earth. Aims. We aim to better understand the baryonic jet phenomenon in SS 433, in particular the properties of the optical bullets and their interaction with the ionizing collimated radiation. Methods. The optical interferometer VLTI/GRAVITY has allowed us to spatially resolve the optical jets in SS 433 for the first time. We present here the second such observation taken over three nights in July 2017. In addition, we used the X-shooter spectrograph at VLT to study the optical bullets in SS 433 in detail. Over the full wavelength range 0.3−2.5 μm, we identified up to twenty pairs of jet lines observed simultaneously, which we modeled with the spectral synthesis code Cloudy. Results. GRAVITY reveals elongated exponential-like radial spatial profiles for the optical jets on scales ≲1−10 mas, suggestive of a heating mechanism acting throughout a long portion of the jet and naturally explained by photoionization by the collimated radiation. We also spatially resolve the movement of the optical bullets for the first time, detecting more extended jet components corresponding to previous ejections. Cloudy photoionization models can explain the spatial intensity profiles measured with GRAVITY and the emission line ratios from X-shooter, and constrain the properties of the optical bullets and the ionizing radiation. We find that the latter must peak in the UV with an isotropic luminosity (as inferred by a face-on observer) ∼1041 erg s−1. Provided that the X-ray spectral energy distribution is sufficiently hard, the collimated X-ray luminosity could still be high enough so that the face-on observer would see SS 433 as ultraluminous X-ray source and it would still be compatible with the H/He/He+ ionization balance of the optical bullets. The kinetic power in the optical jets is constrained to 2−20 × 1038 erg s−1, and the extinction in the optical jets to AV = 6.7 ± 0.1. We suggest there may be substantial AV ≳ 1 and structured circumstellar extinction in SS 433, likely arising from dust formed in equatorial outflows.


2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (1) ◽  
pp. 740-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Yang(杨光) ◽  
M Boquien ◽  
V Buat ◽  
D Burgarella ◽  
L Ciesla ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Code Investigating GALaxy Emission (cigale) is a powerful multiwavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting code for extragalactic studies. However, the current version of cigale is not able to fit X-ray data, which often provide unique insights into active galactic nucleus (AGN) intrinsic power. We develop a new X-ray module for cigale, allowing it to fit SEDs from the X-ray to infrared (IR). We also improve the AGN fitting of cigale from UV-to-IR wavelengths. We implement a modern clumpy two-phase torus model, skirtor. To account for moderately extincted type 1 AGNs, we implement polar-dust extinction. We publicly release the source code (named ‘x-cigale’). We test x-cigale with X-ray detected AGNs in SDSS, COSMOS, and AKARI-NEP. The fitting quality (as indicated by reduced χ2) is good in general, indicating that x-cigale is capable of modelling the observed SED from X-ray to IR. We discuss constrainability and degeneracy of model parameters in the fitting of AKARI-NEP, for which excellent mid-IR photometric coverage is available. We also test fitting a sample of AKARI-NEP galaxies for which only X-ray upper limits are available from Chandra observations, and find that the upper limit can effectively constrain the AGN SED contribution for some systems. Finally, using x-cigale, we assess the ability of Athena to constrain the AGN activity in future extragalactic studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. L7
Author(s):  
S. Komossa ◽  
D. Grupe ◽  
L. C. Gallo ◽  
P. Poulos ◽  
D. Blue ◽  
...  

Context. The narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 335 was one of the X-ray brightest active galactic nuclei, but it has systematically faded since 2007. Aims. We report the discovery with Swift of a sequence of bright and rapid X-ray flare events that reveal the emergence of Mrk 335 from its ultra-deep multiyear low state. Methods. Results are based on our dedicated multiyear monitoring of Mrk 335 with Swift. Results. Unlike other bright active galactic nuclei, the optical–UV is generally not correlated with the X-rays in Mrk 335 on a timescale of days to months. This fact either implies the absence of a direct link between the two emission components; or else implies that the observed X-rays are significantly affected by (dust-free) absorption along our line of sight. The UV and optical, however, are closely correlated at the 99.99% confidence level. The UV is leading the optical by Δt = 1.5 ± 1.5 d. The Swift X-ray spectrum shows strong deviations from a single power law in all brightness states of the outbursts, indicating that significant absorption or reprocessing is taking place. Mrk 335 displays a softer-when-brighter variability pattern at intermediate X-ray count rates, which has been seen in our Swift data since 2007 (based on a total of 590 observations). This pattern breaks down at the highest and lowest count rates. Conclusions. We interpret the 2020 brightening of Mrk 335 as a decrease in column density and covering factor of a partial-covering absorber along our line of sight in the form of a clumpy accretion-disk wind that reveals an increasing portion of the intrinsic emission of Mrk 335 from the disk and/or corona region, while the optical emission-line regions receive a less variable spectral energy distribution. This then also explains why Mrk 335 was never seen to change its optical Seyfert type (not “changing look”) despite its factor ∼50 X-ray variability with Swift.


2020 ◽  
Vol 637 ◽  
pp. A23 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Martí-Devesa ◽  
O. Reimer

Context.γ-ray binaries are systems composed of a massive star and a compact object whose interaction leads to particle acceleration up to relativistic energies. In the last fifteen years, a few binaries have been found to emit at high energies, but their number is still low. The TeV source HESS J1832−093 has been proposed as a binary candidate, although its nature is unclear. Neither a GeV counterpart nor a period was detected. Aims. The purpose of this work is to search for a GeV counterpart to understand the origin of the TeV signal detected by H.E.S.S. For an unambiguous identification of its binary nature, finding an orbital modulation is crucial. Methods. We analysed data spanning more than 10 years from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT), together with Swift archival observations taken between 2015 and 2018, using both the X-Ray Telescope and UV/Optical Telescope. We searched for periodicities in both X-ray and GeV bands. Results. We find a periodic modulation of ∼ 86 days in the X-ray source candidate counterpart XMMU J183245−0921539, together with indications of γ-ray modulation with a compatible period in the GeV candidate counterpart 4FGL J1832.9−0913. Neither an optical nor a UV counterpart is found at the X-ray source location. The overall spectral energy distribution strongly resembles the known γ-ray binary HESS J0632+057. Conclusions. Both the spectral energy distribution and the discovery of an orbital period allow the identification of the TeV source HESS J1832−093 as a new member of the γ-ray binary class.


2018 ◽  
Vol 620 ◽  
pp. A16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Butler ◽  
Minh Huynh ◽  
Ivan Delvecchio ◽  
Anna Kapińska ◽  
Paolo Ciliegi ◽  
...  

The classification of the host galaxies of the radio sources in the 25 deg2 ultimate XMM extragalactic survey south field (XXL-S) is presented. XXL-S was surveyed at 2.1 GHz with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and is thus far the largest area radio survey conducted down to rms flux densities of σ ~ 41 μJy beam−1. Of the 6287 radio sources in XXL-S, 4758 (75.7%) were cross-matched to an optical counterpart using the likelihood ratio technique. There are 1110 spectroscopic redshifts and 3648 photometric redshifts available for the counterparts, of which 99.4% exist out to z ~ 4. A number of multiwavelength diagnostics, including X-ray luminosities, mid-infrared colours, spectral energy distribution fits, radio luminosities, and optical emission lines and colours, were used to classify the sources into three types: low-excitation radio galaxies (LERGs), high-excitation radio galaxies (HERGs), and star-forming galaxies (SFGs). The final sample contains 1729 LERGs (36.3%), 1159 radio-loud HERGs (24.4%), 296 radio-quiet HERGs (6.2%), 558 SFGs (11.7%), and 1016 unclassified sources (21.4%). The XXL-S sub-mJy radio source population is composed of ~75% active galactic nuclei and ~20% SFGs down to 0.2 mJy. The host galaxy properties of the HERGs in XXL-S are independent of the HERG selection, but the XXL-S LERG and SFG selection is, due to the low spectral coverage, largely determined by the known properties of those populations. Considering this caveat, the LERGs tend to exist in the most massive galaxies with low star formation rates and redder colours, whereas the HERGs and SFGs exist in galaxies of lower mass, higher star formation rates, and bluer colours. The fraction of blue host galaxies is higher for radio-quiet HERGs than for radio-loud HERGs. LERGs and radio-loud HERGs are found at all radio luminosities, but radio-loud HERGs tend to be more radio luminous than LERGs at a given redshift. These results are consistent with the emerging picture in which LERGs exist in the most massive quiescent galaxies typically found in clusters with hot X-ray halos and HERGs are associated with ongoing star formation in their host galaxies via the accretion of cold gas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (3) ◽  
pp. 4068-4081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-Wen Wang ◽  
Tomotsugu Goto ◽  
Seong Jin Kim ◽  
Tetsuya Hashimoto ◽  
Denis Burgarella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In order to understand the interaction between the central black hole and the whole galaxy or their co-evolution history along with cosmic time, a complete census of active galactic nucleus (AGN) is crucial. However, AGNs are often missed in optical, UV, and soft X-ray observations since they could be obscured by gas and dust. A mid-infrared (MIR) survey supported by multiwavelength data is one of the best ways to find obscured AGN activities because it suffers less from extinction. Previous large IR photometric surveys, e.g. Wide field Infrared Survey Explorer and Spitzer, have gaps between the MIR filters. Therefore, star-forming galaxy-AGN diagnostics in the MIR were limited. The AKARI satellite has a unique continuous nine-band filter coverage in the near to MIR wavelengths. In this work, we take advantage of the state-of-the-art spectral energy distribution modelling software, cigale, to find AGNs in MIR. We found 126 AGNs in the North Ecliptic Pole-Wide field with this method. We also investigate the energy released from the AGN as a fraction of the total IR luminosity of a galaxy. We found that the AGN contribution is larger at higher redshifts for a given IR luminosity. With the upcoming deep IR surveys, e.g. JWST, we expect to find more AGNs with our method.


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