Spectral Energy Distribution for Some Fermi Blazarstwo

The observational data from radio to X-ray wavebands were collected from the SSDC (Italian Space Agency Science Data Center) for 68 Fermi blazars, and their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) were calculated by means of the least square fitting with a log-parabolic function. Based on the SED fitting parameters, the correlations of the synchrotron peak frequency, curvature and effective spectral index were discussed, and an empirical formula was also proposed to estimate the synchrotron peak frequencies by using the effective spectral indexes. The main results are as follows: (1) From the linear correlation between the synchrotron peak frequency (lg ν_p) and the curvature (k), we find that the result supports the energy-dependent acceleration probability model for all BL Lac objects, while the result for the BL Lac objects of lg ν_p > 15.3 is consistent with the model of fluctuation of fractional acceleration gain. (2) For the sources of nearly same lg ν_p, a significant correlation between the effective spectral index α_ro of the radio-optical waveband and the curvature is detected, while the effective spectral index α_ox of the optical-x-ray waveband is not correlated with the curvature. According to the effective spectral index α_ro, a relation between the synchrotron peak frequency and the curvature can be defined.     

The X-ray jets of active galaxies

Jet physics is again flourishing as a result of Chandra’s ability to resolve high-energy emission from the radio-emitting structures of active galaxies and separate it from the X-ray-emitting thermal environments of the jets. These enhanced capabilities have coincided with an increasing interest in the link between the growth of super-massive black holes and galaxies, and an appreciation of the likely importance of jets in feedback processes. I review the progress that has been made using Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of jets and the medium in which they propagate, addressing several important questions, including: Are the radio structures in a state of minimum energy? Do powerful large-scale jets have fast spinal speeds? What keeps jets collimated? Where and how does particle acceleration occur? What is jet plasma made of? What does X-ray emission tell us about the dynamics and energetics of radio plasma/gas interactions? Is a jet’s fate determined by the central engine?     

Fermi耀变体的能谱分布研究

从SSDC (Italian Space Agency Science Data Center)搜集了68个Fermi耀变体的射电至X射线波段的观测数据,用对数抛物线拟合计算了其同步辐射峰的参数.研究了有效谱指数、同步辐射峰值频率和曲率的关系并用有效谱指数估算同步峰频.主要结果有:(1)研究同步峰频和曲率的线性关系发现,对于全部的蝎虎天体(BL Lac),结果与能量依赖加速概率模型的预测一致.但是,如果仅仅考虑高峰频BL Lac,即同步峰频lg (ν_p/Hz)> 15.3的BL Lac,其结果却与分数变换加速增益模型的预测结果一致.(2)对于同步峰频相同的源,射电-光学的有效谱指数αro与曲率间有显著的负相关,而光学-X射线的有效谱指数α_ox与曲率无关.通过α_ro可以确定一个同步峰频与曲率的关系.     

X-ray absorption and reflection in active galactic nuclei

X-ray spectroscopy offers an opportunity to study the complex mixture of emitting and absorbing components in the circumnuclear regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN), and to learn about the accretion process that fuels AGN and the feedback of material to their host galaxies. We describe the spectral signatures that may be studied and review the X-ray spectra and spectral variability of active galaxies, concentrating on progress from recent Chandra, XMM-Newton and Suzaku data for local type 1 AGN. We describe the evidence for absorption covering a wide range of column densities, ionization and dynamics, and discuss the growing evidence for partial-covering absorption from data at energies ≳ 10 keV. Such absorption can also explain the observed X-ray spectral curvature and variability in AGN at lower energies and is likely an important factor in shaping the observed properties of this class of source. Consideration of self-consistent models for local AGN indicates that X-ray spectra likely comprise a combination of absorption and reflection effects from material originating within a few light days of the black hole as well as on larger scales. It is likely that AGN X-ray spectra may be strongly affected by the presence of disk-wind outflows that are expected in systems with high accretion rates, and we describe models that attempt to predict the effects of radiative transfer through such winds, and discuss the prospects for new data to test and address these ideas.     

Fermi耀变体的gamma射线多波段辐射与射电辐射的关系

从Fermi 3期源表(3FGL)中选择了一个含935个耀变体(blazar)的样本, 包括415个平谱射电源(Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar, FSRQ), 520个蝎虎天体(BL Lac object, BL Lac), 其中高同步峰BL Lac (HBL) 233个, 中同步峰BL Lac (IBL) 144个, 低同步峰BL Lac (LBL) 143个. 研究了总样本、FSRQ、BL Lac及其子类HBL、LBL的射电1.4GHz 与gamma射线在0.1、0.3、1、3、10GeV处辐射流量密度的关系. 结果显示: 所有样本的射电1.4GHz与5个波段gamma射线的辐射流量都有强相关, 相关系数在0.48--0.81之间, 机会概率均小于$10^{-4; 对于不同的样本相关系数随着gamma射线辐射频率的变化有不同的变化趋势, 所有样本在5个波段的相关系数平均值随gamma射线频率的增加而减小. 该结果暗示, 随着频率的升高, blazar的gamma射线辐射主导机制在发生变化, 在相同频率处, 不同类型天体的辐射主导机制存在差异; HBL的gamma射线辐射主要由同步自康普顿主导, 而LBL的其他成份比HBL的更复杂; FSRQ的gamma射线起源较BL Lac的复杂.     

Blazar多波段有效谱指数关系研究

从相关文献中获得Fermi耀变体(blazar)的射电(R)1.4 GHz、光学(O)4.68×10~(14)Hz、X-ray(X)1 ke V和γ-ray(γ)1 Ge V辐射流量密度,计算了上述波段两两之间的6个有效谱指数α_(RO)、α_(RX)、α_(Rγ)、α_(OX)、α_(Oγ)、α_(Xγ).研究了blazar总样本及其子类FSRQ(Flat Spectral Radio Quasar),蝎虎天体(BL Lac)含高同步峰频BL Lac(HBL)和低同步峰频BL Lac(LBL)样本的任意两个有效谱指数之间的关系.结果表明:(1)除HBL样本及α_(OX)与α_(Rγ)之间关系外,两两有效谱指数之间均存在较强的相关,这种相关可用4个波段能谱分布的结构关系得到解释;(2)在有效谱指数相关的散点图中,FSRQ与LBL分布在相同的区域,但HBL与FSRQ(LBL)分布在不同的区域;(3)在不同的有效谱指数相关散点图中,HBL与FSRQ(LBL)分布的分离程度(区分度)不相同,这种区分度与决定2个有效谱指数的频率有关.     

Testing the beamed inverse-Compton model for jet X-ray emission: velocity structure and deceleration

By considering a small sample of core-dominated radio-loud quasars with X-ray jets, I show, as has been argued previously by others, that the observations require bulk jet deceleration if all of the X-ray emission is to be explained using the widely adopted beamed inverse-Compton model, and argue that jets even in these powerful objects must have velocity structure in order to reconcile their radio and X-ray properties. I then argue that the deceleration model has several serious weaknesses, and discuss the viability of alternative models for the decline in X-ray/radio ratio as a function of position. Although inverse-Compton scattering from the jets is a required process and must come to dominate at high redshifts, adopting an alternative model for the X-ray emission of some nearby, well-studied objects can greatly alleviate some of the problems posed by these observations for the beamed inverse-Compton model.     

Soft X—ray Properties of Ultraluminous IRAS Galaxies

We report on the results of cross-correlation of a sample of 903 Utraluminous IRAS galaxies (ULIRGs) with the ROSAT-All Sky Survey Bright Source Catalogue and the ROSAT archived pointing observations. The sample of ULIRGs has been compiled from the recently released PSCz redshift survey. In total,35 ULIRGs are securely detected by the ROSAT All-Sky Survey and pointing observations, five of which are blazars. The statistical properties of these sources in the soft X-ray band are determined and compared with their properties on other wavebands. We find that the ratio of the soft X-ray to the far-infrared flux spans about five orders of magnitude and reaches values of about unity. This ratio is a good indicator of the main energy source of ULIRGs. Those with soft X-ray to far-infrared flux exceeding 0.01 are probably powered by accretion onto central supermassive black holes while those with ratios smaller than 0.001 are probably powered by starbursts or other heating processes, or are Compton thick sources. Some ULIRGs have energy contributions from both. This ratio is low for most ULIRGs and hyperluminous infrared galaxies, which explains their low detection rate by ROSAT and ASCA.We also find that some ULIRGs have a similar soft X-ray luminosity vs. temperature relation to that for groups of galaxies and elliptical galaxies,suggesting a common origin of these systems. Our study also reveals a tight correlation between the hardness ratio and the soft X-ray luminosity for Seyfert 1s/QSOs.     

Chandra observations of the X-ray jet in 3C 66B

Our Chandra observation of the FR I radio galaxy 3C 66B has resulted in the first detection of an X-ray counterpart to the previously known radio, infrared and optical jet. The X-ray jet is detected up to 7 arcsec from the core and has a steep X-ray spectrum, α ≈1.3±0.1 . The overall X-ray flux density and spectrum of the jet are consistent with a synchrotron origin for the X-ray emission. However, the inner knot in the jet has a higher ratio of X-ray to radio emission than the others. This suggests that either two distinct emission processes are present or differences in the acceleration mechanism are required; there may be a contribution to the emission from the inner knot from an inverse Compton process or it may be the site of an early strong shock in the jet. The peak of the brightest radio and X-ray knot is significantly closer to the nucleus in the X-ray than in the radio, which may suggest that the knots are privileged sites for high-energy particle acceleration. 3C 66B's jet is similar both in overall spectral shape and in structural detail to those in more nearby sources such as M87 and Centaurus A.     

A Chandra observation of the X-ray environment and jet of 3C 31

We have used a deep Chandra observation of the central regions of the twin-jet Fanaroff–Riley class I (FRI) radio galaxy 3C 31 to resolve the thermal X-ray emission in the central few kpc of the host galaxy, NGC 383, where the jets are thought to be decelerating rapidly. This allows us to make high-precision measurements of the density, temperature and pressure distributions in this region, and to show that the X-ray emitting gas in the centre of the galaxy has a cooling time of only  5×10⁷ yr  . In a companion paper, these measurements are used to place constraints on models of the jet dynamics.
A previously unknown one-sided X-ray jet in 3C 31, extending up to 8 arcsec from the nucleus, is detected and resolved. Its structure and steep X-ray spectrum are similar to those of X-ray jets known in other FRI sources, and we attribute the radiation to synchrotron emission from a high-energy population of electrons. In situ particle acceleration is required in the region of the jet where bulk deceleration is taking place.
We also present X-ray spectra and luminosities of the galaxies in the Arp 331 chain of which NGC 383 is a member. The spectrum and spatial properties of the nearby bright X-ray source 1E 0104+3153 are used to argue that the soft X-ray emission is mostly due to a foreground group of galaxies rather than to the background broad absorption-line quasar.     

Extended X-ray emission in the radio-loud galaxy 3C 382

ROSAT /HRI observations of the powerful radio-loud galaxy 3C 382 reveal extended X-ray emission associated with the source. On the basis of this new spatial component, a previous ROSAT /PSPC spectral analysis of the source is revised. Allowing for the presence of an additional thermal component in the PSPC spectrum, the non-thermal component is found to be compatible with the extrapolation of the well-defined 3C 382, 2–10 keV, power-law spectrum into the soft X-ray region. The thermal – extended – component would then account for the soft excess emission previously reported for this source. The origin of this thermal component is not clear. Its luminosity compares with that of rich Abell clusters; yet, the galaxy environment in 3C 382 appears of moderate optical richness. An alternative is that it is the result of a massive extended gaseous atmosphere sustained by the deep gravitational potential well of 3C 382.     

X-ray synchrotron emission from the oblique shock in the jet of the powerful radio galaxy 3C 346

We report the first detection, with Chandra , of X-ray emission from the jet of the powerful narrow-line radio galaxy 3C 346. X-rays are detected from the bright radio and optical knot at which the jet apparently bends by approximately 70°. The Chandra observation also reveals a bright galaxy-scale atmosphere within the previously known cluster and provides a good X-ray spectrum for the bright core of 3C 346. The X-ray emission from the knot is synchrotron radiation, as seen in lower-power sources. In common with these sources, there is evidence of morphological differences between the radio/optical and X-ray structures, and the spectrum is inconsistent with a one-component continuous-injection model. We suggest that the X-ray-bright knot is associated with a strong oblique shock in a moderately relativistic, light jet, at ∼ 20° to the line of sight, and that this shock is caused by the jet interacting with the wake in the cluster medium behind the companion galaxy of 3C 346. The general jet curvature can result from pressure gradients in the cluster atmosphere.     

Synchrotron emission in the fast cooling regime: which spectra can be explained?

We consider the synchrotron emission from relativistic shocks assuming that the radiating electrons cool rapidly (either through synchrotron or any other radiation mechanism). It is shown that the theory of synchrotron emission in the fast cooling regime can account for a wide range of spectral shapes. In particular, the magnetic field, which decays behind the shock front, brings enough flexibility to the theory to explain the majority of gamma-ray burst spectra even in the parameter-free fast cooling regime. Also, we discuss whether location of the peak in observed spectral energy distributions of gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei can be made consistent with predictions of diffusive shock acceleration theory, and find that the answer is negative. This result is a strong indication that a particle injection mechanism, other than the standard shock acceleration, works in relativistic shocks.     

Very Early Optical Afterglows for Geometric Models of X-ray Flashes and X-ray Rich GRBs

If X-ray flashes (XRFs) and X-ray rich Gamma-ray Bursts (XRRGs) have the same origin as the Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) but are viewed off-center from structured jets,their early afterglows may differ from those of GRBs,and when the ultra-relativistic outflow inter-acts with the surrounding medium,there are two shocks formed,a forward shock (FS),and a reverse shock (RS). We calculate numerically the early afterglow powered by uniform jets,Gaussian jets and power-law jets in the forward-reverse shock scenario. A set of differen-tial equations govern the dynamical evolution. The synchrotron self-Compton effect has been taken into account in the calculation. In the uniform jets,the very early afterglows of XRRGs and XRFs are significantly lower than the GRBs and the observed peak times of RS emission are later in the interstellar medium environment. The RS components in XRRGs and XRFs are difficult to detect,but in the stellar wind environment,the reduction of the very early flux and the delay of the RS peak time are not so remarkable. In nonuniform jets (Gaussian and power-law jets),where there are emission materials on the line of sight,the very early light curve resembles equivalent isotropic ejecta in general although the RS flux decay index shows notable deviations if the RS is relativistic (in stellar wind).