您选择的条件: Hongyan Zhou
  • Mrk 1239: a Type-2 Counterpart of Narrow-line Seyfert-1?

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We present new spectrophotometric and spectropolarimetric observations of Mrk 1239, one of the 8 prototypes that defines type-1 narrow-line Seyfert galaxies (NLS1s). Unlike the other typical NLS1s though, a high degree of polarization ($P\sim$5.6%) and red optical-IR ($g-W_4$ = 12.35) colors suggest that Mrk 1239 is more similar to type-2 active galactic nuclei like NGC 1068. Detailed analysis of spectral energy distribution in the UV-optical-IR yields two components from the nucleus: a direct and transmitted component that is heavily obscured ($E_{B-V} \approx 1.6$), and another indirect and scattered one with mild extinction ($E_{B-V} \sim$ 0.5). Such a two-light-paths scenario is also found in previous reports based on the X-ray data. Comparison of emission lines and the detection of He\,{\footnotesize I}*$\lambda$10830 BAL at [-3000,-1000] km s$^{-1}$ indicates that the obscuring clouds are at physical scale between the sublimation radius and that of the narrow emission line regions. The potential existence of powerful outflows is found as both the obscurer and scatterer are outflowing. Similar to many other type-2s, jet-like structure in the radio band is found in Mrk 1239, perpendicular to the polarization angle, suggesting polar scattering. We argue that Mrk 1239 is very probably a type-2 counterpart of NLS1s. The identification of 1 out of 8 prototype NLS1s as a type-2 counterpart implies that there can be a substantial amount of analogs of Mrk 1239 misidentified as type-1s in the optical band. Properties of these misidentified objects are going to be explored in our future works.

  • B2 0003+38A: a classical flat-spectrum radio quasar hosted by a rotation-dominated galaxy with a peculiar massive outflow

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We present a detailed analysis of the single-slit optical spectrum of the Flat-Spectrum Radio Quasar (FSRQ) B2 0003+38A, taken by the Echellette Spectrograph and Imager (ESI) on the Keck II telescope. This classical low-redshift FSRQ ($z=0.22911$, as measured from the stellar absorption lines) remains underexplored in its emission lines, though its broad-band continuum properties from radio to X-ray is well-studied. After removing the unresolved quasar nucleus and the starlight from the host galaxy, we obtain a spatially-resolved 2-D spectrum, which clearly shows three components, indicating a rotating disk, an extended emission line region (EELR) and an outflow. The bulk of the EELR, with a characteristic mass $M_{\rm EELR}\sim 10^{7}~\rm M_{\odot}$, and redshifted by $v_{\rm EELR}\approx 120$ km s$^{-1}$ with respect to the quasar systemic velocity, shows a one-sided structure stretching to a projected distance of $r_{\rm EELR}\sim 20$ kpc from the nucleus. The rotation curve of the rotating disk is well consistent with that of a typical galactic disk, suggesting that the FSRQ is hosted by a disk galaxy. This conclusion is in accordance with the facts that strong absorption in the HI 21-cm line was previously observed, and that Na I$\lambda\lambda5891,5897$ and Ca II$\lambda\lambda3934,3969$ doublets are detected in the optical ESI spectrum. B2 0003+38A will become the first FSRQ discovered to be hosted by a gas-rich disk galaxy, if this is confirmed by follow-up deep imaging and/or IFU mapping with high spatial resolution. These observations will also help unravel the origin of the EELR.

  • The 2175 \AA~ Bump Features in FeLoBAL Quasars: One Indicator of MW-like Dust in the Nuclear Region of Quasar

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: To investigate the properties of dust in the nuclear region of quasars, we explored the extinction curves of the iron low-ionization broad absorption line (FeLoBAL) quasar SDSS J163004.29+311957.6 and its two analogues. The parameterized extinction curves indicated the Milky Way-like 2175 \AA~ bump features in underlying extinction, which are similar to those seen in the Local Group and a subset of high-redshift star-forming galaxies. Compared to the bump features in the Large Magellanic Clouds (LMC), the detections in this work are much closer to those in the Milky Way (MW). These bump features, as well as those in the high- and low-ionization broad absorption line (BAL) quasars of Zhang et al., are probably the counterpart of the 2175 \AA~ bump features in the quasar environment. This type of dust grain is generally small, easily disrupted by high-energy photons and has difficulty surviving in the radiation field of the active galactic nucleus (AGN). However, due to the presence of absorption-line outflows, the 2175 \AA~ bump feature in quasars, which should be rare, is seen many times in BAL quasars. The shielding effect of outflow clouds allows the MW-like dust grains to be assembled or extends the survival period in the quasar nuclear region. The process, and physical and chemical conditions deserve further observational study and investigation.

  • Broad Emission and Absorption Line Outflows in the Quasar SDSS J163345.22+512748.4

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We present a detailed study of the optical and NIR emission and absorption line spectrum of the quasar SDSS J163345.22+512748.4. We discovered on the newly acquired NIR spectrum a highly meta-stable neutral helium broad absorption line (BAL) \heiozetz\ with a width of $\sim$ 2000 \kmps\ and a blueshift of $\sim$ 7000 \kmps\ in the velocity space. The BAL system is also significantly detected in \mgii\ and \heiteen. We estimate a column density of $(5.0 \pm 1.7) \times 10^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$ for the HeI*(2~$^3$S) level, and infer an ionization parameter of $U_{A} = 10^{-1.9\pm 0.2}$ for the BAL outflow assuming that the BAL region is thick enough for a full development of an ionization front. The total column density of the BAL outflow is constrained in the range N$\rm _{H}$ $\sim$ 10$^{21}$-10$^{21.4}$ cm$^{-2}$. We also found that the bulk of both MgII and UV FeII, as well as H$\alpha$ broad emission lines (BELs) are blueshifted with a velocity of $\sim$ 2200 \kmps\ with respect to the quasar systemic redshift. We constrain that the blueshifted BEL region has a covering factor $C_{f}\approx 16\%$, a density n$\rm _{H}$ $\sim $ 10$^{10.6}$-10$^{11.3}$ cm$^{-3}$, a column density N$\rm _{H}\gtrsim 10^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$, and an ionization parameter $U_{E}\sim 10^{-2.1}-10^{-1.5}$. The outflow gas is located at $\sim$0.1 pc away from the central ionization source, at a scale comparable to the BLR. A toy kinetic model has been proposed to reproduce the profile of MgII BEL well if assuming a partial obscured axisymmetric geometry of the outflow with a radial velocity as observed by the BALs.

  • Feeding the Accretion Disk from the Dusty Torus in a Reddened Quasar

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We present here a detailed analysis of an unusual absorption line system in the quasar SDSS J122826.79+100532.2. The absorption lines in the system have a common redshifted velocity structure starting from $v\sim0$ and extending to $\sim1,000\ \mathrm{km~s}^{-1}$, and are clearly detected in hydrogen Balmer series up to H$\iota$, in metastable neutral helium triplet, and in optical lines of excited states of single ionized iron. We estimated that the absorber has a density $n_{\mathrm{H}}\approx10^{8.4}\ \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$ and an ionization parameter $U\approx10^{-1.2}$, thereupon located it at $r_{\mathrm{abs}}\approx1.5$ pc from the central supermassive black hole. The inferred distance is remarkably similar to the evaporation radius for dust grains $r_{\mathrm{evap}}\approx1$ pc in the quasar. Thus the absorber may be a probe of an inflow starting from the dusty torus and feeding the accretion disk. Both the featureless continuum and the broad emission lines are heavily reddened with $E(B-V)\approx0.66$, in contrast to the narrow emission lines whose reddening is negligible. The dusty medium could be located in between the broad and narrow emission line regions, and possibly be associated with a 'cold' narrow absorption line system detected in \ion{Ca}{2} and \ion{Na}{1} doublets nearly unshifted from the quasar systemic velocity. SDSS J122826.79+100532.2 might represent such a rare case that both the inflow and the torus could be tracked by absorption lines.

  • Compact and variable radio emission from an active galaxy with supersoft X-ray emission

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: RX J1301.9+2747 is a unique active galaxy with supersoft X-ray spectrum that lacks significant emission at energies above 2 keV. In addition, it is one of few galaxies displaying quasi-periodic X-ray eruptions that recur on a timescale of 13-20 ks. We present multi-epoch radio observations of RX J1301.9+2747 using GMRT, VLA and VLBA. The VLBA imaging at 1.6 GHz reveals a compact radio emission unresolved at a scale of 5x10^7 K. The radio emission is variable by more than a factor of 2.5 over a few days, based on the data taken from VLA monitoring campaigns. The short-term radio variability suggests that the radio emitting region has a size as small as 8x10^{-4} pc, resulting in an even higher brightness temperature of T_b ~10^{12} K. A similar limit on the source size can be obtained if the observed flux variability is not intrinsic and caused by the interstellar scintillation effect. The overall radio spectrum is steep with a time-averaged spectral index alpha=-0.78+/-0.03 between 0.89 GHz and 14 GHz. These observational properties rule out a thermal or star-formation origin of the radio emission, and appear to be consistent with the scenario of episodic jet ejections driven by magnetohydrodynamic process. Simultaneous radio and X-ray monitoring observations down to a cadence of hours are required to test whether the compact and variable radio emission is correlated with the quasi-periodic X-ray eruptions.