部分遮蔽类星体SDSS J151653.22+190048.2的紫外波段中等宽度发射线起源

类星体SDSS J151653.22+190048.2 (简称J1516+1900)在紫外-光学-近红外波段展现出奇特的光谱性质:其光学Hα、Hβ和近红外的Paα、Paβ等发射线的半高全宽(full width at half maximum intensity, FWHM)均超过5000 km/s,等值宽度接近类星体平均值;而紫外波段光谱的常见发射线Lyβ、OVI、Lyα、NV、Si IV和CIV等,由FWHM1700 km/s的中等宽度成分主导.这种现象很可能是由于紫外发射线的宽线成分经尘埃消光,强度严重削弱,从而使得中等宽度成分凸显出来;在光学和近红外波段,尘埃消光减弱,发射线由宽线成分主导,潜在的中等宽度成分不容易被看到.根据中等宽度成分的线宽和J1516+1900中央超大质量黑洞的质量MBH5.75×108M⊙,在维里化假设下,估计中等宽度发射区到中央黑洞的距离约为1.6 pc.另一方面,利用J1516+1900丰富的观测谱线,结合光致电离模型计算,可以限定J1516+1900的中等宽度发射线区气体密度1012cm-3、电离参数10-0.65.据此估计该发射线区到中心黑洞距离0.016 pc,只有维里化距离的1%.这一矛盾结果预示着中等宽度发射区可能具有较为复杂的物理结构,未来需要观测更多类似J1516+1900的部分遮蔽类星体并进行系统的分类和研究.     

射电宁静类星体紫外/光学光变的混合模型研究Ⅱ:来自SDSS DR7的的数据支持

到目前为止射电宁静类星体的光变起源还不清楚,其中一个可能的机制是吸积盘-再辐射模型。通过对斯隆数字巡天第7次释放数据(Sloan Digital Sky Survey data release 7, SDSS DR7)中789个经过多历元观测并且表现出变亮变蓝现象的射电宁静类星体进行分析,发现黑洞质量较小类星体的综合相对光变谱(残余谱/综合谱)的变亮变蓝幅度更大;其次,对于比较长的光变时标,尤其是在紫外波段,类星体变亮变蓝的幅度也更大。吸积盘-再辐射模型对以上两个主要结果中相对光变谱都拟合得很好,为该模型提供了进一步的支持。     

基于EMD-AR谱的3C 273光变周期分析

光变是Blazar最显著的观测特征之一,有的光变呈准周期性. Blazar周期光变可能为其中心黑洞和吸积盘等内部物理结构提供重要信息.因此,周期分析对于讨论Blazar的光变有重要意义.结合经验模态分解(Empirical Mode Decomposition, EMD)和自回归(Auto-regressive, AR)模型谱估计方法的优点,提出了一种基于EMD-AR谱的组合光变周期分析新方法.先对观测数据进行EMD分解,得到各阶模态分量,并计算其与原始光变曲线的相关系数,再取相关度高的分量求和后估算AR谱,最后将此功率谱的周期分析方法用于天体的光变数据分析.讨论了EMD-AR谱方法的原理和应用步骤,并用此方法对类星体3C 273在1887—2016年的观测数据进行了分析,得到3C 273的长时标周期分别为:21.23、13.51、11.02、5.51、4.69、3.79、2.76 yr,与文献中常用方法的分析结果有很好的一致性;短时标周期分别为:(30±1)、(15±0.3)、(7.5±0.2)、(10±0.1)、(5±0.6)、(6±0.4)和(3±0.5) min,此结果未见相关...     

类星体SDSS J2220+0109中特殊吸收线系统的发现与研究

斯隆数字巡天光谱数据中发现,类星体SDSS J2220+0109光谱中同时出现如下极为罕见的吸收线:氢巴尔末线Hα和Hβ,亚稳态He I* λλ3889、3189tt,CaⅡH、K,以及来自FeⅡ*能级的波数分别为7 955 cm~(-1)、13 474 cm~(-1)和13 673 cm~(-1)的众多吸收线.上述吸收线具有相似的速度结构,线宽达1 500 km·s~(-1),相对于发射线表现出蓝移.研究结果表明,这些吸收线很可能来自部分电离区,密度n_E≈10~6cm~(-3),柱密度N_(H I)≈10~(21) cm~(-2),Lyα共振散射对氢原子的激发起重要作用.SDSS J2220+0109斯隆r星等为16.56 mag,是探索活动星系核中特殊吸收线起源的理想实验室.将来的紫外光谱观测可以更加准确决定吸收气体的密度、柱密度、电离参数等物理性质;光学光谱监测有助于限定吸收线的产生机制.此外还发现,SDSS J2220+0109中的FeⅡ发射线显著区别于典型的窄线赛弗特Ⅰ型星系ⅠZw 1,很可能来自低密度气体,进一步研究有助于理解类星体中FeⅡ发射线的起源.     

OJ 287的引力波辐射研究

类星体OJ 287的研究已经有100多年的历史,它呈现周期性双峰爆发现象,爆发周期为12 yr,比较好地解释观测的模型是双黑洞模型,即次黑洞绕主黑洞运动,并撞击主黑洞吸积盘从而引起爆发.此模型合理地解释了OJ 287的光变曲线并正确预言了未来爆发时间,这间接证明了广义相对论进动效应以及引力波的存在.星系中心大质量黑洞是一类重要的引力波源,而精确确定了其内部组分运动学方程的星系非常少,由于双黑洞模型提供了精确的黑洞运动轨道,故可以在这个运动轨道基础上研究其引力波辐射.在已有工作基础上,采用后牛顿近似方法首次得到了引力波辐射功率和波形随时间的演化关系,根据目前引力波探测设备IPTA(International Pulsar Timing Array)的进展情况,未来十几年内对OJ 287的引力波直接探测将成为可能.     

一个耀变体样本在射电波段的Jurkevich周期分析

利用欧文斯谷射电天文台(Owens Valley Radio Observatory, OVRO) 15 GHz的观测数据,通过Jurkevich理论分析了78个耀变体样本的光变曲线,结果表明,射电源显示了显著的光变周期,范围为0.83–2.55 yr.另外,通过估算射电源光变的调制指数,发现蝎虎天体的调制指数较平谱射电类星体有更大的高斯分布峰值.     

类星体SDSS J0916+2921的类银河系2175 ?尘埃消光特征

光谱观测显示类星体SDSS J091613.60+292106.1 (简称J0916+2921,系统红移zem=1.1418±0.0018)中有特殊的2175?尘埃消光特征,其强度显著大于银河系平均强度.光谱同时探测到与尘埃成协的丰富气体吸收线,确定吸收线系统红移为zabs=1.1413±0.0002,和类星体红移一致.气态金属离子柱密度相对太阳丰度的比例为[Al/Zn]=-1.68±0.10,[Cr/Zn]=-0.49±0.10,[Fe/Zn]=-0.81±0.18.尘埃耗散作用显著,说明该系统中尘埃十分丰富,与观测的强尘埃消光特征吻合.类银河系的2175?尘埃消光特征在类星体光谱中多见于中间插入吸收线系统,至今未明确认证内禀吸收线系统出现该特征,类星体SDSS J0916+2921是目前仅有的数个候选者之一.该类星体X射线辐射相较一般类星体更强,后续可用作研究2175?尘埃在强高能射线照射条件下的形成与离解平衡,以揭示2175?尘埃的化学成分、物理性质和起源.     

类星体SDSSJ0916+2921的类银河系2175A 尘埃消光特征

光谱观测显示类星体SDSS J091613.60+292106.1 (简称J0916+2921, 系统红移zem=1.1418\pm 0.0018)中有特殊的2175A尘埃消光特征, 其强度显著大于银河系平均强度. 光谱同时探测到与尘埃成协的丰富气体吸收线, 确定吸收线系统红移为zbs = 1.1413 \pm 0.0002, 和类星体红移一致. 气态金属离子柱密度相对太阳丰度的比例为Al/Zn =-1.68 \pm 0.10, Cr/Zn=-0.49 \pm0.10, Fe/Zn = -0.81 pm 0.18. 尘埃耗散作用显著, 说明该系统中尘埃十分丰富, 与观测的强尘埃消光特征吻合. 类银河系的2175A尘埃消光特征在类星体光谱中多见于中间插入吸收线系统, 至今未明确认证内禀吸收线系统出现该特征, 类星体SDSS J0916+2921是目前仅有的数个候选者之一. 该类星体X射线辐射相较一般类星体更强, 后续可用作研究2175A}尘埃在强高能射线照射条件下的形成与离解平衡, 以揭示2175A尘埃的化学成分、物理性质和起源.     

高红移耀变体4C 38.41光学多波段光变性质

4C 38.41是一颗红移为1.813、可分类为平谱射电类星体的耀变体,使用一台85 cm望远镜在2018年2月22日至26日期间对其进行了光学V和R波段测光观测,得到两个波段的准同时数据.基于这些数据分析了该源在不同光变时标下的光变特性.结果表明:这颗源在观测期间处于较弱的活动状态, V和R波段星等(V, R)总变化均约为0.20等.在天内时标下,其中3晚探测到了该源的天内光变,另有一晚可能存在天内光变.此外,通过色指数和时延分析发现4C 38.41在不同时标下都展现越亮越红行为,与大多数平谱射电类星体类似,但在最后一晚4C 38.41在颜色-星等图上呈现出v字形,即首先展现越亮越红行为,然后转变为越亮越蓝行为,这可能是由该源的辐射在吸积盘主导和喷流主导之间的转换造成的.此外在第2晚探测到了V、R波段之间的时延,这是首次在高红移耀变体中探测到不同光学波段光变之间的时延,可以用随机同步辐射小结构模型来解释.     

发现4100多年前的超新星遗迹——尧帝景星(PKS 1209-52)

《竹书纪年》记载尧``元年丙子帝即位'', ``四十二年景星见于翼''. 《论衡》记载``尧时景星见于轸''. 这可能是出现在翼宿和轸宿之间的超新星. 由已知的干支纪年推算尧帝四十二年是公元前2164年. 把足够宽的范围\lk($180^\circ\pm23^\circ$)作``翼、轸''之间的过渡区域, 在格林(Green)超新星遗迹表中搜索到20颗超新星, 只有高银纬遗迹PKS 1209-52 (G296.5$+$10.0)符合尧帝景星``状如半月''的亮度和年龄限制, 它是尧帝景星(SN-B.C.2164)的唯一候选体. 依据超新星的表面亮度$\varSigma$与线直径D之间的$\varSigma\propto D^{-\beta     

Broad-line Balmer decrements in blue active galactic nuclei

We have investigated the broad-line Balmer decrements (Hα/Hβ) for a large, homogeneous sample of Seyfert 1 galaxies and quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) using spectroscopic data obtained in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The sample, drawn from the Fourth Data Release, comprises 446 low-redshift ( z ≲ 0.35) active galactic nuclei (AGN) that have blue optical continua as indicated by the spectral slopes in order to minimize the effect of dust extinction. We find that (i) the distribution of the intrinsic broad-line Hα/Hβ ratio can be well described by log-Gaussian, with a peak at  Hα/Hβ= 3.06  and a standard deviation of about 0.03 dex only; (ii) the Balmer decrement does not correlate with AGN properties such as luminosity, accretion rate and continuum slope, etc.; (iii) on average, the Balmer decrements are found to be only slightly larger in radio-loud sources (3.37) and sources having double-peaked emission-line profiles (3.27) compared to the rest of the sample. We therefore suggest that the broad-line Hα/Hβ ratio can be used as a good indicator for dust extinction in the AGN broad-line region; this is especially true for radio-quiet AGN with regular emission-line profiles, which constitute the vast majority of the AGN population.     

Extended line emission around seven radio-loud quasars at redshift z ∼ 2

We present near-infrared spectra of seven radio-loud quasars with a median redshift of 2.1, five of which were previously known to have Ly α nebulae. Extended [O  iii ] λ 5007 and H α emission are evident around six objects, at the level of a few times 10⁻¹⁶ erg cm⁻² arcsec⁻² s⁻¹ within ≃2 arcsec of the nucleus (≡16 kpc in the adopted cosmology). Nuclear [O  ii ] λ 3727 is detected in three of the five quasars studied at this wavelength and clearly extended in one of them.
The extended [O  iii ] tends to be brighter on the side of the nucleus with the stronger, jet-like radio emission, indicating at least that the extranuclear gas is distributed anisotropically. It is also typically redshifted by several hundred km s⁻¹ from the nuclear [O  iii ], perhaps because of the latter being blueshifted from the host galaxy's systemic velocity. Alternatively, the velocity shifts could be due to infall (which is suggested by linewidths ∼1000 km s⁻¹ FWHM) in combination with a suitable dust geometry. Ly α /H α ratios well below the case B value suggest that some dust is present.
Photoionization modelling of the [O  iii ]/[O  ii ] ratios in the extended gas suggests that its pressure is around or less than a few times 10⁷ cm⁻³ K; any confining intracluster medium is thus likely to host a strong cooling flow. A comparison with lower redshift work suggests that there has been little evolution in the nuclear emission-line properties of radio-loud quasars between redshifts 1 and 2.     

The dependence of quasar variability on black hole mass

In order to investigate the dependence of quasar variability on fundamental physical parameters like black hole mass, we have matched quasars from the Quasar Equatorial Survey Team, Phase 1 (QUEST1) variability survey with broad-lined objects from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The matched sample contains ≈100 quasars, and the Sloan spectra are used to estimate black hole masses and bolometric luminosities. Variability amplitudes are measured from the QUEST1 light curves. We find that black hole mass correlates with several measures of the variability amplitude at the 99 per cent significance level or better. The correlation does not appear to be caused by obvious selection effects inherent to flux-limited quasar samples, host galaxy contamination or other well-known correlations between quasar variability and luminosity/redshift. We evaluate variability as a function of rest-frame time lag using structure functions and find further support for the variability–black hole mass correlation. The correlation is strongest for time lags of the order of a few months up to the QUEST1 maximum temporal resolution of ≈2 yr, and may provide important clues for understanding the long-standing problem of the origin of quasar optical variability. We discuss whether our result is a manifestation of a relation between characteristic variability time-scale and black hole mass, where the variability time-scale is typical for accretion disc thermal time-scales, but find little support for this. Our favoured explanation is that more massive black holes have larger variability amplitudes, and we highlight the need for larger samples with more complete temporal sampling to test the robustness of this result.     

New insights on the QSO radio-loud/radio-quiet dichotomy: SDSS spectra in the context of the 4D eigenvector1 parameter space

We search for a dichotomy/bimodality between radio-loud (RL) and radio-quiet (RQ) type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN). We examine several samples of Slogan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) with high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra and matching Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-cm/NRAO VLA Sky Survey (FIRST/NVSS) radio observations. We use the radio data to identify the weakest RL sources with a Fanaroff–Riley type II (FR II) structure to define a RL/RQ boundary which corresponds to log   L _1.4 GHz= 31.6  erg s⁻¹ Hz⁻¹. We measure the properties of broad-line Hβ and Fe  ii emission to define the optical plane of a 4DE1 spectroscopic diagnostic space. The RL quasars occupy a much more restricted domain in this optical plane compared to the RQ sources, which a 2D Kolmogorov–Smirnov test finds to be highly significant. This tells us that the range of broad-line region kinematics and structure for RL sources is more restricted than for the RQ QSOs, which supports the notion of dichotomy. FR II and CD RL sources also show significant 4DE1 domain differences that likely reflect differences in line-of-sight orientation (inclined versus face-on, respectively) for these two classes. The possibility of a distinct radio-intermediate (RI) population between RQ and RL source is disfavoured because a 4DE1 diagnostic space comparison shows no difference between RI and RQ sources. We show that searches for dichotomy in radio versus bolometric luminosity diagrams will yield ambiguous results mainly because in a reasonably complete sample, the radio brightest RQ sources will be numerous enough to blur the gap between RQ and RL sources. Within resolution constraints of NVSS and FIRST, we find no FR I sources among the broad-line quasar population.     

The Qso Hosts I Zw 1 and 3C 48: Prototypes of a Merger-Driven Quasar Evolution?

I Zw 1 and 3C 48 are two neighboring template objects at a later stage of the hypothesized merger-driven evolutionary sequence from ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) to quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Since galaxy mergers are assumed to trigger the evolution, it is important to confirm the merger properties of transitionary objects. Using multi-wavelength observations and N-body simulations, the merger histories of I Zw 1 and 3C 48 have been investigated in two separate case studies. Here, the results from both studies are compared and their relevance for the evolutionary hypothesis is discussed.This research is partly based on observations with ISAAC at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) under projects 67.B-0009 and 67.B-0019.