ASCA observations of two steep soft X-ray quasars

Steep soft X-ray (0.1–2 keV) quasars share several unusual properties: narrow Balmer lines, strong Fe  II emission, large and fast X-ray variability, and a rather steep 2–10 keV spectrum. These intriguing objects have been suggested to be the analogues of Galactic black hole candidates in the high, soft state. We present here results from ASCA observations for two of these quasars: NAB 0205 + 024 and PG 1244 + 026.   Both objects show similar variations (factor of ∼ 2 in 10 ks), despite a factor of ∼ 10 difference in the 0.5–10 keV luminosity (7.3 × 10⁴³ erg s⁻¹ for PG 1244 + 026 and 6.4 × 10⁴⁴ erg s⁻¹ for NAB 0205 + 024, assuming isotropic emission, H ₀ = 50.0 and q ₀ = 0.0).   The X-ray continuum of the two quasars flattens by 0.5–1 going from the 0.1–2 keV band towards higher energies, strengthening recent results on another half-dozen steep soft X-ray active galactic nuclei.   PG 1244 + 026 shows a significant feature in the '1-keV' region, which can be described either as a broad emission line centred at 0.95 keV (quasar frame) or as edge or line absorption at 1.17 (1.22) keV. The line emission could be a result of reflection from a highly ionized accretion disc, in line with the view that steep soft X-ray quasars are emitting close to the Eddington luminosity. Photoelectric edge absorption or resonant line absorption could be produced by gas outflowing at a large velocity (0.3–0.6 c ).     

Nuclear obscuration in the high-ionization Seyfert 2 galaxy Tol 0109–383

We report on the BeppoSAX detection of a hard X-ray excess in the X-ray spectrum of the classical high-ionization Seyfert 2 galaxy Tol 0109–383. The X-ray emission of this source observed below 7 keV is dominated by reflection from both cold and ionized gas, as seen in the ASCA data. The excess hard X-ray emission is presumably caused by the central source absorbed by an optically thick obscuring torus with N _H∼2×10²⁴ cm⁻² . The strong cold X-ray reflection, if it is produced at the inner surface of the torus, is consistent with the picture where much of the inner nucleus of Tol 0109–383 is exposed to direct view, as indicated by optical and infrared properties. However, the X-ray absorption must occur at small radii in order to hide the central X-ray source but leave the optical high-ionization emission-line region unobscured. This may also be the case for objects such as the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk231.     

Emission-line outflows in PKS1549−79: the effects of the early stages of radio-source evolution?

We present new spectroscopic observations of the southern radio galaxy         . Despite the flat-spectrum character of the radio emission from this source, our optical spectra show no sign of the broad permitted lines and non-stellar continuum characteristic of quasar nuclei and broad-line radio galaxies. However, the high-ionization forbidden lines, including [O  iii ] λλ 5007, 4959, are unusually broad for a narrow-line radio galaxy     , and are blueshifted by 600 km s⁻¹ relative to the low-ionization lines such as [O  ii ] λλ 3726,3729. The [O  ii ] lines are also considerably narrower     than the [O  iii ] lines, and have a redshift consistent with that of the recently detected H  i 21-cm absorption-line system. Whereas the kinematics of the [O  iii ] emission lines are consistent with outflow in an inner narrow-line region, the properties of the [O  ii ] emission lines suggest that they are emitted by a more extended and quiescent gaseous component. We argue that, given the radio properties of the source, our line of sight is likely to be lying close to the direction of bulk outflow of the radio jets. In this case it is probable that the quasar nucleus is entirely obscured at optical wavelengths by the material responsible for the H  i absorption-line system. The unusually broad [O  iii ] emission lines suggest that the radio source is intrinsically compact. Overall, our data are consistent the idea that     is a radio source in an early stage of evolution.     

On the complex disc–corona interactions in the soft spectral states of soft X-ray transients

Accreting black holes show a complex and diverse behaviour in their soft spectral states. Although these spectra are dominated by a soft, thermal component which almost certainly arises from an accretion disc, there is also a hard X-ray tail indicating that some fraction of the accretion power is instead dissipated in hot, optically thin coronal material. During such states, best observed in the early outburst of soft X-ray transients, the ratio of power dissipated in the hot corona to that in the disc can vary from ∼ 0 (pure disc accretion) to ∼ 1 (equal power in each). Here we present results of spectral analyses of a number of sources, demonstrating the presence of complex features in their energy spectra. Our main findings are: (1) the soft components are not properly described by a thermal emission from accretion discs: they are appreciably broader than can be described by disc blackbody models even including relativistic effects, and (2) the spectral features near     commonly seen in such spectra can be well described by reprocessing of hard X-rays by optically thick, highly ionized, relativistically moving plasma.     

Intrinsic intraday variability in the gravitational lens system B0218+357

Radio monitoring of the gravitational lens system B0218+357 reveals it to be a highly variable source with variations on time-scales of a few days correlated in both images. This shows that the variability is intrinsic to the background lensed source and suggests that similar variations in other intraday variable sources can also be intrinsic in origin.     

KPD 0422 + 5421: a new short-period subdwarf B/white dwarf binary

The subdwarf B (sdB) star KPD 0422 + 5421 was discovered to be a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a period of P  = 0.090 1795 ± (3 × 10⁻⁷) d (2 h 10 min). The U B light curves display an ellipsoidal modulation with amplitudes of ≈ 0.02 mag. The sdB star contributes nearly all of the observed flux. This and the absence of any reflection effect suggest that the unseen companion star is small (i.e. R _comp ≈ 0.01 R_⊙) and therefore degenerate. We modelled the U B light curves and derived i  = 78.05° ± 0.50° and a mass ratio of q  =  M _comp/ M _sdB = 0.87 ± 0.15. The sdB star fills 69 per cent of its Roche lobe. These quantities may be combined with the mass function of the companion [ f ( M ) = 0.126 ± 0.028 M_⊙] to derive M _sdB = 0.72 ± 0.26 M_⊙ and M _comp = 0.62 ±  0.18 M_⊙. We used model spectra to derive the effective temperature, surface gravity and helium abundance of the sdB star. We found T _eff = 25 000 ± 1500 K, log g  = 5.4 ± 0.1 and [He/H] = −1.0. With a period of 2 h 10 min, KPD 0422 + 5421 has one of the shortest known orbital periods of a detached binary. This system is also one of only a few known binaries that contain a subdwarf B star and a white dwarf. Thus KPD 0422 + 5421 represents a relatively unobserved, and short-lived, stage of binary star evolution.     

Elemental abundance analyses with DAO spectrograms – XIX. The superficially normal B starsζ Draconis, ε Lyrae, 8 Cygni and 22 Cygni

Elemental abundances of the superficially normal early and middle B starsζ Dra, ε Lyr, 8 Cyg and 22 Cyg are derived, consistent with previous studies in this series, using spectrograms obtained with Reticon and CCD detectors. Almost all of the derived metal abundances are found to be solar within the errors of the analysis. However, the He/H ratios are slightly greater than solar.     

Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations difference frequency exceeds inferred spin frequency in 4U 1636−53

We report the first detection of a sharp spectral feature in a narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy. Using XMM-Newton we have observed 1H     and find a drop in flux by a factor of more than 2 at a rest-frame energy of ∼ 7 keV without any detectable narrow Fe K α line emission. The energy of this feature suggests a connection with the neutral iron K photoelectric edge, but the lack of any obvious absorption in the spectrum at lower energies makes the interpretation challenging. We explore two alternative explanations for this unusual spectral feature: (i) partial-covering absorption by clouds of neutral material; and (ii) ionized disc reflection with lines and edges from different ionization stages of iron blurred together by relativistic effects. We note that both models require an iron overabundance to explain the depth of the feature. The X-ray light curve shows strong and rapid variability, changing by a factor of 4 during the observation. The source displays modest spectral variability which is uncorrelated with flux.     

Regularities in the long-term optical light curve of the black hole candidate binary A0620 − 00 (V616 Mon)

We have monitored the R I magnitudes of the black hole candidate system A0620 − 00 (V616 Mon) in the years 1991–1995 at the Wise Observatory. Combining our data with some additional measurements, we analyse a sparsely covered 7-yr light curve of the star. We find that the average R -band magnitude varies on a time-scale of a few hundred days, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.3 mag. The two maxima in the well-known double hump binary cycle, as well as one of the minima between them, vary by a few per cent relative to one another, in a seemingly random way. One maximum is, on average, higher by 0.05 mag than the other. The depth of the second minimum varies with significantly higher amplitude, in clear correlation with the long-term variability of the mean magnitude of the system. It is shallower than the other minimum at times of maximum light. It deepens when the system brightness declines, and it becomes the deeper of the two minima at times of minimum system light. According to the commonly acceptable phasing of the binary cycle, the systematically varying minimum corresponds to the inferior conjunction of the red dwarf. We cannot suggest any simple geometrical model for explaining the regularities that we find in the long-term photometric behaviour of the V616 Mon binary system.     

A detailed study of the 5-Hz quasi-periodic oscillations in the bright X-ray transient and black hole candidate GRS 1739–278

We present a detailed study of the 5-Hz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) recently discovered in the bright X-ray transient and black hole candidate (BHC) GRS     (Borozdin & Trudolyubov) during a Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observation taken on 1996 March 31. In total 6.6 ksec of on-source data were obtained, divided in two data sets of 3.4 and 3.2 ksec which were separated by ∼2.6 ksec. The 5-Hz QPO was only present during the second data set. The QPO increased in strength from below 2 per cent rms amplitude for photon energies below 4 keV to ∼5 per cent rms amplitude for energies above 10 keV. The soft QPO photons (below 5 keV) lagged the hard ones (above 10 keV) by almost 1.5 rad. Besides the QPO fundamental, its first overtone was detected. The strength of the overtone increased with photon energy (from < 2 per cent rms below 5 keV to ∼8 per cent rms above 10 keV). Although limited statistics did not allow for an accurate determination of the lags of the first overtone, indications are that also for this QPO the soft photons lagged the hard ones. When the 5-Hz QPO was not detected (i.e., during the first part of the observation), a broad noise component was found for photon energies below 10 keV but it became almost a true QPO (with a Q value of ∼1.9) above that energy, with a frequency of ∼3 Hz. Its hard photons preceded the soft ones in a way reminiscent of the 5-Hz QPO, strongly suggesting that both features are physically related. We discuss our finding in the framework of low-frequency QPOs and their properties in BHCs.     

Phosphorus in circumstellar envelopes

We have investigated the chemistry of phosphorus-bearing compounds in the circumstellar envelopes of both oxygen-rich and carbon-rich evolved stars. In accordance with thermodynamic calculations of photospheric chemistry, we have assumed that the dominant forms of phosphorus in the inner circumstellar envelope (CSE) are PS and HCP in each case. In the C-rich case, we can reproduce the observed CP abundance reasonably well if it is the photodaughter of HCP. In the O-rich case we find, for the same amount of P available in PS, that large abundances of atomic P are available for reaction but that a low abundance of PO can be produced. We have not extensively explored the effect of additional neutral processes since our results are partly compromised by the fact that neither HCP nor PS is detected in the three CSEs where searches have been made; our models predict column densities in excess of the published upper limits. Sensitive searches for these molecules at higher frequencies are required before their presence in circumstellar envelopes can definitely be ruled out. Dust condensation may incorporate all the available P into refractory grains and so we suggest that searches for P-bearing molecules may have the greatest opportunity for success in more evolved objects, such as protoplanetary nebulae, where P has been released from grains through the action of strong shock waves.     

Drifting sub-pulses in two newly discovered pulsars

We have detected the rare phenomenon of stable, drifting sub-pulse behaviour in two pulsars discovered in the recent Swinburne intermediate latitude pulsar survey. The pulsars, PSR     and PSR J1919+0134, have approximate periods ( P ) of 1.873 and 1.6039 s respectively.
Both pulsars have multicomponent profiles, and distinct drifting is observed across them. We have identified a single drift mode in both pulsars: the drift rate for PSR     being 5.4(1) ms P ⁻¹ and 5.8(2) ms P ⁻¹ for PSR 1919+0134. The drifting is linear across the profile with no departure from linearity at the edges within the sensitivity of our observations.     

Gaussian process modelling of asteroseismic data

The measured properties of stellar oscillations can provide powerful constraints on the internal structure and composition of stars. To begin this process, oscillation frequencies must be extracted from the observational data, typically time series of the star's brightness or radial velocity. In this paper, a probabilistic model is introduced for inferring the frequencies and amplitudes of stellar oscillation modes from data, assuming that there is some periodic character to the oscillations, but that they may not be exactly sinusoidal. Effectively, we fit damped oscillations to the time series, and hence the mode lifetime is also recovered. While this approach is computationally demanding for large time series (>1500 points), it should at least allow improved analysis of observations of solar-like oscillations in subgiant and red giant stars, as well as sparse observations of semiregular stars, where the number of points in the time series is often low. The method is demonstrated on simulated data and then applied to radial velocity measurements of the red giant star  ξ Hydrae  , yielding a mode lifetime between 0.41 and 2.65 d with 95 per cent posterior probability. The large frequency separation between modes is ambiguous, however we argue that the most plausible value is 6.3 μHz, based on the radial velocity data and the star's position in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.     

Optical studies of the X-ray transient XTE J2123–058 – II. Phase-resolved spectroscopy

We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the soft X-ray transient XTE J2123–058 in outburst. A useful spectral coverage of 3700–6700 Å was achieved spanning two orbits of the binary, with single-epoch coverage extending to ∼9000 Å. The optical spectrum approximates a steep blue power law, consistent with emission on the Rayleigh–Jeans tail of a hot blackbody spectrum. The strongest spectral lines are He  ii 4686 Å and C  iii /N  iii 4640 Å (Bowen blend) in emission. Their relative strengths suggest that XTE J2123–058 was formed in the Galactic plane, not in the halo. Other weak emission lines of He  ii and C  iv are present, and Balmer lines show a complex structure, blended with He  ii . He  ii 4686-Å profiles show a complex multiple S-wave structure, with the strongest component appearing at low velocities in the lower-left quadrant of a Doppler tomogram. H α shows transient absorption between phases 0.35 and 0.55. Both of these effects appear to be analogous to similar behaviour in SW Sex type cataclysmic variables. We therefore consider whether the spectral line behaviour of XTE J2123–058 can be explained by the same models invoked for those systems.     

The new gravitational lens system B1030 + 074

We report the discovery of a new double-image gravitational lens system, B1030 + 074, which was found during the Jodrell Bank–VLA Astrometric Survey (JVAS). We have collected extensive radio data on the system using the VLA, MERLIN, the EVN and the VLBA, and optical observations using WFPC2 on the HST . The lensed images are separated by 1.56 arcsec and their flux density ratio at centimetric wavelengths is approximately 14:1, although the ratio is slightly frequency-dependent and the images appear to be time-variable. The HST pictures show both the lensed images and the lensing galaxy close to the weaker image. The lensing galaxy has substructure which could be a spiral arm or an interacting galaxy. We have modelled B1030 + 074 using a singular isothermal ellipsoid which yields a time delay of 156/ h ₅₀ d. This lens is likely to be suitable for the measurement of the Hubble constant.     

Multiperiodicity and physical nature of the δ Sct star GSC 2683-3076

We present the results of a CCD Johnson V and photoelectric Strömgren uvbyβ photometric study of the recently discovered multiperiodic δ Sct star GSC 2683-3076. Our data set mainly consists of 2874 differential measurements in V together with a few data collected into the uvbyβ system. Additional unfiltered CCD measurements were also carried out. A set of seven best-fitting pulsation frequencies representing the light variations of the variable has been detected. The spectral type of the variable is found to be A9V or F0V. Using the uvbyβ indices the following main physical parameters for the variable have been derived: T _eff=7230 K , M _V =1.95 mag , log  g =3.90 , M =1.85 M_⊙ , R =2.30 R_⊙ , ρ =0.16  ρ _⊙ , age =1.0 Gyr , metal abundance [Me/H]=0.16 and distance modulus =8.4 mag . GSC 2683-3076 is found to be a Population I δ Sct star, slightly metal-enriched, evolving on its main-sequence stage. A mixture of radial and non-radial modes seems to be present in the pulsation of this variable. This star is also known as H133 in the young open cluster NGC 6871, however arguments are given that address this star as a non-member of the cluster. The uvbyβ photometry available in the literature for NGC 6871 is also discussed.     

The mass of the neutron star in the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J 1012 + 5307

We have measured the radial velocity variation of the white dwarf secondary in the binary system containing the millisecond pulsar PSR J 1012 + 5307. Combined with the orbital parameters of the radio pulsar, we infer a mass ratio q (≡ M ₁/ M ₂) = 10.5 ± 0.5. Our optical spectroscopy has also allowed us to determine the mass of the white dwarf companion by fitting the spectrum to a grid of DA model atmospheres: we estimate M ₂ = 0.16 ± 0.02 M⊙, and hence the mass of the neutron star is 1.64 ± 0.22 M⊙, where the error is dominated by that of M ₂. The orbital inclination is 52 ± 4°. For an initial neutron star mass of ∼ 1.4 M⊙, only a few tenths of a solar mass at most has been successfully accreted over the lifetime of the progenitor low-mass X-ray binary. If the initial mass of the secondary was ∼ 1 M⊙, our result suggests that the mass transfer may have been non-conservative.