Intergalactic extinction and the deceleration parameter

The deceleration parameter q₀ is calculated from the relation between apparent magnitudes m of the brightest galaxies in clusters and their redshifts z considering an intergalactic extinction. The calculation is valid for a Friedman universe, homogeneously filled with dust grains, assuming the extinction to be 0.5 mag at z = 1 and a λ⁻¹-law of extinction (according to Oleak and Schmidt 1976). Using the m,z-values of Kristian, Sandage, and Westphal (1978) a formal value of q₀ ≈︁ 2.1 is obtained instead of q₀ ≈︁ 1.6 without consideration of intergalactic extinction.     

On the existence and the density of intergalactic dust

A relation between the redshift z of QSO's and their colour index (B–V)' corrected for line emission and galactic absorption is interpreted in terms of an intergalactic selective extinction. The observed amount of extinction corresponds to a density of intergalactic dust grains of about 10⁻³⁴ to 10⁻³³ g cm⁻³ at z = 0. The life-time of these particles are estimated to be longer than the Hubble -time at present. But at large z the life-time of the grains considerably depends on the flux density of cosmic rays. Some implications of the existence of intergalactic dust are discussed.     

Investigation of galaxy and quasar luminosity evolution in the model of standard cosmology

It is shown that the Hubble curvem(z) for galaxies and quasars averaged over a large volume of data forms in the first approximation a single continuous curve in the interval of red shifts 10^–2.5z4.5, which is satisfactorily described by the dependence .A large deviation of the observed mean dependence from the theoretical one predicted by the standard cosmology is explained by the evolution of the galaxy and especially quasar luminosity. The corresponding mid-statistical function of the absolute luminosity variation for the last 4/5 times of existence in the Universe is equal toM(z)–M(z ₀)=logz/z ₀+2z–0.4z ².The luminosity of the most far distant from the observed quasars on the average by 5–6 stellar magnitudes high than the luminosity of near galaxies and quasars. It is obtained that even the most far distant quasars atz5 are in the maximum of luminosity, or their extinction has just began, thus the quasar formation should be expected forz>(5–6). The relative rate of the luminosity decrease of galaxies and near quasars is rather accurately amounts in the recent epoch 7% per 10⁹ years. The obtained average Hubble curve of galaxies and quasars is evidently the main cause of their evolution in the Universe.     

Disparate MG II absorption statistics towards quasars and gamma-ray bursts: a possible explanation

We examine the recent report by Prochter et al. that gamma-ray burst (GRB) sight lines have a much higher incidence of strong Mg II absorption than quasar sight lines. We propose that the discrepancy is due to the different beam sizes of GRBs and quasars, and that the intervening Mg II systems are clumpy with the dense part of each cloudlet of a similar size as the quasars, i.e. ≲10¹⁶ cm, but bigger than GRBs. We also discuss observational predictions of our proposed model. Most notably, in some cases the intervening Mg II absorbers in GRB spectra should be seen varying, and quasars with smaller sizes should show an increased rate of strong Mg II absorbers. In fact, our prediction of variable Mg II lines in the GRB spectra has been now confirmed by Hao et al., who observed intervening Fe II and Mg II lines at z=1.48 to be strongly variable in the multi-epoch spectra of z=4.05 GRB 060206.     

Catalog of candidates for quasars at 3 &lt; <Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis> &lt; 5.5 selected among X-Ray sources from the 3XMM-DR4 survey of the XMM-Newton observatory

We have compiled a catalog of 903 candidates for type 1 quasars at redshifts 3 < z < 5.5 selected among the X-ray sources of the “serendipitous” XMM-Newton survey presented in the 3XMMDR4 catalog (the median X-ray flux is ≈5 × 10^?15 erg s^?1 cm^?2 in the 0.5–2 keV energy band) and located at high Galactic latitudes |b| > 20° in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) fields with a total area of about 300 deg². Photometric SDSS data as well infrared 2MASS and WISE data were used to select the objects. We selected the point sources from the photometric SDSS catalog with a magnitude error δ _mz′ < 0.2 and a color i′ ? z′ < 0.6 (to first eliminate the M-type stars). For the selected sources, we have calculated the dependences χ²(z) for various spectral templates from the library that we compiled for these purposes using the EAZY software. Based on these data, we have rejected the objects whose spectral energy distributions are better described by the templates of stars at z = 0 and obtained a sample of quasars with photometric redshift estimates 2.75 < z _phot < 5.5. The selection completeness of known quasars at z _spec > 3 in the investigated fields is shown to be about 80%. The normalized median absolute deviation (Δz = |z _spec ? z _phot|) is σ _Δz /(1+z _spec) = 0.07, while the outlier fraction is η = 9% when Δz/(1 + z _спек.) > 0.2. The number of objects per unit area in our sample exceeds the number of quasars in the spectroscopic SDSS sample at the same redshifts approximately by a factor of 1.5. The subsequent spectroscopic testing of the redshifts of our selected candidates for quasars at 3 < z < 5.5 will allow the purity of this sample to be estimated more accurately.     

The evolution of quasars selected by slitless technique

In former works (Zhouet al., 1983, 1985), a quantitative method have been developed to take the selection effects in the identification of emission lines of quasars into account. It was proved that these selection effects may be the cause of the unevenness in the redshift distribution of quasars. The present work is a continuation and development of former works. We use results given by the surveys with same limit-apparent magnitude and choose the quasars whose absolute magnitudes are within a specific range as the analysing samples. Using the method given in the former papers we may find out the evolutionary parameter in an evolutionary law with form of (1+z) ^y from the best fitting between the calculative and observational redshift distribution. The result of analysis shows that the evolutionary law of quasars selected by slitless technique isp =p ₀(1 + z)^{6.5 ± 1} up toz=2.8. This result coincides with and generalizes the earlier result given by other authors.     

A statistical study of the Lyman-Alpha absorption lines of nine quasars

We investigate the properties of the Lα absorption lines in the high resolution spectra of nine quasars, B2 1225+31.7, PKS 2126-158, Q 0002-422, Q 1453-423, PHL 957, PKS 0528-250, PKS 0805+046, PKS 1448-232 and PKS 1442+101. Their emission line redshift range is 2.20 ? z_em ? 3.54; a total of 350 Lα absorption lines cover the range 1.70 ? z_abs ? 3.54. Our analysis support the following conclusions; 1) the number density of Lα absorption lines is not significantly different in different quasars. 2) The number density does not vary significantly with redshift. 3) Their equivalent width spectrum does not vary significantly with redshift. 4) Their properties are the same whether in the wing of the Lα emission or in the continuum. 5) Their two-point correlation function is flat within the limit of resolution, which is different from the behaviour of galaxies. These results show that the Lα absorption lines in high-redshift quasars are very probably produced by intergalactic hydrogen clouds uniformly distributed throughout space.     

Hydrogen-like nitrogen radio line from hot interstellar and warm-hot intergalactic gas

The hyperfine-structure lines of highly charged ions may allow one to look at hot rarefied astrophysical plasmas from a new perspective. In this paper, we discuss the spectral lines of ions and isotopes abundant at temperatures 10⁵–10⁷ K characteristic of a warm-hot intergalactic gas, a hot interstellar medium, starburst galaxies, their superwinds, and young supernova remnants. Observations of these lines will make it possible to study the bulk and turbulent motions in the observed objects and will supplement the information about the ionization state and chemical and isotopic compositions of the gas. The line of the main nitrogen isotope with wavelength λ = 5.65 mm is of particular interest. The wavelength of this line is well suited for observations of objects at z ≈ 0.15−0.6, when it is redshifted to the spectral range 6.5–9 mm widely used in ground-based radio observations, and, for example, for z ≥ 1.3, when the line is redshifted to 1.3 cm or farther. Modern and future radio telescopes and interferometers are capable of observing the ¹⁴N VII absorption by the warm-hot intergalactic gas at redshifts higher than z ≈ 0.15 in the spectra of the brightest millimeter-band sources. The submillimeter emission lines of the most abundant isotopes with hyperfine splitting may also be detected in the spectra of young supernova remnants. The article was translated by the authors.     

The pair of X-ray sources across NGC 4258: Its relation to intrinsic redshifts,ejection and quantization

The chance that the pair of X-ray sources observed across NGC 4258 is accidental can be calculated as 5×10^–6. The recent confirmation as quasars, and determination of the redshifts of the pair, atz=0.40 and 0.65 by E.M. Burbidge enables the final accidental probability of the configuration to be calculated as <4×10^–7. In addition there are a number of observations which indicate the central Seyfert galaxy is ejecting material from its active nucleus.The NGC 4258 association is compared to four other examples of close association of pairs of X-ray quasars with low redshift galaxies. It is concluded that in each of these five cases the chance of accidental association is less than one in a million. The ejection speed calculated from the redshift differences of the X-ray quasars is 0.12c. This agrees with the ejection velocity of 0.1c calculated in 1968 from radio quasars associated with low redshift peaks become narrower—simultaneously strengthening the ejection origin for quasars and the quantization property of their redshift     

Examination of the Association between Quasars and Abell Clusters on All Sky

Using the Hewitt-Burbidge QSO Catalogue (1993) and all-sky catalogue of Abell clusters (ACO, 1989) at the region |b| > 40^° we analyze the cross correlation function and find anti-correlation between them at angular separations 3^° < θ < 10^° , which is mainly caused by optical-selected QSOs, rather than radio-selected QSOs. There is no such anti-correlation between QSOs and Abell clusters at smaller separations θ < 3^°. Considering that this phenomenon may be caused by different characters of the objects, we further estimate the correlation function with various subsamples. We find that the correlation is independent of the redshift of QSOs, but depends upon the type of Abell clusters: for the D ≤ 4 clusters there is an obvious tendency of overdensity of quasars at 0^° < θ < 5^°; around the R ≥ 2 Abell clusters there is about an 18.7% deficit of quasars in the region 3^° < θ < 7^°. K-S Test shows the overdensity or deficit of quasars around different types of clusters cannot be explained by the projection effect of background quasars. We get the enhancement factor of quasar overdensity (for D ≤ 4 clusters) q =1.13, and the extinction magnitude factor of QSO deficiency (for R ≥ 2 clusters) Av= 0.14. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High‐fidelity spectroscopy at the highest resolutions

High‐fidelity spectroscopy presents challenges for both observations and in designing instruments. High‐resolution and high‐accuracy spectra are required for verifying hydrodynamic stellar atmospheres and for resolving intergalactic absorption‐line structures in quasars. Even with great photon fluxes from large telescopes with matching spectrometers, precise measurements of line profiles and wavelength positions encounter various physical, observational, and instrumental limits. The analysis may be limited by astrophysical and telluric blends, lack of suitable lines, imprecise laboratory wavelengths, or instrumental imperfections. To some extent, such limits can be pushed by forming averages over many similar spectral lines, thus averaging away small random blends and wavelength errors. In situations where theoretical predictions of lineshapes and shifts can be accurately made (e.g., hydrodynamic models of solar‐type stars), the consistency between noisy observations and theoretical predictions may be verified; however this is not feasible for, e.g., the complex of intergalactic metal lines in spectra of distant quasars, where the primary data must come from observations. To more fully resolve lineshapes and interpret wavelength shifts in stars and quasars alike, spectral resolutions on order R = 300 000 or more are required; a level that is becoming (but is not yet) available. A grand challenge remains to design efficient spectrometers with resolutions approaching R = 1 000 000 for the forthcoming generation of extremely large telescopes (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The peaks and gaps in the redshift distributions of active galactic nuclei and quasars

The distributionsf(z) of the redshifts for active galaxies (Seyfert galaxies, radio galaxies, and quasars) have been studied. Some statistically-significant maxima and minima are observed in the distributionsf(z) for these objects. The significance of peaks and gaps increases for the brighter objects, for which the samples are more complete. The clustering of the Seyfert galaxies is significantly different from that of the nearby normal galaxies. The distributionf(z) for the radio galaxies is similar to the analogous distribution for the galaxy clusters. Three of the five peaks in the distributionf(z) for the radio quasars may be caused by the selection effects. Two peaks within the intervalsz (0.5, 0.7) and (1.0, 1.1) are probably real. The corresponding scales of the QSO clustering along the line-of-sight are about 100h ^–1 Mpc (h is the Hubble constant in the units of 75 km s^–1 Mpc^–1). The possibility of some global quasi-periodical cycles for the processes of activity is discussed. The period of a cycle for the Seyfert and radio galaxies is about 1×10⁸ years that corresponds to the distances of about 30h ^–1 Mpc between the shells.     

Possible Interpretations of B2 and 5C Quasar Candidate Counts and the “Cut off” in Quasar Density

Optical quasar candidate counts in the far reaching radio surveys B₂ and 5C are consistent either with a luminosity function containing a high percentage of low luminosity objects and a cut off in quasar density or, more probably, with a normal number of quasars at high redshifts and a less steep luminosity function. The absence of high redshifted objects in currently available samples is to be expected of q₀ ≈︂ o and if some of the few quasars observed at z>2.2 are exceptionally bright intrinsically and not typical for the bulk.     

Evolution of Quasar Host Galaxies

Near-IR images, obtained at the ESO-VLT during excellent seeing conditions, of a sample of 17 radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars in the redshift range 1 < z < 2 are presented. The host galaxies of both types of quasars appear to follow the expected trend in luminosity of massive ellipticals undergoing simple passive evolution. We find a systematic difference by a factor ∼2 in the host luminosity between RLQs and RQQs that does not change significantly from z = 2 to the present epoch. Quasar hosts appear thus to be already well formed at z ∼ 2 and similar to massive inactive spheroids. These findings are in disagreement with the predictions of models for the joint formation and evolution of galaxies and active nuclei based on the hierarchical structure formation scenario.     

Intergalactic medium: X-ray background and compton parameter

A model of intergalactic medium heated by QSOs and cooled by the expansion of the universe and Compton cooling is studied in the framework of a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. Cosmological evolution functions of the comoving density of QSO's as well as the case of no evolution are considered. The theoretical X-ray background spectrum (through thermal bremsstrahlung) and Comptony parameter are calculated including relativistic corrections in the electron-electron, electron-proton and electron-photon interactions. The observed X-ray background and the upper limit of the Compton parametery cobe given by the COBE satellite are used to adjust, for each value of reheating redshiftsz _c ranging from 0.1 to 5.0, the present values of the temperatureT ₀ and densityn ₀ of the intergalactic gas. Forz _c > 0.25, when the theoretical X-ray spectrum fits the observed one, the adjusted values ofT ₀ andn ₀ imply iny >y cobe. On the other hand, whenT ₀ andn ₀ are consistent withy cobe, the calculated X-ray spectrum is lower than the observed one. Unless 100% of the observed X-ray background is due to discrete sources and if the intergalactic medium contributes more than 2.5% to such background we come to the interesting result that the medium must have been heated atz _c < 1. In this case we shall have to explain the high energy rates necessary to heat the intergalactic medium. Forz _c 0.25, it is possible to find values ofT ₀ andn ₀ such that both the calculated X-ray background and the y parameter simultaneously reproduce the corresponding observed values. However, in this case, unless it could be shown to be otherwise by future observations or theoretical studies, it seems that the model of hot intergalactic medium is not plausible because of the high energies required to heat the intergalactic gas.     

Astrophysical observations exclude the hypothesis on the universe expansion

It is known that the correlation between the observed visible luminositym(z), angular dimension (z) of galaxies on the red shiftz and theoretical relations of the standard cosmology is possible only under the assumption that the luminosity and object dimension evolution are equal toL(z) =L ₀(z + 1)^3.2 andl(z) =l ₀(z + 1)^–2, respectively. This evolution is hypothetical, since it is defined by a theory which is not confirmed by experience. In order to solve the problem on the reality of the Universe expansion, it is sufficient to prove or disprove these conclusions using methods of measurement independent of the theory. One of these methods consists of defining the dependence of the radiation spectra of galaxies and quasars onz which evidently is proportional to the spectrum of absolute luminosityL(, z). It has subsequently been shown that the spectrum form is practically independent of the red shift - i.e., it remains constant during the lifetime of galaxies and quasars. Consequently, to explain the luminosity increase required by the standard cosmology, it is necessary to admit a completely unreal entity (at all wavelengths of the optical spectrum increase) of the radiation spectral density of (z + 1)^3.2 times. We can conclude that in reality the luminosity evolution is either absent or its power index is smaller at least by an order of magnitude. It is likely, therefore, that the established is the result of an inadequate standard in cosmology.Another method is the use of the observed relations between the parameters ofL andl galaxies. A number of measurements made by different authors gives the relationlL ^a , where 0.33a1.6. It then follows thatl(z)(z + 1)^3.2a . This dependence of the galaxy dimension is inverse to the dependence predicted by the standard cosmology. Besides, in order to make a correlation between thel(z)(z + 1)^3.2a and measurements of (z), it is necessary that indices of the degree of luminosity evolution should be smaller by an order of magnitude.Thus, the luminosity increase and simultaneous decrease of galaxy and quasar dimensions predicted by the standard cosmolog are not confirmed by the direct astrophysical measurements. This discrepancy is the consequence of an incorrect hypothesis of Universe expansion and the relativistic cosmology based on it.     

Effects of dense medium surrounding galactic-sized radio sources

In this paper, I have analysed the subarcsecond polarization structure of two high-z compact steep-spectrum quasars. Morphology suggests that the jets are interacting strongly with intergalactic medium. Models of bending by ram pressure equilibrium in a cooling flow and alignment of magnetic field lines by jet-IGM shock suggest that the CSS jets are light, supersonic and mildly relativistic. Particle energy index variations along the jet suggests replenishment triggered by such interactions.     

The mass distribution in the galaxy cluster Abell 2744

The mass distribution for the galaxy cluster Abell 2744 (z = 0.308) is investigated on the base of the archival X-ray data of the Chandra observatory. The temperature of the hot gas in the cluster (kT = 9.82_−0.41^+0.43 keV) and the cluster total mass (M ₂₀₀ = 2.22_−0.12^+0.13 × 10¹⁵ M _⊙) for the radius R ₂₀₀ = 2.38_−0.31^+0.36 Mpc are estimated. The density and mass profiles for the intergalactic gas and dark matter are obtained. The fractions of the intergalactic gas and dark matter in the total mass of the cluster are 15.4_−1.3^+1.3% and 84.6_−1.3^+1.4%, respectively.     

X-ray Luminosity Function of Quasars at 3 &lt; <Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis> &lt; 5 from XMM-Newton Serendipitous Survey Data

The X-ray luminosity function of distant (3 < z < 5.1) type 1 quasars has been measured. A sample of distant high-luminosity (10⁴⁵ erg s^?1 ≤ L_X,2?10 < 7.5×10⁴⁵ erg s^?1 in the 2–10 keV energy band) quasars from the catalog by Khorunzhev et al. (2016) compiled from the data of the 3XMM-DR4 catalog of the XMM-Newton serendipitous survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has been used. This sample consists of 101 sources. Most of them (90) have spectroscopic redshifts z_spec ? 3; the remaining ones are quasar candidates with photometric redshift estimates z_phot ? 3. The spectroscopic redshifts of eight sources have been measured with the BTA and AZT-33IK telescopes. Owing to the record sky coverage area (?250 sq. deg at X-ray fluxes ~10^?14 erg s^?1 cm^?2 in the 0.5–2 keVband) from which the sample was drawn, we have managed to obtain reliable estimates of the space density of distant X-ray quasars with luminosities L_X,2?10 > 2×10⁴⁵ erg s^?1 for the first time. Their comoving space density remains constant as the redshift increases from z = 3 to 5 to within a factor of 2. The power-law slope of the X-ray luminosity function of distant quasars at its bright end (above the break) has been reliably constrained for the first time. The range of possible slopes for the quasar luminosity and density evolution model is γ₂ = 2.72 _?0.12 ^+0.19 ± 0.21, where initially the lower and upper boundaries of γ₂ with the remaining uncertainty in the detection completeness of X-ray sources in SDSS and subsequently the statistical error of the slope are specified.     

Distribution of Doppler Redshifts of Associated Absorbers of SDSS Quasars

Doppler redshifts of a sample of Mg II associated absorbers of SDSS DR7 quasars are analysed. We find that there might be three Gaussian components in the distribution of the Doppler redshift. The first Gaussian component, with the peak being located at z _Dopp?=???0.0074, probably arises from absorbers with outflow histories observed in the direction close to jets of quasars. The second Gaussian component, with the peak being located at z _Dopp?=???0.0017, possibly arises from absorbers with outflow histories observed in the direction far away from jets of quasars. Whereas, the third Gaussian component, with the peak being located at z _Dopp?=???0.0004, might arise from the random motion of absorbers with respect to quasars.