Spectral principal component analysis of the Hβ region of low-redshift SDSS quasars

Studying the relationships among quasar spectral features is essential to unveil the origins of the emission lines and the quasars' physical processes. Principal component analysis(PCA) is a powerful tool to investigate correlations between variables. Here, we present the results of PCA on the spectra of low-redshift SDSS quasars. The rest-frame wavelength range studied is 4000 – 5500 ?, involving some typical features of quasar spectra, such as Hβ, [O Ⅲ] and Fe Ⅱ emission lines. The first principal component is the anti-correlation between [O Ⅲ] and Fe Ⅱ, the well-known eigenvector one(EV1). The next six principal components also show clear(anti-)correlations between line strengths and/or velocity widths of various features, which agree well with measured spectral properties. By comparing the weights of these principal components with other quasar properties, we can identify their underlying drivers. We find that the second principal component represents spectral slope, and can quantify quasar host fraction, intrinsic slope and reddening well. The third component exhibits the velocity width variation of Hβ, and may be a proxy for orientation. In addition, we calculate the fractional-contribution spectra to investigate which components dominate the variance at individual wavelength ranges. Our results also indicate that the optical Fe Ⅱ emission may have distinct origins.     

Properties of Broad Band Continuum of Narrow Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies

We have performed a statistical study of the properties of the broadband continuum of Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) by collecting ratio,infrared, optical and X-ray continuum data from various databases and comparedthe results with control samples of Broad Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (BLSls). We findthat the fraction (～ 6%) of Radio Loud (RL) NLSls is significantly less than thatof BLS1s (～ 13%), which is caused by the lack of radio-very-loud sources in theformer. The rarity of RL NLS1s, especially radio-very-loud ones, is consistent withthe scenario of small black hole and high accretion rate for NLSls. Six new radio loudNLSls are found and five RL NLS1 candidates are presented. In comparison withthe BLS1s, the NLS1s tend to have stronger far infrared emission, cooler infraredcolors and redder B- K color, which suggests that NLS1s are hosted by dust-richernuclei. The NLS1s also show steeper soft X-ray spectrum and large soft X-rayto optical flux ratio, while a significant fraction show fiat soft X-ray spectra. Atleast two factors can account for this, absorption and spectral variability. We alsoperform a correlation analysis between various broad band data. It is found thatmost correlations identified for NLS1s are also valid for radio quiet BLS1s: (1) theoptical colors are anti-correlated with X-ray spectral index; (2) higher optical, X-ray and NIR luminosity objects show bluer optical colors and red H - K color; (3)higher luminosity objects show warmer IRAS color; (4) the radio loudness correlateswith B - K and X-ray to optical flux ratio. Radio loud objects behave somewhatdifferently in a few correlations.     

Chromospheric activity on the late-type star V1355 Ori using Lijiang 1.8-m and 2.4-m telescopes

We obtained new high-resolution spectra using the Lijiang 1.8-m and 2.4-m telescopes to investigate the chromospheric activities of VI355 Ori as indicated in the behaviors of Ca Ⅱ HK,Hδ,Hγ,Hβ,Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2,Hα and Ca Ⅱ infrared triplet(IRT) lines.The observed spectra show obvious emissions above the continuum in Ca II HK lines,absorptions in the Hδ,Hγ,Hβ and Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2 lines,variable behavior(filled-in absorption,partial emission with a core absorption component or emission above the continuum)in the Hα line,and weak self-reversal emissions in the strong filled-in absorptions of the Ca Ⅱ IRT lines.We used a spectral subtraction technique to analyze our data.The results show no excess emission in the Hδ and Hγ lines,very weak excess emissions in the Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2 lines,excess emission in the Hβ line,clear excess emission in the Hα line,and excess emissions in the Ca Ⅱ IRT lines.The value of the ratio of EW_(8542)/EW_(8498) is in the range 0.9 to 1.7,which implies that chromospheric activity might have been caused by plage events.The value of the ratio E_(Hα)/E_(Hβ) is above 3,indicating that the Balmer lines would arise from prominence-like material.We also found time variations in light curves associated with equivalent widths of chromospheric activity lines in the Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2,Ca Ⅱ IRT and Hα lines in particular.These phenomena can be explained by plage events,which are consistent with the behavior of chromospheric activity indicators.     

The relationship between the properties of PAHs and AGN activities in type-I AGNs

In order to explore the relationship between properties of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAHs) and AGN activities in Type-I AGNs, we compiled a sample of 47 Type-I AGNs with measured PAH 11.3 μm and 7.7 μm emission lines.The PAH emission and optical properties of these AGNs are taken from the literature.It is found that the equivalent width(EW) of 11.3 μm emission from PAHs shows a weak correlation with the ratio of the EWs of the Fe II complex between λ4434 andλ4684 to Hβ(RFe). The PAH 11.3/7.7 ratio is correlated with various elements defined by the first eigenvector space, which are RFe, [OIII]λ5007 luminosity and Hβasymmetry. These correlations infer that AGNs with high RFe, weak [OIII] emission and a strong Hβ blue-wing are likely to have low PAH ionization, and hence a larger amount of neutral PAHs.     

Do Radio-loud Active Galactic Nuclei really follow the same MBH-σ＊ Relation as Normal Galaxies？

In an examination of the relationship between the black hole mass MBH and stellar velocity dispersionσ* in radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs), we studied two effects which may cause uncertainties in the black hole mass estimates of radio-loud AGNs: the relativistic beaming effect on the observed optical continuum radiation and the orientation effect on the broad emission line width. After correcting these two effects, we re-examined the MBH-σ[OIII] relation for a sample of radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs, and found the relation for radio-loud AGNs still deviated from that for nearby normal galaxies and radio-quiet AGNs. We also found there is no significant correlation between radio jet power and narrow [OIII] line width, indicating absence of strong interaction between radio jet and narrow line region. It may be that the deviation of the MBH-σ* relation of radio-loud AGNs is intrinsic, or that the [OIII] line width is not a good indicator ofσ* for radio-loud AGNs.     

On the Positronium Continuum and 0.511 MeV Line in Solar Flares

We have studied the influence of the density of the annihilation region on the positronium continuum. A relation between the ratio 3γ/2γ and the densityis explicitly given, with which one can derive directly from the observed 3γ/2γ the density where the annihilation occurs. A unique solution may be found from the observed width of the 0.511MeV line. We applied the method to three flares observed by GRS/SMM. It is shown that due to the measuring uncertainties in the 0.511 MeV line width, we cannot distinguish a chromospheric source from a coronal source, though both accurately localized. To improve the measuring accuracy of the 0.511MeV line and the ratio 3γ/2γ will be an important step for a better understanding of the annihilation process in solar flares.     

Relation between Starlight and Nebular Emission Lines of Star-Forming Galaxies

We present an exercise that intends to establish a relationship between the strength of nebular emission lines and optical stellar features in the spectrum of a galaxy. After accurately subtracting the stellar continuum and the underlying stellar absorption, we made reliable measurements of the emission lines of all the galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 2 (SDSS DR2). More than 4000 star-forming galaxies with high S/N ratio of both the stellar spectrum and the emission lines are selected. These galaxy spectra are fitted with the 10 PCs of Yip et al., after all the emission line regions have been filtered out. We find that the flux of hydrogen Balmer emission lines, Hα and Hβ can be well recovered from the PCs, while the metal lines are not well reproduced. The fluxes of Hα and Hβ measured from the PC-reconstructed spectra and from the observed spectra agree well with an rms scatter of only - 0.1 dex. This result suggests that, with moderate spectral resolution and S/N ratio, the optical stellar spectrum of a galaxy can serve as an indicator of star formation rate.     

Inclination of Broad Line Region in Narrow Line and Broad Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies

The sizes of the Broad Line Region (BLR) of some Seyfert 1 galax-ies and nearby quasars can be determined by the reverberation mapping method.Combining with the observed FWHM of Hβ emission line and assuming that themotion of BLR clouds is virialized, the black hole masses of these objects have beenestimated. However, this method strongly depends on the poorly-understood geom-etry and inclination of the BLR. On the other hand, a tight correlation between theblack hole mass and the bulge velocity dispersion was recently found for both activeand nearby inactive galaxies. This may provide another method, independent of theBLR geometry, for estimating the black hole mass. Using this method for estimatingthe black hole mass and combining with the measured BLR size and FWHM of Hβemission line, we derived the BLR inclination angles for 20 Seyfert I galaxies underthe assumption that the BLR is disk-like. The derived inclination angles agree wellwith those derived previously by fitting the UV continuum and Hβ emission lineprofiles. Adopting a relation between the FWHMs of [OⅢ]λ5007 forbidden line andthe stellar velocity dispersion, we also estimated the BLR inclinations for 50 nar-row line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLSls). We found that the inclinations of broad LineSeyfert 1 galaxies (BLS1s) are systematically greater than those of NLS1s, whichseldom exceed 30. This may be an important factor that leads to the differencesbetween NLS1s and BLS1s if the BLR of NLS1s is really disk-like.     

Radio stars observed in the LAMOST spectral survey

Radio stars have attracted astronomers' attention for several decades. To better understand the physics behind stellar radio emissions, it is important to study their optical behaviors. The LAMOST survey provides a large database for researching stellar spectroscopic properties of radio stars. In this work, we concentrate on their spectroscopic properties and infer physical properties from their spectra,such as stellar activity and variability. We mined big data from the LAMOST spectral survey Data Release 2(DR2), published on 2016 June 30, by cross-matching them with radio stars from FIRST and other surveys. We obtained 783 good stellar spectra with high signal to noise ratio for 659 stars. The criteria for selection were positional coincidence within 1.5′′and LAMOST objects classified as stars.We calculated the equivalent widths(EWs) of the Ca II HK, Hδ, Hγ, Hβ, Hα and Ca II IRT lines by integrating the line profiles. Using the EWs of the Hα line, we detected 147 active stellar spectra of 89 objects having emissions above the Hα continuum. There were also 36 objects with repeated spectra,28 of which showed chromospheric activity variability. Furthermore, we found 14 radio stars emitting noticeably in the Ca II IRT lines. The low value of the EW8542/EW8498 ratio for these 14 radio stars possibly alludes to chromospheric plage regions.     

Physical Parameters of a Flare Dervied from Multi—line 2D Spectroscopy

Time series of 2D spectra of Hα and CaⅡ λ8542 for a flare of 1999 December 22 are obtained and analyzed with a new fitting technique. The method we proposed can simultaneously yield the four parameters: the line source function, the optical thickness at line center, the line-of-sight velocity and the Doppler width. We present the spatial distributions of the physical parameters and their temporal evolutions determined from the 2D spectra. Our results are consistent with the general picture predicted by the flare dynamic models.     

X-ray activity from different types of stars

X-ray emission is an important indicator of stellar activity. In this paper, we study stellar Xray activity using the XMM-Newton and LAMOST data for different types of stars. We provide a sample including 1259 X-ray-emitting stars, of which 1090 have accurate stellar parameter estimations. Our sample size is much larger than those used in previous works. We find a bimodal distribution of the X-ray to optical flux ratio(log(fX/fV)) for G and K stars. We interpret that this bimodality is due to two subpopulations with different coronal heating rates. Furthermore, using the full widths at half maxima calculated from Hα and Hβ lines, we show that these stars in the inactive peaks have smaller rotational velocities. This is consistent with the magnetic dynamo theory that presumes stars with low rotational velocities have low levels of stellar activity. We also examine the correlation between log(fX/fV) and luminosity of the excess emission in the Hα line, and find a tight relation between the coronal and chromospheric activity indicators.     

The comparison of H_2CO(1_(10)–1_(11)),C~(18)O(1–0) and the continuum towards molecular clouds

We present large scale observations of C18O(1–0) towards four massive star forming regions: MON R2,S156,DR17/L906 and M17/M18. The transitions of H2CO(110–111),C18O(1–0) and the 6 cm continuum are compared in these four regions. Our analysis of the observations and the results of the Non–LTE model shows that the brightness temperature of the formaldehyde absorption line is strongest in a background continuum temperature range of about 3 – 8 K. The excitation of the H2 CO absorption line is affected by strong background continuum emission. From a comparison of H2 CO and C18 O maps,we found that the extent of H2 CO absorption is broader than that of C18 O emission in the four regions. Except for the DR17 region,the maximum in H2 CO absorption is located at the same position as the C18 O peak. A good correlation between intensities and widths of H2 CO absorption and C18 O emission lines indicates that the H2 CO absorption line can trace the dense,warm regions of a molecular cloud. We find that N(H2CO) is well correlated with N(C18O) in the four regions and that the average ratio of column densities is N(H2CO)/N(C18O) ～ 0.03.     

A Multiwavelength Study of the Jets in FR-I Radio Galaxies： I. Data and Analysis

We compile a sample of 11 Fanaroff-Riley type I Radio Galaxies(FR-I RGs)with multi-wavelength observations to address the dynamic behavior of jets in these objects.Optical images acquired by the Hubble Space Telescope(HST)are carefully analyzed.The method and reduction procedure are described in detail. Unresolved optical cores emerge after having properly removed starlight from the host galaxies in eight of the FR-I RGs,of which five are new identifications.Broad band spectral properties of these newly identified compact cores are compared with that previously found in FR-I RGs,as well as the low-energy-peaked BL Lac objects. The similarity between them argues for the same non-thermal synchrotron origin. Well-resolved optical jets with knotty morphologies are found in three FR-I RGs in our sample,namely 3C 15,3C 66B and B20755 37.The optical counterparts to the inner radio/X-ray jets are identified and a clear one-to-one correspondence between the optical,radio and X-ray knots is found.The structure and information on the optical jets are discussed.Physical parameters such as the knots position,flux and size are also presented.Detailed comparison between the multi-wavelength data and radiative and dynamic models of jet will be made in a forthcoming paper.     

Possible evidence of destroying small PAH particles by radiation from AGNs

The issue of destroying small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH) particles by radiation from AGNs is examined through optical narrow-emission line ratios of a sample of type II AGNs. We find that narrow-line ratios [OI]λ6300/Hα and[SII]λ6716, λ6731/Hα have prominent correlations with the PAH 11.3/7.7 ratio in our selected sample of AGNs. Because of the marginal(and in some cases no) dependence of the PAH ratio on the gas metallicity, a possible explanation for the correlations is the destruction of small PAH particles by the hard ionizing field associated with the AGNs.     

Estimating Black Hole Masses of AGNs using Ultraviolet Emission Line Properties

Based on measured broad line region sizes in the reverberation-mapping AGN sample, two new empirical relations are introduced to estimate the central black hole masses of radio-loud high-redshift (z > 0.5) AGNs. First, using the archival IUE/HST spectroscopy data at UV band for the reverberation-mapping objects, we obtained two new empirical relations between the BLR size and Mg II/C IV emission line luminosity. Secondly, using the newly determined black hole masses of the reverberation-mapping sample as calibration, we found two new relationships for determining the black hole mass with the full width at half maximum and the luminosity of Mg II/C IV line. We then apply the relations to estimate the black hole masses of the AGNs in the Large Bright Quasar Survey and a sample of radio-loud quasars. For the objects with small radio-loudness, the black hole mass estimated using the RBLR-LMgII/C IV relation is consistent with that from the RBLR-L3000 (?)/1350(?) relation. For radio-loud AGNs, however, the mass estimated from the RBLR-LMgII/CIV relation is sys- tematically lower than that from the continuum luminosity L3000(?)/1350(?). Because jets could have significant contributions to the UV/optical continuum luminosity of radio-loud AGNs, we emphasize once again that for radio-loud AGNs, the emission line luminosity may be a better tracer of the ionizing luminosity than the continuum luminosity, so that the relations between the BLR size and UV emission line luminosities should be used to estimate the black hole masses of high redshift radio-loud AGNs.     

SDSSJ022119.84＋005628.4： A Radio-Loud Narrow-LineSeyfert 1 Galaxy with Star Formation in its Nucleus

The optical spectrum of SDSS J022119.84 + 005628.4 (R. A. = 02h 21m 19.84s, Dec = 00°56' 28.4", J2000; z = 0.399785 ± 0.000558) is analyzed by multi-component profile modelling. The small flux ratio of [OⅢ]NC/Hβ (=0.78) and FWHM(HβBC) = 1778.1 ±85.9 km s-1 led us to identify SDSS J022119.84 + 005628.4 as a Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy with RFe= 1.4-1.0+1.0 and intermediate radio loudness, logR = 1.93. The continuum low jump at the Balmer limit might be contributed by a starburst component, which suggests that the object is a relatively young AGN with star-formation activity in its inner region. This provides a useful observational test of the AGN evolution. The low flux ratio of the narrow components, [OⅢ]/Hβ = 1.62, and the prominent [OⅡ]γ3727 emission, [OⅡ]/[OⅢ] = 2.24, suggests that there should be a group of AGNs different from Seyfert 2s when their broad line regions are obscured by the torus on the line of sight. A possible orientation effect is suggested to interpret the observed Seyf     

Broad-band spectroscopy of the transient X-ray binary pulsar KS 1947+300 during 2013 giant outburst: Detection of pulsating soft X-ray excess component

We present the results obtained from detailed timing and spectral studies of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar KS 1947+300 during its 2013 giant outburst. We used data from Suzaku observations of the pulsar at two epochs, i.e. on 2013 October 22(close to the peak of the outburst) and 2013 November 22. Xray pulsations at ~18.81 s were clearly detected in the light curves obtained from both observations. Pulse periods estimated during the outburst showed that the pulsar was spinning up. The pulse profile was found to be single-peaked up to ~10 ke V beyond which a sharp peak followed by a dip-like feature appeared at hard X-rays. The dip-like feature has been observed up to ~70 keV. The 1–110 ke V broad-band spectroscopy of both observations revealed that the best-fit model was comprised of a partially absorbed Negative and Positive power law with EXponential cutoff(NPEX) continuum model along with a blackbody component for the soft X-ray excess and two Gaussian functions at 6.4 and 6.7 ke V for emission lines. Both the lines were identified as emission from neutral and He-like iron atoms. To fit the spectra, we included the previously reported cyclotron absorption line at 12.2 keV. From the spin-up rate, the magnetic field of the pulsar was estimated to be ~1.2×10~(12)G and found to be comparable to that obtained from the detection of the cyclotron absorption feature. Pulse-phase resolved spectroscopy revealed the pulsating nature of the soft X-ray excess component in phase with the continuum flux. This confirms that the accretion column and/or accretion stream are the most probable regions of the soft X-ray excess emission in KS1947+300.The presence of the pulsating soft X-ray excess in phase with continuum emission may be the possible reason for not observing the dip at soft X-rays.     

Analysis of the X-ray emission of OB stars II: B stars

This paper is the second part of an investigation into the mechanism for the origin of X-rays in early-type stars. Archival X-ray observations of 25 B stars, obtained by the XMM-Newton satellite, are analysed. We check two hypotheses on the origin of X-ray emission: the Magnetically Confined Wind Shock Model(MCWS) and Pollock's paradigm. For all studied stars, the mean ratio of the half widths at half maximum to the terminal velocities appears to be R ≈ 0.15-0.20 in contradiction to Pollock's hypothesis that R ≈ 0.5. We checked three possible consequences of the MCWS model: correlations between the hardness of the X-ray spectra for B stars and terminal wind velocities, mass loss rates and magnetic fields.It was shown that such correlations are marginal or even absent both for magnetic and non-magnetic B stars.     

The Relationship between the Rise Width and the Full Width of γ-ray Burst Pulses and Its Implications

We investigate the relationship between the rise width and the full width of gamma-ray burst pulses.Theoretical analysis shows that either width is proportional to Γ~(-2)Δ_(Тθ),FWHM(RRc)/c(Γ the Lorentz factor of the bulk motion,Δ_(Тθ),FWHM a local pulse's width,R_c the radius of fireballs and c the velocity of light).We study the relationship for four samples of observed pulses.We find:(1)merely the curvature effect could reproduce the relationship between the rise and full widths with the same slope as derived from the model of Qin et al.;(2)gamma-ray burst pulses,selected from both the short and long GRBs,follow the same sequence in the rise width vs. full width diagram,with the shorter pulses at one end;(3)all GRBs may intrinsically result from local Gaussian pulses.These features place constraints on the physical mechanism(s)for producing long and short GRBs.     

XMM-Newton observations of H2O maser galaxy NGC 7479

The XMM-Newton observations of H2O megamaser galaxy NGC 7479 are presented.Its smoothed X-ray image clearly shows spiral morphology,which matches well with its optical asymmetric spiral structure.One prominent source can be found at the tip of its northern spiral arm,which is much brighter than its nuclear X-ray source(about a 50% higher count rate).For the nuclear source(a circular region with a radius of 20"),the spectra show soft excess below 2 keV and a strong iron Kα emission line.The best fitting model includes a partially absorbed model for the hard continuum and one thermal plasma model for the soft scatter component.Both the high column density(NH～6.88 × 1023 cm-2)and strong fluorescent iron line(with an equivalent width of～1.5 keV)support the existence of one heavily obscured AGN.For the bright prominent source,its radial profile is consistent with that of a single point-like source.Its spectra are extracted from the circular region around its peak,with a radius of 20"and 6"respectively and both spectra show no significant difference.Four alternative models for the ultra-luminous X-ray source(ULXs)can reproduce the spectra well: an absorbed power law,thermal bremsstrahlung,multicolor blackbody disk plus another blackbody or power law.Further observations(e.g.,the tremendous improvement in the spatial resolution of the Chandra X-ray observations)and studies are desirable for probing the nature of this prominent source.In addition,we also estimate the mass of its central engine to be 1.18× 107 M⊙ and maser disk parameters: the disk radius of～0.7 pc and the dimensionless accretion rate(L2-10keV/LEdd)of 1.2 × 10-4.