Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis

We have investigated the dynamics of the merging process in the minor merger hypothesis for active galactic nuclei. We find that for a satellite galaxy to be able to merge directly with the nucleus of the host galaxy (for example, to give rise to the compact dust discs which are seen in early-type active galaxies), the initial orbit of the satellite is required to be well aimed. For the case of the host galaxy being a disc galaxy, if the initial orbits of the satellites are randomly oriented with respect to the host galaxy, then the orbits of those which reach the host nuclear regions in a reasonable time are also fairly randomly oriented once they reach the nucleus. We note that this result might be able to provide an explanation of why the jet directions in the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies are apparently unrelated to the plane of the galaxy discs.     

Acceleration and radiation processes around active galactic nuclei

It is proposed that the region containing fast particles, electrostatic and electromagnetic fields, around active galactic nuclei is responsible for generating electromagnetic emissions from -rays to radio waves. The electrons are accelerated by Langmuir turbulence originating through the process of Raman forward scattering (RFS). The radiation mechanism is stimulated Raman backward scattering (RBS) where the fast electron beam loses energy by scattering over spatially periodic magnetic field. The spatially periodic magnetic field results from the magnetic modulational instability of the Langmuir waves. This model accounts well for the large luminosities observed in active galactic nuclei over -rays to radio waves and in addition it relates physically the emission regions at different wavelengths.     

Integrability of motion around galactic razor-thin disks

We consider the three-dimensional bounded motion of a test particle around razor-thin disk configurations, by focusing on the adiabatic invariance of the vertical action associated with disk-crossing orbits. We find that it leads to an approximate third integral of motion predicting envelopes of the form \(Z(R)\propto [\varSigma (R)]^{-1/3}\), where R is the radial galactocentric coordinate, Z is the z-amplitude (vertical amplitude) of the orbit and \(\varSigma \) represents the surface mass density of the thin disk. This third integral, which was previously formulated for the case of flattened 3D configurations, is tested for a variety of trajectories in different thin-disk models.     

Gas flow in a two component galactic disk

Numerical simulations of two-component (stars + gas) self-gravitating galactic disks show that the interstellar gas can significantly affect the dynamical evolution of the disk even if its mass fraction (relative to the total galaxy mass) is as low as several percent. Aided by efficient energy dissipation, the gas becomes gravitationally unstable onlocal scale and forms massive clumps. Gravitational scattering of stars by these clumps leads to suppression of bar instability usually seen in heavy stellar disks. In this case, gas inflow towards the galactic center is driven by dynamical friction which gas clumps suffer instead of bar forcing.     

Local galactic field of forces and the interstellar matter

The density distributions of the two main components in interstellar hydrogen are calculated using 21 cm line data from the Berkeley Survey and the Pulkovo Survey. The narrow, dense component (state I of neutral hydrogen) has a Gaussianz-distribution with a scale-height of 50 pc in the local zones (the galactic disk). For the wide, tenuous component (hydrogen in state II) we postulate a distribution valid in the zones where such a material predominates (70 pc?z? 350 pc the galactic stratum) i.e., $$n_H \left( z \right) = n_H \left( 0 \right)exp \left( { - \left( {z/300{\text{ }}pc} \right)^{3/2} } \right).$$ Similar components are found in the dust distribution and in the available stellar data reaching sufficiently highz-altitudes. The scale-heights depend on the stellar type: the stratum in M III stars is considerably wider than in A stars (500–700 pc against 300 pc). The gas to dust ratio is approximately the same in both components: 0.66 atom cm^?3 mag^?1 kpc in the galactic plane. A third state of the gas is postulated associating it the observed free electron stratum at a scale-height of 660 pc (hydrogen fully ionized at high temperatures). The ratio between the observed dispersions in neutral hydrogen (thermal width plus turbulence) and the total dispersions corresponding to the real inner energies in the medium is obtained by a comparison with the dispersion distribution σ(z) of the different stellar types associated with the disk and the stratum $$\sigma ^2 \left( {total} \right) = \sigma ^2 \left( {21{\text{ cm line}}} \right) \cdot {\text{ }}Q^2 ,$$ from which we graphically obtainedQ ²=2.9 ± 0.3, although that number could be lower in the densest parts of the spiral arms. Its dependence on magnetic field and cosmic rays is analysed, indicating equipartition of the different energy components in the interstellar medium and consistency with the observed values of the magnetic field: i.e., fluctuations with an average of ～ 3 μG (associated with the disk) in a homogeneous background of ～ 1 μG (associated with the stratum). A minimum and maximumK _z-force are obtained assuming extreme conditions for the total density distribution (gas plus stars). TheK _z-force obtained from the interstellar gas in its different states using approximations of the Boltzmann equation is a reasonable intermediate case between maximum and minimumK _z. The mass density obtained in the galactic plane is 0.20±0.05M _⊙ pc^?3, and the results indicate that the galactic disk is somewhat narrower and denser than has usually been believed. The effects of wave-like distributions of matter in thez-coordinate are analysed in relation with theK _z-force, and comparisons with theoretical results are performed. A qualitative model for the galactic field of force is postulated together with a classification of the different zones of the Galaxy according to their observed ranges in velocity dispersions and the behaviour of the potential well at differentz-altitudes. The disk containing at least two-thirds of the total mass atz<100 pc, the stratum containing one-third or less of the total mass atz≤600–800 pc, and the halo at higherz-altitudes with a small fraction of such a mass which is difficult to evaluate.     

The role of diffuse matter in galactic coronas

An upper limit to the gas content in the coronas of giant galaxiesM _gas<0.04M _cor has been calculated on the basis of observational data on the emission of clusters of galaxies in different wavelength ranges. An analysis of companion galaxies has revealed a correlation of their morphological types with the distances to central giant galaxies. A gasodynamical interpretation of this regularity is suggested and a possible picture of the evolution of the galactic coronas is presented.     

Continuum shielding and flow dynamics in active galactic nuclei

We study the ionization, thermal structure and dynamics of active galactic nuclei (AGN) flows that are partially shielded from the central continuum. We utilize a detailed non-local thermodynamic equilibrium photoionization and radiative transfer code using exact (non-Sobolev) calculations. We find that shielding has a pronounced effect on the ionization, thermal structure and the dynamics of such flows. Moderate shielding is especially efficient in accelerating flows to high velocities because it suppresses the ionization level of the gas. The ionization structure of shielded gas tends to be distributed uniformly over a wide range of ionization levels. In such gas, radiation pressure due to trapped line photons can dominate over the thermal gas pressure and have a significant effect on the thermal stability of the flow. Heavily shielded flows are driven mainly by line radiation pressure, and so line locking has a large effect on the flow dynamics. We show that the observed 'L_α ghost' is a natural outcome in highly ionized flows that are shielded beyond the Lyman limit. We suggest that high-velocity AGN flows occupy only a small fraction of the volume and that their density depends only weakly on the velocity field.     

The density of extremely red objects around high-z radio-loud active galactic nuclei

We present the results of a K -band imaging survey of 40 arcmin² in fields around 14 radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN), comprising six radio galaxies and eight quasars, with z >1.5. The survey, which is 80 per cent complete to K <19.2 mag and complemented by R -band imaging, aimed at investigating whether extremely red objects are present in excess around high- z AGN, and to study the environment of z >1.5 radio galaxies and radio-loud quasars. At 18< K <19 mag, the differential galaxy counts in our fields suggest a systematic excess over the general field counts. At K <19.2 mag we find an excess of galaxies with R − K >6 in comparison with the general field. Consistently, we also find that the R − K colour distribution of all the galaxies in the AGN fields is significantly redder than the colour distribution of the field galaxies. On the other hand, the distribution of the R − K colours is indistinguishable from that of galaxies taken from literature fields around radio-loud quasars at 1< z <2. We discuss the main implications of our findings and we compare the possible scenarios that could explain our results.     

Active galactic nuclei flow velocities and the highest energy cosmic rays

The dependence of the maximum energy cosmic rays can reach via diffusive shock acceleration in AGN jets on flow speeds is discussed. It is shown that in highly inclined termination shocks where the speed of the de Hoffman-Teller frame is crucial, a good independent knowledge of the jet speed is required to properly assess the extent of the cosmic ray spectrum.     

Chemical evolution of circumstellar matter around young stellar objects

Recent observational studies of the chemical composition of circumstellar matter around both high- and low-mass young stellar objects are reviewed. The molecular abundances are found to be a strong function of evolutionary state, but not of system mass or luminosity. The data are discussed with reference to recent theoretical models.     

X-ray emission as a tracer of circumstellar matter around herbig ae/be stars

We have detected X-ray emission (1 keV) from young intermediate-mass stars (Herbig Ae/Be stars). Since these stars are not supposed to produce intrinsic X-ray emission (no convection, no coronae), we believe that our results suggest that the X-ray emission actually traces the shock interaction of the Ae/Be star stellar winds with remnant circumstellar matter left over from the star formation process, the presence of which is also indicated by far-infrared (IRAS) and submm/mm continuum data.     

Vortex triplets in dusty plasma with sheared flow and magnetic fields

Localized quasi-stationary rotational structures on the dust time scale in low-β dusty plasmas involving sheared flow and magnetic fields are investigated. For self-consistent equilibrium density, flow, and magnetic field profiles, solution in the form of a localized vortex triplet is obtained and its properties investigated. The magnitude of the electrostatic potential of the vortex structure increases with the velocity and magnetic shear.     

On the protection of extrasolar Earth-like planets around K/M stars against galactic cosmic rays

Previous studies have shown that extrasolar Earth-like planets in close-in habitable zones around M-stars are weakly protected against galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), leading to a strongly increased particle flux to the top of the planetary atmosphere. Two main effects were held responsible for the weak shielding of such an exoplanet: (a) For a close-in planet, the planetary magnetic moment is strongly reduced by tidal locking. Therefore, such a close-in extrasolar planet is not protected by an extended magnetosphere. (b) The small orbital distance of the planet exposes it to a much denser stellar wind than that prevailing at larger orbital distances. This dense stellar wind leads to additional compression of the magnetosphere, which can further reduce the shielding efficiency against GCRs. In this work, we analyse and compare the effect of (a) and (b), showing that the stellar wind variation with orbital distance has little influence on the cosmic ray shielding. Instead, the weak shielding of M star planets can be attributed to their small magnetic moment. We further analyse how the planetary mass and composition influence the planetary magnetic moment, and thus modify the cosmic ray shielding efficiency. We show that more massive planets are not necessarily better protected against galactic cosmic rays, but that the planetary bulk composition can play an important role.     

Dark matter around binary galaxies: formation of collimated flows

We study here the dynamics of an extended shell of relatively low-mass (almost zero-mass) particles around massive binary systems by computer simulations in the framework of approximately restricted three-body problem with a set of several initial conditions concerning the massesM ₁ andM ₂ of the binary components surrounded byN test particles in uniform random distribution on a spherical envelope of radiusR expanding with a velocityV. We apply this model to binary galaxy systems with a halo of baryonic dark matter, e.g., massive black holes, globular clusters, and giant molecular clouds. It is shown that, initially, the shell expands homologously with decreasing velocity and then, falls back into the system forming zones of compressed matter. At some moment there could be a collapse or these particles onto the heavier component of the binary. Further in time, a number of particles escape from the system. We consider a number of different models with different initial parameters. For models with smallerR andV, about one-half of the particles escape from the system; while for larger values the shell disrupts as a whole. The escaping particles form a collimated flow in the plane of the orbit of the binary. The position of the flow and the directions of motions depend on the position of the heavier component of the binary at the moment of the closest approach of the particles and on the ratioM ₁/M ₂.     

The orientation of galaxy dark matter haloes around cosmic voids

Using the Millennium N -body Simulation we explore how the shape and angular momentum of galaxy dark matter haloes surrounding the largest cosmological voids are oriented. We find that the major and intermediate axes of the haloes tend to lie parallel to the surface of the voids, whereas the minor axis points preferentially in the radial direction. We have quantified the strength of these alignments at different radial distances from the void centres. The effect of these orientations is still detected at distances as large as 2.2 R _void from the void centre. Taking a subsample of haloes expected to contain disc-dominated galaxies at their centres we detect, at the 99.9 per cent confidence level, a signal that the angular momentum of those haloes tends to lie parallel to the surface of the voids. Contrary to the alignments of the inertia axes, this signal is only detected in shells at the void surface  (1 < R < 1.07  R _void)  and disappears at larger distances. This signal, together with the similar alignment observed using real spiral galaxies, strongly supports the prediction of the Tidal Torque theory that both dark matter haloes and baryonic matter have acquired, conjointly, their angular momentum before the moment of turnaround.     

Jeans Stability of a Rotating Medium Capable of Resisting Shearing Stress

Resistance to shearing stress is introduced into a model of a homogeneous, rotating, gravitating medium. It is shown that this eliminates gyroscopic stabilization, both in the presence and in the absence of viscosity. A model of gaseous and rigid media in contact is also considered. Contact with a rigid support also partially eliminates gyroscopic stabilization. This fact may result in some compromise between the theories of density waves and of a self-propagating excitation for explaining the spiral structure of galaxies.