X-ray variability in a deep, flux-limited sample of QSOs

We present an analysis of X-ray variability in a flux-limited sample of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Selected from our deep ROSAT survey, these QSOs span a wide range in redshift (0.1< z <3.2) and are typically very faint, so we have developed a method to constrain the amplitude of variability in ensembles of low signal-to-noise ratio light curves. We find evidence for trends in this variability amplitude with both redshift and luminosity. The mean variability amplitude declines sharply with luminosity, as seen in local active galactic nuclei (AGN), but with some suggestion of an upturn for the most powerful sources. We find tentative evidence that this is caused by redshift evolution, since the high-redshift QSOs ( z >0.5) do not show the anticorrelation with luminosity seen in local AGN. We speculate on the implications of these results for physical models of AGN and their evolution. Finally, we find evidence for X-ray variability in an object classified as a narrow-emission-line galaxy, suggesting the presence of an AGN.     

Nearby galaxies. IV. The global Hubble parameter and the dispersion of the Hubble relation

Using a spherically symmetric model of the Virgo flow the global Hubble parameter has been estimated from the observed radial velocities and the photometrically measured distances of nearby galaxies. Adopting the observed recession velocity of the Virgo Cluster to about 1000 km s⁻¹ and the infall velocity of the Local Group to 350 km s⁻¹ the global Hubble constant results to 73 ± 10 km s⁻¹ Mpc⁻¹. This value corresponds with the distance of the Virgo Cluster of 18 ± 2 Mpc. The cosmic dispersion of the galaxies around the Hubble relation is of order of 35 km s⁻¹.     

The Hubble relation: Differences between galaxy types Sb and Sc

The most accurate data on galaxy types, corrected apparent magnitudes and redshifts as given in the Sandage-TammanRevised Shapley-Ames catalog are analyzed. It is shown that Sb galaxies of the same luminosity class as M31 and M81 define a narrow Hubble relation withH ₀=65 _–6 ⁺¹⁵ km s^–1 Mpc^–1.In contrast, Sc galaxies deviate strongly towars higher redshift from a linear, log redshift—apparent magnitude relation. Not all this deviation can be selection effect due to increasing volume sampled at increasing redshift (Malmquist bias). Physical associations of groups of galaxies in theRSA Catalog are used to establish the existence of various amounts of excess (non-velocity) redshifts among Sc and allied types of galaxies.Independent distances fromHi line width — luminosity criterion (Tully-Fisher) are analyzed. It is shown that this criterion gives much smaller distances than redshifts do for galaxies which deviate above the Hubble line. Unless the Tully-Fisher relation gives too small distances for more luminous galaxies, this confirms the excess redshift to be intrinsic to the Galaxy. But it is next demonstrated, that for low redshift galaxies, there is no discrepancy between redshift and Tully-Fisher distance even though there is a wide range of absolute magnitudes.If Tully-Fisher distances are accepted, the onlly alternative to having a Hubble constant which increases strongly with distance is to have a component of the higher redshift Sc's contributed by a non-recessional redshift. Streaming motions would have to be large, increase with distance and be always in the receding sence. It is shown here that the Sc's which deviate most from the Hubble relation and have the largest discrepancies with Tully-Filsher distances lie predominantly in the sky toward very nearby groups of galaxies. If they were at these closer distances the discordant galaxies, mostly ScI's, would have dwarfish physical properties but not so unprecedented as the large sizes which result from redshift distances.Finally the interaction of specific high redshift ScI's with nearby galaxies is presented as an independent proof that ScI's are generally small, low luminosity galaxies. This result furnishes insight into the long standing puzzle of how apparently distant ScI's can interact with nearby galaxies such as in Stephan's Quintet, Seyfert's Sextet and NGC 4151/4156.     

Anisotropy in the Hubble relation for the brightest galaxies in clusters

The sky distribution of deviations from the mean Hubble relation for the brightest galaxies in clusters is non-random for the velocity range 4000<V _r<25 000 km s^–1. Deviations in visual magnitude are mainly positive in one large region of the sky and mainly negative in another region; the difference between the regions is 0.37±0.08 ^m and is independent of colour. Various explanations are discussed briefly, and galactic or intergalactic absorption may be excluded.     

Remarks on the homogeneity of a sample used to determine the Hubble parameterH 0

In a recent series of papers, Sandage and Tammann reach the conclusion according to which the Hubble constant is everywhere the same. This result arises from the analysis of two samples (a nearby one and a remote one) of Sc-type galaxies, each sample separately giving the same <H ₀> mean value. We attempt to check whether or not the whole data from both the samples together are consistent with theH ₀=constant hypothesis at a suitable level of statistical significance.     

The proximity effect in a close group of QSOs

We present an analysis of the proximity effect in a sample of 10 2-Å-resolution QSO spectra of the Ly α forest at     . Rather than investigating variations in the number density of individual absorption lines, we employ a novel technique that is based on the statistics of the transmitted flux itself. We confirm the existence of the proximity effect at the > 99 per cent confidence level. We derive a value for the mean intensity of the extragalactic background radiation at the Lyman limit of     . This value assumes that QSO redshifts measured from high-ionization lines differ from the true systemic redshifts by     . We find evidence at a level of 2.6 σ that the significance of the proximity effect is correlated with QSO Lyman limit luminosity. Allowing for known QSO variability, the significance of the correlation reduces to 2.1 σ .
The QSOs form a close group on the sky and the sample is thus well suited for an investigation of the foreground proximity effect, where the Ly α forest of a background QSO is influenced by the UV radiation from a nearby foreground QSO. From the complete sample we find no evidence for the existence of this effect, implying either that     or that QSOs emit at least a factor of 1.4 less ionizing radiation in the plane of the sky than along the line of sight to Earth. We do, however, find one counter-example. Our sample includes the fortunate constellation of a foreground QSO surrounded by four nearby background QSOs. These four spectra all show underdense absorption within ±3000 km s⁻¹ of the redshift of the foreground QSO.     

The X-ray variability of high-redshift QSOs

We present an analysis of X-ray variability in a sample of 156 radio-quiet quasars taken from the ROSAT archive, covering a redshift range  0.12)  in the sense that QSOs of the same X-ray luminosity are more variable at  z>2  . We discuss possible explanations for this effect. The simplest explanation may be that high-redshift QSOs are accreting at a larger fraction of the Eddington limit than local AGNs.     

Absorption line redshifts of QSOs in relation to their emission line redshifts

Analysis of the recent data indicate that absorption line redshifts of QSOs are significantly correlated to their emission line redshifts. It is concluded that the absorption lines originate in materials intrinsic to the QSOs.     

The galaxy luminosity–size relation and selection biases in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

We use the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to study the galaxy luminosity–size  ( M – R _e )  distribution. With a careful analysis of selection effects due to both detection completeness and measurement reliability, we identify bias-free regions in the   M – R _e   plane for a series of volume-limited samples. By comparison to a nearby survey also having well-defined selection limits, namely the Millennium Galaxy Catalogue, we present clear evidence for evolution in surface brightness since   z ∼ 0.7  . Specifically, we demonstrate that the mean, rest-frame B -band  〈μ〉 _e   for galaxies in a sample spanning 8 mag in luminosity between   M _B =−22  and −14 mag increases by ∼1.0 mag arcsec⁻² from   z ∼ 0.1  to 0.7. We also highlight the importance of considering surface brightness-dependent measurement biases in addition to incompleteness biases. In particular, the increasing, systematic underestimation of Kron fluxes towards low surface brightnesses may cause diffuse, yet luminous, systems to be mistaken for faint, compact objects.     

The environment of QSOs (invited review)

The evidence for the association of QSOs with groups of galaxies and the available data on the global properties of such groups are reviewed. At least for redshifts less than 0.5, QSOs tend to occur in richer-than-average environments. There is some evidence that groups around steep-radio-spectrum QSOs are systematically richer than those around radio-quiet and flat-radiospectrum QSOs. The groups associated with the former may sometimes reach central galaxy number densities similar to those of moderately rich clusters, but are significantly more compact, and there is no evidence that any such groups have velocity dispersions above a few hundred km s^–1.A possible explanation for this environmental preference can be found in the recent evidence, from a variety of directions, that galaxy interactions play an important role in triggering nuclear activity. A significant fraction of low-redshift QSOs either have close companions at the same redshift, or show some indication of recent interaction. The results of a recent search for resolvable extended emission around a large sample of luminous low-redshift QSOs are described. There are now substantial reasons for believing that the presence of these extended emission-line regions, which are found around approximately 25% of all low-redshift OSOs, is often a signature of a recent interaction.Observed correlations between radio properties, optical spectra, and environment are mentioned briefly. The present evidence tends to support suggestions that there are two classes of QSOs, one being the extension of the Seyfert population to higher luminosities and having spiral host galaxies, the other being closely related to the broad-line radio galaxies. The host galaxies of this latter class appear often to be morphologically ellipticals, but may in fact be products of recent mergers.Paper presented at the Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

The Connection between Spheroidal Galaxies and QSOs

In view of the extensive evidence of tight inter-relationships between spheroidal galaxies (and galactic bulges) with massive black holes hosted at their centers, a consistent model must deal jointly with the evolution of the two components. We describe one such model, which successfully accounts for the local luminosity function of spheroidal galaxies, for their photometric and chemical properties, for deep galaxy counts in different wavebands, including those in the (sub)-mm region which proved to be critical for current semi-analytic models stemming from the standard hierarchical clustering picture, for clustering properties of SCUBA galaxies, of EROs, and of LBGs, as well as for the local mass function of massive black holes and for quasar evolution. Predictions that can be tested by surveys carried out by SIRTF are presented. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Absorption features of QSOs

Absorption features shown by QSOs may be identified and measured as reported absorption redshift systems, or may remain unidentified and not measured. The features are believed to be observed in objects with high emission redshifts (z _em), although no quantitative analysis exists to examine any such preferential trend, except that by Basu (1982). However, redshift data have since increased enormously both in range of the redshift spectrum and in number. Furthermore, the earlier analysis was based on only the reported absorption redshifts while unidentified absorption features were not dealt with. The present paper analyses the updated data, both identified and unidentified features. It is found that absorption features may be expressed as exponential function ofz _em, and upper limits are set for the percentage of QSOs showing absorption features. Finally, an entirely new method of analysis confirms the earlier conclusion of Basu (1982) that the appearance of absorbing clouds is closely associated with the creation of the QSOs, the two may be having a common cause. It is suggested that absorption QSOs may be a separate class of QSOs whose birth is accompanied with creation of absorbing clouds.     

类星体和Abell星系团的角相关函数

本文采用目前样品数最大的Hewitt Burbidge类星体总表与覆盖全天区的Abell星系团表 (即ACO表 )研究了类星体与星系团分布的成协问题 .利用交叉相关函数方法 ,发现在角距离θ >3°范围内类星体与Abell团呈反相关现象 .这种反相关主要是由光学选类星体产生的 ,射电选类星体的分布与Abell团基本无关 ,这一事实支持了星系团中尘埃的吸收效应的解释 .在θ <3°范围反而无明显的反相关性 ,说明类星体与星系团存在着成协的倾向 .进一步分析表明类星体与星系团的相关性与红移无关 ,这不利于引力透镜效应的解释     

Hubble expansion in a euclidean framework

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Joint formation of QSOs and spheroids: QSOs as clocks of star formation in spheroids

Direct and indirect observational evidence leads to the conclusion that high-redshift QSOs did shine in the core of early-type protogalaxies during their main episode of star formation. Exploiting this fact, we derive the rate of formation of this kind of stellar system at high redshift by using the QSO luminosity function. The elemental proportions in elliptical galaxies, the descendants of the QSO hosts, suggest that the star formation was more rapid in more massive objects. We show that this is expected to occur in dark matter haloes, when the processes of cooling and heating are considered. This is also confirmed by comparing the observed submm counts with those derived by coupling the formation rate and the star formation rate of the spheroidal galaxies with a detailed model for their SED evolution. In this scenario SCUBA galaxies and Lyman-break galaxies are early-type protogalaxies forming the bulk of their stars before the onset of QSO activity.     

不同类型Abell团与类星体的成协

本文采用覆盖全天区的ＨＢ类星体表和ＡＣＯ星系团表为样本，对不同类型的Ａｂｅｌ星系团进行分类研究，发现不同类型的星系团与类星体的成协有不同的特性．两样品的ＫＳ检验证实与Ａｂｅｌ成协（或反成协）的类星体与全部类星体不是出自同一母体，说明这种成协（或反成协）是真实的，不是由投影效应引起的．进一步的计算得到，Ｄ４的Ａｂｅｌ团对其周围成协类星体的密度增强因子ｑ＝１．０８９，Ｒ２的Ａｂｅｌ团对其周围的类星体的吸收星等ＡＢ＝０．０９．