Gas heating inside radio sources to mildly relativistic temperatures via induced compton scattering

The measured brightness temperatures of the low-frequency synchrotron radiation from intense extragalactic sources reach 10¹¹–10¹² K. If there is some amount of nonrelativistic ionized gas within such sources, it must be heated through induced Compton scattering of the radiation. If cooling via inverse Compton scattering of the same radio radiation counteracts this heating, then the plasma can be heated up to mildly relativistic temperatures kT～10–100 keV. In this case, the stationary electron velocity distribution can be either relativistic Maxwellian or quasi-Maxwellian (with the high-velocity tail suppressed), depending on the efficiency of Coulomb collisions and other relaxation processes. We derive several simple approximate expressions for the induced Compton heating rate of mildly relativistic electrons in an isotropic radiation field, as well as for the stationary electron distribution function and temperature. We give analytic expressions for the kernel of the integral kinetic equation (one as a function of the scattering angle, and the other for an isotropic radiation field), which describes the photon redistribution in frequency through induced Compton scattering in thermal plasma. These expressions can be used in the parameter range [in contrast to the formulas written out previously in Sazonov and Sunyaev (2000), which are less accurate].     

The radio emission from Sakurai's Object (beyond 1 mm)

Observations of V4334 Sgr have been made with the JCMT, MERLIN, ATCAand the VLA. Searches with JCMT for CO in and around the PNassociated with V4334 Sgr has provided upper limits for the peakemission of 20 mK and the line-flux of 0.17 K-km s^-1. Thisgives an upper limit on the CO mass of 3 × 10^-7D² M at D kpc. VLA observations havedetected 2.7 ± 0.1 mJy of emission from the PN, which appears to beclumpy and extends to a radius of 17 arcsec. This indicates anoptically thick nebula, and suggests a range of distances of 1.83 to4.96 kpc for a reasonable range of masses for optically thick PN.Comparison with estimated total H emission gives E(B-V) =0.8 ±0.1. MERLIN observations do not detect the wind indicated tobe present in IR observations prior to dust obscuration. TheAustralia Telescope Compact Array did not detect OH maser emissionfrom either the main- or satellite-lines. Future VLA observationswill increase integration times and uv-coverage to significantlyimprove the radio imaging. MERLIN target-of-opportunity time isretained in order to attempt to image any fast wind as it develops.An independent estimate of the PN mass would allow the use of theradio observations to determine the distance; conversely anindependent distance measurement would lead to a PN mass estimate.The author urges the acquisition of an accurate measurement of thetotal H emission from the PN.     

A 23\mathop .\limits^d 2 period in the ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray flux from the Mk 501 active galactic nucleus

Observations at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory are used to show that the ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray flux from the galaxy Mk 501 varies with a $23\mathop .\limits^d 2$ period. The period was determined by the HEGRA team from the 1997 observations.     

红外源IRAS 05437-0001和IRAS 05351+3549的CO分子谱线观测研究

利用紫金山天文台青海观测站13.7米射电望远镜对红外源IRAS05437-0001和IRAS05351+3549附近区域进行了CO(J=1-0)的分子谱线观测.发现在这两个源的方向都有很强的CO发射,CO谱线还有明显的线翼成分,这暗示两个红外源存在分子外流.同时还获得了每个源5＇×5＇的成图.通过对高速气体的空间分布的观测和分析,认为这两个源为分子外流源.其中IRAS05437-0001附近区域的外流结构比较复杂,可能这一区域的外流是多极的.IRAS05351+3549附近的外流结构较简单.从两个源的红外光谱分类以及外流的动力学时标得出都是年轻星(年龄～105yrs).通过对这两个外流源的参数估算,得出两个外流源的质量损失率.     

WR 146 – observing the OB-type companion

We present new radio and optical observations of the colliding-wind system WR 146 aimed at understanding the nature of the companion to the Wolf–Rayet (WR) star and the collision of their winds. The radio observations reveal emission from three components: the WR stellar wind, the non-thermal wind–wind interaction region and, for the first time, the stellar wind of the OB companion. This provides the unique possibility of determining the mass-loss rate and terminal wind velocity ratios of the two winds, independent of distance. Respectively, these ratios are 0.20±0.06 and 0.56±0.17 for the OB-companion star relative to the WR star. A new optical spectrum indicates that the system is more luminous than had been believed previously. We deduce that the 'companion' cannot be a single, low-luminosity O8 star as suggested previously, but is either a high-luminosity O8 star, or possibly an O8+WC binary system.     

Ammonia observations of the nearby molecular cloud MBM 12

We present NH₃(1,1) and (2,2) observations of MBM 12, the closest known molecular cloud (65-pc distance), aimed at finding evidence for on-going star formation processes. No local temperature (with a T _rot upper limit of 12 K) or linewidth enhancement is found, which suggests that the area of the cloud that we have mapped (15-arcmin size) is not currently forming stars. Therefore this nearby 'starless' molecular gas region is an ideal laboratory to study the physical conditions preceding new star formation.
A radio continuum source has been found in Very Large Array archive data, close to but outside the NH₃ emission. This source is likely to be a background object.     

Radio galaxies with a 'double-double morphology'– I. Analysis of the radio properties and evidence for interrupted activity in active galactic nuclei

We present four Mpc-sized radio galaxies which consist of a pair of double-lobed radio sources, aligned along the same axis, and with a coinciding radio core. We call these peculiar radio sources 'double-double' radio galaxies (DDRGs) and propose a general definition of such sources: a 'double-double' radio galaxy consists of a pair of double radio sources with a common centre. Furthermore, the two lobes of the inner radio source must have a clearly extended, edge-brightened radio morphology. Adopting this definition, we find several other candidate DDRGs in the literature. We find that in all sources the smaller (inner) pair of radio lobes is less luminous than the larger (outer) pair, and that the ratio of 1.4-GHz flux density of these two pairs appears to be anticorrelated with the projected linear size of the inner source. Also, the outer radio structures are large, exceeding 700 kpc. We discuss possible formation scenarios of the DDRGs, and we conclude that an interruption of the jet-forming central activity is the most likely mechanism. For one of our sources (B 1834+620) we have been able observationally to constrain the length of time of the interruption to a few Myr. We discuss several scenarios for the cause of the interruption, and suggest multiple encounters between interacting galaxies as a possibility. Finally, we discuss whether such interruptions help the formation of extremely large radio sources.     

Infrared emission from 6.7-GHz methanol maser sources

Near-infrared photometry was performed on 56 southern 6.7-GHz methanol maser sources. A simple spherically symmetric model of the radiative transfer through a dust shell was developed and used to study the conditions in the dust cloud in which the masers are produced. The parameters investigated were the size of the cloud, the spectral type of the embedded star, the optical depth of the dust cloud and the dust density distribution. It was found that the infrared colours of the models have a complex dependence on the parameters and that no unique combination of parameter values explains the spectral energy distribution of any particular source. The model effectively reproduces the far-infrared ( IRAS ) colours but cannot simultaneously explain the near-infrared colours for any of the observed sources.     

A model for the molecular accretion disk and H2O maser in the nucleus of the galaxy NGC 4258

A model is developed for the H₂O maser source observed in the circumnuclear region of the galaxy NGC 4258. The maser emission originates at distances of 0.15–0.29 pc from the center in a thin, cold accretion disk (gas-dust torus) rotating around a supermassive black hole of mass 4 × 10⁷ M _⊙. The conditions for the emergence of an inverse population of the signal 6₁₆?5₂₃ levels in ortho-H₂O working molecules are simulated numerically. The complex line profile, which includes both central and high-velocity components, is calculated. A comparison of the calculations with radiointerferometric and spectrophotometric observations allowed the physical conditions in the emitting region to be determined.