Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
X-Ray Emission From The Nuclei of Radio Galaxies Daniel Evans University of Bristol -with- Diana Worrall, Ralph Kraft, Martin Hardcastle, Mark Birkinshaw, Judith Croston, Bill Forman, Christine Jones, Steve Murray
2
Contents n An introduction to AGN physics n X-ray emission from radio galaxies: the issues n Centaurus A: the nearest AGN n NGC 6251: a counterexample? n Nuclear emission from a sample of 3CRR radio galaxies n Conclusions
3
What are AGN? n Unresolved nuclear component n Nuclear luminosity > sum of all stars n M BH ~ 10 6 –10 10 M ๏ n Accompanied by strong X-ray emission NGC 3277 NGC 5548NGC 6251 - XMM
4
The Central Engine n Accretion flow surrounded by dusty torus
5
The Central Engine n Accretion flow surrounded by dusty torus n BB radiation from disk ‘big blue bump’
6
The Central Engine n Accretion flow surrounded by dusty torus n BB radiation from disk ‘big blue bump’ n B-field loops optically thin corona
7
The Central Engine n Accretion flow surrounded by dusty torus n BB radiation from disk ‘big blue bump’ n B-field loops optically thin corona n Isotropic X-rays from Comptonization of disk photons in hot corona n Power law spectrum
8
Fe K Production n Reflection of X-rays from an optically thick accretion disk
9
Fe K Production n Reflection of X-rays from an optically thick accretion disk
10
Fe K Production n Reflection of X-rays from an optically thick accretion disk
11
Fe K Production n Reflection of X-rays from an optically thick accretion disk
12
Fe K Production n Reflection of X-rays from an optically thick accretion disk
13
Fe K Production n Reflection of X-rays from an optically thick accretion disk Fe Kα
14
Astrophysical Jets 10 pc NGC 6251 5 GHz VLBI Jones et al. (1986) n Anisotropic emission, power law spectrum Relativistic Doppler beaming, dependent on bulk speed ( Γ ), angle to line of sight Relativistic Doppler beaming, dependent on bulk speed ( Γ ), angle to line of sight
15
Radio Galaxy Nuclei – Two Competing Models n Is the X-ray emission dominated by: n The parsec-scale jet? -or- n The accretion flow?
16
Jet-Related Emission e.g., Zamorani et al. (1981) 1. For a given optical luminosity, radio-loud quasars are brighter X-ray sources than radio-quiet quasars An additional component of emission is present in RLQs Three Discoveries:
17
Jet-Related Emission 2. Dependence of X-ray luminosity and spectrum on beaming angle A component is anisotropic 3. Correlation between ROSAT soft X-ray and radio fluxes and luminosities Soft X-ray emission likely jet-related Shastri et al. (1993) Canosa et al. (1999)
18
Accretion-Related Emission n Have seen that soft (0.5-2.4 keV) X-ray emission likely jet related n What about the rest of the X-ray spectrum? Jet or accretion flow? E.g. Gliozzi et al. (2004) claim broadened Fe K emission and variability on short timescales in NGC 6251 E.g. Gliozzi et al. (2004) claim broadened Fe K emission and variability on short timescales in NGC 6251 n Would imply accretion-dominated emission d < ct
19
Summary of Introduction n Emission in the nuclei of AGN consists of: –“Radio-quiet” accretion- related component –“Radio-loud” jet-related component n Which dominates the X- ray emission? –Matter of considerable debate…
20
Cen A – The Nearest AGN n Brightest extragalactic object in the hard X-ray sky n Closest radio galaxy (d = 3.4 Mpc) n Complex emission n Ideal object to study n Much-studied by earlier X-ray missions n Rich gallery of radio features (jet, lobes, etc.) Chandra 0.5-2 keV X-ray
21
Continuum Spectrum n Attempt to fit a heavily-absorbed (N H 10 23 atoms cm -2 ) power-law (Γ 1.7) n Significant residuals below 2.5 keV XMM-Newton MOS2 1 st observation
22
Continuum Spectrum n Significant improvement with the addition of a second power-law component Component N H (atoms cm -2 ) Γ Hard PL (1.30 ± 0.16) x 10 23 1.76 ± 0.15 Soft PL (3.8 ± 2.0) x 10 22 2 (frozen) Key parameters:
23
Possible Origin of 2 nd PL n VLBI jet? Flux density 5 Jy at 4.8 GHz n X-ray to radio ratio for 2 nd PL and VLBI jet consistent with that of kpc-scale jet and VLA jet n Mildly absorbed soft power law seen in other FRI galaxies with ROSAT Canosa et al. (1999) 0.7 pc Core Tingay et al. (1998)
24
Fluorescent Line Emission n Chandra HETGS instrument of choice due to its high spectral resolution Fe K Fe K Joint HEG+1 and HEG-1 spectrum Fe K centroid = 6.404 ± 0.002 keV (90% c.l.)) fluorescence from cold, neutral material Fe K centroid = 6.404 ± 0.002 keV (90% c.l.)) fluorescence from cold, neutral material Fe K α is broadened Fe K α is broadened (σ = 20 ± 10 eV (90% c.l.)) v ~ 1000 km s -1 r ~ 0.1 pc (M BH = 2 x 10 8 M ๏ )
25
Geometry Of Emission Region Fe K line parameters consistent with fluorescence from N H 10 23 atoms cm -2 with torus geometry Fe K line parameters consistent with fluorescence from N H 10 23 atoms cm -2 with torus geometry Also consistent with fluorescence from N H ~ 10 24 atoms cm -2 outside line of sight (Woźniak et al. 1998) Also consistent with fluorescence from N H ~ 10 24 atoms cm -2 outside line of sight (Woźniak et al. 1998)
26
Nature of Accretion Flow Galaxy LxLxLxLx L Edd Bondi Interpretation Cen A 4.8 x 10 41 2.6 x 10 46 2.3 x 10 -3 Hybrid? Sag A* 2.4 x 10 33 3.3 x 10 44 2.4 x 10 -9 Inefficient NGC 4472 6.4 x 10 38 7.2 x 10 46 1.4 x 10 -6 Inefficient 3C 390.3 5.0 x 10 44 4.4 x 10 46 1.1 x 10 -2 Standard Hybrid inefficient flow/thin disk
27
Cen A Summary n Emission characterized by a heavily-absorbed power law n Second power-law component necessary, consistent with VLBI jet n Fluorescent lines from cold, neutral material n Molecular torus? n Accretion flow: Hybrid? n More info: Evans et al. (2004), ApJ, 612, 786
28
NGC 6251 – A Counterexample n z=0.0244 (d~100 Mpc) FRI-type radio galaxy n Spectacular radio jet extending hundreds of kpc n Opening angle of 7.4 o n X-ray emission from nucleus and three regions of kpc-scale jet n Synchrotron interpretation for kpc- scale jet (Evans et al. 2005) 1 arcmin 30 kpc 1.6 GHz VLA Jones et al. (1986) 0.5-5 keV Chandra image with 1.6 GHz VLA contours (Evans et al. 2005)
29
NGC 6251 - Results XMM-Newton observation of NGC 6251. Gliozzi et al. (2004) claimed broadened Fe K line-emission XMM-Newton observation of NGC 6251. Gliozzi et al. (2004) claimed broadened Fe K line-emission n Would imply accretion- dominated X-ray emission n New Chandra data + reanalysis of XMM data n Nuclear spectrum well fitted with a featureless, single, unabsorbed power law 1247 Energy (keV) Chandra XMM
30
NGC 6251 – Fe K line No evidence of Fe K emission in Chandra spectrum No evidence of Fe K emission in Chandra spectrum No significant evidence for Fe K emission in XMM spectrum No significant evidence for Fe K emission in XMM spectrum n Already evidence to disfavour accretion-dominated X-ray emission
31
NGC 6251 - Interpretation n 1-keV X-ray flux density consistent with ROSAT soft X-ray results n Also consistent with soft power law observed in Cen A n SED double-peaked and modelled by SSC emission n X-ray emission dominated by a jet
32
Intermediate Summary n Dissimilar spectra for two seemingly similar FRI-type radio galaxies: –Cen A: X-ray emission hard and heavily absorbed (likely accretion-related), accompanied by soft emission –NGC 6251: X-ray emission soft and unabsorbed n Soft emission of Cen A may have the same origin as that of NGC 6251 n Why might they be dissimilar? n Are both accretion-related and jet- related components present in all radio galaxies at varying levels? n Need to study a sample 1247 Energy (keV) Cen A NGC 6251
33
The 3CRR Sample n Criteria: –178-MHz luminosity density > 10.9 Jy –Declination > 10 o –|b| > 10 o n Advantages: –No orientation bias –Spectroscopic identification –High-resolution radio observations n Select sources with z<0.1 –Unambiguously spatially separate unresolved nuclear emission from contaminating emission –Rich variety (FRI/FRII, broad/narrow lines, large luminosity range) n 19/38 X-ray observations of low-z 3CRRs, 16 of them with Chandra n Complete spectral analysis of each
34
The 3CRR Sample VLA (Leahy, Bridle, & Strom) Chandra 0.5-5 keV
35
The 3CRR Sample: Aims n Dominant X-ray emission mechanism: –Accretion Flow: Fe K , variability -or- –Jet: SED, radio-optical-X-ray luminosity correlations n Nature of accretion flow: thin disk? RIAF? n Is the torus ubiquitous? n FRI-FRII dichotomy? Unified AGN scheme:
36
n Consider L X and L R n Considerable scatter Luminosity-Luminosity Correlations
37
n Consider L X and L R n Considerable scatter n Much better correlation between components with N H ≤ 5 x 10 22 n Most components have N H consistent with 0 n Any intrinsic absorption consistent with dust in host galaxy n Origin of X-ray emission in pc-scale jet (outside any torus) Luminosity-Luminosity Correlations N H ≤ 5 x 10 22 Jet
38
n Components with N H ~ 10 23 lie above trendline n As does 3C 390.3, unobscured BLRG All have Fe K lines All have Fe K lines n Accretion-dominated and surrounded by a torus? n Soft components of these sources consistent with jet-related trendline n Accretion and jet components present in all radio galaxies at varying levels? n 7/8 are FRIIs, other is Cen A Luminosity-Luminosity Correlations N H ≤ 5 x 10 22 N H ~ 10 23 Jet Accretion
39
n So far: –X-ray emission of FRIIs is heavily absorbed and accompanied by Fe K lines accretion-related and viewed through a torus –X-ray emission of FRIs much less absorbed. L X and L R correlations jet-related emission n Where is the torus in FRIs? Problems with unified models, etc. n Find upper limits to accretion-related emission in FRIs n Data don’t exclude luminosities of ~ 10 39 -10 41 ergs/s n Some comparable to, e.g., Cen A (5x10 41 ergs/s) but lower than FRIIs (10 43 -10 44 ergs/s) A Nuclear FRI/FRII Dichotomy? e.g. 3C 274 (M87)
40
n Data do not exclude the presence of a torus in FRIs supports AGN-unification models n FRI nuclei are not simply scaled versions of FRIIs –For a given jet power, FRI nuclei have less efficient accretion flows –Dichotomy in accretion-flow structure of FRIs and FRIIs n The FRI/FRII dichotomy is not just related to differences in the medium into which jet propagates n First evidence of dichotomy from X-ray studies A Nuclear FRI/FRII Dichotomy? Implications: MHD ADAF Simulation Armitage (2004)
41
Summary n Unobscured (jet-related), and obscured (accretion-related) components present in all radio galaxies at varying levels n Data do not exclude the presence of a torus in FRI-type sources n An FRI/FRII dichotomy exists on nuclear scales
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.