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Aims. We study the X-ray power spectrum of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in order to investigate whether Seyfert I and II power spectra are similar or not and whether AGN variability depends on the mass and accretion rate of black holes as well as to compare the power spectra of AGN with the power spectra of Galactic X-ray black hole binaries. Method. We used 14–195 keV band light curves from the 157-month Swift/BAT hard X-ray survey, and we computed the mean power spectrum and excess variance of AGN in narrow black hole mass and AGN luminosity bins. We fitted a power-law model to the AGN power spectra, and we investigated whether the power spectrum parameters and the excess variance depend on the black hole mass, luminosity, and accretion rate of AGN. Results. We found the Seyfert I and Seyfert II power spectra to be identical, in agreement with AGN unification models. The mean AGN X-ray power spectrum has the same power-law like shape, with a slope of −1 in all AGN irrespective of their luminosity and black hole mass. We did not detect any flattening to a slope of zero at frequencies as low as 10−9 Hz. We detected an anti-correlation between the power spectral density function (PSD) amplitude and the accretion rate, similar to what has been seen in the past in the 2–10 keV band. This implies that the variability amplitude in AGN decreases with an increasing accretion rate. The universal AGN power spectrum is consistent with the mean 2–9 keV band Cyg X-1 power spectrum in its soft state. We detected a small difference in amplitude, but this is probably due to the difference in energy. Conclusions. The mean low-frequency AGN X-ray power spectrum is consistent with the extension of the mean 0.01–25 Hz Cyg X-1 power spectrum in its soft state to lower frequencies. We cannot prove that the mean AGN PSD is analogous to the mean Cyg X-1 PSD in its soft state, as we do not know the location of the high-frequency break in the hard X-ray AGN PSDs. However, if this is the case, then the accretion disc in AGN probably extends to the radius of the innermost circular stable orbit (as is probably the case with the black hole binaries in their soft state). The X-ray corona will then be located on top, illuminating the disc and producing the X-ray reflection and disc reverberation phenomena commonly observed in these objects. Furthermore, the agreement between the PSD amplitude in AGN and the Cyg X-1 (either in the soft or the hard state) over many decades in frequency indicates that the X-ray variability process is probably the same in all accreting objects, irrespective of the mass of the compact object. We plan to investigate this issue further in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we investigate the kinematics of the part of the broad-line region (BLR) in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) emitting H β and H α emission lines. We explore the widths and asymmetries of the broad H β and H α emission lines in a sample of high-quality (i.e. high signal-to-noise ratio) spectra of type-1 AGN taken from the Data Release 16 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in order to explore possible deviation from the gravitationally bound motion. To find only the broad component of H β and H α, we use the fantasy (Fully Automated pythoN Tool for AGN Spectra analYsis) code for the multicomponent modelling of the AGN spectra and for careful extraction of the broad emission-line parameters. We show that based on the broad-line profiles widths and asymmetries, the BLR gas emitting H β and H α lines follows similar kinematics, and seems to be virialized in our sample of type-1 AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse medium resolution optical spectra of 14 narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies with average to strong iron emission. The targets were observed several times over a 2-yr period to probe the nature of spectral variations. Parameters determined from fitting the line profiles include relative strength, width, and asymmetry. We explore the applicability of various profile combinations to H β. We achieve satisfactory fits using three components: the narrow and broad components characteristic of all Seyfert 1 galaxies and that are reasonably represented by Gaussian profiles, and an intermediate component with width similar to that of the Fe  ii lines. This intermediate component accounted for the largest fraction of the H β flux in most of our sample, especially when fitted with a Lorentzian instead of a Gaussian profile. This Lorentzian component improves the overall H β fits in most cases. In contrast to many other types of active galactic nucleus, no dramatic spectral changes were detected in our sample over the 2-yr period spanning this study, even though some of our targets are known for large and rapid X-ray variability. In particular, we find the variability of the Fe  ii lines relative to the H β intermediate component to be minimal. For the [O  iii ] lines, we identified asymmetries in almost all our targets well represented by two Gaussians: a primary central and a second blueshifted component. These may signify different gas dynamics connected with nuclear outflow. As in several previous studies, we identify a clear correlation between [O  iii ] asymmetry and its core component width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Bayesian active galactic nucleus (AGN) Decomposition Analysis for Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Spectra, an open source spectral analysis code designed for automatic detailed deconvolution of AGN and host galaxy spectra, implemented in python , and designed for the next generation of large-scale surveys. The code simultaneously fits all spectral components, including power-law continuum, stellar line-of-sight velocity distribution, Fe  ii emission, as well as forbidden (narrow), permitted (broad), and outflow emission line features, all performed using Markov chain Monte Carlo to obtain robust uncertainties and autocorrelation analysis to assess parameter convergence. Our code also utilizes multiprocessing for batch fitting large samples of spectra while efficiently managing memory and computation resources and is currently being used in a cluster environment to fit thousands of SDSS spectra. We use our code to perform a correlation analysis of 63 SDSS type 1 AGNs with evidence of strong non-gravitational outflow kinematics in the [O  iii ] λ5007 emission feature. We confirm findings from previous studies that show the core of the [O  iii ] profile is a suitable surrogate for stellar velocity dispersion σ*, however there is evidence that the core experiences broadening that scales with outflow velocity. We find sufficient evidence that σ*, [O  iii ] core dispersion, and the non-gravitational outflow dispersion of the [O  iii ] profile form a plane whose fit results in a scatter of ∼0.1 dex. Finally, we discuss the implications, caveats, and recommendations when using the [O  iii ] dispersion as a surrogate for σ* for the M BH−σ* relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of new time domain surveys and the imminent increase in astronomical data expose the shortcomings of traditional time series analysis (such as power spectra analysis) in characterizing the abundantly varied, complex, and stochastic light curves of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). Recent applications of novel methods from non-linear dynamics have shown promise in characterizing higher modes of variability and time-scales in AGN. Recurrence analysis in particular can provide complementary information about characteristic time-scales revealed by other methods, as well as probe the nature of the underlying physics in these objects. Recurrence analysis was developed to study dynamical trajectories in phase space, which can be constructed from 1D time series such as light curves. We apply the methods of recurrence analysis to two optical light curves of Kepler -monitored AGN. We confirm the detection and period of an optical quasi-periodic oscillation in one AGN, and confirm multiple other time-scales recovered from other methods ranging from 5 to 60 d in both objects. We detect regions in the light curves that deviate from regularity, provide evidence of determinism and non-linearity in the mechanisms underlying one light curve (KIC 9650712), and determine realizations of a linear stochastic process describe the dominant variability in the other light curve (Zwicky 229–015). We discuss possible underlying processes driving the dynamics of the light curves and their diverse classes of variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gigahertz peaked spectrum (GPS) sources, compact steep spectrum (CSS) radio sources, and high-frequency peaker (HFP) radio sources are thought to be young radio active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at the early stage of AGN evolution. We investigated the optical properties of the largest sample of 126 young radio AGNs based on the spectra in SDSS DR12. We find that the black hole masses M BH range from 107.32 to 109.84 |$\rm M_{\odot }$| and the Eddington ratios R edd vary from 10−4.93 to 100.37, suggesting that young radio AGNs have various accretion activities and not all are accreting at high accretion rate. Our young radio sources generally follow the evolutionary trend towards large-scale radio galaxies with increasing linear size and decreasing accretion rate in the radio power–linear size diagram. The radio properties of low-luminosity young radio AGNs with low R edd are discussed. The line width of [O  iii ] λ5007 core (σ[O  iii ]) is found to be a good surrogate of stellar velocity dispersion σ*. The radio luminosity |$L_{\rm 5\, GHz}$| correlates strongly with [O  iii ] core luminosity L [O  iii ], suggesting that radio activity and accretion are closely related in young radio sources. We find one object that can be defined as a narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy, representing a population of young AGNs with both young jet and early accretion activity. The optical variabilities of 15 quasars with multi-epoch spectroscopy were investigated. Our results show that the optical variability in young AGN quasars presents low variations (⁠|$\leqslant \! 60{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$|⁠) similar to the normal radio-quiet quasars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blazar PKS 2155–304 is one of the sources that has been well monitored under the SMARTS (Small Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System) project. SMARTS light curves in the BVRJK bands and spectral indices connecting the B with the J band of PKS 2155–304 from 2008 to 2015 are presented at near-nightly cadence, and divided into a number of segments without long observational gaps for comparison investigations on shorter time-scales. The optical and near-infrared (NIR) variations are simultaneous, with time lags of no longer than a couple of days, which suggests a temporal coherence of the corresponding jet-emitting regions. Long- and short-term optical–NIR variability shows that optical bands are fainter and vary less than the IR bands, while fractional variability amplitudes show no clear trend on long-term time-scales and in segments of light curves, probably owing to effects from stochastic processes. The prominent flares presented in the optical–NIR light curves tend to show an asymmetric feature with different rise and decay time-scales. The spectral indices varied on diverse time-scales, and the source showed no clear trend on long-term time-scales, an occasional appearance of tendencies of flatter-when-brighter on short-term time-scales, and an independent clockwise evolving loop pattern, suggesting a complex spectral evolution with the flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a multi-epoch X-ray spectroscopy analysis of the nearby narrow-line Seyfert I galaxy NGC 5506. For the first time, spectra taken by Chandra, XMM–Newton, Suzaku, and NuSTAR– covering the 2000–2014 time span – are analysed simultaneously, using state-of-the-art models to describe reprocessing of the primary continuum by optical thick matter in the active galactic nucleus environment. The main goal of our study is determining the spin of the supermassive black hole (SMBH). The nuclear X-ray spectrum is photoelectrically absorbed by matter with column density ≃ 3 × 1022 cm−2. A soft excess is present at energies lower than the photoelectric cut-off. Both photoionized and collisionally ionized components are required to fit it. This component is constant over the time-scales probed by our data. The spectrum at energies higher than 2 keV is variable. We propose that its evolution could be driven by flux-dependent changes in the geometry of the innermost regions of the accretion disc. The black hole spin in NGC 5506 is constrained to be 0.93 $\pm _{ 0.04 }^{0.04}$ at 90 per cent confidence level for one interesting parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The physical characteristics of the material closest to supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are primarily studied through X-ray observations. However, the origins of the main X-ray components such as the soft X-ray excess, the Fe Kα line complex, and the hard X-ray excess are still hotly debated. This is particularly problematic for active galactic nuclei (AGN) showing a significant intrinsic absorption, either warm or neutral, which can severely distort the observed continuum. Therefore, AGN with no (or very weak) intrinsic absorption along the line of sight, so-called "bare AGN", are the best targets to directly probe matter very close to the SMBH. Aims. We perform an X-ray spectral analysis of the brightest and cleanest bare AGN known so far, Ark 120, in order to determine the process(es) at work in the vicinity of the SMBH. Methods. We present spectral analyses of data from an extensive campaign observing Ark 120 in X-rays with XMM-Newton (4 × 120 ks, 2014 March 18-24), and NuSTAR (65.5 ks, 2014 March 22). Results. During this very deep X-ray campaign, the source was caught in a high-flux state similar to the earlier 2003 XMM-Newton observation, and about twice as bright as the lower-flux observation in 2013. The spectral analysis confirms the "softer when brighter" behavior of Ark 120. The four XMM-Newton/pn spectra are characterized by the presence of a prominent soft X-ray excess and a significant Fe Kα complex. The continuum is very similar above about 3 keV, while significant variability is present for the soft X-ray excess. We find that relativistic reflection from a constant-density, flat accretion disk cannot simultaneously produce the soft excess, broad Fe Kα complex, and hard X-ray excess. Instead, Comptonization reproduces the broadband (0.3-79 keV) continuum well, together with a contribution from a mildly relativistic disk reflection spectrum. Conclusions. During this 2014 observational campaign, the soft X-ray spectrum of Ark 120 below ~0.5 keV was found to be dominated by Comptonization of seed photons from the disk by a warm (kTe ~ 0.5 keV), optically-thick corona (τ ~ 9). Above this energy, the X-ray spectrum becomes dominated by Comptonization from electrons in a hot optically thin corona, while the broad Fe Kα line and the mild Compton hump result from reflection off the disk at several tens of gravitational radii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present ELDAR, a new method that exploits the potential of medium- and narrow-band filter surveys to securely identify active galactic nuclei (AGN) and determine their redshifts. Our methodology improves on traditional approaches by looking for AGN emission lines expected to be identified against the continuum, thanks to the width of the filters. To assess its performance, we apply ELDAR to the data of the ALHAMBRA (Advance Large Homogeneous Area Medium Band Redshift Astronomical) survey, which covered an effective area of 2.38 deg2 with 20 contiguous medium-band optical filters down to F814W ≃ 24.5. Using two different configurations of ELDAR in which we require the detection of at least two and three emission lines, respectively, we extract two catalogues of type-I AGN. The first is composed of 585 sources (79 per cent of them spectroscopically unknown) down to F814W = 22.5 at zphot > 1, which corresponds to a surface density of 209 deg-2. In the second, the 494 selected sources (83 per cent of them spectroscopically unknown) reach F814W= 23 at zphot > 1.5, for a corresponding number density of 176 deg-2. Then, using samples of spectroscopically known AGN in the ALHAMBRA fields, for the two catalogues we estimate a completeness of 73 per cent and 67 per cent, and a redshift precision of 1.01 per cent and 0.86 per cent (with outliers fractions of 8.1 per cent and 5.8 per cent). At z > 2, where our selection performs best, we reach 85 per cent and 77 per cent completeness and we find no contamination from galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present optical spectroscopy of candidate active galactic nuclei (AGN) pinpointed by a Swift follow-up campaign on unidentified transients in the XMM-Newton Slew Survey, increasing the completeness of the identifications of AGN in the Survey. Our Swift follow-up campaign identified 17 X-ray Telescope-detected candidate AGN, of which 9 were selected for optical follow-up and a further two were confirmed as AGN elsewhere. Using data obtained at the William Herschel Telescope, Very Large Telescope and New Technology Telescope, we find AGN features in seven of the candidates. We classify six as Seyfert types 1.0-1.5, with broad-line region velocities spanning 2000-12000 km s-1, and identify one as a possible type II AGN, consistent with the lack of a soft band X-ray detection in the Slew Survey. The virial black hole mass estimates for the sample lie between 1 × 108 and 3× 109 M☉, with one source likely emitting close to its Eddington rate, LBol/LEdd ~ 0.9. We find a wide redshift range 0.08 < z < 0.9 for the nine now confirmed AGN drawn from the unidentified Slew Survey sample. One source remaining unclassified shows outbursts rarely seen before in AGN. We conclude that AGN discovered in this way are consistent with the largely non-varying, Slew-selected, known AGN population. We also find parallels with XMM-Newton Bright Serendipitous Survey AGN selected from pointed observations, and postulate that shallow X-ray surveys select AGN drawn from the same populations that have been characterized in deeper X-ray-selected samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive constraints on feedback by active galactic nuclei (AGN) by setting limits on their thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) imprint on the cosmic microwave background. The amplitude of any SZ signature is small and degenerate with the poorly known sub-mm spectral energy distribution of theAGNhost galaxy and other unresolved dusty sources along the line of sight. Here we break this degeneracy by combining microwave and sub-mm data from Planck with all-sky far-infraredmaps from the AKARI satellite. We first test our measurement pipeline using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) redMaPPer catalogue of galaxy clusters, finding a highly significant detection (>20σ) of the SZ effect together with correlated dust emission. We then constrain the SZ signal associated with spectroscopically confirmed quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) from SDSS data release 7 (DR7) and the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) DR12. We obtain a low-significance (1.6σ) hint of an SZ signal, pointing towards a mean thermal energy of≃5 × 1060 erg, lower than reported in some previous studies. A comparison of our results with high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations including AGN feedback suggests QSO host masses ofM200c ∼ 4 × 1012 h-1M☉, but with a large uncertainty. Our analysis provides no conclusive evidence for an SZ signal specifically associated with AGN feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XXL survey currently covers two 25 deg2 patches with XMM observations of ~10 ks. We summarize the scientific results associated with the first release of the XXL dataset, which occurred in mid-2016.We review several arguments for increasing the survey depth to 40 ks during the next decade of XMM operations. X-ray (z<2) cluster, (z<4) active galactic nuclei (AGN), and cosmic background survey science will then benefit from an extraordinary data reservoir. This, combined with deep multi-observations, will lead to solid standalone cosmological constraints and provide a wealth of information on the formation and evolution of AGN, clusters, and the X-ray background. In particular, it will offer a unique opportunity to pinpoint the z>1 cluster density. It will eventually constitute a reference study and an ideal calibration field for the upcoming eROSITA and Euclid missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We map the gas excitation and kinematics, and the stellar population properties of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 using Gemini Near Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph in the J and K bands at a spatial and velocity resolution of 105 pc and 45 km s-1, respectively. Emission-line flux distributions in ionized and molecular gas extend up to ≈400 pc from the nucleus, where they are found to peak. The mass of HII is 4.8±0.6 × 106 M⊙ and the mass of warm H2 is 1.1±0.2 × 10³ M⊙, while the mass of cold H2 is estimated as 5.8±1.2 × 108 M⊙. The Pa γ emission shows two kinematic components: one in blueshift, with velocity reaching ≈-300 km s-1 and another showing a velocity field characteristic of rotation in the galaxy plane. The blueshifted component is also observed in the coronal line [S IX]λ1.2523 μm, while the rotational component is also observed in the molecular gas. We interpret this velocity field as due to gas rotating in the galaxy plane plus an outflow, and estimate a mass outflow rate of 6.8±0.75 M⊙ yr-1. Spectral synthesis of the continuum shows nuclear emission dominated by a featureless AGN continuum combined with hot dust emission attributed to a dusty torus. The stellar population is dominated by an old (2 Gyr < t ≤ 15 Gyr) component between 160 and 300 pc, while closer to the nucleus, an intermediate age (50 Myr < t ≤ 2 Gyr) component contributes at levels ranging from ≈40 per cent to ≈100 per cent to the flux at 2.12 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We observe the radio galaxy PKS 1934-63 (at z = 0.1825) using the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope (VLT). The radio source is a gigahertz peaked spectrum source and is compact (0.13 kpc), implying an early stage of evolution (=104 yr). Our data show an interacting pair of galaxies, with projected separation 9.1 kpc and velocity difference Δ(v) = 216 km s-1. The larger galaxy is a M* ~ 1011M⊙ spheroidal with the emission-line spectrum of a high-excitation young radio active galactic nucleus (AGN; e.g. strong [O I]6300 and [O III]5007). Emission-line ratios indicate a large contribution to the line luminosity from high-velocity shocks (~ 550 km s-1). The companion is a non-AGN disc galaxy, with extended Ha emission from which its star formation rate is estimated as 0.61 M⊙ yr-1. Both galaxies show rotational velocity gradients in Ha and other lines, with the interaction being prograde-prograde. The SE-NW velocity gradient of the AGN host is misaligned from the E-W radio axis, but aligned with a previously discovered central ultraviolet source, and a factor of 2 greater in amplitude in Ha than in other (forbidden) lines (e.g. [O III]5007). This could be produced by a fast rotating (100-150 km s-1) disc with circumnuclear star formation. We also identify a broad component of [O III]5007 emission, blueshifted with a velocity gradient aligned with the radio jets, and associated with outflow. However, the broad component of [O I]6300 is redshifted. In spectral fits, both galaxies have old stellar populations plus ~0.1 per cent of very young stars, consistent with the galaxies undergoing first perigalacticon, triggering infall and star formation from ~40 Myr ago followed by the radio outburst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are coherent peaks of variability power observed in the X-ray power spectra (PSDs) of stellar mass X-ray binaries (XRBs). A scale invariance of the accretion process implies they should be present in the active galactic nuclei. The first robust detection was a ∼ 1 h periodicity in the Seyfert galaxy RE J1034+396 from a ∼ 90 ks XMM- Newton observation; however, subsequent observations failed to detect the QPO in the 0.3-10.0 keV band. In this talk we present the recent detection of the ∼ 1 h periodicity in the 1.0-4.0 keV band of 4 further low-flux/spectrally-harder observations of RE J1034+396 (see Alston et al. 2014). We also present recent work on the discovery of a QPO in the Seyfert galaxy, MS 2254.9-3712, which again is only detected in energy bands associated with the primary power-law continuum emission (Alston et al. 2015). We conclude these features are most likely analogous to the high-frequency QPOs observed in XRBs. In both sources, we also see evidence for X-ray reverberation at the QPO frequency, where soft X-ray bands and Iron Kα emission lag the primary X-ray continuum. These time delays may provide another diagnostic for understanding the underlying QPO mechanism observed in accreting black holes. (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse a sample of 26 active galactic nuclei (AGN) with deep XMM-Newton observations, using principal component analysis (PCA) to find model-independent spectra of the different variable components. In total, we identify at least 12 qualitatively different patterns of spectral variability, involving several different mechanisms, including five sources which show evidence of variable relativistic reflection (MCG-6-30-15, NGC 4051, 1H 0707-495, NGC 3516 and Mrk 766) and three which show evidence of varying partial covering neutral absorption (NGC 4395, NGC 1365 and NGC 4151). In over half of the sources studied, the variability is dominated by changes in a power-law continuum, both in terms of changes in flux and power-law index, which could be produced by propagating fluctuations within the corona. Simulations are used to find unique predictions for different physical models, and we then attempt to qualitatively match the results from the simulations to the behaviour observed in the real data. We are able to explain a large proportion of the variability in these sources using simple models of spectral variability, but more complex models may be needed for the remainder. We have begun the process of building up a library of different principal components, so that spectral variability in AGN can quickly be matched to physical processes. We show that PCA can be an extremely powerful tool for distinguishing different patterns of variability in AGN, and that it can be used effectively on the large amounts of high-quality archival data available from the current generation of X-ray telescopes. We will make our PCA code available upon request to the lead author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are the most luminous persistent objects in the universe. The X-ray domain is particularly important because the X-ray flux represents a significant fraction of the bolometric emission from such objects and probes the innermost regions of accretion disks, where most of this power is generated. An excess of X-ray emission below ~2 keV, called soft-excess, is very common in Type 1 AGN spectra. The origin of this feature remains debated. Originally modeled with a blackbody, there are now several possibilities to model the soft-excess, including warm Comptonization and blurred ionized reflection. In this paper, we test ionized-reflection models on Mrk 509, a bright Seyfert 1 galaxy for which we have a unique data set, in order to determine whether it can be responsible for the strong soft-excess. We use ten simultaneous XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL observations performed every four days. We present here the results of the spectral analysis, the evolution of the parameters, and the variability properties of the X-ray emission. The application of blurred ionized-reflection models leads to a very strong reflection and an extreme geometry, but fails to reproduce the broad-band spectrum of Mrk 509. Two different scenarios for blurred ionized reflection are discussed: stable geometry and lamp-post configuration. In both cases we find that the model parameters do not follow the expected relations, indicating that the model is fine-tuned to fit the data without physical justification. A large, slow variation in the soft-excess without a counterpart in the hard X-rays could be explained by a change in ionization of the reflector. However, such a change does not naturally follow from the assumed geometrical configuration. Warm Comptonization remains the most probable origin of the soft-excess in this object. Nevertheless, it is possible that both ionized reflection and warm Comptonization mechanisms can explain the soft-excess in all objects, one dominating the other one, depending on the physical conditions of the disk and the corona. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a new spectroscopic study of Fe K-band absorption in active galactic nuclei (AGN). Using data obtained from the Suzaku public archive we have performed a statistically driven blind search for Fe xxv Heα and/or Fe xxvi Lyα absorption lines in a large sample of 51 Type 1.0-1.9 AGN. Through extensive Monte Carlo simulations we find that statistically significant absorption is detected at E ≳ 6.7 keV in 20/51 sources at the PMC ≥ 95 per cent level, which corresponds to ∼40 per cent of the total sample. In all cases, individual absorption lines are detected independently and simultaneously amongst the two (or three) available X-ray imaging spectrometer detectors, which confirms the robustness of the line detections. The most frequently observed outflow phenomenology consists of two discrete absorption troughs corresponding to Fe xxv Heα and Fe xxvi Lyα at a common velocity shift. From xstar fitting the mean column density and ionization parameter for the Fe K absorption components are log (NH/cm−2) ≈ 23 and log (ξ/erg cm s−1) ≈ 4.5, respectively. Measured outflow velocities span a continuous range from <1500 km s−1 up to ∼100 000 km s−1, with mean and median values of ∼0.1 c and ∼0.056 c, respectively. The results of this work are consistent with those recently obtained using XMM–Newton and independently provides strong evidence for the existence of very highly ionized circumnuclear material in a significant fraction of both radio-quiet and radio-loud AGN in the local universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We present results of a comprehensive spectral study on the large-scale environment of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) based on Sloan Spectroscopic Survey data. Methods. We analyzed the spectra of galaxies in the environment of AGN and other activity classes up to distances of 1 Mpc. Results. The mean Ha and [O?III]?λ5007 line luminosities in the environmental galaxies within a projected radius of 1 Mpc are highest around Seyfert 1 galaxies, with decreasing luminosities for Seyfert 2 and HII galaxies, and lowest for absorption line galaxies. Furthermore, there is a trend toward Ha and [OIII] luminosities in the environmental galaxies increasing as a function of proximity to the central emission line galaxies. There is another clear trend toward a neighborhood effect within a radius of 1000 kpc for the AGN and non-AGN types: Seyfert galaxies tend to have the highest probability of having another Seyfert galaxy in the neighborhood. HII galaxies tend to have the highest probability of having another HII galaxy in the neighborhood, etc. The number of companions within 1000 kpc is inversely correlated with the Hα, [O?III]?λ5007, as well as with the continuum luminosities of the central galaxies, regardless of whether they are of Seyfert, HII, or absorption line types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The radio-emitting quasar SDSS J1425+3231 ( z = 0.478) was recently found to have double-peaked narrow [O iii] optical emission lines. Based on the analysis of the optical spectrum, Peng et al. suggested that this object harbours a dual active galactic nucleus (AGN) system, with two supermassive black holes (SMBHs) separated on a kpc scale. SMBH pairs should be ubiquitous according to hierarchical galaxy formation scenarios in which the host galaxies and their central black holes grow together via interactions and eventual mergers. Yet the number of presently confirmed dual SMBHs on kpc or smaller scales remains small. A possible way to obtain direct observational evidence for duality is to conduct high-resolution radio interferometric measurements, provided that both AGN are in an evolutionary phase when some activity is going on in the radio. We used the technique of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) to image SDSS J1425+3231. Observations made with the European VLBI Network at 1.7- and 5-GHz frequencies in 2011 revealed compact radio emission at sub-mJy flux density levels from two components with a projected linear separation of ∼2.6 kpc. These two components support the possibility of a dual AGN system. The weaker component remained undetected at 5 GHz due to its steep radio spectrum. Further study will be necessary to securely rule out a jet-shock interpretation of the less dominant compact radio source. Assuming the dual AGN interpretation, we discuss black hole masses, luminosities and accretion rates of the two components using available X-ray, optical and radio data. While high-resolution radio interferometric imaging is not an efficient technique to search blindly for dual AGN, it is an invaluable tool to confirm the existence of selected candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Bolometric luminosities and Eddington ratios of both X-ray selected broad-line (Type-1) and narrow-line (Type-2) active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the XMM-Newton survey in the Cosmic Evolution Survey field are presented. The sample is composed of 929 AGN (382 Type-1 AGN and 547 Type-2 AGN) and it covers a wide range of redshifts, X-ray luminosities and absorbing column densities. About 65 per cent of the sources are spectroscopically identified as either Type-1 or Type-2 AGN (83 and 52 per cent, respectively), while accurate photometric redshifts are available for the rest of the sample. The study of such a large sample of X-ray selected AGN with a high-quality multiwavelength coverage from the far-infrared (now with the inclusion of Herschel data at 100 and 160 μm) to the optical-ultraviolet allows us to obtain accurate estimates of bolometric luminosities, bolometric corrections and Eddington ratios. The kbol - Lbol relations derived in this work are calibrated for the first time against a sizable AGN sample, and rely on observed redshifts, X-ray luminosities and column density distributions. We find that kbol is significantly lower at high Lbol with respect to previous estimates by Marconi et al. and Hopkins et al. Black hole (BH) masses and Eddington ratios are available for 170 Type-1 AGN, while BH masses for Type-2 AGN are computed for 481 objects using the BH mass-stellar mass relation and the morphological information. We confirm a trend between kbol and λEdd, with lower hard X-ray bolometric corrections at lower Eddington ratios for both Type-1 and Type-2 AGN. We find that, on average, the Eddington ratio increases with redshift for all types of AGN at any given MBH, while no clear evolution with redshift is seen at any given Lbol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this paper we examine the percentage of type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN) which require the inclusion of a soft excess component and/or significant cold absorption in the modelling of their X-ray spectra obtained by XMM-Newton. We do this by simulating spectra which mimic typical spectral shapes in order to find the maximum detectability expected at different count levels. We then apply a correction to the observed percentages found for the Scott et al. sample of 761 sources. We estimate the true percentage of AGN with a soft excess component to be 75 ± 23 per cent, suggesting that soft excesses are ubiquitous in the X-ray spectra of type 1 AGN. By carrying out joint fits on groups of low count spectra in narrow z bins in which additional spectral components were not originally detected, we show that the soft excess feature is recovered with a mean temperature kT and blackbody-to-power-law normalization ratio consistent with those of components detected in individual high count spectra. Cold absorption with NH values broadly consistent with those reported in individual spectra is also recovered. We suggest such intrinsic cold absorption is found in a minimum of ∼5 per cent of type 1 AGN and may be present in up to ∼10 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an analysis of the co-added and individual 0.7-40keV spectra from seven Suzaku observations of the Sy 1.5 galaxy NGC 5548 taken over a period of eight weeks. We conclude that the source has a moderately ionized, three-zone warm absorber, a power-law continuum, and exhibits contributions from cold, distant reflection. Relativistic reflection signatures are not significantly detected in the co-added data, and we place an upper limit on the equivalent width of a relativistically broad Fe Kα line at EW ≤ 26 eV at 90% confidence. Thus NGC 5548 can be labeled as a "weak" type 1 active galactic nucleus (AGN) in terms of its observed inner disk reflection signatures, in contrast to sources with very broad, strong iron lines such as MCG-6-30-15, which are likely much fewer in number. We compare physical properties of NGC 5548 and MCG-6-30-15 that might explain this difference in their reflection properties. Though there is some evidence that NGC 5548 may harbor a truncated inner accretion disk, this evidence is inconclusive, so we also consider light bending of the hard X-ray continuum emission in order to explain the lack of relativistic reflection in our observation. If the absence of a broad Fe Kα line is interpreted in the light-bending context, we conclude that the source of the hard X-ray continuum lies at radii rs ≳ 100rg. We note, however, that light-bending models must be expanded to include a broader range of physical parameter space in order to adequately explain the spectral and timing properties of average AGNs, rather than just those with strong, broad iron lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-exposure Suzaku X-ray observations of the nearby active galaxy NGC 4051 from 2005 and 2008 are analysed, in an attempt to reach a self-consistent understanding of both the spectral variability on long time-scales and the broad-band variability at high time resolution. The techniques of principal components analysis and a maximum likelihood method of power spectrum analysis are used. In common with other type I active galactic nuclei (AGN), the spectral variability is dominated by a varying-normalization power-law component together with a quasi-steady, hard-spectrum offset component that contains Fe K atomic features. NGC 4051 displays a strong excess over a power law at energies of above 20 keV, some fraction of which also appears to vary with the power-law continuum. The fast time-scale power spectrum has a shape generally consistent with previous determinations, with the previously known dependence on broad-band photon energy, but in the new data significant differences are found between the low and high flux states of the source, demonstrating that the power spectrum is non-stationary. Frequency-dependent time lags between the hard and soft bands of up to s are measured. The existence of the observed time lags excludes the possibility that the hard spectral component originates as reflection from the inner accretion disc. We instead show that the time lags and their frequency and energy dependence may be explained simply by the effects of reverberation in the hard band, caused by reflection from a thick shell of material with maximum lags of about 10 000 s. If the reflecting material surrounds the AGN, it extends to a distance of about cm, 600 gravitational radii, from the illuminating source and the global covering factor is , confirming previous suggestions that type I AGN have high covering factors of absorbing and reflecting material. Given the spectral and timing similarities with other type I AGN, we infer that this source structure is common in the type I population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new observational determinations of the evolution of the 2–10 keV X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of active galactic nuclei (AGN). We utilize data from a number of surveys including both the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Fields and the AEGIS-X 200 ks survey, enabling accurate measurements of the evolution of the faint end of the XLF. We combine direct, hard X-ray selection and spectroscopic follow-up or photometric redshift estimates at with a rest-frame UV colour pre-selection approach at higher redshifts to avoid biases associated with catastrophic failure of the photometric redshifts. Only robust optical counterparts to X-ray sources are considered using a likelihood ratio matching technique. A Bayesian methodology is developed that considers redshift probability distributions, incorporates selection functions for our high-redshift samples and allows robust comparison of different evolutionary models. We statistically account for X-ray sources without optical counterparts to correct for incompleteness in our samples. We also account for Poissonian effects on the X-ray flux estimates and sensitivities and thus correct for the Eddington bias. We find that the XLF retains the same shape at all redshifts, but undergoes strong luminosity evolution out to , and an overall negative density evolution with increasing redshift, which thus dominates the evolution at earlier times. We do not find evidence that a luminosity-dependent density evolution, and the associated flattening of the faint-end slope, is required to describe the evolution of the XLF. We find significantly higher space densities of low-luminosity, high-redshift AGN than in prior studies, and a smaller shift in the peak of the number density to lower redshifts with decreasing luminosity. The total luminosity density of AGN peaks at , but there is a mild decline to higher redshifts. We find that >50 per cent of black hole growth takes place at , with around half in AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a quantitative estimate of the relative active galactic nucleus (AGN)/starburst content in a sample of 59 nearby infrared bright ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) taken from the 1-Jy sample, based on infrared L-band (3–4 μm) spectra. By using diagnostic diagrams and a simple deconvolution model, we show that at least 60 per cent of local ULIRGs contain an active nucleus, but the AGN contribution to the bolometric luminosity is relevant only in per cent of the sources. Overall, ULIRGs appear to be powered by the starburst process, responsible for >85 per cent of the observed infrared luminosity. The subsample of sources optically classified as low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs; 31 objects) shows a similar AGN/starburst distribution as the whole sample, indicating a composite nature for this class of objects. We also show that a few ULIRGs, optically classified as starbursts, have L-band spectral features suggesting the presence of a buried AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present optical spectroscopic identifications of X-ray sources in ∼3 deg2 of the XMM–Large Scale Structure survey ( XMM–LSS), also covered by the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS), obtained with the AAOmega instrument at the Anglo-Australian Telescope. In a flux-limited sample of 829 point-like sources in the optical band with mag and the 0.5–2 keV flux , we observed 693 objects and obtained reliable spectroscopic identification for 487 sources, approximately 59 per cent of the overall sample. We therefore increase the number of identifications in this field by a factor close to 5. Galactic stellar sources represent about 15 per cent of the total (74/487). About 54 per cent (265/487) are broad-line active galactic nuclei (AGN) spanning redshifts between 0.15 and 3.87 with a median value of 1.68. The optical-to-X-ray spectral index of the broad-line AGN is 1.47 ± 0.03, typical of optically selected type I quasars, and is found to correlate with the rest-frame X-ray and optical monochromatic luminosities at 2 keV and 2500 Å, respectively. Consistent with previous studies, we find not to be correlated with z. In addition, 32 and 116 X-ray sources are, respectively, absorption- and emission-line galaxies at . From a line ratio diagnostic diagram, it is found that in about 50 per cent of these emission-line galaxies, the emission lines are powered significantly by the AGN. 30 of the XMM sources are detected at one or more radio frequencies. In addition, 24 sources have ambiguous identification: in eight cases, two XMM sources have a single optical source within 6 arcsec of each of them, whereas two and 14 XMM sources have, respectively, three and two possible optical sources within 6 arcsec of each of them. Spectra of multiple possible counterparts were obtained in such ambiguous cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results from the spectral analysis of more than 7500 Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer ( RXTE) spectra of 10 active galactic nuclei (AGN). Our main goal was to study their long-term X-ray spectral variability. The sources in the sample are nearby, X-ray bright, and they have been observed by RXTE regularly over a long period of time (∼7–11 yr). High-frequency breaks have been detected in their power spectra, and these characteristic frequencies imply time-scales of the order of a few days or weeks. Consequently, the RXTE observations we have used most probably sample most of the flux and spectral variations that these objects exhibit. Thus, the RXTE data are ideal for our purpose. Fits to the individual spectra were performed in the 3–20 keV energy band. We modelled the data in a uniform way using simple phenomenological models (a power law with the addition of Gaussian line and/or edge to model the iron Kα emission/absorption features, if needed) to consistently parametrize the shape of the observed X-ray continuum of the sources in the sample. We found that the average spectral slope does not correlate with source luminosity or black hole mass, while it correlates positively with the average accretion rate. We have also determined the (positive) spectral slope–flux relation for each object, over a flux range larger than before. We found that this correlation is similar in all objects, except for NGC 5548 which displays limited spectral variations for its flux variability. We discuss this global spectral slope–flux trend in the light of current models for spectral variability. We consider (i) intrinsic variability, expected, for example, from Comptonization processes, (ii) variability caused by absorption of X-rays by a single absorber whose ionization parameter varies proportionally to the continuum flux variations, (iii) variability resulting from the superposition of a constant reflection component and an intrinsic power law which is variable in flux but constant in shape and (iv) variability resulting from the superposition of a constant reflection component and an intrinsic power law which is variable both in flux and in shape. Our final conclusion is that scenario (iv) provides the best fit to the data of all objects, except for NGC 5548. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the second part of a work investigating the properties of dusty tori in active galactic nuclei (AGN) by means of multicomponent spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. It focuses on low-luminosity, low-redshift AGN selected among emission line galaxies in the overlapping regions between Spitzer Wide-area Infrared Extragalactic Survey (SWIRE) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4 as well as X-ray, radio and mid-infrared selected type 2 AGN samples from the literature. The available multiband photometry covers the spectral range from the u band up to 160 μm. Using a standard minimization, the observed SED of each object is fit to a set of multicomponent models comprising a stellar component, a high optical depth torus and cold emission from a starburst (SB). The torus components assigned to the majority of the objects were those of the highest optical depth of our grid of models . The contribution of the various components (stars, torus, SB) is reflected in the position of the objects on the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) colour diagram, with star-, torus- and SB-dominated objects occupying specific areas of the diagrams and composite objects lying in between. The comparison of type 1 (as derived from Hatziminaoglou et al.) and type 2 AGN properties is broadly consistent with the unified scheme. The estimated ratio between type 2 and 1 objects is about 2–2.5:1. The AGN accretion-to-infrared luminosity ratio is an indicator of the obscuration of the AGN since it scales down with the covering factor. We find evidence supporting the receding torus paradigm, with the estimated fraction of obscured AGN, derived from the distribution of the covering factor, decreasing with increasing optical luminosity over four orders of magnitude. The average star formation rates (SFRs) are of for the low- z sample, for the other type 2 AGN and for the quasars; this result however, might simply reflect observational biases, as the quasars under study were one to two orders of magnitude more luminous than the various type 2 AGN. For the large majority of objects with 70 and/or 160 μm detections, an SB component was needed in order to reproduce the data points, implying that the far-infrared emission in AGN arises mostly from star formation; moreover, the SB-to-AGN luminosity ratio shows a slight trend with increasing luminosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MCG–6-30-15 is the archetypal example of a type I active galaxy showing broad ‘red-wing’ emission in its X-ray spectrum at energies below the 6.4 keV Fe Kα emission line and a continuum excess above 20 keV. Miller et al. showed that these spectral features could be caused by clumpy absorbing material, but Reynolds et al. have argued that the observed Fe Kα line luminosity is inconsistent with this explanation unless the global covering factor of the absorber(s) is very low. However, the Reynolds et al. calculation effectively considers the only source of opacity to be the Fe K bound–free transition and neglects the opacity at the line energy: correction to realistic opacity decreases the predicted line flux by a large factor. We also discuss the interpretation of the covering factor and the possible effect of occultation by the accretion disc. Finally, we consider a model for MCG–6-30-15 dominated by clumpy absorption, which is consistent with a global covering factor of 0.45, although models that include the effects of Compton scattering are required to reach a full understanding. Variations in covering fraction may dominate the observed X-ray spectral variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have defined a sample of 63 active galactic nuclei with strong forbidden high-ionization line (FHIL) emission. These lines, with ionization potentials eV, respond to a portion of the spectrum that is often difficult to observe directly, thereby providing constraints on the extreme ultraviolet-soft X-ray continuum. The sources are selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) on the basis of their [Fe x]λ6374 Å emission, yielding one of the largest and the most homogeneous samples of FHIL-emitting galaxies. We fit a sequence of models to both FHILs ([Fe xi], [Fe x] and [Fe vii]) and lower ionization emission lines ([O iii], [O i], , [N ii], [S ii]) in the SDSS spectra. These data are combined with X-ray measurements from the ROSAT satellite, which are available for half of the sample. The correlations between these parameters are discussed for both the overall sample and subsets defined by spectroscopic classifications. The primary results are evidence that (1) the [Fe x] and [Fe xi] lines are photoionized and their strength is proportional to the continuum flux around 250 eV, (2) the FHIL-emitting clouds form a stratified outflow in which the [Fe x] and [Fe xi] source regions extend sufficiently close to the broad-line region that they are partially obscured in Seyfert 2s, whereas the [Fe vii] source region is more extended and is unaffected by obscuration, (3) narrow-lined Seyfert 1s (NLS1s) tend to have the strongest [Fe x] flux (relative to lower ionization lines) and (4) the most extreme [Fe x] ratios (such as [Fe x]/[O iii] or [Fe x]/[Fe vii]) are found in the NLS1s with the narrowest broad lines and appear to be an optical-band indication of objects with strong X-ray soft excesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report two new XMM–Newton observations of PG1211+143 in 2007 December, again finding evidence for the fast outflow of highly ionized gas first detected in 2001. Stacking the new spectra with those from two earlier XMM–Newton observations reveals strong and broad emission lines of Fe xxv and O viii, indicating the fast outflow to be persistent and to have a large covering factor. This finding confirms a high mass rate for the ionized outflow in PG1211+143 and provides the first direct measurement of a wide angle, subrelativistic outflow from an active galactic nuclei (AGN) transporting mechanical energy with the potential to disrupt the growth of the host galaxy. We suggest PG1211+143 may be typical of an AGN in a rapid super-Eddington growth phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), due to launch in 2014, shall provide an unprecedented wealth of information in the near and mid-infrared wavelengths, thanks to its high-sensitivity instruments and its 6.5m primary mirror, the largest ever launched into space. NIRSpec and MIRI, the two spectrographs onboard JWST, will play a key role in the study of the spectral features of Active Galactic Nuclei in the 0.6–28μm wavelength range. This article aims at presenting an overview of the possibilities provided by these two instruments, in order to prepare the astronomical community for the JWST era. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present results on low-resolution mid-infrared (MIR) spectra of 70 IR-luminous galaxies obtained with the infrared spectrograph (IRS) onboard Spitzer. We selected sources from the European Large Area Infrared Survey with mJy and photometric or spectroscopic . About half of the samples are quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) in the optical, while the remaining sources are galaxies, comprising both obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) and starbursts. Redshifts were obtained from optical spectroscopy, photometric redshifts and the IRS spectra. The later turn out to be reliable for obscured and/or star-forming sources, thus becoming an ideal complement to optical spectroscopy for redshift estimation. We estimate monochromatic luminosities at several rest-frame wavelengths, equivalent widths and luminosities for the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) features, and strength of the silicate feature in individual spectra. We also estimate integrated 8–1000 μm IR luminosities via spectral energy distribution fitting to MIR and far-IR (FIR) photometry from the Spitzer Wide-Area Infrared Extragalactic survey and the MIR spectrum. Based on these measurements, we classify the spectra using well-known IR diagnostics, as well as a new one that we propose, into three types of source: those dominated by an unobscured AGN, mostly corresponding to optical quasars (QSOs), those dominated by an obscured AGN and starburst-dominated sources. Starbursts concentrate at favoured by the shift of the 7.7-μm PAH band into the selection 15-μm band, while AGN spread over the range. Star formation rates (SFR) are estimated for individual sources from the luminosity of the PAH features. An estimate of the average PAH luminosity in QSOs and obscured AGN is obtained from the composite spectrum of all sources with reliable redshifts. The estimated mean SFR in the QSOs is , but the implied FIR luminosity is 3–10 times lower than that obtained from stacking analysis of the FIR photometry, suggesting destruction of the PAH carriers by energetic photons from the AGN. The SFR estimated in obscured AGN is two to three times higher than in QSOs of similar MIR luminosity. This discrepancy might not be due to luminosity effects or selection bias alone, but could instead indicate a connection between obscuration and star formation. However, the observed correlation between silicate absorption and the slope of the NIR to MIR spectrum is compatible with the obscuration of the AGN emission in these sources being produced in a dust torus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We draw a comparison between active galactic nuclei (AGN) and Galactic black hole binaries (GBHs) using a uniform description of spectral energy distribution of these two classes of X-ray sources. We parametrize spectra of GBHs with an parameter which we define as a slope of a nominal power-law function between 3 and 20 keV. We show that this parameter can be treated as an equivalent of the X-ray loudness, , used to describe AGN spectra. We do not find linear correlation between the and disc flux (similar to that between and optical/UV luminosity found in AGN). Instead, we show that follows a well-defined pattern during a GBH outburst. We find that tend to cluster around 1, 1.5 and 2, which corresponds to the hard, very high/intermediate and soft spectral states, respectively. We conclude that majority of the observed Type 1 radio quiet AGN are in the spectral state corresponding to the very high/intermediate state of GBHs. The same conclusion is valid for radio-loud AGN. We also study variations of the spectral slopes ( and the X-ray photon index, Γ) as a function of disc and Comptonization fluxes. We discuss these dependencies in the light of correlations of and Γ with the optical/UV and X-ray 2 keV fluxes considered for AGN and quasars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The X-ray quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) seen in RE J1034+396 is so far unique amongst active galactic nuclei (AGN). Here, we look at another unique feature of RE J1034+396, namely its huge soft X-ray excess, to see if this is related in any way to the detection of the QPO. We show that all potential models considered for the soft energy excess can fit the 0.3–10 keV X-ray spectrum, but the energy dependence of the rapid variability (which is dominated by the QPO) strongly supports a spectral decomposition where the soft excess is from low-temperature Comptonization of the disc emission and remains mostly constant, while the rapid variability is produced by the power-law tail changing in normalization. The presence of the QPO in the tail rather than in the disc is a common feature in black hole binaries (BHBs), but low-temperature Comptonization of the disc spectrum is not generally seen in these systems. The main exception to this is GRS 1915+105, the only BHB which routinely shows super-Eddington luminosities. We speculate that the super-Eddington accretion rates lead to a change in disc structure, and that this also triggers the X-ray QPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) produce vast amounts of high-energy radiation deep in their central engines. X-rays either escape the AGN or are absorbed and re-emitted mostly as infrared (IR). By studying the dispersion in the ratio of observed mid-IR luminosity to observed 2–10 keV X-ray luminosity in AGN, we can investigate the reprocessing material (possibly a torus or donut of dust) in the AGN central engine, independent of model assumptions. We studied the ratio of observed mid-IR and 2–10 keV X-ray luminosities in a heterogeneous sample of 245 AGN from the literature. We found that when we removed AGN with prominent jets, ∼90 per cent of type I AGN lay within a very tight dispersion in luminosity ratio . This implies that the AGN central engine is extremely uniform and models of the physical AGN environment (e.g. cloud cover, turbulent disc, opening angle of absorbing structures such as dusty tori) must span a very narrow range of parameters. We also found that the far-IR (100 μm) to mid-IR (12 μm) observed luminosity ratio is an effective discriminator between heavily obscured AGN and relatively unobscured AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from a complete sample of type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN) observed by INTEGRAL in the 20–40 keV band, we have selected a set of eight AGN which can be classified as radio-loud objects according to their 1.4 GHz power density, radio-to-hard X-ray flux density ratio and radio morphology. The sample contains six broad-line radio Galaxies and two candidate ones. Most of the objects in our sample display a double-lobe morphology, both on small and large scales. For all the objects, we present broad-band (1–110 keV) spectral analysis using INTEGRAL observations together with archival XMM–Newton, Chandra, Swift/XRT and Swift/BAT data. We constrain the primary continuum (photon index and cut-off energy), intrinsic absorption and reprocessing features (iron line and reflection) in most of the objects. The sources analysed here show remarkable similarities to radio-quiet type 1 AGN with respect to most of the parameters analysed; we only find marginal evidence for weaker reprocessing features in our objects compared to their radio-quiet counterparts. Similarly, we do not find any correlation between the spectral parameters studied and the source core dominance or radio to 20–100 keV flux density ratios, suggesting that what makes our objects radio loud has no effect on their high-energy characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a 90 ks Suzaku observation of the radio-loud quasar 4C+74.26. The source was observed in its highest flux state to date, and we find that it brightened by about 20 per cent during the observation. We see evidence of spectral hardening as the count rate increases and also find that the rms variability increases with energy up to about 4 keV. We clearly detect a broadened Fe line but conclude that it does not require any emission from inside about 50 rg, although a much smaller inner radius cannot be ruled out. The large inner radius of our best fit implies that the inner disc is either missing or not strongly illuminated. We suggest that the latter scenario may occur if the power-law source is located high above the disc, or if the emission is beamed away from the disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We search for a dichotomy/bimodality between radio-loud (RL) and radio-quiet (RQ) type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN). We examine several samples of Slogan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) with high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra and matching Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-cm/NRAO VLA Sky Survey (FIRST/NVSS) radio observations. We use the radio data to identify the weakest RL sources with a Fanaroff–Riley type II (FR II) structure to define a RL/RQ boundary which corresponds to log erg s−1 Hz−1. We measure the properties of broad-line Hβ and Fe ii emission to define the optical plane of a 4DE1 spectroscopic diagnostic space. The RL quasars occupy a much more restricted domain in this optical plane compared to the RQ sources, which a 2D Kolmogorov–Smirnov test finds to be highly significant. This tells us that the range of broad-line region kinematics and structure for RL sources is more restricted than for the RQ QSOs, which supports the notion of dichotomy. FR II and CD RL sources also show significant 4DE1 domain differences that likely reflect differences in line-of-sight orientation (inclined versus face-on, respectively) for these two classes. The possibility of a distinct radio-intermediate (RI) population between RQ and RL source is disfavoured because a 4DE1 diagnostic space comparison shows no difference between RI and RQ sources. We show that searches for dichotomy in radio versus bolometric luminosity diagrams will yield ambiguous results mainly because in a reasonably complete sample, the radio brightest RQ sources will be numerous enough to blur the gap between RQ and RL sources. Within resolution constraints of NVSS and FIRST, we find no FR I sources among the broad-line quasar population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a full set of model atmosphere equations for the accretion disc around a supermassive black hole irradiated by a hard X-ray lamp of power-law spectral distribution. Model equations allow for multiple Compton scattering of radiation on free electrons, and for large relative photon–electron energy exchange at the time of scattering. We present spectra in specific intensities integrated over the disc surface. Theoretical outgoing intensity spectra show soft X-ray excess below 1 keV, and distinct Kα and Kβ fluorescent lines of iron. We demonstrate the existence of the Compton Shoulder and claim that it can contribute to the asymmetry and equivalent widths of some observed Fe Kα lines in active galactic nuclei. Our models exhibit the effect of limb-brightening in reflected X-rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We critically examine the dependence of spectral index on luminosity in optically selected AGN samples. An analysis of optically selected high- z quasars showed an anticorrelation of αOX, the spectral index between the rest-frame 2500 Å and 2 keV, with optical luminosity. We examine this relationship by means of Monte Carlo simulations and conclude that a constant αOX independent of optical luminosity is still consistent with this high- z sample. We further find that contributions of large dispersions and narrow range of optical luminosity are most important for the apparent, yet artificial, αOX– lo correlation reported. We also examine another, but more complete, low- z optical selected AGN sub-sample from Steffen et al., and our analysis shows that a constant αOX independent of optical luminosity is also consistent with the data. By comparing X-ray and optical luminosity functions, we find that a luminosity-independent αOX is in fact more preferred than the luminosity-dependent αOX model. We also discuss the selection effects caused by flux limits, which might systematically bias the lX– lo relation and cause discrepancy in optically selected and X-ray selected AGN samples. To correctly establish a dependence of αOX of AGNs on their luminosity, a larger and more complete sample is needed and consequences of luminosity dispersions and selection effects in flux-limited samples must be taken into account properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Values of black hole masses are frequently determined with the help of the reverberation method. This method requires a specific geometrical factor related to the distribution of the orbits of the broad-line region clouds. Onken et al. determined the value from the black hole mass–dispersion relation. In this paper, we determine this factor using an independent mass determination from the X-ray variance method for a number of Seyfert 1 galaxies and comparing them with the reverberation results by Peterson et al. We obtain mean value , consistent with Onken et al. Both values are larger than the value 0.75 corresponding to a spherical geometry. It indicates that most probably all values of the black hole masses obtained with the use of the Kaspi et al. formulae should be multiplied by a factor of ∼1.7. This also shows that the broad-line region is rather flat, and hints for a dependence of the factor f2 on a source inclination seem to be present in the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]