Search

We introduce the Survey for Ionization in Neutral Gas Galaxies (SINGG), a census of star formation in HI-selected galaxies. The survey consists of H-alpha and R-band imaging of a sample of 468 galaxies selected from the HI Parkes All Sky Survey (HIPASS). The sample spans three decades in HI mass and is free of many of the biases that affect other star forming galaxy samples. We present the criteria for sample selection, list the entire sample, discuss our observational techniques, and describe the data reduction and calibration methods. This paper focuses on 93 SINGG targets whose observations have been fully reduced and analyzed to date. The majority of these show a single Emission Line Galaxy (ELG). We see multiple ELGs in 13 fields, with up to four ELGs in a single field. All of the targets in this sample are detected in H-alpha indicating that dormant (non-star forming) galaxies with M(HI) > ~3e7 M_sun are very rare. A database of the measured global properties of the ELGs is presented. The ELG sample spans four orders of magnitude in luminosity (H-alpha and R-band), and H-alpha surface brightness, nearly three orders of magnitude in R surface brightness and nearly two orders of magnitude in H-alpha equivalent width (EW). The surface brightness distribution of our sample is broader than that of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectroscopic sample, the (EW) distribution is broader than prism-selected samples, and the morphologies found include all common types of star forming galaxies (e.g. irregular, spiral, blue compact dwarf, starbursts, merging and colliding systems, and even residual star formation in S0 and Sa spirals). (abridged), Comment: 28 pages, ApJS, in press. Full resolution version with all panels of Fig. 8 available at http://sungg.pha.jhu.edu/publications.html . On line data available at http://sungg.pha.jhu.edu/PubData/ . Author list corrected. Wrong value for f_ap used in eq. 7 now corrected; typos corrected, non-used references replaced, others updated

We present a high resolution X-ray spectrum of the iron K bandpass in MCG-6-30-15 based on a 522 ksec observation with Chandra's High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer. The Chandra spectrum is consistent with the presence of a relativistically broadened, highly redshifted iron K alpha emission line with a similar profile to previous observations. A number of narrow features are detected above 2 keV, including a narrow Fe K alpha emission line and narrow absorption lines from H- and He-like Fe, H-like S and H-like Si. This absorption is well described by a photoionized plasma with a column density log N_H = 23.2 and an ionization parameter log xi = 3.6, assuming the iron abundance has the Solar value and a velocity dispersion parameter b = 100 km/s. Applying this absorption model to a high fidelity XMM-Newton EPIC-pn spectrum we find that a broad iron line is still required with emission extending to within 1.9 gravitational radii of the black hole. If the iron line comes from an accretion disk truncated at the innermost stable circular orbit, this indicates that the black hole must be spinning rapidly with a>0.95. Ionized absorption models attempting to explain the 3-6 keV spectral curvature without strong gravity predict absorption lines in the 6.4-6.6 keV range that are inconsistent with the Chandra spectrum. The H- and He-like iron absorption lines in the Chandra spectrum are blueshifted by 2.0 (+0.7/-0.9) x 10^3 km/s compared to the source frame, and may originate in a high velocity, high ionization component of the warm absorber outflow. This high ionization component may dominate the energy budget of the outflow, and account for a significant fraction of the outflowing mass. (Abstract truncated)., Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

The absorption lines in the soft X-ray spectrum of MCG--6-30-15 are studied using the Reflection Grating Spectrometer data from the 2001 XMM-Newton 320 ks observation. A line search of the full time-averaged spectrum reveals 51 absorption lines and one emission line. The equivalent widths of the lines are measured and the majority of the lines identified. We find lines produced by a broad range of charge states for several elements, including almost all the charge states oxygen and iron, suggesting a broad range of ionization parameters is present in the warm absorber. The equivalent widths of the lines are broadly consistent with the best fitting warm absorber models from Turner et al (2003). The equivalent widths of the absorption lines allow confidence limits on the column density of the species to be determined. For OVII a column density of 10^18.36-10^18.86 cm^-2 is found. This column density of OVII, when combined with the inferred FeI absorption, is sufficient to explain the drop in flux at 0.7 keV as being due to absorption from the warm absorber. Fitting OI K-edge absorption to the spectrum reveals a column of 10^17.51-10^17.67 cm^-2 of OI, suggesting an Fe:O ratio of ~1:2, consistent with the neutral iron being in the form of iron oxide dust. Variability is seen in a few absorption lines, but the majority of the absorption features, including the prominent absorption edges, stay constant throughout the observation despite variability in the continuum flux., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 11 pages, 7 figures

We report our analysis of X-ray spectra of the Seyfert galaxy IRAS 18325-5926 (=Fairall 49) obtained from various X-ray observatories prior to XMM-Newton, including new results from two RXTE and one BeppoSAX observations. A relatively steep continuum slope (photon-index of ~2.2) in the 2-15 keV band is confirmed. The continuum spectrum observed with the BeppoSAX PDS shows a possible roll-over at energies above 30 keV, indicating a Comptonizing corona cooler than in other Seyfert nuclei. The X-ray spectrum above 2 keV is best explained with a model including reflection from a highly ionized disk with significant relativistic blurring. The iron K-alpha emission feature is then mainly due to FeXXV. The recent seven observations shows that the iron K emission flux appears to follow the continuum between the observations separated by a few months to years, although some exceptions suggest that the line strength may be determined in a more complex way., Comment: 11 pages, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present early observations of the afterglow of the Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) 030329 and the spectroscopic discovery of its associated supernova SN 2003dh. We obtained spectra of the afterglow of GRB 030329 each night from March 30.12 (0.6 days after the burst) to April 8.13 (UT) (9.6 days after the burst). The spectra cover a wavelength range of 350 nm to 850 nm. The early spectra consist of a power-law continuum (F_nu ~ nu^{-0.9}) with narrow emission lines originating from HII regions in the host galaxy, indicating a low redshift of z=0.1687. However, our spectra taken after 2003 Apr. 5 show broad peaks in flux characteristic of a supernova. Correcting for the afterglow emission, we find the spectrum of the supernova is remarkably similar to the type Ic `hypernova' SN 1998bw. While the presence of supernovae have been inferred from the light curves and colors of GRB afterglows in the past, this is the first direct, spectroscopic confirmation that a subset of classical gamma-ray bursts originate from supernovae., Comment: published by ApJ Letters; additional material avilable at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/oir/Research/GRB/

We present analysis and results from the Reflection Grating Spectrometer during the 320 ks XMM observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15. The spectrum is marked by a sharp drop in flux at 0.7 keV which has been interpreted by Branduardi-Raymont et al. as the blue wing of a relativistic OVIII emission line and by Lee at al. as a dusty warm absorber. We find that the drop is well explained by the FeI L2,3 absorption edges and obtain reasonable fits over the 0.32-1.7 keV band using a multizone, dusty warm absorber model. Some residuals remain which could be due to emission from a relativistic disc, but at a much weaker level than from any model relying on relativistic emission lines alone. A model based on such emission lines can be made to fit if sufficient (warm) absorption is added, although the line strengths exceed those expected. The EPIC pn difference spectrum between the highest and lowest flux states of the source indicates that this is a power-law in the 3-10 keV band which, if extrapolated to lower energies, reveals the absorption function acting on the intrinsic spectrum, provided that any emission lines do not scale exactly with the continuum. We find that this function matches our dusty warm absorber model well. The soft X-ray spectrum is therefore dominated by absorption structures, with the equivalent width of any individual emission lines in the residuals being below about 30 eV. (abridged), Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, submitted to MNRAS

We present spatially resolved Chandra HETGS observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. X-ray imaging and high resolution spectroscopy are used to test the Seyfert unification theory. Fe K-alpha emission is concentrated in the nuclear region, as are neutral and ionized continuum reflection. This is consistent with reprocessing of emission from a luminous, hidden X-ray source by the obscuring molecular torus and X-ray narrow-line region (NLR). We detect extended hard X-ray emission surrounding the X-ray peak in the nuclear region, which may come from the outer portion of the torus. Detailed modeling of the spectrum of the X-ray NLR confirms that it is excited by photoionization and photoexcitation from the hidden X-ray source. K-shell emission lines from a large range of ionization states of H-like and He-like N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si, S, and Fe XVII-XXIV L-shell emission lines are modeled. The emission measure distribution indicates roughly equal masses at all observed ionization levels in the range log xi=1-3. We separately analyze the spectrum of an off-nuclear cloud. We find that it has a lower column density than the nuclear region, and is also photoionized. The nuclear X-ray NLR column density, optical depth, outflow velocity, and electron temperature are all consistent with values predicted by optical spectropolarimetry for the region which provides a scattered view of the hidden Seyfert 1 nucleus., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Chandra AO1 HETGS observation of the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105 in the low hard state reveals (1) neutral K absorption edges from Fe, Si, Mg, and S in cold gas, and (2) highly ionized (Fe XXV and Fe XXVI) absorption attributed to a hot disk, disk wind, or corona. The neutral edges reveal anomalous Si and Fe abundances which we attribute to surrounding cold material in/near the environment of GRS 1915+105. We also point out the exciting possibility for the first astrophysical detection of XAFS attributed to material in interstellar grains. We place constraints on the ionization parameter, temperature, and hydrogen equivalent number density of the absorber near the accretion disk based on the detection of the H- and He-like Fe absorption. Observed spectral changes in the ionized lines which track the light curve point to changes in both the ionizing flux and density of the absorber, supporting the presence of a flow. Details can be found in Lee et al., 2002, ApJ., 567, 1102, Comment: Proceedings of the 4th Microquasar Workshop, 2002, eds. Durouchoux, Fuchs & Rodriguez, published by the Center for Space Physics : Kolkata ; The main findings as presented in Lee et al., 2002, ApJ., 567, 1102 are summarized

We report the first detection of an OVIII Ly-alpha absorption line associated with an overdense region in the intergalactic medium (IGM) along the sightline towards PKS 2155-304 with the Chandra Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (LETGS). The absorption line is detected at 4.5 sigma level with cz~16,600 km/s. At the same velocity Shull et al.(1998) detected a small group of spiral galaxies (with an overdensity of delta_gal ~ 100) and low metallicity HI Ly-alpha clouds. We constrain the intragroup gas that gives rise to the OVIII Ly-alpha line to a baryon density in the range 1e-5 < n_b < 7.5e-5 cm^-3 (50 < delta_b < 350) and a temperature of (4-5) x 10^6 K, assuming 0.1 solar abundance. These estimates are in accordance with those of the warm/hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) that are predicted from hydrodynamic simulations. Extrapolating from this single detection implies a large fraction of the ``missing baryons'' (~ 10%, or ~ 30-40% of the WHIM) are probed by the OVIII absorber., Comment: 14 pages with 2 figures. ApJ Letters, in press

We present first results from a 325 ks observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15 with XMM-Newton and BeppoSAX. The strong, broad, skewed iron line is clearly detected and is well characterised by a steep emissivity profile within 6r_g (i.e. 6GM/c^2) and a flatter profile beyond. The inner radius of the emission appears to lie at about 2r_g, consistent with results reported from both an earlier XMM-Newton observation of MCG-6-30-15 by Wilms et al. and part of an ASCA observation by Iwasawa et al. when the source was in a lower flux state. The radius and steep emissivity profile do depend however on an assumed incident power-law continuum and a lack of complex absorption above 2.5 keV. The blue wing of the line profile is indented, either by absorption at about 6.7 keV or by a hydrogenic iron emission line. The broad iron line flux does not follow the continuum variations in a simple manner., Comment: 5 pages, accepted by MNRAS Letters

We present a measurement of the rate of distant Type Ia supernovae derived using 4 large subsets of data from the Supernova Cosmology Project. Within this fiducial sample, which surveyed about 12 square degrees, thirty-eight supernovae were detected at redshifts 0.25--0.85. In a spatially-flat cosmological model consistent with the results obtained by the Supernova Cosmology Project, we derive a rest-frame Type Ia supernova rate at a mean redshift $z\simeq0.55$ of $1.53 {^{+0.28}_{-0.25}} {^{+0.32}_{-0.31}} 10^{-4} h^3 {\rm Mpc}^{-3} {\rm yr}^{-1}$ or $0.58 {^{+0.10}_{-0.09}} {^{+0.10}_{-0.09}} h^2 {\rm SNu}$ (1 SNu = 1 supernova per century per $10^{10}$\Lbsun), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second includes systematic effects. The dependence of the rate on the assumed cosmological parameters is studied and the redshift dependence of the rate per unit comoving volume is contrasted with local estimates in the context of possible cosmic star formation histories and progenitor models., Comment: 40 pages and 7 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Preprint also available at http://supernova.lbl.gov

We confirm the detection of the relativistically broadened iron K-alpha emission at 6.4 keV with simultaneous Chandra HETGS and RXTE PCA observations. Heavily binned HETGS data show a disk line profile with parameters very similar to those previously seen by ASCA. We observe a resolved narrow component with a velocity width ~4700 km/s (FWHM ~ 11,000 km/s), that is most prominent, and narrower (FWHM ~ 3600 km/s) when the continuum flux is high. It plausibly is just the blue wing of the broad line. We obtain a stringent limit on the equivalent width of an intrinsically narrow line in the source of 16 eV, indicating little or no contribution due to fluoresence from distant material such as the molecular torus. Variability studies of the narrow component show a constant iron line flux and variable width indicating the line may be originating from different kinematic regions of the disk., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

The time-averaged 30 ks Chandra HETGS observation of the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105 in the low hard state reveals for the first time in this source neutral K absorption edges from Fe, Si, Mg, & S. Ionized resonance absorption from H-, and He-like Fe (XXV, XXVI), Ca XX and possibly emission from neutral Fe Kalpha and ionized Fe XXV (forbidden, or the resonance emission component of a P-Cygni profile) are also seen. We report the tentative detection of the first astrophysical signature of XAFS in the photoelectric edge of Si (and possibly Fe and Mg), attributed to material in grains. The large column densities measured from the neutral edges reveal anomalous Si and Fe abundances. Scenarios for which the anomalous abundances can be attributed to surrounding cold material associated with GRS 1915+105 and/or that the enrichment may signify either a highly unusual supernova/hypernova, or external supernova activity local to the binary are discussed. We attribute the ionized features to a hot disk, disk-wind, or corona environment. These features allow for constraints on the ionization parameter (log xi > 4.15), temperature (T > 2.4 x 10^6 K), and hydrogen equivalent number density (n > 10^{12} cm^{-3}) for this region. Variability studies with simultaneous RXTE data show that the light curve count rate tracks changes in the disk blackbody and the power-law flux. Spectral changes in the Chandra data also track the behavior of the light curve, and may point to changes in both the ionizing flux and density of the absorber. A 3.69 Hz QPO and weak first harmonic is seen in the RXTE data., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ., 9 pages, 5 figures

The Chandra HETGS spectra of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG--6-30-15 show numerous narrow, unresolved (FWHM < 200 km/s) absorption lines from a wide range of ionization states of N, O, Mg, Ne, Si, S, Ar, and Fe. The initial analysis of these data, presented in Lee et al. (2001), shows that a dusty warm absorber model adequately explains the spectral features > 0.48 keV (< 26 A). We attribute previous reports of an apparently highly redshifted O VII edge to the neutral Fe L absorption complex and the O VII resonance series (by transitions higher than He $\gamma$; He $\alpha,\beta,\gamma$ are also seen at lower energies). The implied dust column density needed to explain the FeI L edge feature agrees with that obtained from earlier reddening studies, which had already concluded that the dust should be associated with the ionized absorber (given the relatively lower observed X-ray absorption by cold gas). Our findings contradict the interpretation of Branduardi-Raymont et al. (2001), based on XMM-Newton RGS spectra, that this spectral region is dominated by highly relativistic soft X-ray line emission originating near the central black hole. Here we review these issues pertaining to the soft X-ray spectral features as addressed by Lee et al., (2001). (Details found in Lee et al., 2001, ApJ., 554, L13), Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, one of two interpretations of the MCG--6-30-15 spectrum as presented during the workshop discussion; to appear in the proceedings of "X-ray Emission from Accretion onto Black Holes", JHU/LHEA Workshop, June 20-23,2001

We present the high-resolution X-ray spectrum of the low-redshift quasar H 1821+643 and its surrounding hot cluster observed with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS). An iron emission line attributed to the quasar at ~6.43 keV (rest frame) is clearly resolved, with an equivalent width of ~100 eV. Although we cannot rule out contributions to the line from a putative torus, the diskline model provides an acceptable fit to this iron line. We also detect a weak emission feature at ~6.9 keV (rest frame). We suggest that both lines could originate in an accretion disk comprised of a highly ionized optically thin atmosphere sitting atop a mostly neutral disk. We search for absorption features from a warm/hot component of the intergalactic medium along the ~1.5Gpc/h line of sight to the quasar. No absorption features are detected at or above the 3 sigma level while a total of six OVI intervening absorption systems have been detected with HST and FUSE. Based on the lack of OVII and OVIII absorption lines and by assuming collisionally ionization, we constrain the gas temperature of a typical OVI absorber to 10^5 < T < 10^6 K, which is consistent with the results from hydrodynamic simulations of the intergalactic medium. The zeroth order image reveals the extended emission from the surrounding cluster. We have been able to separate the moderate CCD X-ray spectrum of the surrounding cluster from the central quasar and find that this is a hot cluster with a temperature of ~10 keV and a metal abundance of ~0.3 Zo. We also independently obtain the redshift of the cluster, which is consistent with the optical results. We estimate that the cluster makes negligible contributions to the 6.9 keV iron K line flux., Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures (2 color). Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

We observed the black hole candidate Cyg X-1 for 15 ks with the High-Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer aboard the CHANDRA X-ray Observatory. The source was observed during a period of intense flaring activity, so it was about a factor of 2.5 brighter than usual, with a 0.5-10 keV (1-24 A) luminosity of 1.6x10^37 erg/s (at a distance of 2.5 kpc). The spectrum of the source shows prominent absorption edges, some of which have complicated substructure. We use the most recent results from laboratory measurements and and calculations to model the observed substructure of the edges. From the model, we derive a total absorption column of 6.21+/-0.22 10^21 cm^-2. Furthermore, the results indicate that there are ~ 10 - 25% abundance variations relative to solar values for neon, oxygen and iron. The X-ray continuuum is described well by a two-component model that is often adopted for black hole candidates: a soft multicolor disk component (with kT = 203 eV) and a hard power law component (with a photon index of ~2). Comparing the fit results to those of the hard and soft states, we conclude that the source was in a transitional state. Finally, the spectrum also shows the presence of faint emission lines which could be attributed to highly ionized species., Comment: accepted by the Astrophysical Main Journal, 9 pages, 9 figures

We present detailed evidence for a warm absorber in the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG--6-30-15 and dispute earlier claims for relativistic O line emission. The HETG spectra show numerous narrow, unresolved (FWHM < 200 km/s) absorption lines from a wide range of ionization states of N, O, Mg, Ne, Si, S, Ar, and Fe. The O VII edge and 1s^2--1snp resonance line series to n=9 are clearly detected at rest in the AGN frame. We attribute previous reports of an apparently highly redshifted O VII edge to the 1s^2--1snp (n > 5) O VII resonance lines, and a neutral Fe L absorption complex. The shape of the Fe L feature is nearly identical to that seen in the spectra of several X-ray binaries, and in laboratory data. The implied dust column density agrees with that obtained from reddening studies, and gives the first direct X-ray evidence for dust embedded in a warm absorber. The O VIII resonance lines and weak edge are also detected, and the spectral rollover below 2 keV is explained by the superposition of numerous absorption lines and edges. We identify, for the first time, a KLL resonance in the O VI photoabsorption cross section, giving a measure of the O VI column density. The O VII (f) emission detected at the systemic velocity implies a covering fraction of ~5% (depending on the observed vs. time-averaged ionizing flux). Our observations show that a dusty warm absorber model is not only adequate to explain all the spectral features > 0.48 keV (< 26 \AA) the data REQUIRE it. This contradicts the interpretation of Branduardi-Raymont et al. (2001) that this spectral region is dominated by highly relativistic line emission from the vicinity of the black hole., Comment: 4.5 pages, 1 color figure, accepted (April 2001) for publication in ApJL, not many changes from the initial submission - updated/added some measuements for the O VII resonance series, and added a discussion about FeO2 grains

A Chandra AO1 30ks HETGS observation of the X-ray transient micro-quasar GRS 1915+105 reveals absorption edges and faint line emission over the HETG energy range. We find from a preliminary analysis evidence for prominent neutral K edges associated with iron, silicon, magnesium, and tentatively sulphur. The column densities assuming solar abundances are consistent with ~ few x $10^{22} cm^{-2}$ in excess of the Galactic value, and may point to surrounding cold material associated with GRS 1915+105. Neutral Fe K$\alpha$ emission, and ionized absorption from Fe XXV and Fe XXVI are resolved. We limit our discussion to the Chandra results., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, Contributed talk at "X-ray Astronomy 2000" meeting, Palermo, Italy, Sept. 2000. Proceedings to be published in ASP Conference series, eds. R. Giaconni, L. Stella, & S. Serio, 2000

We present the first high-resolution X-ray spectrum of the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy NGC 4151. Observations with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer reveal a spectrum dominated by narrow emission lines from a spatially resolved (1.6 kpc), highly ionized nebula. The X-ray narrow-line region is composite, consisting of both photoionized and collisionally ionized components. The X-ray emission lines have similar velocities, widths, and spatial extent to the optical emission lines, showing that they arise in the same region. The clouds in the narrow-line region must contain a large range of ionization states in order to explain both the optical and X-ray photoionized emission. Chandra data give the first direct evidence of X-ray line emission from a hot plasma (T~1e7 K) which may provide pressure confinement for the cooler (T=3e4 K) photoionized clouds., Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters

We present a first emission line analysis of a high resolution X-ray spectrum of the stellar wind of theta 1 Ori C obtained with the High Energy Transmission grating Spectrometer onboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The spectra are resolved into a large number of emission lines from H- and He-like O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ar and Fe ions. The He-like Fe XXV and Li-like Fe XXIV appear quite strong indicating very hot emitting regions. From H/He flux ratios, as well as from Fe He/Li emission measure ratios we deduce temperatures ranging from 0.5 to 6.1 x 10^7 K. The He-triplets are very sensitive to density as well. At these temperatures the relative strengths of the intercombination and forbidden lines indicate electron densities well above 10^12 cm^-3. The lines appear significantly broadened from which we deduce a mean velocity of 770 km/s with a spread between 400 and 2000 km/s. Along with results of the deduced emission measure we conclude that the X-ray emission could originate in dense and hot regions with a characteristic size of less then 4 x 10^10 cm., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

We present an analysis of the long RXTE observation of the Seyfert~1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15, taken in July 1997. Our results show that the behaviour is complicated. We find clear evidence from colour ratios and direct spectral fitting that changes to the intrinsic photon index are taking place. Spectral hardening is evident during periods of diminished intensity; in particular, a general trend for harder spectra is seen in the period following the hardest RXTE flare. Flux-correlated studies further show that the 3-10 keV photon index steepens while that in the 10-20 keV band, flattens with flux. The largest changes come from the spectral index below 10keV; however, changes in the intrinsic power law slope, and reflection both contribute in varying degrees to the overall spectral variability. We find that the iron line flux is consistent with being constant over large time intervals on the order of days (although the ASCA and RXTE spectra show that $F_{K\alpha}$ changes on shorter time intervals of order < 10ks), and equivalent width which anticorrelates with the continuum flux, and reflection fraction. Flux-correlated studies point at possible ionization signatures, while detailed spectral analysis of short time intervals surrounding flare events hint tentatively at observed spectral responses to the flare. We present a simple model for partial ionization where the bulk of the variability comes from within 6r_g. Temporal analysis further provides evidence for possible time (< 1000s) and phase (phi~0.6 rad) lags. Finally, we report an apparent break in the power density spectrum (~ 4-5 x 10^{-6}Hz) and a possible 33 hr period. Estimates for the mass of the black hole in MCG-6-30-15 are discussed in the context of spectral and temporal findings., Comment: 19 pages, 38 figures total (19 figure captions), accepted for publication in MNRAS July 2000

We report on a joint ASCA and RXTE observation spanning an $\sim$ 400~ks time interval of the bright Seyfert~1 galaxy MCG--6-30-15. The data clearly confirm the presence of a broad skewed iron line ($W_{K\alpha} \sim$ 266 eV) and Compton reflection continuum at higher energies reported in our previous paper. We also investigate whether the gravitational and Doppler effects that affect the iron line may also be manifest in the reflected continuum. The uniqueness of this data set is underlined by the extremely good statistics that we obtain from the approximately four million photons that make up the 2-20 keV RXTE PCA spectrum alone. This, coupled with the high energy coverage of HEXTE and the spectral resolution of ASCA in the iron line regime has allowed us to constrain the relationship between abundance and reflection fraction for the first time at the 99 per cent confidence level. The reflection fraction is entirely consistent with a flat disk, i.e. the cold material subtends $\rm 2 \pi$ sr at the source, to an accuracy of 20 per cent. Monte Carlo simulations show that the observed strong iron line intensity is explained by an overabundance of iron by a factor of $\sim$ 2 and an underabundance of the lower-Z elements by a similar factor. By considering non-standard abundances, a clear and consistent picture can be made in which both the iron line and reflection continuum come from the same material such as e.g. an accretion disk., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication MNRAS 7/99

We report on a joint RXTE and ASCA observation spanning $\sim$ 400~ks of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG--6-30-15. The low energy coverage of ASCA coupled with the high energy coverage of RXTE have allowed us not only to confirm features of Compton reflection but also to set bounds on the abundances as a function of reflective fraction., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, conference proceeding (in press). Workshop on "High Energy Processes in Accreting Black Holes", Eds. J. Poutanen & R. Svensson (Graftavallen, Sweden), June29 - July 4, 1998

We report measurements of the mass density, Omega_M, and cosmological-constant energy density, Omega_Lambda, of the universe based on the analysis of 42 Type Ia supernovae discovered by the Supernova Cosmology Project. The magnitude-redshift data for these SNe, at redshifts between 0.18 and 0.83, are fit jointly with a set of SNe from the Calan/Tololo Supernova Survey, at redshifts below 0.1, to yield values for the cosmological parameters. All SN peak magnitudes are standardized using a SN Ia lightcurve width-luminosity relation. The measurement yields a joint probability distribution of the cosmological parameters that is approximated by the relation 0.8 Omega_M - 0.6 Omega_Lambda ~= -0.2 +/- 0.1 in the region of interest (Omega_M <~ 1.5). For a flat (Omega_M + Omega_Lambda = 1) cosmology we find Omega_M = 0.28{+0.09,-0.08} (1 sigma statistical) {+0.05,-0.04} (identified systematics). The data are strongly inconsistent with a Lambda = 0 flat cosmology, the simplest inflationary universe model. An open, Lambda = 0 cosmology also does not fit the data well: the data indicate that the cosmological constant is non-zero and positive, with a confidence of P(Lambda > 0) = 99%, including the identified systematic uncertainties. The best-fit age of the universe relative to the Hubble time is t_0 = 14.9{+1.4,-1.1} (0.63/h) Gyr for a flat cosmology. The size of our sample allows us to perform a variety of statistical tests to check for possible systematic errors and biases. We find no significant differences in either the host reddening distribution or Malmquist bias between the low-redshift Calan/Tololo sample and our high-redshift sample. The conclusions are robust whether or not a width-luminosity relation is used to standardize the SN peak magnitudes., Comment: 21 pages and 10 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Individual color figures, supplementary tables, and preprint also available at http://www-supernova.lbl.gov/

We report on a 50 ks observation of the bright Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG--6-30-15 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. The data clearly show the broad fluorescent iron line (equivalent width ~ 250 eV), and the Compton reflection continuum at higher energies. A comparison of the iron line and the reflection continuum has enabled us to constrain reflective fraction and the elemental abundances in the accretion disk. Temporal studies provide evidence that spectral variability is due to changes in both the amount of reflection seen and the properties of the primary X-ray source itself., Comment: 6 pages, Latex

We report on two observations of the Seyfert galaxy IRAS18325-5926 made in 1997 December and 1998 February with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). We find evidence for periodicities in the resulting X-ray lightcurves which are shorter than the 58~ks period found from data of the source taken in 1997 March with the imaging satellite ASCA. It is therefore likely that IRAS18325-5926 has a quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) similar to, but at a much longer period than, the QPO seen in some Galactic Black Hole Candidates. The power spectrum of the February data has several peaks, the second highest of which is consistent with a monotonic decrease in the X-ray period. The period change is then consistent with that expected from two massive black holes spiralling together due to the emission of gravitational radiation. This possibility is very unlikely but mentioned because of its potential importance., Comment: 5 pages, 9 Postscript figures, submitted to MNRAS Letters, new light curves and power spectra, the BH spiral-in hypothesis now appears to be unlikely

The Supernova Cosmology Project has discovered over twenty-eight supernovae (SNe) at 0.35 = 0.2, we find that H_0^G < 70 km/s/Mpc in a Lambda=0 universe and H_0^G < 78 km/s/Mpc in a flat universe, correcting the distant and local SN apparent magnitudes for light curve width. Lower results for H_0^G are obtained if the magnitudes are not width corrected., Comment: 13 pages, 2 Postscript figures. Preprint also available at http://www-supernova.lbl.gov . To appear in ApJ Letters

We have developed a technique to systematically discover and study high-redshift supernovae that can be used to measure the cosmological parameters. We report here results based on the initial seven of >28 supernovae discovered to date in the high-redshift supernova search of the Supernova Cosmology Project. We find a dispersion in peak magnitudes of sigma_{M_B} = 0.27 this dispersion narrows to sigma_{M_B,corr} = 0.19 after "correcting" the magnitudes using the light-curve "width-luminosity" relation found for nearby (z <= 0.1) type Ia supernovae from the Calan/Tololo survey (Hamuy et al. 1996). Comparing lightcurve-width-corrected magnitudes as a function of redshift of our distant (z = 0.35-0.46) supernovae to those of nearby type Ia supernovae yields a global measurement of the mass density, Omega_M = 0.88^{+0.69}_{-0.60} for a Lambda = 0 cosmology. For a spatially flat universe (i.e., Omega_M +Omega_Lambda = 1), we find Omega_M = 0.94 ^{+0.34}_{-0.28} or, equivalently, a measurement of the cosmological constant, Omega_Lambda = 0.06 ^{+0.28}_{-0.34} (<0.51 at the 95% confidence level). For the more general Friedmann-Lemaitre cosmologies with independent Omega_M and Omega_Lambda, the results are presented as a confidence region on the Omega_M-Omega_Lambda plane. This region does not correspond to a unique value of the deceleration parameter q_0. We present analyses and checks for statistical and systematic errors, and also show that our results do not depend on the specifics of the width-luminosity correction. The results for Omega_Lambda-versus-Omega_M are inconsistent with Lambda-dominated, low density, flat cosmologies that have been proposed to reconcile the ages of globular cluster stars with higher Hubble constant values., Comment: Very minor revisions. Paper is 36 pages long, with 6 postscript figures. Also available on http://www-supernova.lbl.gov . Paper has been accepted by ApJ

We present the first measurement of the rate of Type Ia supernovae at high redshift. The result is derived using a large subset of data from the Supernova Cosmology Project. Three supernovae were discovered in a surveyed area of 1.7 square degrees. The survey spanned a $\sim 3$ week baseline and used images with $3\sigma$ limiting magnitude of $R\sim 23$. We present our methods for estimating the numbers of galaxies and the number of solar luminosities to which the survey is sensitive, and the supernova detection efficiency which is used to determine the control time, the effective time for which the survey is sensitive to a Type Ia event. We derive a rest-frame Type Ia supernova rate at $z\sim0.4$ of $0.82\ {^{+0.54}_{-0.37}}\ {^{+0.37}_{-0.25}} $ $h^2$ SNu (1 SNu = 1 SN per century per $10^{10}$\Lbsun), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second includes systematic effects. For the purposes of observers, we also determine the rate of SNe, per sky area surveyed, to be $ 34.4\ {^{+23.9}_{-16.2}}$ SNe\ $\rm year^{-1} deg^{-2}$ for SN magnitudes in the range $21.3 < R < 22.3$., Comment: 33 pages, To be published in December 10, 1996 issue of ApJ Vol 473

We conduct a multi-wavelength continuum variability study of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 to investigate the temperature structure of its accretion disk. The 19 overlapping continuum light curves (1158 Angstrom to 9157 Angstrom) combine simultaneous Hubble Space Telescope, Swift, and ground-based observations over a 180 day period from 2014 January to July. Light-curve variability is interpreted as the reverberation response of the accretion disk to irradiation by a central time-varying point source. Our model yields the disk inclination i = 36deg +/- 10deg, temperature T(sub 1) = (44+/-6) times 10 (exp 3)K at 1 light day from the black hole, and a temperature radius slope (T proportional to r (exp -alpha)) of alpha = 0.99 +/- 0.03. We also infer the driving light curve and find that it correlates poorly with both the hard and soft X-ray light curves, suggesting that the X-rays alone may not drive the ultraviolet and optical variability over the observing period. We also decompose the light curves into bright, faint, and mean accretion-disk spectra. These spectra lie below that expected for a standard blackbody accretion disk accreting at L/L(sub Edd) = 0.1.