Search

Ultraviolet (UV) line driven winds may be an important part of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback process, but understanding their impact is hindered by the complex nature of the radiation hydrodynamics. Instead, we have taken the approach pioneered by Risaliti & Elvis, calculating only ballistic trajectories from radiation forces and gravity, but neglecting gas pressure. We have completely re-written their QWIND code using more robust algorithms, and can now quickly model the acceleration phase of these winds for any AGN spectral energy distribution spanning UV and X-ray wavebands. We demonstrate the code using an AGN with black hole mass $10^8\, M_\odot$ emitting at half the Eddington rate and show that this can effectively eject a wind with velocities $\simeq (0.1-0.2)\, c$. The mass loss rates can be up to $\simeq 0.3 M_\odot$ per year, consistent with more computationally expensive hydrodynamical simulations, though we highlight the importance of future improvements in radiation transfer along the multiple different lines of sight illuminating the wind. The code is fully public, and can be used to quickly explore the conditions under which AGN feedback can be dominated by accretion disc winds., 11 pages, 14 figures, for Qwind code see https://github.com/arnauqb/qwind , published to MNRAS

The near-term search for life beyond the solar system currently focuses on transiting planets orbiting small M dwarfs, and the challenges of detecting signs of life in their atmospheres. However, planets orbiting white dwarfs (WDs) would provide a unique opportunity to characterize rocky worlds. The discovery of the first transiting giant planet orbiting a white dwarf, WD 1856+534b, showed that planetary-mass objects can survive close-in orbits around WDs. The large radius ratio between WD planets and their host renders them exceptional targets for transmission spectroscopy. Here, we explore the molecular detectability and atmospheric characterization potential for a notional Earth-like planet, evolving in the habitable zone of WD 1856+534, with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). We establish that the atmospheric composition of such Earth-like planets orbiting WDs can be precisely retrieved with JWST. We demonstrate that robust > 5$\sigma$ detections of H$_2$O and CO$_2$ can be achieved in a 5 transit reconnaissance program, while the biosignatures O$_3$ + CH$_4$, and O$_3$ + N$_2$O can be detected to > 4$\sigma$ in as few as 25 transits. N$_2$ and O$_2$ can be detected to > 5$\sigma$ within 100 transits. Given the short transit duration of WD habitable zone planets (~ 2 minutes for WD 1856+534), conclusive molecular detections can be achieved in a small or medium JWST transmission spectroscopy program. Rocky planets in the WD habitable zone therefore represent a promising opportunity to characterize terrestrial planet atmospheres and explore the possibility of a second genesis on these worlds., Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures. Published in ApJL

We present new observations of the odd $z=0.96$ weak-line quasar PG1407+265, and report the discovery of CXOU J140927.9+261813, a $z=0.68$ X-ray cluster. Archival X-ray photometry spanning nearly four decades reveals that PG1407+265 is variable at the 1 dex level on a timescale of years. V-band variability is present with an amplitude less than 0.1 mag. The emission-line properties of PG1407+265 also reveal clear evidence for a powerful inflow or outflow due to near- or super-Eddington accretion, having a mechanical luminosity of order $10^{48}$ erg s$^{-1}$. Our follow-up {\sl Chandra} exposure centered on this object reveal a foreground $z=0.68$ cluster roughly 1' x 1'.5 in extent, offset to the east of PG1407+265, roughly coincident with the $z=0.68$ radio galaxy FIRST J140927.8+261818. This non-cool-core cluster contributes about 10\% of the X-ray flux of PG1407+265, has a mass of $(0.6- 5.5)\times10^{14} M_\odot$, and an X-ray gas temperature of ($2.2-4.3$) keV. Because the projected position of the quasar lies at about twice that of the cluster's inferred Einstein radius, lensing by the cluster is unlikely to explain the quasar's unusual properties. We also discuss the evidence for a second cluster centered on and at the redshift of the quasar., Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures

This document describes the list of controlled terms used to build the Unified Content Descriptors, Version 1+ (UCD1+). The document describing the UCD1+ can be found at the URL: this http URL. This document reviews the structure of the UCD1+ and presents the current vocabulary.

Low-frequency radio selection finds radio-bright galaxies regardless of the amount of obscuration by gas and dust. We report Chandra observations of a complete 178 MHz–selected, and so orientation-unbiased, sample of 44 0.5 < z < 1 3CRR sources. The sample is comprised of quasars and narrow-line radio galaxies (NLRGs) with similar radio luminosities, and the radio structure serves as both an age and an orientation indicator. Consistent with unification, intrinsic obscuration (measured by N H, X-ray hardness ratio, and X-ray luminosity) generally increases with inclination. However, the sample includes a population not seen in high-z 3CRR sources: NLRGs viewed at intermediate inclination angles with N H < 1022 cm−2. Multiwavelength analysis suggests that these objects have lower L/L Edd than typical NLRGs at similar orientation. Thus, both orientation and L/L Edd are important, and a “radiation-regulated unification” provides a better explanation of the sample’s observed properties. In comparison with the 3CRR sample at 1 < z < 2, our lower-redshift sample shows a higher fraction of Compton-thin NLRGs (45% versus 29%) but a similar Compton-thick fraction (20%), implying a larger covering factor of Compton-thin material at intermediate viewing angles and thus a more “puffed-up” torus atmosphere. We posit that this is due to a range of L/L Edd extending to lower values in this sample. In contrast, at high redshifts, the narrower range and high L/L Edd values allowed orientation (and so simple unification) to dominate the sample’s observed properties.

The main purpose of the 1975 Registration Convention is to achieve transparency in space activities and this objective is motivated by the belief that a mandatory registration system would assist in the identification of space objects launched into outer space. This would also consequently contribute to the application and development of international law governing the exploration and use of outer space. States Parties to the Convention furnish the required information to the United Nations' Register of Space Objects. However, the furnished information is often so general that it may not be as helpful in creating transparency as had been hoped by the drafters of the Convention. While registration of civil satellites has been furnished with some general details, till today, none of the Parties have described the objects as having military functions despite the fact that a large number of such objects do perform military functions as well. In some cases, the best they have done is to indicate that the space objects are for their defense establishments. Moreover, the number of registrations of space objects is declining. This paper addresses the challenges posed by the non-registration of space objects. Particularly, the paper provides some data about the registration and non-registration of satellites and the States that have and have not complied with their legal obligations. It also analyses the specific requirements of the Convention, the reasons for non-registration, new challenges posed by the registration of small satellites and the on-orbit transfer of satellites. Finally, the paper provides some recommendations on how to enhance the registration of space objects, on the monitoring of the implementation of the Registration Convention and consequently how to achieve maximum transparency in space activities.

In this paper I revisit proposed definitions of the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space, considering orbital and suborbital trajectories used by space vehicles. In particular, I investigate the inner edge of outer space from historical, physical and technological viewpoints and propose 80 kilometers as a more appropriate boundary than the currently popular 100 km Von K\'{a}rm\'{a}n line., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures

We present an imaging and spectral analysis of the nuclear region of the ULIRG merger Arp 220, using deep \textit{Chandra}-ACIS observations summing up to \(\sim 300\mbox{ ks}\). Narrow-band imaging with sub-pixel resolution of the innermost nuclear region reveals two distinct Fe-K emitting sources, coincident with the infrared and radio nuclear clusters. These sources are separated by 1' (\(\sim 380\) pc). The X-ray emission is extended and elongated in the eastern nucleus, like the disk emission observed in millimeter radio images, suggesting starburst dominance in this region. We estimate Fe-K equivalent width \(\gtrsim 1\) keV for both sources, and observed 2-10 keV luminosities \(\sim 2\times{10}^{40}\mbox{ erg}\mbox{ s}^{-1}\) (W) and \(\sim 3 \times {10}^{40}\mbox{ erg}\mbox{ s}^{-1}\) (E). In the 6-7 keV band the emission from these regions is dominated by the 6.7 keV Fe \textsc{xxv} line, suggesting contribution from collisionally ionized gas. The thermal energy content of this gas is consistent with kinetic energy injection in the interstellar medium by Type II SNe. However, nuclear winds from hidden AGN (\(\varv\sim 2000 \mbox{ km}\mbox{ s}^{-1}\)) cannot be excluded. The \(3��\) upper limits on the neutral Fe-K\(��\) flux of the nuclear regions correspond to intrinsic AGN 2-10 keV luminosities \(< 1\times {10}^{42}\mbox{ erg}\mbox{ s}^{-1}\) (W) and \(< 0.4\times {10}^{42}\mbox{ erg}\mbox{ s}^{-1}\) (E). For typical AGN SEDs the bolometric luminosities are \(< 3\times {10}^{43}\mbox{ erg}\mbox{ s}^{-1}\) (W) and \(< 8\times {10}^{43}\mbox{ erg}\mbox{ s}^{-1}\) (E), and black hole masses \(, 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication on ApJ. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1303.2630

We continue our study of the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 11 AGN at 1.5 < z < 2.2, with optical-NIR spectra, X-ray data and mid-IR photometry. In a previous paper we presented the observations and models; in this paper we explore the parameter space of these models. We first quantify uncertainties on the black hole masses (M$_{\rm BH}$) and degeneracies between SED parameters. The effect of BH spin is tested, and we find that while low to moderate spin values (a$_*$ $\leq$ 0.9) are compatible with the data in all cases, maximal spin (a$_*$ = 0.998) can only describe the data if the accretion disc is face-on. The outer accretion disc radii are well constrained in 8/11 objects, and are found to be a factor ~5 smaller than the self-gravity radii. We then extend our modelling campaign into the mid-IR regime with WISE photometry, adding components for the host galaxy and dusty torus. Our estimates of the host galaxy luminosities are consistent with the M$_{\rm BH}$-bulge relationship, and the measured torus properties (covering factor and temperatures) are in agreement with earlier work, suggesting a predominantly silicate-based grain composition. Finally, we deconvolve the optical-NIR spectra using our SED continuum model. We claim that this is a more physically motivated approach than using empirical descriptions of the continuum such as broken power-laws. For our small sample, we verify previously noted correlations between emission linewidths and luminosities commonly used for single-epoch M$_{\rm BH}$ estimates, and observe a statistically significant anti-correlation between [O III] equivalent width and AGN luminosity., 26 pages, 19 figures, 5 tables; accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present a model for the classification of Coronal-Line Forest Active Galactic Nuclei (CLiF AGN). CLiF AGN are of special interest due to their remarkably large number of emission lines, especially forbidden high ionization lines (FHILs). Rose et al. (2015a) suggest that their emission is dominated by reflection from the inner wall of the obscuring region rather than direct emission from the accretion disk. This makes CLiF AGN laboratories to test AGN-torus models. Modeling AGN as an accreting supermassive black hole, surrounded by a cylinder of dust and gas, we show a relationship between viewing angle and the revealed area of the inner wall. From the revealed area, we can determine the amount of FHIL emission at various angles. We calculate the strength of [FeVII]{\lambda}6087 emission for a number of intermediate angles (30$^{\circ}$, 40$^{\circ}$, and 50$^{\circ}$) and compare the results with the luminosity of the observed emission line from six known CLiF AGN. We find that there is good agreement between our model and the observational results. The model also enables us to determine the relationship between the type 2 : type 1 AGN fraction vs the ratio of torus height to radius, h/r., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 8 pages, 7 figures

X-ray sources in spiral galaxies can be approximately classified into bulge and disk populations. The bulge (or hard) sources have X-ray colors which are consistent with Low Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXB) but the the disk sources have softer colors suggesting a different type of source. In this paper, we further study the properties of hard and soft sources by constructing color segregated X-ray Luminosity Functions (XLF) for these two populations. Since the number of sources in any given galaxy is small, we coadded sources from a sample of nearby, face-on spiral galaxies observed by Chandra as a Large Project in Cycle 2. We use simulations to carefully correct the XLF for completeness. The composite hard source XLF is not consistent with a single power-law fit. At luminosities Lx>3E38 ergs/s it is well fit by a power law with a slope that is consistent with that found for sources in elliptical galaxies by Kim and Fabbiano 2004. This is supports the suggestion that the hard sources are dominated by LMXBs. In contrast, the high luminosity XLF of soft sources has a slope similar to the ``universal'' High Mass X-ray Binary XLF. Some of these sources are stellar mass black-hole binaries accreting at high rates in a thermal/steep power law state. The softest sources have inferred disk temperatures that are considerably lower than found in galactic black holes binaries. These sources are not well understood, but some may be super-soft ultra-luminous X-ray sources in a quiescent state as suggested by Soria et al 2009., Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal

We present the most likely optical counterparts of 113 X-ray sources detected in our Chandra survey of the central region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) based on the OGLE-II and MCPS catalogs. We estimate that the foreground contamination and chance coincidence probability are minimal for the bright optical counterparts (corresponding to OB type stars; 35 in total). We propose here for the first time 13 High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs), of which 4 are Be/X-ray binaries (Be-XRBs), and we confirm the previous classification of 18 Be-XRBs. We estimate that the new candidate Be-XRBs have an age of 15-85 Myr, consistent with the age of Be stars. We also examine the "overabundance" of Be-XRBs in the SMC fields covered by Chandra, in comparison with the Galaxy. In luminosities down to about 10^{34} erg/s, we find that SMC Be-XRBs are 1.5 times more common when compared to the Milky Way even after taking into account the difference in the formation rates of OB stars. This residual excess can be attributed to the lower metallicity of the SMC. Finally, we find that the mixing of Be-XRBs with other than their natal stellar population is not an issue in our comparisons of Be-XRBs and stellar populations in the SMC. Instead, we find indication for variation of the SMC XRB populations on kiloparsec scales, related to local variations of the formation rate of OB stars and slight variation of their age, which results in different relative numbers of Be stars and therefore XRBs.

We present infrared (IR) to X-ray spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for 44 red AGN selected from the 2MASS survey on the basis of their red J-K$_S$ color (>2 mag) and later observed by Chandra. In comparison with optically-, radio-, and X-ray selected AGN, their median SEDs are red in the optical and near-IR with little/no blue bump. It thus seems that near-IR color selection isolates the reddest subset of AGN that can be classified optically. The shape of the SEDs is generally consistent with modest absorption by gas (in the X-ray) and dust (in the optical-IR). The levels of obscuration, estimated from X-rays, far-IR and our detailed optical/near-IR color modeling are all consistent implying N_H < few*10^{22} cm^{-2}. We present SED models that show how the AGN optical/near-IR colors change due to differing amounts of reddening, AGN to host galaxy ratio, redshift and scattered light emission and apply them to the sources in the sample. We find that the 2MASS AGN optical color, B-R, and to a lesser extent the near-IR color, J-K$_S$, are strongly affected by reddening, host galaxy emission, redshift, and in few, highly polarized objects, also by scattered AGN light. The obscuration/inclination of the AGN allows us to see weaker emission components which are generally swamped by the AGN.

We perform a spectral analysis of a sample of 11 medium redshift (1.5 < z < 2.2) quasars. Our sample all have optical spectra from the SDSS, infrared spectra from GNIRS and TSPEC, and X-ray spectra from XMM-Newton. We first analyse the Balmer broad emission line profiles which are shifted into the IR spectra to constrain black hole masses. Then we fit an energy-conserving, three component accretion model of the broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) to our multi-wavelength data. Five out of the 11 quasars show evidence of an SED peak, allowing us to constrain their bolometric luminosity from these models and estimate their mass accretion rates. Based on our limited sample, we suggest that estimating bolometric luminosities from L_5100A and L_2-10keV may be unreliable, as has been also noted for a low-redshift, X-ray selected AGN sample., 22 pages, 11 figures, 7 tables; accepted for publication in MNRAS

In this paper we present the source list for 3 Chandra observations of the Local Group galaxy M33. The observations are centered on the nucleus and on the star forming region NGC 604. We detect a total of 261 sources in an area of \~0.2 square degree down to a flux limit of 3*10^{-16} erg/s/cm^2 which corresponds to a luminosity of ~2*10^34 erg/s at a distance of 840 kpc. From the source list we construct the luminosity functions of sources observed in M33. Taking into account background contamination the luminosity functions are consistent with those of other star forming galaxies. In addition, the combination of X-ray color analysis and the existence of ``blue'' optical counterparts strongly indicate that the X-ray point source population in M33 consists of young objects. Above 3*10^35 erg/s there are few X-ray sources in the locus of the X-ray hardness ratio diagram that is generally populated by LMXBs., Comment: 51 pages, accepted for ApJS, accepted version

Emission from discrete point sources dominates the X-ray luminosity in spiral galaxies. We present results from a survey of 11 nearby, nearly face-on spiral galaxies with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These galaxies span the Hubble sequence for spirals, allowing insights into the X-ray source population of many diverse systems. In this paper, we present source lists for the 11 galaxies along with fluxes, luminosities, X-ray colors, and variability properties. We briefly discuss X-ray luminosity functions and how they relate to star formation of the host galaxies. We also discuss source colors and variability and what these can tell us about the composition of the X-ray source population.

We report Chandra observations of the dwarf nova WX Hyi in quiescence. The X-ray spectrum displays strong and narrow emission lines of N, O, Mg, Ne, Si, S and Fe. The various ionization states implied by the lines suggest that the emission is produced within a flow spanning a wide temperature range, from T ~ 10^6 K to T >~ 10^8 K. Line diagnostics indicate that most of the radiation originates from a very dense region, with n ~ 10^{13}-10^{14} cm^{-3}. The Chandra data allow the first tests of specific models proposed in the literature for the X-ray emission in quiescent dwarf novae. We have computed the spectra for a set of models ranging from hot boundary layers, to hot settling flows solutions, to X-ray emitting coronae. WX Hyi differs from other dwarf novae observed at minimum in having much stronger low temperature lines, which prove difficult to fit with existing models, and possibly a very strong, broad O VII line, perhaps produced in a wind moving at a few x 10^3 km/s. The accretion rate inferred from the X-rays is lower than the value inferred from the UV. The presence of high-velocity mass ejection could account for this discrepancy while at the same time explaining the presence of the broad O VII line. If this interpretation is correct, it would provide the first detection of a wind from a dwarf nova in quiescence., accepted to ApJ; 19 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

13 pags., 11 figs. 1 tab., We resolve the extended X-ray emission from the prototypical ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220. Extended, faint, edge-brightened, soft X-ray lobes outside the optical galaxy are observed to a distance of 10-15 kpc on each side of the nuclear region. Bright plumes inside the optical isophotes coincide with the optical line emission and extend 11 kpc from end to end across the nucleus. The data for the plumes cannot be fitted by a single-temperature plasma and display a range of temperatures from 0.2 to 1 keV. The plumes emerge from bright, diffuse circumnuclear emission in the inner 3 kpc centered on the Hα peak, which is displaced from the radio nuclei. There is a close morphological correspondence between the Hα and soft X-ray emission on all spatial scales. We interpret the plumes as a starburst-driven superwind and discuss two interpretations of the emission from the lobes in the context of simulations of the merger dynamics of Arp 220., Partial support for this work was provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through Chandra Award Number GO1-1166 issued by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Center, which is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for and on behalf of NASA under contract NAS 8-39073. S. Lamb and N. Hearn acknowledge support from DOE contract LLNL B209032 and the support of NPACI, through an allocation of computer time to perform the numerical simulations presented in this paper. We also thank NCSA for computational support for visualization of the models. We thank the referee for helping us clarify the arguments in this paper

We investigate the relations between the observed emission-line strengths, widths, and continuum properties of a sample of 41 low-redshift (z

We present the final results of a ROSAT PSPC program to study the soft X-ray emission properties of a complete sample of low $z$ quasars. The main results are: 1. There is no evidence for significant soft excess emission or excess foreground absorption by cold gas in 22 of the 23 quasars. 2. The mean 0.2-2 keV continuum of quasars agrees remarkably well with an extrapolation of the mean 1050-350A continuum recently determined by Zheng et al. (1996), indicating that there is no steep soft component below 0.2 keV. 3. The occurrence of warm absorbers in quasars is rather rare, in sharp contrast to lower luminosity AGN. 4. The strongest correlation found is between the spectral slope, alpha_x, and the Hb FWHM. This remarkably strong correlation may result from a dependence of alpha_x on L/L_Edd, as seen in Galactic black hole candidates. 5. There appears to exist a distinct class of ``X-ray weak'' quasars. These may be quasars where the direct X-ray source is obscured, and only scattered X-rays are observed. 6. Thin accretion disk models cannot reproduce the observed optical to soft X-ray spectral shape. An as yet unknown physical mechanism maintains a strong correlation between the optical and soft X-ray emission. 7. The well known difference in alpha_x between radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars may be due only to their different Hb FWHM. 8. The agreement of the 21 cm and X-ray columns implies that He in the diffuse H II component of the Galactic ISM is ionized to He II or He III (shortened abstract)., 19 pages of text only, uses aas2pp4.sty file, to appear in ApJ vol. 447, 3/1/97, complete postscript version of 34 pages including 5 tables and 8 figures available at http://physics.technion.ac.il/~laor/rosat/paper.ps

Many years of study have failed to establish conclusively relationships between a quasar’s spectral energy distribution (SED) and the emission lines it is thought to produce. This is at least partially due to the lack of well-observed SEDs. We present initial results from a line–SED study for a sample of 43 quasars and active galaxies for which we have optical and ultraviolet spectra and far-infrared–X-ray SEDs. We present the results of tests for correlations between line equivalent widths and SED luminosity and slope parameters and compare these results to those from earlier studies. We find that the Baldwin effect is weaker when the luminosity is defined close to the ionizing continuum of that line and conclude that the detailed SED is likely to be important in making further progress.

Missions to near-Earth objects (NEOs) are key destinations in NASA's new "Flexible Path" approach. NEOs are also of interest for science, for the hazards they pose, and for their resources. We emphasize the importance of ultra-low delta-v from LEO to NEO rendezvous as a target selection criterion, as this choice can greatly increase the payload to the NEO. Few such ultra-low delta-v NEOs are currently known; only 65 of the 6699 known NEOs (March2010) have delta-v, Planetary and Space Sciences, 12 pages, 4 figures

The Chandra Source Catalog (CSC) is a general purpose virtual X-ray astrophysics facility that provides access to a carefully selected set of generally useful quantities for individual X-ray sources, and is designed to satisfy the needs of a broad-based group of scientists, including those who may be less familiar with astronomical data analysis in the X-ray regime. The first release of the CSC includes information about 94,676 distinct X-ray sources detected in a subset of public ACIS imaging observations from roughly the first eight years of the Chandra mission. This release of the catalog includes point and compact sources with observed spatial extents, Comment: To appear in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 53 pages, 27 figures

Unlike statistical errors, whose importance has been well established in astronomical applications, uncertainties in instrument calibration are generally ignored. Despite wide recognition that uncertainties in calibration can cause large systematic errors, robust and principled methods to account for them have not been developed, and consequently there is no mechanism by which they can be incorporated into standard astronomical data analysis. Here we present a framework where they can be encoded such that they can be brought within the scope of analysis. We describe this framework, which is based on a modified MCMC algorithm, and propose a format standard derived from experience with effective area measurements of the ACIS-S detector on Chandra that can be applied to any instrument or method of codifying systematic errors. Calibration uncertainties can then be propagated into model parameter estimates to produce error bars that include systematic error information.

The Chandra Source Catalog, presently being developed by the Chandra X-ray Center, will be the definitive catalog of all X-ray sources detected by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The catalog interface will provide users with a simple mechanism to perform advanced queries on the data content of the archival holdings on a source-by-source basis for X-ray sources matching user-specified search criteria, and is intended to satisfy the needs of a broad-based group of scientists, including those who may be less familiar with astronomical data analysis in the X-ray regime. For each detected X-ray source, the catalog will record commonly tabulated quantities that can be queried, including source position, dimensions, multi-band fluxes, hardness ratios, and variability statistics, derived from all of the observations that include the source within the field of view. However, in addition to these traditional catalog elements, for each X-ray source the catalog will include an extensive set of file-based data products that can be manipulated interactively by the catalog user, including source images, event lists, light curves, and spectra from each observation in which a source is detected. In this paper, we emphasize the design and development of the Chandra Source Catalog. We describe the evaluation process used to plan the data content of the catalog, and the selection of the tabular properties and file-based data products to be provided to the user. We discuss our approach for managing catalog updates derived from either additional data from new observations or from improvements to calibrations and/or analysis algorithms.

We present a system of X-ray photometry for the Chandra satellite. X-ray photometry can be a powerful tool to obtain flux estimates, hardness ratios, and colors unbiased by assumptions about spectral shape and independent of temporal and spatial changes in instrument characteristics. The system we have developed relies on our knowledge of effective area and the energy-to-channel conversion to construct filters similar to photometric filters in the optical bandpass. We show that the filters are well behaved functions of energy and that this X-ray photometric system is able to reconstruct fluxes to within about 20%, without color corrections, for non-pathological spectra. Even in the worst cases it is better than 50%. Our method also treats errors in a consistent manner, both statistical as well as systematic., Comment: accepted by ApJ, 19 pages, 15 figures corresponding code available at http://hea-www.cfa.harvard.edu/~jcm/xray/index.html

In this paper we investigate the X-ray spectra and X-ray spectral variability of compact X-ray sources for 3 Chandra observations of the Local Group galaxy M33. The observations are centered on the nucleus and the star forming region NGC 604. In the observations 261 sources have been detected. For a total of 43 sources the number of net counts is above 100, sufficient for a more detailed spectral fitting. Of these sources, 25 have been observed in more than one observation, allowing the study of spectral variability on ~months timescales. A quarter of the sources are found to be variable between observations. However, except for two foreground sources, no source is variable within any observation above the 99% confidence level. Only six sources show significant spectral variability between observations. A comparison of N_H values with HI observations shows that X-ray absorption values are consistent with Galactic X-ray binaries and most sources in M33 are intrinsically absorbed. The pattern of variability and the spectral parameters of these sources are consistent with the M33 X-ray source population being dominated by X-ray binaries: Two thirds of the 43 bright sources have spectral and timing properties consistent with X-ray binaries; we also find two candidates for super-soft sources and two candidates for quasi-soft sources., 25 pages, ApJ accepted

The CIAO (Chandra Interactive Analysis of Observations) software package was first released in 1999 following the launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory and is used by astronomers across the world to analyze Chandra data as well as data from other telescopes. From the earliest design discussions, CIAO was planned as a general-purpose scientific data analysis system optimized for X-ray astronomy, and consists mainly of command line tools (allowing easy pipelining and scripting) with a parameter-based interface layered on a flexible data manipulation I/O library. The same code is used for the standard Chandra archive pipeline, allowing users to recalibrate their data in a consistent way. We will discuss the lessons learned from the first six years of the software's evolution. Our initial approach to documentation evolved to concentrate on recipe-based "threads" which have proved very successful. A multi-dimensional abstract approach to data analysis has allowed new capabilities to be added while retaining existing interfaces. A key requirement for our community was interoperability with other data analysis systems, leading us to adopt standard file formats and an architecture which was as robust as possible to the input of foreign data files, as well as re-using a number of external libraries. We support users who are comfortable with coding themselves via a flexible user scripting paradigm, while the availability of tightly constrained pipeline programs are of benefit to less computationally-advanced users. As with other analysis systems, we have found that infrastructure maintenance and re-engineering is a necessary and significant ongoing effort and needs to be planned in to any long-lived astronomy software.

We report the results of the Chandra ACIS-S observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 821, which harbors a supermassive nuclear black hole (of 3.5 × 10 7 M⊙), but does not show sign of AGN activity. A small, 8.5 ′′ long (� 1 kpc at the galaxy’s distance of 23 Mpc), S-shaped, jet-like feature centered on the nucleus is detected in the 38 ksec ACIS-S integrated exposure of this region. The luminosity of this feature is LX � 2.6 × 10 39 ergs s −1 (0.3-10 keV), and its spectrum is hard (described by a power-law of = 1 .8 +0.7 −0.6 ; or by thermal emission with kT > 2 keV). We discuss two possibilities for the origin of this feature: (1) a low-luminosity X-ray jet, or (2) a hot shocked gas. In either case, it is a clear indication of nuclear activity, detectable only in the X-ray band. Steady spherical accretion of the mass losses from the central stellar cusp within the accretion radius, when coupled to a high radiative efficiency, already provides a power source exceeding the observed radiative losses from the nuclear region. Subject headings: galaxies: NGC 821 - galaxies: nuclei - X-ray: galaxies

Chandra observations of the supermassive black hole in the nucleus of IC1459 show a weak [L_X=8x10(40)erg s(-1), 0.3-8keV], unabsorbed nuclear X-ray source, with a slope Gamma=1.88+/-0.09, and no strong Fe-K line at 6.4keV (EW$, 33 pages including 7 figures (1 full color, 2 with colored lines) and 5 tables. Astrophysical Journal, in press

We present the first results from 60ks of observations of Arp 220 using the ACIS-S instrument on Chandra. We report the detection of several sources near the galaxy's nucleus, including a point source with a hard spectrum that is coincident with the western radio nucleus B. This point source is mildly absorbed (N_H ~ 3 x 10^22 cm^-2) and has an estimated luminosity of 4 x 10^40 erg/s. In addition, a fainter source may coincide with the eastern nucleus A. Extended hard X-ray emission in the vicinity raises the total estimated nuclear 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity to 1.2 x 10^41 erg/s, but we cannot rule out a hidden AGN behind columns exceeding 5 x 10^24 cm^-2. We also detect a peak of soft X-ray emission to the west of the nucleus, and a hard point source 2.5 kpc from the nucleus with a luminosity of 6 x 10^39 erg/s., Accepted for publication in ApJ

The gamma-ray burst (GRB) 010222 is the brightest GRB detected to date by the BeppoSAX satellite. Prompt identification of the associated optical transient (OT) allowed for spectroscopy with the Tillinghast 1.5m telescope at F. L. Whipple Observatory while the source was still relatively bright (R ~ 18.6 mag), within five hours of the burst. The OT shows a blue continuum with many superimposed absorption features corresponding to metal lines at z = 1.477, 1.157, and possibly also at 0.928. The redshift of GRB 010222 is therefore unambiguously placed at z >= 1.477. The high number of Mg II absorbers and especially the large equivalent widths of the Mg II, Mg I, and Fe II absorption lines in the z = 1.477 system further argue either for a very small impact parameter or that the z = 1.477 system is the GRB host galaxy itself. The spectral index of the OT is relatively steep, beta = 0.89 +/- 0.03, and this cannot be caused by dust with a standard Galactic extinction law in the z = 1.477 absorption system. This spectroscopic identification of the redshift of GRB 010222 shows that prompt and well-coordinated followup of bright GRBs can be successful even with telescopes of modest aperture., 12 pages, 3 figures; ApJ Letters accepted version, only minor changes

(Abridged) We present the earliest optical observations of the optical counterpart to the GRB 010222, obtained with the FLWO 1.2-m telescope in UBVRI passbands, starting 3.64 hours after the burst. We also present late R-band observations of the afterglow obtained with the 1.8-m VATT ~25 days after the burst. The temporal analysis of our data joined with published data indicates a steepening decay, independent of wavelength, asymptotically approaching t^{-0.80+/-0.05} at early times (t << 1 day) and t^{-1.30+/-0.05} at late times, with a sharp break at t_b=0.72+/-0.1 days. This is the second earliest observed break of any afterglow (after GRB 980519), which clearly indicates the importance of rapid multi-band follow-up for GRB afterglow research. The optical spectral energy distribution, corrected for small Galactic reddening, can be fit fairly well by a single power-law with a slope of -1.07+/-0.09. However, when we fit using our BVRI data only, we obtain a shallower slope of -0.88+/- 0.1, in excellent agreement with the slope derived from our low-resolution spectrum (-0.89 +/- 0.03). The spectral slope and light curve decay slopes we derive are not consistent with a jet model despite the presence of a temporal break. Significant host dust extinction with a star-burst reddening law would flatten the spectral index to match jet predictions and still be consistent with the observed spectral energy distribution. We derive an opening angle of 2.1 deg, smaller than any listed in the recent compilation of Frail et al. The total beamed energy corrected for the jet geometry is 4x10^50 erg, very close to the ``standard'' value of 5x10^50 erg found by Frail et al. for a number of other bursts with light-curve breaks., revised version (minor changes only) to be published in the ApJ Part 1, 12 pages, 4 figures; all data used for the fits and our CCD frames available at ftp://cfa-ftp.harvard.edu/pub/kstanek/GRB010222/ and through WWW at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/oir/Research/GRB/

The NASA/ISO Key Project on active galactic nuclei (AGN) seeks to better understand the broad-band spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of these sources from radio to X-rays, with particular emphasis on infrared properties. The ISO sample includes a wide variety of AGN types and spans a large redshift range. Two subsamples are considered herein: 8 high-redshift (1 < z < 4.7) quasars; and 22 hard X-ray selected sources.

Due to an oversight at the editorial offices, the published version of our paper is missing the catalog table discussed in the text. We here give this table as Table 4, with the complete machine-readable table available in the electronic edition. In the text of the article, discussions of ‘‘the catalog tables for each galaxy’’ should refer to Table 4, given below. Online material: machine-readable table A

The oxygen abundance gradients among nebular emission line regions in spiral galaxies have been used as important constraints for models of chemical evolution. We present the largest ever full-wavelength optical spectroscopic sample of emission line nebulae in a spiral galaxy (M31). We have collected spectra of 253 HII regions and 407 planetary nebulae with the Hectospec multi-fiber spectrograph of the MMT. We measure the line-of-sight extinction for 199 HII regions and 333 PNe; we derive oxygen abundance directly, based on the electron temperature, for 51 PNe; and we use strong line methods to estimate oxygen abundance for 192 HII regions and nitrogen abundance for 52 HII regions. The relatively shallow oxygen abundance gradient of the more extended HII regions in our sample is generally in agreement with the result of Zaritsky et al. (1994), based on only 19 M31 HII regions, but varies with the strong-line diagnostic employed. Our large sample size demonstrates that there is significant intrinsic scatter around this abundance gradient, as much as 3 times the systematic uncertainty in the strong line diagnostics. The intrinsic scatter is similar in the nitrogen abundances, although the gradient is significantly steeper. On small scales (deprojected distance < 0.5 kpc), HII regions exhibit local variations in oxygen abundance that are larger than 0.3 dex in 33% of neighboring pairs. We do not identify a significant oxygen abundance gradient among PNe, but we do find a significant gradient in the [N II] ratio that varies systematically with surface brightness. Our results underscore the complex and inhomogeneous nature of the ISM of M31, and our dataset illustrates systematic effects relevant to future studies of the metallicity gradients in nearby spiral galaxies., 22 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ, full tables available at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~nsanders/papers/M31/summary.html

We have observed 13 quasars having z≳2.8 with the ROSAT PSPC, and detected 12 of them, including the z=4.11 quasar 0000–263. For the radio quiet quasars with z≳2.5, the mean 〈αox〉∼1.8. Thus, the high redshift quasars are relatively more X‐ray quiet than quasars with z

We present first results of our ROSAT program to observe a complete sample of optically selected quasars. The sample selection criteria, combined with the PSPC capabilities, allow us to determine the soft (∼0.2–2 keV) X‐ray spectra of quasars with about an order of magnitude higher precision compared with earlier soft X‐ray observations.The complete sample includes 23 quasars, of which 10 were already analyzed. Most spectra are well characterized by a simple power‐law, with 〈αx〉=−1.50±0.40. This average is significantly steeper than suggested by earlier soft X‐ray observations of quasars. The 0.3 keV flux is well correlated with the 1.69 μm flux, which implies that the X‐ray variability power spectrum of quasars flattens out between f∼10−5 and f∼10−8 Hz.Strong correlations are also present between αx and the following emission line parameters: Hβ FWHM, L[O III], and Fe II/Hβ. These correlations suggest that : 1. The quasars’ environment is optically thin down to ∼0.2 keV, 2. αx is not significantly variab...