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Very high energy (VHE) emission has been detected from the radio galaxy NGC1275, establishing it as a potential cosmic-ray (CR) accelerator and a high energy neutrino source. We here study neutrino and γ-ray emission from the core of NGC1275 simulating the interactions of CRs assumed to be accelerated by magnetic reconnection, with the accreting plasma environment. To do this, we combine (i) numerical general relativistic (GR) magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD), (ii) Monte Carlo GR leptonic radiative transfer and, (iii) Monte Carlo interaction of CRs. A leptonic emission model that reproduces the SED in the [103-1010.5] eV energy range is used as the background target for photo-pion interactions+electromagnetic cascading. CRs injected with the power-law index κ=1.3 produce an emission profile that matches the VHE tail of NGC1275. The associated neutrino flux, below the IceCube limits, peaks at ∼PeV energies. However, coming from a single source, this neutrino flux may be an over-estimation.
By constructing images of the Faraday rotation measure (RM) of large scale astrophysical jets, the line-of-sight magnetic field component and electron density in the region of Farady rotation can be investigated. A significant gradient in the RM transverse to the jet direction may indicate a corresponding gradient in the line-of-sight magnetic field, implying a toroidal or helical magnetic field, which would, in turn, imply the presence of an associated electrical current in the jet. The detection of such large scale gradients can reliably demonstrate that helical or toroidal fields can persist to large distances from the central AGN. We present a kiloparsec-scale Faraday rotation map of NGC 6251 that shows statistically significant transverse RM gradients across its kiloparsec scale jet structure that imply an outward current.
The occurence rate of tidal disruption events (TDEs) by survey missions depend on the black hole mass function of the galaxies, properties of the stellar cusp and mass of the central black hole. Using a power law density profile with Kroupa mass function, we solve the steady state Fokker-Planck to calculate the theoretical capture rate of stars by the black hole. Using a steady accretion model, the Schechter black hole mass function (BHMF) and the cosmological parameters, we calculate the detection rate of TDEs for various surveys which is then fit with the observed TDE rates to extract the Schechter parameters. The rate tension between observation (∼10−5yr−1) and theory (∼10−4yr−1 for individual galaxies is explained by the statistical average over the BHMF.
We present the results of a study of the AGN density in a homogeneous and well studied sample of 167 bona-fide X-ray galaxy clusters (0.1<z<0.5). Our aim is to study the AGN activity in 167 XXL X-ray galaxy clusters as a function of the cluster mass and the location of the AGN in the cluster. We report a significant AGN excess in our low-mass cluster sub-sample between 0.5r500 and 2r500. In contrast, the high-mass sub-sample presents no AGN excess. The AGN excess in poor clusters indicates AGN triggering, supporting previous studies that reported enhanced galaxy merging in the cluster outskirts. This effect is probably prevented by high velocity dispersions in high-mass clusters. Comparing also with previous studies of massive or high-redshift clusters, we conclude that the AGN fraction in cluster galaxies anti-correlates strongly with cluster mass.
I report observations of 3C84 (NGC 1275), the central galaxy of the Perseus cluster, made with an interferometric array including the orbiting radio telescope of the RadioAstron mission. The data transversely resolve the edge-brightened jet in 3C84 only 0.03 mas from the core, which is ten times closer to the central engine than was possible in previous ground-based observations. To better understand physical properties of this peculiar source, I will discuss its present properties in comparison to the past and more recent evolution in the radio band of 3C 84.
Following the discovery of the expansion of a young radio lobe associated with the bright radio source 3C 84 in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1275 using VSOP monitoring observation with duration of 3 years, we further investigated its evolution by utilizing VLBA monitoring data taken by MOJAVE project. As the results, we confirmed the expanding motion of both the southern and northern lobes, and detected side-way expanding motions for the first time. In meantime, the total flux density of the lobes are decreasing, while total flux density associated with the nuclei is significantly increasing. This cooling of the radio lobe can be well-explained with the energy loss through the adiabatic cooling.
An understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the Active Galactic Nuclei passes through the study of their early life stages, observable in Compact Symmetric Objects. To this purpose, a study was carried out on two compact radio sources, based on data from the VLBA archive at different times and frequencies. The results are compatible with an intermediate scenario between the two main theories about these objects: frustration and youth.
We present a new method for supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass measurements in Type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN) using polarization angle across broad lines. This method gives measured masses which are in a good agreement with reverberation estimates. Additionally, we explore the possibilities and limits of this method using the STOKES radiative transfer code taking a dominant Keplerian motion in the broad line region (BLR). We found that this method can be used for the direct SMBH mass estimation in the cases when in addition to the Kepler motion, radial inflows or vertical outflows are present in the BLR. Some advantages of the method are discussed.
Here we present a systematic analysis of the mid-infrared properties of young radio galaxies, based on lower-resolution data provided by WISE and IRAS satellites. We restrict our analysis to sources in the earliest phase of radio galaxy evolution, with corresponding ages of the radio structures ≤ 3,000 yrs. In our sample of 29 objects, we find a variety of WISE colors, which suggests that the mid-infrared continua of studied sources are not exclusively contributed to by the circumnuclear dust. A comparison of the total mid-infrared and absorption-corrected X-ray luminosities for our sample reveals a clear correlation between the two bands. This favors the scenario in which the observed X-ray emission of young radio galaxies — at least the high-luminosity ones — originates predominantly in accretion disk corona.
The magneto hydrodynamic models of relativistic jets from active galactic nuclei predict the jet power transported by the Poynting flux at the jet base, setting the correlation between the jet power and the total magnetic flux. For highly collimated jets taking the transversal structure into account allows to rewrite this correlation through the observed jet properties such as spectral flux and core shift. Applying this method we find that, for the sample of 48 sources, their jet power distribution is well peaked at the theoretically predicted level.
Radio-mode feedback from relativistic jets is one of the prominent heating mechanisms in clusters of galaxies. We present a long-term evolution of high-resolution MHD simulation of jets interacting with an environment modeled to represent the Perseus cluster. We investigate the thermodynamics of the ICM due to the gas motion triggered by the action of the jets and show that low-entropy gas is lifted efficiently in the wake of the inflating radio lobe. We look into the uplift mechanism and estimate the energy budget and the rate of thermal conduction. The redistribution of entropy suggests that heat conduction can play a more significant role in the thermal evolution of the cluster core in the presence of jets, which act effectively as a heat pump, thus heating the ICM more efficiently than jets would by themselves in an isentropic cluster.
We present recent developments on numerical algorithms for computing photon and particle trajectories in the surrounding of compact objects. Strong gravity around neutron stars or black holes causes relativistic effects on the motion of massive particles and distorts light rays due to gravitational lensing. Efficient numerical methods are required for solving the equations of motion and compute i) the black hole shadow obtained by tracing light rays from the object to a distant observer, and ii) obtain information on the dynamics of the plasma at the microscopic scale. Here, we present generalized algorithms capable of simulating ensembles of photons or massive particles in any spacetime, with the option of including external forces. The coupling of these tools with GRMHD simulations is the key point for obtaining insight on the complex dynamics of accretion disks and jets and for comparing simulations with upcoming observational results from the Event Horizon Telescope.
We present 21 cm (L-band) JVLA observations of the Perseus Cluster, comprising data from all four array configurations. The resulting images are nearly an order of magnitude deeper than any other image made of NGC 1275 and its environs at this frequency.
Bayesian methods are being increasingly employed in many different areas of research in the physical sciences. In astrophysics, models are used to make predictions to be compared to observations. These observations offer information that is incomplete and uncertain, so the comparison has to be pursued by following a probabilistic approach. With contributions from leading experts, this volume covers the foundations of Bayesian inference, a description of computational methods, and recent results from their application to areas such as exoplanet detection and characterisation, image reconstruction, and cosmology. It appeals to both young researchers seeking to learn about Bayesian methods as well as to astronomers wishing to incorporate these approaches in their research areas. It provides the next generation of researchers with the tools of modern data analysis that are already becoming standard in current astrophysical research.