Are Boltzmann plots of hydrogen Balmer lines a tool for identifying a subclass of S1 AGN?

It is becoming clear that we can define two different types of nearby AGN belonging to the Seyfert 1 class (S1), on the basis of the match of the intensities of their Broad Balmer Lines (BBL) with the Boltzmann Plots (BP). These two types of S1 galaxies, that we call BP-S1 and NoBP-S1, are characterized, in first approximation, by Broad Line Regions (BLR) with different structural and physical properties. In this communication, we show that these features can be well pointed out by a multi-wavelength analysis of the continuum and of the broad recombination Hydrogen lines, that we carry out on a sample of objects detected at optical and X-ray frequencies. The investigation is addressed to verify whether BP-S1 are the ideal candidates for the study of the kinematical and structural properties of the BLR, in order to derive reliable estimates of the mass of their central engine and to constrain the properties of their nuclear continuum spectrum.     

Stellar absorption lines in the spectra of Seyfert galaxies

We have measured the strengths of Ca II triplet and Mgb stellar absorption lines in the nuclear and off-nuclear spectra of Seyfert galaxies. These features are diluted to varying degrees by continuum emission from the active nucleus and from young stars. Ca II triplet strengths can be enhanced if late-type supergiant stars dominate the near-IR light. Thus, objects with strong Ca II triplet and weak Mgb lines may be objects with strong bursts of star formation. We find that for most of our sample the line strengths are at least consistent with dilution of a normal galaxy spectrum by a power law continuum, in accord with the standard model for AGN. However, for several Seyferts in our sample, it appears that dilution by a power law continuum cannot simultaneously explain strong Ca II triplet and relatively weak Mgb. Also, these objects occupy the region of the IRAS color-color diagram characteristic of starburst galaxies. In these objects it appears that the optical to near-IR emission is dominated by late-type supergiants produced in a circumnuclear burst of star formation.     

The role of stars in the energetics of LINERs

Imaging studies have shown that ∼ 25% of LINER galaxies display a compact nuclear UV source. I compare the HST ultraviolet (1150–3200 Å) spectra that are now available for seven such “UV-bright” LINERs. The spectra of NGC 404, NGC 4569, and NGC 5055 show clear absorption-line signatures of massive stars, indicating a stellar origin for the UV continuum. Similar features are probably present in NGC 6500. The same stellar signatures may be present but undetectable in NGC 4594, due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of the spectrum, and in M81 and NGC 4579, due to superposed strong, broad emission lines. The compact central UV continuum source that is observed in these galaxies is a nuclear star cluster rather than a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN), at least in some cases. At least four of the LINERs suffer from an ionizing photon deficit, in the sense that the ionizing photon flux inferred from the observed far-UV continuum is insufficient to drive the optical H I recombination lines. Examination of the nuclear X-ray flux of each galaxy shows a high X-ray UV ratio in the four “UV-photon starved” LINERs. In these four objects, a separate component, emitting predominantly in the extreme-UV, is the likely ionizing agent, and is perhaps unrelated to the observed nuclear UV emission. Future observations can determine whether the UV continuum in LINERs is always dominated by a starburst or, alternatively, that there are two types of UV-bright LINERs: starburst-dominated and AGN-dominated. Interestingly, recent results show that starbursts dominate the nuclear energetics in many Seyfert 2s as well.     

The optical emission lines of type 1 X-ray bright Active Galactic Nuclei

A strong X-ray emission is one of the defining signatures of nuclear activity in galaxies. According to the Unified Model for Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), both the X-ray radiation and the prominent broad emission lines, characterizing the optical and UV spectra of Type 1 AGNs, are originated in the innermost regions of the sources, close to the Super Massive Black Holes (SMBH), which power the central engine. Since the emission is concentrated in a very compact region (with typical size r?0.1$r?0.1$ pc) and it is not possible to obtain resolved images of the source, spectroscopic studies of this radiation represent the only valuable key to constrain the physical properties of matter and its structure in the center of active galaxies. Based on previous studies on the physics of the Broad Line Region (BLR) and on the X-ray spectra of broad (FWHM_Hβ ? 2000 km s⁻¹) and narrow line (1000 km s⁻¹ ?FWHM_Hβ ? 2000 km s⁻¹) emitting objects, it has been observed that the kinematic and ionization properties of matter close to the SMBHs are related together, and, in particular, that ionization is higher in narrow line sources. Here we report on the study of the optical and X-ray spectra of a sample of Type 1 AGNs, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) database, within an upper redshift limit of z=0.35$z=0.35$, and detected at X-ray energies. We present analysis of the broad emission line fluxes and profiles, as well as the properties of the X-ray continuum and Fe Kα emission and we use these parameters to assess the consistency of our current AGN understanding.     

A model for the Balmer pseudocontinuum in spectra of type 1 AGNs

Here we present a new method for subtracting the Balmer pseudocontinuum in the UV part of type 1 AGN spectra. We calculate the intensity of the Balmer pseudocontinuum using the prominent Balmer lines in AGN spectra. We apply the model on a sample of 293 type 1 AGNs from SDSS database, and found that our model of Balmer pseudocontinuum + power law continuum very well fits the majority of AGN spectra from the sample, while in ∼$\sim$15% of AGNs, the model fits reasonable the UV continuum, but a discrepancy between the observed and fitted spectra is noted. Some of the possible reasons for the discrepancy may be a different value for the optical depth in these spectra than used in our model or the influence of the intrinsic reddening.     

A study of a complete soft X-ray selected sample of AGN

We present preliminary results from analyses of hard X-ray and optical observations of a soft X-ray selected sample. We created a small but complete sample with 20 of the softest and brightest objects with low Galactic absorption from the ROSAT bright soft X-ray selected radio-quiet AGN sample. This sample consists of 10 narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies and 10 broad-line Seyfert galaxies. We analyze ASCA data in the 0.6–10 keV band and optical spectra from ground-based telescopes. We investigate the photon indices in the hard X-ray band, soft excesses in the ASCA band, and optical emission line properties. The photon indices in the 2–10 keV band are nominal for both narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies and broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies in each class compared with other heterogeneous samples. All of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies show soft excesses, but this component seems to be less significant for broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies. There seems to be a trend of steeper X-ray spectra to be accompanied by narrower Hβ for narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, but this is not extended to the larger velocity width regime of broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, and no clear trend is seen among them.     

Probing the origin of the iron Kα line around stellar and supermassive black holes using X-ray polarimetry

Asymmetric, broad iron lines are a common feature in the X-ray spectra of both X-ray binaries (XRBs) and type-1 Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). It was suggested that the distortion of the Fe Kα emission results from Doppler and relativistic effects affecting the radiative transfer close to the strong gravitational well of the central compact object: a stellar mass black hole (BH) or neutron star (NS) in the case of XRBs, or a super massive black hole (SMBH) in the case of AGN. However, alternative approaches based on reprocessing and transmission of radiation through surrounding media also attempt to explain the line broadening. So far, spectroscopic and timing analyzes have not yet convinced the whole community to discriminate between the two scenarios. Here we study to which extent X-ray polarimetric measurements of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs) and type-1 AGN could help to identify the possible origin of the line distortion. To do so, we report on recent simulations obtained for the two BH flavors and show that the proposed scenarios are found to behave differently in polarization degree and polarization angle. A relativistic origin for the distortion is found to be more probable in the context of BHXRBs, supporting the idea that the same mechanism should lead the way also for AGN. We show that the discriminating polarization signal could have been detectable by several X-ray polarimetry missions proposed in the past.     

Ginga observations of Seyfert galaxies

We observed twenty-eight Seyfert 2 galaxies with the Japanese X-ray satellite, Ginga, and found Seyfert 2 galaxies, in general, have the X-ray spectral characteristics of obscured Seyfert 1 nuclei. This result agrees with the predictions from Unified Seyfert model proposed by Antonucci and Miller /1/. However, among the observed Seyfert 2 galaxies, there are a few galaxies with no evidence of an obscuration, contrary to the general predictions of the unified model. We note that type 2 AGN will contribute to the Cosmic Diffuse X-ray Background, if the unified Seyfert model can be extended to the far distant AGN such as quasars.     

Star formation and AGN fuelling

We present new observational data that tackle the issues of the star formation in Seyfert galaxies, the obscuration and fuelling mechanisms of active galactic nuclei, and the connection between these phenomena. New ISOCAM mid-IR images of nearby Seyfert 2 galaxies confirm that these systems are characterized by enhanced star forming activity. In barred systems the star forming activity occurs preferentially along the bar, indicating that these bars have formed recently and are still in the process of transporting gas towards the center. New X-ray data indicate that the gaseous column density absorbing Sy2 nuclei is a function of the bar strength, therefore indicating that stellar bars play an important role in obscuring AGNs. We speculate that non-axisymmetric disturbances (interaction/bars) both enhance the star forming activity in host galaxy and drive gas into the nuclear region to obscure the AGN, thus making the observed starburst-Sy2 connection. On smaller scales (10–100 pc), we report the discovery of a nuclear gaseous bar in the nearby Sy2 Circinus galaxy. The molecular gas kinematics indicates that this bar causes the gas to flow into the nuclear 10 pc. In the nuclear 10 pc we detect a young nuclear stellar cluster. We show that the post-main-sequence mass loss of this young nuclear stellar population could account for the fuelling of the active nucleus.     

Galaxy evolution in groups. USGC U268 and USGC U376 in the Leo cloud

With the aim of investigating galaxy evolution in nearby galaxy groups, we analyzed the spectral energy distribution of 24 galaxies, members of two groups in the Leo cloud, USGC U268 and USGC U376. We estimated the ages and stellar masses of the galaxies by fitting their total apparent magnitudes from far-ultraviolet to near-infrared with population synthesis models. The comparison of the results for a subsample of galaxies with smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH) simulations with chemo-photometric implementation, shows that in most cases the estimated stellar masses obtained with the two different approaches are in good agreement. The kinematical and dynamical analysis indicates that USGC U268 is in a pre-virial collapse phase while USGC U376 is likely in a more evolved phase towards virialization.     

Multiwavelength monitoring of active galactic nuclei

Recent multiwavelength monitoring of active galactic nuclei (AGN), particularly with the IUE satellite, has produced extraordinary advances in our understanding of the energy-generation mechanism(s) in the central engine and of the structure of the surrounding material. Examples discussed here include both ordinary AGN and blazars (the collective name for highly variable, radio-loud AGN like BL Lac objects and Optically Violently Variable quasars). In the last decade, efforts to obtain single-epoch multiwavelength spectra led to fundamentally new models for the structure of AGN, involving accretion disks for AGN and relativistic jets for blazars. Recent extensions of multiwavelength spectroscopy into the temporal domain have shown that while these general pictures may be correct, the details were probably wrong. Campaigns to monitor Seyfert 1 galaxies like NGC 4151, NGC 5548 and Fairall 9 at infrared, optical, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths indicate that broad-emission line regions are stratified by ionization, density, and velocity; argue against a standard thin accretion disk model; and suggest that X-rays represent primary rather than reprocessed radiation. For blazars, years of radio monitoring indicated emission from an inhomogeneous synchrotron-emitting plasma, which could also produce at least some of the shorter-wavelength emission. The recent month-long campaign to observe the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 has revealed remarkably rapid variability that extends from the infrared through the X-ray with similar amplitude and little or no discernible lag. This lends strong support to relativistic jet models and rules out the proposed accretion disk model for the ultraviolet-X-ray continuum.     

High resolution spectroscopy of Seyfert warm absorbers with XMM-Newton

We present results from the analysis of an XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469, the first high resolution X-ray spectrum of this source. The Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) spectrum has several narrow absorption and emission lines of O, N, C and Ne, originating from gas at a range of ionisation parameters, from log ξ1.6 to log ξ−2 (where ξ has the units erg cm s⁻¹). We demonstrate that the ionisation state of the warm emitter is consistent with that of the high-ionisation phase of the warm absorber, and compare the warm absorber in this object with those in other sources.     

Evaluation of the contribution of different types of galaxies to the cosmic diffuse background based on γ-ray observations

The relative contribution to the γ-ray background of different types of sources, namely Seyfert Galaxies, Quasars, BL Lac objects, radio galaxies and field galaxies is estimated under the hypothesis that the cosmic diffuse flux is the result of a superposition of many unresolved galaxies. The γ-ray data indicate that the Seyfert volume emissivity matches that of the diffuse background at few hundred keV and exceeds it at higher energies by as much as a factor of about 4. Whilst normal galaxies contribute less than 0.1%, BL Lac objects, Quasars and Radio Galaxies may contribute as much as 5–10% each, even without significant evolution. In this paper we explore different ways of reconciling the observational data on active galaxies with the measured diffuse background level.     

Hi content in cluster and supercluster galaxies

In this lecture I review part of the published and unpublished observational evidence showing that cluster spiral galaxies are hydrogen deficient. Always using observational data, it is argued that the deficiency is due to the interaction between the galaxies and the intergalactic medium. Furthermore it is shown that the stellar population of deficient galaxies has also been affected and a brief discussion is given of the mechanisms at work.     

The role of ultraviolet imaging in studies of resolved and unresolved young stellar populations. M31 and M33

We discuss the relevance of UV data in the detection and characterization of hot massive stars and young stellar populations in galaxies. We show results from recent extensive surveys in M31 and M33 with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) multi-wavelength data including UV filters, which imaged several regions at a linear resolution (projected) of less than half a pc in these galaxies, and from GALEX far-UV and near-UV wide-field, low-resolution imaging of the entire galaxies. Both datasets allow us to study the hierarchical structure of star formation: the youngest stellar groups are the most compact, and are often arranged within broader, sparser structures. The derived recent star-formation rates are rather similar for the two galaxies, when scaled for the respective areas. We show how uncertainties in metallicity and type of selective extinction for the internal reddening may affect the results, and how an appropriate complement of UV filters could reduce such uncertainties, and significantly alleviate some parameter degeneracies.     

Broad spectral line and continuum variabilities in QSO spectra induced by microlensing of diffusive massive substructure

We investigate the variability of the continuum and broad lines in QSO spectra (particularly in the Hβ line and continuum at λ 5100 Å) caused by microlensing of a diffuse massive structure (like an open star cluster). We modeled the continuum and line emitting region and simulate a lensing event by a star cluster located in an intervening galaxy. Such a type of microlensing event can have a significant influence on magnification and centroid shift of the broad lines and continuum source. We explore relationships between the continuum and broad line flux variability during the microlensing event.     

X-ray broad line emission in Seyfert galaxies: Mrk 766 and NGC 4051

Long (>100 ks) observations of the bright Seyfert galaxies Mrk 766 and NGC 4051 have been obtained using XMM-Newton. The RGS 5–38 Å spectra reveal evidence of broad features. These can be modelled with relativistic emission lines coming from the immediate vicinity of a massive rotating black hole. Lines of OVIII, NVII and CVI are required to reproduce the spectrum of Mrk 766, whereas the spectrum of NGC 4051 can be modelled using a single, even broader OVIII line. Both Seyferts also exhibit broad iron line emission in the 2–8 keV range, and the data available thus far suggest that the strength of the low-energy emission lines and the strength of the iron line may be correlated.     

BBXRT and Ginga observations of AGN

The X-ray properties of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) support recent theories which unify the Seyfert 1 nuclei with the Seyfert 2's and radio-quiet quasars. In these objects the underlying spectrum is strongly distorted by the effects of reflection from the accretion flow and by absorption in partially ionised material. These obscure any intrinsic changes in the spectrum, making it difficult (though not impossible) to constrain the nature of the emission process. Conversely, there is no evidence for either of these spectral distortions in the radio-loud AGN, supporting the hypothesis that the X-rays are dominated by beamed emission from the relativistic jet.     

Clues on black hole feedback from simulated and observed X-ray properties of elliptical galaxies

The centers of elliptical galaxies host supermassive black holes that significantly affect the surrounding interstellar medium through feedback resulting from the accretion process. The evolution of this gas and of the nuclear emission during the galaxies’ lifetime has been studied recently with high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations. These included gas cooling and heating specific for an average AGN spectral energy distribution, a radiative efficiency declining at low mass accretion rates, and mechanical coupling between the hot gas and AGN winds. Here, we present a short summary of the observational properties resulting from the simulations, focussing on (1) the nuclear luminosity; (2) the global luminosity and temperature of the hot gas; (3) its temperature profile and X-ray brightness profile. These properties are compared with those of galaxies of the local universe, pointing out the successes of the adopted feedback and the needs for new input in the simulations.     

“Microquasars” and the X-ray background

The results of 1–20 μm infrared photometry of seven 3CR radio galaxies are discussed. The broad line galaxies all show steep infrared spectra with a power law index α −2.4 (F ∝ ν^+α) in direct continuation of the optical spectra. These spectra are far steeper than those observed in Seyfert 1 galaxies, the radio quiet counterparts of broad line radio galaxies. No infrared excesses were observed in narrow line radio galaxies. However, more sensitive observations are needed before any resemblance in the infrared between narrow line radio galaxies and Seyfert 2 galaxies can be excluded.