Claude R. Canizares

Evidence for Accretion: High-Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy of the Classical T Tauri Star TW Hydrae

We present high-resolution X-ray spectra of the X-ray-bright classical T Tauri star, TW Hydrae, covering the wavelength range of 1.5-25 A. The differential emission measure derived from fluxes of temperature-sensitive emission lines shows a plasma with a sharply peaked temperature distribution, peaking at log T = 6.5. Abundance anomalies are apparent, with iron very deficient relative to oxygen, while neon is enhanced relative to oxygen. Density-sensitive line ratios of Ne IX and O VII indicate densities near log ne = 13. A flare with rapid (~1 ks) rise time was detected during our 48 ks observation; however, based on analysis of the emission-line spectrum during quiescent and flaring states, the derived plasma parameters do not seem strongly time-dependent. The inferred plasma temperature distribution and densities are consistent with a model in which the bulk of the X-ray emission from TW Hya is generated via mass accretion from its circumstellar disk. Assuming that accretion powers the X-ray emission, our results for log ne suggest an accretion rate of ~10-8 M☉ yr-1.

The Chandra High-Energy Transmission Grating: Design, Fabrication, Ground Calibration, and 5 Years in Flight

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (Contract NAS8-38249)

Properties of the X-ray emitting gas in early-type galaxies

The properties of the X-ray emitting gas in a sample of 81 E and S0 galaxies observed with the Einstein Observatory are studied. Measured fluxes for 55 of the galaxies and upper limits for 26 of them are reported. An attempt is made to use consistent optical parameters for the galaxies, including a correction to the velocities for the Virgocentric flow. The sample is then used to explore the contribution from discrete sources, the global physical properties of the hot gas, and the implications for heating by supernovae and gravity. Finally, the question of the presence of heavy halos is addressed. 72 references.

The "quiescent" black hole in M87

It is believed that most giant elliptical galaxies possess nuclear black holes with masses in excess of 10 8 M⊙. Bondi accretion from the interstellar medium might then be expected to produce quasar-like luminosities from the nuclei of even quiescent elliptical galaxies. It is a puzzle that such luminosities are not observed. Motivated by this problem, Fabian & Rees have recently suggested that the final stages of accretion in these objects occurs in an advection-dominated mode with a correspondingly small radiative efficiency. Despite possessing a long-known active nucleus and dynamical evidence for a black hole, the low radiative and kinetic luminosities of the core of M87 provide the best illustration of this problem. We examine an advection-dominated model for the nucleus of M87 and show that accretion at the Bondi rate is compatible with the best known estimates for the core flux from radio through to X-ray wavelengths. The success of this model prompts us to propose that FR-I radio galaxies and quiescent elliptical galaxies accrete in an advection dominated mode whereas FR-II type radio-loud nuclei possess radiatively efficient thin accretion disks.

Revealing the Dusty Warm Absorber in MCG ?6-30-15 with the Chandra High-Energy Transmission Grating

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 High-Energy Transmission Grating spectra show numerous narrow, unresolved (FWHM 200 km s-1) absorption lines from a wide range of ionization states of N, O, Mg, Ne, Si, S, Ar, and Fe. The O VII edge and the 1s2-1snp resonance line series to n = 9 are clearly detected at rest in the active galactic nucleus frame. We attribute previous reports of an apparently highly redshifted O VII edge to the 1s2-1snp (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 the 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 A) but that the data require it. This contradicts the interpretation of Branduardi-Raymont and coworkers that this spectral region is dominated by highly relativistic line emission from the vicinity of the black hole.

Geometrical evidence for dark matter: X-ray constraints on the mass of the elliptical galaxy NGC 720

We describe (1) a new test for dark matter and alternate theories of gravitation based on the relative geometries of the X-ray and optical surface brightness distributions and an assumed form for the potential, of the optical light, (2) a technique to measure the shapes of the total gravitating matter and dark matter of an ellipsoidal system which is insensitive to the precise value of the temperature of the gas and to modest temperature gradients, and (3) a new method to determine the ratio of dark mass to stellar mass that is dependent on the functional forms for the visible star, gas and dark matter distributions, but independent of the distance to the galaxy or the gas temperature. We apply these techniques to X-ray data from the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) of the optically flattened elliptical galaxy NGC 720; the optical isophotes have ellipticity epsilon approximately 0.40 extending out to approximately 120 sec. The X-ray isophotes are significantly elongated, epsilon = 0.20-0.30 for semimajor axis a approximately 100 sec. The major axes of the optical and X-ray isophotes are misaligned by approximately 30 deg +/- 15 deg. Spectral analysis of the X-ray data reveals no evidence of temperature gradients or anisotropies and demonstrates that a single-temperature plasma (T approximately 0.6 keV) having subsolar heavy element abundances and a two-temperature model having solar abundances describe the spectrum equally well. Considering only the relative geometries of the X-ray and optical surface brightness distributions and an assumed functional form for the potential of the optical light, we conclude that matter distributed like the optical light cannot produce the observed ellipticities of the X-ray isophotes, independent of the gas pressure, the gas temperature, and the value of the stellar mass; this comparison assumes a state of quasi-hydrostatic equilibrium so that the three-dimensional surfaces of the gas emissivity trace the three-dimensional isopotential surfaces -- we discuss the viability of this assumption for NGC 720. Milgroms Modification of Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) cannot dispel this manifestation of dark matter. Hence, geometrical considerations require, without mention of pressure or temperature, the presence of an extended, massive dark matter halo in NGC 720. Employing essentially the technique of Buote & Canizares (1992; Buote 1992) we use the shape of the X-ray surface brightness to constrain the shape of the total gravitating matter. The total matter is modeled as either an oblate or prolate spheriod of constant shape and orientation having either a Ferrers (rho approximately r(exp -n)) or Hernquist density. Assuming the X-ray gas is in hydrostatic equilibrium, we construct a model X-ray gas distribution for various temperature profiles. We determine the ellipticity of the total gravitating matter to be epsilon approximately 0.50-0.70. Using the single-temperature model we estimate a total mass approximately (0.41-1.4) x 10(exp 12) h(sub 80) solar mass interior to the ellipsoid of semimajor axis 43.6 h(sub 80) kpc. Ferrers densities as steep as r(exp -3) do not fit the data, but the r(exp -2) and Hernquist models yield excellent fits. We estimate the mass distributions of the stars and the gas and fit the dark matter directly. For a given gas equation of state and functional forms for the visible stars, gas, and dark matter, these models yield a distance-independent and temperature-independent measurement of the ratio of dark mass to stellar mass M(sub DM)/M(sub stars). We estimate a minimum M(sub DM)/M(sub stars) greater than or equal to 4 which corresponds to a total mass slightly greater than that derived from the single-temperature models for distance D = 20h(sub 80) Mpc.

The Evolution of structure in x-ray clusters of galaxies

Using Chandra archival data, we quantify the evolution of cluster morphology with redshift. Clusters form and grow through mergers with other clusters and groups, and the amount of substructure in clusters in the present epoch and how quickly it evolves with redshift depend on the underlying cosmology. Our sample includes 40 X-ray-selected, luminous clusters from the Chandra archive, and we quantify cluster morphology using the power ratio method of Buote & Tsai. The power ratios are constructed from the moments of the X-ray surface brightness and are related to a clusters dynamical state. We find that, as expected qualitatively from hierarchical models of structure formation, high-redshift clusters have more substructure and are dynamically more active than low-redshift clusters. Specifically, the clusters with z > 0.5 have significantly higher average third- and fourth-order power ratios than the lower redshift clusters. Of the power ratios, P3/P0 is the most unambiguous indicator of an asymmetric cluster structure, and the difference in P3/P0 between the two samples remains significant even when the effects of noise and other systematics are considered. After correcting for noise, we apply a linear fit to P3/P0 versus redshift and find that the slope is greater than zero at better than 99% confidence. This observation of structure evolution indicates that dynamical state may be an important systematic effect in cluster studies seeking to constrain cosmology, and when calibrated against numerical simulations, structure evolution will itself provide interesting bounds on cosmological models.

X-Ray Spectroscopy of II Pegasi: Coronal Temperature Structure, Abundances, and Variability

We have obtained high-resolution X-ray spectra of the coronally active binary II Pegasi (HD 224085), covering the wavelength range of 1.5-25 A. For the first half of our 44 ks observation, the source was in a quiescent state with constant X-ray flux, after which it flared, reaching twice the quiescent flux in 12 ks, then decreased. We analyze the emission-line spectrum and continuum during quiescent and flaring states. The differential emission measure derived from lines fluxes shows a hot corona with a continuous distribution in temperature. During the nonflare state, the distribution peaks near log T = 7.2, and when flaring, it peaks near 7.6. High-temperature lines are enhanced slightly during the flare, but most of the change occurs in the continuum. Coronal abundance anomalies are apparent, with iron very deficient relative to oxygen and significantly weaker than expected from photospheric measurements, while neon is enhanced relative to oxygen. We find no evidence of appreciable resonant scattering optical depth in line ratios of iron and oxygen. The flare light curve is consistent with solar two-ribbon flare models but with a very long reconnection time constant of about 65 ks. We infer loop lengths of about 0.05 to about 0.25 stellar radii in the flare, if the flare emission originated from a single, low-density loop.

Testing the Seyfert unification theory: Chandra HETGS observations of NGC 1068

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 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 Fexvii-xxiv L-shell emission lines are modeled. The emission measure distribution indicates roughly equal masses at all observed ionization levels in the range log= 1-3. We separately analyze the spectrum of an o-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.

Resolving the composite Fe K alpha emission line in the Galactic black hole Cygnus X-1 with Chandra

We observed the Galactic black hole Cyg X-1 with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer for 30 ks on 2001 January 4. The source was in an intermediate state, with a flux that was approximately twice that commonly observed in its persistent low/hard state. Our best-fit model for the X-ray spectrum includes narrow Gaussian emission line (E = 6.415 ? 0.007 keV, FWHM= 80 eV, W = 16 eV) and broad-line (E = 5.82 keV, FWHM= 1.9 keV, W = 140 eV) components, and a smeared edge at 7.3 ? 0.2 keV (? ~ 1.0). The broad-line profile is not as strongly skewed as those observed in some Seyfert galaxies. We interpret these features in terms of an accretion disk with irradiation of the inner disk producing a broad Fe K? emission line and edge, and irradiation of the outer disk producing a narrow Fe K? emission line. The broad line is likely shaped predominantly by Doppler shifts and gravitational effects, and to a lesser degree by Compton scattering due to reflection. We discuss the underlying continuum X-ray spectrum and these line features in the context of diagnosing the accretion flow geometry in Cyg X-1 and other Galactic black holes.