T. M. Natsvlishvili

Magnetic fields of AGNs and standard accretion disk model: testing by optical polarimetry

We have developed the method that allows us to estimate the magnetic field strength at the horizon of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) through the observed polarization of optical emission of the accreting disk surrounding SMBH. The known asymptotic formulae for the Stokes parameters of outgoing radiation are azimuthal averaged, which corresponds to an observation of the disk as a whole. We consider two models of the embedding 3D-magnetic field, the regular field, and the regular field with an additional chaotic (turbulent) component. It is shown that the second model is preferable for estimating the magnetic field in NGC4258. For estimations we used the standard accretion disk model assuming that the same power-law dependence of the magnetic field follows from the range of the optical emission down to the horizon. The observed optical polarization from NGC 4258 allowed us to find the values 10 3 ―10 4 Gauss at the horizon, depending on the particular choice of the model parameters. We also discuss the wavelength dependencies of the light polarization, and possibly applying them for a more realistic choice of accretion disk parameters.

Spectropolarimetric observations of active galactic nuclei with the 6-m BTA telescope

We present the results of our spectropolarimetric observations for a number of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) carried out at the 6-m telescope with the SCORPIO focal reducer. The derived wavelength dependences of the polarization have been analyzed by taking into account the Faraday rotation of the polarization plane on the photon mean free path in a magnetized accretion disk. As a result, based on traditional accretion disk models, we have determined the magnetic field strength and distribution and a number of physical parameters of the accreting plasma in the region where the optical radiation is generated.

Magnetic fields of active galactic nuclei and quasars with regions of polarized broad Hα lines

Estimates of magnetic fields for a number of active galactic nuclei are presented. These estimates are based on the observed polarization degrees and position angles of broad Hα lines and in the nearby continuum and on asymptotic analytical formulas for the Stokes parameters of the radiation emerging from a magnetized accretion disk (the Milne problem in a magnetized atmosphere). The characteristic observed feature of the wavelength dependence of the polarization degree inside the line—a minimum at the center and a fast increase of the position angle from one wing to another—can be explained by the superposition of resonance emission from two or more clouds located in the right (Keplerian velocity directed away from the observer) and left (Keplerian velocity directed toward the observer) parts of the orbit in the rotating magnetized accretion disk. The main component in our mechanism is the azimuthal magnetic field in the disk. The presence of a magnetic field perpendicular to the disk plane (which is usually weaker than the azimuthal field) results in the asymmetry of the distribution of the polarization degree and position angle inside the line. The inferred magnetic field strengths at the galactocentric distances where broad lines are emitted can be used to estimate the magnetic fields in the region of the centermost stable orbit and at the horizon of the central black hole, using the power-law dependence of the magnetic field strength corresponding to the standard model of the accretion disk.

Polarimetric differences between Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes in active galactic nuclei

If the linear polarization of the optical emission of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) arises in magnetized accretion disk (the Milne problem), the degree of polarization should depend strongly on the spin of the central black hole. For the same black hole luminosities and masses, the polarization is substantially higher for rotating Kerr than for non-rotating Schwarzschild black holes. Statistically, this means that the majority of AGNs displaying appreciable linear polarization should have Kerr black holes. The spin dependence of the polarization is due to the fact that the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit risco depends on the spin—this radius is three gravitational radii for a Schwarzschild black hole, and a factor of six smaller for a rapidly rotating black hole. This means that the magnetic field in the region of emergence of the optical emission, which decreases with distance from risco, is higher for a non-rotating than for a rapidly rotating black hole. This higher magnetic field gives rise to strong Faraday depolarization, explaining the effect considered here.

PVLAS experiment: some astrophysical consequences

The birefringent effects of photon-pseudo-scalar boson (Goldstone) particle mixing in intergalactic magnetic field are calculated for cosmological objects. We use the recent results of PVLAS collaboration that reported recently the observation of a rotation of the polarization plane of light propagating through a transverse static magnetic field. Such result was interpreted as. arising due to conversion of photon into pseudo-scalar with coupling strength g aγ ∼ 4 x 10 -6 GeV -1 . This result contradicts to data of stellar evolution that excluded standard axion model and seems to claim existence of supersymmetry (SUSY) pseudo-scalars. We estimate the intergalactic magnetic field magnitude as ∼10 -16 G based on Hatsemekers et al. observations of extreme-scale alignments of quasar polarization vectors. We analysed some additional results of astronomical observations that could be explained by axion interpretation of the PVLAS data: a sharp steepening of the quasi-stellar object (QSO) continuum shortward of ≃ 1100 A, observed circular polarization of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and QSOs, discrepancy between observed intrinsic polarization of stars in the Local Bubble and stellar spectral classification. The observed polarization of stars in the Local Bubble cannot be explained by interstellar origin.

A polarimetric method for measuring black hole masses in Active Galactic Nuclei

The structure of the broad emission line region (BLR) in active galactic nuclei (AGN) remains unclear. We test in this paper a flattened configuration model for BLR. The virial theorem, by taking into account the disc shape of BLR, allows us to get a direct connection between the mass of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) and the inclination angle of the accretion flow. The inclination angle itself is derived from the spectropolarimetric data on broad emission lines using the theory for the generation of polarized radiation developed by Sobolev and Chandrasekhar. As the result, the new estimates of SMBH masses in AGN with measured polarization of BLR are presented. It is crucial that the polarimetric data allow also to determine the value of the virial coefficient that is essential for determining SMBH masses.

Black hole at the center of the globular cluster M15: Estimation of the mass and specific angular momentum

Using the technique of determining the sum of the masses of double stars, we have estimated the mass of the central object in the globular cluster M15. The radial velocities of stars at distances up to 1″ from the cluster center have been used. The parameters of circular orbits and the space velocities of 11 selected field stars relative to the cluster center have been determined from the calculated velocity dispersions with respect to the mean radial velocity. Based on the mean space velocity V, 14 km s−1, and using the energy integral, we have estimated the mass of the central object to be within the range (1−9) × 103M⊙. We have estimated the kinetic power of the outflow of matter from the region surrounding the black hole in M15 and the specific angular momentum of the black hole.

Magnetic fields and quasi-periodic oscillations of black hole radiation

Various relations are found between the key parameters of black holes and active galactic nuclei. Some have a statistical property, others follow from the theoretical consideration of the evolution of these objects. In this paper we use a recently discovered empirical relation between the characteristic frequency of quasi-periodic oscillations of radiation νbr of black holes, their masses and matter accretion rates to determine the magnetic field strength BH at the black hole event horizon. Since the characteristic frequency can be determined from observations, the use of a new relation for the estimations of magnetic field BH can yield more definite results, since we are decreasing the number of the unknown or poorly-determined parameters of objects (it especially concerns the accretion rate Ṁ). The typical values which we have found are BH ≃ 108G for the stellar mass black holes, and BH ≃ 104G for the supermassive black holes. Besides, we demonstrate that if the linear polarization of an object is caused by the radiation of a magnetized accretion disk, then the degree of observable polarization is p ∼ νbr−1/2.

Wavelength dependence of the polarization of radiation from an accretion disk: Testing accretion disk models

We show that a fundamental choice between various models of an accretion disk around a black hole can be made based on the spectral wavelength distribution of the polarization. This conclusion is based on the possibility of comparing the observed spectral distribution of the polarization with its theoretical values obtained in various accretion disk models. The expected power-law wavelength (frequency) dependences of the polarization for various accretion disk models known in the literature are presented in the table.

New mechanism of radiation polarization in type 1 Seyfert active galactic nuclei

In most of Seyfert-1 active galactic nucei (AGN) the optical linear continuum polarization degree is usually small (less than 1%) and the polarization position angle is nearly parallel to the AGN radio-axis. However, there are many types-1 AGNs with unexplained intermediate values for both positional angles and polarization degrees. Our explanation of polarization degree and positional angle of Seyfert-1 AGNs focuses on the reflection of non-polarized radiation from sub-parsec jets in optically thick accretion discs. The presence of a magnetic field surrounding the scattering media will induce Faraday rotation of the polarization plane that may explain the intermediate values of positional angles if there is a magnetic field component normal to the accretion disc. The Faraday rotation depolarization effect in disc diminishes the competition between polarization of the reflected radiation with the parallel component of polarization and the perpendicular polarization from internal radiation of disc (the Milne problem) in favor of polarization of reflected radiation. This effect allows us to explain the observed polarization of Seyfert-1 AGN radiation even though the jet optical luminosity is much lower than the luminosity of disc. We present the calculation of polarization degrees for a number of Seyfert-1 AGNs.