1,721,002 research outputs found
High-resolution VLA observations of FR0 radio galaxies: the properties and nature of compact radio sources
Full text linkWe present the results of Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) observations regarding the properties of FR0 radio galaxies, the compact radio sources associated with early-type galaxies that represent the bulk of the local radio-loud population of active galactic nuclei. We obtained A-array observations at 1.5, 4.5 and 7.5 GHz for 18 FR0s from the FR0CAT sample: these are sources at z < 0.05, which are unresolved in the FIRST images and spectroscopically classified as low-excitation galaxies (LEGs). Although we reach an angular resolution of ∼0.3 arcsec, the majority of the 18 FR0s are still unresolved. Only four objects show extended emission. Six have steep radio spectra, 11 have flat cores, while one shows an inverted spectrum. We find that (i) the ratio between the core and total emission in FR0s is ∼30 times higher than that in FRIs, and (ii) FR0s have the same properties as FRIs from the nuclear and host points of view. FR0s differ from FRIs only in the paucity of extended radio emission. Various evolutionary scenarios were investigated: (i) the possibility that all FR0s are young sources eventually evolving into extended sources was ruled out by the distribution of radio sizes; (ii) similarly, a time-dependent scenario, in which a variation of accretion or jet launching prevents the formation of large-scale radio structures, appears to be implausible owing to the large abundance of subkiloparsec objects; (iii) a scenario in which FR0s are produced by mildly relativistic jets is consistent with the data but requires observations of a larger sample if it is to be properly tested
What drives the radio slopes in radio-quiet quasars?
No full textThe origin of the radio emission in radio-quiet (RQ) quasars is not established yet. Important hints can be provided by the spectral slope, and its relation to other emission properties. We compiled the highest resolution 5 and 8.4 GHz Very Large Array observations available of the RQ optically selected Palomar–Green (PG) quasars at z < 0.5. We derive the 5–8.4 GHz spectral slope, αR, for 25 of the complete and well-studied sample of 71 RQ PG quasars. We find a highly significant correlation of αR with L/LEdd, where high L/LEdd(>0.3) quasars have a steep slope (αR < −0.5), indicative of an optically thin synchrotron source. In contrast, lower L/LEdd(<0.3) quasars generally have a flat slope (αR > −0.5), indicative of a compact optically thick synchrotron source. Flat αR quasars also have a low Fe II/Hβ line ratio, and a flat soft X-ray slope. The 16 radio loud (RL) PGs do not follow the RQ quasar set of correlations, and their αR is set by MBH, suggesting that the radio emission mechanisms in RL and RQ quasars are different. A possible interpretation is that high L/LEdd RQ quasars produce a strong outflow and an associated optically thin synchrotron emission. In lower L/LEdd RQ quasars, the strong outflow is missing, and only a compact optically thick radio source remains, possibly associated with the accretion disc coronal emission. A systematic study of RQ quasars at higher frequencies, and higher resolution, can test whether a compact flat source indeed resides in the cores of all RQ quasars, and allows the exploration of its relation with the coronal X-ray emission.</p
Pilot study of the radio-emitting AGN population: The emerging new class of FR 0 radio-galaxies
Full text linkWe present the results of a pilot JVLA project aimed at studying the bulk of the radio-emitting AGN population, that was unveiled by the NVSS/FIRST and SDSS surveys. The key questions are related to the origin of their radio-emission and to its connection with the properties of their hosts. We obtained A-array observations at the JVLA at 1.4, 4.5, and 7.5 GHz for 12 sources, a small but representative subsample. The radio maps reveal compact unresolved or only slightly resolved radio structures on a scale of 1-3 kpc, with the one exception of a hybrid FR I/FR II source extended over ∼40 kpc. Thanks to either the new high-resolution maps or to the radio spectra, we isolated the radio core component in most of them. We split the sample into two groups. Four sources have low black hole (BH) masses (mostly ∼107 Mo) and are hosted by blue galaxies, often showing evidence of a contamination from star formation to their radio emission, and are associated with radio-quiet (RQ) AGN. The second group consists in seven radio-loud (RL) AGN, which are located in red massive (∼1011 Mo) early-type galaxies, have high BH masses (108 Mo), and are spectroscopically classified as low excitation galaxies (LEG). These are all characteristics typical of FR I radio galaxies. They also lie on the correlation between radio core power and [O III] line luminosity defined by FR Is. However, they are more core-dominated (by a factor of ∼30) than FR Is and show a deficit of extended radio emission. We dub these sources "FR 0" to emphasize their lack of prominent extended radio emission, which is their single distinguishing feature with respect to FR Is. The differences in radio properties between FR 0s and FR Is might be ascribed to an evolutionary effect, with the FR 0 sources undergoing rapid intermittency that prevents the growth of large-scale structures. However, this contrasts with the scenario in which low-luminosity radio-galaxies are fed by continuous accretion of gas from their hot coronae. In our preferred scenario the lack of extended radio emission in FR 0s is due to their lower jet Lorentz Γ factor with respect to FR Is. The slower jets in FR 0s are more subject to instabilities and entrainment, which causes their premature disruption
Hubble space telescope emission-line Images of nearby 3CR radio galaxies: Two photoionization, accretion, and feedback modes
No full textWe present HST/ACS narrowband images of a low-z sample of 19 3C radio galaxies to study the Hα and [O iii] emissions from the narrow-line region. Based on nuclear emission-line ratios, we divide the sample into high- and low-excitation galaxies (HEGs and LEGs). We observe different line morphologies, extended [O iii] emission, large [O iii]/Hα scatter across the galaxies, and a radio-line alignment. In general, HEGs show more prominent emission-line properties than LEGs: larger, more disturbed, more luminous, and more massive regions of ionized gas with slightly larger covering factors. We find evidence of correlations between line luminosities and (radio and X-ray) nuclear luminosities. All of these results point to a main common origin, the active nucleus, which ionizes the surrounding gas. However, the contribution of additional photoionization mechanisms (jet shocks and star formation) is needed to account for the different line properties of the two classes. A relationship between the accretion, photoionization, and feedback modes emerges from this study. For LEGs (hot-gas accretors), the synchrotron emission from the jet represents the main source of ionizing photons. The lack of cold gas and star formation in their hosts accounts for the moderate ionized-gas masses and sizes. For HEGs (cold-gas accretors), an ionizing continuum from a standard disk and shocks from the powerful jets are the main sources of photoionization, with a contribution from star formation. These components, combined with the large reservoir of cold/dust gas brought from a recent merger, account for the properties of their extended emission-line regions.</p
15-GHz radio emission from nearby low-luminosity active galactic nuclei
No full textWe present a sub-arcsec resolution radio imaging survey of a sample of 76 low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGN) that were previously not detected with the Very Large Array at 15 GHz. Compact, parsec-scale radio emission has been detected above a flux density of 40 μ Jy in 60% (45 of 76) of the LLAGN sample. We detect 20 out of 31 (64%) low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) nuclei, ten out of 14 (71%) low-luminosity Seyfert galaxies, and 15 out of 31 (48%) transition objects. We use this sample to explore correlations between different emission lines and the radio luminosity. We also populate the X-ray and the optical fundamental plane of black hole activity and further refine its parameters. We obtain a fundamental plane relation of log LR = 0.48 (±0.04) log LX + 0.79 (±0.03) log M and an optical fundamental plane relation of log LR = 0.63 (±0.05) log L[O III] + 0.67 (±0.03) log M after including all the LLAGN detected at high resolution at 15 GHz, and the best-studied hard-state X-ray binaries (luminosities are given in erg s-1 while the masses are in units of solar mass). Finally, we find conclusive evidence that the nuclear 15 GHz radio luminosity function (RLF) of all the detected Palomar Sample LLAGN has a turnover at the low-luminosity end, and is best-fitted with a broken power law. The break in the power law occurs at a critical mass accretion rate of 1.2 × 10-3 M⊙ yr-1, which translates to an Eddington ratio of mEdd ∼ 5.1 × 10-5, assuming a black hole mass of 109 M⊙. The local group stands closer to the extrapolation of the higher-luminosity sources, and the classical Seyferts agree with the nuclear RLF of the LLAGN in the local universe.</p
The mm-wave compact component of an AGN
No full textmm-wave emission from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) may hold the key to understanding the physical origin of their radio cores. The correlation between radio/mm and X-ray luminosity may suggest a similar physical origin of the two sources. Since synchrotron self-absorption decreases with frequency, mm-waves probe smaller length-scales than cm-waves. We report on 100 GHz (3 mm) observations with the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy of 26AGNs selected from the hardX-ray Swift/Burst Alert Telescope survey. 20/26 targets were detected at 100 GHz down to the 1 mJy (3σ) sensitivity, which corresponds to optically thick synchrotron source sizes of 10-4-10-3 pc. Most sources show a 100 GHz flux excess with respect to the spectral slope extrapolated from low frequencies. This mm spectral component likely originates from smaller scales than the few-GHz emission. The measured mm sources lie roughly around the Lmm (100 GHz) ~10-4LX (2-10 keV) relation, similar to a few previously published X-ray selected sources, and hinting perhaps at a common coronal origin.</p
The new class of FR0 radio galaxies
No full textI present my recent project aimed at studying the bulk of the radio-emitting AGN population. In previous works (Baldi & Capetti 2009, 2010) we provide evidences of an emerging population of compact radio galaxies which lack of extended radio emission. In a pilot JVLA project, we observe a small but representative sub-sample of this population. The radio maps reveal compact unresolved or slightly resolved radio structures on a scale of 1-3 kpc. We find that these radio-loud AGN live in red massive early-type galaxies, with large black hole masses (~10^{8} solar mass), and spectroscopically classified as Low Excitation Galaxies, all characteristics typical of FRI radio galaxies which they also share the same nuclear luminosity with. However, they are more core dominated (by a factor of ~30) than FRIs and show a clear deficit of extended radio emission. We call these sources 'FR0' to emphasize their lack of prominent extended radio emission (Baldi et al 2015). The emerging FR0 population appears to be the dominant radio class of the local Universe. Considering their properties I peculate their possible origins and the possible cosmological scenarios they imply
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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