Chapitre IV Accretion Disc Outbursts: A New Version of an Old Model Jean�Marie HAMEURY, 1 Kristen inferred. In particular we show that outside�in outbursts are possible when a standard bimodal behaviour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 #12; 86 Accretion ...

The persistent black hole binary LMC X-3 is the best system on which to test theoretical models on the shape of the accretion disc spectrum. This is due to the combination of very low absorbing column density along this line of sight, which allows the shape of the disc emission to be constrained at low energies, and its mass accretion ...

In this paper, we study the structure of the broad emission-line regions (BLRs) of the well-known double-peaked emitter (an active galactic nucleus with broad double-peaked low-ionization emission lines) 3C 390.3. Besides the best-fitting results for the double-peaked broad optical Balmer lines of 3C 390.3 obtained from the theoretical disc model, we also try to find another ...

In this paper, we study the structure of the broad emission-line regions (BLRs) of the well-known double-peaked emitter (an active galactic nucleus with broad double-peaked low-ionization emission lines) 3C 390.3. Besides the best-fitting results for the double-peaked broad optical Balmer lines of 3C 390.3 obtained from the theoretical disc model, we also try to find another ...

We analyse V-band photometry of the aperiodic variability in T CrB. By applying a simple idea of angular momentum transport in the accretion disc, we have developed a method to simulate the statistical distribution of flare durations with the assumption that the aperiodic variability is produced by turbulent elements in the disc. Both cumulative histograms ...

OUTFLOWS FROM DYNAMO-ACTIVE PROTOSTELLAR ACCRETION DISCS BRIGITTA VON REKOWSKI1 , AXEL BRANDENBURG2, Newcastle, UK Abstract. An axisymmetric model of a cool, dynamo-active accretion disc is applied by the disc dynamo driven by the magneto-rotational instability and some form of outflow is ...

X-ray observations of Seyfert 1 galaxies offer the unique possibility of observing spectral variability on timescales comparable to the dynamical time of the inner accretion flow. They typically show highly variable lightcurves, with Power Density Spectra characterized by `red noise' and a break at low frequencies. Time resolved spectral analysis have established that spectral ...

In this paper we derive equations describing the dynamics and stationary configurations of a twisted fully relativistic thin accretion disc around a slowly rotating black hole. We assume that the inclination angle of the disc is small and that the standard relativistic generalization of the ? model of accretion ...

We perform multidimensional radiative transfer simulations to compute spectra for a hydrodynamical simulation of a line-driven accretion disc wind from an active galactic nucleus. The synthetic spectra confirm expectations from parametrized models that a disc wind can imprint a wide variety of ...

Latest observational data provides evidence that the emissions from Sgr A* originate from an accretion disc within ten gravitational radii of the dynamical centre of Milky Way. We investigate the physical processes responsible for the variable observed emissions from the compact radio source Sgr A*. We study the evolution of the variable emission region ...

We study simultaneous X-ray and optical observations of three intermediate polars, EX Hya, V1223 Sgr and TV Col, with the aim of understanding the propagation of matter in their accretion flows. We show that in all cases the power spectra of the flux variability of binary systems in X-ray and optical bands are similar to each other, and the majority of X-ray and optical fluxes ...

Angular momentum of an accreting black hole can be determined by careful spectroscopy of the emission and absorption features produced in the inner regions of an accretion disc. We discuss the method employing the relativistic line profiles of iron in the X-ray domain, where the emergent spectrum is blurred by general relativistic effects. Accuracy of the ...

I present a model for acceleration of protons by the second-order Fermi process acting on randomly scrambled magnetic flux arches above an accretion disc. The accelerated protons collide with thermal protons in the disc, producing degraded energetic protons, charged and neutral pions, and neutrons. The pions produce gamma-rays by ...

We performed a systematic analysis of all INTEGRAL observations from 2003 to 2009 of 14 supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs), implying a net exposure time of about 30 Ms. For each source we obtained light curves and spectra (3-100 keV), discovering several new outbursts. We discuss the X-ray behaviour of SFXTs emerging from our analysis in the framework of the clumpy wind ...

Exosat observations are used to compare the spectral properties of the persistent emission from a number of X-ray burst sources, high-luminosity low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXRB) and galactic black hole candidates with various models for X-ray emission from an accretion disk surrounding a compact object in a binary system. It is shown that only a Comptonization ...

Highly ionized fast accretion disc winds have been suggested as an explanation for a variety of observed absorption and emission features in the X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei. Simple estimates have suggested that these flows may be massive enough to carry away a significant fraction of the accretion energy and could be ...

Black holes grow by accreting matter from their surroundings. However, angular momentum provides an efficient natural barrier to accretion and so only the lowest angular momentum material will be available to feed the black holes. The standard subgrid model for black hole accretion in galaxy formation simulations - based on the Bondi-Hoyle method - does not account for the ...

The X-ray spectra of accretion discs of eight stellar mass black holes have been analysed to date using the thermal continuum-fitting method, and the spectral fits have been used to estimate the spin parameters of the black holes. However, the underlying model used in this method of estimating spin is the general ...

Observations of the soft X-ray transient Nova Vela 1993 are presented. These are the first observations, taken during quiescence in 1995 and 1996. An orbital, ellipsoidal modulation is found in the R-band photometry (mean magnitude of 20.6), with an amplitude of 0.23 mags at 6.86 +/- 0.12 h. The H-alpha emission spectra is presumed to arise from the ...

TWO�PHASE PAIR CORONA MODEL FOR AGN: PHYSICAL MODELLING AND DIAGNOSTICS Juri Poutanen 1;2 , Roland of the two�phase accretion disc�corona models for active galactic nuclei are compared with ob� servations. We a hemisphere�corona. Keywords: accretion, accretion ...

Accretion discs are composed of ionized gas in motion around a central object. Sometimes, the disc is the source of powerful bipolar jets along its rotation axis. Theoretical models invoke the existence of a bipolar magnetic field crossing the disc and require two conditions to produce powerful jets: field lines need to be bent enough ...

Time-resolved eclipse spectroscopy of the nova-like variable UX UMa obtained with the HST/FOS on 1994 August and November is analysed with eclipse mapping techniques to produce spatially resolved spectra of its accretion disc and gas stream as a function of distance from the disc centre. The inner accretion ...

We propose four snap-shot observations on the remarkable NLS1 J1633+4718 with the lowest soft X-ray excess temperature of 32eV. Our goals are to test the blackbody nature of this emission and to obtain high quality X-ray and UV data, which are essential for more quantitative testing of accretion disc models in AGN and, hopefully, ...

The galactic black hole candidate Cygnus X-1 is observed to be in one of two X-ray spectral states: either the low/hard (low soft X-ray flux and a flat power-law tail) or high/soft (high blackbody-like soft X-ray flux and a steep power-law tail) state. The physical origin of these two states is unclear. We present here a model of an ionized accretion ...

We discuss the origin of the very different hard X-ray spectral shapes observed in the low hard state (LHS) and high soft state (HSS) of accreting black holes. We study the effects of synchrotron self-absorption on the Comptonizing electron distribution in the magnetized corona of accreting black holes. We solve the kinetic equations assuming that power is supplied to the coronal electrons through ...

It has been proposed that the radio spectra of radio-quiet quasars are produced by free-free emission in the optically thin part of an accretion disc wind. An important observational constraint on this model is the observed X-ray luminosity. We investigate this constraint using a sample of Palomar-Green (PG) ...

Recent time-resolved X-ray spectra of a neutron star undergoing a superburst revealed an Fe K? line and edge consistent with reprocessing from the surrounding accretion disc. Here, we present models of X-ray reflection from a constant-density slab illuminated by a blackbody, the spectrum emitted by a neutron star ...

We measure the spin of XTE J1550-564 using the two leading methods: (i) modelling the thermal continuum spectrum of the accretion disc; and (ii) modelling the broad red wing of the reflection fluorescence Fe K? line. We find that these two independent measurements of spin are in agreement. For the continuum-fitting ...

We measure the spin of XTE J1550-564 using the two leading methods: (i) modelling the thermal continuum spectrum of the accretion disc; and (ii) modelling the broad red wing of the reflection fluorescence Fe K? line. We find that these two independent measurements of spin are in agreement. For the continuum-fitting ...

Fifty-three spectrograms in the optical region (3700 7300 �) with the spectral resolution �8 � have been obtained for the Seyfert nucleus of the galaxy NGC 3227 with the 6-m telescope on January 1977, while the nucleus was in the historically important epoch of its extreme maximum brightness. Width of the slit was 1?, length of the box during the spectra measurements was ...

Accreting black holes and neutron stars in their hard (low) state show not only very similar X/?-ray spectra but also that the behavior of their light curves is quite similar which can be quantified as having similar power-density spectra and Fourier-frequency-dependent time/phase lags. Taken together this argues for a common mechanism of the X/?-ray ...

Context. Interpretation of the X-ray spectra of X-ray binaries during their hard states requires a hot, optically thin medium. There are several accretion disc models that account for this aspect. However, none is designed to simultaneously explain powerful jets detected during these states. Aims: A new ...

We present the results of a broad-band spectral study of the transient low-mass X-ray binary Aql X-1 observed by the Suzaku and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellites. The source was observed during its 2007 outburst in the high/soft (Banana) state and in the low/hard (Extreme Island) state. Both the Banana state and the Extreme Island state spectra are best described by a ...

We present the results of a broad-band spectral study of the transient low-mass X-ray binary Aql X-1 observed by the Suzaku and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellites. The source was observed during its 2007 outburst in the high/soft (Banana) state and in the low/hard (Extreme Island) state. Both the Banana state and the Extreme Island state spectra are best described by a ...

We report results of Swift observations for the high-mass Be/X-ray binary system 1A 1118-615, during an outburst stage in 2009 January and at a flaring stage in 2009 March. Using the epoch-folding method, we successfully detected a pulsed period of 407.69(2) s in the outburst of January and of 407.26(1) s after the flare detection in March. We find that the spectral detection for the source during ...

We present a systematic analysis of the X-ray spectra of NGC 1313 X-1 and NGC 1313 X-2, using six years of XMM-Newton observations (17 observations). We fitted the continuum with a Comptonization model plus a multicolor blackbody disc, that describes the effects of an accretion disc plus an optically thick corona. ...

We use a multidimensional Monte Carlo code to compute X-ray spectra for a variety of active galactic nucleus (AGN) disc-wind outflow geometries. We focus on the formation of blueshifted absorption features in the Fe K band and show that line features similar to those which have been reported in observations are often produced for lines of sight through disc-wind geometries. We ...

Over the last few years, several models have been proposed to interpret the widespread soft excess observed in the X-ray spectra of type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN). In particular, reflection from the photoionized accretion disc blurred by relativistic effects has proven to be successful in reproducing both the ...

We consider the basic physical properties of matter forming a thin accretion disc in the static and spherically symmetric space-time metric of the vacuum f(R) modified gravity models. The Lagrangian of the generalized gravity theory is also obtained in a parametric form, and the conditions of the viability of the ...

The broad iron line profile in the X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei and black hole X-ray binaries allows us to constrain the spin parameter of the black hole. In my talk I will summarize the main effects of strong gravity on the emitted radiation from the optically thick and geometrically thin Keplerian accretion disc near the ...

We assess the claim that Ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs) host intermediate-mass black holes (BH) by comparing the cool disc-blackbody model with a range of other models, namelly a more complex physical model based on a power-law component slightly modified at various energies by smeared emission/absorption lines from highly-ionized ...

Black holes can contain the mass of a billion Suns compressed into the space the size of the Solar System. Their gravitational fields are so intense that nothing - not even light - can escape their attraction. Before being swallowed, the gas and dust takes the form of a fast rotating accretion disc, a disc of material which has accumulated around the black ...

We use a new code to simulate the radiation and kinetic processes in the X-ray emitting region around accreting black holes and constrain the magnetic field and temperature of the hot protons in the corona of Cygnus X-1. In the hard state we find a magnetic field below equipartition with radiation, suggesting that the corona is not powered through magnetic field dissipation (as assumed in most ...

We use a new code to simulate the radiation and kinetic processes in the X-ray emitting region around accreting black holes and constrain the magnetic field and temperature of the hot protons in the corona of Cygnus X-1. In the hard state we find a magnetic field below equipartition with radiation, suggesting that the corona is not powered through magnetic field dissipation (as assumed in most ...

The central engine that drives gamma ray burst (GRB) explosions may derive from the ability of electrons/positrons and nucleons to tap into the momentum and energy from the large neutrino luminosity emitted by an accretion disc surrounding a black hole. This transfer of momentum and energy occurs due to neutrino absorption, scattering and annihilation, and ...

We present the frequency-resolved energy spectra (FRS) of the low-mass X-ray binary dipper XB1323-619 during persistent emission in four different frequency bands using an archival XMM-Newton observation. FRS method helps to probe the inner zones of an accretion disc. XB1323-619 is an Atoll source and a type-I burster. We find that the ...

Accreting millisecond pulsars show significant variability of their pulse profiles, especially at low accretion rates. On the other hand, their X-ray spectra are remarkably similar with not much variability over the course of the outbursts. For the first time, we have discovered that during the 2008 outburst of SAX J1808.4-3658 a major pulse profile change was accompanied by a ...

We present the first optical observations of the soft X-ray transient Nova Vela 1993, taken during quiescence in 1995 and 1996. From the R-band photometry with a mean magnitude of 20.6, we find an orbital, ellipsoidal modulation with an amplitude of 0.23 mag at a period of 6.86+/-0.12 h. The optical spectra show only broad double-peaked H? emission presumably arising from the ...

This study inspects the light and radial-velocity curves of the eclipsing binary AV Del. In comparison with other studies already done, the study shows that the absolute elements, fundamental orbital and physical parameters of the system can be determined using the Wilson-Devinney code. Using these parameters, the configuration of the system is presented. Then, an accretion ...

Fast novae are primarily located within the plane of the Galaxy, slow novae are found within its bulge. Because of high interstellar extinction along the line of sight many novae lying close to the plane are missed and only the brightest seen. One nova lying very close to the Galactic plane is V1721 Aquilae, discovered in outburst on 2008 September 22. Spectra obtained 2.69 ...

Studies indicate that fast novae are primarily located within the plane of the Milky Way and slow novae are found within its bulge. Because of high interstellar extinction along the line of sight many novae lying close to the plane are missed and only the brightest seen. One nova lying very close to the Galactic plane is V1721 Aquilae, which was discovered in outburst on 2008 September 22.5 UT. ...

We present the spectral analysis of three Suzaku XIS observations of 3C 111 requested to monitor the predicted variability of its ultra-fast outflow on ~7 days time-scales. We detect an ionized iron emission line in the first observation and a blue-shifted absorption line in the second, when the flux is ~30% higher. The location of the material is constrained at <0.006pc from the variability. ...

Abstract. Accretion disc turbulence is investigated in the framework of the shearing box approximation. The turbulence is either driven by the magneto-rotational instability or, in the non-magnetic case, by an explicit and artificial forcing term in the momentum equation. Unlike the magnetic case, where most of the dissipation occurs in the disc corona, in ...

Accretion disc turbulence is investigated in the framework of the shearing box approximation. The turbulence is either driven by the magneto-rotational instability or, in the non-magnetic case, by an explicit and artificial forcing term in the momentum equation. Unlike the magnetic case, where most of the dissipation occurs in the disc corona, in the ...

We present high-speed photometry covering one eclipse of the cataclysmic variable system 1RXS J180834.7+101041. The data are modelled as arising from a close binary system containing a low-mass stars filling its Roche lobe plus a white dwarf with an accretion disc. We find an orbital inclination of 77.07 +/- 0.47 degrees and a mass ...

Super-high energy (?1020eV) cosmic rays could be accelerated in current-carrying beams associated with black-hole accretion discs in galactic nuclei. The current system might resemble an electrical circuit with a voltage source (black hole and accretion disc) coupled to a load (cosmic-ray beam) and a low impedance ...

Aims: Evidence is mounting that the main ingredients of the unification models of active galactic nuclei may behave differently from expectations, and be intimately related to fundamental physical parameters. The availability of high signal-to-noise broad-band X-ray spectra provides us with the opportunity to study in detail all the contributions from the ...

We have constructed a sample of 51 unobscured Seyferts selected from a cross-correlation between the 2XMMi catalog and SDSS DR7, which included 12 Narrow Line Seyfert 1s (NLS1s). Plus in some cases we have aperture photometry from the XMM Optical Monitor. We use these data to produce Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs), from 10keV to just shortward of 1 micron. Using a new self-consistent ...

The bright ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX), M33 X-8, has been observed several times by XMM-Newton, providing us with a rare opportunity to 'flux bin' the spectral data and search for changes in the average X-ray spectrum with flux level. The aggregated X-ray spectra appear unlike standard sub-Eddington accretion state spectra which, alongside the lack of ...

The nature of the broad-band spectra of supermassive accreting black holes in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is still unknown. The hard X-ray spectra of Seyferts as well as of Galactic stellar-mass black holes (GBHs) are well represented by thermal Comptonization, but the origin of the seed photons is less certain. The MeV tails observed in GBHs provide ...

Two new elements, the Hybrid Accretion Disk (HAD) model and the Rosat survey of resolved X-ray sources and diffuse background, are combined in an attempt to resolve the long standing problem of the cosmic X-Ray Background (XRB), explaining the diffuse XRB...

Fully self consistent calculations of the spectra emitted by active galactic nuclei accretion disks are presented. The inner, radiation dominated regions of standard, alpha disks are treated. Incoherent Compton scattering and emission/absorption of radiation by hydrogen and helium are included in computing the vertical temperature structure within the disk and the emergent ...

An approximation theory of the acceleration of particles in low-density shear flows is developed and is applied to a number of astrophysical flows including accretion disks, radial accretion, and convective turbulence. In the disk application, the theory suggests a mechanism by which the bulk of the accretion power may be converted to particle acceleration. The model ...

The rapid and seemingly random fluctuations in X-ray luminosity of Seyfert galaxies provided early support for the standard model in which Seyferts are powered by a supermassive black hole fed from an accretion disc. However, since EXOSAT there has been little opportunity to advance our understanding of the most rapid X-ray ...

High Energy Astrophysics: Accretion Disks II 1/59 Accretion Disks II 1 The dynamical equations Astrophysics: Accretion Disks II 2/59 The simplest accretion disc model to construct is that of the thin disc on the azimuthal angle z #12;High Energy Astrophysics: Accretion Disks II 3/59 � The disk is thin. This means that we

The radial-azimuthal instability of a hot two-temperature accretion disc with advection is analyzed. After obtaining the dispersion equation, we find that advection and viscous force have an influence on the stability of acoustic modes, but not on the stability of thermal and viscous modes. We also find azimuthal perturbations to affect the stability of ...

Stellar mass black hole X-ray binaries exhibit X-ray spectral states which also have distinct and characteristic temporal properties. These states are believed to correspond to different accretion disc geometries. We present analysis of two XMM-Newton observations of the ultra-luminous X-ray source (ULX)NGC1313 X-1, which reveal that the system was in two ...

It is sometimes suggested that phenomenological power law plus cool disc-blackbody models represent the simplest, most robust interpretation of the X-ray spectra of bright ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs); this has been taken as evidence for the presence of intermediate-mass black holes (BHs) (M ~ 103Msolar) in those sources. Here, we assess this claim ...

In this work, the roles of both the inflow kinematic conditions at the inner Lagrangian point L1 as an initial boundary condition and the gas compressibility, physical turbulent viscosity on an accretion disc's dynamics and structure were investigated via simulations of 3D SPH stationary accretion-disc models. ...

Magnetic fields are a distinctive feature of accretion disc plasmas around compact objects (i.e., black holes and neutron stars) and they play a decisive role in their dynamical evolution. A fundamental theoretical question related with this concerns investigation of the so-called gravitational MHD dynamo effect, responsible for the self-generation of ...

The origin of large scale magnetic fields in astrophysical rotators, and the conversion of gravitational energy into radiation near stars and compact objects via accretion have been subjects of active research for a half century. Magnetohydrodynamic turbulence makes both problems highly nonlinear, so both subjects have benefitted from numerical simulations.However, understanding the key principles ...

The activity of active galaxies may be triggered by the merging of galaxies, and present-day galaxies are probably the product of successive minor mergers. The frequent galactic mergers at high redshift imply that active galaxies harbour supermassive unequal-mass binary black holes at their centre at least once during their lifetime. The secondary black hole interacts and becomes coplanar with the ...

Drawing a coherent picture of the observational characteristics of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIB's) and the physical and chemical properties of its proposed carriers was the focus of this NASA sponsored conference. Information relating to absoption spectra, diffuse radiation carriers, carbon compounds, stellar composition, and interstellar extinction involving ...

We have analysed the new Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array data of the atoll neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) system XB 1254-690. The colour-colour diagram shows that the source was in the high-intensity banana state. We have found two low-frequency candidate peaks with single trial significances of ?2.65 � 10-8 and ?7.39 � 10-8 in the power ...

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) and galactic black hole binaries (GBHs) represent two classes of accreting black holes. They both contain an accretion disc emitting a thermal radiation, and a non-thermal X-ray emitting 'corona'. GBHs exhibit state transitions, and the spectral states are characterized by different luminosity levels and shapes of the spectral ...

We report the discovery of a broad emission feature at �0.7 keV in the spectra of the ultracompact X-ray binary 4U 1543-624, obtained with the high-resolution spectrographs of the XMM-Newton and Chandra satellites. We confirm the presence of the feature in the broad-band MOS2 spectrum of the source. As suggested before in the literature, the donor star in this source is a CO ...

We present an analysis of time-resolved, medium-resolution optical spectroscopic observations of UX Ursae Majoris (UX UMa) in the blue (3920-5250 �) and red (6100-7200 �) wavelength ranges that were obtained in 1999 April and 2008 March, respectively. The observed characteristics of our spectra indicate that UX UMa has been in different states during those observations. ...

We present an analysis of time-resolved, medium resolution optical spectroscopic observations of the system in the blue (3920-5250 A) and red (6100-7200 A) wavelength ranges, that were obtained in April 1999 and March 2008 respectively. An appearance and behaviour of the spectra indicates that UX UMa has been in different states during those observations. The blue ...

XMM-Newton X-ray spectra of the hard state black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs) SWIFTJ1753.5-0127 and GX339-4 show evidence for accretion disc blackbody emission, in addition to hard power laws. The soft and hard band power spectral densities (PSDs) of these sources demonstrate variability over a wide range of time-scales. However, on ...

We briefly summarise the observational properties of ultra-compact binaries called AM CVn stars. We analyse their outbursts originating from the thermal-viscous instability in helium accretion disc. We present our preliminary results in applying the model of Dwarf Novae outbursts to helium discs. We can calculate ...

In the hierarchical galaxy formation model, today's galaxies are the product of frequent galaxy merging, triggering the activity of active galactic nuclei and forming a supermassive black hole binary. A binary may become stalling at the parsec scale and is expected to be detected in nearby normal galaxies, which is inconsistent with observations. In this paper, we investigate ...

This volume contains the edited lecture notes of the First JETSET School on Jets from Young Stars: Models and Constraints, held by the Marie Curie Research and Training Network on JET Simulations, Experiments and Theory. At this school the lecturers gave an introduction to observational properties and basic models describing the launching and collimation ...

Millisecond pulsars are believed to be old pulsars spun up by a surrounding accretion disc. Magnetic fields are thought to play a leading role in this, both by determining the location of the inner edge of the disc and by exerting an additional torque on the star (as a result of the interaction between the stellar magnetic field and the disc plasma motion, ...

We present the previously unanalysed high-quality XMM-Newton spectrum of an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) candidate in NGC 4517. As with other high-quality ULX spectra, a downturn in the spectrum is observed at �6 keV. Both of the recent disc reflection and Comptonization interpretations of this feature are applied, in order to present a direct comparison, and are found ...

We present a broad-band analysis of deep Suzaku observations of nearby Seyfert 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN): Fairall 9, MCG-6-30-15, NGC 3516, 3783 and 4051. The use of deep observations (exposures >200 ks) with high signal-to-noise ratio allows the complex spectra of these objects to be examined in full, taking into account features such as the soft excess, reflection ...

We present a broad-band analysis of deep Suzaku observations of nearby Seyfert 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN): Fairall 9, MCG-6-30-15, NGC 3516, 3783 and 4051. The use of deep observations (exposures >200 ks) with high signal-to-noise ratio allows the complex spectra of these objects to be examined in full, taking into account features such as the soft excess, reflection ...

Highly nonstationary accretion onto a magnetized neutron star from a surrounding accretion disc is considered. Nonstationary accretion has been considered before in terms of droplets or rain or as a necessary consequence of instabilities in the accretion column flow. Here, the extreme of very large units is considered, which by magnetic flow field ...

A model for emission of the hard photons of gamma bursts is presented. The model assumes accretion at nearly the Eddington limited rate onto a neutron star without magnetic a field. Initially soft photons are heated as they are compressed between the accreting matter and the star. A large electric field due to relatively small charge separation is required ...

We model circumplanetary discs as accretion discs subject to the tidal forces of the central star. The tidal torques remove the disc angular momentum near the disc outer edge and permit the accreting disc gas to lose angular momentum at the rate appropriate for steady accretion. Circumplanetary ...

For more than a decade, the so-called shearing box model has been used to study the fundamental local dynamics of accretion discs. This approach has proved to be very useful because it allows high resolution and long term studies to be carried out, studies that would not be possible for a global disc. Localised disc studies have ...

We use quasi-simultaneous near-infrared (near-IR) and optical spectroscopy from four observing runs to study the continuum around 1 micron in 23 well-known broad-emission line active galactic nuclei (AGN). We show that, after correcting the optical spectra for host galaxy light, the AGN continuum around this wavelength can be approximated by the sum of mainly two emission ...

We use quasi-simultaneous near-infrared (near-IR) and optical spectroscopy from four observing runs to study the continuum around 1 ?m in 23 well-known broad emission line active galactic nuclei (AGN). We show that, after correcting the optical spectra for host galaxy light, the AGN continuum around this wavelength can be approximated by the sum of mainly two emission ...

Accretion onto black holes often proceeds via an accretion disc or a temporary disc-like pattern. Variability features, observed in the light curves of such objects, and theoretical models of accretion flows suggest that accretion discs are inhomogeneous and non-axisymmetric. Fast orbital ...

Magnetohydrodynamic models of collimated outflows produced by accretion discs around compact objects can be used for interpreting the phenomenology of active astrophysical objects as young stellar objects, microquasars, X-ray binaries, gamma-ray bursts, extended radio galaxies and active galactic nuclei. In the present work, we discuss ...

We use a combination of a cosmological N-body simulation of the concordance ? cold dark matter paradigm and a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation to investigate the spin development of central supermassive black holes (BHs) and its relation to the BH host galaxy properties. In order to compute BH spins, we use the ? model of Shakura & Sunyaev and ...

We have studied the long-term variability of LMC X-3 in optical light curves spanning 6yr, in order to search for optical signatures which could confirm or refute the suggestion that the `modulation' is the result of accretion-rate variability rather than accretion-disc precession. We find that there is no stable period in the optical light curves, that the optical and X-ray ...

Substantial X-ray emission as reported by Ariel 5 from Her X-l midway through the extended low-state portion of its 35-day cycle is examined. A similar feature during another cycle measured from UHURU satellite is also examined. It is proposed that this feature should occur regularly, consistent with some models for the mass accretion ...

Adaptive spatial domains are currently used in smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) with the aim of performing better spatial interpolations, mainly for expanding or shock gas dynamics. In this work, we propose an SPH interpolating kernel reformulation, also suitable for treating free edge (FE) boundaries in the computational domain. Application to both inviscid and viscous stationary low ...

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are luminous objects thought to be powered by accretion of material onto a super-massive black hole. They emit radiation across a wide frequency range from the gamma-rays to the radio. X-ray emission, relativistic jets and superluminal motion are phenomena which originate close to the central power source and can be used to study conditions in the innermost regions ...

We report on a long (100 ks) XMM-Newton observation of the bright Seyfert 1 galaxy Arakelian 120. The source previously showed no signs of intrinsic reddening in its infrared-ultraviolet continuum and previous observations had shown no evidence for ionized absorption in either the ultraviolet or X-ray bands. The new XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer data place tight limits on the presence ...

We study a combined model of black hole-accretion disc-magnetosphere-jet symbiosis, applicable for supermassive black holes. We quantify the mass and spin evolution and analyse how the limiting value of the spin parameter and the conversion efficiency of accreted mass into radiation depend on the interplay of the electromagnetic ...

We study a combined model of black hole-accretion disc-magnetosphere-jet symbiosis, applicable for supermassive black holes. We quantify the mass and spin evolution and analyse how the limiting value of the spin parameter and the conversion efficiency of accreted mass into radiation depend on the interplay of the electromagnetic ...

We argue that the quiescent value of the viscosity parameter of the accretion disc in WZ Sge may be ?cold ~ 0.01, in agreement with estimates of ?cold for other dwarf novae. Assuming the white dwarf in WZ Sge to be magnetic, we show that, in quiescence, material close to the white dwarf can be propelled to larger radii, depleting the inner ...

We present a full general relativistic numerical code for estimating the energy-momentum deposition rate (EMDR) from neutrino pair annihilation (?). The source of the neutrinos is assumed to be a neutrino-cooled accretion disc around neutron and quark stars. We calculate the neutrino trajectories by using a ray-tracing algorithm with the general ...

Exosat observations of Mkn 335 reveal a hard power-law spectrum above about 1 keV, typical for Seyfert 1 galaxies, but with unusually strong variability on time-scales of about 1-2 hr. In addition, an intense soft X-ray component is found to dominate the overall spectrum of Mkn 335 below about 0.6 keV. Both soft and hard components increased in strength by a factor about 6 between 1983 November ...

We continue our study of weakly ionized protostellar accretion discs that are threaded by a large-scale magnetic field and power a centrifugally driven wind. It has been argued that there is already evidence in several protostellar systems that such a wind transports a significant fraction of the angular momentum from at least some part of the disc. We ...

We present two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of slowly rotating gas that is under the influence of the gravity of a super massive black hole and is irradiated by a thin UV accretion disc and a spherical X-ray corona. We calculate the accretion luminosity of a system based on the accretion rate which is assumed to be equal to the mass supply rate ...

Quasars are the brilliant cores of remote galaxies, at the hearts of which lie supermassive black holes that can generate enough power to outshine the Sun a trillion times. These mighty power sources are fuelled by interstellar gas, thought to be sucked into the hole from a surrounding 'accretion disc'. A paper in this week's issue of the journal Nature, ...

We present fully self-consistent calculations of the spectra emitted by accretion disks in active galactic nuclei. We treat the inner, radiation-pressure-dominated regions of standard alpha-disks. Incoherent Compton scattering and emission/absorption of radiation by hydrogen and helium are included in compting the vertical temperature structure within the disk and the emergent ...

Models of accretion discs and their associated outflows often incorporate assumptions of axisymmetry and symmetry across the disc plane. However, for turbulent discs these symmetries only apply to averaged quantities and do not apply locally. The local asymmetries can induce local imbalances in outflow power across the disc mid-plane, ...

We investigate the deposition of energy due to the annihilations of neutrinos and antineutrinos on the rotation axis of rotating neutron and quark stars, respectively. The source of the neutrinos is assumed to be a neutrino-cooled accretion disc around the compact object. Under the assumption of the separability of the neutrino null geodesic equation of ...

We formulate and solve the equations governing the transonic behaviour of a general relativistic black-hole accretion disc with non-zero advection velocity. We demonstrate that a relativistic Rankine Hugoniot shock may form leading to the formation of accretion powered outflow. We show that the critical points of transonic discs generally do not coincide ...

We present high-speed spectroscopic observations of the intermediate polar (IP) DQ Herculis. Doppler tomography of two HeI lines reveals a spiral density structure in the accretion disc around the white dwarf (WD) primary. The spirals look very similar to the spirals seen in dwarf novae during outburst. DQ Her is the first well-established IP in which ...

We have used the Long Baseline Array to observe the Circinus Galaxy H2O megamasers on two epochs separated by 49 d. The masers were observed to be highly variable, consistent with previous studies. We observe rapid variations in the linewidth and central velocity of the maser's spectral profile. The characteristics of these spectral variations suggest that the masers have an anisotropic structure, ...

We present Hubble Space Telescope images of the HeIII region surrounding the bright X-ray source in the dwarf irregular galaxy Holmberg II. Using Chandra, we find a position for the X-ray source of (J2000) with an uncertainty of 0.6 arcsec. We identify a bright, point-like optical counterpart centred in the nebula with the X-ray source. The optical magnitude and colour of the counterpart are ...

We present results from several years of fast optical photometry of 4U0614+091 (V1055 Orionis), a candidate ultracompact X-ray binary most likely consisting of a neutron star and a degenerate secondary. We find evidence for strong accretion-driven variability at all epochs, which manifests itself as red noise. This flickering produces transient peaks in the observed power spectrum in the 15-65 min ...

We present results from several years of fast optical photometry of 4U0614+091 (V1055 Orionis), a candidate ultracompact X-ray binary most likely consisting of a neutron star and a degenerate secondary. We find evidence for strong accretion-driven variability at all epochs, which manifests itself as red noise. This flickering produces transient peaks in the observed power spectrum in the 15-65 min ...

We report the clearest detection to date of dusty torus signatures in a weak-line radio galaxy (WLRG). The deep Spitzer InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) rest-frame mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum of the WLRG PKS 0043-42 (z= 0.116) shows a clear spectral turnover at ?? 20 ?s suggestive of warm dust, as well as a 9.7-?m silicate absorption feature. In addition, the hard X-ray results, based on Chandra data, ...

It is now established that thermal disc emission and non-thermal jet emission can both play a role at optical/infrared (OIR) wavelengths in X-ray transients. The spectra of the jet and disc components differ, as do their dependence on mass accretion properties. Here we demonstrate that the OIR colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the evolution of the X-ray transient XTE ...

It is now established that thermal disc emission and non-thermal jet emission can both play a role at optical/infrared (OIR) wavelengths in X-ray transients. The spectra of the jet and disc components differ, as do their dependence on mass accretion properties. Here we demonstrate that the OIR colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the evolution of the X-ray transient XTE ...

Primordial matter mainly consists of hydrogen and helium with a small amount of lithium. Taking into account contributions to the opacity from hydrogen and helium only has been assumed to be sufficient so far. Lithium, however, influences the opacity indirectly through a change in chemical equilibrium due to absorption of atomic lithium and lithium hydride. The differences reach two orders of ...

The standard general relativistic model of a razor-thin accretion disc around a black hole, developed by Novikov & Thorne (NT) in 1973, assumes the shear stress vanishes at the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) and that, outside the ISCO, the shear stress is produced by an effective turbulent viscosity. However, ...

In this letter we show that the observed gamma -ray luminosity can be produced by an accretion disc around a non-magnetic neutron star or low mass black hole in which the dominant dissipative process in the disc is due to magnetic fields. The shearing mot...

The presence of alpha-viscosity in the atmospheres of accretion discs is investigated. It results in the existence of coronae and/or winds. When discs are illuminated by the central X-ray sources, the mass loss may be a significant fraction of the total m...

thin accretion discs boundary layms are presented for classical '1'l'auri stars, for various values of M* (0.8, l. OMO), R* (1 .6, '2.15, 4.3}~) and M ...

We have observed with XMM-Newton four radiatively efficient active type 1 galaxies with black hole masses <106Msolar, selected optically from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and previously detected in the ROSAT All Sky Survey. Their X-ray spectra closely resemble those of more luminous Seyferts and quasars, powered by accretion on to much more massive black holes and none of ...

May 13, 1999... observations of quiescent discs to determine the local physical properties of their atmospheres, and resolve their spatial dependence. ...

Radial oscillations resulting from axisymmetric perturbations in viscous accretion disks surrounding

Emission-Line Variability and Implications for Reverberation Mapping: Ballantyne , D. R., .... Impact of reverberation in flared accretion discs on temporal ...

We present optical spectra in the range 4600-8600� for three low-mass X-ray binaries which have been suggested to belong to the class of ultra-compact X-ray binaries based on their X-ray spectra. Our spectra show no evidence for hydrogen or helium emission lines, as are seen in classical X-ray binaries. The spectrum of 4U 0614+09 ...

The accretion disc eclipse mapping method is an astrotomographic inversion technique that makes use of the information contained in eclipse light curves to probe the structure, the spectrum and the time evolution of accretion discs in cataclysmic variables. This paper presents examples of eclipse mapping results ...

We briefly review a few open questions on the interpretation of the X-ray spectra of unobscured Active Galactic Nuclei and their rapid variability. We discuss the so-called soft excess problem, and we present a few recent results which point out the importance of relativistic X-ray reflection from the inner accretion disc in shaping ...

We present the preliminary results of two Gemini campaigns to constrain the mass of the black hole in an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) via optical spectroscopy. Pilot studies of the optical counterparts of a number of ULXs revealed two candidates for further detailed study, based on the presence of a broad He II 4686 � emission line. A sequence of 10 long-slit spectra ...

Context. Accretion models predict that fluorescence lines broadened by relativistic effects should arise from reflection of X-ray emission onto the inner region of the accretion disc surrounding the central black hole of active galactic nuclei (AGN). The theory behind the origin of relativistic lines is well established, and ...

The main aim in the current survey is to suggest models of the development of structures, such as vortices and spirals, in accretion white dwarf's binaries. On the base of hydrodynamical analytical considerations it is applied numerical methods and simulations. It is suggested in the theoretical model the perturbation's parameters of the accretion flow, ...

We use the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, along with the NRAO VLA Sky Survey and the Westerbork Northern Sky Survey to define a sample of 746 radio-loud quasars and measure their 330 MHz-1.4 GHz spectral indexes. Following previous authors we take the radio spectral index as an indicator of the orientation towards the quasars such that more pole-on sources tend to have flatter spectral indexes. We use ...

We present an analysis of 60 spectra of 27 Seyfert galaxies observed with the Ginga Large Area proportional Counter (LAC). The 2-10 keV continuum is found to be compatible with previous spectral surveys, but a spectral flattening, or `hard tail', is evident above 10 keV. Excess absorption over the Galactic column density is found in around half of the sources, with an ...

Context. During the course of a large spectroscopic survey of X-ray active late-type stars in the solar neighbourhood, we discovered four lithium-rich stars packed within just a few degrees on the sky. Although located in a sky area rich in CO molecular regions and dark clouds, the Cepheus-Cassiopeia complex, these very young stars are projected several degrees away from clouds in front of an area ...

Context: XTE J1818-245 is an X-ray nova that experienced an outburst in 2005, as first seen by the RXTE satellite. The source was observed simultaneously at various wavelengths up to soft ?-rays with the INTEGRAL satellite, from 2005 February to September, during our INTEGRAL Target of Opportunity program dedicated to new X-ray novae ...

We report results from an XMM-Newton observation of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 109 (z=0.3056). Previous ASCA data revealed the presence of a broad iron line from the accretion disc with which the XMM-Newton spectrum is fully consistent. However, although improving the ASCA constraints on the line parameters, the quality of the data is not high enough ...

VLA, MERLIN and Hubble Space Telescope imaging observations of the extended regions of the symbiotic system CH Cygni are analysed. These extensions are evidence of a strong collimation mechanism, probably an accretion disc surrounding the hot component of the system. Over 16 yr (between 1985 and 2001) the general trend is that these jets are seen to ...

A steady-state model of the accretion disk around a white dwarf, including the boundary layer and the hot spot, has been constructed. Calculated distributions of radiation are compared with soft X-ray, ultraviolet, visual, and infrared observations of SS Cyg during outburst as well as with ultraviolet measurements of V 603 Aql and RR Pic. The results support accretion ...

We construct Super-Eddington Slim discs models around both stellar and supermassive black holes by allowing the formation of a porous layer with a reduced effective opacity. Unlike the standard scenario in which the discs become thick, super-Eddington discs remain slim. In addition, they accelerate a significant wind with a 'thick disc' geometry. We show that above about 1.5 ...

We compare broad emission-line profiles and estimate line ratios for all major emission lines between Ly? and H? in a sample of six quasars. The sources were chosen with two criteria in mind: the existence of high-quality optical and ultraviolet spectra and the possibility of sampling the spectroscopic diversity in the 4D eigenvector 1 (4DE1) context. In the latter sense, each ...

Bursty transport phenomena associated with convective motion present universal statistical characteristics among different physical systems. In this Letter, a stochastic univariate model and the associated probability distribution function for the description of bursty transport in plasma turbulence is presented. The proposed stochastic process recovers the universal ...

Bursty transport phenomena associated with convective motion present universal statistical characteristics among different physical systems. In this Letter, a stochastic univariate model and the associated probability distribution function for the description of bursty transport in plasma turbulence is presented. The proposed stochastic process recovers the universal ...

Bursty transport phenomena associated with convective motion present universal statistical characteristics among different physical systems. In this Letter, a stochastic univariate model and the associated probability distribution function for the description of bursty transport in plasma turbulence is presented. The proposed stochastic process recovers the universal ...

We report a time-lapse eclipse mapping analysis of B-band time-series of the nova-like variable UU Aqr along a typical stunted outburst in 2002 August. Disc asymmetries rotating in the prograde sense in the eclipse maps are interpreted as a precessing elliptical disc with enhanced emission at periastron. From the disc expansion velocity a disc viscosity alpha_{hot}= 0.2 is inferred. The outburst ...

1 RXTE Observation of Cygnus X�1: Spectral Analysis J. B. Dove a , J�orn Wilms b , M. A. Nowak c. As a physical description of this system, we apply the accretion disc corona models of Dove, Wilms & Begelman [4., 1994, A&A, 287, 105 4. Dove, J. B., Wilms, J., & Begel� man, M. C., 1997, ApJ, 487, 747 5. Dove, J. B

We show that the combination of a weak magnetic propeller and accretion disc resonances can effectively halt accretion in short-period cataclysmic variables (CVs) for large fractions of their lifetimes. This may help to explain the discrepancy between the observed and predicted orbital period distributions of CVs at short periods. Orbital resonances cause ...

A simple model is employed, which allows analytical study of the effects of toroidal currents in accretion discs around Schwarzschild black holes. These toroidal currents generate poloidal magnetic fields which alter the orbital behavior of magnetized particles in the zone between the horizon and the disc. As a consequence, the infall ...

This paper presents applications of a weighted meshless scheme for conservation laws to the Euler equations and the equations of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The divergence constraint of the latter is maintained to the truncation error by a new meshless divergence cleaning procedure. The physics of the interaction between the particles is described by a one-dimensional Riemann problem in a ...

Context: BL Lacertae is the prototype of the blazar subclass named after it. Yet, it has occasionally shown a peculiar behaviour that has questioned a simple interpretation of its broad-band emission in terms of synchrotron plus synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) radiation. Aims: In the 2007-2008 observing season we carried out a new multiwavelength campaign of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) ...

We report on INTEGRAL observations of the bright black hole transient GX339-4 performed during the period 2004 August-September, including the fast transition (10h) observed simultaneously with INTEGRAL and RXTE on August 15 and previously reported. Our data cover three different spectral states, namely hard/intermediate state (HIMS), soft/intermediate state (SIMS) and high/soft state (HSS). We ...

We find long-term evolution of the ? class from the study of X-ray timing and spectral analysis of the Galactic microquasar GRS 1915+105 during two outburst activities, observed by the proportional counter array (PCA) and the High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment on-board Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. The class is characterized by unusual periodic-like variation in intensity. With the passage of ...

We present results from modelling of quasi-simultaneous broad-band (radio through X-ray) observations of the Galactic stellar black hole (BH) transient X-ray binary (XRB) systems XTE J1118+480 and GX 339-4 using an irradiated disc + compact jet model. In addition to quantifying the physical properties of the jet, we have developed a new irradiated disc ...

I present work on the accretion onto stellar mass black holes in several scenarios. Due to dynamical friction stellar mass black holes are expected to form high density cusps in the inner parsec of our Galaxy. These compact remnants may be accreting cold dense gas present there, and give rise to potentially observable X-ray emission. I build a simple but detailed time-dependent ...

Bounds are placed on the growth rates of dynamical instability in shear flows in accretion discs and tori. Ft is shown that the critical layer lies in the flow even when the boundaries are free for flows in accretion discs, cylinders and isentropic, constant angular momentum tori (for which the relativistic effects ...

We analyse some properties of circumplanetary discs. Flow through such discs may provide most of the mass to gas giant planets, and such discs are likely sites for the formation of regular satellites. We model these discs as accretion discs subject to the tidal forces of the central star. The tidal torques from the star remove the disc ...

When considering the X-ray spectrum resulting from the reflection off the surface of accretion discs of AGN, it is necessary to account for the variation in reflected flux over the disc, i.e. the emissivity profile. This will depend on factors including the location and geometry of the X-ray source and the disc characteristics. We directly obtain the ...

May 13, 1999 ... Astro-tomography also has applications over timescales longer or ... optical and IR reprocessing off the accretion disc and companion star. ...

, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA e-mail: mukai@milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov Received ???; accepted ??? ABSTRACT Context

turbulent viscocity in accretion discs," Astrophys. Letter & Comm. 34, 383-388 56. Abramowicz, M. A

Radial velocity studies using optical emission lines (from the accretion discs) have been performed for a few TOADs. However, when mass determinations ...

We use a global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a geometrically thin accretion disc to investigate the locality and detailed structure of turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI). The model disc has an aspect ratio H/R? 0.07, and is computed using a higher order Godunov magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) scheme with ...

We use a global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a geometrically thin accretion disc to investigate the locality and detailed structure of turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI). The model disc has an aspect ratio H/R? 0.07, and is computed using a higher order Godunov magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) scheme with ...

We present time-dependent models of the remnant accretion discs created during compact object mergers, focusing on the energy available from accretion at late times and the composition of the disc and its outflows. We calculate the dynamics near the outer edge of the disc, which contains the majority of the disc's mass and determines ...

The extraordinarily long outburst of GRS1915+105 makes it one of the most remarkable low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). It has been in a state of constant outburst since its discovery in 1992, an eruption which has persisted ~100 times longer than those of more typical LXMBs. The long orbital period of GRS1915+105 implies that it contains large and massive accretion ...

We model the expected X-ray polarization induced by complex reprocessing in the active nucleus of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. Recent analysis of infrared interferometry observations suggests that the ionized outflows ejected by the central engine are not aligned with the symmetry axis of the obscuring torus. This conclusion was obtained by extrapolating the apparent ...

We model the expected X-ray polarization induced by complex reprocessing in the active nucleus of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. Recent analysis of infrared interferometry observations suggests that the ionized outflows ejected by the central engine are not aligned with the symmetry axis of the obscuring torus. This conclusion was obtained by extrapolating the apparent ...

We present the first results from a project to model the prestellar cores in Ophiuchus, using initial conditions constrained as closely as possible by observation. The prestellar cores in Ophiuchus appear to be evolving in isolation - in the sense that the timescale on which an individual prestellar core collapses and fragments is estimated to be much shorter than the ...

The spectral energy distribution (SED) of the TT Ari system, which is well known from published IUE and optical photometric observations, was modeled by a steady-state accretion ?-disc around a white dwarf. Parameters of the system were derived from time-resolved optical spectral observations in the bright state that we obtained in ...

We report results from calculations investigating stationary magnetic field configurations in accretion discs around magnetised neutron stars. Our strategy is to start with a very simple model and then progressively improve it, providing complementary insight into results obtained with large numerical simulations. In our first ...

We present fully three-dimensional local simulations of compressible magneto-rotational instability (MRI) turbulence with the object of studying and elucidating the excitation of the non-axisymmetric spiral density waves that are observed to always be present in such simulations. They are potentially important for affecting protoplanetary migration through the action of associated stochastic ...

We present single-epoch multiwavelength optical-near-infrared observations of the `anomalous' lensed quasar SDSS J0924+0219, made using the Magellan 6.5-m Baade Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. The data clearly resolve the anomalous bright image pair in the lensed system, and exhibit a strong decrease in the anomalous flux ratio with decreasing wavelength. This is interpreted as a ...

Gas falling quasi-spherically onto a Schwarzschild black hole can form an inner thin accretion disc if its specific angular momentum, $l$, exceeds $\\lmin\\approx 0.75r_gc$, where $r_g$ is the Schwarzschild radius. The standard disc model assumes $l\\gg\\lmin$. We argue that in many black-hole sources the accretion flows can have ...

We present an analysis of XMM-Newton observations of 11 Seyfert galaxies that appear to be missing a broad iron K? line. These objects represent a challenge to the established paradigm for active galactic nuclei, where a relatively cold accretion disc feeds the central black hole. In that paradigm, X-ray illumination of the accretion ...

We present an analysis of XMM-Newton observations of 11 Seyfert galaxies that appear to be missing a broad iron K? line. These objects represent a challenge to the established paradigm for active galactic nuclei, where a relatively cold accretion disc feeds the central black hole. In that paradigm, X-ray illumination of the accretion ...

We consider the specific case of disc accretion for negligibly low viscosity and infinitely high electric conductivity. The key component in this model is the outflowing magnetized wind from the accretion disc, since this wind effectively carries away angular momentum of the accreting matter. Assuming magnetic field has variable ...

hi-res Size hi-res: 7265 KB Credits: ESA, V. Beckmann (GSFC) Doughnut-shaped cloud surrounds black hole This artist's impression shows the thick dust torus that astronomers believe surrounds supermassive black holes and their accretion discs, like the one harboured in the nucleus of the spiral galaxy NGC 4388. When the torus is seen `edge-on� as in ...

We study spectral properties of the brightest GeV blazar 3C 454.3 using the Fermi data for 137 weeks of observations. We probe the behaviour of the source as a function of time at different brightness levels. The spectra in the GeV range can be well described by a wide underlying lognormal distribution with photon-photon absorption breaks produced by He II and H I ...

A strong hard X-ray luminosity from a blazar flags the presence of a very powerful jet. If the jet power is in turn related to the mass accretion rate, the most luminous, hard X-ray blazars should pinpoint the largest accretion rates, and thus the largest black hole masses. These ideas are confirmed by the Swift satellite observations of the blazar S5 0014+813, at the redshift z = 3.366. Swift ...

The observed properties of wind-formed resonance lines in the spectra of nova-like variables and dwarf novae in outburst, are discussed. A method is then presented of calculating inclination- and orbital-phase-dependent resonance line profiles formed in a constant-ionization wind flowing from an accretion disc centre. The particular ...

Context. Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have typically been discovered in massive galaxies of high metallicity. Aims: We attempt to increase the number of AGN candidates in low metallicity galaxies. We present VLT/UVES and archival VLT/FORS1 spectroscopic and NTT/SUSI2 photometric observations of the low-metallicity emission-line galaxy Tol 2240-384 and perform a detailed study of its morphology, ...

We present new results from the analysis of 55 high-resolution spectra of V404 Cyg (the optical counterpart of the X-ray transient GS 2023+338) taken in 1991 July-August which, added to our 1990 July H? spectra, establish the most complete spectroscopic data base in quiescence of this new black hole candidate. In addition, we present multicolour (optical ...

It is shown that some aspects of the accretion disc physics can be experimentally simulated with the use of an array of properly directed plasma jets created by intense laser beams. For the laser energy of 1 to 3 kJ, one can create a quasi-planar disc with the Reynolds number exceeding 104 and magnetic Reynolds number in the range of 10-100. The way of ...

Slim accretion discs have a total luminosity of the order L/L(sub E) = m (proportional to) 1, where L(sub E) is the Eddington luminosity and m = M/M(sub c), where M(sub c) is a critical accretion rate, related to the Teddington one. The local stability pr...

We present optical spectroscopy of the microquasar SS433 covering a significant fraction of a precessional cycle of its jet axis. The components of the prominent stationary H? and H? lines are mainly identified as arising from three emitting regions: (i) a super-Eddington accretion disc wind, in the form of a broad component accounting for most of the mass ...

The X-ray transient source XTE J1818-245 went through an outburst in 2005 that was observed during a multi-wavelength campaign from radio to soft ?-rays. We performed new optical observations with the ESO/NTT telescope at La Silla. The broad-band spectral energy distribution revealed that the outer parts of the accretion disc had to be irradiated by its ...

The stress evolution process is taken into account in the linear stability analysis of standard thin accretion discs. We find that the growth rate of thermally unstable modes can decrease significantly owing to the stress delay, which may help to understand the quasi-periodic variability of GRS 1915+105. We also discuss the possible application of stress ...

Dynamo�generated Turbulence and Outflows from Accretion Discs B y Axel Brandenburg Department scale magnetic fields. Comparison with mean�field dynamo theory is made. This theory is then used, in the case of the sun there is turbulent convection which leads to dynamo action. However, the strong shear

Relativistic spectral lines from the accretion disc of a neutron star low-mass X-ray binary can be modelled to infer the disc inner edge radius. A small value of this radius tentatively implies that the disc terminates either at the neutron star hard surface, or at the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO). Therefore an inferred disc ...

Relativistic spectral lines from the accretion disc of a neutron star low-mass X-ray binary can be modelled to infer the disc inner edge radius. A small value of this radius tentatively implies that the disc terminates either at the neutron star hard surface, or at the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO). Therefore an inferred disc ...

In order to explain the main characteristics of the observed population of extrasolar planets and the giant planets in the Solar system, we need to get a clear understanding of which are the initial conditions that allowed their formation. To this end we develop a semi-analytical model for computing planetary systems formation based on the core instability ...

There is a significant non-linear correlation between the Eddington ratio (Lbol/LEdd) and the Eddington-scaled kinetic power (Lkin/LEdd) of jets in low luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs). It is believed that these low luminosity AGNs contain advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAFs). We adopt the ADAF model developed by Li & Cao, in which the global dynamics of ...

The observation of the bright Seyfert 1 galaxy RE J1034+396 is believed to demonstrate a drift in the central period of the quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) linearly correlated with the temporary X-ray luminosity. We show, using a specific scenario of the oscillation mechanism in a black hole accretion disc, that modelling such ...

We present results of angular momentum estimations of two black holes in X-ray novae on the basis of simultaneous fitting of soft X-ray and optical light curves in high/soft state during outbursts. We use the analytic model of viscous evolution of an externally truncated accretion ?-disk. Relativistic effects near Kerr black hole and self-irradiation of the accretion disk are ...

We argue that jittering jets, i.e. jets that have their launching direction rapidly change, launched by the newly formed neutron star in a core-collapse supernova can explode the star. We show that under a wide range of parameters the fast narrow jets deposit their energy inside the star via shock waves, and form two hot bubbles, that eventually merge, accelerate the rest of the star and lead to ...

We analyzed the eclipse light curve of the nova-like star RW Tri in its low luminosity state. During approximately 150 days, RW Tri was about one magnitude fainter than in its usual state. Our eclipse map shows that the brightness temperature in the disc ranges from 19000 K near the white dwarf to 8700 at the disc edge. For the inner parts of accretion ...

We study the stability of disc accretion in the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi. We construct a one-dimensional time-dependent model of the binary-disc system, which includes viscous heating and radiative cooling and a self-consistent treatment of the binary potential. We find that the extended accretion disc in this system is always ...