Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “RADIO GALAXY”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Multicolor surface photometry of powerful radio galaxies. II - Morphology and stellar content

Results on the morphology, photometric structure, and colors of 72 powerful radio galaxies (PRGs) are presented. It is found that galaxy interactions and mergers play an important role in the PRG phenomenon. Over 50 percent of the sample galaxies display optical morphological deviations from elliptical symmetry at high levels of surface brightness. About 20 percent of the galaxies have a second nucleus less than 10 kpc in projection from the main nucleus. The fraction of PRGs in a common envelope with neighboring galaxies is even larger. Surface brightness profiles for galaxies with weak or no emission lines are typically shallower in slope than normal radio-quiet elliptical galaxies, but similar to the brightest cluster galaxies. Surface brightness profiles for strong emission (SE) galaxies are more diverse in form. The SE PRGs have unusually blue average colors relative to giant elliptical galaxies. These colors are spatially extended and not merely due to light from a bright nucleus or extended emission-line gas.

Smith, Eric P.↗

The Ly-alpha/H-alpha ratio in high-redshift radio galaxies

The first spectroscopic detection of H-alpha emission from radio galaxies at z greater than 2 are presented. Strong H-alpha emission is detected at z = 2.429 in B3 0731 + 438, and H-alpha is directed at z = 2.428 in 0406 - 244 at a significant level of greater than 6 sigma. The resulting Ly-alpha/H-alpha ratios for 0731 + 438 and 0406 - 244 are 3.9 and 3.2 with 3 sigma uncertainties of 1.5 for each. A range of possible extinctions is derived depending on the reddening-free Ly-alpha/H-alpha ratio assumed and the extinction curve employed. The most important result of this study is the demonstration that the Ly-alpha/H-alpha ratio in distant galaxies can now be measured with relative ease.

Mccarthy, Patrick J.↗

Observational constraints on bending the wide-angle tailed radio galaxy 1919+479

A wide range of new observations of the wide-angle tailed radio galaxy 1919+479 and its environs are presented. Multifrequency and multiconfiguration VLA observations are described, ranging in resolution from 0.7 arcsec to 40 arcsec. Distributions of source structures at different scale sizes, spectral indices, and polarizations are presented. Wide-field photographic and CCD imaging data are presented along with a review of the measured galaxy redshifts in the field. A newly reprocessed Einstein IPC X-ray image of the cluster is shown, and the X-ray emission's relationship to the radio morphology is described. The radio, optical, and X-ray data are used to constrain the cD galaxy dynamics and models for bending the radio structure. In particular, the possible role of jet collisions with clouds in the intracluster medium is considered. The applicability of cloud collision models to wide-angle tails in general is considered.

Burns, J. O.↗

Multiband observations of Cygnus A: A study of pressure balance in the core of a powerful radio galaxy

Cygnus A is a powerful double radio source associated with a giant elliptical galaxy at the center of a poor cluster of galaxies. The radio source also sits within the core radius of a dense, cooling flow, x ray emitting cluster gas. Optical spectroscopy and narrow band imaging have revealed copious amounts of narrow line emission from the inner 20 kpc of the associated galaxy. Researchers assume H sub o = 75 km sec (-1) Mpc(-1). Discussed here are the pressures in the three components of the Interstellar Medium (ISM) (i.e., the radio, x ray, and line emitting fluids) within a radius of about 15 kpc of the active nucleus of the Cygnus A galaxy.

Carilli, Chris↗

Emergence of double-peaked emission lines in the broad-line radio galaxy Pictor A

A new optical spectrum of the nearby broad-line radio galaxy (BLRG) Pictor A reveals a prominent double-peaked component of the Balmer lines which does not appear in any historical spectra of this object. Carried out with the hope of obtaining exactly such a result, this observation is a key to the interpretation of double-peaked emitters. If bolsters our previous conclusion that there is a set of additional properties which are associated with the rare class of double-peaked emitters, namely F-R II radio morphology, strong low-ionization forbidden lines, weak UV continuum, and flat far-infrared spectrum. Furthermore, the low-velocity, 'ordinary' broad Balmer lines in Pictor A remained relatively unchanged as the new twin peaks appeared, which justifies the practice of applying models that fit only the double peaks and not the low-velocity components that are often present in spectra of this type. We discuss the relative merits of accretion-disk models and other models for double-peaked emission lines in the light of this new observation.

Halpern, Jules P.↗

Chandra Detection of a Parsec Scale Wind in the Broad Line Radio Galaxy 3C 382

We present unambiguous evidence for a parsec scale wind in the Broad-Line Radio Galaxy (BLRG) 3C 382, the first radio-loud AGN whereby an outflow has been measured with X-ray grating spectroscopy. A 118 ks Chandra grating (HETG) observation of 3C 382 has revealed the presence of several high ionization absorption lines in the soft X-ray band, from Fe, Ne, Mg and Si. The absorption lines are blue-shifted with respect to the systemic velocity of 3C 382 by -840+/-60 km/s and are resolved by Chandra with a velocity width of sigma = 340+/-70 km/s. The outflow appears to originate from a single zone of gas of column density N(sub H) = 1.3 x 10(exp 21)/sq cm and ionization parameter log(E/erg/cm/s) = 2.45. From the above measurements we calculate that the outflow is observed on parsec scales, within the likely range from 10-1000 pc, i.e., consistent with an origin in the Narrow Line Region. Finally we also discuss the possibility of a much faster (0.1c) outflow component, based on a blue-shifted iron K(alpha) emission line in the Suzaku observation of 3C 382, which could have an origin in an accretion disk wind.

Reeves, J. N.↗

Infrared images of distant 3C radio galaxies

J (1.2-micron) and K (2.2 micron) images have been obtained for eight 3CR radio galaxies with redshifts from 0.7 to 1.8. Most of the objects were known to have extended asymmetric optical continuum or line emission aligned with the radio lobe axis. In general, the IR morphologies of these galaxies are just as peculiar as their optical morphologies. For all the galaxies, when asymmetric structure is present in the optical, structure with the same orientation is seen in the IR and must be accounted for in any model to explain the alignment of optical and radio emission.

Eisenhardt, Peter↗

Observations of Paschen alpha in the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 445

P alpha line flux measurements of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 445 made at the NASA IR Telescope Facility in September 1981 are discussed. Broad-band measurements were obtained at H of 1.65 micron and K of 2.2 microns. A line flux of P alpha was found at 3.4 times 10 to the -13th ergs/sq cm sec. No discernable variation was detectable regarding measurements made in 1976. Substantial reddening was concluded to exist, although the H gamma lines observed were not due to reddening. The total H alpha luminosity was determined to be 4 x 10 to the 43rd ergs/sec. Steep Balmer line decrements are concluded to be due to interposed dust.

Rudy, R. J.↗

Structure of the Accretion Flows in Broad-Line Radio Galaxies

The goal of this project was to obtain high-signal-to-noise ratio X-ray spectra of broad-line radio galaxies in order to compare the properties of their Fe K(alpha) lines with those of their radio-quiet counterparts, the Seyfert galaxies. By fitting the line profiles with relativistic disk models, it is possible to determine the range of radii in the disk where the lines originate and thus test models for the inner accretion disk. More specifically, geometrically thin disk models place the origin of the line very close to the innermost stable orbit of the disk, while models of advection dominated accretion flows require the lines to originate at larger distances from the central black hole, of order a few hundred gravitational radii.

Eracleous, Michael↗

Constraints on molecular gas in cooling flows and powerful radio galaxies

We searched for molecular gas in a heterogeneous sample of five radio-loud galaxies (three of which are inferred to be in cooling flow clusters) using the Swedish-European Southern Observatory (Swedish-ESO) Submillimeter Telescope. We do not detect CO in emission in any of the cluster sources at a 3 sigma level of typically 15 mK. White et al. (1991) have suggested column densities of N(sub H) approximately 10(exp 21)/sq cm in these clusters with a spatial covering factor of order unity and a total mass of M approximately 10(exp 12) solar mass. Our limits are inconsistent with these column densities and spatial covering factor unless the molecular gas is very cold (kinetic temperature close to 2.7 K) or there only a few clouds along each line of sight. We estimate minimum temperatures in the range approximately 20-30 K. We find that clouds of atomic and molecular hydrogen require strict fine-tuning of parameter space in order to satisfy the requirements for the large column densities N(sub H) approximately 10(exp 21)/sq cm, unit covering factor, and a small number of clouds along the line of sight. Currently the only way molecular gas can be responsible for the X-ray absorption and still be consistent with our observations is if (1) there is of order one cloud along the line of sight and (2) the optical depth in C-12 1 to 0 is less than 10. In addition, we present a Very Large Array (VLA) image of NGC 4696 which suggests this object is a member of the class of 'amorphous cooling flow radio sources.' The C-12 1 to 0 line is detected in emission in PKS 0634-206, a classical double radio galaxy which is rich in extended optical emission line gas. The estimated molecular gas mass is M(sub mol) approximately 3 x 10(exp 9) solar mass and is much larger than that of the ionized component detected in hydrogen alpha suggesting that the emission-line nebula is radiation bounded.

O'Dea, Christopher P.↗

Detection of the He I 10830-A line in the broadline radio galaxy 3C 120

The first measurement of He I 10830 A flux in a broadline radio galaxy (BLRG), 3C 120, is reported. The flux is 2.7 x 10 to the -13th erg/sq cm/s. The relative strengths of the 10830 A line and other prominent broad emission lines are 10830 A/He I 5876 A/H-beta/H-alpha = 0.64/0.27/1.00/6.3. Reddening is ruled out as the single source of the large 5876 A/H-beta ratio, and the necessity for either an enhanced helium abundance or an extended He II is obviated. Rather, the line ratios indicate that significant collisional enhancement of 5876 A and H-beta occurs, identical to that observed in Seyfert I galaxies and quasars.

Rudy, Richard J.↗

The High-Energy View of the Broad-Line Radio Galaxy 3C 111

We present the analysis of Suzaku and XMM -Newton observations of the broad-line radio galaxy (BLRG) 3C 111. Its high-energy emission shows variability, a harder continuum with respect to the radio-quiet active galactic nucleus population, and weak reflection features. Suzaku found the source in a minimum flux level; a comparison with the XMM-Newton data implies an increase of a factor of 2.5 in the 0.5-10 keV flux, in the 6 months separating the two observations. The iron K complex is detected in both data sets, with rather low equivalent width(s). The intensity of the iron K complex does not respond to the change in continuum flux. An ultrafast, high-ionization outflowing gas is clearly detected in the Suzaku/X-ray Imaging Spectrometer data; the absorber is most likely unstable. Indeed, during the XMM-Newton observation, which was 6 months after, the absorber was not detected. No clear rollover in the hard X-ray emission is detected, probably due to the emergence of the jet as a dominant component in the hard X-ray band, as suggested by the detection above approx.100 keV with the GSO onboard Suzaku, although the present data do not allow us to firmly constrain the relative contribution of the different components. The fluxes observed by the gamma-ray satellites CGRO and Fermi would be compatible with the putative jet component if peaking at energies E approx. 100MeV. In the X-ray band, the jet contribution to the continuum starts to be significant only above 10 keV. If the detection of the jet component in 3C 111 is confirmed, then its relative importance in the X-ray energy band could explain the different observed properties in the high-energy emission of BLRGs, which are otherwise similar in their other multiwavelength properties. Comparison between X-ray and gamma -ray data taken at different epochs suggests that the strong variability observed for 3C 111 is probably driven by a change in the primary continuum.

Ballo, L.↗

The spectral-flux distribution /0.36-3.5 microns/ of nonstellar light from the broad-line radio galaxies 3C 227 and 3C 382

Optical-infrared (0.36-3.5 microns) photometric data of the radio galaxy 3C 382, obtained in 1976, show a distinct excess at the longest wavelengths, an ultraviolet excess, and a significant increase in brightness since previous photometry by Sandage (1972). A flux excess at infrared wavelengths has also been observed from 3C 227. These properties demonstrate the presence of emission not attributable to stars, probably originating in the nucleus, extending into the infrared portion of the spectrum.

Odell, S. L.↗

The hydrogen line spectra of narrow-line radio galaxies

The results of the first detection of Ly-alpha in a narrow-line radio galaxy are reported. Nearly simultaneous optical and UV observations of 3C 192 and 3C 223 allow the measurement of both Balmer and Lyman decrements. These line ratios are approximate functions of the interstellar reddening and of a parameter which is proportional to the amount of H I collisional excitation present. The reddening of 3C 192 is slightly larger than that due to the Galaxy, although 3C 223 may have a larger value. Both galaxies have intrinsic Balmer and Lyman decrements which are significantly steeper than case B, suggesting that the gas is photoionized by a fairly hard X-ray continuum. The deduced values of L-alpha/H-beta and H-alpha/H-beta compare favorably with predictions of recent models.

Ferland, G. J.↗

The Nuclear Spectrum of the Radio Galaxy NGC 5128 (Centaurus A)

We present near-infrared spectra of the nucleus of the nearby radio galaxy NGC 5128 (Centaurus A). The observed emission line strengths suggest that NGC 5128 should be classified as a LINER, and appear to be powered by shocks.

galaxies active galaxies NGC 5128 Centaurus A nucl↗

Evidence for a Circum-Nuclear and Ionised Absorber in the X-ray Obscured Broad Line Radio Galaxy 3C 445

Here we present the results of a Suzaku observation of the Broad Line Radio Galaxy 3C 445. We confirm the results obtained with the previous X-ray observations which unveiled the presence of several soft X-ray emission lines and an overall X-ray emission which strongly resembles a typical Seyfert 2 despite of the optical classification as an unobscured AGN. The broad band spectrum allowed us to measure for the first time the amount of reflection (R approximately 0.9) which together with the relatively strong neutral Fe Ka emission line (EW approximately 100 eV) strongly supports a scenario where a Compton-thick mirror is present. The primary X ray continuum is strongly obscured by an absorber with a column density of NH = 2 - 3 x 10(exp 23) per square centimeter. Two possible scenarios are proposed for the absorber: a neutral partial covering or a mildly ionised absorber with an ionisation parameter log xi approximately 1.0 erg centimeter per second. A comparison with the past and more recent X-ray observations of 3C 445 performed with XMM-Newton and Chandra is presented, which provided tentative evidence that the ionised and outflowing absorber varied. We argue that the absorber is probably associated with an equatorial diskwind located within the parsec scale molecular torus.

Braito, V.↗

Low luminosity radio galaxies - Effects of gaseous environment

X-ray data from the Einstein Observatory have been collected for a number of low luminosity B2 radio galaxies, in order to study the effect of gas pressure on radio sources. Generally, the thermal pressure of the X-ray emitting gas is sufficient to confine most of the radio components. Various possibilities are given for sources where thermal pressure significantly exceeds the nonthermal pressure. For radio lobes, an inverse correlation is found between the central densities of the cluster gas and the size of the radio structures. For jets, a study of the pressure ratios is given for different distances from the radio core. In a few cases, pressure imbalance is found in the outer regions of the jets. However, from depolarization data, this is unlikely to be produced by a large thermal component inside the radio jets.

Morganti, R.↗