We investigate whether the correlation between the hard X-ray photon index ({Gamma}) and accretion rate for super-Eddington accreting quasars is different from that for sub-Eddington accreting quasars. We construct a sample of 113 bright quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 14 quasar catalog, with 38 quasars as the super-Eddington subsample and 75 quasars as the sub-Eddington subsample. We derive black hole masses using a simple-epoch virial mass formula based on the H{beta} lines, and we use the standard thin disk model to derive the dimensionless accretion rates (M) for our sample. The X-ray data for these quasars are collected from the Chandra and XMM-Newton archives. We fit the hard X-ray spectra using a single power-law model to obtain {Gamma} values. We find a statistically significant (R_S_=0.43, p=7.75x10^-3^) correlation between {Gamma} and M for the super-Eddington subsample. The {Gamma}-M correlation for the sub-Eddington subsample is also significant, but weaker (R_S_=0.30, p=9.98x10^-3^). Linear regression analysis shows that {Gamma}=(0.34{+/-}0.11)log(M)+(1.71{+/-}0.17) and {Gamma}=(0.09{+/-}0.04)log(M)+(1.93{+/-}0.04) for the super- and sub-Eddington subsamples, respectively. The {Gamma}-M correlations of the two subsamples are different, suggesting different disk-corona connections in these two types of systems. We propose one qualitative explanation of the steeper {Gamma}-M correlation in the super-Eddington regime that involves larger seed photon fluxes received by the compact coronae from the thick disks in super-Eddington accreting quasars.
OH megamasers (OHMs) are rare, luminous molecular masers that are typically observed in (ultra) luminous infrared galaxies and serve as markers of major galaxy mergers. In blind emission line surveys such as the Arecibo Legacy Fast Arecibo L-Band Feed Array (ALFALFA) survey for neutral hydrogen (HI), OHMs at z~0.2 can mimic z~0.05 HI lines. We present the results of optical spectroscopy of ambiguous HI detections in the ALFALFA 40 per cent data release detected by the Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) but with uncertain optical counterparts. The optical redshifts, obtained from observations at the Apache Point Observatory, revealed five new OHMs and identified 129 HI optical counterparts. 60 candidates remain ambiguous. The new OHMs are the first detected in a blind spectral line survey. The number of OHMs in ALFALFA is consistent with predictions from the OH luminosity function. Additionally, the mid-infrared magnitudes and colours of the OHM host galaxies found in a blind survey do not seem to differ from those found in previous targeted surveys. This validates the methods used in previous IR-selected OHM surveys and indicates there is no previously unknown OHM-producing population at z~0.2. We also provide a method for future surveys to separate OH megamasers from 99 per cent of HI line emitters without optical spectroscopy by using WISE infrared colours and magnitudes. Since the fraction of OHMs found in flux-limited HI surveys is expected to increase with the survey's redshift, this selection method can be applied to future flux-limited high-redshift hydrogen surveys.
We present an optical spectroscopic atlas for 123 core-dominated radio-loud active galactic nuclei with relativistic jets, drawn from the MOJAVE/2cm (Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA Experiments) sample at 15GHz. It is the first time that spectroscopic and photometric parameters for a large sample of such type of AGN are presented.
A number of flat spectrum radio sources have been observed in optical spectroscopy; most of the sources are either classified as BL Lacertae objects or have been described as BL Lac candidates.
We present an optical spectroscopic survey of 24um and 1.4GHz sources, detected in the Spitzer extragalactic First Look Survey (FLS), using the multifiber spectrograph, Hydra, on the WIYN telescope. We have obtained spectra for 772 sources, with flux densities above 0.15mJy in the infrared and 0.09mJy in the radio. The redshifts measured in this survey are mostly in the range 0<z<0.4, with a distribution peaking at z~0.2.
The analysis of blazars' parameters from BZCAT leads to a conclusion that they do not have the same properties. The preliminary criterion to include an object in the catalog was the strong radio emission; however, two type of radio sources were selected: BL Lacertae (BLL) objects and Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQ). As a number of properties are typical of blazars (strong radio emission, optical variability, continuum optical spectra, polarization, high luminosity, etc.), using the optical data, we investigate them to clarify which property plays the most significant role in their classification as blazars. We found that 60% of blazars have optical variability. We use a technique developed based on POSS1 and POSS2 photometry and group the variability into extreme, strong, medium, and low classes. In the optical range, 51 blazars have powerful variability (extreme variables), and 126 are high variables. In addition, 63% of blazars have detected radiation in X-ray and 28% have detected radiation in gamma rays. We give the average statistical characteristics of blazars based on our analysis and calculations.
