- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJS/222/13
- Title:
- Swift AGN and Cluster Survey (SWCL). II. SDSS
- Short Name:
- J/ApJS/222/13
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We study 203 (of 442) Swift AGN and Cluster Survey extended X-ray sources located in the SDSS DR8 footprint to search for galaxy over-densities in three-dimensional space using SDSS galaxy photometric redshifts and positions near the Swift cluster candidates. We find 104 Swift clusters with a >3{sigma} galaxy over-density. The remaining targets are potentially located at higher redshifts and require deeper optical follow-up observations for confirmation as galaxy clusters. We present a series of cluster properties including the redshift, brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) magnitude, BCG-to-X-ray center offset, optical richness, and X-ray luminosity. We also detect red sequences in ~85% of the 104 confirmed clusters. The X-ray luminosity and optical richness for the SDSS confirmed Swift clusters are correlated and follow previously established relations. The distribution of the separations between the X-ray centroids and the most likely BCG is also consistent with expectation. We compare the observed redshift distribution of the sample with a theoretical model, and find that our sample is complete for z<~0.3 and is still 80% complete up to z~0.4, consistent with the SDSS survey depth. These analysis results suggest that our Swift cluster selection algorithm has yielded a statistically well-defined cluster sample for further study of cluster evolution and cosmology. We also match our SDSS confirmed Swift clusters to existing cluster catalogs, and find 42, 23, and 1 matches in optical, X-ray, and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich catalogs, respectively, and so the majority of these clusters are new detections.
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Search Results
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/864/84
- Title:
- Swift follow-up obs. of the TXS 0506+056 blazar
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/864/84
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Detection of the IceCube-170922A neutrino coincident with the flaring blazar TXS 0506+056, the first and only ~3{sigma} high-energy neutrino source association to date, offers a potential breakthrough in our understanding of high-energy cosmic particles and blazar physics. We present a comprehensive analysis of TXS 0506+056 during its flaring state, using newly collected Swift, NuSTAR, and X-shooter data with Fermi observations and numerical models to constrain the blazar's particle acceleration processes and multimessenger (electromagnetic (EM) and high-energy neutrino) emissions. Accounting properly for EM cascades in the emission region, we find a physically consistent picture only within a hybrid leptonic scenario, with {gamma}-rays produced by external inverse-Compton processes and high-energy neutrinos via a radiatively subdominant hadronic component. We derive robust constraints on the blazar's neutrino and cosmic-ray emissions and demonstrate that, because of cascade effects, the 0.1-100keV emissions of TXS 0506+056 serve as a better probe of its hadronic acceleration and high-energy neutrino production processes than its GeV-TeV emissions. If the IceCube neutrino association holds, physical conditions in the TXS 0506+056 jet must be close to optimal for high-energy neutrino production, and are not favorable for ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray acceleration. Alternatively, the challenges we identify in generating a significant rate of IceCube neutrino detections from TXS 0506+056 may disfavor single-zone models, in which {gamma}-rays and high-energy neutrinos are produced in a single emission region. In concert with continued operations of the high-energy neutrino observatories, we advocate regular X-ray monitoring of TXS 0506+056 and other blazars in order to test single-zone blazar emission models, clarify the nature and extent of their hadronic acceleration processes, and carry out the most sensitive possible search for additional multimessenger sources.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/other/ATel/5200
- Title:
- Swift Galactic Plane Survey sourcelist v3
- Short Name:
- J/other/ATel/520
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The Swift Galactic Plane Survey team report the detection of 248 point-like X-ray sources (0.3-10keV) in observations covering the final 40% of our survey area (see also 2012ATel.3951....1R and 2012ATel.4318....1R). The listed sources are those we consider to be robust detections at the current time.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/854/66
- Title:
- Swift observations of Mrk 421. I. 2005-2008
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/854/66
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present detailed results of Swift observations of the nearby TeV-detected blazar Mrk 421, based on the rich archival data obtained during 2005 March-2008 June. The best fits of the 0.3-10keV spectra were mainly obtained using the log-parabolic model, yielding low spectral curvatures expected in the case of the efficient stochastic acceleration of particles. During strong X-ray flares, the position of the synchrotron spectral energy distribution peak E_p_ was beyond 8keV for 41 spectra, while it sometimes was situated at the UV frequencies in quiescent states. The photon index at 1 keV exhibited a broad range, and the values a<1.70 were observed during the strong flares, hinting at the possible presence of a jet hadronic component. The spectral parameters were correlated in some periods, expected in the framework of the first- and second-order Fermi accelerations of X-ray emitting particles, as well as in the case of turbulence spectrum. The 0.3-10keV flux and spectral parameters sometimes showed very fast variability down to the fluctuations by 6-20% in 180-960s, possibly related to the small-scale turbulent areas containing strongest magnetic fields. X-ray and very high-energy fluxes often showed correlated variability, although several occurrences of more complicated variability patterns are also revealed, indicating that the multifrequency emission of Mrk 421 could not be generated in a single zone.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/858/68
- Title:
- Swift obs. of Mrk 421 in selected epochs. II.
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/858/68
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present the results from a detailed spectral and timing study of Mrk 421 based on the rich archival Swift data obtained during 2009-2012. Best fits of the 0.3-10keV spectra were mostly obtained using the log-parabolic model showing the relatively low spectral curvature that is expected in the case of efficient stochastic acceleration of particles. The position of the synchrotron spectral energy density peak E_p_ of 173 spectra is found at energies higher than 2keV. The photon index at 1 keV exhibited a very broad range of values a=1.51-3.02, and very hard spectra with a<1.7 were observed during the strong X-ray flares, hinting at a possible hadronic jet component. The spectral parameters varied on diverse timescales and showed a correlation in some periods, which is expected in the case of first- and second-order Fermi acceleration. The 0.3-10keV flux showed strong X-ray flaring activity by a factor of 3-17 on timescales of a few days-weeks between the lowest historical state and that corresponding to a rate higher than 100ct/s. Moreover, 113 instances of intraday variability were revealed, exhibiting shortest flux-doubling/halving times of about 1.2hr, as well as brightenings by 7%-24% in 180-720 s and declines by 68%-22% in 180-900s. The X-ray and very high-energy fluxes generally showed a correlated variability, although one incidence of a more complicated variability was also detected, indicating that the multifrequency emission of Mrk 421 could not be generated in a single zone.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/828/3
- Title:
- Swift obs. of the superluminous SNI ASASSN-15lh
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/828/3
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present and discuss ultraviolet and optical photometry from the Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope, X-ray limits from the X-Ray Telescope on Swift, and imaging polarimetry and ultraviolet/optical spectroscopy with the Hubble Space Telescope, all from observations of ASASSN-15lh. It has been classified as a hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova (SLSN I), making it more luminous than any other supernova observed. ASASSN-15lh is not detected in the X-rays in individual or co-added observations. From the polarimetry we determine that the explosion was only mildly asymmetric. We find the flux of ASASSN-15lh to increase strongly into the ultraviolet, with an ultraviolet luminosity 100 times greater than the hydrogen-rich, ultraviolet-bright SLSN II SN 2008es. We find that objects as bright as ASASSN-15lh are easily detectable beyond redshifts of ~4 with the single-visit depths planned for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. Deep near-infrared surveys could detect such objects past a redshift of ~20, enabling a probe of the earliest star formation. A late rebrightening-most prominent at shorter wavelengths-is seen about two months after the peak brightness, which is itself as bright as an SLSN. The ultraviolet spectra during the rebrightening are dominated by the continuum without the broad absorption or emission lines seen in SLSNe or tidal disruption events (TDEs) and the early optical spectra of ASASSN-15lh. Our spectra show no strong hydrogen emission, showing only Ly{alpha} absorption near the redshift previously found by optical absorption lines of the presumed host. The properties of ASASSN-15lh are extreme when compared to either SLSNe or TDEs.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/870/123
- Title:
- Swift optical & UV flux of four AGNs
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/870/123
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Swift intensive accretion disk reverberation mapping of four AGN yielded light curves sampled ~200-350 times in 0.3-10keV X-ray and six UV/optical bands. Uniform reduction and cross-correlation analysis of these data sets yields three main results: (1) The X-ray/UV correlations are much weaker than those within the UV/optical, posing severe problems for the lamp-post reprocessing model in which variations in a central X-ray corona drive and power those in the surrounding accretion disk. (2) The UV/optical interband lags are generally consistent with {tau}{propto}{lambda}^4/3^ as predicted by the centrally illuminated thin accretion disk model. While the average interband lags are somewhat larger than predicted, these results alone are not inconsistent with the thin disk model given the large systematic uncertainties involved. (3) The one exception is the U band lags, which are on average a factor of ~2.2 larger than predicted from the surrounding band data and fits. This excess appears to be due to diffuse continuum emission from the broad-line region (BLR). The precise mixing of disk and BLR components cannot be determined from these data alone. The lags in different AGN appear to scale with mass or luminosity. We also find that there are systematic differences between the uncertainties derived by Just Another Vehicle for Estimating Lags In Nuclei (JAVELIN) versus more standard lag measurement techniques, with JAVELIN reporting smaller uncertainties by a factor of 2.5 on average. In order to be conservative only standard techniques were used in the analyses reported herein.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/836/25
- Title:
- Swift UVOT light curves of ASASSN-15lh
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/836/25
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present the detection of persistent soft X-ray radiation with L_x_~10^41^-10^42^erg/s at the location of the extremely luminous, double-humped transient ASASSN-15lh as revealed by Chandra and Swift. We interpret this finding in the context of observations from our multiwavelength campaign, which revealed the presence of weak narrow nebular emission features from the host-galaxy nucleus and clear differences with respect to superluminous supernova optical spectra. Significant UV flux variability on short timescales detected at the time of the rebrightening disfavors the shock interaction scenario as the source of energy powering the long-lived UV emission, while deep radio limits exclude the presence of relativistic jets propagating into a low-density environment. We propose a model where the extreme luminosity and double-peaked temporal structure of ASASSN-15lh is powered by a central source of ionizing radiation that produces a sudden change in the ejecta opacity at later times. As a result, UV radiation can more easily escape, producing the second bump in the light curve. We discuss different interpretations for the intrinsic nature of the ionizing source. We conclude that, if the X-ray source is physically associated with the optical-UV transient, then ASASSN-15lh most likely represents the tidal disruption of a main-sequence star by the most massive spinning black hole detected to date. In this case, ASASSN-15lh and similar events discovered in the future would constitute the most direct probes of very massive, dormant, spinning, supermassive black holes in galaxies. Future monitoring of the X-rays may allow us to distinguish between the supernova hypothesis and the hypothesis of a tidal disruption event.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/836/232
- Title:
- Swift-UVOT obs. analysis of 29 SNe Ia
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/836/232
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The intrinsic colors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are important to understanding their use as cosmological standard candles. Understanding the effects of reddening and redshift on the observed colors are complicated and dependent on the intrinsic spectrum, the filter curves, and the wavelength dependence of reddening. We present ultraviolet and optical data of a growing sample of SNe Ia observed with the Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope on the Swift spacecraft and use this sample to re-examine the near-UV (NUV) colors of SNe Ia. We find that a small amount of reddening (E(B-V)=0.2mag) could account for the difference between groups designated as NUV-blue and NUV-red, and a moderate amount of reddening (E(B-V)=0.5mag) could account for the whole NUV-optical differences. The reddening scenario, however, is inconsistent with the mid-UV colors and color evolution. The effect of redshift alone only accounts for part of the variation. Using a spectral template of SN2011fe, we can forward model the effects of redshift and reddening and directly compare those with the observed colors. We find that some SNe are consistent with reddened versions of SN2011fe, but most SNe Ia are much redder in the uvw1-v color than SN2011fe reddened to the same b-v color. The absolute magnitudes show that two out of five NUV-blue SNe Ia are blue because their near-UV luminosity is high, and the other three are optically fainter. We also show that SN 2011fe is not a "normal" SN Ia in the UV, but has colors placing it at the blue extreme of our sample.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/897/18
- Title:
- Swift UVOT observation of the radio quasar 3C 273
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/897/18
- Date:
- 16 Mar 2022 00:38:40
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- 3C273 is an intensively monitored flat-spectrum radio quasar with both a beamed jet and blue bump together with broad emission lines. The coexistence of the comparably prominent jet and accretion disk leads to complicated variability properties. Recent reverberation mapping monitoring for 3C273 revealed that the optical continuum shows a distinct long-term trend that does not have a corresponding echo in the H{beta} fluxes. We compile multiwavelength monitoring data from the Swift archive and other ground-based programs and clearly find two components of emissions at optical wavelength. One component stems from the accretion disk itself, and the other component can be ascribed to the jet contribution, which also naturally accounts for the nonechoed trend in reverberation mapping data. We develop an approach to decouple the optical emissions from the jet and accretion disk in 3C273 with the aid of multiwavelength monitoring data. By assuming that the disk emission has a negligible polarization in consideration of the low inclination of the jet, the results show that the jet contributes a fraction of ~10% at the minimum and up to ~40% at the maximum to the total optical emissions. This is the first time to provide a physical interpretation of the "detrending" manipulation conventionally adopted in reverberation mapping analysis. Our work also illustrates the importance of appropriately analyzing variability properties in cases of coexisting jets and accretion disks.
