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Register a new userIntrinsic Absorption in the Spectrum of Mrk 279: Simultaneous Chandra, FUSE, and STIS Observations
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Jennifer E. Scott
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We present a study of the intrinsic X-ray and far-ultraviolet absorption in the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy Markarian 279 using simultaneous observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). We also present FUSE observations made at three additional epochs. We detect the Fe K-alpha emission line in the Chandra spectrum, and its flux is consistent with the low X-ray continuum flux level of Mrk 279 at the time of the observation. Due to low signal-to-noise ratios in the Chandra spectrum, no O VII or O VIII absorption features are observable in the Chandra data, but the UV spectra reveal strong and complex absorption from HI and high-ionization species such as O VI, N V, and C IV, as well as from low-ionization species such as C III, N III, C II, and N II in some velocity components. The far-UV spectral coverage of the FUSE data provides information on high-order Lyman series absorption, which we use to calculate the optical depths and line and continuum covering fractions in the intrinsic HI absorbing gas in a self-consistent fashion. The UV continuum flux of Mrk 279 decreases by a factor of ~7.5 over the time spanning these observations and we discuss the implications of the response of the absorption features to this change. From arguments based on the velocities, profile shapes, covering fractions and variability of the UV absorption, we conclude that some of the absorption components, particularly those showing prominent low-ionization lines, are likely associated with the host galaxy of Mrk 279, and possibly with its interaction with a close companion galaxy, while the remainder arises in a nuclear outflow.
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We present simultaneous X-ray, far-ultraviolet, and near-ultraviolet spectra of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469 obtained with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. Previous non-simultaneous observations of this galaxy found two distinct UV absorption components, at -560 and -1900 km/s, with the former as the likely counterpart of the X-ray absorber. We confirm these two absorption components in our new UV observations, in which we detect prominent O VI, Ly alpha, N V, and C IV absorption. In our Chandra spectrum we detect O VIII emission, but no significant O VIII or O VII absorption. We also detect a prominent Fe K alpha emission line in the Chandra spectrum, as well as absorption due to hydrogen-like and helium-like neon, magnesium, and silicon at velocities consistent with the -560 km/s UV absorber. The FUSE and STIS data reveal that the H I and C IV column densities in this UV- and X-ray- absorbing component have increased over time, as the UV continuum flux decreased. We use measured H I, N V, C IV, and O VI column densities to model the photoionization state of both absorbers self-consistently. We confirm the general physical picture of the outflow in which the low velocity component is a highly ionized, high density absorber with a total column density of 10^20 cm^-2, located near the broad emission line region, although due to measurable columns of N V and C IV, we assign it a somewhat smaller ionization parameter than found previously, U~1. The high velocity UV component is of lower density, log N=18.6, and likely resides farther from the central engine as we find its ionization parameter to be U=0.08.
We examine the variability in the intrinsic absorption in the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 279 using three epochs of observations from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and two epochs of observations with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. Rather than finding simple photoionization responses of the absorbing gas to changes in the underlying continuum, the observed changes in the absorption profiles can be understood more clearly if the effective covering fraction of the gas in all emission components, continuum and broad and intermediate velocity width emission lines, is accounted for. While we do not uniquely solve for all of these separate covering fractions and the ionic column densities using the spectral data, we examine the parameter space using previously well-constrained solutions for continuum and single emission component covering fractions. Assuming full coverage of the continuum, we find that of the two velocity components of the Mrk 279 absorption most likely associated with its outflow, one likely has zero coverage of the intermediate line region while the other does not. For each component, however, the broad line region is more fully covered than the intermediate line region. Changes in the O VI column densities are unconstrained due to saturation, but we show that small changes in the nonsaturated C IV and N V column densities are consistent with the outflow gas having zero or partial covering of the intermediate line region and an ionization parameter changing from ~0.01 to ~0.1 from 2002 to 2003 as the UV continuum flux increased by a factor of ~8. The absence of a change in the C III absorbing column density is attributed to this species arising outside the Mrk 279 outflow.
We present far-ultraviolet spectra of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509 obtained in 1999 November with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). Our data span the observed wavelength range 915-1185 A at a resolution of ~20 km/s. The spectrum shows a blue continuum, broad OVI 1032,1038 emission, and a broad CIII 977 emission line. Superposed on these emission components, we resolve associated absorption lines of OVI 1032,1038, CIII 977, and Lyman lines through Lzeta. Seven distinct kinematic components are present, spanning a velocity range of -440 to +170 km/s relative to the systemic velocity. The absorption is clustered in two groups, one centered at -370m km/s and another at the systemic velocity. The blue-shifted cluster may be associated with the extended line emission visible in deep images of Mrk 509 obtained by Phillips et al. Although several components appear to be saturated, they are not black at their centers. Partial covering or scattering permits ~7% of the broad-line or continuum flux to be unaffected by absorption. Of the multiple components, only one has the same ionization state and column density as highly ionized gas that produces the OVII and OVIII ionization edges in X-ray spectra of Mrk 509. This paper will appear in a special issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters devoted to the first scientific results from the FUSE mission.
High-quality Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) observations at 20 km /s resolution of interstellar and intergalactic absorption from 910 to 1187 A are presented for the X-ray bright BL Lac object Mrk 421. In this study we consider the O VI absorption between -140 to 165 km /s and its relationship to the lower ionization absorption and to the strong absorption produced by O VII and O VIII at X-ray wavelengths. The O VI absorption extending from -140 to 60 km /s is associated with strong low ionization gas absorption and originates in the Galactic thick disk / halo. This O VI appears to be produced by a combination of processes, including conductive interfaces between warm and hot gas and possibly cooling Galactic Fountain gas and hot halo gas bubbles. The O VI absorption extending from 60 to 165 km /s has unusual ionization properties in that there is very little associated low ionization absorption, with the exception of C III. This absorption is not observed toward two foreground halo stars, implying that it occurs in gas more distant than 3.5 kpc from the Galactic disk. Over the 60 to 165 km/s velocity range, O VI and C III absorption have the same kinematic behavior. N(O VI)/N(C III) = 10+/-3 over the 60 to 120 km/s velocity range. Given the association of O VI with C III, it is unlikely that the high velocity O VI co-exists with the hotter gas responsible for the O VII and O VIII absorption. The O VI positive velocity absorption wing might be tracing cooler gas entrained in a hot Galactic Fountain outflow. The O VII and O VIII absorption observed by Chandra and XMM-Newton may trace the hot gas in a highly extended (~100 kpc) Galactic corona or hot gas in the Local Group.
New FUSE far-UV spectroscopy of the nearby metal-deficient (Zsun/8) cometary Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) galaxy Markarian (Mrk) 59 is discussed. The data are used to investigate element abundances in its interstellar medium. The H I absorption lines are characterized by narrow cores which are interstellar in origin and by broad wings which are stellar in origin. The mean interstellar H I column density is ~ 7x10E20 cm-2 in Mrk 59. No H2 lines are seen and N(H2) is < 10E15 cm-2 at the 10 sigma level. The lack of diffuse H2 is due to the combined effect of a strong UV radiation field which destroys the H2 molecules and a low metallicity which leads to a scarcity of dust grains necessary for H2 formation. P-Cygni profiles of the S VI 933.4, 944.5 A and O VI 1031.9, 1037.6 A lines are seen, indicating the presence of very hot O stars and a stellar wind terminal velocity of ~ 1000 km/s. By fitting the line profiles with multiple components having each a velocity dispersion b = 7 km/s and spanning a radial velocity range of 100 km/s, some of which can be saturated, we derive heavy element abundances in the neutral gas. We find log N(O I)/N(H I) = -5.0+/-0.3 or [O I/H I] = -1.5 for the neutral gas, about a factor of 10 below the oxygen abundance of the supergiant H II region, implying self-enrichment of the latter.
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