Search for: All records

Abstract AT 2019aalc is a peculiar sequence of highly variable emission events observed towards the nucleus of the broad-line active galactic nucleus (AGN) SDSS J152416.66+045119.0. The system exhibited two distinct UV-optical flares (the first detected in 2019, the second one in 2023). Spectra obtained following the detection of the second flare revealed prominent Bowen fluorescence (BF) and high-ionization coronal emission lines, which were much weaker, if at all detectable, in a spectrum taken following the first flare. We present and analyze a large set of multi-wavelength, multi-epoch data for this source, with particular emphasis on optical spectroscopic monitoring conducted with the Las Cumbres Observatory network. During the relatively slow dimming that followed the second optical flare, the UV-optical light curve shows a sequence of minor rebrightening events, while the BF and the coronal lines vary (roughly) in tandem with these “bumps” in the broadband light curve. Most of the observed behavior of AT 2019aalc links it to the growing class of BF flares while setting it apart from canonical tidal disruption events. However, AT 2019aalc has some outstanding peculiarities, including two short flares seen in its soft X-ray light-curve during the dimming phase of the second optical flare, and which do not seem to be linked to the emission line variations. We discuss the optical and X-ray properties of the source and possible scenarios of the origin of the flare, in particular radiation pressure instabilities in the (preexisting) AGN accretion disk. 

Abstract We present dynamical modeling of the broad-line region (BLR) of the highly variable active galactic nucleus (AGN) SDSS J141041.25+531849.0 (z= 0.359) using photometric and spectroscopic monitoring data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Reverberation Mapping project and the current fifth-generation SDSS Black Hole Mapper program, spanning from early 2013 to early 2023. We model the geometry and kinematics of the BLR in the Hβ, Hα, and Mgiiemission lines for three different time periods to measure the potential change of structure within the BLR across time and line species. We find a moderately face-on $(i_{\mathrm{full}-\mathrm{state}}=29.{68}_{-3.62}^{+4.74}\mathrm{deg})$thick-disk $({\theta }_{\mathrm{opn},\mathrm{full}-\mathrm{state}}=42.{04}_{-3.96}^{+4.32}\mathrm{deg})$geometry for most BLRs, with a joint estimate for the mass of the supermassive black hole for each of three time periods, yielding ${\log }_{10}(M_{\mathrm{BH}}/M_{\odot })=8.10_{-0.03}^{+0.03}$when using the full data set. The inferred individual virial factorf∼ 1.6 is moderately smaller than the average factor for a local sample of dynamically modeled AGNs. There is strong evidence for nonvirial motion, with over 70% of clouds on inflowing/outflowing orbits. We analyze the change in model parameters across emission lines, finding the radii of BLRs for the emission lines are consistent with the following relative sizesR_Hβ ≲ R_MgII ≲ R_Hα. Comparing results across time, we findR_low-state ≲ R_high-state, with the change in BLR size for Hβbeing more significant than for the other two lines. The data also reveal complex, time-evolving, and potentially transient dynamics of the BLR gas over a decade-long timescale, encouraging for future dynamical modeling of fine-scale BLR kinematics. 

Abstract We introduce a prescription for estimating the flux of the 7.7μm and 11.3μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) features from broadband JWST/MIRI images. Probing PAH flux with MIRI imaging data has advantages in field of view, spatial resolution, and sensitivity compared with MIRI spectral maps, but comparisons with spectra are needed to calibrate these flux estimations over a wide variety of environments. For 267 MIRI/MRS spectra from independent regions in the four luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) in the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey Early Release Science program, we derive synthetic filter photometry and directly compare estimated PAH fluxes to those measured from detailed spectral fits. We find that for probing PAH 7.7μm, the best combination of filters is F560W, F770W, and either F1500W or F2100W, and the best for PAH 11.3μm is F560W, F1000W, F1130W, and F1500W. The prescription with these combinations yields predicted flux densities that typically agree with values from spectral decomposition within ∼7% and ∼5% for PAH 7.7 and 11.3μm, respectively. 

Abstract We present results from a high-cadence multiwavelength observational campaign of the enigmatic changing-look active galactic nucleus 1ES 1927+654 from 2022 May to 2024 April, coincident with an unprecedented radio flare (an increase in flux by a factor of ∼60 over a few months) and the emergence of a spatially resolved jet at 0.1–0.3 pc scales. Companion work has also detected a recurrent quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the 2–10 keV band with an increasing frequency (1–2 mHz) over the same period. During this time, the soft X-rays (0.3–2 keV) monotonically increased by a factor of ∼8, while the UV emission remained nearly steady with <30% variation and the 2–10 keV flux showed variation by a factor ≲2. The weak variation of the 2–10 keV X-ray emission and the stability of the UV emission suggest that the magnetic energy density and accretion rate are relatively unchanged and that the jet could be launched owing to a reconfiguration of the magnetic field (toroidal to poloidal) close to the black hole. Advecting poloidal flux onto the event horizon would trigger the Blandford–Znajek mechanism, leading to the onset of the jet. The concurrent softening of the coronal slope (from Γ = 2.70 ± 0.04 to Γ = 3.27 ± 0.04), the appearance of a QPO, and the low coronal temperature ( $k{T}_e=8_{-3}^{+8}\mathrm{keV}$) during the radio outburst suggest that the poloidal field reconfiguration can significantly impact coronal properties and thus influence jet dynamics. These extraordinary findings in real time are crucial for coronal and jet plasma studies, particularly as our results are independent of coronal geometry. 

Abstract The enormous increase in mid-IR sensitivity and spatial and spectral resolution provided by the JWST spectrographs enables, for the first time, detailed extragalactic studies of molecular vibrational bands. This opens an entirely new window for the study of the molecular interstellar medium in luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs). We present a detailed analysis of rovibrational bands of gas-phase CO, H₂O, C₂H₂, and HCN toward the heavily obscured eastern nucleus of the LIRG VV 114, as observed by NIRSpec and the medium resolution spectrograph on the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI MRS). Spectra extracted from apertures of 130 pc in radius show a clear dichotomy between the obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) and two intense starburst regions. We detect the 2.3μm CO bandheads, characteristic of cool stellar atmospheres, in the star-forming regions, but not toward the AGN. Surprisingly, at 4.7μm, we find highly excited CO (T_ex≈ 700–800 K out to at least rotational levelJ= 27) toward the star-forming regions, but only cooler gas (T_ex≈ 200 K) toward the AGN. We conclude that only mid-infrared pumping through the rovibrational lines can account for the equilibrium conditions found for CO and H₂O in the deeply embedded starbursts. Here, the CO bands probe regions with an intense local radiation field inside dusty young massive star clusters or near the most massive young stars. The lack of high-excitation molecular gas toward the AGN is attributed to geometric dilution of the intense radiation from the bright point source. An overview of the relevant excitation and radiative transfer physics is provided in an appendix. 

Abstract The discovery over the last several decades of low- and moderate-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in disk-dominated galaxies—which show no “classical” bulges—suggests that secular mechanisms represent an important growth pathway for supermassive black holes in these systems. We present new follow-up NuSTAR observations of the optically elusive AGNs in two bulgeless galaxies, NGC 4178 and J0851+3926. Galaxy NGC 4178 was originally reported as hosting an AGN based on the detection of [Nev] mid-infrared emission detected by Spitzer, and based on Chandra X-ray imaging, it has since been argued to host either a heavily obscured AGN or a supernova remnant. Galaxy J0851+3926 was originally identified as an AGN based on its Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer mid-IR colors, and follow-up near-infrared spectroscopy previously revealed a hidden broad-line region, offering compelling evidence for an optically elusive AGN. Neither AGN is detected within the new NuSTAR imaging, and we derive upper limits on the hard X-ray 10–24 keV fluxes of <7.41 × 10⁻¹⁴and <9.40 × 10⁻¹⁴erg cm⁻²s⁻¹for the AGNs in NGC 4178 and J0851+3926, respectively. If these nondetections are due to large absorbing columns along the line of sight, the nondetections in NGC 4178 and J0851+3926 could be explained with column densities of log(N_H/cm²) > 24.2 and 24.1, respectively. The nature of the nuclear activity in NGC 4178 remains inconclusive; it is plausible that the [Nev] traces a period of higher activity in the past, but that the AGN is relatively quiescent now. The nondetection in J0851+3926 and multiwavelength properties are consistent with the AGN being heavily obscured. 

Abstract We present the results of an investigation of a highly variable Civbroad absorption line (BAL) feature in spectra of the quasar SBS 1408+544 (z= 2.337) that shows a significant shift in velocity over time. This source was observed as a part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Reverberation Mapping project and the SDSS-V Black Hole Mapper Reverberation Mapping project, and has been included in two previous studies, both of which identified significant variability in a high-velocity CivBAL on timescales of just a few days in the quasar rest frame. Using ∼130 spectra acquired over 8 yr of spectroscopic monitoring with SDSS, we have determined that this BAL is not only varying in strength, but is also systematically shifting to higher velocities. Using cross-correlation methods, we measure the velocity shifts (and corresponding acceleration) of the BAL over a wide range of timescales, measuring an overall velocity shift of $\mathrm{\Delta }v=-{683}_{-84}^{+89}$km s⁻¹over the 8 yr monitoring period. This corresponds to an average rest-frame acceleration ofa= 1.04 ${}_{-0.13}^{+0.14}$cm s⁻², though the magnitude of the acceleration on shorter timescales is not constant throughout. We place our measurements in the context of BAL-acceleration models and examine various possible causes of the observed velocity shift. 

Abstract We present a velocity-resolved reverberation mapping analysis of the hypervariable quasar RM160 (SDSS J141041.25+531849.0) atz= 0.359 with 153 spectroscopic epochs of data representing a 10 yr baseline (2013–2023). We split the baseline into two regimes based on the 3× flux increase in the light curve: a “low state” phase during the years 2013–2019 and a “high state” phase during the years 2022–2023. The velocity-resolved lag profiles (VRLPs) indicate that gas with different kinematics dominates the line emission in different states. The HβVRLP begins with a signature of inflow onto the broad-line region (BLR) in the low state, while in the high state it is flatter with less signature of inflow. The HαVRLP begins consistent with a virialized BLR in the low state, while in the high state shows a signature of inflow. The differences in the kinematics between the Balmer lines and between the low state and the high state suggests complex BLR dynamics. We find that the BLR radius and velocity (both FWHM andσ) do not obey a constant virial product throughout the monitoring period. We find that the BLR lags and continuum luminosity are correlated, consistent with rapid response of the BLR gas to the illuminating continuum. The BLR kinematic profile changes in unpredictable ways that are not related to continuum changes and reverberation lag. Our observations indicate that nonvirial kinematics can significantly contribute to observed line profiles, suggesting caution for black hole mass estimation in luminous and highly varying quasars like RM160. 

Abstract “Changing-look” active galactic nuclei (CL-AGNs) challenge our basic ideas about the physics of accretion flows and circumnuclear gas around supermassive black holes. Using first-year Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) repeated spectroscopy of nearly 29,000 previously known active galactic nuclei (AGNs), combined with dedicated follow-up spectroscopy, and publicly available optical light curves, we have identified 116 CL-AGNs where (at least) one broad emission line has essentially (dis-)appeared, as well as 88 other extremely variable systems. Our CL-AGN sample, with 107 newly identified cases, is the largest reported to date, and includes ∼0.4% of the AGNs reobserved in first-year SDSS-V operations. Among our CL-AGNs, 67% exhibit dimming while 33% exhibit brightening. Our sample probes extreme AGN spectral variability on months to decades timescales, including some cases of recurring transitions on surprisingly short timescales (≲2 months in the rest frame). We find that CL events are preferentially found in lower-Eddington-ratio (f_Edd) systems: Our CL-AGNs have af_Edddistribution that significantly differs from that of a carefully constructed, redshift- and luminosity-matched control sample (Anderson–Darling test yieldingp_AD≈ 6 × 10⁻⁵; medianf_Edd≈ 0.025 versus 0.043). This preference for lowf_Eddstrengthens previous findings of higher CL-AGN incidence at lowerf_Edd, found in smaller samples. Finally, we show that the broad Mgiiemission line in our CL-AGN sample tends to vary significantly less than the broad Hβemission line. Our large CL-AGN sample demonstrates the advantages and challenges in using multi-epoch spectroscopy from large surveys to study extreme AGN variability and physics. 

Abstract The optical-ultraviolet transient AT 2021loi is located at the center of its host galaxy. Its spectral features identify it as a member of the Bowen fluorescence flare (BFF) class. The first member of this class was considered to be related to a tidal disruption event, but enhanced accretion onto an already active supermassive black hole was suggested as an alternative explanation. Having occurred in a previously known unobscured active galactic nucleus, AT 2021loi strengthens the latter interpretation. Its light curve is similar to those of previous BFFs, showing a rebrightening approximately 1 yr after the main peak (which was not explicitly identified but might be the case in all previous BFFs). An emission feature around 4680 Å, seen in the preflare spectrum, strengthens by a factor of ∼2 around the optical peak of the flare and is clearly seen as a double-peaked feature then, suggesting a blend of Niiiλ4640 with Heiiλ4686 as its origin. The appearance of Oiiiλ3133 and possible Niiiλλ4097, 4103 (blended with Hδ) during the flare further support a Bowen fluorescence classification. Here we present ZTF, ATLAS, Keck, Las Cumbres Observatory, NEOWISE-R, Swift AMI, and Very Large Array observations of AT 2021loi, making it one of the best-observed BFFs to date. It thus provides some clarity on the nature of BFFs but also further demonstrates the diversity of nuclear transients.