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The Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will detect an unprecedentedly large sample of actively accreting supermassive black holes with typical accretion disk (AD) sizes of a few light days. This brings us to face challenges in the reverberation mapping (RM) measurement of AD sizes in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using interband continuum delays. We examine the effect of LSST cadence strategies on AD RM using our metric AGNTimeLagMetric. It accounts for redshift, cadence, the magnitude limit, and magnitude corrections for dust extinction. Running our metric on different LSST cadence strategies, we produce an atlas of the performance estimations for LSST photometric RM measurements. We provide an upper limit on the estimated number of quasars for which the AD time lag can be computed within 01000 sources in each Deep Drilling field (DDF, 10 sq. deg) in any filter, with the redshift distribution of these sources peaking at z~1. We find the LSST observation strategies with a good cadence (~ 5 days) and a long cumulative season (~9 yr), as proposed for LSST DDF, are favored for the AD size measurement. We create synthetic LSST light curves for the most suitable DDF cadences and determine RM time lags to demonstrate the impact of the best cadences based on the proposed metric., Comment: accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Focus Issue on Rubin LSST cadence and survey strategy

In this second paper in the series, we carefully analyze the observational properties of the optical FeII and NIR CaII triplet in Active Galactic Nuclei, as well as the luminosity, black hole mass, and Eddington ratio in order to define the driving mechanism behind the properties of our sample. The CaII shows an inverse Baldwin effect, bringing out the particular behavior of this ion with respect to the other low-ionization lines such as H$\beta$. We performed a Principal Component Analysis, where 81.2% of the variance can be explained by the first three principal components drawn from the FWHMs, luminosity, and equivalent widths. The first principal component (PC1) is primarily driven by the combination of black hole mass and luminosity with a significance over 99.9%, which in turn is reflected in the strong correlation of the PC1 with the Eddington ratio. The observational correlations are better represented by the Eddington ratio, thus it could be the primary mechanism behind the strong correlations observed in the CaII-FeII sample. Since calcium belongs to the $\alpha$-elements, the FeII/CaII flux ratio can be used as a chemical clock for determining the metal content in AGN and trace the evolution of the host galaxies. We confirm the de-enhancement of the ratio FeII/CaII by the Eddington ratio, suggesting a metal enrichment of the BLR in intermediate-$z$ with respect to low-$z$ objects. A larger sample, particularly at $z$>2, is needed to confirm the present results., Comment: 35 pages, 16 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ

We study the hydrogen ionization instability mechanism in the context of low-mass X-ray binaries with a black hole as a central object. We make numerical calculations of the predicted outbursts’ light curves and compare them to the data observed by X-ray satellites. The comparison to the data is done for five sources observed by RXTE/ASM (XTE J1550−564, 4U 1630−472, XTE J1859+226, GX 339-4, XTE J1818−245) and one source observed by MAXI (MAXI J1659−152). The aim of this paper is to show that the hydrogen ionization instability operating in an accretion disk is responsible for the shape of outbursts observed in low-mass X-ray binaries. From the data fitting process, we put tight constraints on global source parameters such as black hole mass and disk accretion rate. The influence of chemical composition on the overall analysis is also shown. In the case of each outburst, we found the overall bolometric light curve shape that qualitatively matches the data. We were able to model the main outburst and secondary reflare often seen in the data, the latter one caused by the presence of metals in disk gas. In the case of 4U 1630−472, we analyzed two outbursts, which allowed us to put tight constraints on the black hole mass of 4 ± 0.5M ⊙ and on the accretion rate of yr−1.

The symmetry axes of active galactic nuclei (AGN) are randomly distributed in space but highly inclined sources are heavily obscured and are not seen as quasars with broad emission lines. The obscuring torus geometry determines the average viewing angle, and if the torus geometry changes with the redshift, this average viewing angle will also change. Thus the ratio between the isotropic luminosity and observed luminosity may change systematically with redshift. Therefore, if we use quasars to measure the luminosity distance by evaluating the isotropic absolute luminosity and measuring the observed flux, we can have a redshift-dependent bias which can propagate to cosmological parameters. We propose a toy model for testing the effect of viewing angle uncertainty on measurement of the luminosity distance. The model is based on analytical description of the obscuring torus applied to one-parameter observational data. It illustrates the possible change of the torus covering factor between the two chosen redshift ranges. We have estimated the possible error on specific cosmological parameters (H0,Omega_m) for the flat Lambda-CDM cosmology if a method is calibrated at low redshift and applied to the higher redshift. The errors on cosmological parameters due to potential dependence of viewing angle on redshift are found to be potentially significant, and the effect will have to be accommodated in the future in all quasar-based cosmological methods. A careful systematic study of AGN mean viewing angle across redshift is necessary, with the use of appropriate samples and models which uniquely determine the inclination of each source., 15 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited., Highly accreting quasars show fairly distinctive properties in their optical, UV, and X spectra, and are easy to recognize because of their specific location in the quasar main sequence: they are the strongest optical FeII emitters. They show a surprisingly high rate of radio detections and, at variance with the classical radio-loud (jetted) sources, the origin of their radio emission is probably "thermal." The chemical composition of the broad line emitting gas implies high metallicity values, above 10 times solar. A fraction of highly accreting quasars at intermediate and high redshift might therefore be in a particular evolutionary stage that is unobscured albeit still involving a contribution of nuclear and circum-nuclear star formation in their multifrequency properties. © 2021. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society., A.d.O. acknowledges financial support from the Spanish MCIU grant PID2019-106027GB-C41 and from the State Agency for Research of the Spanish MCIU through the Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa award for the Instituto de Astrofsica de An- daluca (SEV-2017-0709).

The usage of the radius-luminosity (R-L) relation for the determination of black hole masses across the cosmic history as well as its application for cosmological studies motivates us to analyze its scatter, which has recently increased significantly both for the optical (H$\beta$) and UV (Mg II) lines. To this purpose, we determined the scatter along the R-L relation for an up-to-date reverberation-mapped Mg II sample. Studying linear combinations of the luminosity at 3000 A with independent parameters such as the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), Fe II strength (R$_\mathrm{FeII}$), and the fractional variability ($F\mathrm{_{var}}$) for the whole sample, we get only a small decrease in the scatter ($\sigma{_{\rm rms}}=0.29-0.30$ dex). Linear combinations with the dimensionless accretion rate ($\dot{\mathcal{M}}$) and the Eddington ratio ($\alpha_\mathrm{Edd}$) lead to significant reductions of the scatter ($\sigma_{\rm rms}\sim 0.1$ dex), albeit both suffering from the inter-dependency on the observed time-delay. After the division into two sub-samples considering the median value of the $\dot{\mathcal{M}}$ in the full sample, we find that the scatter decreases significantly for the highly accreting sub-sample. In particular, the smallest scatter of $\sigma{_{\rm rms}}=0.17$ dex is associated with the independent parameter R$_\mathrm{FeII}$, followed by the combination with $F\mathrm{_{var}}$, with $\sigma{_{\rm rms}}=0.19$ dex. Both of these independent observationally-inferred parameters are in turn correlated with $\dot{\mathcal{M}}$ and $\alpha_\mathrm{Edd}$. These results suggest that the large scatter along the R-L relation is driven $\textit{mainly}$ by the accretion rate intensity., Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ

Active galaxies form a clear pattern in the optical plane showing the correlation between the Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) of the H$\beta$ line and the ratio of the Equivalent Width (EW) of the optical FeII emission and the EW(H$\beta$). This pattern is frequently refereed to as the quasar main sequence. In this paper we study the UV plane showing FWHM of the MgII line against the ratio of EW of UV FeII emission to EW(MgII). We show that the UV plane trends are different, with the underlying strong correlation between FWHM(MgII) and EW(MgII). This correlation is entirely driven by the choice of the continuum used to measure EW(MgII). If we correct for the strong curvature in the UV continuum related to the character of emission expected from accretion disk, the behavior of the FWHM vs. EW for MgII becomes similar to the behaviour of H$\beta$. Such a similarity is expected since both lines belong to the Low Ionization group of emission lines and come from a similar region. Such a similarity and weak coupling between FWHM and EW of the corresponding line is then also consistent with the Broad Line Region model based on the presence of dust in the accretion disk atmosphere., Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures

We report 6 yr monitoring of a distant bright quasar CTS C30.10 (z = 0.90052) with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). We measured the rest-frame time-lag of $562\pm 2$ days between the continuum variations and the response of the Mg II emission line, using the Javelin approach. More conservative approach, based on five different methods, imply the time delay of $564^{+109}_{-71}$ days. This time delay, combined with other available measurements of Mg II line delay, mostly for lower redshift sources, shows that the Mg II line reverberation implies a radius-luminosity relation very similar to the one based on a more frequently studied H$\beta$ line., Comment: submitted to ApJ; comments welcome

Most results of the reverberation monitoring of active galaxies showed a universal scaling of the time delay of the Hbeta emission region with the monochromatic flux at 5100 A, with very small dipersion. Such a scaling favored the dust-based formation mechanism of the Broad Line Region (BLR). Recent reverberation measurements showed that actually a significant fraction of objects exhibits horter lags than the previously found scaling. Here we demonstrate that these shorter lags can be explained by the old concept of scaling of the BLR size with the ionization parameter. Assuming a universal value of this parameter and universal value of the cloud density reproduces the distribution of observational points in the time delay vs. monochromatic flux plane, provided that a range of black hole spins is allowed. However, a confirmation of the new measurements for low/moderate Eddington ratio sources is strongly needed before the dust-based origin of the BLR can be excluded., Accepted for publication in ApJ

The concept of the quasar main sequence is very attractive since it stresses correlations between various parameters and implies the underlying simplicity. In the optical plane defined by the width of the H\{beta} line and the ratio of the equivalent width of the Fe II to H\{beta} observed objects form a characteristic pattern. In this paper, we use a physically motivated model to explain the distribution of quasars in the optical plane. Continuum is modelled as an accretion disk with a hard X-ray power law uniquely tight to the disk at the basis of observational scaling, and the Broad Line Region distance is determined also from observational scaling. We perform the computations of the FeII and H\{beta} line production with the code CLOUDY. We have only six free parameters for an individual source: maximum temperature of the accretion disk, Eddington ratio, cloud density, cloud column density, microturbulence, and iron abundance, and only the last four remain as global parameters in our modelling of the whole sequence. Our theoretically computed points cover well the optical plane part populated with the observed quasars, particularly if we allow for super-Solar abundance of heavy elements. Explanation of the exceptionally strong Fe II emitter requires a stronger contribution from the dark sides of the clouds. Analyzing the way how our model covers the optical plane we conclude that there is no single simple driver behind the sequence, as neither the Eddington ratio nor broad band spectrum shape plays the dominant role. Also, the role of the viewing angle in providing the dispersion of the quasar main sequence is apparently not as strong as expected., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We investigate the relationships between Mg ii {\lambda}2798 emission line properties, as well as between these properties and inclination angle and Fe ii strength, in a lobe-dominated quasar sample. We find no correlation between Mg ii line width and inclination, unlike previous studies of the general quasar population. This suggests that the Mg ii emission region in these objects is not of a thin disk geometry, however the average equivalent width of the line negates a spherical alternative. A positive correlation between Mg ii equivalent width and inclination cannot be ruled out, meaning there is no strong evidence that Mg ii emission is anisotropic. Since thin disk emission would be highly directional, the geometric implications of these two findings are compatible. The lack of line width correlation with inclination may also indicate that Mg ii is useful for estimating black hole masses in lobe-dominated quasar samples, since it is unbiased by orientation. Some quasars in our sample have almost edge-on viewing angles and therefore cannot have a smooth toroidal obscurer co-planar with the accretion disk. Alternatives may be a distorted dusty disk or a clumpy obscurer. This could result from the sample selection bias towards high inclination objects, rather than intrinsic differences between lobe-dominated and typical quasars. Five objects have visible [O iii] allowing equivalent width calculation, revealing it to be higher than in typical quasars. Since these objects are of high inclination, this finding supports the positive correlation between [O iii] equivalent width and inclination found in a previous study., Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We analyze the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and emission-line properties of the red (J – K_S >2) 2MASS active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using principle component analysis (PCA). The sample includes 44 low redshift AGNs with low or moderate obscuration (N_H

Our recent studies of very short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) of T90 ≤ 100 ms duration have indicated a significant angular asymmetry and a uniform V/Vmax distribution from the BATSE (Burst and Transient Source Experiment on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory [CGRO]) data. Here we update these studies, and we extend our research to events observed with Konus, a GRB experiment from Russia on the International Solar Terrestrial Physics/Wind satellite, that gives us new insight into the spectra that was not possible with the BATSE data. Konus has observed 18 events with T90 ≤ 100 ms duration. These events display a considerable number of photons with energies above 1 MeV and have photons above 5 MeV in all cases. These appear to be some of the most energetic photons observed from any class of GRB to date.

We consider effects of MHD turbulence on viscosity during the evolution of the thermal-viscous ionization instability in standard α-accretion disks. We consider the possibility that accretion onto a supermassive black hole proceeds through an outer standard accretion disk and an inner radiatively inefficient and advection-dominated flow. In this scenario we follow the time evolution of the accretion disk, in which the viscosity parameter α is constant throughout the whole instability cycle, as implied by the strength of MHD turbulence. We conclude that the hydrogen ionization instability is a promising mechanism to explain the intermittent activity in AGNs.

The time dependent evolution of the accretion disk around black hole is computed. The classical description of the $\alpha$-viscosity is adopted so the evolution is driven by the instability operating in the innermost radiation-pressure dominated part of the accretion disk. We assume that the optically thick disk always extends down to the marginally stable orbit so it is never evacuated completely. We include the effect of the advection, coronal dissipation and vertical outflow. We show that the presence of the corona and/or the outflow reduce the amplitude of the outburst. If only about half of the energy is dissipated in the disk (with the other half dissipated in the corona and carried away by the outflow) the outburst amplitude and duration are consistent with observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105. Viscous evolution explains in a natural way the lack of direct transitions from the state C to the state B in color-color diagram of this source. Further reduction of the fraction of energy dissipated in the optically thick disk switches off the outbursts which may explain why they are not seen in all high accretion rate sources being in the Very High State., Comment: 31 pages, 14 figures; accepted to ApJ

We study the UV spectra of narrow-line Seyfert~1 (NLSy1) galaxies and compare them with ``normal'' AGN. Similar to their optical lines, the NLSy1s show narrower UV lines. They are also characterized by weaker CIV 1549, CIII] 1909, and stronger AlIII 1857 emission. These UV line properties add to the optical and X-ray properties known to be part of the Boroson and Green eigenvector 1. We show that the steep soft-X-rays, which characterize the NLSy1s SEDs, change the equilibrium of the two phase cloud-intercloud medium resulting in somewhat higher BLR cloud densities, lower ionization parameter and larger BLR radii. These modified conditions can explain the unusual emission line properties we find in NLSy1. Using a specific model of an accretion disk with corona presented by Witt, Czerny and Zycki (1997), we also show that the steep soft and hard-X-ray continua can be explained if the $L/L_{Edd}$ ratios are larger than in ``normal'' Seyfert1/QSO strengthening earlier suggestions that the $L/L_{Edd}$ is the physical parameter driving this eigenvector.

The broad-band ROSAT/EXOSAT X-ray spectra of six Seyfert 1 galaxies are fitted by a model consisting of a direct power law and a component due to reflection/reprocessing from a partially ionized, optically thick medium. The reflected spectrum contains emission features from various elements in the soft X-ray range. In all objects but one (Mrk 335), the fit is satisfactory, and no additional soft X-ray excess is required by the data. This means that in most sources there is no need for the thermal 'big blue bumps' to extend into soft X-rays, and the soft X-ray excesses reported previously can be explained by reflection/reprocessing. Satisfactory fits are obtained for a medium ionized by a source radiating at less than or approximately 15% of the Eddington rate. The fits require that the reflection is enhanced relative to an isotropically emitting source above a flat disk. The necessary high effectiveness of reflection in the soft X-ray band requires strong soft thermal flux dominating over hard X-rays.

Observations of the quasar PG 1211 + 143 are presented and its continuum is modelled in terms of an accretion disk and an underlying power law. The X-ray spectrum in the Einstein imaging proportional counter band is well described by a power law with the very steep spectral index 2.2 + or - 0.4. The overall continuum spectral energy distribution can be described as a power law with alpha roughly 1.2 from the infrared to about 1 keV, with the optical, ultraviolet, and soft X-rays forming a large excess above this power law. If the soft X-ray excess is attributed to emission from a physically thin, optically thick accretion disk, then the implied accretion rate is super-Eddington, from which it is concluded that the application of this simple model is not valid. The observed broad-line ratios in PG 1211 + 143 imply broad-line cloud densities that are somewhat higher than those usually derived for quasars.

The simplest accretion-disk models have difficulties explaining the optical/UV/soft-X-ray 'big bump' in quasars. Here more realistic models are investigated, incorporating opacity and inclination effects while retaining an analytic form for ease of computation. It is found that opacity effects can explain the uniform 20,000-30,000 K 'maximum disk temperature' derived by previous workers. The observed spectral turndown would be the result of the onset of electron scattering and should not be identified with the hottest part of the disk. The frequency at which this spectral turndown occurs is only weakly dependent on the accretion-disk parameters. These opacity effects also allow high-frequency EUV and soft-X-ray extensions of the big bump without exceeding the Eddington limit strongly. For a wide range of disk parameters, the EUV spectra of quasar disks should have spectral slopes near -1.

A two-component model is applied to an X-ray outburst from Aql X-1 recorded by the Einstein Observatory in March-April 1979. The model treats such outbursts as a combination of a soft, multicolor component (accretion disk) and a hard-blackbody component (boundary layer emission). Evaluation of the light curves indicates that the bursts were caused by an increase in the accretion rate. The calculations also suggest that the system observed is inclined at a 33 deg angle.

Theoretical X-ray spectra of low-mass X-ray binaries with negligible magnetic fields are presented. The geometry of the X-ray emitting region, the energetic efficiency of the accretion in the disk and in the boundary layer which leads to a relation between the disk and the boundary layer luminosities, and the irradiation of the disk by the boundary layer are studied. The model of the radiation spectrum emerging from the neutron star and the innermost part of the disk is presented. The relativistic and Doppler effects and their influence on the spectrum as a function of inclination angle are discussed. A simple method for comparing the spectrum model with observations by studying the hardness ratio is given, and the results for three X-ray sources in globular clusters observed by the Einstein satellite are presented. The range of applicability of the spectrum models is also discussed.