Search

The unusual behavior of the spectral lines of NGC5548 during the STORM campaign demonstrated a missing piece in the structure of AGNs. For a two-month period in the middle of the campaign, the spectral lines showed a deficit in flux and a reduced response to the variations of the UV continuum. This was the first time that this behavior was unequivocally observed in an AGN. Our previous papers explained this as being due to a variable disk-wind which acts as a shield and alters the SED. Here we use Cloudy to create an atlas of photoionization models for a variety of disk-winds to study their effects on the SED. We show that the winds have three different cases: Case 1 winds are transparent, fully ionized and have minimal effects on the intrinsic SED, although they can produce some line emission, especially HeIIor FeK{\alpha}. We propose that this is the situation in most of the AGNs. Case 2 winds have a He++-He+ionization-front, block part of the XUV continuum but transmit much of the Lyman continuum. They lead to the observed abnormal behavior. Case 3 winds have H+ionization-front and block much of the Lyman continuum. The results show that the presence of the winds has important effects on the spectral lines of AGNs. They will thus have an effect on the measurements of the black hole mass and the geometry of the AGN. This atlas of spectral simulations can serve as a guide to future reverberation campaigns, Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ

The time lag between optical and near-infrared continuum emission in active galactic nuclei (AGN) shows a tight correlation with luminosity and has been proposed as a standardisable candle for cosmology. In this paper, we explore the use of these AGN hot-dust time lags for cosmological model fitting under the constraints of the new VISTA Extragalactic Infrared Legacy Survey VEILS. This new survey will target a 9 deg^2 field observed in J- and Ks-band with a 14-day cadence and will run for three years. The same area will be covered simultaneously in the optical griz bands by the Dark Energy Survey, providing complementary time-domain optical data. We perform realistic simulations of the survey setup, showing that we expect to recover dust time lags for about 450 objects out of a total of 1350 optical type 1 AGN, spanning a redshift range of 0.1 < z < 1.2. We use the lags recovered from our simulations to calculate precise distance moduli, establish a Hubble diagram, and fit cosmological models. Assuming realistic scatter in the distribution of the dust around the AGN as well as in the normalisation of the lag-luminosity relation, we are able to constrain {\Omega}_{\Lambda} in {\Lambda}CDM with similar accuracy as current supernova samples. We discuss the benefits of combining AGN and supernovae for cosmology and connect the present work to future attempts to reach out to redshifts of z > 4., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables. MNRAS in press

We present a systematic search for changing-look quasars based on repeat photometry from SDSS and Pan-STARRS1, along with repeat spectra from SDSS and SDSS-III BOSS. Objects with large, |\Delta g|>1 mag photometric variations in their light curves are selected as candidates to look for changes in broad emission line (BEL) features. Out of a sample of 1011 objects that satisfy our selection criteria and have more than one epoch of spectroscopy, we find 10 examples of quasars that have variable and/or "changing-look" BEL features. Four of our objects have emerging BELs; five have disappearing BELs, and one object shows tentative evidence for having both emerging and disappearing BELs. With redshifts in the range 0.20 < z < 0.63, this sample includes the highest-redshift changing-look quasars discovered to date. We highlight the quasar J102152.34+464515.6 at z = 0.204. Here, not only have the Balmer emission lines strongly diminished in prominence, including H$\beta$ all but disappearing, but the blue continuum $f_{\nu} \propto \nu^{1/3}$ typical of an AGN is also significantly diminished in the second epoch of spectroscopy. Using our selection criteria, we estimate that >15% of strongly variable luminous quasars display changing-look BEL features on rest-frame timescales of 8 to 10 years. Plausible timescales for variable dust extinction are factors of 2-10 too long to explain the dimming and brightening in these sources, and simple dust reddening models cannot reproduce the BEL changes. On the other hand, an advancement such as disk reprocessing is needed if the observed variations are due to accretion rate changes., Comment: 15 pages, 8 Figures, 3 Tables, replaced with version accepted to MNRAS

We have performed extensive simulations to explore the possibility of detecting eclipses and transits of close, substellar and planetary companions to white dwarfs in WASP (the UK Wide-Angle Search for Planets) light curves. Our simulations cover companions ∼0.3 < Rpl < 12 RGraphic and orbital periods 2 < P < 15 d, equivalent to orbital radii 0.003 < a < 0.1 au. For Gaussian random noise, WASP is sensitive to transits by companions as small as the Moon orbiting a V≃ 12 white dwarf. For fainter white dwarfs, WASP is sensitive to increasingly larger radius bodies. However, in the presence of correlated noise structure in the light curves, the sensitivity drops, although Earth-sized companions remain detectable, in principle, even in low signal-to-noise data. Mars-sized, and even Mercury-sized, bodies yield reasonable detection rates in high-quality light curves with little residual noise. We searched for eclipses and transit signals in long-term light curves of a sample of 194 white dwarfs resulting from a cross-correlation of the McCook & Sion catalogue and the WASP archive. No evidence for eclipsing or transiting substellar and planetary companions was found. We used this non-detection and results from our simulations to place tentative upper limits to the frequency of such objects in close orbits at white dwarfs. While only weak limits can be placed on the likely frequency of Earth-sized or smaller companions, brown dwarfs and gas giants (radius ≈Rjup) with periods

In order to discover new X-ray transients, the data taken by XMM-Newton as it slews between targets are being processed and cross-correlated with other X-ray observations. A bright source, XMMSL1 J060636.2-694933, was detected on 18 July 2006 at a position where no previous X-ray source had been seen. The XMM-Newton slew data, plus follow-up dedicated XMM-Newton and Swift observations, plus optical data acquired with the Magellan Clay telescope, and archival All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) data were used to classify the new object, and to investigate its properties. No XMM-Newton slew X-ray counts are detected above 1 keV and the source is seen to be over five hundred times brighter than the ROSAT All-Sky Survey upper limit at that position. The line-rich optical spectrum acquired with the Magellan telescope allows the object to be classified as an Ao auroral phase nova, and the soft X-ray spectrum indicates that the nova was in a super-soft source state in the X-ray decline seen in the follow-up X-ray observations. The archival ASAS data suggests that the nova at onset (Oct 2005) was a 'very fast' nova, and an estimate of its distance is consistent with the nova being situated within the LMC. With the discovery presented here of a new classical nova in the LMC, it is clear that XMM-Newton slew data are continuing to offer a powerful opportunity to find new X-ray transient objects., Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Chandra HETG observations of RS Ophiuchi at day 13.9 of the 2006 outburst reveal a rich spectrum of emission lines from abundant ions formed over a wide temperature range (∼ 3 × 10 6 to 60 × 10 6 K) indicative of shock heating of the circumstellar medium by the expanding blast wave. Lines are asymmetric and strongly broadened (v ∼ 2400 km s −1 at zero intensity). Using simple analytical model profiles, we show how the lines are shaped by differential absorption in the red giant wind and explosion ejecta, and that shock heating to multimillion degree temperatures appears to have occurred preferentially in the direction perpendicular to the line of sight. We conclude that the asymmetric nature of the offset 1/r 2 density profile and likely equatorial circumstellar density enhancement in which the explosion occurred are responsible for both the shock collimation and broad range in plasma temperature observed. The ejecta mass deduced from X-ray absorption is more easily reconciled with the expected mass accretion rate for material enhanced in metals by up to an order of magnitude.

The early optical emission of the moderately high redshift (2 = 3.08) GRB 060607A shows a remarkable broad and strong peak with a rapid rise and a relatively slow power-law decay. It is not coincident with the strong early-time flares seen in the X-ray and gamma-ray energy bands. There is weak evidence for variability superposed on this dominant component in several optical bands that can be related to flares in high-energy bands. While for a small number of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), well-sampled optical flares have been observed simultaneously with X-ray and gamma-ray pulses, GRB 060607A is one of the few cases where the early optical emission shows no significant evidence for correlation with the prompt emission. In this work we first report in detail the broad-band observations of this burst by Swift. Then by applying a simple model for the dynamics and the synchrotron radiation of a relativistic shock, we show that the dominant component of the early emissions in optical wavelengths has the same origin as the tail emission produced after the main gamma-ray activity. The most plausible explanation for the peak in the optical light curve seems to be the cooling of the prompt after the main collisions, shifting the characteristic synchrotron frequency to the optical bands. The fact that the early emission in X-ray does not show a steep decay, like what is observed in many other GRBs, is further evidence for slow cooling of the prompt shell within this GRB. It seems that the cooling process requires a steepening of the electron energy distribution and/or a break in this distribution at high energies. From simultaneous gamma-ray emission during the first flare, the behaviour of hardness ratio, and the lack of spectral features, we conclude that the X-ray flares are due to the collision of late shells rather than late reprocessing of the central engine activities. The sharp break in the X-ray light curve at few thousands of seconds after the trigger, is not observed in the infrared/optical/ultraviolet bands, and therefore cannot be a jet break. Either the X-ray break is due to a change in the spectrum of the accelerated electrons or the lack of an optical break is due to the presence of a related delayed response component.

We describe observations of GRB 050422, a Swift-discovered gamma-ray burst. The prompt gamma-ray emission had a T90 duration of 59 s and was multipeaked, with the main peak occurring at T + 53 s. Swift was able to follow the X-ray afterglow within 100 s of the burst trigger. The X-ray light curve, which shows a steep early decline, can be described by a broken power law with an initial decay slope of α1 ∼ 5.0, a break time tb ∼ 270 s and a post-break decay slope of α2 ∼ 0.9, when the zero time of the X-ray emission is taken to be the burst trigger time. However, if the zero time is shifted to coincide with the onset of main peak in the gamma-ray light curve then the initial decay slope is shallower with α1 ∼ 3.2. The initial gamma-ray spectrum can be modelled by a power law with a spectral index of β B = 0.50 ± 0.19. However, the early time X-ray spectrum is significantly steeper than this and requires a spectral index of βX = 2.33 +0.58 −0.55. In comparison with other Swift bursts, GRB 050422 was unusually X-ray faint, had a soft X-ray spectrum, and had an unusually steep early X-ray decline. Even so, its behaviour can be accommodated by standard models. The combined BAT/XRT light curve indicates that the initial, steeply declining, X-ray emission is related to the tail of the prompt gamma-ray emission. The shallower decay seen after the break is consistent with the standard afterglow model.

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) progenitors are observationally linked to the death of massive stars. X-ray studies of the GRB afterglows can deepen our knowledge of the ionization status and metal abundances of the matter in the GRB environment. Moreover, the presence of local matter can be inferred through its fingerprints in the X-ray spectrum, i.e. the presence of absorption higher than the Galactic value. A few studies based on BeppoSAX and XMM-Newton found evidence of higher than Galactic values for the column density in a number of GRB afterglows. Here we report on a systematic analysis of 17 GRBs observed by Swift up to April 15, 2005. We observed a large number of GRBs with an excess of column density. Our sample, together with previous determinations of the intrinsic column densities for GRBs with known redshift, provides evidence for a distribution of absorption consistent with that predicted for randomly occurring GRB within molecular clouds., Comment: Accepted for publication on A&A (5 pages and 2 figures)

GRB 041223 was the first gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift X-Ray Telescope (XRT), beginning 4.6 hr after the burst. The X-ray detection triggered a VLT observation of the optical/near-infrared (NIR) counterpart, located about 1″.1 from the XRT position. The X-ray counterpart faded rapidly, with a power-law index of - 1.72 ± 0.20, with an average unabsorbed X-ray flux of 6.5 × 10-12 ergs cm-2 s-1 in the 0.5-10 keV band for a power-law spectrum of photon index 2.02 ± 0.13 with Galactic absorption. The NIR counterpart was observed at three epochs between 16 and 87 hr after the burst and faded with a power-law index of -1.14 ± 0.08 with a reddening-corrected spectral energy distribution power-law slope of -0.40 ± 0.03. We find that the X-ray and NIR data are consistent with a two-component jet in a wind medium. © 2005. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

As part of an extensive multiwavelength monitoring campaign, the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite was used to observe the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 390.3 during the period 1994 December 31-1996 March 5. Spectra were obtained every 6-10 days. The UV continuum varied by a factor of 7 through the campaign, while the broad emission lines varied by factors of 2-5. Unlike previously monitored Seyfert 1 galaxies, in which the X-ray continuum generally varies with a larger amplitude than the UV, in 3C 390.3 the UV continuum light curve is similar in both amplitude and shape to the X-ray light curve observed by ROSAT. The UV broad emission-line variability lags that of the UV continuum by 35-70 days for Lyα and C IV, values larger than those found for Seyfert 1 galaxies of comparable UV luminosity. These lags are also larger than those found for the Balmer lines in 3C 390.3 over the same period. The red and blue wings of C IV and Lyα vary in phase, suggesting that radial motion does not dominate the kinematics of the UV line-emitting gas. Comparison with archival data provides evidence for velocity-dependent changes in the Lyα and C IV line profiles, indicating evolution in the detailed properties and/or distribution of the broad-line emitting gas.

Using a Gaussian fitting procedure, we have constructed an accurate UV narrow emission line template spectrum for the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548, from the low-state Hubble Space Telescope/Faint Object Spectrograph UV spectrum taken on 1982 July 5 with the 10 circular aperture. This template spectrum is similar in form to that determined for the prototypical narrow-line Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. The narrow emission line template spectrum of NGC 5548 has for the first time enabled us to isolate the narrow and broad UV emission lines and thereby to determine firm estimates for the intensities of the broad emission lines for both the low-state spectrum and the average HST/FOS archival spectrum obtained from the intensive monitoring campaign undertaken by "AGN Watch" on 1993 April 19, when the continuum was a factor of ~4.8 brighter. A comparison of the low-state and high-state spectra show that while the narrow UV emission lines are nonvariable over timescales of ~10 months, the broad UV emission lines exhibit large variations in both their strength and shape. By combining a photoionization code with a robust global optimization routine, we have determined global best-fit parameters for the "average" physical conditions within the broad emission line region gas for both the low- and high-state spectra. By using a "best guess" estimate for the shape of the ionizing continuum of this source, we find that a single zone photoionization model of the broad emission line region (BLR) cannot simultaneously fit both the emission-line ratios of the strongest UV lines and their variability timescales. However, the line ratios and variability timescales can be reproduced if we assume a stratified BLR, i.e., a BLR that has strong gradients in density (NH ∝ 1/r2, 1011.3-1010.0). These models also suggest that the BLR gas is in a moderately high state of ionization with log10 U ~ -0.6 in the low-state spectrum, rising to ~0.0 in the high state. We find that the observed differences in the broad emission line fluxes and their ratios, between the low- and high-state spectra, are not solely a consequence of changes in the ionizing continuum source luminosity. Rather, they imply in addition, a change in the spectral energy distribution of the ionizing continuum, although changes in either the covering fraction, or composition of the broad emission line region gas, cannot necessarily be ruled out. By constructing a simple two-zone model for the high-ionization lines, we find that in order to reproduce the observed line ratios and line equivalent widths, the gas covering fraction for this source must necessarily be high, ~38% at a radial distance of 2 lt-days and decreasing outward to ~32% at 10 lt-days. This is considerably larger than the typical value of ~10% quoted for active galactic nuclei, derived from the incidence of Lyman edges in high-redshift quasars. Although the statistics for the incidence of Lyman edges in Seyfert 1 galaxies is poorly determined, our derived covering fraction is broadly consistent with the 25% covering fraction estimate obtained from observations with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope.

NGTS is a new ground-based transit survey aimed at detecting sub-Neptune sized exoplanets around bright stars. The instrument will be installed at the ESO Paranal observatory in order to benefit from the excellent observing conditions and follow-up synergy with the VLT and E-ELT. It will be a robotic facility composed of 12, 200 mm telescopes equipped with 2Kx2K NIR sensitive detectors. It is built on the legacy of the WASP experience.

We are exploiting the Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) deepest GRB follow-up observations to study the cosmic X-Ray Background (XRB) population in the 0.2-10 keV energy band. We present some preliminary results of a serendipitous survey performed on 221 fields observed with exposure longer than 10 ks. We show that the XRT is a profitable instrument for surveys and that it is particularly suitable for the search and observation of extended objects like clusters of galaxies. We used the brightest serendipitous sources and the longest observations to test the XRT optics performance and the background characteristics all over the field of view, in different energy bands during the first 2.5 years of fully operational mission.

We present science highlights and performance from the Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT), which was launched on November 20, 2004. The XRT covers the 0.2-10 keV band, and spends most of its time observing gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows, though it has also performed observations of many other objects. By mid-August 2007, the XRT had observed over 220 GRB afterglows, detecting about 96% of them. The XRT positions enable followup ground-based optical observations, with roughly 60% of the afterglows detected at optical or near IR wavelengths. Redshifts are measured for 33% of X-ray afterglows. Science highlights include the discovery of flaring behavior at quite late times, with implications for GRB central engines; localization of short GRBs, leading to observational support for compact merger progenitors for this class of bursts; a mysterious plateau phase to GRB afterglows; as well as many other interesting observations such as X-ray emission from comets, novae, galactic transients, and other objects.

We report on the temporal and spectral characteristics of the early X‐ray emission from the bright flaring Gamma‐Ray Burst GRB051117A as observed by Swift. The superb quality of the early X‐ray data allows us to study the evolution of the prompt and early afterglow emission for this GRB in unprecedented detail. A temporal spectral analysis of the early X‐ray data shows that the photon index, Γ, and source intensity are highly correlated with the spectrum being significantly harder when brighter. The simplest explanation for the observed temporal behaviour is an abrupt movement of the peak of the Band‐function to higher energies at the onset of each flare, followed by a slower decline to lower energies as the flare fades. We find no evidence for the presence of lines in the early X‐ray spectra, with a 3σ upper limit of < 15 eV for an assumed narrow line of width of 100eV at the peak of the effective area.

GRBs 050223 and 050911 were discovered by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on 23rd February and 11th September 2005 respectively. The observation of GRB 050223 showed a faint, fading X‐ray source, which was identified as the afterglow; GRB 050911, however, was not detected, making any X‐ray afterglow extremely faint. The faintness of the afterglow of GRB 050223 could be explained by a large opening or viewing angle, or by the burst being at high redshift. The non‐detection of GRB 050911 may indicate the burst occurred in a low‐density environment, or, alternatively, was due to a compact object merger, in spite of the apparent long duration of the burst.

The Swift X‐ray Telescope is designed to make astrometric, spectroscopic and photometric observations of the X‐ray emission from Gamma‐Ray Bursts and their afterglows in the 0.2–10 keV energy band. Here we report some results on the in‐flight calibration of the Swift XRT effective area obtained analyzing observations of cosmic sources with different the analysis of cosmic sources intrinsic spectra and using the on‐ground calibration and ray‐tracing simulations as a starting point Our analysis includes the study of the effective area for different XRT operating modes.

We present Swift observations of the faint burst GRB 050421. The X‐ray light‐curve shows two flares: the first peaking at ∼ 110 s after the BAT trigger (T0) and the second one peaking at ∼ 154 s. We argue that the mechanism producing these flares is probably late internal shocks. The X‐ray light‐curve is consistent with a power‐law with a temporal index α1 ∼ 3.1. The X‐ray flux decays from ∼ 10−9 erg cm−2 s−1 at T0 + 100 s to < 7 × 10−13 erg cm−2 s−1 at T0 + 1000 s. An X‐ray spectral softening is also observed with time from β ∼ 0.1 to ∼ 1.2, where β is the spectral index such as Fv ∝ v−βt−α. A good joint fit to the BAT and XRT spectra indicates that the early X‐ray and Gamma‐ray emissions are produced by the same mechanism. The X‐ray spectral softening is likely due to a shift down to lower energies of the peak of the prompt emission, and the rapid decline of the X‐ray emission is probably the tail of the prompt emission. This suggests that the X‐ray emission is completely dominated by high latitude radi...

Swift discovered the high redshift (z=6.29) GRB 050904 with the Burst Alert Telescope and began observing with its narrow field instruments only 161 s after the burst onset. GRB 050904 was a long, multi‐peaked, bright GRB with a presence of flaring activity lasting up to 1–2 hours after the burst onset. The spectral energy distribution shows a clear softening trend along the burst evolution with a photon index decreasing from −1.2 up to −1.9. The observed variability is more dramatic than the typical Swift afterglow, the amplitude and rise/fall times of the flares are consistent with the behavior of nearby (z ⩽ 1) long GRBs and suggest the interpretation of the BAT and XRT data as a single continuous observation of long lasting prompt emission.

The Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer is providing exciting new insights into the nature of the prompt and early afterglow emission of GRBs, filling in the 8 hr observing gap immediately following the initial explosion. Here we report on the XRT 0.3–10 keV prompt and early afterglow spectra of those GRBs for which we have early (< few minutes) XRT data and which exhibit a common behaviour in their temporal decay. We also report on GRB 051117A, a source which is bright enough in XRT to allow the most detailed temporal spectral analysis to date.

We have analysed BAT and XRT data for 40 gamma‐ray bursts (GRBs) observed using the Swift satellite. The earliest X‐ray light curve can be well described by an exponential which relaxes into a power law, often with flares superimposed. The transition time between the exponential and the power law gives a physically defined timescale for the burst duration. In most GRBs the power law decay changes to a shallower decay within the first hour. The resultant “late emission hump” can last for several tens of ks. In other bursts the late hump is weak or absent. The observed variety in light curve shape can be explained as a combination of three components: prompt emission from the central engine; afterglow; and the late hump, which may also be due to the central engine. GRBs with stronger afterglow components are more likely to have brighter early optical emission. The late emission hump can have a total fluence equivalent to that of the prompt phase.

Two short (, 11 pages of taxt plus figures (all in 1 file). Nature Letters (accepted; publish Dec 19, 2005)

The Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) is designed to make astrometric, spectroscopic and photometric observations of the X-ray emission from Gamma-ray bursts and their afterglows in the 0.2-10 keV energy band. Here we report the initial results of the analysis of Swift XRT effective area as measured both on-axis and off-axis during the in-flight calibration phase using the laboratory results and ray-tracing simulations as a starting point. Our analysis includes the study of the effective area at a range of energies, for different event grade selection and operating modes using two astronomical sources characterized by different intrinsic spectra.

The X-ray telescope (XRT) on board Swift, launched on 2004 Nov 20, is performing astrometric, spectroscopic and photometric observations of the X-ray emission from Gamma-ray burst afterglows in the energy band 0.2-10 keV. In this paper, we describe the results of the in-flight calibration relative to the XRT timing resolution and absolute timing capabilities. The timing calibration has been performed comparing the main pulse phases of the Crab profile obtained from several XRT observations in Low Rate Photodiode and Windowed Timing mode with those from contemporaneous RXTE observations. The XRT absolute timing is well reproduced with an accuracy of 200 μs for the Low Rate Photodiode and 300 μs for the Windowed Timing mode.

We present new observations of the early X-ray afterglows of the first 27 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected with the Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT). The early X-ray afterglows show a canonical behavior, where the light curve broadly consists of three distinct power law segments. These power law segments are separated by two corresponding break times. On top of this canonical behavior of the early X-ray light curve, many events have superimposed X-ray flares, which are most likely caused by internal shocks due to long lasting sporadx activity of the central engine, up to several hours after the GRB. We find that the initial steep decay is consistent with it being the tail of the prompt emission: from photons that are radiated at large angles relative to our line of sight. The first break in the light curve takes place when the forward shock emission becomes dominant, with the intermediate shallow flux decay likely caused by the continuous energy injection into the external shock. When this energy injection stops, a second break is then observed in the light curve. This energy injection increases the energy of the afterglow shock by at least a factor of f greater than or approx. equal to 4, and augments the already severe requirements for the efficiency of the prompt gamma-ray emission.

Long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are commonly accepted to originate in the explosion of particularly massive stars, which gives rise to a highly relativistic jet. Internal inhomogeneities in the expanding flow give rise to internal shock waves that are believed to produce the gamma-rays we see. As the jet travels further outward into the surrounding circumstellar medium `external' shocks give rise to the afterglow emission seen in the X-ray, optical and radio bands. Here we report on the early phases of the X-ray emission of five GRBs. Their X-ray light curves are characterised by a rapid fall-off for the first few hundred seconds, followed by a less rapid decline lasting several hours. This steep decline, together with detailed spectral properties of two particular bursts, shows that violent shock interactions take place in the early jet outflows., 10 pages, 2 tables, 3 figures. Note: This paper has been accepted for publication in Nature, but is embargoed for discussion in the popular press until formal publication in Nature

The spatial and radial velocity distribution of broad-line-emitting gas in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 is examined through the process of reverberation mapping, which is done by detailed comparison of continuum and emission-line variations. Recent spectroscopic monitoring of NGC 5548 with HST and IUE allows us to resolve the "transfer function" (TF) that relates the continuum and emission-line variability. We also examine the radial velocity-resolved TFs, and confirm that predominantly radial motions of the line-emitting clouds can be excluded. We find that a broad-line region comprised of clouds that are orbiting a central source of mass ~108 M☉ along randomly inclined Keplerian orbits and irradiated by a beamed continuum source yields a TF and line profile that are qualitatively consistent with the observations. In this model, the clouds that produce the variable C IV emission lie within 12 lt-days of the central source, and the continuum radiation is confined to a wide biconical beam (semi-opening angle 35°-60°) with the observer viewing into the cone.

Coordinated observations of variability of the continuum and the emission-line luminosities (reverberation mapping) in AGNs and quasars have fundamentally altered our understanding of the broad-line regions in active galaxies. The constraints these observations impose on the models of the BLRs have been demonstrated here by an attempt to model the BLR of NCC5548, the most intensively monitored AGN. Two models of a BLR, with one having a power law radial distribution of density and the other a gaussian radial distribution, are described and the modelled line luminosities and centroid of the line response functions are presented. A self-consistent model is presented for the change in the Civ/Lyα ratio as the continuum luminosity changes. It is shown that BLR gas must be composed of a mixture of optically thin and optically thick gas and the proportion of thick and thin gas alters with the luminosity of the ionizing continuum. The observed centroid or the lag of a line, can be a function of the continuum luminosity.

Aims. The outburst of nova CSS 081007:030559+054715 (HV Cet) was extensively followed by Swift to study the evolution of its X-ray and UV emission.Methods. We obtained Swift X-ray and UV observations, at times with high cadence, over an interval of 266 days and analysed the temporal and spectral properties of the object. Optical polarisation measurements were also obtained, but no significant circular polarisation was identified. UV data from GALEX and AAVSO optical data were investigated in addition.Results. A variable supersoft source was discovered, with a 1.77 d periodic modulation in its X-ray, UV and optical emission, in phase across all three bands. High cadence observations revealed a declining trend of the X-ray modulation amplitude, while the UV oscillation became stronger over this interval; the UV data also show occasional secondary minima. The X-ray and UV flux declines sharply ~150 days after discovery (the date of optical outburst peak is uncertain). While bright, the UV and, to a lesser extent, the X-ray light curves show two cycles of a ~40–50 day modulation. We believe the 1.77 d modulation to be orbital, likely caused by structured disc-rim occultation. The X-ray spectra were soft at all times, with negligible flux above 1 keV. These spectra were fitted with an NLTE white dwarf model atmosphere of kT = 60–80 eV, with no spectral changes related to the 1.77 d or possible ~40-day periodicities seen. A Cloudy model demonstrated that it is possible to account for the UV flux through the reprocessing of X-rays. The UV flux is far in excess of the soft X-ray spectral component. We propose that the apparently sub-Eddington white dwarf luminosity is due to permanent obscuration by the accretion disc rim: we see only X-rays scattered by optically thin plasma interior to the disc rim, whereas the UV flux is mostly created by reprocessing in the disk rim interior surface. The in-phase 1.77 d UV and X-ray modulation is caused by the region in which the gas stream from the secondary raises the disc rim, the maximum X-ray obscuration coinciding with the minimum aspect of the UV reprocessing area. In summary, HV Cet had characteristics of both classical novae and persistent super-soft X-ray sources.

Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs) are bright flashes of high energy photons that can last from about 10 milliseconds to 10 minutes. Their origin and nature have puzzled the scientific community for about 25 years until 1997, when the first X-ray afterglows of long (> 2 s duration) bursts were detected and the first optical and radio counterparts were found. These measurements established that long GRBs are typically at high redshift (z 1.6) and are in sub-luminous star-forming host galaxies. They are likely produced in core-collapse explosions of a class of massive stars that give rise to highly relativistic jets (collapsar model). Internal inhomogeneities in the velocity field of the relativistic expanding flow lead to collisions between fast moving and slow moving fluid shells and to the formation of internal shock waves. These shocks are believed to produce the observed prompt emission in the form of irregularly shaped and spaced pulses of gamma-rays, each pulse corresponding to a distinct internal collision. The expansion of the jet outward into the circumstellar medium is believed to give rise to ``external'' shocks, responsible for producing the smoothly fading afterglow emission seen in the X-ray, optical and radio bands. Here we report on the gamma-ray and x-ray observation of the most distant gamma-ray burst ever observed: its redshift of 6.29 translates to a distance of 13 billion light-years from Earth, corresponding to a time when the Universe was just 700 million to 750 million years old. The discovery of a gamma-ray burst at such a large redshift implies the presence of massive stars only 700 million years after the Big Bang. The very high redshift bursts represent a good way to study the re-ionization era soon after the Universe came out of the Dark Ages.

We present the data and initial results from a combined Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/IUE/ground-based spectroscopic monitoring campaign on the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 that was undertaken in order to address questions that require both higher temporal resolution and higher signal-to-noise ratios than were obtained in our previous multiwavelength monitoring of this galaxy in 1988-1989. IUE spectra were obtained once every 2 days for a period of 74 days beginning on 1993 March 14. During the last 39 days of this campaign, spectroscopic observations were also made with the HST Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) on a daily basis. Ground-based observations, consisting of 165 optical spectra and 77 photometric observations (both CCD imaging and aperture photometry), are reported for the period 1992 October-1993 September, although many of the data are concentrated around the time of the satellite-based program. These data constitute a fifth year of intensive optical monitoring of this galaxy. In this contribution we describe the acquisition and reduction of all of the satellite and ground-based data obtained in this program. We describe in detail various photometric problems with the FOS and explain how we identified and corrected for various anomalies.

We report on the results of intensive ultraviolet spectral monitoring of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3783. The nucleus of NGC 3783 was observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite on a regular basis for a total of 7 months, once every 4 days for the first 172 days and once every other day for the final 50 days. Significant variability was observed in both continuum and emission-line fluxes. The light curves for the continuum fluxes exhibited two well-defined local minima or 'dips,' the first lasting is less than or approximately 20 days and the second is less than or approximately 4 days, with additional episodes of relatively rapid flickering of approximately the same amplitude. As in the case of NGC 5548 (the only other Seyfert galaxy that has been the subject of such an intensive, sustained monitoring effort), the largest continuum variations were seen at the shortest wavelengths, so that the continuum became 'harder' when brighter. The variations in the continuum occurred simultaneously at all wavelengths (delta(t) is less than 2 days). Generally, the amplitude of variability of the emission lines was lower than (or comparable to) that of the continuum. Apart from Mg II (which varied little) and N V (which is relatively weak and badly blended with Ly(alpha), the light curves of the emission lines are very similar to the continuum light curves, in each case with a small systematic delay or 'lag.' As for NGC 5548, the highest ionization lines seem to respond with shorter lags than the lower ionization lines. The lags found for NGC 3783 are considerably shorter than those obtained for NGC 5548, with values of (formally) approximately 0 days for He II + O III), and approximately 4 days for Ly(alpha) and C IV. The data further suggest lags of approximately 4 days for Si IV + O IV) and 8-30 days for Si III + C III). Mg II lagged the 1460 A continuum by approximately 9 days, although this result depends on the method of measuring the line flux and may in fact be due to variability of the underlying Fe II lines. Correlation analysis further shows that the power density spectrum contains substantial unresolved power over timescales of is less than or approximately 2 days, and that the character of the continuum variability may change with time.

The Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3516 was monitored during 1993 February 16-May 13 by IUE every 4 days for the first month, and then every 2 days for 2 months giving a total of 40 observations. This paper gives the initial results from this campaign, (1) The broa