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A warm corona has been widely proposed to explain the soft X-ray excess (SE) above the 2--10 keV power law extrapolation in AGNs. In actual spectral fittings, the warm coronal seed photon temperature ($T_{\rm s}$) is usually assumed to be far away from the soft X-ray, but $kT_{\rm s}$ can reach close to 0.1 keV in standard accretion disc model. In this study, we used Monte Carlo simulations to obtain radiation spectra from a slab-like warm corona and fitted the spectra using the spherical-geometry-based routine \textsc{thcomp} or a thermal component. Our findings reveal that high $T_{\rm s}$ can influence the fitting results. A moderately high $kT_{\rm s}$ (around 0.03 keV) can result in an apparent low-temperature and flat SE, while an extremely high $kT_{\rm s}$ (around 0.07 keV) can even produce an unobserved blackbody-like SE. Our conclusions indicate that, for spectral fittings of the warm coronal radiation (SE in AGNs), $kT_{\rm s}$ should be treated as a free parameter with an upper limit, and an accurate coronal geometry is necessary when $kT_{\rm s}>0.01$ keV., Comment: Accepted for publication in RAA

The blazar sequence, including negative correlations between radiative luminosity $L_{\rm rad}$ and synchrotron peak frequency $\nu$, and between Compton dominance $Y$ and $\nu$, is widely adopted as a phenomenological description of spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of blazars, although its underlying cause is hotly debated. In particular, these correlations turn positive after correcting Doppler boosting effect. In this work, we revisit the phenomenological and intrinsic blazar sequence with three samples, which are historical sample (SEDs are built with historical data), quasi-simultaneous sample (SEDs are built with quasi-simultaneous data) and Doppler factor corrected sample (a sample with available Doppler factors), selected from literature. We find that phenomenological blazar sequence holds in historical sample, but does not exist in quasi-simultaneous sample, and intrinsic correlation between $L_{\rm rad}$ and $\nu$ becomes positive in Doppler factor corrected sample. We also analyze if the blazar sequence still exists in subclasses of blazars, i.e., flat-spectrum radio quasars and BL Lacertae objects, with different values of $Y$. To interpret these correlations, we apply a simple scaling model, in which physical parameters of the dissipation region are connected to the location of the dissipation region. We find that the model generated results are highly sensitive to the chosen ranges and distributions of physical parameters. Therefore, we suggest that even though the simple scaling model can reproduce the blazar sequence under specific conditions that have been fine-tuned, such results may not have universal applicability. Further consideration of a more realistic emission model is expected., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (14 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables)

Our knowledge of Giga-electron volt (GeV) radio galaxies has been revolutionized by the Fermi-LAT Telescope, which provides an excellent opportunity to study the physical properties of GeV radio galaxies. According to the radio power and morphology, radio galaxies can be separated into Fanaroff-Riley Type I radio galaxies (FR-Is) and Type II radio galaxies (FR-IIs). In this paper, we consider the unification of FR-Is and BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs), and assume FR-Is to be a standard candle to discuss the beaming effect for Fermi-LAT-detected FR-Is. Our main conclusions are as follows: (1) The estimated Doppler factors for 30 Fermi-LAT-detected FR-Is are in a range of $\delta_{\rm{I}}=0.88-7.49$. The average Doppler factor ($<\delta_{\rm{I}}>=2.56\pm0.30$) of the 30 FR-Is is smaller than that ($<\delta_{\rm{BL}}>=10.28\pm2.03$) of the 126 Fermi-LAT-detected BL Lacs, supporting the unification model that FR-Is are regarded as the misaligned BL Lacs with smaller Doppler factors; (2) We propose that different regions of FR-Is in the plot of the $\gamma$-ray luminosity against the photon spectral index $(\log L_{\gamma}-\alpha_{\rm{ph}})$ may indicate the different beaming effects; (3) The average Doppler factor of the 6 TeV FR-Is is similar to that of the 24 non-TeV FR-Is, which implies that the difference between the TeV and GeV emissions is not driven by the beaming effect in the Fermi-LAT-detected FR-I samples., Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables. publication in PASP

In this work, the support vector machine (SVM) method is adopted to separate BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs) and flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) in the plots of photon spectrum index against the photon flux, $\alpha_{\rm ph} \sim {\rm log}\,F$, that of photon spectrum index against the variability index, $\alpha_{\rm ph} \sim {\rm log}\, \textit{V\!I}$, and that of variability index against the photon flux, ${\rm log}\,{V\!I} \sim {\rm log}\,F$. Then we used the dividing lines to tell BL Lacs from FSRQs in the blazars candidates of uncertain types from \textit{Fermi}/LAT catalogue. Our main conclusions are: 1. We separate BL Lacs and FSRQs by $\alpha_{\rm ph} = -0.123\,{\rm log}\,F + 1.170$ in the $\alpha_{\rm ph} \sim {\rm log}\,F$ plot, $\alpha_{\rm ph} = -0.161\,{\rm log}\,{V\!I} + 2.594$ in the $\alpha_{\rm ph} \sim {\rm log}\,{V\!I}$ plot, and ${\rm log}\,{V\!I} = 0.792\,{\rm log}\,F + 9.203$ in the ${\rm log}\,{V\!I} \sim {\rm log}\,F$ plot. 2. We obtained 932 BL Lac candidates and possible BL Lac candidates, and 585 FSRQ candidates and possible FSRQ candidates. 3. Some discussions are given for comparisons with those in literature., Comment: Accepted to Universe

In this work, we collected a sample of BL Lacs, FR I and FR II(G) radio galaxies with available core and extended emissions from published works to discuss the unified schemes and estimate the Doppler factor for BL Lacs. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test both suggest that the probabilities for the distribution of the extended luminosity of BL Lacs and that of FR I and FR II(G) radio galaxies to be from the same parent distribution are $p_{\rm{WRS}}=0.779$ and $p_{\rm{K-S}}=0.326$, suggesting they are unified. Based on this unified schemes, we propose to estimate the Doppler factors for BL Lacs. Comparing the Doppler factor estimated by the fitting/regression method with those for the common sources in the literatures, we found a good linear correlation for common sources., Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables

The exact relationship between the long gamma-ray burst (LGRB) rate and the cosmic star formation rate (CSFR) is essential for using LGRBs as cosmological probes. In this work, we collect a large sample composed of 371 Swift LGRBs with known redshifts and prompt emission properties. We first compare the rest-frame prompt properties of these bursts in different redshift bins, finding negligible redshift evolution of the luminosity of LGRBs with $L_{\mathrm{iso}}\gtrsim10^{51}\,\mathrm{erg\, s^{-1}}$ between $z\sim1$ and $z\sim4$. Then, by utilizing the CSFR obtained from the large-scale cosmological hydrodynamical simulation, the Illustris simulation, we calculate the cumulative redshift distribution of LGRBs under different metallicity thresholds. After comparing with our sample, we find that the predictions with a moderate threshold between $0.3\,Z_{\odot}\leqslant Z_{\mathrm{th}}\leqslant1.0\,Z_{\odot}$ are consistent with the sample between redshift $0

The recently published fourth Fermi Large Area Telescope source catalog (4FGL) reports 5065 gamma-ray sources in terms of direct observational gamma-ray properties. Among the sources, the largest population is the Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), which consists of 3137 blazars, 42 radio galaxies, and 28 other AGNs. The blazar sample comprises 694 flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), 1131 BL Lac-type objects (BL Lacs), and 1312 blazar candidates of an unknown type (BCUs). The classification of blazars is difficult using optical spectroscopy given the limited knowledge with respect to their intrinsic properties, and the limited availability of astronomical observations. To overcome these challenges, machine learning algorithms are being investigated as alternative approaches. Using the 4FGL catalog, a sample of 3137 Fermi blazars with 23 parameters is systematically selected. Three established supervised machine learning algorithms (random forests (RFs), support vector machines (SVMs), artificial neural networks (ANNs)) are employed to general predictive models to classify the BCUs. We analyze the results for all of the different combinations of parameters. Interestingly, a previously reported trend the use of more parameters leading to higher accuracy is not found. Considering the least number of parameters used, combinations of eight, 12 or 10 parameters in the SVM, ANN, or RF generated models achieve the highest accuracy (Accuracy $\simeq$ 91.8\%, or $\simeq$ 92.9\%). Using the combined classification results from the optimal combinations of parameters, 724 BL Lac type candidates and 332 FSRQ type candidates are predicted; however, 256 remain without a clear prediction., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 14 pages, 2 figures, 6 tables

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) can be divided into two major classes, namely radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs. A small subset of the radio-loud AGNs is called blazars, which are believed to be unified with Fanaroff-Riley type I and type II (FRI&II) radio galaxies. Following our previous work, we present a latest sample of 966 sources with measured radio flux densities of the core and extended components. The sample includes 83 BL Lacs, 473 FSRQs, 101 Seyferts, 245 galaxies, 52 FRIs&IIs and 12 unidentified sources. We then calculate the radio core-dominance parameters and spectral indices and study their relationship. Our analysis shows that the core-dominance parameters and spectral indices are quite different for different types of sources. We also corroborate that the correlation between core-dominance parameter and radio spectral index extends over all the sources in a large sample presented., Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1811.08774

Aims. We present a sample of 4388 AGNs with available radio core-dominance parameters defined as the ratio of the core flux densities to extended ones, namely, R = Score/Sext., which includes 630 Fermi-detected AGNs respect to the catalog of 4FGL, the fourth Fermi Large Area Telescope source catalog, and the rest of them are non-Fermi-detected AGNs. In our sample, 584 blazars are Fermi-detected and 1310 are not, and also consists of other subclasses such as Seyfert, Fanaroff-Riley I/II and normal galaxies. We investigate various different properties between Fermi-detected AGNs and non-Fermi-detected ones by using the core-dominance parameters as the previous study has shown that R is a good indication of beaming effect. Methods. We then calculate the radio spectral indices for whole sample and adopt {\gamma}-ray photon indices for Fermi AGNs from 4FGL catalog for discussing their different performances on different subclasses, and obtain the relation between core-dominance parameters and radio spectral indices for both Fermi and non-Fermi sources according to the two components model on radio band, which are consistent with our previous study. Results. We found that the core-dominance parameters and radio spectral indices are quite different for different subclasses of AGNs, not only for Fermi sources but also non-Fermi sources, particularly, R for the former ones is averagely higher than later ones. We also adopt the same relation on core-dominance parameters and {\gamma}-ray photon indices for Fermi sources by taking the same assumption with two components model on {\gamma}-ray band, and obtain the fitting results indicating that the {\gamma}-ray emissions of Fermi blazars are mainly from the core component, which is perhaps associated with the beaming effect. Therefore, Fermi blazars are beamed., Comment: 14 pages, 18 figures

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) can be divided into two major classes, namely radio loud and radio quiet AGNs. A small subset of the radio-loud AGNs is called blazars, which are believed to be unified with Fanaroff & Riley type I/II (FRI/II) radio galaxies. Following our previous work (Fan et al. 2011), we present a sample of 2400 sources with measured radio flux densities of the core and extended components. The sample contains 250 BL Lacs, 520 quasars, 175 Seyferts, 1178 galaxies, 153 Fanaroff & Riley type I and type II galaxies and 104 unidentified sources. We then calculate the radio core-dominance parameters and spectral indices and study their relationship. Our analysis shows that the core-dominance parameters and spectral indices are quite different for different types of sources. We also confirm that the correlation between core-dominance parameter and spectral index exists for a large sample presented in this work., Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures

Using the 1.56m telescope at the Shanghai Observatory (ShAO), China, we monitored two sources, BL Lac object S5 0716+714 and Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar (FSRQ) 3C 273. For S5 0716+714, we report 4969 sets of CCD (Charge-coupled Device) photometrical optical observations (1369 for V band, 1861 for R band and 1739 for I band) in the monitoring time from Dec.4, 2000 to Apr.5, 2014. For 3C 273, we report 460 observations (138 for V band, 146 for R band and 176 for I band) in the monitoring time from Mar. 28, 2006 to Apr. 9, 2014. The observations provide us with a large amount of data to analyze the short-term and long-term optical variabilities. Based on the variable timescales, we can estimate the central black hole mass and the Doppler factor. An abundance of multi-band observations can help us to analyze the relations between the brightness and spectrum. We use Gaussian fitting to analyze the intra-day light curves and obtain the intra-day variability (IDV) timescales. We use the discrete correlation function (DCF) method and Jurkevich method to analyze the quasi-periodic variability. Based on the VRI observations, we use the linear fitting to analyze the relations between brightness and spectrum. The two sources both show IDV properties for S5 0716+714. The timescales are in the range from 17.3 minutes to 4.82 hours; for 3C273, the timescale is 35.6 minutes. Based on the periodic analysis methods, we find the periods P(V) = 24.24 days, P(R)=24.12 days, P(I)=24.82 days for S5 0716+714, and P = 12.99, 21.76 yr for 3C273. The two sources displayed the "bluer-when-brighter" spectral evolution properties. S5 0716+714 and 3C 273 are frequently studied objects. The violent optical variability and IDV may come from the jet. Gaussian fitting can be used to analyze IDVs. The relations between brightness (flux density) and spectrum are strongly influenced by the frequency., Comment: 28 pages, 3 tables

In a two-component jet model, the emissions are the sum of the core and extended emissions: $S^{\rm ob}=S_{\rm core}^{\rm ob}+S_{\rm ext}^{\rm ob}$, with the core emissions, $S_{\rm core}^{\rm ob}= f S_{\rm ext}^{\rm ob}\delta^{q}$, being a function of the Doppler factor, $\delta$, the extended emission, $S_{\rm ext}^{\rm ob}$, jet type dependent factor, $q$, and the ratio of the core to the extended emissions in the comoving frame, $f$. The $f$ is an unobservable but important parameter. Following our previous work, we collect 65 blazars with available Doppler factor, $\delta$, superluminal velocity, $\beta_{app}$, and core-dominance parameter, $R$, calculate the ratio, $f$, and peform statistical analyses. We find that the ratio, $f$, in BL Lacs is on average larger than that in FSRQs. We suggest that the difference of the ratio $f$ between FSRQs and BL Lacs is one of the possible reasons that cause the difference of other observed properties between them. We also find some significant correlations between $\log f$ and other parameters, including intrinsic (de-beamed) peak frequency, $\log \nu _{\rm p}^{\rm in}$, intrinsic polarization, $\log P^{\rm in}$, and core-dominance parameter, $\log R$, for the whole sample. In addition, we show that the ratio, $f$, can be estimated by $R$., Comment: Accepted by Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy

In the present paper, we have reported the result of simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of the TeV blazar Mrk 421 during February $-$ March 2003. In this period, we have observed Mrk 421 using Pachmarhi Array of \v{C}erenkov Telescopes (PACT) of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at Pachmarhi, India. Other simultaneous data were taken from the published literature and public data archives. We have analyzed the high quality X-ray (2-20 keV) observations from the NASA Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). We have seen a possible correlated variability between X-ray and J band (1.25 $\mu$) near infrared (NIR) wavelength. This is the first case of X-ray and NIR correlated variability in Mrk 421 or any high energy peaked (HBL) blazar. The correlated variability reported here is indicating a similar origin for NIR and X-ray emission. The emission is not affected much by the environment of the surrounding medium around the central engine of the Mrk 421. The observations are consistent with the shock-in-jet model for the emission of radiations., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for Publication in ChJAA

In this paper, using the database of the university of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (UMRAO) at three (4.8 GHz, 8 GHZ, and 14.5 GHz) radio frequencies, we studied the polarization properties for 47 BL Lacertae objects(38 radio selected BL Lacertae objects, 7 X-ray selected BL Lacertae, and two inter-middle objects (Mkn 421 and Mkn 501), and found that (1) The polarizations at higher radio frequency is higher than those at lower frequency, (2) The variability of polarization at higher radio frequency is higher than those at lower frequency, (3) The polarization is correlated with the radio spectral index, and (4) The polarization is correlated with core-dominance parameter for those objects with known core-dominance parameters suggesting that the relativistic beaming could explain the polarization characteristic of BL Lacs., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. PASJ, in press