SDSS J143030.22-001115.1: A Misclassified Narrow-line Seyfert 1 Galaxy with Flat X-ray Spectrum

We used multi-component profiles to model the HE and [O Ⅲ]λλ4959,5007 lines of SDSS J143030.22-001115.1, a narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy （NLS1） in a sample of 150 NLS1 candidates selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey （SDSS）, Early Data Release （EDR）. After subtracting the HE contribution from narrow line regions （NLRs）, we found that its full width half maximum （FWHM） of broad H/3 line is nearly 2900km s^-1, significantly larger than the customarily adopted criterion of 2000 km s^-1. With its weak Fe II multiples, we believe that SDSS J143030.22-001115.1 should not be classified as a genuine NLS1. When we calculate the virial black hole masses of NLSls, we should use the Hβ linewidth after subtracting the NLR component.

The X-ray nature of the nucleus in Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 7590

We present the results of the Chandra high-resolution observation of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 7590. This object was reported to show no X-ray absorption in the low-spatial resolution ASCA data. The XMM-Newton observations show that the X-ray emission of NGC 7590 is dominated by an off-nuclear ultra-luminous X- ray source (ULX) and extended emissions from the host galaxy, and the nucleus is rather weak, likely hosting a Compton-thick AGN. Our recent Chandra observation of NGC 7590 enables us to effectively remove the X-ray contamination from the ULX and the extended component. The nuclear source remains undetected at the flux level of ～ 4 × 10-15 erg cm-2 s-1. Although not detected, the Chandra data give a 2- 10 keV flux upper limit of ～ 6.1 × 10-15 erg cm-2 s-1 (at a 3σ level), a factor of three less than the XMM-Newton value, strongly supporting the Compton-thick nature of the nucleus. In addition, we detected five off-nuclear X-ray point sources within the galaxy's D25 ellipse, all with 2 - 10 keV luminosity above 2×1038 erg s-1 (assuming the distance of NGC 7590). In particular, the ULX previously identified by ROSAT data is resolved by Chandra into two distinct X-ray sources. Our analysis highlights the importance of high spatial resolution images in discovering and studying ULXs.

Estimates of AGN Black Hole Mass and Minimum Variability Timescale

Black hole mass is one of the fundamental physical parameters of active galactic nuclei （AGNs）, for which many methods of estimation have been proposed. One set of methods assumes that the broad-line region （BLR） is gravitationally bound by the central black hole potential, so the black hole mass can be estimated from the orbital radius and the Doppler velocity. Another set of methods assumes the observed variability timescale is determined by the orbital timescale near the innermost stable orbit around the Schwarzschild black hole or the Kerr black hole, or by the characteristic timescale of the accretion disk. We collect a sample of 21 AGNs, for which the minimum variability timescales have been obtained and their black hole masses （Mσ） have been well estimated from the stellar velocity dispersion or the BLR size-luminosity relation. Using the minimum variability timescales we estimated the black hole masses for 21 objects by the three different methods, the results are denoted by Ms, Mk and Md,respectively. We compared each of them with Mσ individually and found that： （1） using the minimum variability timescale with the Kerr black hole theory leads to small differences between Mσ and Mk, none exceeding one order of magnitude, and the mean difference between them is about 0.53 dex; （2） using the minimum variability timescale with the Schwarzschild black hole theory leads to somewhat larger difference between Mσ and Ms： larger than one order of magnitude for 6 of the 21 sources, and the mean difference is 0.74 dex; （3） using the minimum variability timescale with the accretion disk theory leads to much larger differences between Mσ and Md, for 13 of the 21 sources the differences are larger than two orders of magnitude; and the mean difference is as high as about 2.01 dex.

Extragalactic H_2O Megamaser Sources:Central Black Holes,Nuclear X-ray and Maser Emissions

Extragalactic H2O megamasers are typically found within the innermost few parsecs of active galaxy nuclei （AGN） and the maser emission is considered to be excited most likely by the X-ray irradiation of the AGN. We investigate a comprehensive sample of extragalactic H2O masers in a sample of 38 maser host AGN to check potential correlations of the megamaser emission with parameters of the AGN, such as X-ray luminosity and black hole （BH） masses. We find a relation between the maser luminosities and BH masses LH2O∝MBH^3.6±0.4 which supports basically the theoretical prediction. The relation between the maser emission and X-ray emission is also confirmed.

On the Black Hole - Bulge Mass Ratios in Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies

We present estimated ratios of the central black hole mass to the bulge mass (Mbh/Mbulge) for 15 Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s). It is found that NLS1s apparently have lower mass ratios: the average mass ratio is about 1 × 10-4 with a spread of 2, which is one order of magnitude lower than for Broad Line AGNs and quiescent galaxies. This lower value, as compared to that established essentially for all other types of galaxies, can be accounted for by an underestimation of the black hole masses and an overestimation of the bulge masses in the NLS1s.

The Difference between the α-disks of Seyfert 1 Galaxies and Quasars

In a previous paper, it was suggested that contamination of the nuclear luminosity by the host galaxy plays an important role in determining the parameters of the standard a disk of AGNs. Using the nuclear absolute B band magnitude instead of the total absolute B band magnitude, we have recalculated the central black hole masses, accretion rates and disk inclinations for 20 Seyfert 1 galaxies and 17 Palomar-Green (PG) quasars. It is found that a small value of a is needed for the Seyfert 1 galaxies than for the PG quasars. This difference in a possibly leads to the different properties of Seyfert 1 galaxies and quasars. Furthermore, we find most of the objects in this sample are not accreting at super-Eddington rates if we adopt the nuclear optical luminosity in our calculation.

Relation between the “Double-Hump” Behavior in the Radio Band and the Broad-Line Luminosity for Blazars

The physics behind the spectral energy distribution （SED） of blazars remains open. We assembled 36 blazars to tackle the factors that control their SED. Now, many blazar spectra have the ＂double hump＂ feature in the radio and far-IR frequencies. For these a parameter, △, is created to characterize the behavior of the SED. We found a significant correlation between the broad-line luminosity （LBLR） and △. Because L BLR is an indicator of the accreting power of the source in blazars, we derived a linear correlation, △ oc M1/3.18, which suggests that the SED of blazars may depend on the accretion rate, like that of BL Lac objects. We also found a significant correlation between m and △ for a sample of 11 blazars （out of one of 36） with available black hole masses. This implies the Eddington accretion ratio may influence the shape of the SED of blazars.

Relations between the IR-UV-X-ray Continuum and Emission Lines for a Large Composite Sample of Narrow Line and Normal Seyfert 1 Galaxies

We report on our research on the UV, optical line parameters and the infrared through UV to soft X-ray continuum parameters for a composite sample of narrow line and normal Seyfert 1 galaxies. The strong correlations among the line width of HB, optical line strength of Fell and the soft X-ray slope are confirmed. We found no correlations between the UV line parameters, the equivalent widths of Lya and CIV and their ratio on one hand and the optical line parameters on the other. The UV and X-ray luminosities strongly correlate with the line widths of HB and the Fe II/HB ratio. No significant correlation is found between the infrared-soft X-my continuum slope aix and the line width of HB.

Kinematic properties of the dual AGN system J0038+4128 based on long-slit spectroscopy

The study ofkiloparsec-scale dual active galactic nuclei （AGN） provides important clues for understanding the co-evolution between host galaxies and their central supermassive black holes undergoing a merging process. We present long-slit spectroscopy of J0038 ＋4128, a kiloparsec-scale dual AGN candidate, discovered recently by Huang et al., using the Yunnan Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera （YFOSC） mounted on the Lijiang 2.4-m telescope administered by Yunnan Observatories. From the long-slit spectra, we find that the average relative line-of-sight （LOS） velocity between the two nuclei （J0038＋4128N and J0038＋4128S） is about 150 km s-1. The LOS velocities of the emission lines from the gas ionized by the nuclei activities and of the absorption lines from stars governed by the host galaxies for different regions of J0038＋4128 exhibit the same trend. The same trend in velocities indicates that the gaseous disks are co-rotating with the stellar disks in this ongoing merging system. We also find several knots/giant H II regions scattered around the two nuclei with strong star formation revealed by the observed line ratios from the spectra. Those regions are also clearly detected in images from HST F336W/U-band and HST F555W/V-band.