High Black Hole Mass Research Articles

Search and analysis of giant radio galaxies with associated nuclei (SAGAN)

Giant radio quasars (GRQs) are radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) that propel megaparsec-scale jets. In order to understand GRQs and their properties, we have compiled all known GRQs (‘the GRQ catalogue’) and a subset of small (size < 700 kpc) radio quasars (SRQs) from the literature. In the process, we have found ten new Fanaroff-Riley type-II GRQs in the redshift range of 0.66 < z < 1.72, which we include in the GRQ catalogue. Using the above samples, we have carried out a systematic comparative study of GRQs and SRQs using optical and radio data. Our results show that the GRQs and SRQs statistically have similar spectral index and black hole mass distributions. However, SRQs have a higher radio core power, core dominance factor, total radio power, jet kinetic power, and Eddington ratio compared to GRQs. On the other hand, when compared to giant radio galaxies (GRGs), GRQs have a higher black hole mass and Eddington ratio. The high core dominance factor of SRQs is an indicator of them lying closer to the line of sight than GRQs. We also find a correlation between the accretion disc luminosity and the radio core and jet power of GRQs, which provides evidence for disc-jet coupling. Lastly, we find the distributions of Eddington ratios of GRGs and GRQs to be bi-modal, similar to that found in small radio galaxies (SRGs) and SRQs, which indicates that size is not strongly dependent on the accretion state. Using all of this, we provide a basic model for the growth of SRQs to GRQs.

The Close AGN Reference Survey (CARS)

Context.Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are thought to be intimately connected with their host galaxies through feeding and feedback processes. A strong coupling is predicted and supported by cosmological simulations of galaxy formation, but the details of the physical mechanisms are still observationally unconstrained.Aims.Galaxies are complex systems of stars and a multiphase interstellar medium (ISM). A spatially resolved multiwavelength survey is required to map the interaction of AGN with their host galaxies on different spatial scales and different phases of the ISM. The goal of the Close AGN Reference Survey (CARS) is to obtain the necessary spatially resolved multiwavelength observations for an unbiased sample of local unobscured luminous AGN.Methods.We present the overall CARS survey design and the associated wide-field optical integral-field unit (IFU) spectroscopy for all 41 CARS targets atz < 0.06 randomly selected from the Hamburg/ESO survey of luminous unobscured AGN. This data set provides the backbone of the CARS survey and allows us to characterize host galaxy morphologies, AGN parameters, precise systemic redshifts, and ionized gas distributions including excitation conditions, kinematics, and metallicities in unprecedented detail.Results.We focus our study on the size of the extended narrow-line region (ENLR) which has been traditionally connected to AGN luminosity. Given the large scatter in the ENLR size–luminosity relation, we performed a large parameter search to identify potentially more fundamental relations. Remarkably, we identified the strongest correlation between the maximum projected ENLR size and the black hole mass, consistent with anRENLR,max∼MBH0.5relationship. We interpret the maximum ENLR size as a timescale indicator of a single black hole (BH) radiative-efficient accretion episode for which we inferred 〈log(tAGN/[yr])〉 = (0.45 ± 0.08)log(MBH/[M⊙]) + 1.78−0.67+0.54using forward modeling. The extrapolation of our inferred relation toward higher BH masses is consistent with an independent lifetime estimate from the He IIproximity zones around luminous AGN atz ∼ 3.Conclusions.While our proposed link between the BH mass and AGN lifetime might be a secondary correlation itself or impacted by unknown biases, it has a few relevant implications if confirmed. For example, the famous AGN Eigenvector 1 parameter space may be partially explained by the range in AGN lifetimes. Also, the lack of observational evidence for negative AGN feedback on star formation can be explained by such timescale effects. Further observational tests are required to confirm or rule out our BH mass dependent AGN lifetime hypothesis.

A Sample of Massive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies Detected via [Fe x] Coronal Line Emission: Active Galactic Nuclei and/or Tidal Disruption Events

Abstract The massive black hole (BH) population in dwarf galaxies (M BH ≲ 105 M ⊙) can provide strong constraints on the origin of BH seeds. However, traditional optical searches for active galactic nuclei (AGNs) only reliably detect high-accretion, relatively high-mass BHs in dwarf galaxies with low amounts of star formation, leaving a large portion of the overall BH population in dwarf galaxies relatively unexplored. Here, we present a sample of 81 dwarf galaxies (M ⋆ ≤ 3 × 109 M ⊙) with detectable [Fe x]λ6374 coronal line emission indicative of accretion onto massive BHs, only two of which were previously identified as optical AGNs. We analyze optical spectroscopy from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and find [Fe x]λ6374 luminosities in the range L [Fe x] ≈ 1036–1039 erg s−1, with a median value of 1.6 × 1038 erg s−1. The [Fe x] λ6374 luminosities are generally much too high to be produced by stellar sources, including luminous Type IIn supernovae (SNe). Moreover, based on known SNe rates, we expect at most eight Type IIn SNe in our sample. That said, the [Fe x]λ6374 luminosities are consistent with accretion onto massive BHs from AGNs or tidal disruption events (TDEs). We find additional indicators of BH accretion in some cases using other emission line diagnostics, optical variability, and X-ray and radio emission (or some combination of these). However, many of the galaxies in our sample only have evidence for a massive BH based on their [Fe x]λ6374 luminosities. This work highlights the power of coronal line emission to find BHs in dwarf galaxies missed by other selection techniques and to probe the BH population in bluer, lower-mass dwarf galaxies.

Transient glitch mitigation in Advanced LIGO data

"Glitches" -- transient noise artifacts in the data collected by gravitational wave interferometers like LIGO and Virgo -- are an ever-present obstacle for the search and characterization of gravitational wave signals. With some having morphology similar to high mass, high mass-ratio, and extreme-spin binary black hole events, they limit sensitivity to such sources. They can also act as a contaminant for all sources, requiring targeted mitigation before astrophysical inferences can be made. We propose a data driven, parametric model for frequently encountered glitch types using probabilistic principal component analysis. As a noise analog of parameterized gravitational wave signal models, it can be easily incorporated into existing search and detector characterization techniques. We have implemented our approach with the open source glitschen package. Using LIGO's currently most problematic glitch types, the 'blip' and 'tomte', we demonstrate that parametric models of modest dimension can be constructed and used for effective mitigation in both frequentist and Bayesian analyses.

Quasar clustering at redshift 6

Context. Large-scale surveys over the last years have revealed about 300 quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) at redshifts above 6. Follow-up observations have identified surprising properties, such as the very high black hole (BH) masses, spatial correlations with surrounding cold gas of the host galaxy, and high CIV-MgII Velocity shifts. In particular, the discovery of luminous high-redshift quasars suggests that at least some BHs likely have high masses at birth and grow efficiently. Aims. Our aim is to quantify quasar pairs at high redshift for a large sample of objects. This provides a new key constraint on a combination of parameters related to the origin and assembly for the most massive BHs: formation efficiency and clustering, growth efficiency, and the relative contribution of BH mergers. Methods. We observed 116 spectroscopically confirmed QSOs around redshift 6 with the simultaneous seven-channel imager Gamma-ray Burst Optical/Near-infrared Detector in order to search for companions. Applying colour-colour cuts identical to those which led to the spectroscopically confirmed QSOs, we performed Le PHARE fits to the 26 best QSO pair candidates, and obtained spectroscopic observations for 11 of them. Results. We do not find any QSO pair with a companion brighter than M1450(AB) < −26 mag within our 0.1–3.3 h−1 cMpc search radius, in contrast to the serendipitous findings in the redshift range 4–5. However, a small fraction of such pairs at this luminosity and redshift is consistent with indications from present-day cosmological-scale galaxy evolution models. In turn, the incidence of L- and T-type brown dwarfs, which occupy a similar colour space to z ∼ 6 QSOs, is higher than expected, by a factor of 5 and 20, respectively.

Poking Holes: Looking for Gaps in LIGO/Virgo’s Black Hole Population

Abstract Stellar evolution models predict the existence of a gap in the black hole mass spectrum from ∼55 M ⊙–120 M ⊙ due to pair-instability supernovae (PISNe). We investigate the possible existence of such an “upper” mass gap in the second gravitational-wave transient catalog (GWTC-2) by hierarchically modeling the astrophysical distribution of black hole masses. We extend the Truncated and Powerlaw+Peak mass distribution families to allow for an explicit gap in the mass distribution, and apply the extended models to GWTC-2. We find that with the Truncated model there is mild evidence favoring an upper mass gap with log Bayes Factor , inferring the lower and upper bounds at and respectively. When using the Powerlaw+Peak model, we find no preference for the gap. When imposing tighter priors on the gap bounds centered on the expected PISNe gap bounds, the log Bayes factors in favor of a gap mildly increase. These results are however contingent on the parameter inference for the most massive binary, GW190521, for which follow-up analyses showed the source may be an intermediate mass ratio merger that has component masses straddling the gap. Using the GW190521 posterior samples from the analysis in Nitz & Capano (2021), we find an increase in Bayes factors in favor of the gap. However, the overall conclusions are unchanged: there is no preference for a gap when using the Powerlaw+Peak model. This work paves the way for constraining the physics of pair-instability and pulsational pair-instability supernovae and high-mass black hole formation.

Accretion-induced Black Hole Spin-up Revised by Numerical General Relativistic MHD

Abstract We investigate the accretion-induced spin-up of the black hole via numerical simulations. Our method is based on general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics of the slowly rotating flows in the Kerr metric, where possibly transonic shock fronts may form. We account for the changing black hole mass and spin during accretion that enforces dynamical evolution of the spacetime metric. We first study nonmagnetized flows with shocks, and we also include magnetic field endowed in the gas. The aim of this study is to verify whether the high-mass black holes may be produced with large spins, even though at birth the collapsars might have contained slowly or moderately spinning cores. In this way, we put constraints on the content of angular momentum in the collapsing massive stars. Our studies are also showing that shock fronts and magnetic fields may halt accretion and limit the black hole spin-up in the exploding supernovae.

Alternative possibility of GW190521: Gravitational waves from high-mass black hole-disk systems

We evolve high-mass disks of mass $15$-$50M_\odot$ orbiting a $50M_\odot$ spinning black hole in the framework of numerical relativity. Such high-mass systems could be an outcome during the collapse of rapidly-rotating very-massive stars. The massive disks are dynamically unstable to the so-called one-armed spiral-shape deformation with the maximum fractional density-perturbation of $\delta \rho/\rho \gtrsim 0.1$, and hence, high-amplitude gravitational waves are emitted. The waveforms are characterized by an initial high-amplitude burst with the frequency of $\sim 40$-$50$ Hz and the maximum amplitude of $(1$-$10)\times 10^{-22}$ at the hypothetical distance of 100 Mpc and by a subsequent low-amplitude quasi-periodic oscillation. We illustrate that the waveforms in our models with a wide range of the disk mass resemble that of GW190521. We also point out that gravitational waves from rapidly-rotating very-massive stars can be the source for 3rd-generation gravitational-wave detectors for exploring the formation process of rapidly-spinning high-mass black holes of mass $\sim 50$-$100M_\odot$ in an early universe.

Cygnus X-1 contains a 21-solar mass black hole-Implications for massive star winds.

The evolution of massive stars is influenced by the mass lost to stellar winds over their lifetimes. These winds limit the masses of the stellar remnants (such as black holes) that the stars ultimately produce. We used radio astrometry to refine the distance to the black hole x-ray binary Cygnus X-1, which we found to be [Formula: see text] kiloparsecs. When combined with archival optical data, this implies a black hole mass of 21.2 ± 2.2 solar masses, which is higher than previous measurements. The formation of such a high-mass black hole in a high-metallicity system (within the Milky Way) constrains wind mass loss from massive stars.

Formation and Evolution of Compact-object Binaries in AGN Disks

Abstract The astrophysical origin of gravitational wave (GW) events discovered by LIGO/VIRGO remains an outstanding puzzle. In active galactic nuclei (AGNs), compact-object binaries form, evolve, and interact with a dense star cluster and a gas disk. An important question is whether and how binaries merge in these environments. To address this question, we have performed one-dimensional N-body simulations combined with a semianalytical model that includes the formation, disruption, and evolution of binaries self-consistently. We point out that binaries can form in single–single interactions through the dissipation of kinetic energy in a gaseous medium. This “gas-capture” binary formation channel contributes up to 97% of gas-driven mergers and leads to a high merger rate in AGN disks even without preexisting binaries. We find the merger rate to be in the range of ∼0.02–60 Gpc−3 yr−1. The results are insensitive to the assumptions on the gaseous hardening processes: we find that once they are formed, binaries merge efficiently via binary–single interactions even if these gaseous processes are ignored. We find that the average number of mergers per black hole (BH) is 0.4, and the probability for repeated mergers in 30 Myr is ∼0.21–0.45. High BH masses due to repeated mergers, high eccentricities, and a significant Doppler drift of GWs are promising signatures that distinguish this merger channel from others. Furthermore, we find that gas-capture binaries reproduce the distribution of low-mass X-ray binaries in the Galactic center, including an outer cutoff at ∼1 pc due to the competition between migration and hardening by gas torques.

Evolutionary roads leading to low effective spins, high black hole masses, and O1/O2 rates for LIGO/Virgo binary black holes

All ten LIGO/Virgo binary black hole (BH-BH) coalescences reported following the O1/O2 runs have near-zero effective spins. There are only three potential explanations for this. If the BH spin magnitudes are large, then: (i) either both BH spin vectors must be nearly in the orbital plane or (ii) the spin angular momenta of the BHs must be oppositely directed and similar in magnitude. Then there is also the possibility that (iii) the BH spin magnitudes are small. We consider the third hypothesis within the framework of the classical isolated binary evolution scenario of the BH-BH merger formation. We test three models of angular momentum transport in massive stars: a mildly efficient transport by meridional currents (as employed in the Geneva code), an efficient transport by the Tayler-Spruit magnetic dynamo (as implemented in the MESA code), and a very-efficient transport (as proposed by Fuller et al.) to calculate natal BH spins. We allow for binary evolution to increase the BH spins through accretion and account for the potential spin-up of stars through tidal interactions. Additionally, we update the calculations of the stellar-origin BH masses, including revisions to the history of star formation and to the chemical evolution across cosmic time. We find that we can simultaneously match the observed BH-BH merger rate density and BH masses and BH-BH effective spins. Models with efficient angular momentum transport are favored. The updated stellar-mass weighted gas-phase metallicity evolution now used in our models appears to be key for obtaining an improved reproduction of the LIGO/Virgo merger rate estimate. Mass losses during the pair-instability pulsation supernova phase are likely to be overestimated if the merger GW170729 hosts a BH more massive than 50 M⊙. We also estimate rates of black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) mergers from recent LIGO/Virgo observations. If, in fact. angular momentum transport in massive stars is efficient, then any (electromagnetic or gravitational wave) observation of a rapidly spinning BH would indicate either a very effective tidal spin up of the progenitor star (homogeneous evolution, high-mass X-ray binary formation through case A mass transfer, or a spin- up of a Wolf-Rayet star in a close binary by a close companion), significant mass accretion by the hole, or a BH formation through the merger of two or more BHs (in a dense stellar cluster).

The Spin of the Black Hole GRS 1716-249 Determined from the Hard Intermediate State

Abstract We present three simultaneous/quasi-simultaneous NuSTAR and Swift data sets of the black hole (BH) GRS 1716-249 in its hard intermediate state. The accretion disk in this state may have reached the innermost stable circular orbit, and the NuSTAR spectra show a broad relativistic iron line and a strong Compton hump. To measure the BH spin, we construct a joint model consisting of a relativistic disk model kerrbb and a reflection model relxill, to fit the continuum and the reflection components, respectively. By applying this model to each data set independently, a consistent result is obtained on the BH spin and the disk inclination. The BH spin is a* ≳ 0.92, and the inclination angle (i) is around 40°–50°, based on the measurements of all data sets. In the third data set, a high BH mass (M BH) is strongly disfavored by the spectral fits. By unfreezing the BH mass, we find a* > 0.92, , and M BH < 8.0 M ⊙, at a 90% confidence level. Considering the lower limit derived from a previous optical constraint, M BH is in a range of 4.9–8.0 M ⊙.

Driving classical Wolf-Rayet winds: A Γ- and Z-dependent mass-loss

Abstract Classical Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are at a crucial evolutionary stage for constraining the fates of massive stars. The feedback of these hot, hydrogen-depleted stars dominates their surrounding by tremendous injections of ionizing radiation and kinetic energy. The strength of a WR wind decides the eventual mass of its remnant, likely a massive black hole. However, despite their major influence and importance for gravitational wave detection statistics, WR winds are particularly poorly understood. In this paper, we introduce the first set of hydrodynamically consistent stellar atmosphere models for classical WR stars of both the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequence, i.e. WC and WN stars, as a function of stellar luminosity-to-mass ratio (or Eddington Gamma), and metallicity. We demonstrate the inapplicability of the CAK wind theory for classical WR stars and confirm earlier findings that their winds are launched at the (hot) iron (Fe) opacity peak. For log Z/Z⊙ > −2, Fe is also the main accelerator throughout the wind. Contrasting previous claims of a sharp lower mass-loss limit for WR stars, we obtain a smooth transition to optically thin winds. Furthermore, we find a strong dependence of the mass-loss rates on Eddington Γ, both at solar and sub-solar metallicity. Increases in WC carbon and oxygen abundances turn out to slightly reduce the predicted mass-loss rates. Calculations at subsolar metallicities indicate that below the metallicity of the SMC, WR mass-loss rates decrease much faster than previously assumed, potentially allowing for high black hole masses even in the local universe.

Elusive accretion discs in low luminosity AGN

AbstractLow luminosity AGN represent the vast majority of the AGN population in the near universe, and still the least conforming class with the standard AGN scenario. Their low luminosity is at odds with their often very high black hole masses and powerful jets. I will review the challenges that parsec-scale observations across the electromagnetic spectrum of some of the nearest ones are opening on the true nature of their emission, their transition from the most luminous to the feeble ones, and their accretion power. The strict limits imposed by these observations on their accretion power are confronted with the high mechanical energy inferred for their jets. Possible scenarios for these nuclei including the extraction of power form the black hole spin are discussed (Prieto et al. 2016; Fernandez-Ontiveros et al. 2019).

Multi-detector null-stream-based statistic for compact binary coalescence searches

We develop a new multi-detector signal-based discriminator to improve the sensitivity of searches for gravitational waves from compact binary coalescences. The new statistic is the traditional computed on a null-stream synthesized from the gravitational-wave detector strain time-series of three detectors. This null-stream- statistic can be extended to networks involving more than three detectors as well. The null-stream itself was proposed as a discriminator between correlated unmodeled signals in multiple detectors, such as arising from a common astrophysical source, and uncorrelated noise transients. It can be useful even when the signal model is known, such as for compact binary coalescences. The traditional , on the other hand, is an effective discriminator when the signal model is known and lends itself to the matched-filtering technique. The latter weakens in its effectiveness when a signal lacks enough cycles in band; this can happen for high-mass black hole binaries. The former weakens when there are concurrent noise transients in different detectors in the network or the detector sensitivities are substantially different. Using simulated binary black hole signals, noise transients and strain for Advanced LIGO (in Livingston and Hanford) and Advanced Virgo detectors, we compare the performance of the null-stream- statistic with that of the traditional statistic using receiver-operating characteristics. The new statistic may form the basis for better signal-noise discriminators in multi-detector searches in the future.

The evolution of kicked stellar-mass black holes in star cluster environments - II. Rotating star clusters

Abstract In this paper, we continue our study on the evolution of black holes (BHs) that receive velocity kicks at the origin of their host star cluster potential. We now focus on BHs in rotating clusters that receive a range of kick velocities in different directions with respect to the rotation axis. We perform N-body simulations to calculate the trajectories of the kicked BHs and develop an analytic framework to study their motion as a function of the host cluster and the kick itself. Our simulations indicate that for a BH that is kicked outside of the cluster’s core, as its orbit decays in a rotating cluster the BH will quickly gain angular momentum as it interacts with stars with high rotational frequencies. Once the BH decays to the point where its orbital frequency equals that of local stars, its orbit will be circular and dynamical friction becomes ineffective since local stars will have low relative velocities. After circularization, the BH’s orbit decays on a longer time-scale than if the host cluster was not rotating. Hence BHs in rotating clusters will have longer orbital decay times. The time-scale for orbit circularization depends strongly on the cluster’s rotation rate and the initial kick velocity, with kicked BHs in slowly rotating clusters being able to decay into the core before circularization occurs. The implication of the circularization phase is that the probability of a BH undergoing a tidal capture event increases, possibly aiding in the formation of binaries and high-mass BHs.

Late-time UV Observations of Tidal Disruption Flares Reveal Unobscured, Compact Accretion Disks∗

Abstract The origin of thermal optical and UV emission from stellar tidal disruption flares (TDFs) remains an open question. We present Hubble Space Telescope far-UV (FUV) observations of eight optical/UV-selected TDFs 5–10 yr post-peak. Six sources are cleanly detected, showing point-like FUV emission ( ) from the centers of their host galaxies. We discover that the light curves of TDFs from low-mass black holes (<106.5 M ⊙) show significant late-time flattening. Conversely, FUV light curves from high-mass black hole TDFs are generally consistent with an extrapolation from the early-time light curve. The observed late-time emission cannot be explained by existing models for early-time TDF light curves (i.e., reprocessing or circularization shocks), but is instead consistent with a viscously spreading, unobscured accretion disk. These disk models can only reproduce the observed FUV luminosities, however, if they are assumed to be thermally and viscously stable, in contrast to the simplest predictions of α-disk theory. For one TDF in our sample, we measure an upper limit to the UV luminosity that is significantly lower than expectations from theoretical modeling and an extrapolation of the early-time light curve. This dearth of late-time emission could be due to a disk instability/state change absent in the rest of the sample. The disk models that explain the late-time UV detections solve the TDF “missing energy problem” by radiating a rest-mass energy of ∼0.1 M ⊙ over a period of decades, primarily in extreme UV wavelengths.

The Sub-Eddington Boundary for the Quasar Mass–Luminosity Plane: A Theoretical Perspective

By exploring more than sixty thousand quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 5, Steinhardt & Elvis discovered a sub-Eddington boundary and a redshift-dependent drop-off at higher black hole mass, possible clues to the growth history of massive black holes. Our contribution to this special issue of Universe amounts to an application of a model for black hole accretion and jet formation to these observations. For illustrative purposes, we include ~100,000 data points from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 where the sub-Eddington boundary is also visible and propose a theoretical picture that explains these features. By appealing to thin disk theory and both the lower accretion efficiency and the time evolution of jetted quasars compared to non-jetted quasars in our “gap paradigm”, we explain two features of the sub-Eddington boundary. First, we show that a drop-off on the quasar mass-luminosity plane for larger black hole mass occurs at all redshifts. But the fraction of jetted quasars is directly related to the merger function in this paradigm, which means the jetted quasar fraction drops with decrease in redshift, which allows us to explain a second feature of the sub-Eddington boundary, namely a redshift dependence of the slope of the quasar mass–luminosity boundary at high black hole mass stemming from a change in radiative efficiency with time. We are able to reproduce the mass dependence of, as well as the oscillating behavior in, the slope of the sub-Eddington boundary as a function of time. The basic physical idea involves retrograde accretion occurring only for a subset of the more massive black holes, which implies that most spinning black holes in our model are prograde accretors. In short, this paper amounts to a qualitative overview of how a sub-Eddington boundary naturally emerges in the gap paradigm.

AGILE, Fermi, Swift, and GASP/WEBT multi-wavelength observations of the high-redshift blazar 4C +71.07 in outburst

Context. The flat-spectrum radio quasar 4C +71.07 is a high-redshift (z = 2.172), γ-loud blazar whose optical emission is dominated by thermal radiation from the accretion disc. Aims. 4C +71.07 has been detected in outburst twice by the AGILE γ-ray satellite during the period from the end of October to mid-November 2015, when it reached a γ-ray flux of the order of F(E > 100 MeV)=(1.2 ± 0.3)×10−6 photons cm−2 s−1 and F(E > 100 MeV)=(3.1 ± 0.6)×10−6 photons cm−2 s−1, respectively, allowing us to investigate the properties of the jet and the emission region. Methods. We investigated its spectral energy distribution by means of almost-simultaneous observations covering the cm, mm, near-infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X-ray, and γ-ray energy bands obtained by the GASP-WEBT Consortium and the Swift, AGILE, and Fermi satellites. Results. The spectral energy distribution of the second γ-ray flare (whose energy coverage is more dense) can be modelled by means of a one-zone leptonic model, yielding a total jet power of about 4 × 1047 erg s−1. Conclusions. During the most prominent γ-ray flaring period our model is consistent with a dissipation region within the broad-line region. Moreover, this class of high-redshift, flat-spectrum radio quasars with high-mass black holes might be good targets for future γ-ray satellites such as e-ASTROGAM.

Scaling of X-ray spectral properties of a black hole in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC7469

We present our analysis of X-ray spectral properties observed from the Seyfert 1 galactic nucleus NGC 7469 using theRossiX-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics mission (ASCA) observations. We demonstrate strong observational evidence that NGC 7469 undergoes spectral transitions from the low hard state (LHS) to the intermediate state (IS) during these observations. The RXTE observations (1996–2009) show that the source was in the IS ∼75% of the time only ∼25% of the time in the LHS. The spectra of NGC 7469 are well fitted by the so-called bulk motion Comptonization (BMC) model for all spectral states. We have established the photon index (Γ) saturation level, Γsat= 2.1 ± 0.1, in the Γ versus mass accretion rate,Ṁcorrelation. This Γ –Ṁcorrelation allows us to estimate the black hole (BH) mass in NGC 7469 to beMBH≥ 3 × 106M⊙assuming the distance to NGC 7469 of 70 Mpc. For this BH mass estimate, we use the scaling method taking Galactic BHs, GRO J1655–40, Cyg X–1, and an extragalactic BH source, NGC 4051 as reference sources. The Γ versusṀcorrelation revealed in NGC 7469 is similar to those in a number of Galactic and extragalactic BHs and it clearly shows the correlation along with the strong Γ saturation at ≈2.1. This is robust observational evidence for the presence of a BH in NGC 7469. We also find that the seed (disk) photon temperatures are quite low, of the order of 140–200 eV, which are consistent with a high BH mass in NGC 7469 that is more than 3 × 106solar masses.