Photoionization Models Research Articles

Searching for cold gas traced by MgII quasar absorbers in massive X-ray-selected galaxy clusters

Almost 50<!PCT!> of galaxies in the local Universe are in clusters or groups coexisting with both hot and cold gas components. In the present study, we observationally probed the cold-gas content of X-ray-selected massive galaxy clusters with spectroscopic redshift measured from the SDSS/SPIDERS survey. This paper focuses on the most massive structures: galaxy clusters with a mean mass of M$_ 500c $ M$_ odot We used a large number of background quasar optical spectra from SDSS DR16 to probe the diffuse T$=$10$^4$K gas in their intracluster medium. We first analysed a sample of spectra with known MgII absorbers, and then blindly stacked about 16\,000 archival spectra at the redshifts of the foreground galaxy clusters. We tentatively ($3.7 significance) detect MgII in the clusters with an equivalent width EW(MgII lambda 2796) of 0.056pm 0.015 corresponding to a column density of log N(MgII)/cm$^ We tested our methodology by generating 22\,000 mock SDSS spectra with MgII absorbers from Illustris-TNG50 cosmological magnetohydrodynamical simulations, combining photo-ionisation modelling and ray tracing. We also performed bootstrapping stacking at different cluster redshifts and stacked quasar spectra with no intervening clusters in the line of sight to measure the significance of our detection. These results are in line with the findings of recent, similar observational studies but challenge predictions from Illustris-TNG simulations. Together, our findings indicate that large amounts of cold gas may be found in the most massive structures of the Universe.

CLASSY. VIII. Exploring the Source of Ionization with UV Interstellar Medium Diagnostics in Local High-z Analogs* *Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained from the Data Archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

In the current JWST era, rest-frame UV spectra play a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of the interstellar medium (ISM) and stellar properties of the first galaxies in the epoch of reionization (z > 6). Here, we compare well-known and reliable optical diagrams sensitive to the main ionization source (i.e., star formation, SF; active galactic nuclei, AGN; and shocks) to UV counterparts proposed in the literature—the so-called “UV–BPT diagrams”—using the HST COS Legacy Archive Spectroscopic SurveY (CLASSY), which is the largest high-quality, high-resolution, and broad-wavelength range atlas of far-UV spectra for 45 local star-forming galaxies. In particular, we explore where CLASSY UV line ratios are located in the different UV diagnostic plots, taking into account state-of-the-art photoionization and shock models, and, for the first time, the measured ISM and stellar properties (e.g., gas-phase metallicity, ionization parameter, carbon abundance, and stellar age). We find that the combination of C iii] λ λ1907,9 He ii λ1640 and O iii] λ1666 can be a powerful tool to separate between SF, shocks, and AGN at subsolar metallicities. We also confirm that alternative diagrams without O iii] λ1666 still allow us to define an SF-locus, with some caveats. Diagrams including C iv λ λ1548,51 should be taken with caution given the complexity of this doublet profile. Finally, we present a discussion detailing the ISM conditions required to detect UV emission lines, visible only in low gas-phase metallicity (12 + log(O/H) ≲ 8.3) and high ionization parameter (log(U) ≳ −2.5) environments. Overall, CLASSY and our UV toolkit will be crucial in interpreting the spectra of the earliest galaxies that JWST is currently revealing.

Classifying Intermediate-redshift Galaxies in SDSS: Alternative Diagnostic Diagrams

We select a sample of 1437 active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the catalog of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxy properties from the Portsmouth group by detection of the high-ionization [Ne v] 3426 Å emission line. We compare the fluxes of [Ne III] 3869 Å, [O III] 5007 Å, [O II] 3726, 3728 Å, and [O i] 6300 Å to that of [Ne v]. All four lines show a strong linear correlation with [Ne v], although lines from ions with lower ionization potentials have a lower correlation coefficient. We investigate the use of two forbidden line ratio diagnostic diagrams that do not rely on Hα in order to classify high-redshift galaxies. These use the [Ne III]/[O II] line ratio plotted against [O III]/[O i] and [O III]/[O II], respectively. We use photoionization modeling to characterize the behavior of the narrow-line region in AGN and star-forming regions and test the validity of our diagnostic diagrams. We also use a luminosity cutoff of log L [O III] [erg s−1] = 42, which lowers the contamination of the AGN region by star-forming galaxies down to 10% but does not remove green pea and purple grape galaxies from the AGN region. We also investigate the OHNO diagram, which uses [Ne III]/[O II] plotted against [O III]/Hβ. Using our new diagnostic diagrams, we are able to reliably classify AGN up to a redshift of z ≤ 1.06 and add more than 822 new AGN to the [Ne v]-selected AGN sample.

Deep Chandra Observation of the Remarkable Ionization Cones of NGC 5252

Seyfert galaxy NGC 5252 harbors enormously extended ionization cones that have been previously detected in the optical and X-ray band, offering a unique opportunity to investigate the interaction between the central active galactic nucleus (AGN) and the surrounding gas in the AGN host galaxy. We present deep Chandra imaging spectroscopy of NGC 5252 with a total exposure time of 230 ks. The morphology in the soft X-rays shows resolved extended structure from the nucleus to a large radial distance, and for the first time we detect the outermost X-ray arc at ∼20 kpc. The X-ray cone mostly follows the direction of the optical ionization cones in the southeast and northwest directions, about 20° misaligned with the major axis of the galactic disk of NGC 5252. Fitting the spectra extracted from radial sectors with photoionization models supports that extended emission is mainly photoionized by the central AGN. We also examine the variation of the photoionization parameter along the radial extension and infer a decreasing ionizing continuum of the central engine by a factor of ∼50 over the past 64,000 yr. These findings are consistent with previous suggestions that NGC 5252 resembles a quasar relic with an M ∼ 109 M ⊙ supermassive black hole that went through a minor merger event and switched to a low accretion rate state.

Optical Spectroscopy and Photoionization Model of Planetary Nebula NGC 6572

We investigated NGC 6572 through optical spectroscopy to determine its kinematical and chemical properties. Two intermediate dispersion spectra (R~5000) centered around Hα and Hβ were used to derive the nebular expansion velocity from emission lines associated with Hα, Hβ, [OIII], [NII], and [SII] ions. A low dispersion spectrum (R~1000) was used to determine the nebular electron temperature, density, and chemical composition. We performed photoionization modeling to construct a self-consistent nebular model, whileintermediate-resolution spectral images showed the global elliptical structure of the nebula. The expansion velocity deduced from most of the emission lines is consistent with the typical expansion velocity of planetary nebulae, i.e., around 15-20 kms-1. The nebular physical properties align well with those determined by other studies. The nebular abundances were found to be lower than the solar abundances (except for oxygen) but still comparable with the abundances derived by other researchers. The photoionization model generated spectral lines that are consistent with the lines found in the observations. Further spectroscopic observations with higher resolution and wider range at various position angles will be very useful to reveal a more complete and detailed structure of the nebula and to improve the determination of the nebular physical properties.

The Metallicities of Five Small High-velocity Clouds* *Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained from the Data Archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555. These observations are associated with program 15887.

High-velocity clouds (HVCs) are multiphase gas structures whose velocities (∣v LSR∣ ≥ 100 km s−1) are too high to be explained by Galactic disk rotation. While large HVCs are well characterized, compact and small HVCs (with H i angular sizes of a few degrees) are poorly understood. Possible origins for such small clouds include Milky Way (MW) halo gas or fragments of the Magellanic System, but neither their origin nor their connection to the MW halo has been confirmed. We use new Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph UV spectra and Green Bank Telescope H i spectra to measure the metallicities of five small HVCs in the southern Galactic sky projected near the Magellanic System. We build a set of distance-dependent Cloudy photoionization models for each cloud and calculate their ionization-corrected metallicities. All five small HVCs have oxygen metallicities ≤0.17 Z ⊙, indicating they do not originate in the disk of the MW. Two of the five have metallicities of 0.16–0.17 Z ⊙, similar to the Magellanic Stream, suggesting these clouds are fragments of the Magellanic System. The remaining three clouds have much lower metallicities of 0.02–0.04 Z ⊙. While the origin of these low-metallicity clouds is unclear, they could be gaseous minihalos or gas stripped from dwarf galaxies by ram pressure or tidal interactions. These results suggest that small HVCs do not all reside in the inner MW halo or the Magellanic System, but instead can trace more distant structures.

Modeling the High-energy Ionizing Output from Simple Stellar and X-Ray Binary Populations

We present a methodology for modeling the joint ionizing impact due to a “simple X-ray population” (SXP) and its corresponding simple stellar population (SSP), where “simple” refers to a single age and metallicity population. We construct composite spectral energy distributions (SEDs) including contributions from ultraluminous X-ray sources and stars, with physically meaningful and consistent consideration of the relative contributions of each component as a function of instantaneous burst age and stellar metallicity. These composite SEDs are used as input for photoionization modeling with Cloudy, from which we produce a grid for the time- and metallicity-dependent nebular emission from these composite populations. We make the results from the photoionization simulations publicly available. We find that the addition of the SXP prolongs the high-energy ionizing output from the population—and correspondingly increases the intensity of nebular lines such as He ii λ1640,4686, [Ne v] λ3426,14.3 μm, and [O iv] 25.9 μm by factors of at least two relative to models without an SXP spectral component. This effect is most pronounced for instantaneous bursts of star formation on timescales >10 Myr and at low metallicities (∼0.1 Z ⊙), due to the imposed time- and metallicity-dependent behavior of the SXP relative to the SSP. We propose nebular emission line diagnostics accessible with JWST suitable for inferring the presence of a composite SXP + SSP, and we discuss how the ionization signatures compare to models for sources such as intermediate-mass black holes.

Ionized X-ray winds in the radio galaxy Mrk 6

ABSTRACT Active galactic nucleus (AGN) outflows including jets and ionized winds have been key phenomena such as jet collimation and AGN feedback to the host galaxy in astrophysics. Radio galaxies, a type of AGN with misaligned jets, have provided valuable insights into the properties and relationships of these outflows. However, several aspects regarding AGN outflows remain unclarified, such as the relationship between jets and ultrafast outflows (UFOs) and the differences between the properties of radio-loud AGN disc winds and radio-quiet AGN ionized winds. To clarify these aspects, radio galaxies containing UFOs and warm absorbers (WAs) must be studied. Currently, both UFOs and WAs have been reported in only two radio galaxies, 3C 390.3 and 4C +74.26. To enhance our understanding of the connection between the jets and ionized winds, we conducted a study on Mrk 6, a potential candidate for the third case of a radio galaxy displaying these characteristics. Using X-ray spectra obtained from XMM–Newton, we performed photoionization modelling using the spex code. The best-fitting model analysis results revealed the presence of a UFO component with a relatively low ionization parameter (Fe xix/xviii lines blueshifted by $-34700^{+400}_{-200}~{\rm km~s^{-1}}$) and a WA component with an outflow velocity of −7600 ± 200 km s−1. To further confirm the nature of the UFO and WA in Mrk 6, we simulated the X-ray imagining and spectroscopy mission spectra.

The narrow-line region properties of ESO 138-G001 unveiled by SOAR/SIFS observations

ABSTRACT We study in detail the inner ∼600 pc of the Seyfert 2 galaxy ESO 138-G001 by means of the Soar Integral Field Spectrograph attached to the SOAR telescope. This source is known for displaying a very rich coronal line spectrum and a blob of high-excitation emission ∼3 arcsec south-east (SE) of the active galactic nucleus (AGN). The nature of this emission has not been fully understood yet. The excellent spatial and spectral resolution of SIFS allows us to confirm that the bulk of the coronal line forest emission region is very compact, of ∼0.8 arcsec in diameter, centred on the AGN and most likely powered by radiation from the AGN. In addition, evidence of a nuclear outflow, restricted to the inner 1 arcsec centred at the nucleus is found based on the detection of broad components in the most important emission lines. The gas in the inner few tens of parsecs filters out the AGN continuum so that the NLR is basically illuminated by a modified SED. This scenario is confirmed by means of photoionization models that reproduce the most important lines detected in the SIFS field of view. From the modelling, we also found that the black hole mass MBH of the AGN is about 105.50 M⊙, in agreement with previous X-ray observations. The spectrum of the SE blob is dominated by emission lines of low- to mid-ionization, with no hints of coronal lines. Our results show that it represents gas in the ionization cone that is photoionized by the filtered central AGN continuum.

Density calculations of NGC 3783 warm absorbers using a time-dependent photoionisation model

Outflowing wind, as one type of AGN feedback involving non-collimated ionised winds such as those prevalent in Seyfert-1 AGNs, impacts the host galaxy by carrying kinetic energy outwards. However, the distance of the outflowing wind is poorly constrained because of a lack of direct imaging observations, which limits our understanding of its kinetic power, and thus of its impact on the local galactic environment. One potential approach to solving this problem involves determination of the density of the ionised plasma, making it possible to derive the distance using the ionisation parameter ξ, which can be measured based on the ionisation state. Here, by applying a new time-dependent photoionisation model, tpho, in SPEX, we define a new approach, the tpho-delay method, which we use to calculate or predict a detectable density range for warm absorbers of NGC 3783. The tpho model solves self-consistently the time-dependent ionic concentrations, which enables us to study the delayed states of the plasma in detail. We show that it is crucial to model the non-equilibrium effects accurately for the delayed phase, where the non-equilibrium and equilibrium models diverge significantly. Finally, we calculate the crossing time to consider the effect of the transverse motion of the outflow on the intrinsic luminosity variation. Future spectroscopic observations with more sensitive instruments are expected to provide more accurate constraints on the outflow density, and therefore on the feedback energetics.

Cosmic metallicity evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei: implications for optical diagnostic diagrams

ABSTRACT We analyse the validity of optical diagnostic diagrams relying on emission-lines ratios and in the context of classifying Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) according to the cosmic metallicity evolution in the redshift range $0 \le z \le 11.2$. In this regard, we fit the results of chemical evolution models (CEMs) to the radial gradients of the N/O abundances ratio derived through direct estimates of electron temperatures (Te-method) in a sample of four local spiral galaxies. This approach allows us to select representative CEMs and extrapolate the radial gradients to the nuclear regions of the galaxies in our sample, inferring in this way the central N/O and O/H abundances. The nuclear abundance predictions for theoretical galaxies from the selected CEMs, at distinct evolutionary stages, are used as input parameters in AGN photoionization models built with the Cloudy code. We found that standard BPT diagnostic diagrams are able to classify AGNs with oxygen abundances $\rm 12+\log (O/H) \gtrsim 8.0$ [$(Z/Z_{\odot }) \gtrsim 0.2$] at redshift $z \lesssim 4$. On the other hand, the He iiλ4685/Hβ versus [N ii]λ6584/Hα diagram produces a reliable AGN classification independent of the evolutionary stage of these objects.

Spectral Variability Studies in Active Galactic Nuclei: Exploring Continuum and Emission Line Regions in the Age of LSST and JWST

The investigation of emission line regions within active galaxies (AGNs) has a rich and extensive history, now extending to the use of AGNs and quasars as “standardizable” cosmological indicators, shedding light on the evolution of our universe. As we enter the era of advanced observatories, such as the successful launch of the JWST and the forthcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the landscape of AGN exploration across cosmic epochs is poised for exciting advancements. In this work, we delve into recent developments in AGN variability research, anticipating the substantial influx of data facilitated by LSST. The article highlights recent strides made by the AGN Polish Consortium in their contributions to LSST. The piece emphasizes the role of quasars in cosmology, dissecting the intricacies of their calibration as standard candles. The primary focus centers on the relationship between the broad-line region size and luminosity, showcasing recent breakthroughs that enhance our comprehension of this correlation. These breakthroughs encompass a range of perspectives, including spectroscopic analyses, photoionization modeling, and collaborative investigations with other cosmological tools. The study further touches on select studies, underlining how the synergy of theoretical insights and advancements in observational capabilities has yielded deeper insights into these captivating cosmic entities.

Spatially Resolved Temperature and Density Structures of Nearby H ii Regions

Photoionization models frequently assume constant temperature or density within H ii regions. We investigate this assumption by measuring the detailed temperature and density structures of four H ii regions in the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud, using integral-field spectroscopic data from the Wide-Field Spectrograph on the ANU 2.3 m telescope. We analyze the distribution of emission lines of low-ionization, intermediate-ionization, and high-ionization species. We present the complex electron temperature and density structures within H ii regions. All four nebulae present a negative gradient in the electron density profile. Both positive and negative temperature gradients are observed in the nebulae. We create a series of nebula models with constant interstellar medium (ISM) pressure and varying temperature and density distributions. A comparison of the line ratios between our H ii regions and models suggests that none of the simple nebula models can reproduce the observed temperature and density structures. Comparison between the models and the data suggests that the ISM pressure of nebulae in the LMC and SMC is between log(P/k) = 6 and 7.5. Complex internal structures of the nebulae highlight the importance of future Monte Carlo photoionization codes for accurate nebula modeling, which include a comprehensive consideration of arbitrary geometries of H ii regions.

Gas-phase Metallicity of Local Active Galactic Nuclei in the GASP and MaNGA Surveys: The Role of Ram Pressure Stripping

Growing evidence in support of a connection between active galactic nuclei (AGN) activity and the ram pressure stripping (RPS) phenomenon has been found both observationally and theoretically in the past decades. In this work, we further explore the impact of RPS on the AGN activity by estimating the gas-phase metallicity of nuclear regions and the mass–metallicity relation of galaxies at z ≤ 0.07 and with stellar masses logM*/M⊙≥9.0 , either experiencing RPS or not. To measure oxygen abundances, we exploit Integral Field Spectroscopy data from the GASP and MaNGA surveys, photoionization models generated with the code Cloudy and the code Nebulabayes to compare models and observations. In particular, we build Cloudy models to reproduce line ratios induced by photoionization from stars, AGN, or a contribution of both. We find that the distributions of metallicity and [O iii] λ5007 luminosity of galaxies undergoing RPS are similar to the ones of undisturbed galaxies. Independently of the RPS, we do not find a correlation between stellar mass and AGN metallicity in the mass range logM*/M⊙≥10.4 , while for the star-forming galaxies we observe the well-known mass–metallicity relation between 9.0≤logM*/M⊙≤10.8 with a scatter mainly driven by the star formation rate and a plateau around logM*/M⊙∼10.5 . The gas-phase metallicity in the nuclei of AGN hosts is enhanced with respect to those of star-forming galaxies by a factor of ∼ 0.05 dex regardless of the RPS.

Time Evolving Photo Ionisation Device (TEPID): A novel code for out-of-equilibrium gas ionisation

Context. Photoionisation is one of the main mechanisms at work in the gaseous environment of bright astrophysical sources. A great deal of information on the gas physics, chemistry and kinematics, and on the ionising source itself, can be gathered through optical to X-ray spectroscopy. While several public time equilibrium photoionisation codes are readily available and can be used to infer average gas properties at equilibrium, time-evolving photoionisation models have only very recently started to become available. They are needed when the ionising source varies faster than the typical gas equilibration timescale. Using equilibrium models to analyse spectra of non-equilibrium photoionised gas may lead to inaccurate results, and prevents a solid assessment of gas density, physics, and geometry. Aims. Our main objective is to present and make available the Time-Evolving PhotoIonisation Device (TEPID), a new code that self-consistently solves time evolving photoionisation equations (both thermal and ionisation balance) and accurately follows the response of the gas to changes in the ionising source. Methods. TEPID self-consistently follows the gas temperature and ionisation in time by including all the main ionisation/recombination and heating/cooling mechanisms. The code takes in input the ionising light curve and spectral energy distribution and solves the time-evolving equations as a function of gas electron density and of time. The running time is intelligently optimised by an internal algorithm that initially scans the input light curve to set a time-dependent integration frequency. The code is built in a modular way, can be applied to a variety of astrophysical scenarios and produces time-resolved gas absorption spectra to fit the data. Results. To describe the structure and main features of the code, we present two applications of TEPID to two dramatically different astrophysical scenarios: the typical ionised absorbers observed in the X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei (e.g. warm absorbers and ultra-fast outflows), and the circumburst environment of a gamma-ray burst. For both cases we show how the gas energy and ionisation balances vary as a function of time, gas density and distance from the ionising source. We show that time-evolving photoionisation leads to unique ionisation patterns that cannot be reproduced by stationary photoionisation codes when the gas is out of equilibrium. This demonstrates the need for codes such as TEPID in view of the unprecedented capabilities that will be offered by the upcoming high-resolution X-ray spectrometers on board missions like XRISM or Athena.

CAHA/PPAK Integral-field Spectroscopic Observations of M81. II. Testing Photoionization Models in a Spatially Resolved LINER

The origin of the low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) prevalent in local galaxies and its relationship with supermassive black holes have been debated for decades. We perform a comprehensive evaluation of traditional photoionization models against the circumnuclear ionized gas in M81, for which recent CAHA/PPAK integral-field spectroscopic observations reveal a LINER characteristic out to a galactocentric radius of ∼1 kpc. Constructed with the photoionization code cloudy, the models have the novel aspect of their primary parameters being well constrained by extensive observations of a prototypical low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (LLAGN) and an old stellar bulge in M81. Additionally, these models incorporate a reasonably broad range of uncertain nebular properties. It is found that the integrated photoionization by the LLAGN and hot, low-mass stars distributed in the bulge can roughly reproduce the observed radial intensity distributions of the Hα, Hβ, and [N ii] lines, with the bulge stars dominating the ionizing flux at radii ≳200 pc. However, the models generally fail to reproduce a similarly declining profile of the [O iii] line or an accordingly flat profile of the [O iii]/Hβ ratio. This clearly points to a deficiency of ionizing photons in the outer regions despite an extended photoionization source. The discrepancy might be alleviated if much of the observed [O iii] line arose from a bulge-filling, low-density gas surrounding a denser, Hα-emitting disk, or by a higher AGN luminosity in the recent past. The case of M81 has important implications for the ionization mechanism of LINERs and low-ionization emission-line regions in general.

Seimei/KOOLS-IFU mapping of the gas and dust distributions in Galactic PNe: Unveiling the origin and evolution of the Galactic halo PN H4-1

Abstract H4-1 is a planetary nebula (PN) located in the Galactic halo, and is notably carbon-rich and one of the most metal-deficient PNe in the Milky Way. To unveil its progenitor evolution through accurate measurement of the gas mass, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of H4-1, using the newly obtained Seimei/KOOLS-IFU spectra and multiwavelength spectro-photometry data. The emission-line images generated from the KOOLS-IFU data cube successfully resolve the ellipsoidal nebula and the equatorial flattened disk that are frequently seen in bipolar PNe evolved from massive progenitors. By a fully data-driven method, we directly derived the seven elemental abundances, the gas-to-dust mass ratio, and the gas and dust masses based on our own distance scale. By comparing the observed quantities with both the photoionization model and the binary nucleosynthesis model, we conclude that the progenitors of initial masses of 1.87 M$_{\odot }$ and 0.82 M$_{\odot }$ are second-generation stars formed ∼4 Gyr after the Big Bang that have undergone mass transfers and a binary merger, and have ultimately evolved into a PN showing unique chemical abundances. Our binary model successfully reproduces the observed abundances and also explains the evolutionary time scale of H4-1.

Study of the fastest classical nova, V1674 Her: photoionization and morpho-kinemetic model analysis

ABSTRACT We present the results of the investigation of the nova V1674 Her (2021), recognized as the swiftest classical nova, with t2 ∼ 0.90 d. The distance to the nova is estimated to be 4.97 kpc. The mass and radius of the WD are calculated to be ∼1.36 M⊙ and ∼0.15 R⊕, respectively. Over the course of 1 month following the outburst, V1674 Her traversed distinct phases – pre-maxima, early decline, nebular, and coronal – displaying a remarkably swift transformation. The nebular lines emerged on day 10 making it the classical nova with the earliest observed commencement to date. We modelled the observed optical spectrum using the photoionization code cloudy. From the best-fitting model we deduced different physical and chemical parameters associated with the system. The temperature and luminosity of the central ionizing sources are found in the range of 1.99–2.34 × 105 K and 1.26–3.16 × 1038 erg s−1, respectively. Elements such as He , O , N , and Ne are found to be overabundant compared to solar abundance in both the nebular and coronal phases. According to the model, Fe ii abundance diminishes while Ne abundance increases, potentially elucidating the rare hybrid transition between Fe and He/N nova classes. The ejected mass across all epochs spanned from 3.42 to 7.04 × 10−5 M⊙. Morpho-kinematic modelling utilizing shape revealed that the nova V1674 Her possesses a bipolar structure with an equatorial ring at the centre and an inclination angle of i = 67 ± 1.5°.

Ionized regions in the central arcsecond of NGC 1068

Context. Several bright emission line regions have been observed in the central 100 parsecs of the active galaxy NGC 1068. Aims. We aim to determine the properties and ionization mechanism of three regions of NGC 1068: the nucleus (B) and two clouds located at 0.3″ and 0.7″ north of it (C and D). Methods. We combined SPHERE (0.95–1.65 μm) and SINFONI (1.5–2.45 μm) spectra for the three regions B, C, and D. We compared these spectra to several CLOUDY photoionization models and to the MAPPINGS III Library of Fast Radiative Shock Models. Results. The emission line spectra of the three regions are almost identical to each other and contribute to most of the emission line flux in the nuclear region. The emitting media contain multiple phases, the most luminous of which have temperatures ranging from 104.8 K to 106 K. Central photoionization models can reproduce some features of the spectra, but the fast radiative shock model provides the best fit to the data. Conclusions. The similarity between the three regions indicates that they belong to the same class of objects. Based on our comparisons, we conclude that they are shock regions located where the jet of the active galactic nucleus impacts massive molecular clouds.

Systematic Uncertainties of Atomic Data in Photoionization Modeling

Fitting plasma models to high-quality spectra is a crucial tool for deriving diagnostics about the physical conditions in various astrophysical sources. Despite decades of model development, this prescription often provides an unsatisfying description of observational data. We explore some of the origins of the failure of fits of photoionized plasma models to high-resolution X-ray spectra. In particular, we test whether systematic uncertainties in underlying atomic data can account for data model discrepancies, and whether including model uncertainties during spectral fitting can provide statistically acceptable fits and reasonable parameter estimates. We fit Chandra/HETG spectra of NGC 3783 with the photoionized absorber model warmabs. We use the remaining data model discrepancies to estimate the systematic uncertainties of bound–bound radiative rates for individual transitions quantitatively. We then include these uncertainties into warmabs to return a total model uncertainty. We find residual data model discrepancies which are due to systematic errors that cannot be accounted for solely by a modification of the optical depth of strong absorption lines. Furthermore, statistical uncertainties still dominate the fit statistics. The relevance of model uncertainties in spectral fitting will vary on a case-by-case basis. However, they are likely to have a minor effect on most of the currently existing data sets. We conclude that while the quality of atomic data does have an effect on fitting photoionization models, and so demands further improvement, uncertainties in radiative rates cannot be held solely responsible for statistically unacceptable fits. Other sources of systematic uncertainties are likely to be of comparable importance and require further investigation.