Engineering topics

Anderson, Scott F.

Publications and source records attributed to Anderson, Scott F..

14 records

DOE OSTI2024

High-quality Extragalactic Legacy-field Monitoring (HELM) with DECam

High-quality Extragalactic Legacy-field Monitoring (HELM) is a long-term observing program that photometrically monitors several well-studied extragalactic legacy fields with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) imager on the CTIO 4m Blanco telescope. Since Feb 2019, HELM has been monitoring regions within COSMOS, XMM-LSS, CDF-S, S-CVZ, ELAIS-S1, and SDSS Stripe 82 with few-day cadences in the $(u)gri(z)$ bands, over a collective sky area of $\sim 38$ deg${\rm ^2}$. The main science goal of HELM is to provide high-quality optical light curves for a large sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and to build decades-long time baselines when combining past and future optical light curves in these legacy fields. These optical images and light curves will facilitate the measurements of AGN reverberation mapping lags, as well as studies of AGN variability and its dependences on accretion properties. In addition, the time-resolved and coadded DECam photometry will enable a broad range of science applications from galaxy evolution to time-domain science. We describe the design and implementation of the program and present the first data release that includes source catalogs and the first $\sim 3.5$ years of light curves during 2019A--2022A.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2003

The Counterparts of the Luminous, Bursting X-ray Sources in Globular Clusters-LTSA98

Under the fifth year of the LTSA, we have extended our HST and Chandra work to a number of additional globular clusters. The remarkable sensitivity and positional accuracy of the Chandra observations are enabling us to maximally exploit HST for UV/optical identifications for X-ray binaries in the cores of multiple globular clusters. The dozens of lower-luminosity X-ray sources in each globular cluster deeply examined thus far have moved us firmly into the era of studies which encompass populations of close; the large range of cluster properties we are studying have, for the first tine, established a firm empirical confirmation of the (long-suspected theoretically) high importance that close binaries play in the dynamical stability and evolution of globular clusters. The LTSA support has been a cornerstone of our success over the past 5 years in studies of globular cluster X-ray sources and their counterparts.

Anderson, Scott F.↗

NASA NTRS1996

An Ultraviolet-Excess Optical Candidate for the Luminous Globular Cluster X-Ray Source in NGC 1851

The intense, bursting X-ray source in the globular cluster NGC 1851 was one of the first cluster sources discovered, but has remained optically unidentified for 25 years. We report here on results from Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 multicolor images in NGC 1851. Our high spatial resolution images resolve approximately 200 objects in the 3 minute radius Einstein X-ray error circle, 40 times as many as in previous ground-based work. A color-magnitude diagram of the cluster clearly reveals a markedly UV-excess object with B approximately 21, (U - B) approximately -0.9, only 2 minutes from the X-ray position. The UV-excess candidate is 0.12 minutes distant from a second, unremarkable star that is 0.5 mag brighter in B; thus ground-based studies of this field are probably impractical. Three other UV-excess objects are also present among the approximately 16,000 objects in the surveyed region of the cluster, leaving an approximately 5% probability that a UV-excess object has fallen in the X-ray error circle by chance. No variability of the candidate is seen in these data, although a more complete study is required. If this object is in fact the counterpart of the X-ray source, previous inferences that some globular cluster X-ray sources are optically subluminous with respect to low-mass X-ray binaries in the field are now strengthened.

Deutsch, Eric W.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of Bright Galactic X-Ray Binaries in Crowded Fields

We report high spatial resolution HST imagery and photometry of three well-studied, intense Galactic X-ray binaries, X2129+470, CAL 87, and GX 17+2. All three sources exhibit important anomalies that are not readily interpreted by conventional models. Each source also lies in a severely crowded field, and in all cases the anomalies would be removed if much of the light observed from the ground in fact came from a nearby, thus far unresolved superposed companion. For V1727 Cyg (X2129+470), we find no such companion. We also present an HST FOS spectrum and broadband photometry which is consistent with a single, normal star. The supersoft LMC X-ray source CAL 87 was already known from ground-based work to have a companion separated by O.9 minutes from the optical counterpart; our HST images clearly resolve these objects and yield the discovery of an even closer, somewhat fainter additional companion. Our photometry indicates that contamination is not severe outside eclipse, where the companions only contribute 20% of the light in V, but during eclipse more than half of the V light comes from the companions. The previously determined spectral type of the CAL 87 secondary may need to be reevaluated due to this significant contamination, with consequences on inferences of the mass of the components. We find no companions to NP Ser (= X1813-14, = GX 17+2). However, for this object we point out a small but possibly significant astrometric discrepancy between the position of the optical object and that of the radio source which is the basis for the identification. This discrepancy needs to be clarified.

Deutsch, Eric W.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Ultraviolet spectra of HZ Herculis/Hercules X-1 from HST: Hot gas during total eclipse of the neutron star

The Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) aboard Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has been used in the UV to observe the prototypical X-ray pulsar Her X-1 and its companion HZ Her. Optical spectra were also obtained contemporaneously at the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) 2.1 m. The FOS spectra encompass the 1150-3300 A range near binary orbital phases 0.5 (X-ray maximum) and at 0.0 (mid-X-ray eclipse). The maximum light spectra show strong, narrow C III, N V, O V, Si IV + O IV), N IV), C IV, He II, and N IV emission lines, extending previous IUE results; the O III lambda 3133 Bowen resonance line is also prominent, confirming that the Bowen mechanism is the source of the strong lambda lambda 4640, 4650 emission complex, also seen at maximum light. Most remarkable, however, are the minimum light spectra, where the object is too faint for reasonable observations from IUE. Despite the total eclipse of the X-ray-emitting neutron star, our spectra show strong emission at N V lambda 1240, S IV + O IV) whose emission dominates the UV light at phase 0.0 might be associated with the 'accretion disk corona,' it is more likely the source is somewhat less hot (but extended) gas above and around the disk, or perhaps circumstellar material such as a stellar wind.

Anderson, Scott F.↗

NASA NTRS1994

A CCD survey for faint high-latitude carbon stars

We describe a wide-area CCD survey to search for faint high-latitude carbon (FHLC) stars. Carbon giants provide excellent probes of the structure and kinematics of the outer Galactic halo. We use two-color photometric selection with large-format CCDs to cover 52 sq deg of sky to a depth of about V = 18. Of 94 faint C star candidates from our own CCD survey, one highly ranked V = 17 candidate was found to have a strong carbon and CN bands. We estimate that, to a depth of V = 18, the surface density of FHLC stars is 0.02 deg(exp -2). An updated FHLC sample is used to constrain halo kinematic and structural parameters. Although larger samples are needed, the effective radius of FHLC giants, assuming a de Vancouleurs law distribution, is larger than that for Galactic globular clusters.

Green, Paul J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Ultraviolet-excess selection of the counterpart to a globular cluster X-ray burster - Hubble Space Telescope images of the core of NGC 6712

Using the Planetary Camera on the Hubble Space Telescope, we have obtained high spatial resolution, multicolor images and photometry of the core of the globular cluster NGC 6712. A comparison of our blue and ultraviolet images unambiguously reveals a faint (B = 21), UV-excess object, 'star S', within the Einstein error box for the bursting X-ray source X1850-086. The unusual color of star S is immediately apparent even in a cursory visual comparison of the images, and is more quantitatively (U-B of about -1) confirmed via photometry. A variety of different candidate optical counterparts to the X-ray source have previously been suggested from ground-based work, but our images indicate that star S is almost certainly the only viable candidate brighter than U = 21. Compared with the mean values for low mass X-ray binaries in the field, star S has a typical (U-B) color, and a moderate-to-high X-ray-to-optical luminosity ratio, but its luminosity (MB = 5) is about 4 mag fainter than average.

Anderson, Scott F.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Ultraviolet polarimetry and spectroscopy of the BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304

HST and Faint Object Spectrograph spectropolarimetry is presented for the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304; attention is given to the wavelength dependence of the UV linear polarization in a BL Lac object. The UV polarimetry yields evidence that the UV polarized flux is generated by the synchrotron mechanism responsible for optical polarization. Both the UV and optical emission are produced in the same region of the source.

Allen, Richard G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Carbon star luminosity indicators

Results are presented of a proper motion survey of known faint high-latitude C stars using plates spanning a 30-yr baseline that reveals at least one additional new dwarf C star and also confirms the utility of the proposed luminosity indicators. Kinematic simulations suggest that to a limit of V of about 18, at least 10 percent of faint high-latitude C stars are dwarfs. The local space density of dwarf C stars may thus substantially exceed that of luminous C stars.

Green, Paul J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Faint Object Camera observations of a globular cluster nova field

The Faint Object Camera onboard Hubble Space Telescope has obtained U and B images of the field of Nova Ophiuchi 1938 in the globular cluster M14 (NGC 6402). The candidate for the quiescent nova suggested by Shara et al. (1986) is clearly resolved into at least six separate images, probably all stellar, in a region of 0.5 arcsec. Although two of these objects are intriguing as they are somewhat ultraviolet, the actual nova counterpart remains ambiguous, as none of the images in the field has a marked UV excess. Many stars within the 1.4 arcsec (2 sigma) uncertainty of the nova outburst position are viable counterparts if only astrometric criteria are used for selection. The 11 x 11 arcsec frames easily resolve several hundred stars in modest exposures, implying that HST even in its current optical configuration will be unique for studies of very crowded fields at moderate (B = 22) limiting magnitudes.

Margon, Bruce↗

NASA NTRS1989

Infrared-selected 'warm' galaxies observed in X-rays

Infrared, optical, and X-ray observations are presented for a sample of 'warm' infrared selected galaxies listed in the IRAS Point Source Catalog. These galaxies have also been observed serendipitously in X-rays by the Einstein Observatory. From low-resolution optical spectra, it is found that all have emission lines, indicating a Seyfert or H II region type nucleus. Many of these galaxies were previously uncataloged. Based on the X-ray detection rate of this sample, it is concluded that large numbers of warm IRAS Seyfert 1-1.9 galaxies may be detectable in X-rays by future surveys such as Rosat.

Green, Paul J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

An exceptionally bright, compact starburst nucleus

Observations are reported of a remarkably bright (V about 13) starburst nucleus, 0833 + 652, which has been detected at radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray wavelengths. Despite an observed flux at each of these wavelengths which is comparable to that of NGC 7714, often considered the 'prototypical' example of the starburst phenomenon, 0833 + 652 appears to be a previously uncataloged object. Its ease of detectability throughout the electromagnetic spectrum should make it useful for a variety of problems in the study of compact emission-line galaxies.

Margon, Bruce↗

NASA NTRS1987

An X-ray-selected white dwarf of intermediate luminosity

Spectrophotometric observations of a previously uncataloged 17th magnitude hot DA white dwarf are reported. Simple models can reproduce the visible spectrum if the star has log g = 8.0 + or - 0.5 and T(eff) = 22,500 + or - 2000 K. The implied distance is about 200 pc. It is plausible that photospheric emission from this star is responsible for the observed X-ray source. Identification of this object with the X-ray source would imply a photosphere free of traces of helium inferred in other X-ray-emitting DAs, and would support previous suggestions that current DA model atmospheres are in need of revision at X-ray wavelengths.

Margon, Bruce↗

NASA NTRS1987

The X-ray properties of high-redshift quasi-stellar objects

Sensitive X-ray information is presented for about 90 previously uncataloged high-redshift, optically selected QSOs. Two high-redshift subsets of this larger data base are emphasized: (1) a 'complete' sample of 37 objects with z = 1.8 - 3.0, and B of 19.5 or less and (2) a sample of 78 QSOs that span a narrow range in redshift and optical luminosity. From the complete sample, it is inferred that such QSOs contribute less than 3 percent to the diffuse X-ray background (XRB), and that the contribution of all QSOs with B of 19.5 or less to the XRB is 21 + or - 8 percent. For the narrow sample, it is found that the mean X-ray to optical luminosity ratio is characterized by alpha(eff)ox = 1.50 + or - 0.03. A variety of new, model-independent, empirical evidence is presented that the primary dependence of alpha(ox) is on optical luminosity rather than redshift. It is concluded that QSOs can supply as much as 70 percent of the XRB, with the typical contributor a moderate redshift QSO with B of roughly 19-21.

Anderson, Scott F.↗