Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Boldt, E. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Boldt, E. A..

At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

A change in the X-ray spectrum of MK 421

HEAO-1 experiment A-2 observations of the BL Lac object MK421 in May 1978 show a marked spectral change from the OSO-8 observations of May 1977. The source was not detected above 10 keV in May 1978. The 2-10 keV spectrum could be well fit by a power law of energy slope 2.2 is less than or minus 4.2; thermal bremsstrahlung models with T less than 2 X 10 to the 7th power deg K are also acceptable. There was no indication of any low energy turnover, so that the inferred column density N sub H is less than 7 X 10 to the 21st power at/sq cm. The total flux is consistent with an extrapolation of the UV data from IUE, but the slope is not consistent with the UV slope. Possible models for the origin of the spectral transition are discussed.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

X-ray observations of H1908+050 (=SS433?)

The X-ray source H1908+50 (=4U1908+05=A1909+4) was observed for three 6 day periods in 1977 and 1978 with the HEAO A-2 experiment. The unusual emission line object and variable radio source SS433 was suggested as the optical counterpart. The X-ray of the source varied by a factor of about 2 on a time scale of 6 months, and the spectrum of the object is consistent with either a power law of photon index of 2.1 or with 14.3 keV thermal bremsstrahlung emission with about 575 eV equivalent width iron line. These X-ray characteristics argue against the source being extragalactic. The measurements are consistent with emission from a white dwarf, but are also similar to the X-ray emission sometimes seen from Cir X-1. A search was made for X-ray emission from similar radio sources.

Marshall, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

HEAO 1 observations of the X-ray pulsar 4U1626-67

Results of an observation of the 7-s pulsar 4U1626-67 with the A2 experiments on HEAO 1 are reported. The phase-averaged X-ray spectra which change radically as a function of pulse phase. Included in this spectral change is the sudden appearance and subsequent decay of a continuum or emission feature with a mean energy of 19 keV which contains about 1/2 the power in this spectral range. Pulse timing results include a new determination of the pulse period and a factor 8 reduction in the upper limit for the light travel time for orbital periods between 1 and 7 hours. The findings for this system are discussed and compared with the general nature of pulsar spectra.

Pravdo, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Observations of the transient X-ray source 4U0115+63

Results of HEAO-2 pointed observations and Ariel 5 All Sky Monitor observations of the X-ray transient 4U0115+63 are presented. The transient source pulses with a period of 3.6136 s + or - .0004 s, has a hard spectrum typical of an X-ray binary pulsar, and has a broad iron line emission feature. A discussion of the transient behavior is given and inferences are made concerning the nature of the X-ray source based on the pointed data.

Rose, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Long-term studies with the Ariel 5 ASM. I - Hercules X-1, Vela X-1, and Centaurus X-3

Twelve hundred days of 3-6 keV X-ray data from Her X-1, Vela X-1, and Cen X-3 accumulated with the Ariel 5 All-Sky Monitor are interrogated. The binary periodicities of all three can be clearly observed, as can the 35 day variation of Her X-1, for which we can refine the period to 34.875 plus or minus 0.030 days. No such longer-term periodicity less than 200 days is observed from Vela X-1. The 26.6 days low-state recurrence period for Cen X-3 is not observed, but a 43.0 day candidate periodicity is found which may be consistent with the precession of an accretion disk in that system. The present results are illustrative of the long-term studies which can be performed on approximately 50 sources over a temporal base which will ultimately extend to at least 1800 days.

Holt, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

X-ray spectra of X Persei

The GSFC cosmic X-ray spectroscopy experiment on OSO 8 observed X Per for 20 days during two observations in 1976 February and 1977 February. The spectrum of X Per varies in phase with its 13.9 minute period, hardening significantly at X-ray minimum. Unlike other X-ray binary pulsar spectra, those of X Per do not exhibit iron line emission or strong absorption features. Our data show no evidence for a 22 hour periodicity in the X-ray intensity of X Per. These results indicate that the X-ray emission from X Per may be originating from a neutron star in a low-density region far from the optically identified Be star.

Becker, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Recent observations of Hercules X-1 with HEAO-1 and OSO-8

HEAO 1 X-ray observations of Her X-1 near an onset of the high state are discussed. An X-ray light curve is determined which indicates that for about 0.5 day before the X-ray intensity turn-on there was 1.2-sec pulsed emission from the source at a level intermediate between the high- and low-state intensities. These results are taken as demonstrating the stability in the 35-day cycle when compared with previous observations. An inconclusive search for 58-keV line emission from Her X-1 is also reported.

Pravdo, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Ultraviolet and X-ray observations of Seyfert galaxies and low z QSOs

An analysis of IUE observations of Seyfert galaxies and QSOs indicates that they have the same energy source and heating mechanisms. Neither collisional de-excitation nor simple dust models are sufficient to explain the small L alpha/H beta ratio of Seyfert galaxies and low z QSOs, which is below the recombination value. For Seyfert galaxies, the Log nu (1450) correlates well with Log W lambda (C IV), with a slope similar to that of QSOs. Regarding X-ray fluxes, which were obtained by the A2 experiment onboard the HEAO-1 satellite, the L alpha luminosity correlates well with the continuum luminosity at 1450 A, and there is a positive correlation between the X-ray luminosity and the full line width at zero intensity.

Wu, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Hard X-rays from U Geminorum

The A-2 experiment on HEAO 1 has discovered that the dwarf nova U Geminorum can be a weak source of hard X-rays at optical maximum. During the outburst in October 1977, when a strong soft X-ray flux was discovered, a 2-10-keV flux was also observed. Evidence is presented that this flux appeared with the rise to optical maximum, about half a day before the soft X-rays appeared, and persisted about 2 days. During these first 2 days of the outburst the average flux was 2.4 x 10 to the -11th erg/sq cm per sec, corresponding to a luminosity of 2.8 x 10 to the 31st erg/s for a distance of 100 pc and an absorbed thin thermal spectrum with kT of about 5 keV. During optical minimum an OSO 8 upper limit implies a luminosity less than 10 to the 31st erg/s. Restrictions on models of U Geminorum are discussed.

Swank, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

HEAO observations of X-ray bursts from MXB1730-335

The March 18, 1978 burst activity of the rapid burster MXB 1730-335 was studied by examining 58 minutes of quick-look data for the A2 and A4 experiments on HEAO 1. Very large, moderately sized, and small bursts are characterized. Type II bursts were found to show a spectral softening during burst decay. The existence of flux was sought in the 85-160 keV energy range, and it was found that the large type II bursts contain less than 5% of their total X-ray energy in this range. The implications of the lack of a hard X-ray flux with respect to accretion instability models of X-ray bursts are considered.

Hoffman, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

New hard X-ray sources observed with HEAO-A2

A search for new hard X-ray sources using data from the first complete view of the sky with the HEAO-A2 experiment discovered 47 new sources, detected 7 sources recently discovered with other experiments, and significantly reduced the size of the error boxes for 6 previously known sources. Intensities and error boxes are given for each of these sources; identifications are suggested when an error contains an object similar to known X-ray sources. The new identifications consist of seven Type 1 Seyfert galaxies, including two whose Seyfert characteristics were discovered due to their location in an X-ray error box; one intermediate Seyfert galaxy; three Abell clusters; five N-galaxies; two bursting radio sources; and an additional three nearby galaxies with bright nuclei and narrow emission lines.

Marshall, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

X-ray observations of BL Lacertae objects

Results are reported for OSO 8 and HEAO 1 X-ray observations of the BL Lac objects Mrk 421, Mrk 501, and PKS 0548-322 over the energy range from 2 to 60 keV. It is found that the X-ray spectra of Mrk 421 and 501 are similar, exhibit statistically significant soft X-ray excesses, lack low-energy absorption, and are best fitted by power laws over the 2-30-keV range with respective photon indices of approximately 0.91 and 1.2 and respective hydrogen column densities of less than 8 x 10 to the 21st per sq cm and no more than 1.8 x 10 to the 22nd per sq cm. It is noted that the spectral index for both sources is identical, within errors, to the HF radio spectral index and that Mrk 421 experienced a factor of 6 decrease in the 2-10-keV band over a six-month period. A tentative identification of PKS 0548-322 with the source H0548-32 is suggested.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

N galaxies - A new class of X-ray sources

It is shown that in addition to many Seyfert galaxies and quasars, N galaxies are also powerful X-ray sources. X-ray emission has been discovered from all six N galaxies in the 3C radio catalogue with redshifts less than 0.06 and from the N galaxy Pic A. Since many of the N galaxies possess compact radio components, it is suggested that the principle cause of X-ray emission may be the synchrotron self-Compton process. An alternate theory suggests that X-rays may be generated by gas clouds colliding with velocities of the order of the Doppler width of the broad lines.

Marshall, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Discovery of iron line emission in the Hercules X-1 low-state spectrum with HEAO 1

Results are reported for HEAO 1 observations of Her X-1 which confirm the existence of the iron line-emission feature discovered with OSO 8 in the high-state spectrum and also reveal an iron emission feature in the low-state spectrum. The iron line-emission feature in the low-state spectrum was detected at a significance level greater than 5 sigmas and is characterized by a line energy of 6.4 keV, an equivalent width larger than that of the high-state line, a binary phase dependence of the line intensity, and a line width that is intrinsically narrow in contrast to the broad high-state line. The observed line energy and narrow line width are shown to be consistent with an interpretation in terms of fluorescence emission due to X-ray heating. It is suggested that HZ Her contributes no more than about 10% of the predicted line flux, that this emission is reflected from a highly ionized plasma, and that a hot coronal gas is an important source of the low-state X-rays.

Pravdo, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

OSO 8 X-ray spectra of clusters of galaxies. I - Observations of twenty clusters: Physical correlations

OSO 8 X-ray spectra from 2 to 20 keV have been analyzed for 26 clusters of galaxies. For 20 clusters temperatures, emission integrals, iron abundances, and low-energy absorption measurements are presented. The data give, in general, better fits to thermal bremsstrahlung than to power-law models. Eight clusters have positive iron emission-line detections at the 90% confidence level, and all 20 cluster spectra are consistent with Fe/H = 0.000014 by number with the possible exception of Virgo. Thus it is confirmed that X-ray emission in this energy band is predominantly thermal radiation from hot intracluster gas rather than inverse Compton radiation. Physical correlations between X-ray spectral parameters and other cluster properties are examined. It is found that (1) the X-ray temperature is approximately proportional to the square of the velocity dispersion of the galaxies; (2) the emission integral is a strong function of the X-ray temperature; (3) the X-ray temperature and emission integral are better correlated with cluster central-galaxy density than with richness; and (4) the fraction of galaxies which are spirals is correlated with the observed ram pressure in the cluster core.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A 4.8 hour periodicity in the spectra of Cygnus X-3

The X-ray binary Cyg X-3 has been observed on three occasions during 1975 and 1976 by the GSFC Cosmic X-Ray Spectroscopy Experiment on OSO 8. The X-ray spectra from all three observations can be represented by power-law continua with strong iron line emission. Comparisons of spectra taken within the same observation at various phases of the 4.8 hour period reveal a relative excess of low-energy X-ray emission near zero phase (i.e., the minimum) of the 4.8 hour modulation. In addition, the centroid of the line emission is observed to vary in phase with the 4.8 hour cycle. The possibility of persistent thermal X-ray emission from material surrounding the binary system is introduced in an effort to account for the observed effects.

Becker, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

X ray spectra of X Per

The cosmic X-ray spectroscopy experiment on OSO-8 observed X Per for twenty days during two observations in Feb. 1976 and Feb. 1977. The spectrum of X Per varies in phase with its 13.9 min period, hardening significantly at X-ray minimum. Unlike other X-ray binary pulsar spectra, X Per's spectra do not exhibit iron line emission or strong absorption features. The data show no evidence for a 22 hour periodicity in the X-ray intensity of X Per. These results indicate that the X-ray emission from X Per may be originating from a neutron star in a low density region far from the optically identified Be star.

Becker, R. H.↗