Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Borken, R. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Borken, R. J..

Three-band observations of the soft X-ray background and some implications of thermal emission models

The galactic component of the very soft diffuse X-ray background in three bands, covering the energy ranges of approximately 100 to 188 eV, 150 to 284 eV, and 500 to 850 eV, is mapped primarily at middle and low galactic latitudes. Intense regions on the maps are identified, and the dissimilarity of the three maps is shown to indicate spectral as well as intensity variations over the sky. Three emission-mechanism models involving hot gas at a single temperature are examined, a multitemperature model is found to be required, and several such models based on hot gas in a steady state or in equilibrium are considered. The problem of overpressure raised by Shapiro and Field (1976) is briefly discussed.

Burstein, P.↗

A soft X-ray spectrometer for diffuse cosmic sources

The design of a Bragg crystal spectrometer for the diffuse soft X-ray background is described. The instrument has no moving parts; a 6 degree x 20 degree FWHM field of view; resolution in the range 20-100; and spans wavelength ranges 44-80 A or 13-23 A when lead stearate or KAP crystals are used. If placed on a small spacecraft, integration times of approximately 1000 s will be required to detect the existence of the stronger lines expected in the X-ray background.

Borken, R. J.↗

A search for stellar soft X-ray sources

A sensitive soft X-ray survey of about one-tenth of the sky, carried out as part of the Skylab program and flown on 1973 July 28, revealed no evidence for soft X-ray emission from stellar sources. We present upper limits to the soft X-ray luminosity of about 50 nearby stars. With nominal assumed values for stellar space densities, we show it unlikely that emission from giants, main sequence stars, white dwarfs, or stars in known binary systems can account for the soft X-ray diffuse background.

Vanderhill, M. J.↗