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Jernigan, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Jernigan, G..

Deep imaging of the field of the z = 4.9 quasar PC 1247+3406, and faint galaxy counts in the K band with the Keck telescope

We present deep images in the K(sub s) band of the field of the quasar PC 1247+3406 at z = 4.897, obtained using the near-infrared camera on the W. M. Keck telescope. A number of faint sources have been detected, some of which appear to be quite red. Their nature and redshifts remain uncertain at this time. These data are combined with deep Keck infrared images of five additional fields and present galaxy counts reaching down to K(sub s) = 22 mag, comparable to the deepest K-band surveys to date. The data presented here are in good agreement with the Hawaii Deep Survey and represent the first independent verification of those results. The slope of the log N-log S relation derived from these data agrees well with the Hawaii Deep Survey, while the counts are slightly higher, especially at the faintest levels probed here. This may be due to a presence of groups or clusters around the target objects at high redshifts.

Soifer, B. T.↗

Near-infrared images of MG 1131+0456 with the W. M. Keck telescope: Another dusty gravitational lens?

Images of the gravitational lens system MG 1131+0456 taken with the near-infrared camera on the W. M. Keck telescope in the J and K(sub s) bands show that the infrared counterparts of the compact radio structure are exceedingly red, with J - K greater than 4.2 mag. The J image reveals only the lensing galaxy, while the K(sub s) image shows both the lens and the infrared counterparts of the compact radio components. After subtracting the lensing galaxy from the K(sub s) image, the position and orientation of the compact components agree with their radio counterparts. The broad-band spectrum and observed brightness of the lens suggest a giant galaxy at a redshift of approximately 0.75, while the color of the quasar images suggests significant extinction by dust in the lens. There is a significant excess of faint objects within 20 sec of MG 1131+0456. Depending on their mass and redshifts, these objects could complicate the lensing potential considerably.

Larkin, J. E.↗

Near-infrared imaging of FSC 10214+4724 with the W. M. Keck Telescope

Near-infrared observations of the z = 2.286 IRAS source FSC 10214+4724, made with the near-infrared camera on the W. M. Keck Telescope, are reported. Deep broad-band images at 2.15 and 1.27 micrometers, and narrow-band images at 2.165 and 2.125 micrometers with 0.6 sec to 0.9 sec seeing show that FSC 10214+4724 consists of at least three distinct components in a compact group of galaxies. The source of the infrared luminosity appears to be in a strongly interacting galaxy that has a luminosity of approximately 100 times that of a present-day L* galaxy. The interaction suggests and 'age' of this galaxy of approximately equal to 10(exp 9) yr. The H-alpha emission is resolved as a source of diameter approximately equal to 5 kpc, suggesting that a starburst contributes to the observed H-alpha emission. There is an excess of objects in the FSC 10214+4724 field that could represent galaxies in an associated cluster.

Matthews, K.↗

Simultaneous U, B, V, and X-ray measurements of a burst from 4U/MXB 1636-53

Data are presented on the first simultaneous X-ray and optical burst to be measured in more than one optical color. Various analyses agree that, to a first approximation, the optical burst is produced through blackbody reprocessing of the X-ray burst, with a short delay. Depending on the technique used, the value of the delay is 2 or 3 s. The smearing of the optical signal is determined to be less than 3 s. The temperature of the optical reprocessor ranges from approximately 25,000 K at quiescence to approximately 50,000 K at burst maximum. An extinction toward the source is derived from the color-color diagram, suggesting a distance greater than or approximately equal to 2 kpc. The projected effective area of the blackbody reprocessor is approximately 5 x 10 to the 21st (D/5 kpc)-squared sq cm. The fraction of the total X-ray burst energy converted into optical energy at all wavelengths is, within an order of magnitude, approximately 3 percent. These parameters are discussed in relation to the 4 hr orbital periodicity in the system reported by Pedersen et al. (1981).

Lawrence, A.↗

Variable mid-latitude X-ray source 3U 0042+32

A celestial location with an error circle of radius one minute is reported for the mid-latitude X-ray source 3U 0042+32; comparison of observations from the Ariel-5 and Uhuru satellites with data obtained from two independent rotation modulation collimators yields the precise position. Studies to detect regular pulsations and energy spectra of the X-ray source are also discussed. Analysis of the peak X-ray flux in the error circle, as well as certain distance constraints, suggests that the source of the flux may be a neutron star in a distant galactic binary system having a companion that undergoes episodes of mass transfer due to eruption or orbital eccentricity.

Rappaport, S.↗

Detection of X-ray emission from 3C 120

X-rays from a region containing the nucleus of the type 1 Seyfert galaxy 3C 120 have been detected using the rotating modulation collimator on board the SAS-3 X-ray observatory. The error circle has a 95% error radius of 1.0 arcmin. The measured X-ray (2-10 keV) flux is 5.4 by 10 to the -11th power erg/s per sq cm. The corresponding luminosity is 2.3 by 10 to the 44th power erg/s for the source at 200 Mpc. Synchrotron-Compton and hot plasma models are discussed.

Schnopper, H. W.↗

Detection of X-rays from Algol /beta Persei/

X-rays in the 2-6 keV band were detected from the Algol system using the rotating modulation collimator system on SAS-3 during an observation in October 1975. The measured X-ray flux is 3.8 x 10 to the -11th ergs/sq cm/s/keV. No positive detection was made in the 6-11 keV band. The data are consistent with either a power-law spectrum with photon spectral index not less than 2.5 or a thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum with a temperature not greater than 3 x 10 to the 7th K.

Schnopper, H. W.↗

On the ultrasoft X-ray background

The soft X-ray background has been studied down to energies of the order of 90 eV. The spectrum is found to be extremely soft, though not as steeply rising toward very low energies as indicated by Yentis et al. (1972). The background is both softer and more intense at high northern galactic latitudes than at low latitudes. Measured pulse-height spectra are analyzed under the assumption of different source models. The results are consistent with an origin of the background in a hot interstellar plasma with a temperature of about 800,000 K and a hot electron density of approximately 0.001 per cu cm. Upper limits are set on the soft X-ray emission from several interesting stellar objects.

Levine, A.↗

The transient periodic X-ray source in Taurus, A0535+26

Eighteen X-ray light curves of the 104-sec periodicity in the Taurus X-ray nova A 0535+26 are analyzed which were obtained by SAS-3 in six energy intervals between 1 and 35 keV during the period from May 30 to June 2, 1975. It is shown that the pulse structure is relatively simple at energies above 19 keV, but develops a complex series of five irregularly spaced maxima at lower energies. The energy spectrum averaged over the 104-sec period is found to be extremely hard, with a best-fit temperature of about 30 keV for the exponential spectrum, an excess at about 15 keV, and a steepening above 20 keV. It is suggested that A 0535+26 may be a compact object in a binary system containing the peculiar Be star HDE 245770. The transient behavior could arise due to episodic mass loss by the primary or because the compact object is in a highly eccentric orbit about the companion, with appreciable mass transfer occurring only at periastron.

Bradt, H.↗

X-ray nova A0620-00 - Celestial position and low-energy flux

The X-ray nova A0620-00 (Nova Monocerotis 1975) has been observed with the SAS-3 satellite. The 1-10 keV intensity was observed to increase by a factor of 2.3 from August 8 to August 11, 1975. It reached and maintained a constant intensity of 1.7 by 10 to the -6 power erg/sq cm/sec from August 11 to August 13. Limits on periodicities of not more than 2 per cent of the power were obtained for periods from 0.2 ms to 435 s. A precise position was obtained with the SAS-3 modulation collimators on August 15. This led directly to optical and radio identifications. Observations with the SAS-3 low-energy concentrator system on August 27 showed an intense 0.4-0.8 keV flux emanating from the nova. A hydrogen column density of 3.5 (plus or minus 0.3) by 10 to the 21st power per sq cm was inferred from these data.

Doxsey, R.↗

Optical identification of A0620-00

The optical object corresponding to the transient X-ray source A0620-00 is identified. The position (1950) of this object is given to a precision of 2 sec as: right ascension 6 hr 20 min 11.2 sec, declination -0 deg 19 min 10 sec. It is noted that the object has undergone a substantial change in brightness since the X-ray source was first detected and that three low-dispersion spectra of it show no emission or absorption features. Similarities between the present object and Sco X-1 are discussed.

Boley, F.↗