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Paciesas, W. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Paciesas, W. S..

At least 55 records · Page 3
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NASA NTRS1998

Generic Signatures of the Time Profiles of Cosmic Gamma-Ray Bursts

A new method is proposed which allows the study of the most generic signatures of the time histories of cosmic gamma-ray bursts. We average, with 64 ms time resolution, the time profiles of 275 bright bursts detected by BATSE. The profile of each burst is normalized by the maximum number of counts Cmax at the peak of the primary pulse, and individual pulses and interpulse valleys are selected from the normalized profiles by an identical selection criteria. New temporal parameters are introduced which characterize the duration and equivalent width of each pulse and the duration of each valley.

Mitrofanov, Igor G.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Average Cosmological Invariant Parameters of Cosmic Gamma Ray Bursts

Average cosmological invariant parameters (ACIPs) are calculated for six groups of BATSE cosmic gamma-ray bursts selected by their peak fluxes on the 1.024s timescale. The ACIPs represent the average temporal and spectral properties of these events equally in the observer frame of reference and in the co-moving frames of outbursting emitters. The parameters are determined separately for rise fronts and for back slopes of bursts, defined as the time profiles before and after the main peaks, respectively. The ACIPs for the rise fronts are found to be different for different intensity groups, while the ACIPs for the back slopes show no significant dependence on intensity. We conclude that emitters of bursts manifest standard average properties only during the back slopes of bursts.

Mitrofanov, Igor G.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Identification of Two Different Spectral Types of Pulses in Gamma-Ray Bursts

It is shown in this study that two different types of spectral emission are generally produced in gamma-ray bursts. A subset of bursts is identified that exhibits a marked lack of fluence above 300 keV, and these bursts are shown to have luminosities about an order of magnitude lower than bursts with significant fluence above 300 keV. The bursts lacking emission above 300 keV exhibit an effectively homogeneous intensity distribution. In addition, it is shown that both types of emission are common in many bursts, demonstrating that a single source object is capable of generating both of them. These results strongly favor a gamma-ray burst source object that produces two different types of emission with varying degrees of superposition. The impact of this behavior is strong enough that it affects the properties of the burst intensity distribution, as well as the burst spectral characteristics.

Pendleton, G. N.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Identification of Two Different Spectral Types of Pulses in Gamma-Ray Bursts

It is shown in this study that two different types of spectral emission are generally produced in gamma-ray bursts. A subset of bursts is identified that exhibits a marked lack of fluence above 300 keV, and these bursts are shown to have luminosities about an order of magnitude lower than bursts with significant fluence above 300 keV. The bursts lacking emission above 300 keV exhibit an effectively homogeneous intensity distribution. In addition, it is shown that both types of emission are common in many bursts, demonstrating that a single source object is capable of generating both of them. These results strongly favor a gamma-ray burst source object that produces two different types of emission with varying degrees of superposition. The impact of this behavior is strong enough that it affects the properties of the burst intensity distribution, as well as the burst spectral characteristics.

Pendleton, G. N.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Broadband High-Energy Observations of the Superluminal Jet Source GRO J1655-40 During an Outburst

The X-ray/radio transient superluminal jet source GRO J1655-40 was recently suggested to contain a black hole from optical observations. Because it is a relatively close-by system (d approximately 3.2 kpc), it can likely provide us with rich information about the physics operating in both Galactic and extragalactic jet sources. We present the first simultaneous broadband high-energy observations of GRO J1655-40 during the 1995 July-August outburst by three instruments: ASCA, WATCH/Granat, and BATSE/CGRO, in the energy band from 1 keV to 2 MeV. Our observations strengthen the interpretation that GRO J1655-40 contains a black hole. We detected a two-component energy spectrum, commonly seen from other Galactic black hole binaries, but never detected from a neutron star system. Combining our results with the mass limits derived from optical radial velocity and orbital period measurements, we further constrain the mass of the central object to be between 3.3 and 5.8 solar mass, above the well-established mass upper limit of 3.2 solar mass for a neutron star (the optical mass function for GRO J1655-40 is 3.16 + 0.2 solar mass). This system is therefore the first Galactic superluminal jet source for which there is strong evidence that the system contains a stellar mass black hole. The inclination angle of the binary system is constrained to be between 76 deg and 87 deg, consistent with estimates obtained from optical light curves and radio jet kinematics.

Zhang, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Long-term variability in bright hard X-ray sources: 5+ years of BATSE data

The operation of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO)/burst and transient source experiment (BATSE) continues to provide data for inclusion into a data base for the analysis of long term variability in bright, hard X-ray sources. The all-sky capability of BATSE provides up to 30 flux measurements/day for each source. The long baseline and the various rising and setting occultation flux measurements allow searches for periodic and quasi-periodic signals with periods of between several hours to hundreds of days to be conducted. The preliminary results from an analysis of the hard X-ray variability in 24 of the brightest BATSE sources are presented. Power density spectra are computed for each source and profiles are presented of the hard X-ray orbital modulations in some X-ray binaries, together with amplitude modulations and variations in outburst durations and intensities in recurrent X-ray transients.

Robinson, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1997

BATSE as an all-sky monitor for INTEGRAL

It is proposed to use data from the burst and transient source experiment (BATSE) onboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) as a sensitive, rapid, all sky monitor for the International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL). The all sky earth occultation monitoring and imaging capabilities of BATSE will complement and extend the Galactic plane scans of INTEGRAL as well as provide high latitude Galactic coverage which is inaccessible to INTEGRAL. Examples of transients previously observed by BATSE, its sensitivity, and the response time for these observations are described. Examples of the variability of several of the brighter sources observed by BATSE are shown.

Fishman, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Identification of Two Different Spectral Types of Pulses in Gamma-Ray Bursts

It is shown in this study that two different types of spectral emission are generally produced in gamma-ray bursts. A subset of bursts is identified that exhibits a marked lack of fluence above 300 keV, and these bursts are shown to have luminosities about an order of magnitude lower than bursts with significant fluence above 300 keV. The bursts lacking emission above 300 keV exhibit an effectively homogeneous intensity distribution. In addition it is shown that both types of emission are common in many bursts, demonstrating that a single source object is capable of generating both of them. These results strongly favor a gamma-ray burst source object that produces two different types of emission with varying degrees of superposition. The impact of this behavior is strong enough that it is affecting the properties of the burst intensity distribution, as well as the burst spectral characteristics.

Pendleton, G. N.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Evidence from Quasi-Periodic Oscillations for a Millisecond Pulsar in the Low Mass X-Ray Binary 4U 0614+091

We have detected quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) near 1 kHz from the low mass X-ray binary 4U 0614+091 in observations with RXTE. The observations span several months and sample the source over a large range of X-ray luminosity. In every interval QPOs are present above 400 Hz with fractional RMS amplitudes from 3 to 12% over the full PCA band. At high count rates, two high frequency QPOs are detected simultaneously. The difference of their frequency centroids is consistent with a constant value of 323 Hz in all observations. During one interval a third signal is detected at 328 +/- 2 Hz. This suggests the system has a stable 'clock' which is most likely the neutron star with spin period 3.1 msec. Thus, our observations of 4U 0614+091 and those of 4U 1728-34 provide the first evidence for millisecond pulsars within low-mass X-ray binary systems and reveal the 'missing-link' between millisecond radiopulsars and the late stages of binary evolution in low mass X-ray binaries. The constant difference of the high frequency QPOs sug,,ests a beat-frequency interpretation. In this model, the high frequency QPO is associated with the Keplerian frequency of the inner accretion disk and the lower frequency QPO is a 'beat' between the differential rotation frequency of the inner disk and the spinning neutron star. Assuming the high frequency QPO is a Keplerian orbital frequency for the accretion disk, we find a maximum mass of 1.9 solar mass and a maximum radius of 17 km for the neutron star.

Ford, E.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Energy Spectra and High Frequency Oscillations in 4U 0614+091

We investigate the behavior of the high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in 4U 0614+091, combining timing and spectral analysis of RXTE (Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer) observations. The energy spectrum of the source can be described by a power law plus a blackbody component. The blackbody has a variable temperature (kT approximately 0.8 to 1.4 keV) and accounts for 10 to 25% of the total energy flux. The power law flux and photon index also vary (F approximately 0.8 to 1.6 x 10(exp -9) erg/sq cm.s and alpha approximately 2.0 to 2.8 respectively). We find a robust correlation of the frequency of the higher frequency QPO with the flux of the blackbody. The source follows the same relation even in observations separated by several months. The QPO frequency does not have a similarly unique correlation with the total flux or the flux of the power law component. The RMS amplitudes of the higher frequency QPO rise with energy but are consistent with a constant for the lower frequency QPO. These results may be interpreted in terms of a beat frequency model for the production of the high frequency QPOs.

Ford, E. C.↗
NASA NTRS1997

A Multiwavelength Study of Cygnus X-3

We present a global comparison of long term observations of the hard X-ray (20-100 keV), soft X-ray (1.5-12 keV), infrared (1-2 micron) and radio (2.25, 8.3 and 15 GHz) bands for the unusual X-ray binary Cygnus X-3. Data were obtained in the hard X-ray band from CGRO/BATSE, in the soft X-ray band from Rossi Xray Timing Explorer (RXTE)/ASM, in the radio band from the Green Bank Interferometer and Ryle Telescope and in the infrared band from various ground based observatories. Radio flares, quenched radio states and quiescent radio emission can all be associated with changes in the hard and soft X-ray intensity. The injection of plasma into the radio jet is directly related to changes in the hard and soft X-ray emission. The infrared observations are examined in the context of these findings.

McCollough, M. L↗
NASA NTRS1997

RXTE Observations of Cygnus X-3

In the period between May 1997 and August 1997 a series of pointed RXTE observations were made of Cyg X-3. During this period Cyg X-3 made a transition from a quiescent radio state to a flare state (including a major flare) and then returned to a quiescent radio state. Analyses of the observations are made in the context of concurrent observations in the hard X-ray (CGRO/BATSE), soft X-ray (RXTE/ASM) and the radio (Green Bank Interferometer, Ryle Telescope, and RATAN-600). Preliminary analyses of the observations are presented.

McCollough, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Near Real-Time Imaging of the Galactic Plane with BATSE

The discovery of new transient or persistent sources in the hard X-ray regime with the BATSE Earth occultation Technique has been limited previously to bright sources of about 200 mCrab or more. While monitoring known source locations is not a problem to a daily limiting sensitivity of about 75 mCrab, the lack of a reliable background model forces us to use more intensive computer techniques to find weak, previously unknown emission from hard X-ray/gamma sources. The combination of Radon transform imaging of the galactic plane in 10 by 10 degree fields and the Harvard/CFA-developed Image Search (CBIS) allows us to straightforwardly search the sky for candidate sources in a +/- 20 degree latitude band along the plane. This procedure has been operating routinely on a weekly basis since spring 1997. We briefly describe the procedure, then concentrate on the performance aspects of the technique and candidate source results from the search.

Harmon, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

BATSE Observations of Gamma-Ray Burst Spectra: Low-Energy Behavior of Time-Averaged Spectra - Part 3

We analyze time-averaged spectra from 86 bright gamma-ray bursts from the first 5 years of the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory to determine whether the lowest energy data are consistent with a standard spectra form fit to the data at all energies. The BATSE Spectroscopy Detectors have the capability to observe photons as low as 5 keV. Using the gamma-ray burst locations obtained with the BATSE Large Area Detectors, the Spectroscopy Detectors' low-energy response can be modeled accurately. This, together with a postlaunch calibration of the lowest energy Spectroscopy Detector discriminator channel, which can lie in the range 5-20 keV, allows spectral deconvolution over a broad energy range, approx. 5 keV to 2 MeV. The additional coverage allows us to search for evidence of excess emission, or for a deficit, below 20 keV. While no burst has a significant (greater than or equal to 3 sigma) deficit relative to a standard spectra model, we find that 12 bursts have excess low-energy emission, ranging between 1.2 and 5.8 times the model flux, that exceeds 5 sigma in significance. This is evidence for an additional low-energy spectral component in at least some bursts, or for deviations from the power-law spectral form typically used to model gamma-ray bursts at energies below 100 keV.

Preece, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Observations of 4U 1700-37 with BATSE

The eclipsing binary X-ray source 4U 1700-37 has been continually monitored by the BATSE experiment on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory since the spring of 1991. Using source measurements at times of Earth occultation, we observe an average (uneclipsed) flux of 0.23 crab in the 20-120 keV band. The flux is highly variable, with occasional flaring behavior on timescales from hundreds of seconds to several hours and intensities as bright as 1 crab. The uneclipsed spectrum is well represented by an optically thin thermal bremsstrahlung model with a temperature of 25 keV independent of source intensity or orbital phase. An upper limit of 4% on the pulse fraction has been obtained for pulse periods between 2 and 700 s. Average orbital light curves from almost 1000 days of occultation measurements have been constructed. These profiles are used to measure: (1) the eclipse semiangle, Theta(sub E) = 28.6 deg +/- 2.1 deg in the 20-120 keV band, and (2) the decrease in orbital period, P(dot)/P = -(3.3 +/- 0.6) x 10(exp -7) 1/ yr. Estimates of system physical parameters are obtained using Monte Carlo simulations to propagate errors in measured and assumed parameters. For the X-ray source mass we find M(sub x) = 2.6(sub -1.4)(sup +2.3) solar mass, and for the mass and radius of the optical companion, M(sub 0) = 30(sub -7)(sup +11) solar mass and R(sub 0) = 18(sub -2)(sup +2) solar radius.

Rubin, B. C.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Consistency of time dilation in temporal profiles and spectra of gamma-ray bursts

If gamma-ray bursters are at cosmological distances-a possibility suggested by their isotropic distribution and spatial inhomogeneity-then the temporal profiles and spectra of more distant sources will be time dilated compared to those of relatively nearby sources. Analyses of bright and dim Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) gamma-ray bursts yield a relative time-dilation factor of 2.3 on timescales of pulses and event durations. We redshift the spectra of time intervals near the intensity peaks of the bright sample on a trial grid and compare with spectra of the dim sample. A redshift factor of order two-with wide latitude permitted-brings the spectra of the two brightness groups into alignment. Thus there is coarse agreement with the time-dilation factor found in the temporal domain.

Noriss, J. P.↗