Engineering topics

Serlemitsos, P. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Serlemitsos, P. J..

At least 163 records · Page 9

NASA NTRS1976

New results from long-term observations of Cygnus X-1

Observations of Cyg X-1 between October 1974 and July 1975 reveal a persistent 5.6-day modulation of the 3-6 keV X-ray intensity, having a minimum in phase with superior conjunction of the HDE 226868 binary system. The modulation is found to be most pronounced just prior to the April-May 1975 increase of Cyg X-1, after which both the modulation and intensity are at their lowest values for the entire duration of the observations. These data imply that the X-ray emission from Cyg X-1 arises from the compact member of HDE 226868, and that the increase of April-May 1975 may have represented the depletion of accreting material which had not yet been mixed into a cylindrically symmetric accretion disk about the compact member.

Holt, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Evidence for an 11.2d periodicity from Cyg X-2

Evidence for a persistent 11.17 + or - .10d period from Cyg X-2 is presented from one year of accumulated data from the Ariel-5 all-sky monitor. The effect is not a simple sidereal alias of a true source period close to one day.

Holt, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Iron line emission from a high temperature plasma in Cas A

The X-ray spectrum of Cassiopeia A was observed for several days by the proportional counter experiment on board OSO-8. The high energy ( 5 keV) data are fit well by a thermal spectrum. A narrow iron line which is predicted by the thermal model is also observed. The low energy (2-5 keV) data show an excess over the high temperature component which is consistent with the presence of an additional low temperature thermal component. Iron abundance in the source relative to normal cosmic abundance is discussed, as in the relation of this observation to shock wave and multi-component thermal models for supernova remnants.

Pravdo, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Cosmic X-ray observations with OSO-8

The GSFC Cosmic X-ray Spectroscopy experiment aboard OSO-8 has operated successfully since launch providing spectral and temporal data on X-ray sources in tha energy range 2-60 keV. Analysis of quick look data shows a variety of spectral features, some stable, others variable, which will increase understanding of the nature of individual sources. In particular, observed emission and absorption features that can be attributed to iron will result in abundance measures of this important element in sources such as some X-ray binaries, the supernova remnant Cas A, and the nucleus of the galaxy Cen A.

Serlemitsos, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Her X-1 spectral evidence for a strong magnetic field

The steep high energy cutoff observed in the spectrum for Her X-1 is analyzed in terms of the severely modified Thomson scattering that dominates the radiative transfer in a highly magnetized plasma near the surface of a neutron star. The data are shown to indicate a field of about 10 to the 13th power G near the magnetic poles and the stopping of accreting matter by nuclear collisions in the neighboring plasma.

Boldt, E. A.↗

NASA NTRS1976

OSO-8 observations of Hercules X-1

The X-ray binary Her X-1 was observed by the GSFC cosmic X-ray detectors aboard OSO-8 between August 26 and September 3, 1975. The results reported are based on quick look tapes which contain less than 10% of the total time spent on source. Spectra were observed during different phases of the binary period including the anomalous low state (dip) in X-ray intensity. The normal high spectra is well represented by a power law with a short cutoff above approximately 25 keV. A significant and varying enhancement in the intensity around 6.7 keV was observed, suggesting the presence of an iron line. Absorption was seen in the spectrum immediately following eclipse. The dip spectrum is found to be considerably flattened. Also spectra are presented for different phases of the pulse period.

Pravdo, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1976

OSO-8 GSFC results on Cen X-3

Spectra of Cen X-3 during eclipse, in transition out of eclipse, and during several later phases of the binary orbit were obtained from quick look data of the July 16-25, 1975 observation by the Goddard X-ray spectroscopy experiment on OSO-8. In the high state there was no absorption turn over. Pulsations were present at least to 23 keV. The spectrum at the pulse minimum was flatter above 7 keV than that of the pulse peak. In transition out of eclipse Cen X-3 emerged above a small low energy flux seen during eclipse. The observations appear to indicate absorption by cold and ionized matter and the presence of iron in the companion's atmosphere. Decreased intensities were observed at late phases of some binary orbits in some cases corresponding to dips. Absorption appears although the low energy component remains. Variable features may be interpretable as absorption and emission by iron and possibly other trace elements.

Swank, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Evidence for a 17d periodicity from Cyg X-3

Data which indicate a periodicity of 17d from Cyg X-3 are reviewed. The data are taken from the Ariel 5 satellite All-Sky Monitor and the Sky Survey Experiment.

Holt, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The early light curve of A0620-00

The Ariel-5 All-Sky Monitor measured the 3-6 keV X-ray intensity of 0620-00 for two days shortly after peak emission in August 1975, and continuously throughout September 1975. The effective exposure each day for this source (and every other source in the 80% of the celestial sphere covered by the monitor) is approximately 250 sq cm sec. The light curve obtained through October 1 (when the spin axis was again pointed to A0620-00) is shown. The intensity difference at maximum is obviously a manifestation of the very soft spectrum of the source. Clearly, A0620-00 was approximately four times as bright as Sco X-1 at maximum in the band 3-6 keV. The decay is quite smooth, but cannot be fit with a single e-folding time. The interval between the early All-Sky Monitor points and the onset of continuous coverage has an inferred e-folding time of 22 days, but it is continually increasing throughout September. A0620-00 is apparently similar in its X-ray character to the very strong, long-lasting transient X-ray sources which presently number six. In contrast, only three can be sensibly reconciled with the lower-intensity, shorter-duration hard-spectrum transients which have been found to pulse on a time scale of minutes.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

New results from long-term observations of Cyg X-1

Observations of Cyg X-1 between October 1974 and July 1975 reveal a persistent 5.6 day modulation of the 3-6 keV X-ray intensity, having a minimum in phase with superior conjunction of the HDE 226868 binary system. The modulation is found to be most pronounced just prior to the April-May 1975 increase of Cyg X-1, after which both the modulation and intensity are at their lowest values for the entire duration of the observations. These data imply that the X-ray emission from Cyg X-1 arises from the compact member of HDE 226868, and that the increase of April-May 1975 may have represented the depletion of accreting material which had not yet been mixed into a cylindrically symmetric accretion disk about the compact member.

Holt, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

High resolution measurements of Cyg X-1 from rockets

Cyg X-1 was observed on two occasions (Oct. 4, 1973 and Oct. 3, 1974) by the Goddard X-ray rocket payload. This payload consisted of two gas proportional counters (xenon-methane with 710 sq cm and argon-methane with 610 sq cm using the same 128 channel pulse height analyzer and having 320 micro sec temporal resolution on the 1973 flight and 160 micro sec resolution on the 1974 flight. During both flights, bursts of 1 ms duration were observed with very high statistical certainty. To date all 13 of these bursts were analyzed for spectral and temporal character, and the results of this analysis are presented. The spectra of overall X-ray emission from both flights is also presented. In a source known for its variability, it is remarkable that the spectra taken one year apart are virtually identical.

Rothschild, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Long term X-ray studies of Sco X-1

No modulation of the 3-6 keV X-ray intensity of Sco X-1 at a level of excess of 1% is observed at the optical period of .787313d. Evidence is found for shot-noise character in a large fraction or the X-ray emission. Almost all of the Sco X-1 emission can be synthesized in terms of approximately 200 shots per day, each with a duration of approximately 1/3 day.

Holt, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The observation program for the GSFC cosmic X-ray spectroscopy experiment

The cosmic X-ray spectroscopy experiment on OSO-8 will observe seven X-ray binary sources in its first six months of operation. If possible, each of these sources will be observed for one or more binary orbits so that the X-ray spectrum of each object can be observed through all phases of its orbit. For the two pulsing binaries, Her X-1 and Cen X-3, spectral variations over the pulse period will be studied. Simultaneous radio observations of Cyg X-1 and Cyg X-3 will search for any correlation between radio and X-ray emission. During the first year of operation, the detectors will observe over 50% of the known X-ray sources.

Becker, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Long-term X-ray studies of Sco X-1

No modulation of the 3-6 keV X-ray intensity of Sco X-1 at a level of excess of 1% was observed at the optical period of .787313d. Evidence is found for shot-noise character in a large fraction of the X-ray emission. Almost all of the Sco X-1 emission can be synthesized in terms of approximately 200 shots per day, each with a duration of approximately 1/3 day. A pinhole camera was used to obtain data and the data were statistically analyzed.

Holt, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The light curve of a transient X-ray source

The Ariel-5 satellite has monitored the X-ray light curve of A1524-62 almost continuously from 40 days prior to maximum light until its disappearance below the effective experimental sensitivity. The source exhibited maximum light on Dec. 4, 1974, at a level of 0.9 the apparent magnitude of the Crab Nebula in the energy band 3-6 keV. Although similar to previously reported transient sources with a decay time constant of about 2 months, the source exhibited an extended, variable preflare on-state of about 1 month at a level of greater than 0.1 maximum light. The four bright (greater than 0.2 of the Crab Nebula) transient sources observed during the first half-year of Ariel-5 operation are indicative of a galactic disk distribution, a luminosity at maximum in excess of 10 to the 37-th power ergs/sec, a frequency of occurrence which may be as high as 100/yr, and a median decay time which is less than 1 month.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Spectral variability of Cygnus X-3

Spectra of Cyg X-3 from 1.7 to 40 keV, obtained about a year apart using the same rocket payload, show large spectral differences. The two observations suggest that while the luminosity of this source remains roughly the same, its spectrum can vary from a featureless blackbody distribution to a flat spectrum which includes strong iron line emission at approximately 6.7 keV. The flux in the line is 0.018 (plus or minus 0.004) photons per sq cm/sec, corresponding to an equivalent continuum width of 1.2 keV.

Serlemitsos, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The Her X-1 spectrum: A measure of the field near the magnetic poles of a neutron star

The steep high energy cutoff observed in the spectrum for Her X-1 was analyzed in terms of the severely modified Thomson scattering that dominates the radiative transfer in a highly magnetized plasma near the surface of a neutron star. The data indicate a field of about 1013 G near the magnetic poles and the stopping of accreting matter by nuclear collisions in the neighboring plasma.

Boldt, E. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Evidence for a 17-day periodicity from Cyg-X-3

Data taken from the Ariel-5 All Sky Monitor and the Ariel-5 Sky Survey Experiment are analyzed. It is hypothesized that a periodicity of 17d is characteristic of CygX-3. Results of the analysis are given.

Holt, S. S.↗