Engineering topics

Soker, Noam

Publications and source records attributed to Soker, Noam.

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS2009

Narrow Radiative Recombination Continua: A Signature of Ions Crossing the Contact Discontinuity of Astrophysical Shocks

X-rays from planetary nebulae (PNs) are believed to originate from a shock driven into the fast stellar wind (v ~ 1000 kilometers per second) as it collides with an earlier circumstellar slow wind (v ~ 10 kilometers per second). In theory, the shocked fast wind (hot hubble) and the ambient cold nebula can remain separated by magnetic fields along a surface referred to as the contact discontinuity (CD) that inhibits diffusion and heat conduction. The CD region is extremely difficult to probe directly owing to its small size and faint emission. This has largely left the study of CDs, stellar-shocks, and the associated micro-physics in the realm of theory. This paper presents spectroscopic evidence for ions from the hot bubble (kT approximately equal to 100 eV) crossing the CD and penetrating the cold nebular gas (kT approximately equal to 1 eV). Specifically, a narrow radiative recombination continuum (RRC) emission feature is identified in the high resolution X-ray spectrum of the PN BD+30degree3639 indicating bare C VII ions are recombining with cool electrons at kT(sub e) = 1.7 plus or minus 1.3 eV. An upper limit to the flux of the narrow RRC of H-like C VI is obtained as well. The RRCs are interpreted as due to C ions from the hot bubble of BD+30degree3639 crossing the CD into the cold nebula, where they ultimately recombine with its cool electrons. The RRC flux ratio of C VII to C VI constrains the temperature jump across the CD to deltakT greater than 80 eV, providing for the first time direct evidence for the stark temperature disparity between the two sides of an astrophysical CD, and constraining the role of magnetic fields and heat conduction accordingly. Two colliding-wind binaries are noted to have similar RRCs suggesting a temperature jump and CD crossing by ions may be common feature of stellar wind shocks.

Behar, Ehud↗

NASA NTRS1997

The Rings Around the Egg Nebula

We present an eccentric binary model for the formation of the proto-planetary nebula CRL 2688 (the Egg Nebula) that exhibits multiple concentric shells. Given the apparent regularity of the structure in the Egg Nebula, we postulate that the shells are caused by the periodic passages of a companion star. Such an orbital period would have to lie in the range of 100-500 yr, the apparent time that corresponds to the spacing between the rings. We assume, in this model, that an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star, which is the origin of the matter within the planetary nebula, loses mass in a spherically symmetric wind. We further suppose that the AGB star has an extended atmosphere (out to approximately 10 stellar radii) in which the outflow speed is less than the escape speed; still farther out, grains form and radiation pressure accelerates the grains along with the trapped gas to the escape speed. Once escape speed has been attained, the presence of a companion star will not significantly affect the trajectories of the matter leaving in the wind and the mass loss will be approximately spherically symmetric. On the other hand, if the companion star is sufficiently close that the Roche lobe of the AGB star moves inside the extended atmosphere, then the slowly moving material will be forced to flow approximately along the critical potential surface (i.e., the Roche lobe) until it flows into the potential lobe of the companion star. Therefore, in our model, the shells are caused by periodic cessations of the isotropic wind rather than by any periodic enhancement in the mass-loss process. We carry out detailed binary evolution calculations within the context of this scenario, taking into account the nuclear evolution and stellar wind losses of the giant as well as the effects of mass loss and mass transfer on the evolution of the eccentric binary orbit. From the initial binary parameters that we find are required to produce a multiple concentric shell nebula and the known properties of primordial binaries, we conclude that approximately 0.3% of all planetaries should go through a phase with multiple concentric shells.

Harpaz, Amos↗

NASA NTRS1994

Radiative shock overstability of finite-sized objects

We investigate the radiative shock overstability for finite-sized objects. We follow the analysis of Chevalier & Imamura (1982), but we take into account the transverse flow of material out of the potshock region. The mass loss from the postshock region stabilizes the flow. As a rough estimate, the shock radiative instability takes place when the shock wave position with no radiative cooling (only mass loss present) is larger than the shock position with no mass loss (only radiative cooling present). For typical conditions of planetary nebulae we find that in order for the shock radiative overstability to occur, the nebular radius should be R approximately less than 10(exp 19) n(sub a)(exp -1) cm, where n(sub alpha) is the total number density of the interstellar medium (in units of cm(exp -3). We give several examples of interacting planetary nebulae in light of this condition.

Dgani, Ruth↗

NASA NTRS1994

The expected morphology of the solar system planetary nebula

We examine the evolution of Jupiter's orbit as the Sun evolves to form a planetary nebula. We use an orbital synchronization mechanism, which was proposed by Tassoul (1987, ApJ, 322, 856), and find that Jupiter is likely to deposit a substantial fraction of its orbital angular momentum, in spinning-up the Sun, when the latter is on the upper Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB). This amount of angular momentum is likely to cause some small degree of axisymmetric mass loss from the Sun. In this case, the Sun will form an elliptical planetary nebula. The formation of elliptical planetary nebulae with the influence of massive planets and brown dwarfs, may explain the large fraction of elliptical planetary nebulae among the total number of planetary nebulae known today.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1994

Heat conduction fronts in planetary nebulae

We present arguments which suggest that many of the x-ray, some optical, and some UV observations of planetary nebulae, can be explained by the presence of heat conduction fronts. The heat flows from the hot bubble formed by the shocked fast wind to the cool shell and halo. Heat conduction fronts are likely to account for emission of x rays from plasma at lower temperature than the expected temperature of the hot bubble. In the presence of magnetic fields, only a small fraction of the fast wind luminosity emerges as radiation. Heat conduction fronts can naturally produce some unusual line flux ratios, which are observed in some planetary nebulae. Heat conduction fronts may heat the halo and cause some material at the inner surface of the shell to expand slower than the rest of the shell. In the presence of an asymmetrical magnetic field, this flow, the x-ray intensity, and the emission lines, may acquire asymmetrical structure as well.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1993

The morphology and interaction with the interstellar medium of the planetary nebula IC 4593

We present a morphological study of the planetary nebula IC 4593, based on our observations in H-alpha, forbidden O III, and forbidden S II. From the H-alpha intensity map, we calculate densities and masses for constituent structures and for the nebula as a whole. We argue that the morphology of IC 4593 suggests that it is moving supersonically through the ISM, and that the ISM shock may be thermally unstable, oscillating between adiabatic and radiative (isothermal) shock conditions. Spectroscopic observations are necessary to further explore the nature of the interaction between IC 4593 and the ISM. An improved understanding of such interactions will greatly expand the potential use of planetary nebulae to probe the ISM.

Zucker, Daniel B.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Effects of inclination angle on the spectra of X-ray binaries

Iron emission and absorption features from nine X-ray binaries are compared with a model that predicts characteristics of iron K-shell features corresponding to different viewing angles for the accretion disk. In this model, emission and absorption features arise from an accretion disk corona whose structure is computed under the assumptions of ionization, thermal, and hydrostatic balance of gas illuminated by the central continuum source. Hence the equivalent widths of the emission and absorption features are predicted without the introduction of any free parameters to control the physical conditions in the disk corona. Our data/model comparison suggests an explanation for the equivalent widths of the iron K-alpha emission and the depth of the absorption edge in terms of (1) the angle of inclination between the observer's line of sight and the plane of the accretion disk and (2) the shape of the incident source spectrum.

Vrtilek, S. D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The density profile of the elliptical planetary nebula NGC 3242

We present the three-dimensional density structure of the elliptical planetary nebula NGC 3242, deconvolved from its H-alpha image. Using the simplistic assumptions that each mass element preserves its original velocity, which is radial and depends only on latitude, we deduce from this density profile the variation of mass-loss rate from the progenitor of NGC 3242 with latitude and time. The resulting somewhat qualitative mass-loss geometry and history are used to constrain models for the formation of the elliptical structure of NGC 3242. We argue that a triple system, with a very close brown dwarf companion and a more massive distant tertiary star, is compatible with the morphology of NGC 3242. In this model the brown dwarf, of about 0.01 solar mass, shared a common envelope with the progenitor star, and spun up the envelope through deposition of angular momentum. The oblate rotating envelope blew an axisymmetrical wind. We suggest that the presence of a third star, with a mass of about 1 solar mass and an orbital period of about 4000 years, could have caused the large scale deviation from axial symmetry seen in the density structure.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1992

Excitation of gravity waves in common envelopes

We study the excitation of gravity waves by a low-mass companion orbiting inside the envelope of a giant star, concentrating on brown dwarfs inside the envelope of asymptotic giant branch stars. Efficient g-wave excitations occur only after the brown dwarf has spiraled-in to the radiative zone, well inside the envelope, of the asymptotic giant branch star. The brown dwarf excites g-waves when its orbital radius is about 3-10 solar radii. At this stage of the evolution the envelope mass is below 0.1 solar mass. The g-waves propagate inward from the secondary orbit, carrying angular momentum and energy. We find that the angular momentum transport leads to an efficient spin-up of the inner envelopes. The differential rotation between the envelope and core and nonlinear wave effects, can cause a mixing of heavy elements from the core to the envelope.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1992

Can a single AGB star form an axially symmetric planetary nebula?

We apply a method, which is traditionally used for the solar magnetic field, to estimate the magnetic activity of AGB stars. We find that any magnetic-field model which tries to explain axisymmetrical mass loss from single AGB stars encounters severe difficulties. This order-of-magnitude calculation suggests that magnetic activity in AGB stars could be significant only if the envelope is spun up by a binary companion. We conduct a preliminary study of a possible mechanism by which a single star might lose mass axisymmetrically. The results suggest that as the envelope mass of an AGB star decreases to less than or approximately equal to 1 solar mass the nature of the fundamental mode excitation could damage. It is possible that, due to the same mechanism, higher-order radial modes and nonradial p modes could become significant to the mass-loss process when the envelope mass becomes very low. We argue, however, that even this mechanism, if it works, requires a binary companion to spin up the AGB envelope.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1992

Jet formation in the transition from the asymptotic giant branch to planetary nebulae

The possibility is studied that during its transition from the AGB to the central star of a PN, a rotating star blows a collimated wind along the symmetry axis. The wind results from the deformation of the stellar surface due to fast rotation. Evolutionary calculations using a spherical stellar model are used to argue that an essential ingredient in the proposed scenario is that the evolving star is in a common envelope with a lower mass companion which spins up the envelope.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1992

Excitation of pressure modes in common envelopes

The excitation of oscillatory modes by a low-mass star orbiting inside a common envelope with a more massive star is investigated, with emphasis on adiabatic high spherical harmonic degree (l is much greater than 1) modes propagating outward in the envelope. The dominant oscillatory modes are those for which the spherical harmonic order is large, and thus the amplitudes are large close to the equatorial plane and small closer to the poles. A secondary of mass about 1 percent of the primary mass excites modes with relative surface amplitudes of a few x 10 percent. Even a Jupiter-like brown dwarf, when it is very deep in the envelope of an asymptotic giant branch star, can cause perturbations of relative surface amplitudes of about 10 percent near the equatorial plane. If mass loss is influenced by oscillation, then this mechanism can lead to higher mass loss in the equatorial plane. In case of an asymptotic giant branch primary, this might lead to the formation of an elliptical planetary nebula.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1991

On the 'flip-flop' instability of Bondi-Hoyle accretion flows

A simple physical interpretation is advanced by means of an analysis of the shock cone in the accretion flows past a compact object and with an examination of the accretion-line stability analyses. The stability of the conical shock is examined against small angular deflections with attention given to several simplifying assumptions. A line instability is identified in the Bondi-Hoyle accretion flows that leads to the formation of a large opening-angle shock. When the opening angle becomes large the instability becomes irregular oscillation. The analytical methodology is compared to previous numerical configurations that demonstrate different shock morphologies. The Bondi-Hoyle accretion onto a compact object is concluded to generate a range of nonlinear instabilities in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous cases with a quasiperiodic oscillation in the linear regime.

Livio, Mario↗

NASA NTRS1991

Nonlinear instability of the accretion line

The instability of the flow along the accretion line in the two-dimensional Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton type accretion flow is studied. By means of numerical simulations, the nonlinear regime of the instability is explored, thus extending a previous work that dealt with the linear regime using the WKB approximation. In contrast to the behavior in the linear regime, in the nonlinear regime the radial and tangential modes are coupled. The radial instability, which manifests itself as large density and velocity variations on short distances, grows far beyond the linear regime. The tangential instability, on the other hand, stays in the linear regime and is dominant by long-wavelength perturbations. This results from both the influence of the radial instability and the incoming material (the material accreted onto the accretion line).

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1991

Stripped interstellar gas in cluster cooling flows

It is suggested that nonlinear perturbations which lead to thermal instabilities in cooling flows might start as blobs of interstellar gas which are stipped out of cluster galaxies. Assuming that most of the gas produced by stellar mass loss in cluster galaxies is stripped from the galaxies, the total rate of such stripping is roughly 100 solar masses/yr, which is similar to the rates of cooling in cluster cooling flows. It is possible that a substantial portion of the cooling gas originates as blobs of interstellar gas stripped from galaxies. The magnetic fields within and outside of the low-entropy perturbations may help to maintain their identities by suppressing both thermal conduction and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. These density fluctuations may disrupt the propagation of radio jets through the intracluster gas, which may be one mechanism for producing wideangle-tail radio galaxies.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1990

Interaction of planetary nebulae with the interstellar medium

The interaction of a moving planetary nebula (PN) with the interstellar medium is considered. The PN shell is compressed first in the direction of the stellar motion. This produces a dipole asymmetry in the surface brightness of the nebula, typically at a nebular density of about 40/cu cm if the nebula is located in the Galactic plane. In the later stages of the interaction, this part of the shell is significantly decelerated with respect to the central star, and the PN becomes strongly asymmetric in shape. This distortion and the subsequent stripping of the nebular gas away from the central star typically occurs at a low nebular density of about 6/cu cm. The morphology of PNs with central stars whose proper motions exceed 0.015 arcsec/yr was examined, and it was found that many of the extended nebulae are interacting with the interstellar medium (ISM). The sample doubles the number of known PNs interacting with the ISM. The morphology of nearby PNs was examined, and a number of strongly asymmetric nebuale were found.

Borkowski, Kazimierz J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Stability analysis of the accretion line

The stability of the flow along the accretion line in the Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton-type accretion flow is studied. The WKB approximation is used to analyze short wavelength linear perturbations of the axisymmetric steady state flow. The viscosity terms in the gasdynamical equations are included in the analysis. The radial modes are studied both in two- and three-dimensional accretion flow. Since a displaced accretion line cannot be defined in three-dimensional flow, the tangential modes are only analyzed in the two-dimensional flow. The analysis of the perturbed gasdynamical equations are made simpler as a result of the radial and tangential modes being decoupled in the linear regime. As was shown before, the three-dimensional accretion flow is unstable against radial modes. The two-dimensional accretion flow is found to be unstable against tangential modes, as well as against radial modes. Using typical numerical parameters which are in common use, the wavelength which gives the maximum growth rate of a small perturbation is found to be about 0.5 r(a), where r(a) is the accretion radius.

Soker, Noam↗

NASA NTRS1990

ISM stripping from cluster galaxies and inhomogeneities in cooling flows

Analyses of the x ray surface brightness profiles of cluster cooling flows suggest that the mass flow rate decreases towards the center of the cluster. It is often suggested that this decrease results from thermal instabilities, in which denser blobs of gas cool rapidly and drop below x ray emitting temperatures. If the seeds for the thermal instabilities are entropy perturbations, these perturbations must enter the flow already in the nonlinear regime. Otherwise, the blobs would take too long to cool. Here, researchers suggest that such nonlinear perturbations might start as blobs of interstellar gas which are stripped out of cluster galaxies. Assuming that most of the gas produced by stellar mass loss in cluster galaxies is stripped from the galaxies, the total rate of such stripping is roughly M sub Interstellar Matter (ISM) approx. 100 solar mass yr(-1). It is interesting that the typical rates of cooling in cluster cooling flows are M sub cool approx. 100 solar mass yr(-1). Thus, it is possible that a substantial portion of the cooling gas originates as blobs of interstellar gas stripped from galaxies. The magnetic fields within and outside of the low entropy perturbations can help to maintain their identities, both by suppressing thermal conduction and through the dynamical effects of magnetic tension. One significant question concerning this scenario is: Why are cooling flows seen only in a fraction of clusters, although one would expect gas stripping to be very common. It may be that the density perturbations only survive and cool efficiently in clusters with a very high intracluster gas density and with the focusing effect of a central dominant galaxy. Inhomogeneities in the intracluster medium caused by the stripping of interstellar gas from galaxies can have a number of other effects on clusters. For example, these density fluctuations may disrupt the propagation of radio jets through the intracluster gas, and this may be one mechanism for producing Wide-Angle-Tail radio galaxies.

Soker, Noam↗