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Weisskopf, Martin C.

Publications and source records attributed to Weisskopf, Martin C..

At least 127 records · Page 7
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NASA NTRS2003

Chandra Phase-Resolved X-Ray Spectroscopy of the Crab Pulsar

We present here the first phase-resolved study of the X-ray spectral properties of the Crab Pulsar that covers all pulse phases. The superb angular resolution of the Chandra X-ray Observatory enables distinguishing the pulsar from the surrounding nebulosity, even at pulse minimum. Analysis of the pulse-averaged spectrum measures interstellar photoelectric absorption and scattering by dust grains in the direction of the Crab Nebula. Analysis of the spectrum as a function of pulse phase measures the low-energy X-ray spectral index even at pulse minimum - albeit with large statistical uncertainty. The data are used to set a new upper limit to any thermal component.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Four Years of Operation of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory is now entering its fourth year of operation. Data taken with Chandra have revolutionized our understanding of the high-energy universe. The operational status of the Observatory will be reviewed and recent results presented.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2003

On the Nature of the Bright Short-Period X-ray Source in the Circinus Galaxy Field

The spectrum and light curve of the bright X-ray source CG X-1 in the field of the Circinus galaxy are re-examined. Previous analyses have concluded that the source is an accreting black hole of mass approx. greater than 50 solar masses although it was noted that the light curve resembles that of an AM Her system. Here we show that the short period and an assumed main sequence companion constrain the mass of the companion to less than 1 solar mass. Further a possible eclipse seen during one of the Chandra observations and a subsequent XMM-Newton observation constrains the mass of the compact object to less than 60 solar masses. If such a system lies in the Circinus galaxy, then the accreting object must either radiate anisotropically or strongly violate the Eddington limit. Even if the emission is beamed, then the companion star which intercepts this flux during eclipse will be driven out of thermal equilibrium and evaporate within approx. 10(exp 3) yr. We find that the observations cannot rule out an AM Her system in the Milky Way and that such a system can account for the variations seen in the light curve.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Development of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory traces its origins almost to the beginning of the field of X-Ray astronomy. We will present the history of the development of this Great Observatory from the perspective of the Project Scientist.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Three Years of Operation of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory is a NASA facility that provides scientific data to the international astronomical community in response to proposals for its use. Data becomes public at most one year after the observation. The Observatory is the product of the efforts of many commercial, academic, and government organizations in the United States and Europe. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) manages the Project and provides Project Science TRW Space and Electronics Group served as prime contractor responsible for providing the spacecraft, the telescope, and assembling and testing the observatory the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) provides technical support and is responsible for around operations including the Chandra X Ray Center (CXC).

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Two Years of Chandra Observations: Neutron Stars and Pulsars with Emphasis on the Pulsar in the Crab Nebula

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory is entering its third year of operation. The Observatory, the premiere x-ray telescope for high-resolution imaging, has exceeded all expectations. The sub-arc second angular resolution together with other instrumental capabilities has allowed for new insights into the understanding of compact x-ray emitting objects including neutron stars and pulsars. We briefly review the Chandra Program and the first two years of observation with emphasis on these interesting objects. We detail the results of our observations of the pulsar in the Crab Nebula including the first continuum spectrum that is virtually uncontaminated by any dust-scattered radiation.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Highlights from Three Years of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

August 12, 2002 marked the third anniversary of the first light observed with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO) which had been launched on July 23 of that same year. The CXO is the X-ray component of NASA's Great Observatory Program that also includes the Hubble Space Telescope for observations in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the now defunct Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory and the soon-to-be-launched Space Infra-Red Telescope Facility. The scientific return from the Observatory has been spectacular. Images of objects as local as the moon's of Jupiter and comets, to those which show the details of the emission of the hot gas pervading clusters of galaxies have been obtained. The technical status of the instrumentation and the performance of the X-ray optics will be reviewed and an overview of some of the exciting results will be presented.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Chandra Observations of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 4U 0142+61

We present X-ray imaging, timing, and phase resolved spectroscopy of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61 using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The spectrum is well described by a power law plus blackbody model with Gamma = 3.35(2), kT=0.458(3) keV, and N-H = 0.91(2) x 10(exp 22)/sq cm); we find no significant evidence for spectral features (0.5 - 7.0 keV). Time resolved X-ray spectroscopy shows evidence for evolution in phase in either Gamma, or kT or some combination thereof as a function of pulse phase. We derive a precise X-ray position for the source and determine its spin period, P=8.68866(30) s. We have detected emission beyond 4 arcsec from the central source and extending beyond 100 arcsec, likely due to dust scattering in the interstellar medium.

Patel, Sandeep K.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Chandra Observations of Supernova Remnants and Neutron Stars: An Overview

We present a brief overview of Chandra observations of supernova remnants and neutron stars, with emphasis on neutron stars in supernova remnants. The Chandra images demonstrate the importance of angular resolution in separating the neutron star emission from the surrounding nebulosity.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Interstellar X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy of the Crab Pulsar with the LETGS

We study the interstellar X-ray absorption along the line of sight to the Crab Pulsar. The Crab was observed with the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the pulsar, a point source, produces a full resolution spectrum. The continuum spectrum appears smooth, and we compare its parameters with other measurements of the pulsar spectrum. The spectrum clearly shows absorption edges due to interstellar Ne, Fe, and O. The O edge shows spectral structure that is probably due to O bound in molecules or dust. We search for near-edge structure (EXAFS) in the O absorption spectrum. The Fe L absorption spectrum is largely due to a set of unresolved discrete n=2-3 transitions in neutral or near-neutral Fe, and we analyze it using a new set of dedicated atomic structure calculations, which provide absolute cross sections. In addition to being interesting in its own right, the ISM absorption needs to be understood in quantitative detail in order to derive spectroscopic constraints on possible soft thermal radiation from the pulsar.

Paerels, Frits↗
NASA NTRS2001

Chandra X-Ray Observations of the Anomalous X-Ray Pulsar 1E 2259+58.6

We present X-ray imaging, timing, and phase resolved spectroscopy of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E 2259+58.6 using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Time resolved X-ray spectra show no significant variation as a function of pulsar spin phase. The phase averaged spectrum is well described by a powerlaw plus blackbody model; we find no evidence for spectral features. We derive a spin period. We have detected a halo beyond the central source, possibly due to dust scattering in the ISM (interstellar matter).

Patel, Sandeep K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Chandra Observations of the Crab Pulsar as a Function of Pulse Phase

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory was used to observe the Crab Nebula and its pulsar using the LETGS, i.e. the Low-Energy Transmission Grating (LETG) with the High Resolution Camera Spectroscopy detector (HRC-S). Data from the zeroth-order image was utilized to isolate the pulsar from the surrounding nebula and to measure the pulsar emission as a function of pulse phase. HRC timing problems were overcome by developing special techniques to process the data. For the first time, pulsed x-ray emission has been detected at all pulse phases, allowing us to set a new upper limit to the thermal emission from the surface of the neutron star.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Discovery of Spatial and Spectral Structure in the X-Ray Emission from the Crab Nebula

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory observed the Crab Nebula and pulsar during orbital calibration. Zeroth-order images with the High-Energy Transmission Grating (HETG) readout by the Advanced Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) Imaging Spectrometer spectroscopy array (ACIS-S) show a striking richness of X-ray structure at a resolution comparable to that of the best ground-based visible-light observations. The HETG-ACIS-S images reveal, for the first time, an X-ray inner ring within the X-ray torus, the suggestion of a hollow-tube structure for the torus, and X-ray knots along the inner ring and (perhaps) along the inward extension of the X-ray jet. Although complicated by instrumental effects and the brightness of the Crab Nebula, the spectrometric analysis shows systematic variations of the X-ray spectrum throughout the nebula.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory Overview

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory was launched early in the morning of July 23, 1999 by the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Shuttle launch was only the first step in placing NASA's latest great observatory into orbit. After release from the cargo bay, the Inertial Upper Stage performed two firings and separated from the observatory as planned. Finally, after five firings of Chandra's own Integral Propulsion System - the last of which took place 15 days after the initial launch - the observatory was placed in its highly elliptical orbit of 140,000 km apogee and 10,000 km perigee. After Observatory activation, the first x-rays focussed by the telescope were observed on August 12, 1999. Beginning with this initial observation one could conclude that the telescope had survived the launch environment and was operating as expected. The month following the opening of the sunshade door was spent adjusting the focus for each set of instrument configurations, determining the optical axis, calibrating the star camera, establishing the relative response functions, determining the energy scale(s), and performing a series of "publicity" images. Each observation proved to be far more revealing than was expected. Preliminary results will be presented and the status of the instrumentation on the observatory will be discussed.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory: An Overview

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory was launched early in the morning of July 23, 1999, by the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Shuttle launch was only the first step in placing NASA's latest great observatory into orbit. After release from the cargo bay, the Inertial Upper Stage performed two firings and separated from the observatory as planned. Finally, after five firings of Chandra's own Integral Propulsion System - the last of which took place 15 days after the initial launch - the observatory was placed in its highly elliptical orbit of 140,000 km apogee and 10,000 km perigee. After Observatory activation, the first x-rays focussed by the telescope were observed on 1999, August 12. Beginning with this initial observation one could conclude that the telescope had survived the launch environment and was operating as expected. The month following the opening of the sunshade door was spent adjusting the focus for each set of instrument configurations, determining the optical axis, calibrating the star camera, establishing the relative response functions, determining the energy scale(s), and performing a series of "publicity" images. Each observation proved to be far more revealing than was expected. Preliminary results will be presented and the status of the instrumentation on the observatory will be discussed.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory Overview

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory was launched early in the morning of July 23, 1999 by the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Shuttle launch was only the first step in placing NASA's latest great observatory into orbit. After release from the cargo bay, the Inertial Upper Stage performed two firings and separated from the observatory as planned. Finally, after five firings of Chandra's own Integral Propulsion System - the last of which took place 15 days after the initial launch - the observatory was placed in its highly elliptical orbit of 140,000 km apogee and 10,000 km perigee. After Observatory activation, the first x-rays focused by the telescope were observed on August 12, 1999. Beginning with this initial observation one could conclude that the telescope had survived the launch environment and was operating as expected. The month following the opening of the sunshade door was spent adjusting the focus for each set of instrument configurations, determining the optical axis, calibrating the star camera, establishing the relative response functions, determining the energy scale(s), and performing a series of "publicity" images. Each observation proved to be far more revealing than was expected. Preliminary results will be presented and the status of the instrumentation on the observatory will be discussed.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

The Study of Neutrons Stars with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

Dr. Weisskopf will lecture on the use of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory to study neutron stars (and black holes). He will draw on the proposal preparation tool made public by NASA through the Chandra X-Ray Science Center to walk students through the details of the process. Technical examples of studies of several types of neutron star systems (isolated, Be-star, low mass, high-mass) will be used as illustrations and in this way he will tie the physics to the observatory.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗