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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

Gamma-Ray Burst Associated Supernovae: Outliers Become Mainstream

During the last eight years a clear connection has been established-between the two most powerful explosions in our Universe: core-collapse supernovae (SNe) and long gamma ray bursts (GRBs). Theory suggests4 that every GRB is simultaneously accompanied by a SN, but in only a few nearby cases have these two phenomena been observed together. We report the discovery and daily monitoring of SN 2006aj associated with the GRB 060218. Because the event was the second closest GRB, both explosions could be examined in detail. GRB 060218 had an unusually soft spectrum, long duration, and a total energy 100 to 1000 times less than most other GRBs. Yet SN 2006aj was similar to those in other GRBs, aside from rising more rapidly and being approximately 40% fainter. Taken together, these observations suggest that GRBs have two components: a broad, energetic, but only mildly relativistic outflow that makes a SN, and a more narrowly focused, highly relativistic jet responsible for the GRB. The properties of the GRB jet apparently vary greatly from event to event, while the broad SN outflow varies much less. Low energy transients like GRB 060218 may be the most common events in the Universe.

Pian, E.↗
NASA NTRS2012

A Jet Break in the X-ray Light Curve of Short GRB 111020A: Implications for Energetics and Rates

We present broadband observations of the afterglow and environment of the short GRB 111020A. An extensive X-ray light curve from Swift/XRT, XMM-Newton, and Chandra, spanning approx.100 s to 10 days after the burst, reveals a significant break at (delta)t approx. = 2 days with pre- and post-break decline rates of (alpha)X,1 approx. = -0.78 and (alpha)X,2 < or approx. 1.7, respectively. Interpreted as a jet break, we infer a collimated outflow with an opening angle of (theta)j approx. = 3deg - 8deg. The resulting beaming-corrected gamma-ray (10-1000 keV band) and blast-wave kinetic energies are (2-3) x 10(exp 48) erg and (0.3-2) x 10(exp 49) erg, respectively, with the range depending on the unknown redshift of the burst. We report a radio afterglow limit of <39 micro-Jy (3(sigma)) from Expanded Very Large Array observations that, along with our finding that v(sub c) < v(sub X), constrains the circumburst density to n(sub 0) approx.0.01 0.1/cu cm. Optical observations provide an afterglow limit of i > or approx.24.4 mag at 18 hr after the burst and reveal a potential host galaxy with i approx. = 24.3 mag. The subarcsecond localization from Chandra provides a precise offset of 0".80+/-0".11 (1(sigma))from this galaxy corresponding to an offset of 5.7 kpc for z = 0.5-1.5. We find a high excess neutral hydrogen column density of (7.5+/-2.0) x 10(exp 21)/sq cm (z = 0). Our observations demonstrate that a growing fraction of short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are collimated, which may lead to a true event rate of > or approx.100-1000 Gpc(sup -3)/yr, in good agreement with the NS-NS merger rate of approx. = 200-3000 Gpc(sup -3)/ yr. This consistency is promising for coincident short GRB-gravitational wave searches in the forthcoming era of Advanced LIGO/VIRGO.

Fong, W.↗
NASA NTRS2019

An Evolving Broad Iron Line from the First Galactic Ultraluminous X-Ray Pulsar Swift J0243.6+6124

We present a spectral study of the ultraluminous Be/X-ray transient pulsar Swift J0243.6+6124 using Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) observations during the system's 2017–2018 giant outburst. The 1.2–10 keV energy spectrum of the source can be approximated with an absorbed cutoff power-law model. We detect strong, luminosity-dependent emission lines in the 6–7 keV energy range. A narrow 6.42 keV line, observed in the sub-Eddington regime, is seen to evolve into a broad Fe-line profile in the super-Eddington regime. Other features are found at 6.67 and 6.97 keV in the Fe-line complex. An asymmetric broad-line profile, peaking at 6.67 keV, is possibly due to Doppler effects and gravitational redshift. The 1.2–79 keV broadband spectrum from Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and NICER observations at the outburst peak is well described by an absorbed cutoff power law plus multiple Gaussian lines and a blackbody component. Physical reflection models are also tested to probe the broad iron-line feature. Depending on the mass accretion rate, we found emission sites that are evolving from ~5000 km to a range closer to the surface of the neutron star. Our findings are discussed in the framework of the accretion disk and its implication on the magnetic field, the presence of optically thick accretion curtain in the magnetosphere, jet emission, and the massive, ultrafast outflow expected at super-Eddington accretion rates. We do not detect any signatures of a cyclotron absorption line in the NICER or NuSTAR data.

Gaurava K. Jaisawal↗
NASA NTRS1986

Velocity-resolved observations of water in Comet Halley

High resolution (lambda/delta lambda approx. = 3 x 10 to the 5th power) near-infrared observations of H2O emission from Comet Halley were acquired at the time of maximum post-perihelion geocentric Doppler shift. The observed widths and absolute positions of the H2O line profiles reveal characteristics of the molecular velocity field in the coma. These results support H2O outflow from a Sun-lit hemisphere or the entire nucleus, but not from a single, narrow jet emanating from the nucleus. The measured pre- and post-perihelion outflow velocities were 0.9 + or - 0.2 and 1.4 + or - 0.2 km/s, respectively. Temporal variations in the kinematic properties of the outflow were inferred from changes in the spectral line shapes. These results are consistent with the release of H2O into the coma from multiple jets.

Larson, Harold P.↗
NASA NTRS2001

STIS Observations of the Disk and Outflow of the Herbig Ae Star HD163296

Coronagraphic imaging with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope reveals a approx. 450 AU radius circumstellar disk around the Herbig Ae star HDI63296. The disk includes an annulus of reduced scattering at 325 AU and exhibits a flat trend of surface brightness in to 180-222 AU, consistent with a cleared central zone. The disk is accompanied by a chain of nebulosities ("knots") oriented roughly perpendicular to the disk. Followup spectroscopy in the visible and the far ultraviolet confirms the Herbig-Haro nature of the observed knots. The FUV data in particular reveal the presence of a collimated, bipolar outflow, with a blue-shifted Lyman alpha jet that can be traced to within 0.06 arcseconds (7.3 AU) of HD163296 and a red-shifted Lyman alpha component that may be due to infall or to a poorly collimated wind. If the estimated age of this system is correct, these data indicate that protostellar outflows may last up to 10 times longer than previously believed.

Kimble, Randy↗
DOE OSTI2020

Radiation and Polarization Signatures from Magnetic Reconnection in Relativistic Jets. I. A Systematic Study

Blazars are relativistic magnetized plasma outflows from supermassive black holes that point very close to our line of sight. Their emission is nonthermal-dominated and highly variable across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Relativistic magnetic reconnection has been proposed as the driver of particle acceleration during blazar flares. While recent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations have self-consistently studied the evolution of magnetic reconnection and particle acceleration therein, the resulting radiation signatures have not been systematically explored. In particular, the polarization signatures, which directly reflect the characteristic strongly dynamical evolution of magnetic field during reconnection, have not been carefully investigated. In this paper, we present a systematic study of radiation and polarization signatures arising from magnetic reconnection in blazars, based on combined PIC and polarized radiation transfer simulations with various physical parameters. We identify a harder-when-brighter trend in the spectral evolution. Moreover, higher-frequency bands (ultraviolet to X-ray) tend to flare earlier than lower-frequency bands (infrared to optical) in the synchrotron spectral component. Most importantly, polarization signatures appear more variable with higher frequencies. We find that the variation in temporal polarization depends strongly on the guide field strength. Specifically, reconnection with a significant guide field component leads to a very high polarization degree that contradicts typical blazar observations, while large polarization angle rotations are unique signatures of magnetic reconnection between nearly antiparallel magnetic field lines. These rotations are at least 90° and can extend to >180°, and they may be in either direction. Furthermore, these results imply that blazars that have shown large polarization angle rotations intrinsically have more nearly antiparallel magnetic field morphology.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2006

Relativistic MHD Simulations of Precessed Jets

Relativistic jets are considered to be generated by magnetic fields in a rotating black hole with accretion disk. Consequently, resulting outflows contain magnetic fields in them and control the propagation of jets. We have performed 3D relativistic MHD simulations to investigate the stability and structure of precessed MHD jets with large Lorentz factor by using a newly developed 3D GRMHD code. We have performed simulations of supermagnetosonic jets surrounded by a fast wind. The simulation results reveal complex pressure structure inside the RMHD jet. The structure is produced by a combination of the helical surface and body modes excited by the precession as predicted theoretically. The wavelength of the body mode which occurs in an internal helical twist is much shorter than that of the helical twist surface mode. We will present some comparisons between the RMHD simulations and theoretical predictions, and potential observables and discuss the effect of wind.

Mizuno, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Shocked molecular gas around the extremely young source IRAS 03282+3035

We present observations of the shock tracers H2 and SiO around the young stellar object IRAS 03282+3035. This unusual low-luminosity (L approximately = 2 solar luminosity) source drives a strong highly collimated CO outflow, and it is one of the youngest stellar objects known so far. The near-infrared H2 emission, tracing 2000 K gas, comes from extremely high velocity CO bullets along the axis of the blueshifted lobe of the outflow. The millimeter SiO emission, tracing roughly 100 K gas, arises from lower velocity material at the end of the outflow lobe. The lack of high-temperature and high-velocity gas at the end of the outflow lobe indicates there is no not bow shock at the outflow termination. In the context of current jet models this appears to rule out a bow shock driven by a steady state jet. Possible explanations for the structure include a time-dependent jet or a jet dominated by turbulent entrainment.

Bachiller, R.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Studying Absorption Line Feature in the Relativistic Jet Source GRS 1915+105

The galactic superluminal source GRS 1915+105 is among the most interesting objects in our Galaxy. It is subject to erratic accretion instabilities with energization of relativistic jets producing X-ray, optical and radio emission. This source was observed by ASCA on Sept. 27, 1994, April 20, 1995, October 23, 1996 and April 25, 1997 as part of a long timescale investigation. We detected strong variability of the source, and in particular the existence of burst/dip structure in October 1996 and April 1997. Clear evidence of transient absorption features at 6.7, 7.0 and 8.0 keV was obtained for the first time in September 1994 and April 1995. Given the phenomenology of plasmoid energization and ejection, these transient spectral features might be produced by material entrained in the radio jets or in other high-velocity outflows. Our contribution to the interpretation is to incorporate these observations into a overall theoretical picture for GRS 1915+105 also taking into account other observations by XTE and BSAX. The emerging picture is complex. The central source is subject to (most likely) super-Eddington instabilities mediated by magnetic field build-up, reconnection and dissipation in the form of blobs that eventually leads to the formation of transient spectral features from the surrounding of the plasmoid emitting region. A comprehensive theoretical investigation is in progress.

Tavani, Marco↗
NASA NTRS2003

[Activities of Texas University]

All the principal investigator's current projects investigate aspects of radio-loud, radio-quiet, BAL QSOs, and buried (IRAS-selected) QSOs and the relationships among these different classes, with the aim of probing the nature of accretion onto the massive central black hole - via relativistic jets, X-ray and optical absorption outflows, and the kinematics of the surrounding gas whose emission lines are excited by the accretion continuum.

Oliversen, R.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Limited impact of jet-induced feedback in the multi-phase nuclear interstellar medium of 4C12.50

4C12.50 (IRAS 13451+1232) at z = 0.122 is an ultraluminous infared radio galaxy that has often been proposed as a prime candidate for the link between ultraluminous infared galaxies and young radio galaxies. It is also an interesting target to investigate whether and how radio-induced feedback affects the evolution of galaxies in the early phases of radio activity. We study, in detail for the first time, the hot (≥1500 K) molecular gas in 4C12.50. The potential impact of the radio jet on this gas phase, as well as on the star formation activity, are investigated. We also study the ionised (including coronal) gas as traced by the near-infrared lines. Using near-infrared long slit spectroscopy obtained with EMIR on GTC and X-shooter on VLT, we analyse the emission line spectrum of the ionised, coronal, and, specially, the hot molecular gas in the western nucleus hosting the compact radio jet. Based on high spatial resolution ALMA CO(2–1) data, we also revise the location of 4C12.50 in the Kennicutt-Schmidt diagram in order to investigate whether star formation is suppressed. 4C12.50 hosts (2.1 ± 0.4) × 10 4 M ⊙ of hot molecular gas. An unusually high rotational temperature T rot = 3020 ± 160 K is inferred. The molecular gas mass obeys a power-law temperature distribution, dM H2 /dT ∝ T –5 , from T ~300 K and up to ~3000 K. Both results support the idea that shocks (probably induced by the radio jet) contribute to the heating and excitation of the hot molecular gas. A molecular outflow is not detected. The coupling of the outflowing ionised and neutral outflows with the hot molecular gas is poor. Contrary to other studies, we claim that there is no evidence for star formation suppression in this object. If radio-induced feedback can regulate the star formation activity in galaxies, 4C12.50 is a promising candidate to reveal this phenomenon in action. However, we find no solid evidence for a current or past impact of this mechanism on the evolution of this system, neither by clearing out the dusty central cocoon efficiently, nor by suppressing the star formation activity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2023

MAXI J1848-015: The first detection of relativistically moving outflows from a globular cluster X-ray binary

Over the past decade, observations of relativistic outflows from outbursting X-ray binaries in the Galactic field have grown significantly. In this work, we present the first detection of moving and decelerating radio-emitting outflows from an X-ray binary in a globular cluster. MAXI J1848−015 is a recently discovered transient X-ray binary in the direction of the globular cluster GLIMPSE-C01. Using observations from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, and a monitoring campaign with the MeerKAT observatory for 500 days, we model the motion of the outflows. This represents some of the most intensive, long-term coverage of relativistically moving X-ray binary outflows to date. We use the proper motions of the outflows from MAXI J1848−015 to constrain the component of the intrinsic jet speed along the line of sight, βint COS θejection, to be =0.19 ± 0.02. Assuming it is located in GLIMPSE-C01, at 3.4 kpc, we determine the intrinsic jet speed, βint = 0.79 ± 0.07, and the inclination angle to the line of sight, θejection = 76° ± 2°. This makes the outflows from MAXI J1848−015 somewhat slower than those seen from many other known X-ray binaries. We also constrain the maximum distance to MAXI J1848−015 to be 4.3 kpc. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings for the nature of the compact object in this system, finding that a black hole primary is a viable (but as-of-yet unconfirmed) explanation for the observed properties of MAXI J1848−015. If future data and/or analysis provide more conclusive evidence that MAXI J1848−015 indeed hosts a black hole, it would be the first black hole X-ray binary in outburst identified in a Galactic globular cluster.

A. Bahramian↗
DOE OSTI2022

BASS XXXII: Studying the Nuclear Millimeter-wave Continuum Emission of AGNs with ALMA at Scales ≲100–200 pc

To understand the origin of nuclear (≲100 pc) millimeter-wave (mm-wave) continuum emission in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), we systematically analyzed subarcsecond resolution Band-6 (211–275 GHz) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array data of 98 nearby AGNs (z < 0.05) from the 70 month Swift/BAT catalog. The sample, almost unbiased for obscured systems, provides the largest number of AGNs to date with high mm-wave spatial resolution sampling (~1–200 pc), and spans broad ranges of 14–150 keV luminosity {$40\lt \mathrm{log}[{L}_{14-150}/(\mathrm{erg}\,{{\rm{s}}}^{-1})]\lt 45$}, black hole mass $[5\lt \mathrm{log}({M}_{\mathrm{BH}}/{M}_{\odot })\lt 10$], and Eddington ratio ($-4\lt \mathrm{log}{\lambda }_{\mathrm{Edd}}\lt 2$). We find a significant correlation between 1.3 mm (230 GHz) and 14–150 keV luminosities. Its scatter is ≈0.36 dex, and the mm-wave emission may serve as a good proxy of the AGN luminosity, free of dust extinction up to N H ~ 10 26 cm –2 . While the mm-wave emission could be self-absorbed synchrotron radiation around the X-ray corona according to past works, we also discuss different possible origins of the mm-wave emission: AGN-related dust emission, outflow-driven shocks, and a small-scale (<200 pc) jet. The dust emission is unlikely to be dominant, as the mm-wave slope is generally flatter than expected. Also, due to no increase in the mm-wave luminosity with the Eddington ratio, a radiation-driven outflow model is possibly not the common mechanism. Furthermore, we find independence of the mm-wave luminosity on indicators of the inclination angle from the polar axis of the nuclear structure, which is inconsistent with a jet model whose luminosity depends only on the angle.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2001

Tomography of Accretion Flows in Binary Stars and Active Galactic Nuclei

Under this project, a variety of accretion problems have been studied, with two in particular. In the first, astrophysical jets are observed in many objects ranging from young stars to Active Galactic Nuclei. A major unsolved problem is how do these jets originate from accretion disks. In a series of works, I have examined the launching of outflows from magnetized disks, the extraction of energy from black holes, and the formation of jets in systems like Cataclysmic Variables and supermassive accreting black holes. The results of these works were published in a number of papers. In the second, I examined the potential role of vortices in accretion disks around Young Stellar Objects, for the formation of planets and for angular momentum transport. I showed that vortices are surprisingly stable, and that they are able to concentrate dust in their cores. I also examined the development of spiral shocks in disks. Finally, I studied the evolution of magnetically layered protoplanetary disks, and showed that they exhibit outbursts which could 'pump' the jets that are observed in Herbig-Haro objects. The results of these works were published in a number of papers as well. Additional information on the published papers is contained in the original abstract.

Livio, Mario↗
NASA NTRS2011

Locating the Accretion Footprint on a Herbig Ae Star: MWC 480

Accretion is a fundamental process which establishes the dynamics of the protoplanetary disk and the final properties of the forming star. In solar-type stars, the star-disk coupling is determined by the magnetic field structure, which is responsible for funneling material from the disk midplane to higher latitudes on the star. Here, we use pan-chromatic data for the Herbig Ae star MWC 480 to address whether similar processes occur in intermediate-mass stars. MWC 480 has X-ray emission typical of actively accreting Herbig Ae stars, but with 5-9 x more photoelectric absorption than expected from optical and FUV data. We consider 3 sources for the absorption: the disk absorption in a wind or jet, and accretion. While we detect the disk in scattered light in are-analysis of archival HST data. the data are consistent with grazing illumination of the dust disk. We find that MWC 480's disk is stratified, geometrically thin, and is not responsible for the observed photoelectric absorption. MWC 480 drives a bipolar jet, but with a mass loss rate which is low compared to other Herbig Ae stars, where the outflow is more favorably oriented and enhanced photoelectric absorption is not seen. This excludes a jet or wind origin for the enhanced photoelectric absorption. We compare MWC 480's 0 VI emission with other Herbig Ae stars. The distribution of the emission in inclination, and lack of a correlation of profile shape and system inclination excludes equatorially-confined accretion for the FUSE Herbig Ae stars. The photoelectric absorption data further suggest that the accretion footprint on MWC 480 and other Herbig Ae stars is located at high temperate, rather than polar, latitudes. These findings support the presence of funneled accretion in MWC 480 and Herbig Ae stars, strengthening the parallel to T Tauri stars.

Grady, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Optimizing the Resolution of Hydrodynamic Simulations for MCRaT Radiative Transfer Calculations

Despite their discovery about half a century ago, the Gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission mechanism is still not well understood. Theoretical modeling of the prompt emission has advanced considerably due to new computational tools and techniques. One such tool is the PLUTO hydro dynamics code, which is used to numerically simulate GRB outflows. PLUTO uses Adaptive Mesh Refinement to focus computational efforts on the portion of the grid that contains the simulated jet. Another tool is the Monte Carlo Radiation Transfer (MCRaT) code, which predicts electromagnetic signatures of GRBs by conducting photon scatterings within a jet using PLUTO. The effects of the underlying resolution of a PLUTO simulation with respect to MCRaT post-processing radiative transfer results have not yet been quantified. We analyze an analytic spherical outflow and a hydrodynamically simulated GRB jet with MCRaT at varying spatial and temporal resolutions and quantify how decreasing both resolutions affect the resulting mock observations. We find that changing the spatial resolution changes the hydrodynamic properties of the jet, which directly affect the MCRaT mock observable peak energies. We also find that decreasing the temporal resolution artificially decreases the high energy slope of the mock observed spectrum, which increases both the spectral peak energy and the luminosity. We show that the effects are additive when both spatial and temporal resolutions are modified. Our results allow us to understand how decreased hydrodynamic temporal and spatial resolutions affect the results of post-processing radiative transfer calculations, allowing for the optimization of hydrodynamic simulations for radiative transfer codes.

Jose Arita-Escalante↗
NASA NTRS2007

SWIFT Discovery of Gamma-ray Bursts without Jet Break Feature in their X-ray Afterglows

We analyze Swift gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and X-ray afterglows for three GRBs with spectroscopic redshift determinations - GRB 050401, XRF 050416a, and GRB 050525a. We find that the relation between spectral peak energy and isotropic energy of prompt emissions (the Amati relation) is consistent with that for the bursts observed in pre-Swift era. However, we find that the X-ray afterglow lightcurves, which extend up to 10 - 70 days, show no sign of the jet break that is expected in the standard framework of collimated outflows. We do so by showing that none of the X-ray afterglow lightcurves in our sample satisfies the relation between the spectral and temporal indices that is predicted for the phase after jet break. The jet break time can be predicted by inverting the tight empirical relation between the peak energy of the spectrum and the collimation-corrected energy of the prompt emission (the Ghirlanda relation). We find that there are no temporal breaks within the predicted time intervals in X-ray band. This requires either that the Ghirlanda relation has a larger scatter than previously thought, that the temporal break in X-rays is masked by some additional source of X-ray emission, or that it does not happen because of some unknown reason.

Sato, G.↗
NASA NTRS2007

A Study of the Mass Loss Rates of Symbiotic Star Systems

The amount of mass loss in symbiotic systems is investigated, specifically mass loss via the formation of jets in R Aquarii (R Aqr). The jets in R Aqr have been observed in the X-ray by Chandra over a four year time period. The jet changes on times scales of a year and new outflows have been observed. Understanding the amount of mass and the frequency of ejection further constrain the ability of the white dwarf in the system to accrete enough mass to become a Type la supernova progenitor. The details of multi-wavelength studies, such as speed, density and spatial extent of the jets will be discussed in order to understand the mass balance in the binary system. We examine other symbiotic systems to determine trends in mass loss in this class of objects.

Korreck, K. E.↗