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At least 505 records · Page 28

Einstein observations of the Vela supernova remnant - The spatial structure of the hot emitting gas

Spatially resolved (aproximately 1 arcmin) X-ray maps of the Vela supernova remnant have been constructed in two spectral bands, 0.2-1.0 keV and 0.8-2.0 keV, from a series of 36 separate observations with the Imaging Proportional Counter of the Einstein Observatory. The maps exhibit substantial structure on all angular scales. Spectral analysis shows that the emission from the remnant can be consistently described as thermal radiation from hot gas which is nonuniform in density and temperature, but which is in approximate pressure equilibrium. It is found that p/k is approximately 3-4 x 10 to the 5th/cu cm K. The soft X-ray emission exhibits a high degree of correlation with the optical filamentary structure, in the sense that the most prominent filaments either tightly surround or are coincident with the brightest X-ray regions. This suggests that the softest X-radiation may originate in 'warm' gas which is evaporated from the denser clouds responsible for the optical and ultraviolet filaments. Such an interpretation is quantitatively investigated, and shown to be only marginally consistent with the observations.

Kahn, S. M.↗

On the mass of the Cepheid X Cygni

Using a new non-Lagrangian hydrodynamic radiation transport code, models of the Cepheid X Cygni have been calculated and compared with new observations. Adopting an effective temperature of 5300 K, the luminosity was varied for stellar masses of 6, 8, and 9 solar masses in order to obtain a period of 16.4d. The results indicate that in order to find reasonable agreement between the light curves as calculated and observed, the mass used in the models must be nearly the evolutionary mass, not some 60% less as found in earlier work for Cepheids with periods from 7d to 10d. In addition, the new observations support the physical reality of the so-called 'artificial viscosity dip'.

Davis, C. G.↗

The nature of Cygnus X-3 - A prototype for old population binary X-ray sources

Description of a model for Cyg X-3 based on a short-lived phase in the evolution of a U Geminorum-type binary where rapid mass transfer and mass loss occurs. X rays are generated by accretion on the white dwarf component, while both stars are enveloped in a thick stellar wind emanating from the red dwarf. Electron scattering in the cloud is responsible for the modulation of the X rays with the orbital period of 4.8 hours. Ultraviolet radiation and low-energy X rays absorbed in the cloud are reradiated in the optical and infrared, which, it is predicted, will display a 4.8-hr modulation in phase with the X-ray light curve. The X-ray absorption cutoff should also vary with phase, appearing at minimum energy when the source is at maximum light. The model also provides a framework in which certain aspects of the associated nonthermal radio source may be understood. Finally, it is suggested that the model may be applicable to Sco X-1 as well.

Davidsen, A.↗

OSO 8 X-ray spectra of clusters of galaxies. I - Observations of twenty clusters: Physical correlations

OSO 8 X-ray spectra from 2 to 20 keV have been analyzed for 26 clusters of galaxies. For 20 clusters temperatures, emission integrals, iron abundances, and low-energy absorption measurements are presented. The data give, in general, better fits to thermal bremsstrahlung than to power-law models. Eight clusters have positive iron emission-line detections at the 90% confidence level, and all 20 cluster spectra are consistent with Fe/H = 0.000014 by number with the possible exception of Virgo. Thus it is confirmed that X-ray emission in this energy band is predominantly thermal radiation from hot intracluster gas rather than inverse Compton radiation. Physical correlations between X-ray spectral parameters and other cluster properties are examined. It is found that (1) the X-ray temperature is approximately proportional to the square of the velocity dispersion of the galaxies; (2) the emission integral is a strong function of the X-ray temperature; (3) the X-ray temperature and emission integral are better correlated with cluster central-galaxy density than with richness; and (4) the fraction of galaxies which are spirals is correlated with the observed ram pressure in the cluster core.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗

Impulsive phase Fe K-alpha emission in a flare of 1989 March

Evidence for enhanced Fe K-alpha line emission that is coincident (to within 15 s) of an intense hard X-ray (greater than 50 keV) burst is presented on the basis of observations of the Fe K-alpha soft X-ray line made with the SMM. Three different models for explaining the K-alpha enhancement are investigated, namely, photoexcitation by soft X-ray thermal bremsstrahlung radiation from an isothermal source, collisional excitation by nonthermal thick-target electrons, and photoexcitation by a nonthermal hard X-ray flux distribution which extends with a power-law spectrum down to the Fe K-alpha ionization threshold at 7.1 keV. It is found that, to within the limits of isothermal temperature and emission measure set by soft X-ray observations, the thermal photoexcitation model cannot reproduce satisfactorily the intensity of enhanced K-alpha emission during the hard X-ray impulsive phase. The impulsive phase K-alpha flux exceeds that predicted by the thermal photoexcitation model by about 3 sigma. The implications of these results for the nonthermal interpretation of impulsive hard X-ray bursts in solar flares are discussed.

Zarro, D. M.↗

The EUV continuum emission /1400-1960 A/ in a solar flare observed from Skylab

The total radiative output in the EUV continuum (1400-1960 A) from the 5 September 1973 flare has been obtained from the EUV spectra of the flare observed with the NRL slit spectrograph (SO82B) on Skylab. The radiative energy in the EUV continuum is of the order of 10 to the 29th ergs, which is more than a factor of 2 greater than those radiated in soft X-rays (8-20 A) and in H-alpha for the flare. Thus, the EUV continuum emission is an important radiative energy loss, and should be included in the consideration of the energy balance of the flare.

Cheng, C.-C.↗

Escape of fundamental electron-cyclotron maser emission from the sun and stars

It is shown that fundamental x-mode emission from flaring regions can undergo partial mode conversion at the second-harmonic absorption layer, with a fraction emerging in the o mode through a window near theta = 90 deg; fundamental o-mode radiation can emerge through this window directly. The optical depth for mode-converted x-mode radiation is up to 200 times less than the depth tau(x) for unconverted radiation; the o-mode depth is up to c-squared/V-squared (roughly 1000) times smaller than tau(x), where V is the thermal velocity of the plasma. This mechanism is linear and threshold-free, requires little scattering or refraction of the emitted radiation, and permits the strongest instability (fundamental x-mode) to dominate in producing the observed emission.

Robinson, P. A.↗

X-ray images of W28 and 3C400.2 - Two radio-shell supernova remnants with centrally-peaked X-ray emission

X-ray images of the supernova remnants (SNRs) W28 and 3C400.2 were obtained using the Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) on the Einstein Observatory. Despite the shell-like radio morphology of these remnants, their X-ray emission is centrally peaked. Two possible X-ray emission mechanisms are explored: synchrotron emission due to an active central pulsar, and thermal emission from a thin hot plasma filling the interior of the remnant. Comparisons of X-ray and radio properties of W28 and 3C400.2 with known Crab-like remnants suggest that synchrotron emission is not a very plausible X-ray emission mechanism. Optical and radio observations suggest that both SNRs exploded in a dense cloud and have evolved rapidly to the radiative stage. The X-ray morphology observed is similar to that predicted for SNRs in such an environment.

Matsui, Y.↗

Radiative lifetimes and band oscillator strengths for metal oxides. II - SiO E 1 Sigma /+/-X 1 Sigma /+/

Use of an electron-beam phase-shift apparatus to obtain the radiative lifetimes for vibrational levels of the SiO E 1 Sigma (+) state. It is found that the radiative lifetimes for the vibrational transitions of the E-X band are independent of the vibrational upper state. The measured phase shifts yield cascade free lifetimes of 10.5 plus or minus 1.1 nsec for v' from 1 to 7. Spectroscopic data from Elander and Lagerqvist (1971) were used to calculate potential curves by the Klein-Dunham procedure, and Franck-Condon factors and r-centroids for the transition were computed.

Elander, N.↗

New Technologies Advancing Thermophysics

Researchers at NASA Ames in California have built a new facility that uses multiple 50-kW continuous wave lasers to add the capability for simulating radiative heating on thermal protection materials. The new facility, the Laser Enhanced Arc-jet Facility (LEAF-Lite), was added to NASA Ames’s Interaction Heating Facility arc-jet and now allows for test articles to be heated by both convective and radiative heat flux, making the facility more like flight. Using this new system, researchers can now simulate radiant heating with the laser and convective heating with the arc-jet simultaneously on a single test article. During its initial test in October 2017, the lasers radiatively heated a 6” x 6” Avcoat wedge sample to 405 W/sq.cm while the arc-jet simultaneously provided 160 W/sq.cm of convective heat, resulting in a total heat flux of 565 W/sq.cm. Radiative heating is more prevalent in missions with higher atmospheric entry speeds like the Orion space capsule or interplanetary scientific probes. Later this year, scientists will expand the spot size to cover 17” x 17” to test an Orion TPS panel.

Brandis, Aaron↗

Einstein observations of supernova remnants

Recent observations of SNRs have produced X-ray images with resolution comparable to that routinely achieved at optical wavelengths. There has also been a great improvement in the quality of X-ray spectra. Since most of the energy radiated by SNRs appears as X-rays, these new data are crucial to studies of SNRs, the interaction of SNRs with the interstellar medium, and the SN explosion itself. Images show a variety of shapes ranging from shell-like remnants to those dominated by the influence of central objects which appear both as point sources and as centers of diffuse activity. Once the temperature and spatial distribution of X-ray emitting material is known, the mass of ejected material and the energy release of the SN explosion can sometimes be calculated. X-ray images and spectra of several remnants are shown, and some quantitative results are given.

Seward, F. D.↗