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NASA NTRS2003

XMM-Newton and Chandra Observations of the Galaxy Group NGC 5044: Evidence for Limited Multiphase Hot Gas - 1

Using new XMM and Chandra observations, we present an analysis of the temperature structure of the hot gas within a radius of 100 kpc of the bright nearby galaxy group NGC 5044. A spectral deprojection analysis of data extracted from circular annuli reveals that a two-temperature model (2T) of the hot gas is favored over single-phase or cooling flow (M = 4.5 +/- 0.2 solar mass/yr) models within the central approx.30 kpc. Alternatively, the data can be fitted equally well if the temperature within each spherical shell varies continuously from approx.T(sub h) to T(sub c) approx. T(sub h)/2, but no lower. The high spatial resolution of the Chandra data allows us to determine that the temperature excursion T(sub h) approaches T(sub c) required in each shell exceeds the temperature range between the boundaries of the same shell in the best-fitting single-phase model. This is strong evidence for a multiphase gas having a limited temperature range. We do not find any evidence that azimuthal temperature variations within each annulus on the sky can account for the range in temperatures within each shell. We provide a detailed investigation of the systematic errors on the derived spectral models considering the effects of calibration, plasma codes, bandwidth, variable NH, and background rate. We find that the RGS gratings and the EPIC and ACIS CCDs give fully consistent results when the same models are fitted over the same energy ranges for each instrument. The cooler component of the 2T model has a temperature (T(sub c) approx. 0.7 keV) similar to the kinetic temperature of the stars. The hot phase has a temperature (T(sub h) approx. 1.4 keV) characteristic of the virial temperature of the solar mass halo expected in the NGC 5044 group. However, in view of the morphological disturbances and X-ray holes visible in the Chandra image within R approx. equals 10 kpc, bubbles of gas heated to approx.T(sub h) in this region may be formed by intermittent AGN feedback. Some additional heating at larger radii may be associated with the evolution of the cold front near R approx. 50 kpc, as suggested by the sharp edge in the EPIC images. Subject headings: cooling flows - galaxies: formation - galaxies: halos - intergalactic medium - X-rays: galaxies: clusters

Buote, David A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Distortion of the microwave blackbody background radiation implied by the baryon-symmetric cosmology of omnes and the galaxy formation theory of Stecker and Puget

Theories on the distortion of microwave black body spectrum are presented. Data suggest that continuous annihilation of matter-antimatter, during all stages of universe evolution cause distortion by thermal energy distribution at red shifts less than 10,000. Data also show distortions in the Rayleigh-Jeans spectrum are caused by energy depositions at red shifts between 10,000 and 1,000 while those in the Wien spectrum are due to energy deposition at lower red shifts after the cosmic gas cools to its atomic state and thermalization does not take place properly.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Evolution of inclined galactic gas disks. I - A cloud-fluid approach

In this paper, numerical models are developed to follow the time-dependent behavior of inclined gas disks in nonspherical galaxies. Differential equations are developed which describe the time rate of change of the orbits of mass elements composing a thin, smoothly warping and twisting gas disk. These equations include multiple moments due to the nonsphericity of the galactic mass distribution, Coriolis effects arising from determination of orbits in a reference frame which tumbles with the surface figure of the galaxy, and viscous forces arising from cloud-cloud collisions. A cloud-fluid approach is used in determining the viscous forces. Physical arguments are used to determine the maximum permissible local value of the coefficient of kinematic viscosity. For small initial inclinations, analytic expressions are obtained for the inclination as a function of time and for the settling time, and the features of the solution are discussed.

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Intercluster Medium in Clusters

With its large collecting area and adequate angular resolution XMM will enable large samples of well determined masses and baryon fractions for groups and clusters of galaxies. This will allow an estimate of the mass density of collapsed objects at the present epoch. Rich clusters can be detected and spatially resolved at r greater than 2 if they exist. There are numerous observing proposals to determine the cluster evolution with redshift which will have strong cosmological implications. The Fe abundance of rich clusters out to z-1 can be determined and thus strongly constrain the star formation history of the universe. Astro-E high spectral resolution will allow detailed determination of the elemental composition of galaxies groups and clusters and determine the origin of these elements. Astro-E data will also allow measurement of the velocity field in clusters for comparison with detailed numerical simulations.

Mushotzky, Richard↗
NASA NTRS2016

The XXL Survey I. Scientific Motivations - Xmm-Newton Observing Plan - Follow-up Observations and Simulation Programme

The quest for the cosmological parameters that describe our universe continues to motivate the scientific community to undertake very large survey initiatives across the electromagnetic spectrum. Over the past two decades, the Chandra and XMM-Newton observatories have supported numerous studies of X-ray-selected clusters of galaxies, active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and the X-ray background. The present paper is the first in a series reporting results of the XXL-XMM survey; it comes at a time when the Planck mission results are being finalized. Aims. We present the XXL Survey, the largest XMM programme totaling some 6.9 Ms to date and involving an international consortium of roughly 100 members. The XXL Survey covers two extragalactic areas of 25 deg2 each at a point-source sensitivity of approx. 5 x 10(exp 15) erg/s/sq cm in the [0.5-2] keV band (completeness limit). The surveys main goals are to provide constraints on the dark energy equation of state from the space-time-distribution of clusters of galaxies and to serve as a pathfinder for future, wide-area X-ray missions. We review science objectives, including cluster studies, AGN evolution, and large-scale structure, that are being conducted with the support of approximately 30 follow-up programs. Methods. We describe the 542 XMM observations along with the associated multi- and numerical simulation programmes. We give a detailed account of the X-ray processing steps and describe innovative tools being developed for the cosmological analysis. Results. The paper provides a thorough evaluation of the X-ray data, including quality controls, photon statistics, exposure and background maps, and sky coverage. Source catalogue construction and multi-associations are briefly described. This material will be the basis for the calculation of the cluster and AGN selection functions, critical elements of the cosmological and science analyses. Conclusions. The XXL multi- data set will have a unique lasting legacy value for cosmological and extragalactic studies and will serve asa calibration resource for future dark energy studies with clusters and other X-ray selected sources. With the present article, we release the XMM XXL photon and smoothed images along with the corresponding exposure maps.

X-rays: general – large-scale structure of Unive↗
NASA NTRS1984

Geological rhythms and cometary impacts

Time-series analysis reveals two dominant, stable long-term periodicities approximately equal to 33 + or - 3 and 260 + or - 25 million years in the known series of geological and biological upheavals during the Phanerozoic Eon. Because the cycles of these episodes agree in period and phase with the cycles of impact cratering on earth, these results suggest that periodic comet impacts strongly influence global tectonism and biological evolution. These two periodicities could arise from interactions of the solar system with interstellar clouds as the solar system moves cyclically through the Galaxy.

Rampino, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Beryllium and Boron abundances in population II stars

The scientific focus of this program was to undertake UV spectroscopic abundance analyses of extremely metal poor stars with attention to determining abundances of light elements such as beryllium and boron. The abundances are likely to reflect primordial abundances within the early galaxy and help to constrain models for early galactic nucleosynthesis. The general metal abundances of these stars are also important for understanding stellar evolution.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1994

The luminosity function for different morphological types in the CfA Redshift Survey

We derive the luminosity function for different morphological types in the original CfA Redshift Survey (CfA1) and in the first two slices of the CfA Redshift Survey Extension (CfA2). CfA1 is a complete sample containing 2397 galaxies distributed over 2.7 steradians with m(sub z) less than or equal 14.5. The first two complete slices of CfA2 contain 1862 galaxies distributed over 0.42 steradians with m(sub z)=15.5. The shapes of the E-S0 and spiral luminosity functions (LF) are indistinguishable. We do not confirm the steeply decreasing faint end in the E-S0 luminosity function found by Loveday et al. for an independent sample in the southern hemisphere. We demonstrate that incomplete classification in deep redshift surveys can lead to underestimates of the faint end of the elliptical luminosity function and could be partially responsible for the difference between the CfA survey and other local field surveys. The faint end of the LF for the Magellanic spirals and irregulars is very steep. The Sm-Im luminosity function is well fit by a Schechter function with M*=-18.79, alpha=-1.87, and phi*=0.6x10(exp -3) for M(sub z) less than or equal to -13. These galaxies are largely responsible for the excess at the faint end of the general CfA luminosity function. The abundance of intrinsically faint, blue galaxies nearby affects the interpretation of deep number counts. The dwarf population increases the expected counts at B=25 in a no-evolution, q(sub 0)=0.05 model by a factor of two over standard no-evolution estimates. These dwarfs change the expected median redshift in deep redshift surveys by less than 10 percent . Thus the steep Sm-Im LF may contribute to the reconciliation of deep number counts with deep redshift surveys.

Marzke, Ronald O.↗
NASA NTRS2002

A Giant Warm Baryonic Halo for the Coma Cluster

Several deep PSPC observations of the Coma cluster unveil a very large-scale halo of soft X-ray emission, substantially in excess of the well know radiation from the hot intra-cluster medium. The excess emission, previously reported in the central cluster regions through lower-sensitivity EUVE and ROSAT data, is now evident out to a radius of 2.5 Mpc, demonstrating that the soft excess radiation from clusters is a phenomenon of cosmological significance. The spectrum at these large radii cannot be modeled non-thermally, but is consistent with the original scenario of thermal emission at warm temperatures. The mass of this plasma is at least on par with that of the hot X-ray emitting plasma, and significantly more massive if the plasma resides in low-density filamentary structures. Thus the data lend vital support to current theories of cosmic evolution, which predict greater than 50 percent by mass of today's baryons reside in warm-hot filaments converging at clusters of galaxies.

Bonamente, Max↗
NASA NTRS2003

Physics of Galaxy Clusters and How it Affects Cosmological Tests

We have worked on the analysis of the Chandra observations of the distant clusters of galaxies, and on exploring new ways to obtain cosmological constraints from the cluster data. Some of the scientific results are discussed below: (1) Evolution of the cluster scaling relations at z is approximately 0.5; (2) Using gas mass as a proxy for the total cluster mass.

Vikhlinin, Alexey↗
NASA NTRS2006

Gravitational Rocket from the Merging Massive Black Hole Binaries

Coalescing massive black hole binaries are expected to be among the most fascinating gravitational wave sources, observable by the NASA/ESA LISA detector. Not only will the merger events reveal the rich phenomenology of extremely strong and dynamical gravity deep inside the potential wells at the centers of galaxies (thus providing an excellent testing ground for general relativity), it will also make important contributions to the astrophysics of massive black hole evolutions. Typical black hole mergers involve asymmetric radiation of gravitational waves and lose linear momentum as well as energy and angular momentum. As a result, the merger remnant receives a kick from the GW emission: a gravitational rocket effect. High kick velocities (higher than the escape velocities of the host structure) would have a strong impact on our understanding of how massive black holes have evolved over time and, in particular, on the estimates of the merger rate for LISA. The main difficulties in calculations of the kick velocities has been in the last moments of the merger where the full theory of general relativity must be employed to accurately model the black hole dynamics. I describe a recent calculation of the kick velocities from numerical relativity simulations of the merging black hole binaries.

Choi, Dale↗
NASA NTRS2012

Servicing Mission 4 and the Extraordinary Science of the Hubble Space Telescope

Just two years ago, NASA astronauts performed a challenging and flawless final Space Shuttle servicing mission to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. With science instruments repaired on board and two new ones installed, the observatory. is more powerful now than ever before. I will show the dramatic highlights of the servicing mission and present some of the early scientific results from the refurbished telescope. Its high sensitivity and multi-wavelength capabilities are revealing the highest redshift galaxies ever seen, as well as details of the cosmic web of intergalactic medium, large scale structure formation, solar system bodies, and stellar evolution. Enlightening studies of dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanet atmospheres add to the profound contributions to astrophysics that are being made with Hubble, setting a critical stage for future observatories such as the James Webb Space Telescope.

Wiseman, Jennifer J.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Hubble Tarantula Treasury Project: Unraveling Tarantula's Web. I. Observational Overview and First Results

The Hubble Tarantula Treasury Project (HTTP) is an ongoing panchromatic imaging survey of stellar populations in the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud that reaches into the sub-solar mass regime (<0.5 Stellar Mass). HTTP utilizes the capability of the Hubble Space Telescope to operate the Advanced Camera for Surveys and the Wide Field Camera 3 in parallel to study this remarkable region in the near-ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared spectral regions, including narrow-band H(alpha) images. The combination of all these bands provides a unique multi-band view. The resulting maps of the stellar content of the Tarantula Nebula within its main body provide the basis for investigations of star formation in an environment resembling the extreme conditions found in starburst galaxies and in the early universe. Access to detailed properties of individual stars allows us to begin to reconstruct the temporal and spatial evolution of the stellar skeleton of the Tarantula Nebula over space and time on a sub-parsec scale. In this first paper we describe the observing strategy, the photometric techniques, and the upcoming data products from this survey and present preliminary results obtained from the analysis of the initial set of near-infrared observations.

Tarantula↗
NASA NTRS1995

Ultraviolet radiation from evolved stellar populations. 2: The ultraviolet upturn phenomenon in elliptical galaxies

We discuss the far-ultraviolet upturn phenomenon (UVX) observed in elliptical galaxies and spiral galaxy bulges. Our premise is the UV radiation from these systems emanates primarily from extreme horizontal branch (EHB) stars and their progeny. We derive the broad-band UV colors 1500-V and 2500-V for globular clusters and elliptical galaxies from the available satellite data and investigate color-color and color-line strength correlation. Clusters can be bluer than any galaxy in 15-V and 25-V, implying larger hot star populations, but galaxies are significantly bluer than clusters in 15-25 at a given 15-V. We attribute this primarily to the effect of metal abundance on the mid-UV (2500 A) light. These redder colors of the galaxies also imply that the UVX in galaxies is not produced by metal-poor subpopulations similar to the clusters. We devlop a simple spectral synthesis formulation for all phases of single star evolution from the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) to the white dwarf cooling track that requires only one or two parameters for each choice of age and abundance. We provide the ingredients necessary for constructing models with arbitrary horizontal branch (HB) morphologies in the age range 2 less than t less than 20 Gyr and for six metallicities in the range -2.26 less than (Fe/H) less than 0.58; we also consider the efect of enhanced Y in metal-rich models. The maximum lifetime UV output is produced by EHB stars with (M(sub env))(sup 0) approximately 0.02 solar mass and can be up to 30 times higher than for post-asymptotic giant branch (P-AGB) stars. The ultraviolet output of old populations is governed primarily by the distribution of (M(sub env))(sup 0)P(M(sub env))(sup 0), on the ZAHB. The UV output is not very sensitive to (Fe/H) or to Y, but it can change very rapidly with (M(sub env))(sup 0). Thus it is extremely sensitive to the precise nature of giant-branch mass loss. Our models use simple descriptions of P(M(sub env))(sup 0) to bracket the colors produced from any real distribution of stars. Our models accurately predict the range of UV colors observed for the globular clusters, given known constraints on their age, abundances, and HB morphologies. We find that models with (Fe/H) greater than or = 0 that do not contain EHB stars cannot reproduce the colors of most of the galaxies. The models also predict that the fraction of the far-UV light from P-AGB stars, which are spatially resolvable in nearby galaxies, is approximately 70% and approximately 20% for moderate UVX and strong UVX systems, respectively. We find that 25-V, but not 15-V, is sensitive to the age and abundance, though these cannot always be cleanly distinguished. The galaxy colors place limits of (Fe/H) greater than -0.5 and less than 15% on the contribution of globular cluster-type populations to the V light. Galaxy colors are consistent with solar-abundance models with ages in the range 6-14 Gyr. We discuss several implications of the observations and the models, including the question of light metal versus iron peak enhancements in galaxies, whether the UV color-Mg(sub 2) correlation is continuous or discrete, effects of helium abundnace on the UVX, and the key question of whether red giant branch mass loss can be large enough to produce the necessary EHB population in the strong UVX galaxies.

Dorman, Ben↗
NASA NTRS2006

The Evolution of Dust in Extreme Astrophysical Environments

The recent discovery of QSOs located at redshift z greater than 6, with high infrared luminosities (typically 1.E13 solar luminosities), challenges our understanding of dust evolution. Indeed, these high infrared luminosities imply more than 1.E8 solar masses of dust and nearly solar gas-to-dust mass ratios. An interesting question is how do we make so much dust within approx. 400 Myr, which is roughly the age of the galaxy assuming it formed at z-10. During this epoch, AGB stars could not have enriched the ISM, so that all the dust must have formed by supernovae (SN). However, SN blast waves also play an important role in destroying the dust in the ISM. Understanding the formation and evolution of the dust in such objects requires therefore the construction of a detailed model for the chemical evolution of the gas and dust phases of the ISM. We focus on the well-studied quasar SDSS J1148+5251, at z=6.42. Using the IR luminosities as tracers of of the star formation rate (SFR) in these objects implies a rates of 3E3 Msun/yr, and SN rates of about 200/yr. However, this quasar contains an embedded AGN, so that the IR luminosity may not be a good tracer of the SFR in this object. Using the estimated mass of gas as a tracer of the SFR we construct a self-consistent model for the evolution of interstellar dust, which also follows the formation and destruction of the dust by SN. Finally, we discuss the contribution of the AGN to the total infrared luminosity, and its implications for the mass of the black hole that is required to power the observed IR emission.

Dwek, Eli↗
NASA NTRS1989

Chemical evolution of viscously evolving galactic discs

The ability of the Lin-Pringle (1987) model of galactic disk formation to reproduce the observed radial distributions of total gas surface density and metals in disk galaxies is investigated. It is found that a satisfactory fit is obtained provided that there exists an outer cut-off to the star-forming disk beyond which gas is allowed to viscously evolve. The metallicity gradient is then established by radial inflow of gas from beyond this cut-off.

Clarke, Catherine J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Collapse and relaxation of rotating stellar systems

The evolution of initially spherical, uniform-density, and uniform-velocity-dispersion stellar systems is investigated by means of a three-dimensional N-body computer model. Some 100,000 simulation stars are used to follow the collapse and relaxation of the system for various amounts of angular momentum in solid-body rotation. For initially low values of the angular momentum satisfying the Ostriker-Pebbles stability criterion the systems quickly relax to an axisymmetric shape and resemble elliptical galaxies in appearance. The maximum flattening for these systems is equivalent only to an E2 system. For larger values of the initial angular momentum bars develop, and the systems undergo a much more drastic evolution. The apparent rotational and random velocities of the barred systems are very sensitive to the viewing direction. An additional complication is the frequent misalignment of the apparent major axis with the direction that reflects the maximum rotation.

Hohl, F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The red envelope and the age of the universe

The photometric evolution of old stellar populations is slow in the optical/IR. Consequently, observational error is a strongly limiting factor in the accuracy possible for determining galaxy ages or estimating q0 at high redshifts from indices such as the 4000-A break. Existing observations of the red envelope at z above about 0.3 are consistent with a wide range of evolutionary histories. The middle-UV spectral region (rest wavelengths = 2000-3300 A) appears to promise less ambiguous results.

O'Connell, Robert W.↗