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At least 973 records · Page 54

Optical and X-ray properties of the newly discovered BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304 /= H2155-304/

The soft X-ray source H 2155-304 has been precisely located with the HEAO 1 scanning modulation collimator, and identified with an object of bolometric magnitude approximately 14. The linear polarization, variability, spectrum, and diffuse image of the optical flux, together with the positional coincidence of the radio source PKS 2155-304, indicate that this object is a new member of the BL Lacertae class. Its characteristics are compared with those of other X-ray-emitting BL Lacertae objects, particularly Mrk 421.

Griffiths, R. E.↗

VLBI observations of SS 433 at 3.6 and 13 centimeters

SS 433 was detected and partially resolved at 2290 MHz on baselines with fringe spacings of 1.4, 0.1, and 0.003 arcsec. It was also detected at 8420 MHz on a baseline with a fringe spacing of 0.009 arcsec. Simple models of the source, consistent with the limited data, have elongated structures greater than 0.1 arcsec in size with position angles in 1979 May that were within about 10 deg of the position angle of the apparent bulges of the supernova remnant W50. The data also imply that the source contains a core less than 0.002 arcsec in size with a brightness temperature greater than 10 to the 9th K. The bright core and aligned structures that seem to be present in SS 433 and W50 resemble the structures seen in powerful extragalactic radio sources which are many orders of magnitude larger.

Walker, R. C.↗

Correlation of solar decimetric radio bursts with X-ray flares

Several hundred radio bursts in the decimetric wavelength range (300-1000 MHz) have been compared with simultaneous soft and hard X-ray (HXR) emission. Long lasting (type IV) radio events have been excluded. The association of decimetric emission with hard X-rays has been found to be surprisingly high (48 percent). The association rate increases with bandwidth, duration, number of structural elements, and maximum frequency. Type III-like bursts are observed up to the upper limit of the observed band. This demonstrates that the corona is transparent up to densities of about 10 to the 10th/cu cm, contrary to previous assumptions. This can only be explained in an inhomogeneous corona with the radio source being located in a dense structure. The short decimetric bursts generally occur during the impulsive phase, i.e., simultaneously with hard X-rays. The times of maximum flux are well correlated (within 2 s). The HXR emission lasts 4 times longer than the radio emission in the average. This work finds a close relationship between decimetric and HXR emission, with sufficient statistics offering additional information on the flare process.

Aschwanden, M. J.↗

RADIO DIAGNOSTICS OF ELECTRON ACCELERATION SITES DURING THE ERUPTION OF A FLUX ROPE IN THE SOLAR CORONA

Electron acceleration in the solar corona is often associated with flares and the eruption of twisted magnetic structures known as flux ropes. However, the locations and mechanisms of such particle acceleration during the flare and eruption are still subject to much investigation. Observing the exact sites of particle acceleration can help confirm how the flare and eruption are initiated and how they evolve. Here we use the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly to analyze a flare and erupting flux rope on 2014 April 18, while observations from the Nançay Radio Astronomy Facility allow us to diagnose the sites of electron acceleration during the eruption. Our analysis shows evidence of a pre-formed flux rope that slowly rises and becomes destabilized at the time of a C-class flare, plasma jet, and the escape of ≳75 keV electrons from the rope center into the corona. As the eruption proceeds, continued acceleration of electrons with energies of ∼5 keV occurs above the flux rope for a period over 5 minutes. At the flare peak, one site of electron acceleration is located close to the flare site, while another is driven by the erupting flux rope into the corona at speeds of up to 400 km s{sup −1}. Energetic electrons then fill the erupting volume, eventually allowing the flux rope legs to be clearly imaged from radio sources at 150–445 MHz. Following the analysis of Joshi et al. (2015), we conclude that the sites of energetic electrons are consistent with flux rope eruption via a tether cutting or flux cancellation scenario inside a magnetic fan-spine structure. In total, our radio observations allow us to better understand the evolution of a flux rope eruption and its associated electron acceleration sites, from eruption initiation to propagation into the corona.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Two active states of the narrow-line gamma-ray-loud AGN GB 1310+487

Context. Previously unremarkable, the extragalactic radio source GB1310+487 showed a γ-ray flare on 2009 November 18, reaching a daily flux of ~ 10 -6 photons cm -2 s -1 at energies E > 100MeV and became one of the brightest GeV sources for about two weeks. Its optical spectrum shows strong forbidden-line emission while lacking broad permitted lines, which is not typical for a blazar. Instead, the spectrum resembles those of narrow emission-line galaxies. Aims. We investigate changes in the object’s radio-to-GeV spectral energy distribution (SED) during and after the prominent γ-ray flare with the aim of determining the nature of the object and of constraining the origin of the variable high-energy emission. Methods. The data collected by the Fermi and AGILE satellites at γ-ray energies; Swift at X-ray and ultraviolet (UV); the Kanata, NOT, and Keck telescopes at optical; OAGH andWISE at infrared (IR); and IRAM30m, OVRO 40m, Effelsberg 100m, RATAN-600, and VLBA at radio are analyzed together to trace the SED evolution on timescales of months. Results. The γ-ray/radio-loud narrow-line active galactic nucleus (AGN) is located at redshift z = 0.638. It shines through an unrelated foreground galaxy at z = 0.500. The AGN light is probably amplified by gravitational lensing. The AGN SED shows a two-humped structure typical of blazars and γ-ray-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, with the high-energy (inverse-Compton) emission dominating by more than an order of magnitude over the low-energy (synchrotron) emission during γ-ray flares. The difference between the two SED humps is smaller during the low-activity state. Fermi observations reveal a strong correlation between the γ-ray flux and spectral index, with the hardest spectrum observed during the brightest γ-ray state. The γ-ray flares occurred before and during a slow rising trend in the radio, but no direct association between γ-ray and radio flares could be established. Conclusions. If the γ-ray flux is a mixture of synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) and external Compton (EC) emission, the observed GeV spectral variability may result from varying relative contributions of these two emission components. This explanation fits the observed changes in the overall IR to γ-ray SED.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Symposium on the Orion Nebula to Honor Henry Draper, New York University, New York, NY, December 4, 5, 1981, Proceedings

The present conference on astronomical studies of the Orion Nebula covers molecular clouds in Orion, the use of the nebula's cloak as a model for gas super-shells around OB associations, optical and UV data concerning the nebula's physical conditions, the presence of atomic carbon in Orion, large scale distribution of far-IR and sub-mm line emission, star formation studies in the IR, gas dynamics in the circumstellar nebula of the Becklin-Neugebauer source, maser sources and far-IR CO line emission in Orion-KL, and synthesis maps of mm molecular lines. Also discussed are Orion's star distributions, core region nebular condensations, energetic molecular flows in star-forming cloud cores, IR observations of HH objects, compact continuum radio sources, the SiO maser, shock waves, and the chemical evolution of OB associations.

Glassgold, A. E.↗

Two Active States of the Narrow-Line Gamma-Ray-Loud AGN GB 1310 + 487

Context. Previously unremarkable, the extragalactic radio source GB1310 487 showed gamma-ray flare on 2009 November 18, reaching a daily flux of approximately 10(exp -6) photons cm(exp -2) s(exp -1) at energies E greater than 100MeV and became one of the brightest GeV sources for about two weeks. Its optical spectrum shows strong forbidden-line emission while lacking broad permitted lines, which is not typical for a blazar. Instead, the spectrum resembles those of narrow emission-line galaxies. Aims. We investigate changes in the object's radio-to-GeV spectral energy distribution (SED) during and after the prominent gamma-ray flare with the aim of determining the nature of the object and of constraining the origin of the variable high-energy emission. Methods. The data collected by the Fermi and AGILE satellites at gamma-ray energies; Swift at X-ray and ultraviolet (UV); the Kanata, NOT, and Keck telescopes at optical; OAGH and WISE at infrared (IR); and IRAM30m, OVRO 40m, Effelsberg 100m, RATAN-600, and VLBA at radio are analyzed together to trace the SED evolution on timescales of months. Results. The gamma-ray radio-loud narrow-line active galactic nucleus (AGN) is located at redshift z = 0.638. It shines through an unrelated foreground galaxy at z = 0.500. The AGN light is probably amplified by gravitational lensing. The AGN SED shows a two-humped structure typical of blazars and gamma-ray-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, with the high-energy (inverse-Compton) emission dominating by more than an order of magnitude over the low-energy (synchrotron) emission during gamma-ray flares. The difference between the two SED humps is smaller during the low-activity state. Fermi observations reveal a strong correlation between the gamma-ray flux and spectral index, with the hardest spectrum observed during the brightest gamma-ray state. The gamma-ray flares occurred before and during a slow rising trend in the radio, but no direct association between gamma-ray and radio flares could be established. Conclusions. If the gamma-ray flux is a mixture of synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) and external Compton (EC) emission, the observed GeV spectral variability may result from varying relative contributions of these two emission components. This explanation fits the observed changes in the overall IR to gamma-ray SED.

states↗

LOOKING FOR A PULSE: A SEARCH FOR ROTATIONALLY MODULATED RADIO EMISSION FROM THE HOT JUPITER, {tau} BOOeTIS b

Hot Jupiters have been proposed as a likely population of low-frequency radio sources due to electron cyclotron maser emission of similar nature to that detected from the auroral regions of magnetized solar system planets. Such emission will likely be confined to specific ranges of orbital/rotational phase due to a narrowly beamed radiation pattern. We report on GMRT 150 MHz radio observations of the hot Jupiter {tau} Booetis b, consisting of 40 hr carefully scheduled to maximize coverage of the planet's 79.5 hr orbital/rotational period in an effort to detect such rotationally modulated emission. The resulting image is the deepest yet published at these frequencies and leads to a 3{sigma} upper limit on the flux density from the planet of 1.2 mJy, two orders of magnitude lower than predictions derived from scaling laws based on solar system planetary radio emission. This represents the most stringent upper limits for both quiescent and rotationally modulated radio emission from a hot Jupiter yet achieved and suggests that either (1) the magnetic dipole moment of {tau} Booetis b is insufficient to generate the surface field strengths of >50 G required for detection at 150 MHz or (2) Earth lies outside the beaming pattern of the radio emission from the planet.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the source of flare-ejecta responsible for geomagnetic storms

It is shown that magnetic bottles as the sources of moving metric type 4 bursts are not responsible for the development of geomagnetic storms, despite the fact that shock waves producing type 2 bursts are the sources of the interplanetary shock waves, which produce SSC's on the geomagnetic field. These magnetic bottles, in general, tend to move in the solar envelope with the speed of several hundred Km/sec at most, which is much slower than that of the motion of type 2 radio sources.

Sakurai, K.↗

Magnetohydrodynamic solitons and radio knots in jets

Weakly nonlinear surface waves are examined in the context of the beam model for jetlike radio sources. By introducing a finite scale length, viz. the beam radius, geometrical dispersion can act to balance nonlinear wave growth and thereby produce solitons, localized wave packets of stable waveform. A method for obtaining a soliton equation from the MHD equations is presented and then applied to radio knots in jets.

Fiedler, R.↗

WQ 2059-247: An unusual high redshift X-ray cluster

X-ray, optical, and radio observations of a high redshift, Bautz-Morgan type I cluster of galaxies are reported. The cD galaxy contains a powerful, flat spectrum radio source coincident with the possibly stellar nucleus. The cluster is an extremely luminous X-ray source; however, unlike nearby luminous X-ray clusters the X-ray spectrum appears to be rather soft. Two possible interpretations of the soruces are suggested: either the intracluster gas is much cooler in high redshift clusters because they are less relaxed, or the X-ray and radio emissions from WQ 2059-247 are the result of a non thermal QSO/BL Lac type object in the nucleus of the cD.

White, R. A.↗

Radio and optical observations of the R Aquarii jet

VLA observations at 6 cm and Lick Observatory optical plates of R Aquarii indicate the existence of a jetlike feature extending 7 to 10 arcsec from the central star. A wide field map at 6 cm shows an unresolved compact radio source which lies close to the axis defined by the jet at a distance of about three arcmin from R Aqr. Episodic mass transfer in this symbiotic variable could explain the erratic outbursts that R Aqr is known to undergo. Formation of an accretion disk and the accompanying radio-optical jet may characterize the observed outbursts in this system.

Sopka, R. J.↗

Polar motion and earth rotation

New observational techniques and studies of relationships between observed polar motions and the earth rotation and geophysical phenomena developed in the period 1979-1982 are reviewed. The MERIT campaign was performed to characterize the accuracy of and operational procedures for Doppler satellite measurements, lunar laser ranging, laser ranging to the Lageos satellite, and the use of extragalactic radio sources for examining earth rotation and polar motion. Only the new U.S. Naval Observatory 26 in. aperture telescope with photographic zenith tubes will be operated from the former classical earth rotation ILS network. Earth orientation parameters are presently determined each week by NASA JPL using two single baseline VLBI 64 m radio telescopes of the Deep Space Network. Studies are also proceeding to relate fluctuations in the atmospheric angular momentum to changes in earth's rotational rate.

Tapley, B. D.↗

Radiative transfer in planetary atmospheres

The research effort was concentrated toward comet P/Halley, although observations of other comets including Giacobini-Zinner, Hartley-Good and Thiele were made as opportunities arise. In preparing for the apparition of P/Halley, detailed predictions for the emission in the 18 cm OH transitions were made in order to assist observers and to indicate what type of data would be particularly valuable. Likewise, since occultations by the comet of background radio sources can provide unique types of information, the tracks of P/Halley and P/Giacobini-Zinner were surveyed with the NRAO Very Large Array, background sources were mapped, and a catalogue of occulted sources published. Beginning in September, 1985, regular observations of the 18 cm OH lines have been made for P/Halley using the 43 m antenna of the NRAO in Greenbank, West Virginia. These data promise to provide the most accurate time sequence for the OH emission for any comet ever obtained at radio wavelengths. From the linewidth and shape, information is obtained on the kinetics of the gas in the cometary coma. An extensive series of observations have been undertaken with 14 m antenna to study emission from the HCN molecule in P/Halley. These data provide the first definitive detection of this component of the cometary ices. Interesting variations in the production of HCN were observed with time scales less than a day. Likewise, there appeared to be variations in the ratio of the hyperfine components of the J = 1-0 transition.

Irvine, W. M.↗

The optical counterpart of the bright nearby millisecond pulsar PSR J0437-4715

Optical imaging of the field of PSR J0437-4715 reveals a candidate optical counterpart less than 1 arcsec from the radio source location. The color and magnitude of this star are consistent with a 0.2-solar mass helium white dwarf with T(eff) about 4400 K at a distance of 150 parsecs. Such an object is expected as the binary companion of the neutron star, given the orbital characteristics determined from the radio observations. The cooling time for the white dwarf is greater than the characteristic spin-down age of the pulsar, which suggests that, in some cases, spin-down times computed from pulsar periods and period derivatives may not in fact represent an upper limit to the pulsar age. No luminosity variations over the orbital period are observed, down to a limit of a few tenths of a magnitude.

Bailyn, Charles D.↗

Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Long-Slit Spectroscopy of the Narrow-Line Region of NGC 4151: Kinematics and Emission-Line Ratios - 1

Long-slit spectra of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 from the UV to the near-infrared have been obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to study the kinematics and physical conditions in the narrow-line region (NLR). The kinematics shows evidence for three components, a low-velocity system in normal disk rotation, a high-velocity system in radial outflow at a few hundred kilometers per second relative to the systemic velocity, and an additional high-velocity system also in outflow with velocities up to 1400 km s(-l), in agreement with results from STIS slitless spectroscopy. We have explored two simple kinematic models and suggest that radial outflow in the form of a wind is the most likely explanation. We also present evidence indicating that the wind may be decelerating with distance from the nucleus. We find that the emission-line ratios along our slits are all entirely consistent with photoionization from the nuclear continuum source. A decrease in the ratios [O III] lambda 5007/H beta and [O III] lambda 5007/[O II] lambda 3727 suggests that the density decreases with distance from the nucleus. This trend is borne out by the [S II] ratios as well. We find no strong evidence for interaction between the radio jet and the NLR gas in either the kinematics or the emission-line ratios, in agreement with the recent results of Kaiser et al., who found no spatial coincidence of NLR clouds and knots in the radio jet. These results are in contrast to other recent studies of nearby active galactic nuclei that find evidence for significant interaction between the radio source and the NLR gas.

Nelson, C. H.↗

X rays from normal galaxies

The Einstein Observatory, Exosat, and Ginga observations of X-rays from normal galaxies are reviewed. Local spirals and bright spiral galaxies are discussed, emphasizing the nature of the X-ray sources and addressing average sample properties and correlation with other wavebands. Starburst activity and low-activity nuclei are examined. The hot ISM, halos, and cooling flows in elliptical galaxies are addressed, and what X-ray observations reveal about the mass of early-type galaxies is considered. The relationship between radio sources and gaseous halos and between galaxies and the X-ray background is discussed.

Fabbiano, G.↗

Low-state gamma-ray emission from blazars and the gamma-ray background

The contribution of flat spectrum radio sources (FSRS) or blazars to the diffuse gamma ray background is examined. The basic assumptions of the investigation are: the existence of steady state gamma ray emission at the energetic gamma ray experiment telescope (EGRET) instrument energy band from the entire population of the FSRS; a proportionality between the FSRS' gamma ray luminosities and radio luminosities; and the production of the diffuse gamma ray background by the ensemble of blazars. Under these assumptions, the estimated average value of the proportionality constant in the luminosity relationship (vF(sub v))(sub 100 MeV) = f(vF(sub v))(sub 5 GHz) is approximately 70, compared to a mean observed value of 750. The implications of this result for the active galactic nuclei models are considered.

Kazanas, Demosthenes↗