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Solar spectral data are used together with absolute neon ionization cell data to estimate the absolute solar soft X-ray flux and its variation with solar activity in the 20- to 100-A region. The dependence of the integrated solar soft X-ray flux between 20 and 100 A on the daily 10.7 cm radio flux observed at 1 AU is determined. An estimate is obtained of the maximum flux that can be expected over the solar cycle.
Consideration is given to the time-dependent behavior of the accretion disks in low-mass X-ray binaries as a model for soft X-ray transients. The thermal stability and vertical structure properties of the disk are studied in the range between 10 to the 7th and 10 to the 8th cm. An Eulerian time-dependent thin disk model is used to show that, for relevant accretion rates, the disk suffers a thermal instability leading to intermittent accretion onto the central compact object. The disk instability model reproduces the basic features of outbursts of soft X-ray transients. Also, the physical state of quiescence of the binary A0620-00 is examined, focusing on the possible existence of a black hole. It is suggested that the modulation of the accretion flow in the inner disk may be responsible for the bimodal behavior observed in the spectra of black hole candidates such as Cyg X-1, GX 339-4, and A0620-00.
The Solar-A satellite being prepared by the Institute for Sapce and Astronautical Sciences (ISAS) in Japan is dedicated to high energy observations of solar flares. The Soft X Ray Telescope (SXT) is being prepared to provide filtered images in the 2 to 60 A interval. The flight model is now undergoing tests in the 1000 foot tunnel at MSFC. Launch will be in September 1991. Earlier resolution and efficiency tests on the grazing incidence mirror have established its performance in soft x rays. The one-piece, two mirror grazing incidence telescope is supported in a strain free mount separated from the focal plane assembly by a carbon-epoxy metering tube whose windings and filler are chosen to minimize thermal and hygroscopic effects. The CCD detector images both the x ray and the concentric visible light aspect telescope. Optical filters provide images at 4308 and 4700 A. The SXT will be capable of producing over 8000 of the smallest partial frame images per day, or fewer but larger images, up to 1024 x 1024 pixel images. Image sequence with two or more of the five x ray analysis filters, with automatic exposure compensation to optimize the charge collection by the CCD detector, will be used to provide plasma diagnostics. Calculations using a differential emission measure code were used to optimize filter selection over the range of emission measure variations and to avoid redundancy, but the filters were chosen primarily to give ratios that are monotonic in plasma temperature.
A survey of the diffuse soft X-ray background as seen directly by the Einstein Observatory Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) is presented. A source free region of the detector 1 by 1 degree field is used. The background in the 0.16 to 3.5 keV spectral region is viewed. The data covers roughly 5 percent of the sky, with some bias in coverage towards the galactic plane. The moderate energy resolution of the IPC enables the characterization and the production of maps of the background as a function of energy within the Einstein passband. The results are compared with previous observations of the diffuse X-ray background. The implications for galactic structure and for the soft component of the extragalactic X-ray background are discussed.
The soft X-ray excess component is studied for a signal to noise limited subsample of 14 quasars from the WE87 sample observed with the Einstein Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC). Detailed analysis of the IPC data, combined with Einstein Monitor Proportional Counter (MPC) data where possible, and use of accurate galactic N sub H values allows estimation of the strength of any excess and improvement of constraints on the spectral slope at higher X-ray energies. A significant excess in 9 of the 14 objects is found. It is confined in all but one case to below 0.6 keV and variable in the two cases where there are multiple observations. The relation of the soft excess to other continuum properties of the quasars is investigated.
A radio source with a flux density of a few mJy was found in the error region of the soft X-ray source E0656 + 14, and identified as the radio pulsar PSR 0656 + 14. The radio source has a steep, nonthermal spectrum and a high degree of linear (62 percent) and circular (19 percent) polarization. The X-ray spectrum of the pulsar is among the softest sources observed with the Einstein Observatory. The X-ray data taken with the Einstein imaging proportional counter (IPC) permit a range of blackbody temperatures of 3-6 x 10 to the 5th K, and an equivalent column density of hydrogen smaller than 4 x 10 to the 20th/sq cm. If the assumption is made that the X-ray flux is thermal radiation from surface of the neutron star, then the pulsar must be at a distance smaller than 550 pc, consistent with the low dispersion measure of PSR 0656 + 14. The X-ray timing data suggest that the X-ray emission is modulated at the pulsar's 0.385-s spin period with an amplitude of 18 percent + or - 6 percent, and that there is a 0.0002 probability that this is spurious. It was noted that PSR 0656 + 14 is close to the geometric center of a 20-deg diameter soft X-ray emitting ring called the Gemini-Monoceros enhancement. The close distance of the pulsar, together with its relatively young age of 1.1 x 10 to the 5th yr, makes it possible that the ring is a supernova remnant from the explosion of the pulsar's progenitor. A radio source extending over a region 1.2 to 3.3 arcmin south of the pulsar is a candidate for association with the pulsar.
A solar coronal loop system has been photographed in soft X-rays using a normal incidence telescope based on multilayer mirror technology. The telescope consisted of a spherical objective mirror of 4 cm aperture and 1 m focal length, a film cassette, and a focal plane shutter. A metallized thin plastic film filter was used to exclude visible light. The objective mirror was covered with a multilayer coating consisting of alternating layers of tungsten and carbon whose combined thicknesses satisfied the Bragg diffraction condition for 44 A radiation. The image was recorded during a rocket flight on October 25, 1985 and was dominated by emission lines arising from the Si XII spectrum. The rocket also carried a high resolution soft X-ray spectrograph that confirmed the presence of Si XII line radiation in the source. This image represents the first successful use of multilayer technology for astrophysical observations.
The results of soft X-ray observations of SN 1987A over the energy band 0.65-2.0 keV are reported. The upper limits on the soft X-ray flux are inconsistent with an extrapolation of the spectrum measured by the Ginga Satellite to the energy band and require a turnover in the X-ray spectrum between 2 and 4 keV. If this turnover is due to absorption by intervening material, a neutral column density associated with the supernova of at least 2.8 x 10 to the 21st/sq cm is required. The background rate for the Texas Instruments 800 x 800 pixel CCD, measured between 150 and 285 km altitude, was 1.1 counts/sq cm s. The background spectrum has a broad peak at 350 electrons, corresponding to charge deposited in the detector by minimally ionizing particles.
A rocket observation of nitric oxide in the lower thermosphere during a time of high solar activity is compared to the results of calculations from a one-dimensional photochemical model. A solar soft X-ray flux of 0.75 erg/sq cm/s is needed to explain the observed NO densities. This result supports the theory that the variation in the low-latitude thermospheric NO is caused by variation in solar soft X-rays.
IUE archive obserbations were used to obtain a new and independent estimate of the effective temperature of Sirius B. The observed Lyman alpha profile of Sirius B was modeled as a function of effective temperature and T(eff) = 24,500 + or - 500 K was found. This temperature is in good agreement with a recent result obtained from analysis of Exosat soft X-ray spectra of Sirius B. In addition to providing confirmation of the soft X-ray result, this temperature implies that Sirius B is significantly cooler and larger in radius than most previous estimates. The radius, R = 0.090 + or - 0.005 solar mass, implied by the lower temperature is well in excess of the radius of fully degenerate star having the mass of Sirius B. This investigation employed a unique set of SWP archive spectra, acquired with Sirius B in the small aperture, which have proved to be free of scattered light contamination from Sirius A.
Results on the transition from soft to hard turbulence in simulations of two-dimensional Boussinesq convection are reported. The computed probability densities for temperature fluctuations are exponential in form in both soft and hard turbulence, unlike what is observed in experiments. In contrast, a change is obtained in the Nusselt number scaling on Rayleigh number in good agreement with the three-dimensional experiments.
Soft X-ray telescopes require filters that block visible and infrared light and have good soft X-ray transmission. The optical properties of possible materials are discussed, and the fabrication and testing methods for the filters used in a 10-inch normal incidence telescope for 63 A are described. The best performances in the 44-114-A wavelength range are obtained with foils of carbon and rhodium.
The possibility that the recently discovered DA white dwarf WD 1910 + 047 might be an Einstein soft X-ray source is studied, applying a complete model atmosphere analyis to both the optical and the soft X-ray data. It is found that the X-ray source in question is at least one order of magnitude too strong to be compatible with the estimated atmospheric parameters of the possible optical counterpart. The spatial coincidence between the two, however, remains extremely intriguing and has left us with the dilemma of accepting the relatively improbable coincidence of two unrelated objects or rejoicing over the discovery of a highly unusual one.
Observations are presented in two soft X-ray bands, the Be band (0.077-0.111 keV) and the B-prime (0.105-0.188 keV), for nine directions in the sky. The ratio of count rates in these two bands remains constant as the rates vary by a factor of three, even though the effective interstellar absorption cross sections in the bands differ by a factor of about 3.5. For a model in which the bulk of the observed soft X-ray emission originates in a uniform low-density region surrounding the sun, the constant ratio between the band rates places an upper limit on the amount of neutral material that can be homogeneously mixed with the X-ray-emitting gas. The 2 sigma upper limit on the H I column density over an average path through the local emitting region is 6.6 x 10 to the 18th/sq cm. If the average path length is about 100 pc, then clouds similar to the one in which the sun is embedded could still have a filling factor as large as 25 percent.
The interrelation between the acceleration and heating of electrons and ions during impulsive solar flares is determined on the basis of simulataneous observations of hard and soft X-ray emission from the Solar Maximum Mission at high time resolution (6 s). For all the flares, the hard X-rays are found to have a power-law spectrum which breaks down during the rise phase and beginning of the decay phase. After that, the spectrum changes to either a single power law or a power law that breaks up at high energies. The characteristics of the soft X-ray are found to depend on the flare position. It is suggested that small-scale quasi-static electric fields are important for determining the acceleration of the X-ray-producing electrons and the outflowing chromospheric ions.
Results of investigations are reviewed to assess the polarization dependence of photoemission in the optical, UV, and soft X-ray bands, as well as present a design for an imaging photoelectric polarimeter. Data regarding the effect of the dependence in the soft X-ray band are emphasized including the quantity of photons produced by each X-ray. The phase shift encountered in some experiments indicates that a third axis is present; the importance of the phase shift in understanding the vectoral photoeffect is emphasized. Measurements of the pulse height show that this measure is proportional to the number of electrons photoemitted by the incident X-ray. The development of X-ray polarimeters can be significantly improved as a result of the study of polarization sensitivity in the photoelectric effect. The design of a photoelectric polarimeter is presented, and the potential uses for the instrument include measuring the polarization of supernova remnants, AGN, and black hole candidates.
The recent launches of GRANAT and GRO provide unprecedented opportunities to study compact collapsed objects from their hard x ray and gamma ray emissions. The spectral range above 100 keV can now be explored with much higher sensitivity and time resolution than before. The soft gamma ray spectral data is reviewed of black holes and neutron stars, radiation, and particle energization mechanisms and potentially distinguishing gamma ray signatures. These may include soft x ray excesses versus deficiencies, thermal versus nonthermal processes, transient gamma ray bumps versus power law tails, lines, and periodicities. Some of the highest priority future observations are outlines which will shed much light on such systems.
Using time-dependent numerical simulations and Solar Maximum Mission observations of a solar flare on 1985 January 23, a study is conducted of the ability of an electron-beam-heating model to reproduce the rise phase of a flare as observed in soft X-ray lines of Ca XIX. The electron beam is parameterized by a peak flux, a low-energy cutoff, and a spectral index, and has a time dependence similar to the observed hard X-ray burst. For a spectral index of 6, only models with a low-energy cutoff of 20 keV reproduce the observed peak emission in the Ca XIX line complex. All models with a low-energy cutoff of 15 keV produce too much emission, while all models with a 25-keV cutoff too little emission. None of the models reproduces the temporal behavior of the soft X-ray emission. The electron-beam-heated component is theorized to only represent a small fraction of the energy released in the impulsive phase of this flare.