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The celestial position of the binary X-ray source Her X-1 has been measured with a precision of 30 sec and, within the uncertainties, agrees with the position of the optical variable HZ Herculis. An average light curve for the 1.24-sec periodicity has been obtained with about 10-msec resolution. The average pulse is a double-peaked structure which shows significant intensity changes in time scales down to 30 msec.
Photographic spectral data are presented for Sanduleak 160, an SMC B-type supergiant with which the strong binary X-ray source SMC X-1 is identified. These data show several important features: (1) Emission is conspicuously present at 4686 A at phases 0.1-0.3 and 0.7-0.85 (where phase 0.0 denotes X-ray eclipse) and undetectable near phase 0.5; (2) the emission has a large amplitude in velocity approximately out of phase with the expected motion of the primary star; (3) the absorption spectrum does not show any detectable change in spectral type throughout the orbit. The basic parameters of the system are studied on the basis of the new data, and a mass of near 2 solar masses is computed for the X-ray object. The data also furnish a number of constraints for models of the system.
Low- and medium-energy X-ray observations of Cen X-3 during two pointed sounding-rocket experiments are discussed. The lack of low-energy emission from Cen X-3 is consistent with the identification of Krzeminski's star as the optical counterpart of Cen X-3 and normal reddening, in contrast to an earlier measurement by Bleeker et al (1973).
A large surge was observed on September 17, 1971 part of which, after travelling 200,000 km across the surface, returned to the surface to form a filament. The filament lasted about 30 minutes, then rose up and returned to the source of the surge. This was interpreted as the filling of a semi-stable magnetic trap. Analysis of the microwave radio burst showed it to have been produced by a source optically thick at 8,800 MHz, with area 4 (arc min)squared and T approximately 275,000 deg, N squared sub eV approximately 7 x 10 to the 48th power. The soft x-ray burst showed a component at 12 x 1,00.000 deg with N squared sub eV approximately 3 x 10 to the 48th power.
A ray trace analysis of the vignetting characteristics of the S-056 X ray telescope is presented. The relative energy is calculated in the spot formed in the focal plane of the S-056 X ray telescope by an off axis point source at infinity for off axis angles of 0, 1, 2, ..., 35 arc minutes. At each off axis angle, the relative energies are evaluated using theoretical X ray reflectivity curves for wavelengths of 8.34 A, 17.57 A, and 27.39 A, and also using an experimental X ray reflectivity curve for 8.34 A. The effects of vignetting due purely to the geometry of the S-056 optical system are evaluated separately, as well as jointly with the effects of mirror reflectivity.
X-ray emission from Her X-1 has been observed during the 23-day low state of the 35-day cycle. During this time, all the activity normally present during the high state was seen, including regular eclipses, absorption 'dips,' and 1.24-s pulsations. The present observations are compared with the models of Her X-1 derived by Roberts (1974), Gerend and Boynton (1976), Katz (1973), and Petterson (1975). It is suggested that a hot optically thin corona along both faces of the accretion disk can produce the unpulsed component of emission observed during both the high- and low-intensity states.
The cosmic X-ray spectroscopy experiment on OSO-8 observed X Per for twenty days during two observations in Feb. 1976 and Feb. 1977. The spectrum of X Per varies in phase with its 13.9 min period, hardening significantly at X-ray minimum. Unlike other X-ray binary pulsar spectra, X Per's spectra do not exhibit iron line emission or strong absorption features. The data show no evidence for a 22 hour periodicity in the X-ray intensity of X Per. These results indicate that the X-ray emission from X Per may be originating from a neutron star in a low density region far from the optically identified Be star.
Results of a reanalysis of SAS-3 data for SMC X-1, including greatly improved orbital elements, are presented. These elements, when combined with newly available data for the optical companion, Sk 160, yield improved estimates for the masses of SMC X-1 and Sk 160. A significant rate of change of intrinsic pulse period is detected during the course of the four-day observation which is consistent with the average value that was previously deduced from observations separated by 5 years. The X-ray pulse profile, averaged over one orbital cycle and with approximately 15-ms time resolution, is also presented. The pulse profile is found to be constant to within statistics, as a function of orbital phase. The implications of the small observed eccentricities of SMC X-1 and other binary X-ray pulsar systems are discussed.
The X-ray telescope of the second High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-B) is described. The design consists of four concentric paraboloid/hyperboloid pairs. Focal length is 3.44 meters, paraboloid diameters vary from 580-336 mm, grazing angles vary from 70 to 40 arcmin for paraxial rays, segment lengths are 511 mm. The reflecting surfaces are nickel-coated fused quartz and the resolution is limited by assembly errors (for small field angles) and design aberrations (for large field angles). The local slope, roundness, and surface roughness are identified as the primary optical tolerances connected with the individual elements.
A radiation to visible light converter is combined with a visible light intensifier. The converter is a phosphor or scintillator material which is modified to block ambient light. The intensifier includes fiber optics input and output face plates with a photocathode-microchannel plate amplifier-phosphor combination. Incoming radiation is converted to visible light by the converter which is piped into the intensifier by the input fiber optics face plate. The photocathode converts the visible light to electrons which are amplified by a microchannel plate amplifier. The electrons are converted back to light by a phosphor layer and piped out for viewing by the output fiber optics faces plate. The converter-intensifier combination may be further combined with its own radiation source or used with an independent source.
The GSFC cosmic X-ray spectroscopy experiment on OSO 8 observed X Per for 20 days during two observations in 1976 February and 1977 February. The spectrum of X Per varies in phase with its 13.9 minute period, hardening significantly at X-ray minimum. Unlike other X-ray binary pulsar spectra, those of X Per do not exhibit iron line emission or strong absorption features. Our data show no evidence for a 22 hour periodicity in the X-ray intensity of X Per. These results indicate that the X-ray emission from X Per may be originating from a neutron star in a low-density region far from the optically identified Be star.
The low-energy detectors on board the HEAO 1 satellite have observed a variable soft X-ray source consistent with the location of 2A 0311-227. The maximum observed intensity is about 2 x 10 to the -11th erg/sq cm-sec. (0.18-0.43 keV) and the temperature must be less than 10 million K. The source is interpreted as a member of the AM Herculis class on the basis of the optical identification with a magnetic binary system.
Observations of optical coronal lines from the supernova remnants Puppis A and N 49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud carried out at Cerro Tololo and the Anglo-Australian Observatory are reported. The eastern section of Puppis A was searched for forbidden Fe X and Fe XIV emissions in order to confirm the previous detection of a lower temperature component of the X-ray source. Strong forbidden Fe XIV emission was detected in one region consistent with the position of the previously observed soft X-ray component, implying a cool localized component, possibly a relatively dense interstellar cloud interacting with the expanding shock front, superimposed on a more extended hotter region. The spectrum of N 49 showed a broad feature at 5303 A, identified with the forbidden Fe XIV line. Predictions of X-ray fluxes assuming a temperature of 2 x 10 to the 6th K and a density behind the shock front of 4/cu cm for hydrogen densities of zero and 10 to the 21st/sq cm lead to the suggestion that X-ray observations of N 49 may prove worthwhile.
A new sounding rocket payload that has been developed for X-ray spectroscopic studies of the solar corona is described. The instrument incorporates a grazing incidence Rowland mounted grating spectrograph and an extreme off-axis paraboloic sector feed system to isolate regions of the sun of order 1 x 10 arc seconds in size. The focal surface of the spectrograph is shared by photographic and photoelectric detection systems, with the latter serving as a part of the rocket pointing system control loop. Fabrication and alignment of the optical system is based on high precision machining and mechanical metrology techniques. The spectrograph has a resolution of 16 milliangstroms and modifications planned for future flights will improve the resolution to 5 milliangstroms, permitting line widths to be measured.
The paper reports an optical identification of 4U1907 + 09 with a m(v) = 16.4 stellar object in the location determined by the scanning modulation collimator experiment on the first High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-1). The identification is based on the presence of very strong and broad H-alpha emission. The optical data constrain the distance to be 2-13 kpc, and this gives a range of uncertainty to the typical 2-10 keV luminosity of (1 x 10 to the 35th to 3 x 10 to the 36th) erg/s. The X-ray spectrum and variability is reported, and consideration is given to the hypothesis that the object is an OB supergiant, although its faintness in the blue makes precise spectral classification impossible. It is suggested that this system is an example of a luminous, massive primary emitting a stellar wind which is accreted on the compact object.
Various aspects of X-ray lasers are discussed in approximately 122 citations. Included are laser plasmas and outputs, plasma radiation, far ultraviolet radiation, gamma rays, optical pumping, optical resonators, and electron transitions. Laser applications, laser materials, and laser fusion are also included.
The identification of counterparts to 19 serendipitous Einstein Observatory X-ray sources at high galactic latitude is reported. The counterparts are identified as previously uncataloged active galactic nuclei (AGNs) - quasars or Seyfert galaxies - with redshifts varying from z = 0.036 through z = 1.40. The success rate, that is, the fraction of X-ray sources that are identified as AGNs, is approximately 50%, an order of magnitude larger than for traditional ultraviolet surveys. It is expected that this method will produce a large number of X-ray-selected AGNs for statistical studies. For the 19 AGNs in this sample, which is free from the radio selection effects that have complicated previous studies, the X-ray-to-optical-flux slope is found to be 1.30 + or - 0.05.
The detection of the yellow symbiotic star AG Draconis is reported. The star was detected by an imaging proportional counter at a count rate of 0.27 counts/s. The object is an intense source of very soft X-rays, and the X-ray luminosity is estimated to be equal to approximately 10 to the 32nd ergs/s, with a temperature of less than 2,000,000 K. If an interstellar column density of 3 x 10 to the 20th/sq cm is assumed, the emission measure is deduced to be greater than 3 x 10 to the 55th/ cu cm from the X-ray data, and less than 3 x 10 to the 59th/cu cm from the optical data. The observation is discussed in the context of various models of the symbiotic stars.