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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

H-beta line variability in magnetic Ap stars. I

Preliminary results of photometric measurements of H-beta in several Ap stars are presented. Periodic variations are found certainly in Theta Aur and Alpha (2) CVn, and possibly in Phi Dra. For the other stars upper limits for variations of H-beta are determined. Observed amplitudes are transformed into variations of equivalent width assuming specific profile variations. The results show that variations of equivalent width of H-beta in the stars investigated are of the order of 10 percent or less.

Madej, J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Accretion by magnetic neutron stars

The capture of material from the wind or from the atmosphere or envelope of a binary companion star is described and the resulting types of accretion flows are discussed. An explanation is given for the formation of a magnetosphere around the neutron star. Conditions for stable flow and for angular and linear momentum conservation are discussed within the framework of neutron star accretion and rough estimates of the scale of the magnetosphere are obtained. The beat-frequency magnetospheric model of quasi-periodic intensity oscillations is presented.

Lamb, F. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comparison of Photon-photon and Photon-magnetic Field Pair Production Rates

Neutron stars were proposed as the site of gamma-ray burst activity and the copious supply of MeV photons admits the possibility of electron-positron pair production. If the neutron star magnetic field is sufficiently intense ( 10 to the 12th power G), both photon-photon (2 gamma) and photon-magnetic field ( gamma) pair production should be important mechanisms. Rates for the two processes were calculated using a Maxwellian distribution for the photons. The ratio of 1 gamma to 2 gamma pair production rates was obtained as a function of photon temperature and magnetic field strength.

Burns, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comparison of photon-photon and photon-magnetic field pair production rates

Neutron stars were proposed as the site of gamma-ray burst activity and the copious supply of MeV photons admits the possibility of electron-positron pair production. If the neutron star magnetic field is sufficiently intense (10 to the 12th power G), both photon-photon (2 gamma) and photon-magnetic field (gamma) pair production should be important mechanisms. Rates for the two processes were calculated using a Maxwellian distribution for the photons. The ratio of 1 gamma to 2 gamma pair production rates was obtained as a function of photon temperature and magnetic field strength.

Burns, M. L.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Magnetic origins of the stellar mass-obliquity correlation in planetary systems

Detailed observational characterization of transiting exoplanet systems has revealed that the spin-axes of massive (M≳1.2M{sub ⊙}) stars often exhibit substantial misalignments with respect to the orbits of the planets they host. Conversely, lower-mass stars tend to only have limited obliquities. A similar trend has recently emerged within the observational data set of young stars’ magnetic field strengths: massive T-Tauri stars tend to have dipole fields that are ∼10 times weaker than their less-massive counterparts. Here we show that the associated dependence of magnetic star–disk torques upon stellar mass naturally explains the observed spin–orbit misalignment trend, provided that misalignments are obtained within the disk-hosting phase. Magnetic torques act to realign the stellar spin-axes of lower-mass stars with the disk plane on a timescale significantly shorter than the typical disk lifetime, whereas the same effect operates on a much longer timescale for massive stars. Cumulatively, our results point to a primordial excitation of extrasolar spin–orbit misalignment, signalling consistency with disk-driven migration as the dominant transport mechanism for short-period planets. Furthermore, we predict that spin–orbit misalignments in systems where close-in planets show signatures of dynamical, post-nebular emplacement will not follow the observed correlation with stellar mass.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2012

Pulsar Pair Cascades in Magnetic Fields with Offset Polar Caps

Neutron star magnetic fields may have polar caps (PC) that are offset from the dipole axis, through field-line sweepback near the light cylinder or non-symmetric currents within the star. The effects of such offsets on electron-positron pair cascades are investigated, using simple models of dipole magnetic fields with small distortions that shift the PCs by different amounts or directions. Using a Monte Carlo pair cascade simulation, we explore the changes in the pair spectrum, multiplicity and energy flux across the PC, as well as the trends in pair flux and pair energy flux with spin-down luminosity, L(sub sd). We also give an estimate of the distribution of heating flux from returning positrons on the PC for different offsets. We find that even modest offsets can produce significant increases in pair multiplicity, especially for pulsars that are near or beyond the pair death lines for centered PCs, primarily because of higher accelerating fields. Pair spectra cover several decades in energy, with the spectral range of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) two orders of magnitude higher than for normal pulsars, and PC offsets allow significant extension of all spectra to lower pair energies. We find that the total PC pair luminosity L(sub pair) is proportional to L(sub sd), with L(sub pair) approximates 10(exp -3) L(sub sd) for normal pulsars and L(sub pair) approximates 10(exp -2) L(sub sd) for MSPs. Remarkably, the total PC heating luminosity for even large offsets increases by less than a factor of two, even though the PC area increases by much larger factors, because most of the heating occurs near the magnetic axis.

Harding, Alice K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Observations of magnetic fields on solar-type stars

Magnetic-field observations were carried out for 29 G and K main-sequence stars. The area covering-factors of magnetic regions tends to be greater in the K darfs than in the G dwarfs. However, no spectral-type dependence is found for the field strengths, contrary to predictions that pressure equilibrium with the ambient photospheric gas pressure would determine the surface field strengths. Coronal soft X-ray fluxes from the G and K dwarfs correlate well with the fraction of the stellar surface covered by magnetic regions. The dependence of coronal soft X-ray fluxes on photospheric field strengths is consistent with Stein's predicted generation-rates for Alfven waves. These dependences are inconsistent with the one dynamo model for which a specific prediction is offered. Finally, time variability of magnetic fields is seen on the two active stars that have been extensively monitored. Significant changes in magnetic fields are seen to occur on timescales as short as one day. Previously announced in STAR as N83-24435

Marcy, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of magnetic fields on solar-type stars

Magnetic-field observations were carried out for 29 G and K main-sequence stars. The area covering-factors of magnetic regions tends to be greater in the K dwarfs than in the G dwarfs. However, no spectral-type dependence is found for the field strengths, contrary to predictions that pressure equilibrium with the ambient photospheric gas pressure would determine the surface field strengths. Coronal soft X-ray fluxes from the G and K dwarfs correlate well with the fraction of the stellar surface covered by magnetic regions. The dependence of coronal soft X-ray fluxes on photospheric field strengths is consistent with Stein's predicted generation-rates for Alfven waves. These dependences are inconsistent with the one dynamo model for which a specific prediction is offered. Finally, time variability of magnetic fields is seen on the two active stars that have been extensively monitored. Significant changes in magnetic fields are seen to occur on timescales as short as one day.

Marcy, G. W.↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE FIRST SPECTROPOLARIMETRIC MONITORING OF THE PECULIAR O4 Ief SUPERGIANT ζ PUPPIS

The origin of the magnetic field in massive O-type stars is still under debate. To model the physical processes responsible for the generation of O star magnetic fields, it is important to understand whether correlations between the presence of a magnetic field and stellar evolutionary state, rotation velocity, kinematical status, and surface composition can be identified. The O4 Ief supergiant ζ Pup is a fast rotator and a runaway star, which may be a product of a past binary interaction, possibly having had an encounter with the cluster Trumper 10 some 2 Myr ago. The currently available observational material suggests that certain observed phenomena in this star may be related to the presence of a magnetic field. We acquired spectropolarimetric observations of ζ Pup with FORS 2 mounted on the 8 m Antu telescope of the Very Large Telescope to investigate if a magnetic field is indeed present in this star. We show that many spectral lines are highly variable and probably vary with the recently detected period of 1.78 day. No magnetic field is detected in ζ Pup, as no magnetic field measurement has a significance level higher than 2.4 σ . Still, we studied the probability of a single sinusoidal explaining the variation of the longitudinal magnetic field measurements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

( Chandra ) view of magnetically confined wind in HD 191612: theory versus observations

High-resolution spectra of the magnetic star HD 191612 were acquired using the Chandra X-ray Observatory at both maximum and minimum emission phases. We confirm the flux and hardness variations previously reported with XMM-Newton, demonstrating the high repeatability of the behavior of HD 191612 over a decade. The line profiles appear typical for magnetic massive stars: no significant line shift, relatively narrow lines for high-Z elements, and formation radius at about 2 R∗. Line ratios confirm the softening of the X-ray spectrum at the minimum emission phase. Shift or width variations appear of limited amplitude at most (slightly lower velocity and slightly increased broadening at minimum emission phase, but within 1–2σ of values at maximum). In addition, a fully self-consistent 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the confined wind in HD 191612 was performed. The simulation results were directly fitted to the data, leading to a remarkable agreement overall between them.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

The Global and Small-scale Magnetic Fields of Fully Convective, Rapidly Spinning M Dwarf Pair GJ65 A and B

The nearby M dwarf binary GJ65 AB, also known as BL Cet and UV Cet, is a unique benchmark for investigation of dynamo-driven activity of low-mass stars. Magnetic activity of GJ65 was repeatedly assessed by indirect means, such as studies of flares, photometric variability, X-ray, and radio emission. Here, we present a direct analysis of large-scale and local surface magnetic fields in both components. Interpreting high-resolution circular polarization spectra (sensitive to a large-scale field geometry) we uncovered a remarkable difference of the global stellar field topologies. Despite nearly identical masses and rotation rates, the secondary exhibits an axisymmetric, dipolar-like global field with an average strength of 1.3 kG while the primary has a much weaker, more complex, and non-axisymmetric 0.3 kG field. On the other hand, an analysis of the differential Zeeman intensification (sensitive to the total magnetic flux) shows the two stars having similar magnetic fluxes of 5.2 and 6.7 kG for GJ65 A and B, respectively, although there is evidence that the field strength distribution in GJ65 B is shifted toward a higher field strength compared to GJ65 A. Based on these complementary magnetic field diagnostic results, we suggest that the dissimilar radio and X-ray variability of GJ65 A and B is linked to their different global magnetic field topologies. However, this difference appears to be restricted to the upper atmospheric layers but does not encompass the bulk of the stars and has no influence on the fundamental stellar properties.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1985

VLA observations of A and B stars with kilogauss magnetic fields

The serendipitous discovery that the star Sigma Ori E is a 3.5 mJy radio continuum source at 6 cm has stimulated a radio survey of other early-type stars with strong magnetic fields. No Ap stars have been detected of the eight observed, with typical 3-sigma upper limits of 0.5 mJy at 2 cm. Of the six Bp stars examined, only HR 1890, a helium-strong star, was detected. Possible emission mechanisms for the observed radio emission are discussed, and it is concluded that nonthermal emission seems the most plausible, on the basis of the present data.

Drake, S. A.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Searching for Faint X-Ray Emission from Galactic Stellar Wind Bow Shocks

We present a stacking analysis of 2.61 Ms of archival Chandra observations of stellar wind bow shocks. We place an upper limit on the X-ray luminosity of infrared-detected bow shocks of <2 × 10{sup 29} erg s{sup −1}, a more stringent constraint than has been found in previous archival studies and dedicated observing campaigns of nearby bow shocks. We compare the X-ray luminosities and L {sub X}/L {sub bol} ratios of bow shock driving stars to those of other OB stars within the Chandra field of view. Driving stars are, on average, of later spectral type than the field-of-view OB stars, and we do not observe any unambiguously high L {sub X}/L {sub bol} ratios indicative of magnetic stars in our sample. We additionally assess the feasibility of detecting X-rays from stellar wind bow shocks with the proposed Lynx X-ray Observatory. If the X-ray flux originating from the bow shocks is just below our Chandra detection limit, the nearest bow shock in our sample (at ∼0.4 kpc with an absorbing column of ∼10{sup 21} cm{sup −2}) should be observable with Lynx in exposure times on the order of ∼100 ks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

THE AGE OF THE KIC 7177553 SYSTEM

KIC 7177553 is a quadruple system containing two binaries of orbital periods 16.5 and 18 days. All components have comparable masses and are slowly rotating with spectral types of ∼G2V. The longer period binary is eclipsing with component masses and radii M {sub 1} = 1.043 ± 0.014 M {sub ⊙}, R {sub 1} = 0.940 ± 0.005 R {sub ⊙} and M {sub 2} = 0.986 ± 0.015 M {sub ⊙}, R {sub 2} = 0.941 ± 0.005 R {sub ⊙}. The essentially equal radii measurements are inconsistent with the two stars being on the man sequence at the same age using standard nonmagnetic stellar evolution models. Instead a consistent scenario is found if the stars are in their pre-main-sequence phase of evolution and have an age of 32–36 Myr. We have also computed evolutionary models of magnetic stars, but we find that our nonmagnetic models fit the empirical radii and effective temperatures better than the magnetic models.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗