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Results for “Inverse scattering”

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NASA NTRS1981

Quasi-simultaneous observations of BL Lac object Mrk 501 in X-ray, UV, visible, IR, and radio frequencies

Observations in the X-ray, UV, visible, IR and radio regions of the BL Lac object Mrk 501 made over the course of two months are reported. The measurements were made with the A2 experiment on HEAO 1 (X-ray), the SWP and LWR cameras on IUE (UV), the 5-m Hale telescope (visible), the 2.5-m telescope at Mount Wilson (IR), the NRAO 92-m radio telescope at Green Bank (4750 MHz) and the 46-m radio telescope at the Algonquin Observatory (10275 and 10650 MHz). The quasi-simultaneously observed spectral slope is found to be positive and continuous from the X-ray to the UV, but to gradually flatten and possibly turn down from the mid-UV to the visible; the optical-radio emission cannot be accounted for by a single power law. The total spectrum is shown to be compatible with a synchrotron self-Compton emission mechanism, while the spectrum from the visible to the X-ray is consistent with synchrotron radiation or inverse-Compton scattering by a hot thermal electron cloud. The continuity of the spectrum from the UV to the X-ray is noted to imply a total luminosity greater than previous estimates by a factor of 3-4.

Kondo, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Observation and measurement of molecular flow using stimulated Raman gain spectroscopy

The observation and measurement of frequency shifts in stimulated Raman gain spectroscopy resulting from subsonic molecular nitrogen flows emerging from a simple nozzle are reported. The flow velocity in the region of the measurement was determined to be 145 m/s with an accuracy of plus or minus 30 m/s. It is expected that significantly better flow-velocity resolution will be obtained in future experiments using inverse Raman scattering.

Herring, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Intergalactic shells at large redshift

The intergalactic shells produced by galactic explosions at large redshift, whose interiors cool by inverse Compton scattering off the cosmic background radiation, have a characteristic angular size of about 1 arcmin at peak brightness. At z values lower than 2, the shells typically have a radius of 0.5 Mpc, a velocity of about 50 km/sec, a metal abundance of about 0.0001 of cosmic values, and strong radiation in H I(Lyman-alpha), He II 304 A, and the IR fine-structure lines of C II and Si II. The predicted extragalactic background emission from many shells, strongly peaked toward the UV, sets an upper limit to the number of exploding sources at z values of about 10. Shell absorption lines of H I, C II, Si II, and Fe II, which may be seen at more recent epochs in quasar spectra, may probe otherwise invisible explosions in the early universe.

Shull, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Detection of X-rays during the outburst of supernova 1980k

X-ray emission from SN 1980k in NGC 6946 was detected about 35 days after maximum light using the imaging proportional counter on the Einstein Observatory. The absorption corrected X-ray flux of SN 1980k was about 0.03 micro-Jy at 0.24 x 10 to the 18th Hz (1 keV), which corresponds to a luminosity of about 2 x 10 to the 39th ergs/s (0.2-4 keV) at 10 Mpc. This detection of radio emission suggests the presence of relativistic electrons and a magnetic field strength of not greater than about 1 gauss. Inverse Compton scattering of the optical photons on the electrons can explain the X-ray emission without additional ad hoc assumptions, although other emission mechanisms are possible.

Canizares, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

High-resolution X-ray observations of M87 - Nucleus, jet and radio halo

X-ray observations of M87 made using the Einstein Observatory HRI show the presence of four components. A broad, diffuse component associated with hot gas in the galaxy follows an approximate inverse power law; the pressure of the gas could be sufficient to confine the inner and outer radio lobes. A diffuse, asymmetrical X-ray distribution to the east and southwest appears similar to the radio morphology and is consistent with an inverse Compton model. An X-ray source centered on the nucleus of the galaxy is extended by 2-3 arcsec and may be due to thermal bremsstrahlung; a possible compact source of less than 10 to the 41st ergs/sec is weak compared with other active galaxies, and its implications for the presence of a massive black hole are discussed. A structure correlated with the radio-optical jet is also seen; the X-ray flux is consistent with an extrapolation of the optical synchrotron spectrum. The four components suggest that all three canonical astrophysical X-ray emission mechanisms are present in M87: thermal bremsstrahlung, inverse Compton scattering, and synchrotron radiation.

Schreier, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Radio and X-ray observations of the radio halo source in A1367

Radio and X-ray observations of the 'radio halo' in A1367 are presented. The radio spectral index distribution is derived combining data at 610 and 1415 MHz taken with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). A high-resolution Very Large Array (VLA) map allows us to discriminate between the extended cluster emission and a triple radio source associated with a background stellar object (most probably a QSO) which appears projected onto it. X-ray observations taken with the high-resolution imager on board the Einstein satellite reveal an X-ray source associated with this background object. A second weak X-ray enhancement is found projected onto the extended radio component. Inverse Compton scattering of the synchrotron-emitting particles provides a possible interpretation of such a source. The presence of large-scale magnetic fields and particle acceleration due to the turbulent motion of galaxies through the intergalactic medium is discussed in relationship to the observed peculiarities of the galaxies found in this region.

Gavazzi, G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Photon-photon absorption and the uniqueness of the spectra of active galactic nuclei

The effects of the feedback of e(+)-e(-) pair reinjection in a plasma due to photon-photon absorption of its own radiation was examined. Under the assumption of continuous electron injection with a power law spectrum E to the minus gamma power and Compton losses only, it is shown that for gamma 2 the steady state electron distribution function has a unique form independent of the primary injection spectrum. This electron distribution function can, by synchrotron emission, reproduce the general characteristics of the observed radio to optical active galactic nuclei spectra. Inverse Compton scattering of the synchrotron photons by the same electron distribution can account for their X-ray spectra, and also implies gamma ray emission from these objects. This result is invoked to account for the similarity of these spectra, and it is consistent with observations of the diffuse gamma ray background.

Kazanas, D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

X-ray spectra and time variability of active galactic nuclei

X ray measurements taken with the HEAO-1 and -2 satellites are examined for clues to the source of emissions from active galactic nuclei (AGN). The data covered the energy range 2-100 keV and 0.5-4.5 keV and encompassed quasars, BL Lac objects, Seyfert I galaxies and broadline radio galaxies. The broadline spectra were best fit with a power law with a slope of about 0.68. The continua displayed roughly equivalent energy at all wavelengths except for radio bands. Spectral variability was detected in the BL Lac objects, which may emit optical, UV and soft X ray radiation from optically thin synchrotron emission with a hard X ray tail from inverse Compton scattering. No strong variability was evidenced with other AGN, suggesting that the emitting regions are below the Eddington luminosity and thus exhibit stable flow characteristics.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Photon-photon absorption and the uniqueness of the spectra of active galactic nuclei

Kazanas, D.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The particle and photon spectrum of an optically thick relativistic wind

Compact astrophysical sources of energetic particles and photons are somewhat optically thick to particle-particle, particle-photon and photon-photon interactions. These interactions include pair production and annihilation, Compton and inverse Compton scattering, and electron-electron collisions (including bremsstrahlung). Preliminary results are presented from a calculation in which the modulation of an initial source spectrum by these processes in an expanding relativistic electron-photon wind is evaluated.

Caroff, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

X-ray emission possibly coincident with the radio tail of PKS 0301 - 123

X-ray, radio, and optical observations are reported for a very poor cluster of galaxies containing the radio source PKS 0301 - 123. A long, 100,000 second X-ray observation using the Einstein Observatory's IPC resulted in the serendipitous discovery of a peculiar extended X-ray morphology associated with the poor cluster. The X-ray emission is extended in the same direction and is approximately the same length as the radio-tailed source, PKS 0301 - 123, which was mapped at 6 and 20 cm with the VLA. Optical redshift observations with the KPNO IIDS on the 2.1 m telescope confirm the identification of the X-ray and radio emission with the poor cluster at z = 0.1. It is argued that the X-ray extension is unlikely to be a chance coincidence of a background source projected onto the foreground cluster. Therefore, four possible mechanisms which might physically link the X-ray and radio emission are considered: thermal bremsstrahlung from a cluster with a flattened potential well; inverse Compton scattering of the relativistic electrons in the radio source, X-ray synchrotron radiation; and heating the cluster gas by the turbulent wake of the radio galaxy. The prospects for future observations of such X-ray/radio coincidences are briefly discussed.

Burns, J. O.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Short-lived solar burst spectral component at f approximately 100 GHz

A new kind of burst emission component was discovered, exhibiting fast and distinct pulses (approx. 60 ms durations), with spectral peak emission at f approx. 100 GHz, and onset time coincident to hard X-rays to within approx. 128 ms. These features pose serious constraints for the interpretation using current models. One suggestion assumes the f approx. 100 GHz pulses emission by synchrotron mechanism of electrons accelerated to ultrarelativistic energies. The hard X-rays originate from inverse Compton scattering of the electrons on the synchrotron photons. Several crucial observational tests are needed for the understanding of the phenomenon, requiring high sensitivity and high time resolution (approx. 1 ms) simultaneous to high spatial resolution (0.1 arcsec) at f approx. 110 GHz and hard X-rays.

Kaufmann, P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The complex cross-spectra of Cygnus X-2 and GX 5-1

The intensity variations of Cyg X-2 and GX 5-1 are analyzed with a Fourier cross-spectral technique making it possible to measure the frequency dependence of the time lags between the intensity variations in two X-ray spectral bands. In the 20-40 Hz frequency range of the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO), the hard (about 5-18 keV) signal lags the soft (about 1-5 keV) one, while the reverse is true for the associated red noise. The observed time lags range from 0.4 to 8 ms. For similar QPO parameters, the observed lags are much smaller in GX 5-1 than they are in Cyg X-2. The 'hard lags' previously measured in the cross-correlation functions of these sources are now identified as due to lags in the QPO. It is argued that the 'soft lags' now detected in the red noise are not inconsistent with the interpretation of the hard lags as due to inverse Compton scattering.

Van Der Klis, M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

An X-ray and radio study of steep-spectrum radio soruces. I - Four fields from the Clark Lake Observatory 26 MHz survey

A multifrequency study of fields containing steep-spectrum radio sources is presented. New spectral and spatial data are used to determine the locations and optical identifications of steep-spectrum sources which previously had either poor positions or questionable correspondence to known sources. X-ray images from the Einstein Observatory provide estimates of the extent, temperature, density, and thermal pressure of hot gas associated with galaxies and clusters of galaxies. From the equations relating synchrotron emission to inverse Compton scattering of 3 K background photons, lower limits to the average magnetic field strength in the source are derived. For the resolved radio sources of known distance, the minimum nonthermal pressure and the corresponding magnetic field strength are also calculated. For the four fields discussed in this paper, it is found that three out of five steep-spectrum sources are embedded in a cluster atmosphere and two are unidentified. Except for unresolved radio structures associated with cores of galaxies, the estimated thermal pressure is sufficient to confine the radio sources.

Harris, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Effects of a hot intergalactic medium

One effect a hot intergalactic medium (IGM) would have would be to produce an isotropic X-ray background through thermal bremsstrahlung. Such a background was modeled including both relativistic electron-ion and electron-electron emission; the observed X-ray measurements could be fit with a current temperature of 10.2 keV and Omega (IGM) of 0.27, assuming that the IGM was instantaneously heated at a redshift of 5 and cools by relativistic adiabatic expansion and Compton cooling. Such a hot IGM would also distort the cosmic microwave background spectrum by inverse Compton scattering off relativistic electrons. This distortion was modeled using the relativistic treatment. When including the recent data of Matsumoto et al., an undistorted radiation temperature of 2.86 K and an Omega (IGM) of 0.41 was found.

Taylor, Gregory B.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The nature of the cosmic-ray electron spectrum, and supernova remnant contributions

The observed cosmic-ray (CR) electron spectrum and position fraction e+/(e- + e+) spectrum above 1 GeV are examined, and it is found that a deconvolution of the total spectrum into three components is necessary because of the increase of e+/(e- + e+) above 5 GeV: (1) secondary electrons e+ or e- from the interaction of the CR protons with the interstellar gas provide the total e+ for energies less than 3 GeV, but for energies above 3 GeV these electrons cannot account for the observed positron flux; (2) Electrons (e-) generally thought to derive from supernova remnants (SNRs), probably via shock acceleration, dominate the total spectrum for E of 10 GeV or less but definitely decline relative to total at higher energies; (3) Another (e- + e+) source dominates the total spectrum at E of 40 GeV or greater. The derived spectrum of (2) is consistent in its energy cutoff (though gradual) with that deduced from the observed synchrotron emission of some old SNRs and follows naturally from shock acceleration with synchrotron and inverse Compton scattering losses taken into account. As for (3), nearby pulsars may be important contributors.

Boulares, Ahmed↗

NASA NTRS1989

Active galactic nuclei. III - Accretion flow in an externally supplied cluster of black holes

This third paper in the series modeling QSOs and AGNs as clusters of accreting black holes studies the accretion flow within an externally supplied cluster. Significant radiation will be emitted by the cluster core, but the black holes in the outer halo, where the flow is considered spherically symmetric, will not contribute much to the overall luminosity of the source because of their large velocities relative to the infalling gas and therefore their small accretion radii. As a result, the scenario discussed in Paper I will refer to the cluster cores, rather than to entire clusters. This will steepen the high-frequency region of the spectrum unless inverse Compton scattering is effective. In many cases accretion flow in the central part of the cluster will be optically thick to electron scattering, resulting in a spectrum featuring optically thick radiative component in addition to power-law regimes. The fitting of these spectra to QSO and AGN observations is discussed, and application to 3C 273 is worked out as an example.

Pacholczyk, A. G.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The probability of detecting absorption features in gamma-ray burst spectra

It has recently been suggested that several mechanisms for the primary release of energy in gamma-ray bursts may result in the excitation of magnetospheric plasma oscillations (MPO) above the polar cap of a neutron star. The basic MPO idea is refined by determining the soft photon source (which damps the particle motion via inverse Compton scattering interactions) self-consistently by means of a Monte Carlo simulation for the deposition of back-scattered gamma-ray energy below the stellar photosphere. The observed fraction of bursts displaying low-energy absorption features may be understood in the context of a model wherein the overall spectrum changes with inclination angle due to the superposition of several components with different angular distributions. GRB spectra should display these cyclotron lines about 18 percent of the time, which is consistent with the KONUS and Ginga sets of data.

Melia, F.↗