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Recent observations bearing on the nature of compact X-ray sources obtained from the MIT instruments aboard OSO-7 and SAS-3 are discussed. Results on the X-ray sky survey, new ultralow-energy X-ray sources, X-ray sources in globular clusters, slow X-ray pulsars, and variability and position of compact X-ray sources in Cen A are discussed. Descriptions of the satellite-borne X-ray instruments are provided.
Current knowledge of sources of X-ray bursts, defined as having rise times of less than a few seconds, durations of a few seconds to a few minutes and a generally regular recurrence pattern, is reviewed. An examination of the galactic distribution of X-ray burst sources, which has been confirmed by SAS-3 rotating modulation collimator observations, reveals that the burst sources are spread along the galactic equator and clustered near low galactic longitudes, unlike the distribution of globular clusters. At least four X-ray burst sources have been associated with steady X-ray sources based on positional coincidence, and it has been found that the X-ray bursts are less intense but harder than steady X-ray emission from these sources. Individual burst sources, including MXB1659-29, which has not been identified with a steady X-ray source, the source in NGC6624 which has been identified with 3U1820-30, MXB1837+05, associated with Ser X-1, three burst sources near the galactic center and the rapid burster MXB1730-335 are briefly discussed.
In the present study, the region of the gamma 195 + 5 was searched for X-ray emission to a level of approximately 10 to the minus eleventh erg/sq cm-sec. A source is detected whose position is in agreement with the position of the gamma-ray source. The area of the X-ray box is approximately five times smaller than the estimated gamma-ray error region; it will guide further observations at X-ray and other wavelengths. The probability that the source is located by chance within the gamma-ray error region is estimated at 9%. The X-ray spectrum appears to be too steep to extrapolate simply toward the 100 MeV point.
Observations of five gamma-ray bursts made with the solar orbiter Helios 2 are reported. Wavefront timing from Helios 2, at distances of up to 1.98 AU, to Vela 5A and 6A, in earth orbit, provides source location bands as narrow as 2 arcmin, although several degrees in length. The burst intensities and time profiles measured in interplanetary space by Helios 2 are the same as those observed near the earth, ruling out a narrow-beam interplanetary origin model. Also, the source direction bands for these events are inconsistent with the directions of all known celestial X-ray objects, X-ray bursters, and high-energy gamma-ray source regions. The gamma-ray burst source objects therefore appear to form a class distinct from all lower-energy X-ray or higher energy gamma-ray emitters.
Results are reported for simultaneous Copernicus UV and X-ray observations of the massive binary system V861 Sco (possibly associated with the X-ray source OAO 1653-40) over a period of five orbital cycles from April to September 1978. It is found that the UV spectrum of V861 Sco is similar to that of a normal supergiant and that the X-ray flux from OAO 1653-40 is highly variable. A simultaneous change in the C III 1176-A line and the 3.8-8.8-keV X-ray flux is discussed which was detected when V861 Sco was observed in September 1978. The close correlation between the X-ray and UV events is taken to imply that the X-ray source OAO 1653-40 is coincident with V861 Sco. The event energetics and physical conditions in the region responsible for the C III 1176-A emission are considered. It is concluded that the most likely X-ray production mechanism is accretion by a gas stream onto a black hole.
The detection of a simultaneous optical and X-ray burst from MXB 1837 + 05 (4U 1837 + 04 = Ser X-1) is reported. A similar detection was made earlier from MXB 1735-44. These are the only two burst sources that have been optically observed (simultaneous with X-ray observations) at a high level of sensitivity. Therefore, it may well be that optical bursts commonly accompany X-ray bursts. The relative timing and flux ratio of the optical and X-ray bursts imply that the optical radiation is probably reemission from X-ray-heated matter within 1-2 light seconds of the X-ray source and no more than a few light seconds in extent. This matter may be in an accretion disk around the X-ray source or possibly in the atmosphere of a dwarf companion.
A program of solar X-ray astronomy using grazing incidence optics has culminated in X-ray images of the corona having one arc second spatial resolution. These images have demonstrated that, in general, X-ray optics can be fabricated to their specifications and can provide the level of resolution for which they are designed. Several aspects of these programs relating to the performance of X-ray optics in regard to resolution, including the point response function, the variation of resolution with off-axis position and the recognition that nearly all solar X-ray images have been film limited, are discussed. By extending the experience gained on this and other programs it is clearly possible to design and fabricate X-ray optics with sub arc sec resolution. The performance required to meet the scientific objectives for the remainder of the century are discussed in relation to AXIO, an Advanced X-Ray Imaging Observatory for solar observations which is proposed for flight on the Space Shuttle. Several configurations of AXIO are described, each of which would be a major step in the quest for ultrahigh-resolution observations.
Copernicus and SAS-3 observations of Sco X-1 during very active states show strong and rapid X-ray flickering with time scales as short as 20 sec. Simultaneous optical photometry reveals similar and remarkably well correlated flickering of lower amplitude. The level of correlation decreases when the X-ray source becomes fainter, but optical and X-ray fluxes, averaged over 1 min, are usually well correlated for B magnitudes less than 12.9. Cross-correlation analysis of the data during periods of high activity shows no really significant time delay between X-ray and optical features, although the cross-correlation function peaks systematically for positive lag values (optical following X-rays). The amplitude of the X-ray flickering exhibits a strong energy-dependence consistent with the well-known intensity versus spectral-hardness relation derived from previous observations. The highly correlated optical activity is interpreted as due to reprocessing of X-ray photons in the binary system.
The contribution of young galaxies to the diffuse X-ray background is estimated and two mechanisms by which young galaxies may emit hard X-rays are considered. The first mechanism is direct thermal bremsstrahlung emission from a hot galactic wind powered by supernovae. Estimating mass-loss rates from galaxies by arguments based on metallicity and on the X-ray spectroscopic observations of rich clusters, it is shown that galactic winds may contribute substantially to the background. The second mechanism relies on the decreased metallicity of young galaxies to increase the number of supergiant stars and hence the numbers of hard X-ray binaries. This effect quantitatively explains the relatively large X-ray luminosity of the Magellanic clouds and also indicates that binaries in young galaxies may contribute a significant fraction of the diffuse X-ray background. Both mechanisms require that the epoch of galaxy formation be recent (redshift less than 2-3) in order to account for the observed spectral temperature (45 keV) of the hard X-ray background.
Observational data for the seven quasars or Seyfert-quasar transition objects identified with X-ray sources is reviewed for radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma-ray frequencies. The observational histories of the quasars 3C 273, MR 2251-178 and 0241+622 and the quasar-like Seyfert nuclei Fairall-9, Mk 509, IC 4329A and IIIZw 2 are discussed in detail, and it is noted that their X-ray variability and spectra do not differentiate them from Seyfert nuclei, supporting the similarity between the several types of active extragalactic nuclei. The space density of the six objects (excluding 3C 273) within 600 Mpc is found to be comparable to that of other Seyferts and quasars, suggesting that X-ray emitting objects constitute a substantial fraction of the luminous transition objects in the neighborhood of the Galaxy. It is also pointed out that observations of the X-ray variability of these objects, which indicates that the X-rays originate from compact regions, represent a promising means for the further understanding of the emission process.
A new X-ray source, H0523-00, with the optically variable Seyfert 1 galaxy AKN 120 is identified. The source has a 2-10 keV X-ray flux of 2 x 10 to the -11th ergs/sq cm s which corresponds to a 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity of 10 to the 44th ergs/s. X-ray observations over a 1.5 year time span combined with contemporaneous optical photometry show a decrease in the optical with no corresponding decrease in the X-ray. In contrast, similar observations of MCG 8-11-11 show a contemporaneous decrease in optical and X-ray fluxes. It is noted that the infrared and X-ray spectral slopes for these two objects are similar, with the optical being steeper by roughly one unit.
The interstellar origin and propagation of cosmic ray electrons and positrons are discussed on the basis of radio observations and direct measurements of cosmic ray spectra. Data on the galactic nonthermal radio spectrum are indicated which imply an exponent of -2.2 for the interstellar electron spectrum below 2 GeV and suggest, together with direct cosmic ray evidence, that the spectrum steepens to -3.2 at higher energies. Comparison of the radio data for higher energies with earth-based measurements reveals that the position of the break in the spectrum is dependent on the strength of the interstellar magnetic field and thus all measured intensity values are equally valid. Analysis of the homogeneous model of cosmic ray electron and positron propagation reveals that the limits on propagation parameters are independent of the set of cosmic ray measurements considered, and predict an injection spectral index for electrons of -2.24, an energy loss parameter of 1.5 + or - 0.5 x 10 to the -16th/GeV per sec, a path length of 7.5 times the 0.33 power of the ratio of initial to measured energies (in g/sq cm), average interstellar hydrogen density of 0.22/cu cm and a cosmic ray age of 25 million years. The absence of short cosmic ray lifetimes is shown to affect the interstellar electron spectrum above 100 GeV.
The cosmic X-ray experiment performed with the A2 instrument on HEAO-1 was especially developed to make systematics-free measurements of the extragalactic X-ray sky and has yielded the broadband spectral characteristics for two extreme aspects of this radiation. For the apparently isotropic radiation of cosmological origin that dominates the extragalactic X-ray flux, the spectrum over the energy band of maximum intensity is remarkably well described by a thermal model with a temperature of a half-billion degrees. At the other extreme, broadband observations of individual extragalactic X-ray sources with HEAO-1 are restricted to objects within the present epoch. These X-ray sources include a large sample of active galaxies studied in some detail over a broad bandwidth for the first time. Details of the cosmic X-ray background at these two extremes are reviewed, and some models describing X-ray emission mechanisms are discussed.
Consideration is given to Carr's theory (1980) that most cosmic X-ray background is produced by thermal X-ray emission associated with black hole accretion disks for compact objects. It is posited that the onset of significant X-rays occurs during galaxy formation when accretion disks are formed by the interaction of young galaxies and massive black holes of pregalactic origin. The study suggests that most cosmic X-ray background could be produced from distant sources with a low ratio of optical to X-ray luminosity. Precursor active galaxy objects involving a massive black hole surrounded by a hot optically thin accretion disk radiating near the Eddington luminosity limit and with an effective temperature of about 2 x 10 to the 9th K would fulfill the condition and produce the correct background spectrum and intensity. This model also associates cosmic X-ray background and nonthermal gamma-ray background to active galaxies, thus implying that massive black holes are associated with their internal dynamics.
The discovery of an extended X-ray source identified with a cluster of galaxies at low galactic latitude is reported. The source, designated the Ophiuchus cluster, was detected near 4U 1708-23 with the HEAO 1 Scanning Modulation Collimator, and identified with the cluster on the basis of extended X-ray size and positional coincidence on the ESO/SRC (J) plate of the region. An X-ray flux density in the region 2-10 keV of approximately 25 microJ was measured, along with an X-ray luminosity of 1.6 x 10 to the 45th ergs/sec and an X-ray core radius of approximately 4 arcmin (0.2 Mpc) for an assumed isothermal sphere surface brightness distribution. The X-ray spectrum in the range 2-10 keV obtained with the HEAO 1 A-2 instrument is well fit by a thermal bremsstrahlung model with kT = 8 keV and a 6.7-keV iron line of equivalent width 450 eV. The steep-spectrum radio source MSH 17-203 also appears to be associated with the cluster, which is the closest and brightest representative of the class of X-ray clusters with a dominant central galaxy.
Results of coordinated program of observations in the X-ray, UV, optical and radio regions of the dM5e flare star Proxima Centauri are presented. Simultaneous observations of the star were obtained on March 6 and March 7, 1979, by the Einstein Observatory IPC, the IUE SWP and LWR cameras at low dispersion, three ground-based optical telescopes in Australia and the Parkes 64-m radio telescope. A total of 10 radio bursts and six optical flares was detected during three nights of simultaneous radio and optical observations, which appear to be broadly correlated. A major X-ray flare event was detected with temperatures of 1.7 x 10 to the 7th and 1.2 x 10 to the 7th K during the rise and decay phases, respectively, respective X-ray fluxes of 3.0 x 10 to the -11th and 3.7 x 10 to the -11th ergs/sq cm per sec, and changes in spectral flux distribution. No radio, optical or UV flare emission corresponding to the X-ray flare was detected. The X-ray flare is interpreted in terms of an arch model with cooling predominantly by X-ray radiation, with an electron density of 1.0 x 10 to the 11th/cu cm during the decay phase and a total arch length comparable to the size of the star itself. The X-ray flare observed is thus more similar to a typical strong solar flare than heretofore seen on a flare star.
Progress made over the last decade in the understanding of the binary X-ray pulsars is reviewed. The characteristics of the pulse profiles of the known binary X-ray pulsars are discussed, and observed variations in pulse period corresponding to the spin-up of the neutron star are considered. Determinations of the orbits and binary system parameters of the binary X-ray pulsars from measurements of pulse arrival times are then examined. Attention is also given to current problems in binary X-ray pulsars, including the apsidal motion test, which allows the determination of the mass distribution within a star, the X-ray source 4U 1626-67, which is believed to be a highly compact binary X-ray source, and the observation of very faint X-ray pulsars with the Einstein Observatory.
Coded aperture X-ray detectors were applied to obtain large increases in sensitivity as well as angular resolution. A hard X-ray coded aperture detector concept is described which enables very high sensitivity studies persistent hard X-ray sources and gamma ray bursts. Coded aperture imaging is employed so that approx. 2 min source locations can be derived within a 3 deg field of view. Gamma bursts were located initially to within approx. 2 deg and X-ray/hard X-ray spectra and timing, as well as precise locations, derived for possible burst afterglow emission. It is suggested that hard X-ray imaging should be conducted from an Explorer mission where long exposure times are possible.