Engineering topics

Katz, J. I.

Publications and source records attributed to Katz, J. I..

40 records · Page 3

NASA NTRS1979

Synchronous rotation in magnetic X-ray binaries

AM Herculis is thought to be a binary stellar system that contains an accreting magnetic degenerate dwarf whose rotation is synchronous with the orbital period. This synchronism is remarkable, particularly because of the small moment of inertia of a degenerate dwarf and the large specific angular momentum of the accreted matter. This paper demonstrates that ohmic dissipation from the magnetic interaction of the stars is capable of bringing about exact synchronism, provided that some other process has brought the rotation period of the degenerate dwarf to the same order of magnitude as the orbital period. It is also shown that magnetostatic interaction in the synchronous state leads to oscillatory drifts in phase about exact synchronism with periods of approximately 1-10 yr. These phase drifts could manifest themselves in long-term periodic variability in the X-ray or optical properties of the source. Accretion torques could excite such oscillatory motions but need not disrupt synchronism once it has been established.

Joss, P. C.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The bizarre spectrum of SS 433

Results are reported for extensive spectrophotometric observations, over the wavelength range from 3800 to 7800 A, of the peculiar 14th-mag emission-line object Stephenson-Sanduleak (SS) 433, which has been identified with a variable nonthermal radio source and is positionally coincident with the X-ray source A1909+04. It is found that the spectrum is dominated by intense variable Balmer and He I emission, that three of the He I lines have very prominent P Cygni profiles, and that virtually all the emission features undergo changes in equivalent width on a time scale of days. Anomalous emission features are described which consist of three previously unreported, very strong, broad emission lines at unfamiliar wavelengths in the green, red, and IR, and which vary nightly in intensity, profile, and wavelength. SS 433 is inferred to be a luminous object with an absolute visual magnitude of -3.1 or brighter.

Margon, B.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Short-term time variability of Cygnus X-1. III

Data from a SAS 3 observation of Cygnus X-1 have been analyzed, assuming a simple shot-noise model for the time variability. The results confirm the suggestion of Sutherland, Weisskopf, and Kahn that the shot parameters are constant when the source is in its low state. The first significant measurement of the time sense of the shot-noise pulses was performed, with the result that the average pulse shape is time-symmetric, not asymmetric as has been previously assumed.

Weisskopf, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The nature of Aquila X-1

Photometry in the UBV spectra was used to observe Aquila X-1. This X-ray source, usually producing flux on the order of 1-10% that of the Crab Nebula, often behaves in a manner resembling the behavior of galactic X-ray stars. A description of the calibration methods used in the observations is presented, with attention to photoelectric-photographic methods. These observations suggest a quiescent spectral class near Ko, i.e., a dwarf at a distance of 1.6 kpc. The more intense X-ray emissions are said to be generated from internal heating of the stellar atmosphere, with additional energy supplied by a low-mass companion star. This explaination is at variance with the semi-detached Roche model.

Margon, B.↗