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Lewin, W. H. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Lewin, W. H. G..

At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Discovery of X-ray bursts from two sources in Aquila

Two X-ray burst sources have been discovered in Aquila with the aid of the SAS 3 X-ray Observatory; MXB 1906 + 00 and Aql MXB. The present paper reports on source positions, spectra, time structure, and burst energy. Five bursts were detected from MXB 1906 + 00, and the data are shown to be consistent with the assumption that there was a burst about every 8.9 hr. A comparison of raw counting data for three bursts indicates that the bursts were detected in the energy range from 1.3 to 19 keV and that the spectrum softened during burst decay. The spectrum of the one burst observed from Aql MXB is found not to soften during burst decay. It is suggested that MXB 1906 + 00 and the previously known 'steady' source A 1905 + 00 are very likely to be the same source and that the ratio of time-averaged 'steady' luminosity to time-averaged burst luminosity would be approximately 80.

Lewin, W. H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The discovery of rapidly repetitive X-ray bursts from a new source in Scorpius

Rapidly repetitive X-ray bursts have been observed from a new X-ray source in Scorpius. More than 2000 bursts were observed during the 4-day continual SAS-3 observations of this source designated MXB 1730-335. The time interval between bursts varied from a minimum of about 6 s to a maximum of about 5 minutes. The energy in a given burst is approximately linearly proportional to the time interval to the next burst. The largest bursts observed last for about 60 s and represent an energy release of approximately 10 to the 40th ergs for an assumed distance to the source of 10 kpc. The smallest bursts observed last only for a few seconds. We suggest that the bursts are caused by sporadic precipitations of plasma from a reservoir in the magnetosphere of a neutron star. The reservoir is replenished at a nearly constant rate by mass transferred from a binary companion.

Lewin, W. H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Recurrent brief X-ray bursts from the globular cluster NGC 6624

Observational data are presented on ten brief X-ray bursts, recurrent at nearly equal time intervals, recorded during a two-day observation of 3U 1820-30 in the globular cluster NGC 6624 with the wide-field modulation collimator detectors on the SAS-3 X-ray observatory. The occurrence times were fitted by least squares to a linear sequence with an rms deviation of 621 sec, corresponding to a phase jitter of 3.9%. The bursts were observed in two energy channels. For a sequence of five of the most clearly observed bursts, the 2-6 keV rate rose to its peak value in about 1 sec and then decayed to preburst level in about 10 sec. The 6-11 keV rate rose more slowly and decayed similarly. The smooth decay of their averaged light curve suggests the temporal evolution may have a geometrical origin, where Compton scattering in a surrounding cloud of hot plasma stretches the pulse out and causes a progressive hardening of the spectrum.

Clark, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

High-energy X-ray observations of the southern sky

Results are reported for high-energy (above 17 keV) balloon-borne X-ray observations in the southern sky which detected at least five sources that produced X-ray counts above background with a significance of four or more standard deviations. The probable sources observed include GX 301-2 (3U 1223-62), GX 1+4 (3U 1728-24), GX 5-1 (3U 1758-25), GX 3+1 (3U 1744-26), and GX 331-1. It is noted that some or all of the flux attributed to GX 5-1 might be due to 3U 1820-30 and that GX 3+1 was not completely resolved from GX 1+4. Energy spectra are given for each source along with upper limits to periodic fluctuations of the detected fluxes in the frequency range from 0.01 to 100 Hz. A possible observation of a flux from the eclipsing binary source 3U 1700-37 is discussed.

Ricker, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A fast transient source of hard X-rays at high galactic latitude

An extremely short-lived transient X-ray source has been detected with the SAS-3 satellite at a high galactic latitude (about -51 deg). The source, designated MX 2346-65, had a duration of between 45 s and 2200 s as well as a very hard spectrum. This source had not been detected in previous sky surveys and was not seen again by SAS-3 in 7 days of further periodic observations. Possible explanations of this type of event are discussed.

Rappaport, S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Search for X-ray emission from Nova Cygni 1975

A search for X-rays from Nova Cygni 1975 was carried out before, during, and after the time of optical maximum. No X-rays were detected over the spectral range 0.1-50 keV. On the basis of these results a strong upper limit of .0001 has been placed on the ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity for this nova, consistent with effective temperatures of about 10,000 K. If Nova Cygni 1975 is a virgin nova, its low mass exchange rate would imply that any associated X-ray emission would not be detectable by present techniques.

Hoffman, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The Perseus and Coma clusters of galaxies at energies above 20 keV

Observations of the Perseus and Coma clusters of galaxies were made on June 21, 1974, with a balloon-borne X-ray telescope (energies of approximately 20-150 keV). No positive detection was made. The data favor a thermal bremsstrahlung mechanism for the X-ray production in the Perseus cluster of galaxies over the inverse Compton mechanism. In the case of the Coma cluster of galaxies, the data are inconclusive with respect to determining the origin of the X-rays.

Scheepmaker, A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Observations of Cygnus X-3 from a balloon-borne X-ray telescope

X-ray measurements in the energy range 20-150 keV were made from a balloon-borne telescope on June 1 1975. Three scans, centered at phases 0.45, 0.60, and 0.70, respectively, of the 4.8 hr cycle, were conducted. The observed relative intensity as a function of phase differs significantly from previously reported X-ray measurements.

Ricker, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

MX 1313+29 - A compact source of very low energy X-rays in Coma Berenices

A compact X-ray source near the North Galactic Pole has been detected with the low-energy X-ray telescope aboard the SAS-3 satellite. The spectral temperature of the source is less than 1 million K, and the energy flux at the earth is 3 by 10 to the -10th power erg/sq cm/sec above 0.1 keV. The flux appeared to be constant both on short time scales (10-1000 s), and over the interval from the first SAS-3 observation (June 12, 1975) to the latest (July 15, 1975). The possible identification of this source with the hot white dwarf HZ 43 is discussed.

Hearn, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

An orientable, stabilized balloon-borne gondola for around-the-world flights

A system capable of pointing a balloon-borne telescope at selected celestial objects to an accuracy of approximately 10 arc minutes for an extended period (weeks to months) without reliance on telemetry is described. A unique combination of a sun/star tracker, an on-board computer, and a gyrocompass is utilized for navigation, source acquisition and tracking, and data compression and recording. The possibilities for intelligent activities by the computer are also discussed.

Ricker, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

OSO-7 observations of a high-latitude X-ray source associated with Abell cluster A2052

An X-ray source with a flux of 1.6 times 10 to the -10th power ergs per sec/sq cm (2-10 keV) has been observed at high galactic latitude by the MIT X-ray detectors on the OSO-7 satellite. Designated GX 8+50, its position is 15 hr 14.2 min right ascension, 6 deg 51 min declination, with a 90 percent confidence error circle of area 0.5 sq deg. The data are consistent with a power-law spectrum with an exponent 1.2 (plus or minus 0.2) or a thermal-bremsstrahlung spectrum with kT = 4 plus or minus 1 keV. A likely identification is the Abell cluster A2052, whose center coincides with the radio source 3C 317.

Heinz, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A ten-day observation of Hercules X-1 from the OSO-7 satellite

The MIT X-ray detectors aboard the OSO-7 spacecraft viewed Hercules X-1 from November 14 to 24, 1972. X-ray turn-on in the 35-day cycle was observed to occur between phases 0.67 and 0.70 (November 18.64-18.70). A significant decrease in the X-ray intensity occurred near mid-orbital phase, approximately 1.5 days after X-ray turn-on. Using the 1-6 keV data obtained during the 35-day off state, we conclude that if the optical light curve is due to heating of the large star by a blackbody source of soft X-rays, then the source must be large (radius greater than 5,000 km) and cool (temperature (kT) less than 90 eV). During one eclipse period (November 20.8-21.0) we find evidence for 1-6 keV X-ray emission.

Mcclintock, J. E.↗