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Ostriker, J. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Ostriker, J. P..

51 records · Page 3

Models for compact pulsing X-ray sources.

Development of a model of a neutron star (Cen X-3) which releases the infall energy of accreted matter. Some general remarks are made on the possibility of accretion as a source of energy. It is shown that overflow of the Roche lobe is neither necessary as a source of mass nor probable in view of the observed stellar line widths of the two identified X-ray companions. While not excluding the possibility that tidal forces may drive some mass outflow, a number of models are investigated in which the material to be accreted appears in the form of a stellar wind. The behavior of the accreted gas near the accreting object is discussed, as well as the transfer of angular momentum near the accreting object. It is concluded that a relatively simple stellar wind driven accretion model appears to satisfactorily account, in a quantitative but not precise way, for most of the observed features of Cen X-3.

Ostriker, J. P.↗

A note on mass loss during collisions between galaxies and the formation of giant systems.

Stars will be liberated from the outer portions of galaxies which interact tidally. Using models based on the density distribution observed in the E1 galaxy NGC 3379, the mass loss is computed for hyperbolic collisions on an approximate but conservative basis. Binary collisions are then summed to show that large numbers of stars will be evaporated from elliptical members of dense clusters of galaxies. An estimate of one trillion solar masses is obtained for the amount of material dispersed in the Coma cluster, and in rich very dense systems (Morgan's Type I) the large amount of tidally dispersed debris may constitute the centrally located galaxies designated cD systems which often dominate these clusters.

Gallagher, J. S., III↗

Remarks about X-rays from Eta Carinae.

Two current models for Eta Carinae are discussed. It is shown that the recently observed soft X-ray flux seems to indicate a surprisingly high density for the ambient gas around Eta Carinae, and that some useful constraints on models of this object may result from X-ray observations.

Davidson, K.↗

Stellar and solar rotation

The angular momentum of stars and its distribution within the stars are discussed. Observed surface velocities dependent on a variety of factors are examined, including age, mass, spectral type, and binarism. The rotation and surface velocity of the sun are also considered.

Ostriker, J. P.↗

Runaway stars in the Gum Nebula

It is proposed that the two pulsars PSR 0833-45 (the Vela pulsar) and MP 0835 are runaways from a common binary system originally located in the B association around gamma Velorum. Arguments are presented for a simple model of the Gum nebula in which two distinct ionized regions are present. The first consists of the Stromgren spheres of gamma Velorum and zeta Puppis, while the second is a larger, more filamentary region ionized by the supernova explosion associated with PSR 0833-45. Using this model and the available dispersion measures, the distances to the two pulsars were estimated and found to be compatible with a runaway origin. The position angle of the rotation axis of PSR 0833-45 is also compatible with this origin. The masses of the parent stars of the two pulsars can be deduced from the runaway star dynamics and an assumed age for MP 0835. It is concluded that the masses were in excess of 10 solar masses. The dynamically-determined parent star masses are in agreement with the values expected for evolved members of the B association around gamma Velorum.

Got, J. R., III↗

On the nature of pulsars. III

Pulsar observations based on magnetic dipole model, discussing turnoff time, emission characteristics, birth rate and scale height

Gunn, J. E.↗