Engineering topics

Rappaport, S. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Rappaport, S. A..

15 records

NASA NTRS2004

Accretion onto Fast X-Ray Pulsars

The recent emergence of a new class of accretion-powered, transient, millisecond X-ray pulsars presents some difficulties for the conventional picture of accretion onto rapidly rotating magnetized neutron stars and their spin behavior during outbursts. In particular, it is not clear that the standard paradigm can accommodate the wide range in M(i.e., approx. greater than a factor of 50) over which these systems manage to accrete and the high rate of spindown that the neutron stars exhibit in at least a number of cases. When the accretion rate drops sufficiently, the X-ray pulsar is said to become a "fast rotator," and in the conventional view, this is accompanied by a transition from accretion to "propellering," in which accretion ceases and the matter is ejected from the system. On the theoretical side, we note that this scenario for the onset of propellering cannot be entirely correct because it is not energetically self-consistent. We show that, instead, the transition is likely to take place through disks that combine accretion with spindown and terminate at the corotation radius. We demonstrate the existence of such disk solutions by modifying the Shakura-Sunyaev equations with a simple magnetic torque prescription. The solutions are completely analytic and have the same dependence on M and a (the viscosity parameter) as the original Shakura-Sunyaev solutions, but the radial profiles can be considerably modified, depending on the degree of fastness. We apply these results to compute the torques expected during the outbursts of the transient millisecond pulsars and find that we can explain the large spin-down rates that are observed for quite plausible surface magnetic fields of approx. 10(exp 90 G.

Rappaport, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The evolution of very low mass stars

The results of numerical evolutionary calculations for stars with masses in the range of 0.01-0.10 solar mass are presented. The stellar models by which these stars are followed from the early stages of contraction through deuterium burning to the very late stages of degenerate cooling at ages comparable to that of the Galaxy are described, and the methodology used to investigate the major uncertainties in the input physics are discussed. It is found that, for brown dwarfs with masses substantially below the end of the hydrogen-burning main sequence, the evolution of the effective temperature and bolometric luminosity are fairly well determined, despite the residual uncertainties in the input physics. In particular, the evolution is remarkably insensitive to the choice of the atmospheric opacity law at low temperatures and to the amount of mismatch in specific entropy across the stellar envelope. The minimum mass for a star to attain main-sequence status is moderately sensitive to the assumed input physics, particularly the surface boundary conditions.

Nelson, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The evolution of ultrashort period binary systems

A discussion is presented concerning the results of detailed evolutionary calculations in which a very low mass and hydrogen-depleted semiattached binary star containing a collapsed object can reach an exceptionally short orbital period while sustaining a relatively high mass transfer rate. The observed properties of such systems can be understood under the assumption that they contain moderately to severely hydrogen-defficient secondary stars that are neither fully degenerate nor burning He. It is noted that for extremely hydrogen-depleted stars, the assumption of chemical homogeneity becomes untenable. Attention is given to the binary systems 4U 1626-67, 4U 1916-05, and G61-29.

Nelson, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On the nature of the companion to Van Biesbroeck 8

Results of the first numerical evolutionary calculations for very low-mass stars with ages up to the age of the Galaxy are presented. The calculations shed new light on the nature of the recently discovered object VB 8B, the companion to Van Biesbroeck's star no. 8, and support the identification of this object as a low-mass star in which hydrogen burning was never able to establish thermal equilibrium. For plausible ages of this binary stellar system, the mass of VB 8B is estimated to be in the range 0.04-0.08 solar mass. The object is supported primarily by degenerate electron pressure; its present values of central density and temperature are found to be 500-2000 g/cu cm and 1.0-1.5 million K. An orbital period of more than about 40 yr is predicted for the binary system. The presented evolutionary tracks are also applicable to the interpretation of observations of other very low-luminosity dwarfs.

Nelson, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On the binary nature of cosmic gamma-ray burst sources

The binary model of gamma ray burst sources wherein the bursts are emitted by a collapsed object in a close-binary stellar system and a small fraction of the gamma radiation is reprocessed into optical radiation in the surface layers of a companion star is considered, and it is concluded that the model is viable. In particular, under the assumption that the optical flashes discovered by Schaefer (1981) and Schaefer et al. (1984) were produced by gamma-ray bursts of about the same intensity as those observed, it is found that nearby binary systems with secondaries whose masses are less than about 0.06 solar mass can fit all the observational constraints for the three optical/gamma-ray pair events.

Rappaport, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Low-mass X-ray binaries

A review is given of current understanding of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), which are luminous X-ray sources composed of a late-type optical companion (mass less than about 1 solar mass) and a neutron star (or possibly a black hole). Thirty-two LMXBs have been identified with optical counterparts in the Galaxy and one in the Large Magellanic Cloud (Brad and McClintock, 1983). It is unlikely that there are more than about 100 active LMXBs in the Galaxy, compared with about 200,000 cataclysmic variables. Topics covered in the review are: typical X-ray and optical properties; orbital periods; the nature of the compact source; accretion disks; formation; mass transfer mechanisms; and globular clusters and bright bulge X-ray sources.

Mcclintock, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

On the origin of the 6.1-ms pulsar

A quantitative model is presented to account for the observed features of the binary pulsar PSR1953+53. A lower giant branch star is suggested to have evolved on a nuclear time scale while orbiting a neutron star, with mass transfer to the neutron star commencing when the giant attained its Roche lobe. A radius-core mass relationship was used to examined the processes that occurred after the hydrogen atmosphere was drained off to the neutron star. Tidal dissipation has circularized the orbit of the companion during mass transfer, while the orbit expanded. Accretion torques caused spin-up of the neutron star, which had a magnetic moment of no more than 3 x 10 to the 27th G/cu cm. The drained star became a degenerate dwarf with very faint luminosity, which accounts for no visual companion having been observed to date.

Joss, P. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

X-ray pulsars in massive binary systems

The extraction of information on X-ray pulsars in massive binaries from observations is discussed. The phenomenology of X-ray pulsations and pulsar energy spectra is briefly considered, and pulse timing studies and their implications for the accretion process and the properties of neutron stars are discussed. Measurements of orbits and the determination of binary system parameters, including masses, radii, and internal structure of the companion stars, as well as the masses of the neutron stars, are addressed.

Rappaport, S. A.↗

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 NTRS1977

The masses of neutron stars - Observational constraints

The present state of empirical knowledge concerning neutron-star masses is reviewed on the basis of information obtained for the nine known X-ray pulsars in binary systems. Pulse profiles and other pulse parameters of these X-ray pulsars are examined, and allowable mass ranges are estimated for four X-ray pulsars in binary systems as well as for the binary pulsar PSR 1913+16. The approximate mass ranges obtained include 1.2 to 2.4 solar masses for 3U 0900-40, 0.7 to 4.3 solar masses for Cen X-3, 0.8 to 1.8 solar masses for SMC X-1, 0.0 to 2.3 solar masses for Her X-1, and either 1.4 to 1.8 solar masses or 0.0 to 1.8 solar masses for PSR 1913+16 if the companion is a normal white dwarf or some other type of star, respectively. Theoretical implications of these results are briefly considered.

Rappaport, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Discovery of a 272 second periodic variation in the X-ray source GX 304-1

Observations of GX 304-1 (3U 1258-61) performed with the SAS-3 satellite revealed regular X-ray pulsations with a period of 272 s. Average pulse profiles, derived from 7 days of observation, are presented in four energy intervals covering the range 1-19 keV. The pulses are basically characterized by a single broad peak, and the amount of modulation decreases rapidly with increasing energy. The pulse arrival times are analyzed for effects of possible orbital motion of the X-ray star, and significant constraints are placed on the orbital parameters. For example, if it is established that the companion is an early-type star of at least 5 solar masses, then the orbital period is likely to be greater than about 15 days. Three 100-s flares were observed during which the source intensity rose by a factor of 4 in approximately 10 s.

Mcclintock, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1977

X-ray bursts from MXB 1837+05

Results are reported for SAS 3 observations of 22 bursts from the X-ray source designated MXB 1837+05. Assuming that all the bursts come from one source, the source position is determined to be right ascension (1950) 18 hr 37.9 min, declination (1950) 5 deg 4.2 min. Integrated burst intensities are listed along with ratios of counts in different energy channels, and it is found that there are significant variations in these ratios from burst to burst. The bursts are also shown to exhibit a variety of temporal structures (including double peaks) and changes in spectral hardness. No regularity was detected in the burst occurrence times during one observing period, but four bursts during another period seemed to recur at regular intervals of about 6.3 hr. It is concluded that an intensity-interval correlation similar to that for a rapid burster does not exist for MXB 1837+05 and that this source is probably identical with the relatively strong and steady source Ser X.1.

Li, F. K.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Observational constraints on the masses of neutron stars

The present state of empirical knowledge about neutron-star masses is reviewed. It is shown how the mass function of a pulsar-containing binary system can be inferred from measurements of the pulsation period and the projected semimajor axis of the pulsar orbit plus independent information concerning the inclination of the orbital plane, the mass of the companion star, or both. Relevant observational properties, the type of information used to constrain the pulsar mass, and the range of allowable pulsar masses are summarized for the binary systems 3U 0900-40, Cen X-3, SMC X-1, Her X-1, and PSR 1913+16. It is found that as long as the general theory of relativity is correct, neutron-star masses should range from about 1.4 to 1.9 solar masses if the companion is a normal white dwarf or should be less than about 1.9 solar masses if the companion is some other object. It is concluded that these mass estimates are entirely consistent with the predictions of nuclear physics theory.

Joss, P. C.↗

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

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.↗