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Reichert, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Reichert, G..

Multiwavelength monitoring of the BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304. I - The IUE campaign

Daily monitoring of PKS 2155-304 with the IUE satellite throughout November 1991 revealed dramatic large-amplitude rapid variations in the UV flux of this BL Lac object. Many smaller, rapid flares are superposed on a general doubling of the intensity. During the five-day period when sampling was roughly continuous, the rapid flaring had an apparent quasi-periodic nature, with peaks repeating every 0.7 day. The short- and long-wavelength UV light curves are well correlated with each other, and with the optical light curve deduced from the Fine Error Sensor on IUE. The formal lag is zero, but the cross-correlation is asymmetric in the sense that the shorter wavelength emission leads the longer. The UV spectral shape varies a small but significant amount. The correlation between spectral shape and intensity is complex. The sign of the correlation is consistent with the nonthermal acceleration processes expected in relativistic plasmas, so that the present results are consistent with relativistic jet models, which can also account for quasi-periodic flaring.

Urry, C. M.↗

Low energy X-ray emission from five galaxy cluster sources

We report the detection of soft (0.2-2.5 keV) X-ray emission from several known cluster X-ray sources using the low energy detectors of the HEAO 1 A-2 experiment. Soft X-ray emission was observed from five clusters - the Centaurus cluster, Abell 2147, SC 1329-314, Abell 2319, and Abell 133. Spectral parameters estimated from the soft X-ray fluxes are inconsistent with those reported at higher energies for the Centaurus cluster, Abell 2147, and SC 1329-314, indicating the presence of more than one spectral component in these clusters. No evidence for more than one component was found for either Abell 2319 or Abell 133. The temperature of Abell 133 is constrained to be less than 2 x 10 to the 7th K, making it the coolest X-ray cluster yet detected.

Reichert, G.↗

HEAO 1 high energy X-ray observations of the Virgo cluster and A2142

Observations are reported of the Virgo cluster and Abell 2142 in the energy range of 15-150 keV, detected by using hard X-ray and low energy gamma-ray instruments on board the HEAO-1 spacecraft, during 1977 and 1978. The Virgo cluster was detected at a mean flux of (1.3 + or - 0.3) x 10 to the 0.001 photons/sq cm-s in the 20-100 keV band, and A2142 was detected marginally at a flux of (2 + or - 0.8) x 10 to the 0.001 photons/sq cm-s in the 15-40 keV band. Inverse Compton emission was not observed in these clusters. Results are used to derive limits to the intracluster magnetic field of B approximately greater than 5 x 10 to the -7th gauss and B approximately 5 x 10 to the -8th gauss in the Virgo cluster and A1242, respectively. There is some evidence for variability in these sources, which implies that the hard X-ray emission originates in a relatively compact object or region rather than from the cluster as a whole.

Lea, S. M.↗

A search for X-ray emission from rich clusters, extended halos around clusters, and superclusters

HEAO A-2 X-ray observations of rich clusters, extended halos around clusters, and superclusters are discussed. Concerning the optically richest clusters, results in the 0.2-60 keV energy range show that they appear to be relatively underluminous in X-rays. It is found that X-ray and microwave measurements for some rich clusters and for Abell 576 can be used to meaningfully constrain intracluster gas parameters and H(0); in addition, observations of Abell 576 show its luminosity to be less than earlier estimates. Extended halos around clusters were not detected in the data, and spectral observations of Abell 401 and 2147 reveal that they have typical cluster spectra with iron-line emission, while intensity measurements indicate that supercluster X-ray emission is not required.

Pravdo, S. H.↗

A search for X-ray emission from rich clusters, extended halos around clusters, and superclusters

The all-sky data base acquired with the HEAO A-2 experiment was searched for X-ray emission on a variety of metagalactic size scales which were either predicted or previously detected. Results in the 0.2-60 keV energy range are presented. The optically richest clusters, including those from which a microwave decrement were observed, appear to be relatively underluminous in X-rays. Observations of Abell 576 show its luminosity to be less than earlier estimates, and moreover less than the luminosity predicted from its microwave decrement, unless the intracluster gas is a factor of approximately 10 hotter than in typical clusters. Near SC0627 there are two X-ray sources, and the identification of the dominant source with SCO627 is probably incorrect. New spectral observations of Abell 401 and 2147, possible superclusters, reveal that they have typical cluster spectra with iron line emission.

Pravdo, S. H.↗

HEAO-1 - Low energy X-ray observations of clusters of galaxies

Results are reported for HEAO 1 low-energy X-ray observations of the Perseus and Virgo clusters of galaxies. The best-fit spectrum for the Perseus cluster indicates thermal bremsstrahlung from a plasma at a temperature of 20 + or - 10 million K, with an absorbing hydrogen column of 2 + or - 1 x 10 to the 21st per sq cm. The best-fit thermal-bremsstrahlung model for the Virgo cluster is obtained for a line centered at 1.15 keV, which is the expected position of the iron line complex at a temperature of 40 million K. An iron abundance of 3.1 (+7, -2.3) x 10 to the -5th relative to hydrogen is determined. This abundance is shown to be within a factor of about 3 of the 'cosmic' value.

Lea, S. M.↗