Engineering topics

Shibazaki, Noriaki

Publications and source records attributed to Shibazaki, Noriaki.

8 records

NASA NTRS2001

Chandra Observations of the Crab Pulsar as a Function of Pulse Phase

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory was used to observe the Crab Nebula and its pulsar using the LETGS, i.e. the Low-Energy Transmission Grating (LETG) with the High Resolution Camera Spectroscopy detector (HRC-S). Data from the zeroth-order image was utilized to isolate the pulsar from the surrounding nebula and to measure the pulsar emission as a function of pulse phase. HRC timing problems were overcome by developing special techniques to process the data. For the first time, pulsed x-ray emission has been detected at all pulse phases, allowing us to set a new upper limit to the thermal emission from the surface of the neutron star.

Weisskopf, Martin C.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Discovery of X-Ray Emission from the Crab Pulsar at Pulse Minimum

The Chandra X-ray Observatory observed the Crab Nebula and Pulsar using the Low-Energy Transmission Grating (LETG) with the High-Resolution Camera (HRC). Time-resolved zeroth-order images reveal that the pulsar emits x rays at all pulse phases. Analysis of the flux at minimum -- most likely nonthermal in origin -- places an upper limit (T(sub infinity) < 2.1 MK) on the surface temperature of the underlying neutron star. In addition, analysis of the pulse profile appears to confirm the absolute timing of the Observatory to within about 0.2 ms.

Tennant, Allyn F.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Thermal evolution of neutron stars with internal frictional heating

It has been suggested that the frictional interaction of neutron superfluids with normal matter in the inner crust of neutron stars dissipates rotational energy of superfluids and generates heat. Incorporating a general formula of internal heating into the detailed numerical codes of thermal evolution, we examine the effects of the internal heating on thermal evolution of neutron stars. We find that when a very stiff equation of state is used, it takes as long as about 2 x 10 exp 4 yr for the interior of a neutron star to reach the isothermal state, even if a strong heat source is placed in a thin layer of the inner crust. This time scale reduces to a few hundred years or less when medium to soft equations of state are used. A neutron star cools by neutrino emissions during the earlier stages referred to as the neutrino cooling era, while during the later photon cooling era it cools primarily by emission of photons from its surface. We show that heating rates expected in the current superfluid-crust interaction model can greatly increase the surface temperature in the photon cooling era, significantly changing the thermal evolution of relatively old neutron stars if a stiff equation of state is adopted.

Umeda, Hideyuki↗

NASA NTRS1989

Neutron star evolution with internal heating

The thermal evolution predicted by current models of the superfluid-crust interaction is noted to differ substantially from the thermal evolution predicted by models without internal heating as well as previous models of heating. Heating rates approaching the maximum predicted by current models enhance the photon luminosity of the star in the neutrino cooling era, and dramatically alter the thermal evolution in the photon cooling era. Standard cooling models are consistent with current pulsar temperature estimates and upper limits, except those for the Vela pulsar, which are lower than predicted.

Shibazaki, Noriaki↗

NASA NTRS1989

Gamma-ray lines produced by low-energy cosmic rays in SN 1987A

The Fe-56 nuclei excited by the inelastic collision of protons with the energy of around 10 MeV emit gamma rays in the same nuclear gamma-ray lines as those from the radioactive decay of Co-56. Since a very young supernova remnant like SN 1987A is most likely to accelerate cosmic rays by the shock and a possible pulsar embedded in the ejecta, this process may account for the gamma-ray lines observed from SN 1987A. The conditions required to explain the observed flux of the gamma-ray lines were investigated. It was found that this jet having a large fraction of the total kinetic energy of the supernova explosion.

Ebisuzaki, Toshikazu↗

NASA NTRS1988

X-ray and gamma-ray emissions expected from supernova 1987A

The X-ray and gamma-ray spectra expected from SN 1987A have been calculated. Results for the TWOBF7 model are inconsistent with Ginga observation, but the X-ray flux and its spectral shape strongly depend on the chemical composition and expansion velocity of the ejecta. The distributions of density and chemical compositions for SN 1987A are described. For the TWOBF7 model, the X-ray flux between 10 and 20 keV reaches a peak of 6.7 photons/s/sq m about 1 yr after the explosion. For the 15B5 model, the peak flux is larger by a factor of five. The implications of the Ginga satellite's detection of an excess X-ray flux from the direction of the supernova for the models of SN 1987A are considered. How observations of gamma-ray lines can determine the optical thickness of the expanding shell is discussed.

Ebisuzaki, Toshikazu↗

NASA NTRS1988

The effects of mixing of the ejecta on the hard X-ray emissions from SN 1987A

The X-ray and gamma-ray emissions expected from SN 1987A have been calculated, taking into account mixing of material in the ejecta. Nuclear gamma rays emitted by Co-56 are scattered down to the hard X-ray band by multiple Compton scatterings. Nomoto's 11E1Y6 model for the ejecta of SN 1987A is used. X-ray light curves in the 10-30 keV band and spectra above 20 keV calculated with an inner mixed region of 5 + or - 1 solar mass are consistent with the observations performed with the Ginga satellite and the Kvant/Roentgen mission. On the basis of this comparison, further evolutions of the hard X-ray, gamma-ray, and optical/infrared emissions are discussed.

Ebisuzaki, Toshikazu↗

NASA NTRS1988

The effects of mixing of the ejecta on the gamma-ray lines from SN 1987A

Mixing of matter in the ejecta is suggested by hydrodynamical calculations for SN 1987A. The X-ray flux calculated including mixing reproduces well the observed X-ray light curve and spectra. The effects of mixing on the gamma-ray lines have been estimated. The line fluxes at times less than 1.5 yr after the explosion strongly depend on mixing, and are greatly increased for values of the mixed mass larger than 4 solar masses. The peak advances to an earlier time and its flux is also greatly enhanced. If 5 solar masses are adopted for the mixed mass, as suggested from the X-ray calculations, the 847 keV line will reach its peak around 1.1 yr after the explosion with flux of 0.00086 photons/sq cm per s. If the mixed mass is less than 4 solar masses, the mixing effect becomes less prominent. The gamma-ray lines expected from SN 1987A should be observable. The way in which gamma-ray line observations can be used to diagnose properties of the ejecta is discussed.

Ebisuzaki, Toshikazu↗