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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

A search for X-ray binary stars in their quiescent phase

Fourteen early-type stars representative of systems which may be harboring a neutron star companion and are thus potential progenitors of massive X-ray binaries have been examined for X-ray emission with the HEAO A-1 experiment. Limits on the 0.5-20 keV luminosity for these objects lie in the range 10 to the 31-33 erg/sec. In several cases, the hypothesis of a collapsed companion, in combination with the X-ray limit, places a serious constraint on the mass-loss rate of the primary star. In one instance, an X-ray source was discovered coincident with a candidate star, although the luminosity of 5 x 10 to the 31 is consistent with that expected from a single star of the same spectral type. The prospects for directly observing the quiescent phase of a binary X-ray source with the Einstein Observatory are discussed in the context of these results.

Helfand, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Gravitational radiation from the Galaxy

The spectral flux of gravitational radiation incident on earth from the Galactic W UMa binaries, unevolved binaries, cataclysmic binaries, neutron star binaries, black hole-neutron star binaries, and close white dwarf binary (CWDB) systems is calculated. The peak values for the strain amplitude hv produced by the binaries are: log hv = -17.0/sq rt Hz at log v = -4.40 Hz for W UMa's; log hv = -16.5/sq rt Hz at log v = -5.50 Hz for unevolved binaries; log hv = -18.2/sq rt Hz at log v = -5.15 Hz for neutron star binaries; log hv = -17.0/sq rt Hz at log v = -4.7 Hz for black hole-neutron star binaries; log hv = -18.0 /sq rt Hz at log v = -4.10 Hz for cataclysmic binaries, and log hv = -27.0/sq rt Hz at log v = -4.0 Hz for CWDBs. The gravitational flux at ultralow frequencies is emitted mainly by unevolved binaries. The integrated flux incident on earth is about 2.4 x 10 to the -9th ergs/sq cm/s.

Hils, D.↗
NASA NTRS2004

An X-Ray Investigation of the NGC346 Field in the SMC (3): XMM-Newton Data

We present new XMM-Newton results on the field around the NGC346 star cluster in the SMC. This continues and extends previously published work on Chandra observations of the same field. The two XMM-Newton observations were obtained, respectively, six months before and six months after the previously published Chandra data. Of the 51 X-ray sources detected with XMM-Newton, 29 were already detected with Chandru. Comparing the properties of these X-ray sources in each of our three datasets has enabled us to investigate their variability on times scales of a year. Changes in the flux levels and/or spectral properties were observed for 21 of these sources. In addition, we discovered long-term variations in the X-ray properties of the peculiar system HD5980, a luminous blue variable star, that is likely to be a colliding wind binary system, which displays the largest luminosity during the first XMM-Newton observation.

Naze, Yael↗
NASA NTRS1995

Merger of a Neutron Star with a Newtonian Black Hole

Newtonian smooth particle hydro simulations are presented of the merger of a 1.4 solar mass neutron star with a black hole of equal mass. The initial state of the system is modeled with a stiff polytrope orbiting a point mass. Dynamical instability sets in when the orbital separation is equal to about three stellar radii. The ensuing mass transfer occurs on the dynamical timescale. No accretion torus is formed. At the end of the computation a corona of large extent shrouds an apparently stable binary system of a 0.25 solar mass star orbiting a 2.3 solar mass black hole.

Lee, William H.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Primeval very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs – VIII. The first age benchmark L subdwarf, a wide companion to a halo white dwarf

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of five white dwarf + ultracool dwarf systems identified as common proper motion wide binaries in the Gaia Catalogue of Nearby Stars. The discoveries include a white dwarf + L subdwarf binary, VVV 1256−62AB, a gravitationally bound system located 75.6$^{+1.9}_{-1.8}$ pc away with a projected separation of 1375$^{+35}_{-33}$ au. The primary is a cool DC white dwarf with a hydrogen dominated atmosphere, and has a total age of $10.5^{+3.3}_{-2.1}$ Gyr, based on white dwarf model fitting. The secondary is an L subdwarf with a metallicity of [M/H] = $-0.72^{+0.08}_{-0.10}$ (i.e. [Fe/H] = $-0.81\pm 0.10$) and $T_{\rm eff}$ = 2298$^{+45}_{-43}$ K based on atmospheric model fitting of its optical to near infrared spectrum, and likely has a mass just above the stellar/substellar boundary. The subsolar metallicity of the L subdwarf and the system’s total space velocity of 406 km s−1 indicates membership in the Galactic halo, and it has a flat eccentric Galactic orbit passing within 1 kpc of the centre of the Milky Way every $\sim$0.4 Gyr and extending to 15–31 kpc at apogal. VVV 1256−62B is the first L subdwarf to have a well-constrained age, making it an ideal benchmark of metal-poor ultracool dwarf atmospheres and evolution.

Zhang, Z. H. (ORCID:000000033047607X)↗
NASA NTRS1981

A four-hour orbital period of the X-ray burster 4U/MXB1636-53

The characterization of X-ray burst sources and other, non-bursting galactic bulge X-ray sources as low-mass close binary systems is generally accepted. The companion stars of the transient burst sources Aql X-1 and Cen X-4 are of spectral types G7-K3V and K3-7V, respectively. If these stars fill their Roche lobe, their orbital periods are in the range of 5-8 hr. X-ray observations offer evidence for a Cen X-4 orbital period of about 8 hr. An analysis of average optical properties yields values for the typical companion star masses and orbital periods of this class of low-mass X-ray binaries of about 0.6 solar masses and 6 hr, respectively.

Pedersen, H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Broadband High-Energy Observations of the Superluminal Jet Source GRO J1655-40 During an Outburst

The X-ray/radio transient superluminal jet source GRO J1655-40 was recently suggested to contain a black hole from optical observations. Because it is a relatively close-by system (d approximately 3.2 kpc), it can likely provide us with rich information about the physics operating in both Galactic and extragalactic jet sources. We present the first simultaneous broadband high-energy observations of GRO J1655-40 during the 1995 July-August outburst by three instruments: ASCA, WATCH/Granat, and BATSE/CGRO, in the energy band from 1 keV to 2 MeV. Our observations strengthen the interpretation that GRO J1655-40 contains a black hole. We detected a two-component energy spectrum, commonly seen from other Galactic black hole binaries, but never detected from a neutron star system. Combining our results with the mass limits derived from optical radial velocity and orbital period measurements, we further constrain the mass of the central object to be between 3.3 and 5.8 solar mass, above the well-established mass upper limit of 3.2 solar mass for a neutron star (the optical mass function for GRO J1655-40 is 3.16 + 0.2 solar mass). This system is therefore the first Galactic superluminal jet source for which there is strong evidence that the system contains a stellar mass black hole. The inclination angle of the binary system is constrained to be between 76 deg and 87 deg, consistent with estimates obtained from optical light curves and radio jet kinematics.

Zhang, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS2011

The 5 Hour Pulse Period and Broadband Spectrum of the Symbiotic X-Ray Binary 3A 1954+319

We present an analysis of the highly variable accreting X-ray pulsar 3A 1954+319 using 2005-2009 monitoring data obtained with INTEGRAL and Swift. This considerably extends the pulse period history and covers flaring episodes in 2005 and 2008. In 2006 the source was identified as one of only a few known symbiotic X-ray binaries, Le" systems composed of a neutron star accreting from the inhomogeneous medium around an M-giant star. The extremely long pulse period of approximately 5.3 h is directly visible in the 2008 INTEGRAL-ISGRI outburst light curve. The pulse profile is double peaked and not significantly energy dependent. During the outburst a strong spin-up of -1.8 x 10(exp -4) h h(exp -1) occurred. Between 2005 and 2008 a long term spin-down trend of 2.1 x 10(exp -5) h h(exp -1) was observed for the first time for this source. The 3-80 keV pulse peak spectrum of 3A 1954+319 during the 2008 flare could be well described by a thermal Comptonization model. We interpret the results within the framework of a recently developed quasi-spherical accretion model for symbiotic X-ray binaries.

Marcu, Diana M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Annual IC Progress Report

The goal of this project is to computationally investigate the progenitors of astrophysical gamma-ray bursts (GRB), the most extreme explosions in the universe across length and time scales. We have developed a cutting-edge, code-bridging approach to exploring the physics behind these luminous events to test the hypothesis that GRBs with electromagnetic radio emission originate from massive star (MS) and black hole (BH) binary systems. Our multi-scale, multi-physics theoretical framework for GRBs is based on solving well-defined and testable hydrodynamics problems associated with the dynamical evolution of the system. We solve stages of the evolution in a tractable way with a suite of well-developed state-of-the-art computational tools that include the stellar evolution code MESA, the general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) code Athena++, and the binary black hole (BBH) population synthesis code COSMIC, as well as a number of self-written python post-processing tools.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1980

Pulsation of late B-type stars

Radial velocity observations of three of the brightest stars in the Pleiades, Alcyone, Maia and Taygeta, made during the course of one night, 25 October 1976, are discussed. All three stars were discovered to be pulsating with periods of a few hours. Analysis of all published radial velocities for each star, covering more than 70 years and approximately 100,000 cycles, has established the value of the periods to eight decimal places, and demonstrated constancy of the periods. However, amplitudes of the radial velocity variations change over long time intervals, and changes in spectral line intensities are observed in phase with the pulsation. All three stars may also be members of binary systems.

Beardsley, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The 1979 X-ray outburst of Cen X-4

X-ray observations of the first major outburst (since its initial discovery in 1969) of the "classical" transient X-ray source Cen X-4 were obtained with the Ariel 5 All-Sky Monitor. The flare light curve exhibits a double-peaked maximum at a level of approximately 4 times the Crab nebula, and its duration and characteristic decay time scale are the shortest yet observed from the class of "soft" X-ray transients. A total X-ray output of approximately 3 x 10 to the 43rd power ergs, a factor of approximately 20 less than that of the 1969 outburst is estimated. In addition, evidence is found for a regular modulation of the flux during the decline phase at a period of 8.2 plus or minus 0.2 hours. The existing data are consistent with a source model involving episodic mass exchange from a late-type dwarf onto a neutron star comparison in a relatively close binary system.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

X-ray bursters and the X-ray sources of the galactic bulge

Type 1 X-ray bursts, optical, infrared, and radio properties of the galactic bulge sources, are discussed. It was proven that these burst sources are neutron stars in low mass, close binary stellar systems. Several burst sources are found in globular clusters with high central densities. Optical type 1 X-ray bursts were observed from three sources. Type 2 X-ray bursts, observed from the Rapid Burster, are due to an accretion instability which converts gravitational potential energy into heat and radiation, which makes them of a fundamentally different nature from Type 1 bursts.

Lewin, W. H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The 1979 X-ray outburst of Centaurus X-4

X-ray observations of the first major outburst of the classical transient X-ray source Centaurus X-4 since its discovery in 1969 are presented. The observations were obtained in May, 1979, with the all-sky monitor on board Ariel 5. The flare light curve is shown to exhibit many of the characteristics of other transients, including a double-peaked maximum, as well as significant, apparently random, variations and a lower peak flux and shorter duration than the 1969 event. Application of a standard epoch-folding technique to data corrected for linear decay trends indicates a possible source modulation at 0.3415 days (8.2 hours). Comparison of the results with previous other data on Cen X-4 and the characteristics of the soft X-ray transients allows a total X-ray output of approximately 3 x 10 to the 43rd ergs to be estimated, and reveals the duration and decay time of the 1979 Cen X-4 outburst to be the shortest yet observed from soft X-ray transients. The observations are explained in terms of episodic mass exchange from a late-type dwarf onto a neutron star companion in a relatively close binary system.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

IUE observations of eight dwarf novae - A study of the outburst cycle from 0.12 to 3.5 microns

The dwarf novae are a class of close binary systems with a G-M star transferring mass to a white dwarf. The transferred material accumulates in a disk and accretes onto the white dwarf. Dwarf novae are characterized by outbursts on time scales of weeks to months possibly triggered by instabilities in the disk. To test the steady state models and the behavior of the disk at various stages of the outburst cycle, IUE observations were conducted for eight dwarf novae. Selected UV continuum points were joined to nonsimultaneous optical and IR spectrophotometry and broad-band photography to yield flux distributions over a large wavelength range. These flux distributions are discussed in terms of available accretion disk models.

Szkody, P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Models for Type I supernovae

Two somewhat disjoint scenarios for Type I supernovae are presented. One scenario is based on mass accretion by a white dwarf in a binary system, while the other involves a star of 8 to 10 solar masses which may or may not be a solitary star. In spite of the apparent dissimilarities of the two models, it may be that each occurs to some extent in nature, for they both share the possibility of producing substantial quantities of Ni-56 and explosions in stars devoid of hydrogen envelopes. It is concluded that these are two properties that must be shared by any viable Type I model.

Woosley, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Coronal Temperatures

The solid state spectrometer (SSS) on the Einstein Observatory (HEAO 2) was sensitive in the energy range 0.5 to 4.5 keV to fluxes as low as 4x10 to the 12th power ergs/cu cm/s. Good spectra were obtained for 19 stars, including Algol, 7 RS CVn systems, 2 dMe stars, 2 W UMa binaries, 1 GV single star, and 3 0B supergiants, 2 BV stars and 1 07 binary. This is a very incomplete survey of stellar coronae, but it does include coverage of several late and early types and usually more than 1 sample of the class. The results for these stars suggest two generalizations despite the small numbers: (1) there is a broad variety of X-ray spectra of stellar coronae; and (2) there probably are X-ray spectral types (X-ray coronae of stars of similar other properties have similar temperatures). Evidence indicating that some emission distributions are bimodal is discussed. Finally, some remarks are made concerning the spectra of the early type stars and constraints on the presence of very high temperatures.

Swank, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The Pinhole/Occulter as a tool for X-ray astronomy

The two X-ray transform telescopes on the Pinhole/Occulter Facility (P/OF) will provide sub-arcsecond angular resolution, high sensitivity imaging in hard X-rays for the first time, as well as improved capabilities for timing studies and spectroscopy. Although the design was driven by solar observing requirements, the result is an instrument of major importance for astronomical as well as solar observations. Fundamental astrophysical measurements could be made on supernova remnants, clusters of galaxies, active galaxy cores, accreting binary systems, and active coronae of nearby stars. Ways in which astronomical observations will benefit solar research are discussed.

Wood, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Enhanced winds and tidal streams in massive X-ray binaries

The tidal effects created by the presence of a compact companion are expected to induce a stream of enhanced wind from the early-type primary star in massive X-ray binary systems. In this paper, two-dimensional gasdynamical simulations of such streams are presented. It is found that the wind enhancement is a sensitive function of the binary separation, and develops into a tidal stream as the primary approaches its critical surface. For typical system parameters, the Coriolis force deflects the stream sufficiently that it does not impact directly on the compact companion but passes behind it. The density in the stream can reach values of 20-30 times the ambient wind density, leading to strong attenuation of the X-ray flux that passes through the tidal stream, providing a possible explanation of the enhanced absorption events seen at later phases in the X-ray observations of massive X-ray binary systems such as Vela X-1. In contrast to the time-variable accretion wake, the tidal stream is relatively stationary, producing absorption features that should remain fixed from orbit to orbit. For systems with a strong tidal stream, the large asymmetry in the accreting wind results in the accretion of angular momentum of constant sign, as opposed to systems without streams, where the sign of the accreted angular momentum can change.

Blondin, John M.↗