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At least 343 records · Page 19

The Variable Crab Nebula: Evidence for a Connection Between GeV Flares and Hard X-ray Variations

In 2010, hard X-ray variations (Wilson-Hodge et al. 2011) and GeV flares (Tavani et al 2011, Abdo et al. 2011) from the Crab Nebula were discovered. Connections between these two phenomena were unclear, in part because the timescales were quite different, with yearly variations in hard X-rays and hourly to daily variations in the GeV flares. The hard X-ray flux from the Crab Nebula has again declined since 2014, much like it did in 2008-2010. During both hard X-ray decline periods, the Fermi LAT detected no GeV flares, suggesting that injection of particles from the GeV flares produces the much slower and weaker hard X-ray variations. The timescale for the particles emitting the GeV flares to lose enough energy to emit synchrotron photons in hard X-rays is consistent with the yearly variations observed in hard X-rays and with the expectation that the timescale for variations slowly increases with decreasing energy. This hypothesis also predicts even slower and weaker variations below 10 keV, consistent with the non-detection of counterparts to the GeV flares by Chandra (Weisskopf et al 2013). We will present a comparison of the observed hard X-ray variations and a simple model of the decay of particles from the GeV flares to test our hypothesis.

Variable Crab Nebula↗

The Crab Nebula

Crab Nebula continuing energetic activity study indicating origin in nebula center and association with supernova remnant

Melrose, D. B.↗

A discussion of the H-alpha filamentary nebulae and galactic structure in the Cygnus region

From observation of the galactic structure in Cygnus, the system of filamentary nebulae was found to lie at a distance of roughly 1.5 kpc, in the same region as about half the thermal radio sources in Cygnus X, the supernova remnant near gamma Cygni, and the association Cygnus OB2, in the direction of which the X-ray source Cygnus XR-3 is observed. The source of excitation was probably the pulse of radiation from a supernova explosion, as proposed in the case of Gum nebula. However continuing excitation by early stars in the region of Cygnus X cannot be excluded.

Matthews, T. A.↗

The appearance of the Gum nebula

The dimensions of the Gum nebula complex appear to be overestimated. The distance of 460 parsecs to the central pulsar is rather on the large side, and likely contributions from gamma Velorum and zeta Puppis were underestimated. The multiorigin character of the Gum nebula is reaffirmed. The parts produced by traditional ultraviolet thermal radiation and by processes directly related to the supernova outburst must be defined.

Bok, B. J.↗

Ultraviolet photometry of planetary nebulae

Nine of the planetary nebulae observed by the Wisconsin filter photometers are compared with 15 Monocerotis in the spectral region 1430-4250 A. The data are corrected for the degradation of the filters of stellar photometer number four with time. Comparisons with simple models indicate that most of the observed nebulae are subject to some interstellar extinction in the far ultraviolet. However, NGC 246 and NGC 1360 appear to be nearly unreddened. Thus far no unexpected features have been found in the observations.

Holm, A. V.↗

The Gum Nebula.

A historical review of observations on the Gum Nebula is given together with a survey of knowledge on its size, emission features, and dynamics of expansion. The ultraviolet spectrum of Zeta Puppis is examined in terms of features caused by various absorption lines, and radio emission from Vela X is analyzed, together with the effects of nebular plasma on the propagation of radio pulses from pulsars in the Nebula. The density distribution and the possibility of being produced by the Vela X supernova are discussed.

Maran, S. P.↗

Detection of X-ray polarization of the Crab Nebula.

Two different types of X-ray polarimeters were used in a sounding rocket to search for X-ray polarization of the Crab Nebula. Polarization was detected at a statistical confidence level of 99.7%. If the X-ray polarization is assumed to be independent of energy, the results of this and a previous experiment lead to a polarization of 15.4 (plus or minus 5.2) percent at a position angle of 156 (plus or minus 10) deg. This result confirms the synchrotron model for X-ray emission from the Crab Nebula.

Novick, R.↗

Discovery of interstellar circular polarization in the direction of the Crab Nebula.

A search in many small regions of the Crab Nebula has resulted in the detection of a small component of circular polarization. The variation of the sign and magnitude with position in the Nebula indicates that the polarization is of interstellar origin. On the basis of the polarity, strength, and colour dependence, it is concluded that the composition of the aligned grains causing this polarization is dielectric. Metallic particles are clearly ruled out. Some stars have also been observed with negative results.

Martin, P. G.↗

Low energy X-ray survey from the Crab Nebula to Cygnus.

Observations of cosmic X-rays in the energy band 0.2-3.0 keV were made from an experiment on board an Aerobee 170 rocket launched from White Sands, N.M. on Dec. 19, 1970. A survey along the galactic plane between the Crab Nebula and Cygnus provided data on the interstellar absorption and X-ray flux for the Crab Nebula, NP 0532, Cas A, and Cyg X-2; upper limits were obtained for the flux from a number of supernova remnants. The 1/4 keV X-ray background was measured over a limited range of galactic latitude and longitude.

Garmire, G.↗

The formation of planetary nebulae

A hydrodynamic model of a star consisting of a helium shell and a hydrogen-rich shell overlying a hard core is proposed in order to find out what causes the ejection of stellar mass with low velocities that form planetary nebulae. Observations indicate that a planetary nebula is composed of hydrogen-rich material, while the remaining remnant of the star is of helium or heavier material.

Sparks, W. M.↗

Kinematics of the Huyghenian region of the Orion Nebula.

Palomar data published by Wilson et al. (1959) on Orion Nebula wavelength 3726 and 5007 forbidden OII and OIII emission lines have been used to construct a presented pair of contour maps of isovelocities in intervals of 2.5 km/sec. The space motions of theta-1 and theta-2 Ori stars and nebula measurements are discussed.

Fischel, D.↗

The albedo of particles in reflection nebulae

The relation between the apparent angular extent of a reflection nebula and the apparent magnitude of its illuminating star was reconsidered under a less restrictive set of assumptions. A computational technique was developed which permits the use of fits to the observed m-log a values to determine the albedo of particles composing reflection nebulae, providing only that a phase function and average optical thickness are assumed. Multiple scattering, anisotropic phase functions, and illumination by the general star field are considered, and the albedo of reflection nebular particles appears to be the same as that for interstellar particles in general. The possibility of continuous fluorescence contributions to the surface brightness is also considered.

Rush, W. F.↗

Discovery of interstellar circular polarization in the direction of the Crab Nebula

A search in many small regions of the Crab Nebula has resulted in the detection of a small component of circular polarization. The variation of the sign and magnitude with position in the Nebula indicates that the polarization is of interstellar origin. On the basis of the polarity, strength, and color dependence, it is concluded that the composition of the aligned grains causing this polarization is dielectric. Metallic particles are clearly ruled out.

Martin, P. G.↗

Interstellar molecules - Formation in solar nebulae

Herbig's (1970) hypothesis that solar nebulae might be the principal source of interstellar grains and molecules is investigated. The investigation includes the determination of physical and chemical conditions in the early solar system. The production of organic compounds in the solar nebula is studied, and the compounds in meteorites are compared with those obtained in Miller-Urey and Fischer-Tropsch-type (FTT) reactions, taking into consideration aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, purines, pyrimidines, amino acids, porphyrins, and aspects of carbon-isotope fractionation. It is found that FTT reactions account reasonably well for all well-established features of organic matter in meteorites investigated. The distribution of compounds produced by FTT reactions is compared with the distribution of interstellar molecules. Biological implications of the results are considered.

Anders, E.↗

A high-resolution map of the Orion Nebula region at far-infrared wavelengths

It is shown that the Kleinmann-Low nebula continues to radiate like a 70-deg-K blackbody at 69 microns, as it does at shorter wavelengths, but that most of the 69-micron flux from Ori A (M42) comes from an extended emission that roughly follows the free-free radio emission. Nearby sources also detected include the nebula M43 and the molecular cloud OMC-2.

Fazio, G. G.↗

The temperature gradient in the solar nebula

The available compositional data on planets and satellites can be used to place stringent limits on the thermal environment in the solar nebula. The densities of the terrestrial planets, Ceres and Vesta, the Galilean satellites, and Titan; the atmospheric compositions of several of these bodies; and geochemical and geophysical data on the earth combine to define a strong dependence of formation temperature on heliocentric distance. It is impossible to reconcile the available compositional data with any model in which the formation temperatures of these bodies are determined by radiative equilibrium with the sun, regardless of the sun's luminosity. Rather, the data support Cameron's hypothesis of a dense, convective solar nebula, opaque to solar radiation, with an adiabatic temperature-pressure profile.

Lewis, J. S.↗