Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “BURST”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Persistent X-ray emission from a gamma-ray burst source

A quiescent X-ray source detected with the Einstein X-ray Observatory in a location consistent with that of an intense gamma ray burst is shown to be also consistent with the location of the 1928 optical transient, the likely optical counterpart of the gamma ray burst source GBS0117-29. The system appears to be underluminous in X-rays by a factor of 10; possible reasons for this are discussed. The observed X-ray flux would require an accretion rate of about 10 to the -14th (d/1 kpc/)-squared solar masses per year, which is probably too low to be consistent with published nuclear flash models for gamma bursts, unless the distance is substantially greater than about 1 kpc or the burst recurrence time is greater than about 50 yrs, or the accretion rate is highly variable. Such a long recurrence time appears to be inconsistent with the detection of the optical burst.

Grindlay, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Frequency of gamma-ray bursts greater than 3 x 10 to the -6th erg/sq cm

Results are presented for gamma-ray burst observations with the Large Area Sky Survey instrument on HEAO-1. It is noted that during the time HEAO-1 was operational, the instrument detected at least 12 confirmed gamma-ray bursts with intensities greater than 3 microerg/sq cm and identified six additional unconfirmed bursts. The rates of gamma-ray bursts are estimated to be about 125 per yr for intensities greater than 3 microerg/sq cm and approximately 50 per yr for intensities greater than 10 microerg/yr. The data are shown to yield a log N - log S relation for gamma-ray bursts that is consistent with a spherical distribution of sources within the Galaxy and having a broad range of intrinsic luminosities.

Share, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

X-ray burst observations of Serpens X-1

Fifty-seven X-ray bursts observed with SAS 3 in the period 1976 July to 1979 March are reported. Their general features (e.g., maximum burst flux, integrated burst flux, spectral hardness, and rise time) and the relations between them are discussed. Also a comparison is made between these burst features and the associated persistent X-ray flux. The latter appears to be correlated with the maximum burst flux; the temperature of the plasma that produces the persistent flux is roughly proportional to this flux.

Sztajno, M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Simultaneous U, B, V, and X-ray measurements of a burst from 4U/MXB 1636-53

Data are presented on the first simultaneous X-ray and optical burst to be measured in more than one optical color. Various analyses agree that, to a first approximation, the optical burst is produced through blackbody reprocessing of the X-ray burst, with a short delay. Depending on the technique used, the value of the delay is 2 or 3 s. The smearing of the optical signal is determined to be less than 3 s. The temperature of the optical reprocessor ranges from approximately 25,000 K at quiescence to approximately 50,000 K at burst maximum. An extinction toward the source is derived from the color-color diagram, suggesting a distance greater than or approximately equal to 2 kpc. The projected effective area of the blackbody reprocessor is approximately 5 x 10 to the 21st (D/5 kpc)-squared sq cm. The fraction of the total X-ray burst energy converted into optical energy at all wavelengths is, within an order of magnitude, approximately 3 percent. These parameters are discussed in relation to the 4 hr orbital periodicity in the system reported by Pedersen et al. (1981).

Lawrence, A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Gamma Ray Bursts: a 1983 Overview

Gamma ray burst observations are reviewed with mention of new gamma-ray and optical transient measurements and with discussions of the controversial, contradictory and unresolved issues that have recently emerged: burst spectra appear to fluctuate in time as rapidly as they are measured, implying that any one spectrum may be incorrect; energy spectra can be obligingly fitted to practically any desired shape, implying, in effect, that no objective spectral resolution exists at all; burst fluxes and temporal quantities, including the total event energy, are characterized very differently with differing instruments, implying that even elementary knowledge of their properties is instrumentally subjective; finally, the log N-log S determinations are deficient in the weak bursts, while there is no detection of a source direction anisotropy, implying that Ptolemy was right or that burst source distance estimates are basically guesswork. These issues may remain unsolved until vastly improved instruments are flown.

Cline, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Associations between coronal mass ejections and metric type II bursts

A statistical comparison of metric type II bursts and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) during 1979-1982 was carried out. Type II bursts without CMEs were associated with short-lived (0.5 hr) soft X-ray events, but not with interplanetary shocks at the Helios 1 spacecraft. Type II bursts with CMEs were associated with longer-lived X-ray events (3 hr on the average) and interplanetary shocks, and the CMEs had speeds greater than 400 km/s. CMEs without metric type II bursts were divided equally into groups faster and slower than 455 km/s. The faster CMEs were associated with interplanetary shocks, some of which originated on the visible disk where metric type II bursts should have been observed if they had occurred. These results suggest that (1) shocks without CMEs have a relatively impulsive origin and may die out sooner than many shocks with CMEs which are piston driven, and (2) either some fast CMEs do not reach shock-producing super-Alfvenic speeds until they leave the lower corona where the metric emission originates, or these CMEs form shocks that are unable to excite type II emission in the lower corona.

Sheeley, N. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Decimetric type III radio bursts and associated hard X-ray spikes

For a relatively weak solar flare on August 6, 1981, at 10:32 UT, a detailed comparison is made between hard X-ray spikes and decimetric type III radio bursts. The hard X-ray observations are made at energies above 30 keV, and the radio data are obtained in the frequency range from 100 to 1000 MHz. The time resolution for all the data sets is approximately 0.1 s or better. The dynamic radio spectrum exhibits many fast drift type III radio bursts with both normal and reverse slope, whereas the X-ray time profile contains many well resolved short spikes with durations less than or equal to 1 s. Some of the X-ray spikes are seen to be associated in time with reverse-slope bursts, indicating either that the electron beams producing the radio burst contain two or three orders of magnitude more fast electrons than has previously been assumed or that the electron beams can induce the acceleration of additional electrons or occur in coincidence with this acceleration. A case is presented in which a normal slope radio burst at approximately 600 MHz occurs in coincidence with the peak of an X-ray spike to within 0.1 s.

Dennis, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

X-ray bursts: Observation versus theory

Results of various observations of common type I X-ray bursts are discussed with respect to the theory of thermonuclear flashes in the surface layers of accreting neutron stars. Topics covered include burst profiles; irregular burst intervals; rise and decay times and the role of hydrogen; the accuracy of source distances; accuracy in radii determination; radius increase early in the burst; the super Eddington limit; temperatures at burst maximum; and the role of the magnetic field.

Lewin, W. H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

HEAO-1 observations of gamma ray bursts

A search of data from the High Energy X-Ray and Low Energy Gamma Ray Experiment on HEAO-1 uncovered 14 gamma ray bursts. Nine of these events are reported for the first tiome. Except for the faintest events, all of the bursts detected by this experiment have been measured above an MeV, thereby confirming the hard spectral character of gamma ray burst spectra reported by SMM. Results give a burst rate of at least 105 per year above 6 times 10 to the minus 7th power ergs, which is consistent with previous measurements of burst frequency.

Hueter, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

An internally consistent gamma ray burst time history phenomenology

A phenomenology for gamma ray burst time histories is outlined. Order of their generally chaotic appearance is attempted, based on the speculation that any one burst event can be represented above 150 keV as a superposition of similarly shaped increases of varying intensity. The increases can generally overlap, however, confusing the picture, but a given event must at least exhibit its own limiting characteristic rise and decay times if the measurements are made with instruments having adequate temporal resolution. Most catalogued observations may be of doubtful or marginal utility to test this hypothesis, but some time histories from Helios-2, Pioneer Venus Orbiter and other instruments having one-to several-millisecond capabilities appear to provide consistency. Also, recent studies of temporally resolved Solar Maximum Mission burst energy spectra are entirely compatible with this picture. The phenomenology suggested here, if correct, may assist as an analytic tool for modelling of burst processes and possibly in the definition of burst source populations.

Cline, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Solar cosmic ray bursts and solar neutrino fluxes

The neutrino flux detected in the C1-Ar experiment seems to respond to the powerful solar cosmic ray bursts. The ground-based detectors, the balloons and the satellites detect about 50% of the bursts of soalr cosmic ray generated on the Sun's visible side. As a rule, such bursts originate from the Western side of the visible solar disk. Since the solar cosmic ray bursts are in opposite phase withthe 11-year galactic cosmic ray cycle which also seems to be reflected by neutrino experiment. The neutrino generation in the bursts will flatten the possible 11-year behavior of the AR-37 production rate, Q, in the Cl-Ar experiment. The detection of solar-flare-generated gamma-quanta with energies above tens of Mev is indicative of the generation of high-energy particles which in turn may produce neutrinos. Thus, the increased Q during the runs, when the flare-generated high energy gamma-quanta have been registered, may be regarded as additional evidence for neutrino geneation in the solar flare processes.

Basilevakaya, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Generation of 'artificial' bursts in a turbulent boundary layer

In an effort to better understand the physics and structure of coherent events in a turbulent boundary layer, an attempt is made to produce 'artificial' bursts. These are generated in a unique turbulent boundary layer, developed on a flat plate towed in an 18-m water channel, and thus with negligible freestream turbulence. The burst-like events are produced by either withdrawing near-water fluid from two minute holes separated in the spanwise direction, or by pitching a miniature delta wing that is flush-mounted to the wall. Either of these two actions generates a hairpin-like vortex and low-speed streak that resemble naturally occurring structures. The resulting sequence of events that occur at a given location can be controlled at will, thus allowing detailed examination via phase-locked measurements and flow visualization. In this paper, the artificial bursts are compared with natural, random bursts, using flow visualization and hot-film signals. Detailed quantitative data on topographical details and dynamical significance of the bursting structure will be addressed in a forthcoming article.

Gad-El-hak, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Dwarf nova burst asymmetry and the physics of accretion disks

Far-ultraviolet observations of a burst of SS Cyg obtained with the Voyager spacecraft are presented along with optical observations. Representative V band and far-UV light curves are computed based on a thermal instability model, and the dependence of the far-UV delay and the shape of the outburst on the location in the disk where the outburst starts is examined. The results show that burst initiated at large radii produce asymmetric light curves for which the far-UV flux lags the optical flux by about half a day, as observed. For bursts starting at smaller radii, the delay is smaller and the outburst is more rounded and symmetric. For both burst types, the delay with respect to the optical is longer for larger accretion disks and at shorter wavelengths. The physical processes that will promote burst initiation in the outer disk are discussed, emphasizing that this can occur in principle with no modulation of the mass transfer rate from the companion.

Cannizzo, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Nonradial g-mode oscillations in X-ray bursting neutron stars

The oscillation spectrum of nonradial g-modes in X-ray bursting neutron stars has been studied. The pulsation periods are found to be sensitive to the envelope temperature and range from about 15 ms to about 50 ms for the l = 1 g(1) mode during the X-ray burst. From a quasi-adiabatic stability analysis it is likely that a spectrum of l-pole g-modes is unstable due to the epsilon-mechanism associated with rapid alpha captures. As the thermal structure of the envelope of the neutron star changes on time scales less than 0.2 s during the rise of the X-ray burst, the oscillations are expected to be quasi-coherent during this phase. The calculated period derivatives are large during the burst and are about 1 ms/s. The pulsations are short-lived and are most likely to be seen in the immediate vicinity of the burst peak. Finally, the possible relevance of nonradial g-mode pulsations to the recently discovered quasi-periodic oscillations observed in a number of X-ray sources is discussed.

Mcdermott, P. N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Propagation of electrons emitting weak type III bursts in coronal streamers

The observations of weak type III bursts at 73.8, 57.5, 50.0, and 38.5 MHz from Clark Lake Radio Observatory on four days are reported and their characteristics are discussed. In addition to Clark Lake data, the magnetogram and sunspot/active region data and the coronal streamer data obtained by HAO's Coronagraph/Polarimeter aboard SMM satellite are used to study the location of the burst sources with respect to the coronal streamers emanating from active regions. It is shown that the bursts occur within or close to the edge of dense coronal streamers implying that the coronal streamers contain open magnetic field lines along which the electrons generating the bursts propagate. The positional analysis of the bursts is used to estimate the variation of coronal electron density with radial distance.

Gopalswamy, N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A type IV burst associated with a coronal streamer disruption event

A type IV burst was observed on February 17, 1985 with the Clark Lake Radio Observatory multifrequency radioheliograph operating in the frequency range 20-125 MHz. This burst was associated with a coronal streamer disruption event. From two-dimensional images produced at 50 MHz, evidence of a type II burst and a slow moving type IV burst are shown. The observations of the moving type IV burst suggests that a plasmoid containing energetic electrons can result from the disruption of a coronal streamer.

Kundu, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Characteristics of shock-associated fast-drift kilometric radio bursts

The existence of a class of fast-drift, shock-associated (SA), kilometric radio bursts which occur at the time of metric type II emission and which are not entirely the kilometric continuation of metric type III bursts has been reported previously (Cane et al., 1981). In this paper unambiguous SA event criteria are established for the purpose of statistically comparing SA events with conventional kilometric type III bursts. Applying these criteria to all long-duration, fast-drift bursts observed by the ISEE-3 spacecraft during a 28-month interval, it is found that more than 70 percent of the events satisfying the criteria are associated with the radio signatures of coronal shocks. If a given event is associated with a metric type II or type IV burst, it is 13 times more likely to satisfy the SA criteria than an event associated only with metric type III activity.

Macdowall, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Impulsiveness and energetics in solar flares with and without type II radio bursts - A comparison of hard X-ray characteristics for over 2500 solar flares

The hard X-ray characteristics of more than 2500 solar flares are used to study the relative size, impulsiveness, and energetics of flares with and without type II radio bursts. A quantitative definition of the hard X-ray impulsiveness is introduced, which may be applied to a large number of events unambiguously. It is found that the flares with type II bursts are generally not significantly larger, more impulsive, or more energetic than those without type II bursts. Also, no evidence is found to suggest a simple classification of the flares as either 'impulsive' or 'gradual'. Because type II bursts are present even in small flares with relatively unimpulsive energy releases, it is concluded that changes in the ambient conditions of the solar atmosphere causing an unusually low Alfven speed may be important in the generation of the shock wave that produces type II radio bursts.

Pearson, Douglas H.↗