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At least 433 records · Page 24

Microwave emission from stars.

An attempt is made to summarize the observations of masered emission from stars and to outline some basic conclusions that can be drawn from the data. The association of masered microwave emission with well studied objects like stars makes it possible to use the information gathered by conventional optical observations to attack the general masering problem and, conversely, the radio observations may be used to obtain information about a star not readily accessible optically, such as the mass loss rate or the physical conditions in a circumstellar shell.

Schwartz, P. R.↗

The radio emission from the ultraluminous far-infrared galaxy NGC 6240

We present new radio observations of the 'prototypical' ultraluminous far-infrared galaxy NGC 6240, obtained using the Very Large Array (VLA) at lambda = 20 cm in B-configuration and at lambda = 3.6 cm in A-configuration. These data, along with those from four previous VLA observations, are used to perform a comprehensive study of the radio emission from NGC 6240. Approximately 70% (approximately 3 x 10(exp 23) W/Hz) of the total radio power at 20 cm originates from the nuclear region (approximately less than 1.5 kpc), of which half is emitted by two unresolved (R approximately less than 36 pc) cores and half by a diffuse component. The radio spectrum of the nuclear emission is relatively flat (alpha approximately equals 0.6; S(sub nu) proportional to nu(exp -alpha). The supernova rate required to power the diffuse component is consistent with that predicted by the stellar evolution models of Rieke et al. (1985). If the radio emission from the two compact cores is powered by supernova remnants, then either the remnants overlap and form hot bubbles in the cores, or they are very young (approximately less than 100 yr.) Nearly all of the remaining 30% of the total radio power comes from an 'armlike' region extending westward from the nuclear region. The western arm emission has a steep spectrum (alpha approximately equals 1.0), suggestive of aging effects from synchrotron or inverse-Compton losses, and is not correlated with starlight; we suggest that it is synchrotron emission from a shell of material driven by a galactic superwind. Inverse Compton scattering of far-infrared photons in the radio sources is expected to produce an X-ray flux of approximately 2 - 6 x 10(exp -14) ergs/s/sq cm in the 2 - 10 keV band. No significant radio emission is detected from or near the possible ultramassive 'dark core'.

Colbert, Edward J. M.↗

The Cosmic History of Hot Gas Cooling and Radio AGN Activity in Massive Early-Type Galaxies

We study the X-ray properties of 393 optically selected early-type galaxies (ETGs) over the redshift range of z approx equals 0.0-1.2 in the Chandra Deep Fields. To measure the average X-ray properties of the ETG population, we use X-ray stacking analyses with a subset of 158 passive ETGs (148 of which were individually undetected in X-ray). This ETG subset was constructed to span the redshift ranges of z = 0.1-1.2 in the approx equals 4 Ms CDF-S and approx equals 2 Ms CDF-N and z = 0.1-0.6 in the approx equals 250 ks E-CDF-S where the contribution from individually undetected AGNs is expected to be negligible in our stacking. We find that 55 of the ETGs are detected individually in the X-rays, and 12 of these galaxies have properties consistent with being passive hot-gas dominated systems (i.e., systems not dominated by an X-ray bright Active Galactic Nucleus; AGN). On the basis of our analyses, we find little evolution in the mean 0.5-2 keY to B-band luminosity ratio (L(sub x) /L(sub Beta) varies as [1 +z]) since z approx equals 1.2, implying that some heating mechanism prevents the gas from cooling in these systems. We consider that feedback from radio-mode AGN activity could be responsible for heating the gas. We select radio AGNs in the ETG population using their far-infrared/radio flux ratio. Our radio observations allow us to constrain the duty cycle history of radio AGN activity in our ETG sample. We estimate that if scaling relations between radio and mechanical power hold out to z approx equals 1.2 for the ETG population being studied here, the average mechanical power from AGN activity is a factor of approx equals1.4 -- 2.6 times larger than the average radiative cooling power from hot gas over the redshift range z approx equals 0-1.2. The excess of inferred AGN mechanical power from these ETGs is consistent with that found in the local Universe for similar types of galaxies.

Danielson, A. L. R.↗

Workshop on Impulsive Solar Flares, 2nd, University of New Hampshire, Durham, Sept. 26-28, 1988, Proceedings

Papers on impulsive solar flares are presented, covering topics such as the optical properties of impulsive flares, soft X-ray spectroscopy of solar flares, the energy release process in impulsive bursts, high-velocity evaporation and a high-speed shock wave during the impulsive phase of the April 24, 1984 flare, nonpotential magnetic fields at sites of gamma-ray flares, and meter-decimeter and microwave radio observations of solar flares. Other topics include rise times in solar radio bursts, removal of the gradual component in analyses of solar impulsive bursts, ion and relativistic electron transport in solar flares, neutrons and gamma-ray emission on June 3, 1982, emission characteristics of three intense solar flares in cycle 21, and solar flare gamma-ray observations with the Hinotori satellite. Additional topics include spectra of relativistic solar proton ground-level events recorded in Antarctica, a 153-d periodicity in the occurrence of solar flares producing energetic interplanetary electrons, a search for solar neutron response in neutron monitor data, neutral beams in two-ribbon flares and in the geomagnetic tail, beam heating in solar flares, and solar flare gamma-ray line shapes.

Source record↗

4U1722 + 11 - The discovery of an X-ray selected BL Lac object

The Uhuru X-ray source 4U1722 + 11 was observed using the microchannel-plate detector (High Resolution Imager) on the Einstein Observatory, and its coordinates measured to a precision of about 5 arcsec. A 16th-magnitude stellar object within the error circle was observed spectroscopically at CTIO, and at the AAT, and found to have a featureless continuum. Subsequent radio observations at the VLA have established that the object is a radio source at the level of 60 mJy, and optical polarization measurements have determined that the source exhibits variable polarization at the level of 10 percent. On the basis of these observations, it is concluded that 4U1722 + 11 is a member of the class of objects known as X-ray selected blazars of BL Lac objects.

Griffiths, R. E.↗

The Nature of Jets in Double-peaked Emission-line AGN in the KISSR Sample

Double-peaked emission-line AGN (DPAGN) have been regarded as binary black hole candidates. We present here results from parsec-scale radio observations with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) of five DPAGN belonging to the KISSR sample of emission-line galaxies. This work concludes our pilot study of nine type 2 Seyfert and LINER DPAGN from the KISSR sample. In the nine sources, dual compact cores are only detected in the “offset AGN,” KISSR 102. However, the overall incidence of jets in the eight sources that were detected with the VLBA is ≥ 60%. We find a difference in the “missing flux density” going from the Very Large Array to VLBA scales between Seyferts and LINERs, with LINERs showing less missing flux density on parsec-scales. Using the emission-line modeling code, MAPPINGS III, we find that the emission lines are likely to be influenced by jets in 5/9 sources. Furthermore, jet-medium interaction is the likely cause of the emission-line splitting observed in the SDSS spectra of these sources. Jets in radio-quiet AGN are therefore energetically capable of influencing their parsec- and kpcscale environments, which makes them agents of “radio AGN feedback” (similar to radio-loud AGN).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A radio picture of the earth

A technique called passive microwave remote sensing can be used to obtain a new view of the planet earth by means of radio telescopes carried aboard artificial satellites. An important relationship between the observed radio brightness temperature and the surface conditions provides the basis for the new technique. A radio image is presented of the entire earth on the basis of Nimbus microwave-image data taken January 12-16, 1973.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗

Variable radio emission from the 4 Draconis system

The 4 Dra system, which contains an M3 giant and a cataclysmic binary, has been detected as a 6 cm radio source with the VLA. This radio emission is variable on time scales of weeks to months. A number of possible sources of the radio emission within the 4 Dra system are considered, and the observed time variability probably rules out optically thick free-free emission from the wind of the M3 giant as the dominant source. The major source of the observed radio emission is likely to be either the cataclysmic binary or shocked regions due to the interaction between the cataclysmic binary and the red giant wind.

Brown, Alexander↗

The twin-nucleus merging galaxy Markarian 266 (NGC 5256)

Optical imaging in continuum and line wavelengths, spatially resolved optical spectroscopy, and 21 cm radio imaging of Markarian 266 are presented. The galaxy has faint extended plumes of luminosity, which indicate that it is a recent merger. There are extended regions of blue luminosity suggestive of recent star formation, and remarkable structure in forbidden O III line emission. Spectroscopic data show the velocities and densities in the ionized gas. Radio observations taken with the VLA show that both nuclei are resolved radio sources, and that there is a third radio source between them which has no optical counterpart; 21-cm absorption is seen against the brighter optical nucleus, indicating possible infall. These results are discussed in terms of galaxy mergers, nuclear activation, and ionized gas. Mkn 266 has many similarities to Arp 220 and appears to be a somewhat lower-luminosity version of the IRAS ultraluminous galaxies.

Hutchings, J. B.↗

E2000 + 223 - A newly discovered old nova?

The X-ray source, E2000 + 223, serendipitously discovered by the Einstein Observatory, has been tentatively identified with an old nova shell. Spectroscopic observations of the diffuse optical counterpart show a heavily reddened continuum with bright forbidden S II emission lines at double lambda 6716, 6732. Radio observations at the VLA show a weak (about 1.2 mJy) extended radio source, with a nonthermal spectrum, concident with the optical emission. The observations can be best explained by assuming the object is an old nova which erupted sometime in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, similar to GK Per (Nova 1901) but at a distance of 1.4 kpc.

Takalo, L. O.↗

Evidence for halo-like radio sources from kilometric type III burst observations

The radio azimuths for many kilometric type III bursts that originate near or behind the limb of the sun are observed to drift far to the east or far to the west of the spacecraft-sun line. It is shown that the behavior of the observed burst parameters for these events corresponds to the response of a spinning dipole antenna to halolike sources of radiation around the sun. These results provide evidence for a previous suggestion that behind-the-limb type III events should appear as halolike sources of radiation to an observer on the opposite side of the sun, due to scattering of the radiation from the primary source back around the sun.

Reiner, M. J.↗

Precise Timing and Phase-resolved Spectroscopy of the Young Pulsar J1617-5055 with NuSTAR

We report on a Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observation of the young, energetic pulsar PSR J1617-5055. Parkes Observatory 3 GHz radio observations of the pulsar (taken about 7 yr before the NuSTAR observations) are also reported here. NuSTAR detected pulsations at a frequency of f ≍ 14.4 Hz (P ≍ 69.44 ms) and, in addition, the observation was long enough to measure the source's frequency derivative, ḟ ≈ -2.8 X10^(-11) Hz/s. We find that the pulsar shows one peak per period at both hard X-ray and radio wavelengths, but that the hard X-ray pulse is broader (having a duty cycle of ~0.7), than the radio pulse (having a duty cycle of ~0.08). Additionally, the radio pulse is strongly linearly polarized. J1617's phase-integrated hard X-ray spectrum is well fit by an absorbed power-law model, with a photon index Γ = 1.59 ± 0.02. The hard X-ray pulsations are well described by three Fourier harmonics, and have a pulsed fraction that increases with energy. We also fit the phase-resolved NuSTAR spectra with an absorbed power-law model in five phase bins and find that the photon index varies with phase from Γ = 1.52 ± 0.03 at phases around the flux maximum to Γ = 1.79 ± 0.06 around the flux minimum. Last, we compare our results with other pulsars whose magnetospheric emission is detected at hard X-ray energies and find that, similar to previous studies, J1617's hard X-ray properties are more similar to the MeV pulsars than the GeV pulsars.

Neutron Stars↗

Observations on the DE 1 spacecraft of ELF/VLF waves generated by an ionospheric heater

DE 1 satellite radio observations were conducted in the 1525-5925 Hz range during a pass over an ionospheric heating facility; the waves were detected during a 2-min period, and the measurements indicated pulse-stretching by a few hundred msec, in conjunction with spectral broadening of about 10 Hz. The observed signal delays and pulse distortion are not consistent with expectations assuming propagation in a smooth magnetosphere between the assumed 'polar electrojet antenna' in the ionospheric D/E region and the 11,000-km altitude of the satellite. Scattering by density irregularities is judged the likely sources of the spectral broadening and delays.

James, H. G.↗

Galactic gamma-ray observations and galactic structure

Recent observations of gamma-rays originating in the galactic disk together with radio observations, support an emerging picture of the overall structure of our galaxy with higher interstellar gas densities and star formation rates in a region which corresponds to that of the inner arms. The emerging picture is one where molecular clouds make up the dominant constituent of the interstellar gas in the inner galaxy and play a key role in accounting for the gamma-rays and phenomena associated with the production of young stars and other population 1 objects. In this picture, cosmic rays are associated with supernovae and are primarily of galactic origin. These newly observed phenomena can be understood as consequences of the density wave theories of spiral structure. Based on these new developments, the suggestion is made that a new galactic population class, Population O, be added to the standard Populations 1 and 2 in order to recognize important differences in dynamics and distribution between diffuse galactic H1 and interstellar molecular clouds.

Stecker, F. W.↗

High-resolution observations of radio-source hot spots at 329 MHz

The hot spots of several luminous double radio sources have been observed at 329 MHz with VLBI at fringe spacings ranging from 0.05 to 0.70 arcsec. Two out of two high-redshift (z = about 0.5) sources, but only one of six low-redshift (z = about 0.05) sources, were detected. For the low-redshift source (3C 234) which was detected, either the hot spot is larger at 329 MHz than at 15 GHz, or else the brightness contrast between it and the surrounding lobe is lower at the lower frequency.

Linfield, R.↗

New Voyager radio spectrograms of Uranus

New, high-resolution spectrograms of the Voyager-2 radio observations at Uranus were produced from the original, six-second Planetary Radio Astronomy (PRA) data and these show a number of new features which were not obvious in previous versions. Among these new features are the detailed structure of the so-called broadband-bursty (b-bursty) emissions, unexpected sloping striations in the smooth high-frequency (SHF) component, and the overlap of these two components during the first rotation after closest approach. In addition, a slightly different planetary rotation rate from the b-bursty emissions, was found, and at the initial onset of the SHF component, what appears to be the shadow of a Uranian plasmasphere. These new spectrograms were prepared using a special dithering algorithm to show signal strengths as gray shadings, and the data were also manually cleaned to suppress noise and interference. This produced spectrograms of exceptional quality and certain details of their production on a stand-alone personal computer are also discussed.

Calvert, W.↗