Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “optical binary”

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 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Orbital variability in the wind of the massive X-ray binary HD 153919/4U1700-37

High resolution IUE spectra of HD 153919, the optical counterpart to 401700-37, were examined for evidence of the Hatchett-McCray effect. Although the resonance lines of C IV, N V, and Si IV are too heavily saturated to be very useful, the subordinate line of N IV at 1718 A clearly shows orbital variability in the correct sense to be explained as the removal of parent ions by the X-ray flux from the neutron star.

Howarth, Ian D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

4U 1626-67 - A prograde spinning X-ray pulsar in a 2500 s binary system

The binary period of 4U 1626-67 was found from an analysis of its optical pulsations. A single lower frequency sideband of the 2.4% amplitude 7.68-s optical pulsations from this X-ray pulsar was detected on at least three different nights in Fourier transforms of high-speed photometry obtained with the CTIO 4 m telescope. The 0.42% sidelobe pulsations have a frequency which is 0.4011(2) mHz lower than the frequency of the direct pulsations near 130.26 mHz. The weaker sidelobe pulsations are interpreted as arising from X-ray to optical reprocessing on the companion star and are shifted to the lower frequency by the rotation frequency of the binary orbit because the X-ray pulsar spins in the same sense as the orbital motion (direct or prograde).

Middleditch, J.↗
DOE OSTI2015

A NEW CLASS OF NASCENT ECLIPSING BINARIES WITH EXTREME MASS RATIOS

Early B-type main-sequence (MS) stars (M {sub 1} ≈ 5-16 M {sub ☉}) with closely orbiting low-mass stellar companions (q = M {sub 2}/M {sub 1} < 0.25) can evolve to produce Type Ia supernovae, low-mass X-ray binaries, and millisecond pulsars. However, the formation mechanism and intrinsic frequency of such close extreme mass-ratio binaries have been debated, especially considering none have hitherto been detected. Utilizing observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy conducted by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment, we have discovered a new class of eclipsing binaries in which a luminous B-type MS star irradiates a closely orbiting low-mass pre-MS companion that has not yet fully formed. The primordial pre-MS companions have large radii and discernibly reflect much of the light they intercept from the B-type MS primaries (ΔI {sub refl} ≈ 0.02-0.14 mag). For the 18 definitive MS + pre-MS eclipsing binaries in our sample with good model fits to the observed light-curves, we measure short orbital periods P = 3.0-8.5 days, young ages τ ≈ 0.6-8 Myr, and small secondary masses M {sub 2} ≈ 0.8-2.4 M {sub ☉} (q ≈ 0.07-0.36). The majority of these nascent eclipsing binaries are still associated with stellar nurseries, e.g., the system with the deepest eclipse ΔI {sub 1} = 2.8 mag and youngest age τ = 0.6 ± 0.4 Myr is embedded in the bright H II region 30 Doradus. After correcting for selection effects, we find that (2.0 ± 0.6)% of B-type MS stars have companions with short orbital periods P = 3.0-8.5 days and extreme mass ratios q ≈ 0.06-0.25. This is ≈10 times greater than that observed for solar-type MS primaries. We discuss how these new eclipsing binaries provide invaluable insights, diagnostics, and challenges for the formation and evolution of stars, binaries, and H II regions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

An Asymmetric Eclipse Seen toward the Pre-main-sequence Binary System V928 Tau

K2 observations of the weak-lined T Tauri binary V928 Tau A and B show the detection of a single, asymmetric eclipse, which may be due to a previously unknown substellar companion eclipsing one component of the binary with an orbital period >66 days. Over an interval of about 9 hr, one component of the binary dims by around 60%, returning to its normal brightness about 5 hr later. From modeling of the eclipse shape, we find evidence that the eclipsing companion may be surrounded by a disk or a vast ring system. The modeled disk has a radius of 0.9923 ± 0.0005 R&lowast;, with an inclination of 56.°78 ± 0.°03, a tilt of 41.°22 ± 0.°05, an impact parameter of -0.2506 ± 0.0002 R&lowast;, and an opacity of 1.00. The occulting disk must also move at a transverse velocity of 6.637 ± 0.002 R&lowast; day -1 , which, depending on whether it orbits V928 Tau A or B, corresponds to approximately 73.53 or 69.26 km s -1 . A search in ground-based archival data reveals additional dimming events, some of which suggest periodicity, but no unambiguous period associated with the eclipse observed by K2. We present a new epoch of astrometry that is used to further refine the orbit of the binary, presenting a new lower bound of 67 yr, and constraints on the possible orbital periods of the eclipsing companion. The binary is also separated by 18' (~2250 au) from the lower-mass CFHT-BD-Tau 7, which is likely associated with V928 Tau A and B. We also present new high-dispersion optical spectroscopy that we use to characterize the unresolved stellar binary.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

CXOGBS J173620.2-293338: A candidate symbiotic X-ray binary associated with a bulge carbon star

The Galactic Bulge Survey (GBS) is a wide but shallow X-ray survey of regions above and below the Plane in the Galactic Bulge. It was performed using the Chandra X-ray Observatory's ACIS camera. The survey is primarily designed to find and classify low luminosity X-ray binaries. The combination of the X-ray depth of the survey and the accessibility of optical and infrared counterparts makes this survey ideally suited to identification of new symbiotic X-ray binaries (SyXBs) in the Bulge. We consider the specific case of the X-ray source CXOGBS J173620.2-293338. It is coincident to within 1 arcsec with a very red star, showing a carbon star spectrum and irregular variability in the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment data. We classify the star as a late C-R type carbon star based on its spectral features, photometric properties, and variability characteristics, although a low-luminosity C-N type cannot be ruled out. The brightness of the star implies it is located in the Bulge, and its photometric properties are overall consistent with the Bulge carbon star population. Given the rarity of carbon stars in the Bulge, we estimate the probability of such a close chance alignment of any GBS source with a carbon star to be ≲ 10{sup –3}, suggesting that this is likely to be a real match. If the X-ray source is indeed associated with the carbon star, then the X-ray luminosity is around 9 × 10{sup 32} erg s{sup –1}. Its characteristics are consistent with a low luminosity SyXB, or possibly a low accretion rate white dwarf symbiotic.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations and analysis of the R Aquarii jet

Ultraviolet, optical and radio observations of the symbiotic star R Aquarii are discussed in the light of the discovery of a bright radio and optical jet from this star. The star is probably a binary with a period of 44 years. The VLA maps of the jet reveal a protruding structure extending approximately 10 arc sec from the central radio source with a position angle virtually identical to that of the optical jet observed at Lick. The observations of R Aqr are interpreted as indicating the existence of an accretion disk around an unseen companion. The hot subdwarf has effective temperature approximately 65,000 K. It is suggested that the Mira primary and the hot secondary are in orbit around each other with a high eccentricity. At periastron the hot subdwarf accretes at super critical rates and a jet forms. It is difficult to understand how an accretion disk would have eclipsed the Mira in 1928-1935 and 1974-1980. The suppression of maximum light in these two periods is interpreted as due to a distortion of the Mira envelope at periastron by the tidal interaction with the secondary. The jet may help to explain the excitation of the R Aqr nebula. It is possible that R Aqr flared up as a nova approximately 1000 years ago forming the nebula.

Kafatos, M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Identification of the X-ray pulsar in Hercules: A new optical pulsar

A series of photographic, photoelectric, and spectroscopic observations beginning June 1, 1972 has led to the optical identification of Her X-1 (2U 1705 + 34), a pulsed X-ray source in an eclipsing binary system, with the thirteenth magnitude blue variable star HZ Herculis. The detection of optical pulses at the frequency of the X-ray pulsar on three nights makes the identification conclusive and establishes HZ Her as the second known optical pulsar. The strength of the optical pulses may be correlated with the orbital phase but is not obviously related to the high or low intensity states of the X-ray source.

Davidsen, A.↗
DOE OSTI2012

LONG-TERM OPTICAL OBSERVATIONS OF TWO LMXBs: UW CrB (=MS 1603+260) AND V1408 Aql (=4U 1957+115)

We present new optical photometry of two low-mass X-ray binary stars, UW CrB (MS 1603+260) and V1408 Aql (4U 1957+115). UW CrB is an eclipsing binary and we refine its eclipse ephemeris and measure an upper limit to the rate of change of its orbital period, | P-dot | < 4.2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -11} (unitless). The light curve of UW CrB shows optical counterparts of type I X-ray bursts. We tabulate the times, orbital phases, and fluences of 33 bursts and show that the optical flux in the bursts comes primarily from the accretion disk, not from the secondary star. The new observations are consistent with a model in which the accretion disk in UW CrB is asymmetric and precesses in the prograde direction with a period of {approx}5.5 days. The light curve of V1408 Aql has a low-amplitude modulation at its 9.33 hr orbital period. The modulation remained a nearly pure sine curve in the new data as it was in 1984 and 2008, but its mean amplitude was lower, 18% against 23% in the earlier data. A model in which the orbital modulation is caused by the varying aspect of the heated face of the secondary star continues to give an excellent fit to the light curve. We derive a much improved orbital ephemeris for the system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

THERMAL INFRARED IMAGING AND ATMOSPHERIC MODELING OF VHS J125601.92-125723.9 b: EVIDENCE FOR MODERATELY THICK CLOUDS AND EQUILIBRIUM CARBON CHEMISTRY IN A HIERARCHICAL TRIPLE SYSTEM

We present and analyze Subaru/IRCS L ′ and M ′ images of the nearby M dwarf VHS J125601.92-125723.9 (VHS 1256), which was recently claimed to have an ∼11 M {sub J} companion (VHS 1256 b) at ∼102 au separation. Our adaptive optics images partially resolve the central star into a binary, whose components are nearly equal in brightness and separated by 0.″106 ± 0.″001. VHS 1256 b occupies nearly the same near-infrared position in the color–magnitude diagram as HR 8799 bcde and has a comparable L ′ brightness. However, it has a substantially redder H – M ′ color, implying a relatively brighter M ′ flux density than for the planets of HR 8799 and suggesting that non-equilibrium carbon chemistry may be less significant in VHS 1256 b. We successfully match the entire spectral energy distribution (optical through thermal infrared) for VHS 1256 b to atmospheric models assuming chemical equilibrium, models that failed to reproduce HR 8799 b at 5 μ m. Our modeling favors slightly thick clouds in the companion's atmosphere, although perhaps not quite as thick as those favored recently for HR 8799 bcde. Combined with the non-detection of lithium in the primary, we estimate that the system is at least 200 Myr old and the masses of the stars comprising the central binary are at least 58 M {sub J} each. Moreover, we find that some of the properties of VHS 1256 are inconsistent with the recent suggestion that it is a member of the AB Dor moving group. Given the possible range in distance (12.7 pc versus 17.1 pc), the lower mass limit for VHS 1256 b ranges from 10.5 M {sub J} to 26.2 M {sub J} . Our detection limits rule out companions more massive than VHS 1256 b exterior to 6–8 au, placing significant limits on and providing some evidence against a second, more massive companion that may have scattered the wide-separation companion to its current location. VHS 1256 is most likely a very low-mass hierarchical triple system and could be the third such system in which all components reside in the mass regime of brown dwarfs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1982

Model fitting of the Algol binaries

Energy distribution of the component stars of the Algol type semidetached binaries were studied by combining IUE low dispersion spectra with optical scans made with the same resolution. In most cases the flux distributions are matched by Kuruz model atmospheres with normal solar composition. Deviations from normal atmospheres which indicate a higher level of activity and interaction in the binaries are examined. Eclipse observations in U Cep and V356 Sgr reveal emission lines of the W serpentis type.

Dobias, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

HD 8358 - A new active chromosphere binary

The results of an extensive study of the eighth-magnitude G star HD 8358 employing optical photometry and spectroscopy, as well as UV observations with the IUE satellite, are presented. The star is found to be an active chromosphere binary with orbital and photometric period of 0.516 days. It exhibits photometric variability of 0.1-0.2 mg in V, due to starspots. At times the light curve is stable for several months, indicating that the spots persist essentially unchanged for more than 200 rotations. At other times, the spot configuration changes in a month or less. HD 8358 is an unusual member of the 'short-period' group of active chromosphere binaries due to its high space velocity and its very broad and highly variable H-alpha emission.

Bopp, B. W.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Separated fringe packet observations with the Chara Array. II. ω Andromeda, HD 178911, and ξ Cephei

When observed with optical long-baseline interferometers, components of a binary star that are sufficiently separated produce their own interferometric fringe packets; these are referred to as separated fringe packet (SFP) binaries. These SFP binaries can overlap in angular separation with the regime of systems resolvable by speckle interferometry at single, large-aperture telescopes and can provide additional measurements for preliminary orbits lacking good phase coverage, help constrain elements of already established orbits, and locate new binaries in the undersampled regime between the bounds of spectroscopic surveys and speckle interferometry. In this process, a visibility calibration star is not needed, and the SFPs can provide an accurate vector separation. In this paper, we apply the SFP approach to ω Andromeda, HD 178911, and ξ Cephei with the CLIMB three-beam combiner at the CHARA Array. For these systems we determine component masses and parallax of 0.963 ± 0.049 M {sub ☉} and 0.860 ± 0.051 M {sub ☉} and 39.54 ± 1.85 mas for ω Andromeda, for HD 178911 of 0.802 ± 0.055 M {sub ☉} and 0.622 ± 0.053 M {sub ☉} with 28.26 ± 1.70 mas, and masses of 1.045 ± 0.031 M {sub ☉} and 0.408 ± 0.066 M {sub ☉} and 38.10 ± 2.81 mas for ξ Cephei.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

PHOTOIONIZATION MODELS FOR THE SEMI-FORBIDDEN C iii] 1909 EMISSION IN STAR-FORMING GALAXIES

The increasing neutrality of the intergalactic medium at z > 6 suppresses Ly α emission, and spectroscopic confirmation of galaxy redshifts requires the detection of alternative ultraviolet lines. The strong [C iii] λ 1907+C iii] λ 1909 doublet frequently observed in low-metallicity, actively star-forming galaxies is a promising emission feature. We present CLOUDY photoionization model predictions for C iii] equivalent widths (EWs) and line ratios as a function of starburst age, metallicity, and ionization parameter. Our models include a range of C/O abundances, dust content, and gas density. We also examine the effects of varying the nebular geometry and optical depth. Only the stellar models that incorporate binary interaction effects reproduce the highest observed C iii] EWs. The spectral energy distributions from the binary stellar population models also generate observable C iii] over a longer timescale relative to single-star models. We show that diagnostics using C iii] and nebular He ii λ 1640 can separate star-forming regions from shock-ionized gas. We also find that density-bounded systems should exhibit weaker C iii] EWs at a given ionization parameter, and C iii] EWs could, therefore, select candidate Lyman continuum-leaking systems. In almost all models, C iii] is the next strongest line at <2700 Å after Ly α , and C iii] reaches detectable levels for a wide range of conditions at low metallicity. C iii] may therefore serve as an important diagnostic for characterizing galaxies at z > 6.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Photon counting and Laguerre detection.

In this correspondence maximum-likelihood binary detection theory is applied to an incoherent optical system model employing photodetectors governed by Laguerre counting statistics. It is shown that a maximum-likelihood Laguerre detector corresponds to a count comparison over each signaling interval. Laguerre error probabilities are presented and compared with those for Poisson counting.

Gagliardi, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The X-ray light curve of 4U 2129+47

The light curve of 4U 2129+47 is presented showing that it almost certainly has a period of approximately 0.22 days. This is the same period as the optical candidate proposed by Thorstensen et al. (1979). Binary X-ray source models, consisting of an M dwarf plus either a neutron star or a white dwarf, are briefly discussed.

Ulmer, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Beyond the supercomputer

A NASA-directed development of massively parallel processor (MPP) computers is outlined, noting intended applications for data processing for near term earth resource and environment mapping, radar, and television transmissions. The MPP is designed to perform 100 billion operations/sec to obtain satisfactory image processing, while separate processing units correct distortions, register images, calculate correlation functions, and classify multispectral characteristics. Arrays of 1s and 0s will be manipulated in analog-to-digital conversions generating separate planes corresponding to powers of binaries. Data wires are replaced by fiber-optic tubes or thousands of wires, and single logic gates are replaced by thousands of logic gates and every memory element by thousands of memory elements. Features of the interconnections and the images control processor units are detailed, along with implementation of sliders for program flexibility.

Schaefer, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

IUE observations of X-ray-selected stars

UV spectra for four X-ray-selected bright (V less than 10) late-type (F and G) stars have been obtained in both the long- and short-wavelength cameras of the IUE satellite. The stars were selected because they had the largest ratios of X-ray to optical luminosity for their spectral type, with known binaries being eliminated from the sample in order to determine if other mechanisms for extreme X-ray emission are present. Three of the four stars in the sample have since been observed to be binaries with radial-velocity variations consistent with periods of a few days. The fourth star, HD 142361 is a pre-main-sequence star based on the detection of Li I at a wavelength of 6707 A in absorption.

Bergoffen, Martin J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

On the observational appearances of a freely precessing neutron star in Hercules X-1

Evidence for neutron star free precession is discussed, which is often presumed to be responsible for the observed 35-day cycle in Hercules X-1. The precise formula for the period derivative due to free precession is obtained under assumption that the precession period is much longer than that of the neutron star rotation. The optical light curves to be seen from the binary, with freely precessing accretion neutron star are simulated numerically. This simulation takes into account the reflection effect on the surface of the secondary component and on the accretion disk itself for different diagrams of x-ray emission.

Postnov, K. A.↗