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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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NASA NTRS2014

Simulation of a Method to Directly Image Exoplanets Around Multiple Stars Systems

Direct imaging of extra-solar planets has now become a reality, especially with the deployment and commissioning of the first generation of specialized ground-based instruments such as the GPI, SPHERE, P1640 and SCExAO. These systems will allow detection of planets 107 times fainter than their host star. For space-based missions, such as EXCEDE, EXO-C, EXO-S, WFIRST/AFTA, different teams have shown in laboratories contrasts reaching 10(exp −10) within a few diffraction limits from the star using a combination of a coronagraph to suppress light coming from the host star and a wavefront control system. These demonstrations use a deformable mirror (DM) to remove residual starlight (speckles) created by the imperfections of telescope. However, all these current and future systems focus on detecting faint planets around a single host star or unresolved binaries/multiples, while several targets or planet candidates are located around nearby binary stars such as our neighbor star Alpha Centauri. Until now, it has been thought that removing the light of a companion star is impossible with current technology, excluding binary star systems from target lists of direct imaging missions. Direct imaging around binaries/multiple systems at a level of contrast allowing Earth-like planet detection is challenging because the region of interest, where a dark zone is essential, is contaminated by the light coming from the hosts star companion. We propose a method to simultaneously correct aberrations and diffraction of light coming from the target star as well as its companion star in order to reveal planets orbiting the target star. This method works even if the companion star is outside the control region of the DM (beyond its half-Nyquist frequency), by taking advantage of aliasing effects.

Multiple Stars↗
NASA NTRS1972

Binary stars as X-ray sources.

The idea that many if not most of the powerful galactic X-ray sources are generated in binary star systems containing at least one exotic object with gas is examined. Past studies lending support to this hypothesis are reviewed, and major features of galactic X-ray sources that require explanations are delineated. Attention is given to conclusions gained from optical studies of close binaries and to promising areas of further investigation stemming from the concept of binary stars as X-ray sources.

Burbidge, G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

A study of angular momentum loss in binaries using the free Lagrange method

The evolution of a binary star system depends greatly on the angular momentum losses in the system brought about by gravitational radiation and mass outflow (e.g., evaporating winds and magnetic braking) from the secondary component of the binary. Using a three-dimensional hydrodynamic fluid code based on the free Lagrange method, we study the loss of specific angular momentum from a binary system due to an evaporative wind from the companion of a millisecond pulsar. We consider binaries of different mass ratios and winds of different initial velocities and in particular attempt to model the system PSR 1957+20. We are in the process of incorporating the effect of the radiation force from the pulsar and the magnetic field of the companion on the mass outflow. The latter effect would also enable us to study magnetic braking in cataclysmic variables and low-mass X-ray binaries.

Rajasekhar, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An Assessment of Ground-Based Techniques for Detecting Other Planetary Systems. Volume 2: Position papers

The capabilities of several astronomical interferomenter system concepts are assessed and the effects of the Earth's atmosphere on astrometric precision are examined in detail. Included is an examination of the use of small aperture interferometry to detect planets in binary star systems. It is estimated that, for differential astrometric observation, an amplitude interferometer having two separate telescopes should permit observations of stars as faint as 14th magnitude and a positional accuracy of 0.00005 arc-sec. Instrumental, atmospheric, and photon noise errors that apply to interferometric observation are examined. It is suggested that the effects of atmospheric turbulence may be eliminated with the use of two color refractometer systems. Several sites for future telescopes dedicated to the search for planetary systems are identified.

Black, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Binary Orbits as the Driver of Gamma-Ray Emission and Mass Ejection in Classical Novae

Classical novae are the most common astrophysical thermonuclear explosions, occurring on the surfaces of white dwarf stars accreting gas from companions in binary star systems. Novae typically expel about 10 (sup -4) solar masses of material at velocities exceeding 1,000 kilometers per second.However, the mechanism of mass ejection in novae is poorly understood, and could be dominated by the impulsive flash of thermonuclear energy, prolonged optically thick winds or binary interaction with the nova envelope. Classical novae are now routinely detected at giga-electronvolt gamma-ray wavelengths, suggesting that relativistic particles are accelerated by strong shocks in the ejecta. Here we report high-resolution radio imaging of the gamma-ray-emitting nova V959 Mon. We find that its ejecta were shaped by the motion of the binary system: some gas was expelled rapidly along the poles as a wind from the white dwarf, while denser material drifted out along the equatorial plane, propelled by orbital motion..At the interface between the equatorial and polar regions, we observe synchrotron emission indicative of shocks and relativistic particle acceleration, thereby pinpointing the location of gamma-ray production. Binary shaping of the nova ejecta and associated internal shocks are expected to be widespread among novae, explaining why many novae are gamma-ray emitters.

binary orbits as the driver of gamma-ray↗
NASA NTRS1985

Ultra high energy gamma rays, cosmic rays and neutrinos from accreting degenerate stars

Super-Eddington accretion for a recently proposed unipolar induction model of cosmic ray acceleration in accreting binary star systems containing magnetic white dwarfs or neutron stars is considered. For sufficiently high accretion rates and low magnetic fields, the model can account for: (1) acceleration of cosmic ray nuclei up to energies of 10 to the 19th power eV; (2) production of more or less normal solar cosmic ray composition; (3) the bulk of cosmic rays observed with energies above 1 TeV, and probably even down to somewhat lower energies as well; and (4) possibly the observed antiproton cosmic ray flux. It can also account for the high ultra high energy (UHE) gamma ray flux observed from several accreting binary systems (including Cygnus X-3), while allowing the possibility of an even higher neutrino flux from these sources, with L sub nu/L sub gamma is approximately 100.

Brecher, K.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Nonparametric statistical modeling of binary star separations

We develop a comprehensive statistical model for the distribution of observed separations in binary star systems, in terms of distributions of orbital elements, projection effects, and distances to systems. We use this model to derive several diagnostics for estimating the completeness of imaging searches for stellar companions, and the underlying stellar multiplicities. In application to recent imaging searches for low-luminosity companions to nearby M dwarf stars, and for companions to young stars in nearby star-forming regions, our analyses reveal substantial uncertainty in estimates of stellar multiplicity. For binary stars with late-type dwarf companions, semimajor axes appear to be distributed approximately as a(exp -1) for values ranging from about one to several thousand astronomical units. About one-quarter of the companions to field F and G dwarf stars have semimajor axes less than 1 AU, and about 15% lie beyond 1000 AU. The geometric efficiency (fraction of companions imaged onto the detector) of imaging searches is nearly independent of distances to program stars and orbital eccentricities, and varies only slowly with detector spatial limitations.

Heacox, William D.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Multi-Star Wavefront Control at the Occulting Mask Coronagraph Testbed: Monochromatic Laboratory Demonstration for the Roman Coronagraph Instrument

The Astro2020 decadal survey recommended the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), NASA’s direct imaging flagship mission, with a goal to achieve a statistically robust mission yield of 25 or more potentially habitable exoplanets. One way to achieve is to increase the instrument effectiveness by introducing additional bright, nearby targets. A majority of Sun-like stars have a stellar companion that can introduce additional noise into the field of view of any high-contrast imaging instrument and enabling exoplanet discovery around binary stars represents a path to increased corona graphic instrument efficiency by increasing the available science target pool of bright nearby stars. This includes both of the Alpha Centauri A and B stars which would represent the top science target for direct imaging if companion leakage could be suppressed. Multi-Star Wavefront Control(MSWC) is a technique that removes stellar leakage from both stellar components, enabling direct imaging of exoplanets in many binary star systems which can potentially increase corona graphic instrument effectivenessWe present the latest testbed results obtained with MSWC as part of the technology development effort focusing on demonstrations conducted on the Occulting Mask Coronagraph (OMC) testbed at JPL during thevacuum test window last winter, with an additional vacuum test planned for this fall. The MSWC mask consists of a shaped pupil mask similar to the one used for the Wide-Field of View mode, but also includes a set of superimposed, regularly-spaced dots that serve as a diffraction grating. OMC has a layout similar to the RomanSpace Telescope coronagraph instrument and configured with a binary imaging mode with a MSWC mask using same design as the contributed mask for the Roman coronagraph. Our testbed results represent the first demonstrations of this technique using the recently installed full binary source. We present results demonstrating suppression in the Super-Nyquist regime for the 3rd diffraction order reaching 8.7e-9 contrast with the Roman pupil. In addition, we present results obtained with a physical binary source and running MSWC in a binary star regime demonstrating 9.6e-8 contrast for a geometry matching potential Alpha Centauri observations in a515 nm monochromatic wavelength (similar but bluer than for Band 1) using the 5th diffraction order. Planned demonstrations in the upcoming vacuum window this fall will focus on Band 3d and Band 4 using the full MSWC mode for an Alpha Centauri geometry.

Roman Coronagraph Instrument↗
NASA NTRS1982

Stellar contributions to the hard X-ray galactic ridge

The number density of serendipitous sources in galactic plane Einstein Observatory IPC fields are compared with predictions based on the intensity of the HEAO-1 A2 unresolved hrd X-ray galactic ridge emission. It is concluded that theoretically predicted X-ray source populations of luminosity 8 x 10 to the 32nd power to 3 x 10 to the 34th power ergs s have 2 KeV to 10 KeV local surface densities of less than approximately .0008 L(32) pc/2 and are unlikely to be the dominant contributors to the hard X-ray ridge. An estimate for Be/neutron star binary systems, such as X Persei, gives a 2 keV to 10 keV local surface density of approximately 26 x 10 to the -5 power L(32) pc/2. Stellar systems of low luminosity, are more likely contributors. Both RS CVn and cataclysmic variable systems contribute 43% + or - 18% of the ridge. A more sensitive measurement of the ridge's hard X-ray spectrum should reveal Fe-line emission. We speculate that dM stars are further major contributors.

Worrall, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS2019

KELT-23Ab: A Hot Jupiter Transiting a Near-solar Twin Close to the TESS and JWST Continuous Viewing Zones

We announce the discovery of KELT-23Ab, a hot Jupiter transiting the relatively bright(V = 10.3) star BD+66911(TYC 4187-996-1), and characterize the system using follow-up photometry and spectroscopy. A global fit to the system yields host-star properties of= T5900 49effK,=-+MM0.9450.0540.060*, = RR0.995 0.015*, =-+LL1.0820.0480.051*, =-+ glog 4.4180.0250.026 (cgs), and=- Fe H0.105 0.077. KELT-23Ab is a hot Jupiter with a mass of= -+ MM0.938P0.0420.045J, radius of = RR1.322 0.025PJ, and density of r=-+ 0.504P0.0350.038gcm − 3. Intense insolation flux from the star has likely caused KELT-23Ab to become inflated. The time of inferior conjunction is=T2458149.40776=0.00091 BJD0TDB and the orbital period is=-+P2.2553530.0000300.000031days. There is strong evidence that KELT-23A is a member of a long-period binary star system with a less luminous companion, and due to tidal interactions, the planet is likely to spiral into its host within roughly a gig a year. This system has one of the highest positive ecliptic latitudes of all transiting planet hosts known to date, placing it near the Transiting Planet Survey Satellite and James Webb Space Telescope continuous viewing zones. Thus we expect it to be an excellent candidate for long-term monitoring and follow up with these facilities.

Planets and satalite detection↗
NASA NTRS1983

VLBI observations of a radio flare of Circinus X-1

VLBI 2.3 GHz observations of a strong radio flare of the binary star system Circinus X-1 indicate a radio source flaring component angular size of 0.0015-0.015 arcsec. This is equivalent to a linear size of 15-150 AU at the 10 kpc distance of Circinus X-1, although interstellar medium scattering may have enlarged the apparent angular source size. Since the radio source quiescent component, observed prior to the flare, had an angular size greater than 0.2 arcsec (equivalent to more than 2000 AU at 10 kpc), the quiescent radio emission comes from a region much larger than that proposed in recent models for Circinus X-1. The quiescent component appears to be variable on a time scale of years, and is probably fueled by the Circinus X-1 binary system.

Preston, R. A.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Multi-Star Wavefront Control: Update on Technology Development for Roman Space Telescope and Habitable Worlds Observatory

A majority of Sun-like stars have at least one stellar companion that can introduce additional noise into the field of view of any high-contrast imaging instrument, limiting the achievable contrast. These include high-quality target stars such as the A and B components of Alpha Centauri, our nearest stellar neighbor. Enabling direct imaging of binary stars has the potential to increase the scientific yield for coronagraphic instruments planned on NASA's future space missions and concepts, including the Roman Space Telescope and the Astro2020 IR/O/UV flagship. Multi-Star Wavefront Control (MSWC) is a wavefront-control technique that simultaneously removes the (mutually incoherent) stellar leakage from both stellar components, enabling direct imaging of planets in many binary star systems. MSWC is an algorithmic technique and can be used with existing wavefront control systems on coronagraphic instruments (as well as starshades if a deformable mirror is available in the optical path) including planned observations on the upcoming PICTURE-D balloon flight. We report on the latest experimental and numerical results obtained with MSWC as part of the technology development effort to demonstrate compatibility with existing high-contrast imaging platforms for this technique. We first report on functional tests carried out at Subaru's SCExAO instrument operating in-air and showing the sub-Nyquist mode at 4.1e-6 contrast in monochromatic light. The Super-Nyquist regime of MSWC was recently tested in vacuum at JPL's High Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) on the Decadal Survey Testbed (DST) reaching 8.6e-9 contrast in a 10% band. We also report on results for the current stage of vacuum testing at HCIT's Occulting Mask Coronagraph (OMC) testbed using a mask similar to the contributed MSWC mask on the Roman Space Telescope's coronagraph instrument which has demonstrated suppression at the 9.8e-9 contrast at Super-Nyquist separations around the 3rd diffraction order and is planned to use a novel binary source simulator.

high-contrast imaging↗
NASA NTRS1975

Evidence for X-ray emission from Capella

X-ray emission in the range from 0.2 to 1.6 keV has been detected from an area of the sky which contains the binary star system Capella. The X-ray source is at most a few arc minutes in extent and shows no spectral turnover at low energy, consistent with a nearby source. We suggest Capella as the source of this emission and that this object belongs to a new class of galactic X-ray sources with a luminosity of 10 to the 31st to 10 to the 34th ergs per sec. Emission from this class of objects is variable, predominantly below 2 keV, and originates from nearby stellar objects.

Catura, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Upper mass limits for stable rotating white dwarfs

Models of nonmagnetic axisymmetric differentially rotating zero-temperature white dwarfs are constructed and tested for stability. Upper mass limits, beyond which models become secularly and dynamically unstable to growth of nonaxisymmetric perturbations, are found at 2.5 solar masses and 4.6 solar masses, respectively. The upper mass limit for secular stability is practically the same for the two angular momentum distributions considered. Crude growth rates due to gravitational radiation and degenerate-electron viscosity are calculated for the secularly unstable models. Except for a narrow parameter range, gravitational radiation is the dominant destabilizing mechanism. For masses between 3.5 and 4.6 solar masses, the secular instability grows on a time scale of about 10 to 1000 years; for masses exceeding about 4.6 solar masses, the dynamic instability grows on a time scale of seconds. Implications of these results for mass-transfer binary star systems and degenerate stellar cores are discussed.

Durisen, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

X-ray illumination of globular cluster puzzles

Globular clusters are thought to be among the oldest objects in the Galaxy, and provide, in this connection, important clues for determining the age and process of formation of the Galaxy. The present investigation is concerned with puzzles relating to the X-ray emission of globular clusters, taking into account questions regarding the location of X-ray emitting clusters (XEGC) unusually near the galactic plane and/or galactic center. An adopted model is discussed for the nature, formation, and lifetime of X-ray sources in globular clusters. An analysis of the available data is conducted in connection with a search for correlations between binary formation time scales, central relaxation times, galactic locations, and X-ray emission. The positive correlation found between distance from galactic center and two-body binary formation time for globular clusters, explanations for this correlation, and the hypothesis that X-ray sources in globular clusters require binary star systems provide a possible explanation of the considered puzzles.

Lightman, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Measurement of coronal X-ray emission lines from Capella

The Einstein Observatory's Focal Plane Crystal Spectrometer has detected X-ray emission lines due to O VIII, Fe XVII, and Fe XX, from the binary star system Capella. Line luminosities are well fitted by an emitting plasma at a single temperature of 6.29 + or - 0.01 - 0.03 million K, and a volume emission measure of about 8.6 x 10 to the 52nd/cu cm, corresponding to the low temperature component previously observed. A high temperature component is undetectable, since the observed lines are not produced in plasma at temperatures above about 20 million K. Nearly isothermal plasma would be expected if many of the magnetically confined coronal loops have similar sizes and pressures, and a second population of longer loops would be required to account for the hotter component. An alternative interpretation of the observed X-ray line emission and upper limit is that the plasma contains a continuous distribution of emission measure versus temperature that rises sharply to 3 million K and then falls by nearly a decade to 16 million. An extrapolation of the loop sizes suggested by this alternative to hotter, longer loops may also account for the higher temperature emission.

Vedder, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

On initial orbit determination

The classical methods of initial orbit determination are brought together within a larger viewpoint. This new synthesis stresses that all such techniques follow one of three approaches. Either they seek to compute the orbital element set, or its equivalent, by attacking the differential equations of motion (Laplace), the first integrals of the equations of motion (Taff), or the solution itself (Gauss). The particular technique pursued within a given type of approach should depend upon the nature of the observational data, the amount of a priori information one is willing to presume, and the object of the exercise. This might be a binary star system, a moon, a minor planet, or an artificial satellite. The efficacy of some algorithms for each approach is discussed briefly. Unfortunately, none of them work very well. Extensions of these techniques to radars or laser radars are trivial and have provided no new insights into the overall problem.

Taff, L. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A spectroscopic study of LMC X-4

The orbital radial velocity semi-amplitude of the binary star system LMC X-4 primary was determined to be 37.9 + or - 2.4 km/s from measurements of the hydrogen absorption lines. The semi-amplitude of the He I and He II absorption lines are consistent with this, namely 44.9 + or - 5.0 and 37.3 + or - 5.3 km/s. The phase and shape of the radial velocity curves of the three ions are consistent with a circular orbit and an ephemeris based upon X-ray measurements of the neutron star, with the exception that the He II absorption line radial velocity curve has detectable shape distortion. Measurements of the He II LAMBOA 4686 emission line velocity are consistent with a phase shifted sine wave of semi-amplitude 535 km/s, a square wave of semi-amplitude 407 km/s, or high order harmonic fits. The spectral type was found to be 08.5 IV-V during X-ray eclipse. Variations to types as early as 07 occur, but not as a function or orbital phase. Absorption line peculiarities were noted on 6 of 58 spectra.

Petro, L. D.↗