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At least 55 records · Page 3

Evidence for a 17d periodicity from Cyg X-3

Data which indicate a periodicity of 17d from Cyg X-3 are reviewed. The data are taken from the Ariel 5 satellite All-Sky Monitor and the Sky Survey Experiment.

Holt, S. S.↗

The 35-D X-ray profile of Her X-1

Substantial X-ray emission as reported by Ariel 5 from Her X-l midway through the extended low-state portion of its 35-day cycle is examined. A similar feature during another cycle measured from UHURU satellite is also examined. It is proposed that this feature should occur regularly, consistent with some models for the mass accretion disc which have been reported in the literature. The results of the analysis of 500 days of Ariel-5 All-Sky Monitor data are reported which support the view that the feature occurs regularly in the 35-day cycle.

Holt, S. S.↗

Evidence for a 17-d periodicity from Cyg X-3

Data are presented from the Ariel-V All-Sky Monitor which indicate a 17-day periodicity of the X-ray spectra from Cyg X-3 (3U2030+40). The data are consistent with data from the Ariel V Sky Survey Experiment. Assuming that the high intensity state of Cyg X-3 is well fitted by a structureless black body (Serlemitsos et al., 1975), and that the 17-day maxima correspond to increased electron scattering in the source, it is suggested that the 17-day effect is analogous to the 35-day variation in Her X-1. The possible explanation of this phenomenon as a result of the 17-day orbital period of the binary system containing Cyg X-3 is severely constrained by the stability of the well-known 4.8-hour variation.

Holt, S. S.↗

Correlated observations of several auroral substorms on February 17, 1971

The purpose of this study is to correlate in detail auroral activity with the corresponding disturbances in the magnetotail. The auroral data were recorded by optical instruments aboard an airplane flying over the Arctic Ocean along the Alaska meridian and by the Alaska meridian chain of all-sky cameras. The corresponding magnetotail observations were made by various instruments on Vela 6A and Imp 5; the interplanetary magnetic field was monitored concurrently by Explorer 35. Three successive substorms were observed on February 17, 1971. Each substorm was readily identified by the classical auroral and magnetic signatures which accompanied its onset. The observed variations of plasma and magnetic field in the magnetotail were consistent with the idea that a neutral line formed in the range X sub SM between -12 and -18 R sub E at the onset of each substorm expansive phase and then moved tailward past X sub SM = -18 R sub E some tens of minutes afterward. The Z component of the tail magnetic field decreased rather steadily for a period of 1-2 1/2 hours after each substorm and until the onset of the next expansive phase, reaching a minimum value just before each onset.

Hones, E. W., Jr.↗

A return to the pre-1971 intensity level and a 5.6-d modulation for Cyg X-1

A 5-day modulation in the 'high-state' X-ray intensity data obtained by the Ariel V all-sky monitor for November 1975-January 1976 is reported. The light curve decrement (the fraction of the total source emission over one 5-day cycle which is deficient at superior conjunction) is 0.019 plus or minus 0.003, compared with 0.029 plus or minus 0.004 for a similar 5.6-day modulation observed before the April 1975 flare. The results are most easily explained by scattering from ionized material between the two stellar components which extends outside the orbital plane.

Holt, S. S.↗

Long-term X-ray studies of Scorpius X-1. II - Evidence for flare-dominated intensity variations

Data on Sco X-1 obtained with the Ariel-5 All-Sky Monitor are analyzed for variability, and it is found that a large fraction of the X-ray emission at 3 to 6 keV can be represented by shot noise. The results indicate that almost all the emission in this range can be sensibly associated with a multiplicity of shotlike flares (about 200 a day), each having a duration of about 0.33 day. It is concluded that the overall consistency with a multiplicity of long-duration shots (rather than single flares superposed on a baseline continuum) may be generally characteristic of sources with an accretion disk.

Holt, S. S.↗

Evidence for an 11.2 day periodicity from Cygnus X-2

Evidence is reported for a periodicity of 11.17 (+ or - 0.10) days in the emission from Cygnus X-2. The data were obtained quasi-continuously over a period of more than one year with the Ariel-5 All-Sky Monitor. It is noted that this period is more than an order of magnitude larger than the 0.787-day binary period of Sco X-1 and is not a simple alias of a similarly short period. It is suggested that the 11.17-day modulation might be precessionally induced; otherwise, it would be rather unusual since the Cyg X-2 candidate is assumed to have a low-mass primary and periods in excess of about 2 days are usually associated with high-mass primaries.

Holt, S. S.↗

OSO-7 observations of high galactic latitude X-ray sources

Six hundred days of observations by the X-ray detectors aboard OSO-7 have been analyzed. All-sky maps of X-ray intensity have been constructed from these data. A sample map is displayed. Seven sources with galactic latitude greater than 10 deg, discovered during the mapping process, are reported, and upper limits are set on other high-latitude sources. The OSO-7 results are compared with those of Uhuru, and an implication of this comparison, that many of the high-latitude sources may be variable, is discussed.

Markert, T. H.↗

Temporal X-ray astronomy with a pinhole camera

Preliminary results from the Ariel-5 All-Sky X-Ray Monitor are presented, along with sufficient experiment details to define the experiment sensitivity. Periodic modulation of the X-ray emission is investigated from three sources with which specific periods have been associated, with the results that the 4.8 h variation from Cyg X-3 is confirmed, a long-term average 5.6 day variation from Cyg X-1 is discovered, and no detectable 0.787 day modulation of Sco X-1 is observed. Consistency of the long-term Sco X-1 emission with a 'shot-noise' model is discussed, wherein the source behavior is shown to be interpretable as about 100 'flares' per day, each with a duration of several hours. A sudden increase in the Cyg X-1 intensity by almost a factor of three on 22 April 1975 is reported, after 5 months of relative source constancy. The light curve of a bright nova-like transient source in Triangulum is presented, and compared with previously observed transient sources. Preliminary evidence for the existence of X-ray 'bursts' with duration less than 1 h is offered, with the caveat that there is not yet any supporting evidence to guarantee that the effect is truly astronomical.

Holt, S. S.↗

An X-ray redshift measure for clusters of galaxies up to z not less than 1

Correlated measurements of redshifted iron line emission and apparent surface brightness are suggested for unambiguously defining intrinsic X-ray characteristics for clusters of galaxies up to z not less than 1. If some of the weak unidentified high-galactic-latitude X-ray sources are clusters at z roughly equal to 1-3, then such correlated measurements should be feasible within the complement of instruments aboard the HEAO-B orbiting X-ray telescope observatory. In addition, those clusters at z less than 1 would require spectral data from broader bandwidth experiments, such as the all-sky survey to be provided by the proportional counters aboard the first mission of the High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-A).

Boldt, E.↗

Evidence for a 16.6 day period from Circinus X-1

Analysis of All-Sky Monitor observations of Cir X-1 (3U 1516-56) over the period from October 1975 to April 1976 has revealed a well-defined modulation of the 3-6-keV flux at a period of 16.585(+ or - 0.01) days. The light-curve is characterized by an abrupt drop in emission occurring on a time scale of no more than about 0.07 day, with epoch JD 2,442,877.181(+ or - 0.07). No clear correspondingly sharp increase in emission is observed during the cycle, so a noneclipse origin for this effect cannot be ruled out.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗

The 35-d X-ray profile of Her X-1

Results of an analysis of more than 500 days of Ariel 5 All-Sky Monitor data are reported which support the view that enhanced X-ray emission from Her X-1 occurs regularly in the source's 35-day cycle. The data analyzed show that the enhancement is centered at phase 0.55 (+ or - 0.05) relative to the maximum, has an intensity of at least one-fourth of the maximum, and has an apparent duration not exceeding 10% of the 35-day cycle. It is strongly suggested that the enhancement occurs in every cycle at about one-third of the maximum.

Holt, S. S.↗

Topside optical view of the dayside cleft aurora

Photometers on the ISIS-II spacecraft provide a view of the atomic oxygen 5577-A and 6300-A emissions and the N2(+) 3914-A emission detected as dayside aurora in the magnetospheric cleft region. The 6300-A emission forms a continuous and permanent band across the noon sector, at about 78 deg invariant latitude, with a defined region of maximum intensity that is never less than 2 kR (uncorrected for albedo) and is centered near magnetic noon. There are significant differences in the intensity patterns on either side of noon and their responses to geomagnetic activity. Discrete 3914-A auroral forms appear within this region at preferred locations that cannot be precisely specified but which tend to the poleward edge of the 6300-A emission in the evening and the equatorward edge in the morning, where the difference between the two emissions is greatest. It is concluded that the discrete auroras observed by all-sky cameras in the day sector follow the 6300-A emission through the cleft region, though a definite cleft boundary is not defined.

Shepherd, G. G.↗

Recurrent X-ray outbursts from Aquila X-1

Ariel V All-Sky Monitor observations of Aql X-1 are reported and compared with previous observations that indicate the existence of 'low' and 'high' intensity states. All the data considered are shown to be consistent with flaring episodes having a mean flare interval of 435 days with an rms scatter of about 10%. It is suggested that the observations are most easily interpreted in terms of an 'X-ray dwarf nova' binary of the type proposed for the transient X-ray source A0620-00. Constraints on more detailed features of the source model are discussed.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗

Cloud effects on middle ultraviolet global radiation

An Eppley radiometer and a Robertson-Berger sunburn meter are employed along with an all-sky camera setup to study cloud effects on middle ultraviolet global radiation at the ground level. Semiempirical equations to allow for cloud effects presented in previous work are compared with the experimental data. The study suggests a means of defining eigenvectors of cloud patterns and correlating them with the radiation at the ground level.

Borkowski, J.↗

A Radiometric Consistent Spectral Fingerprinting Algorithm for Continuity Products of Hyperspectral Sounders

A radiometric consistent climate fingerprinting methodology has been developed to derive long-term temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature anomaly time series from the hyper-spectral sounder measurements of multiple platforms. The spectral fingerprinting methodology requires the use of radiative kernels that are radiometrically consistent with observations. Radiative kernels are built using space-time averaged Jacobians that are physically retrieved from observations under all sky conditions. The physical retrieval algorithm uses the Principal Component based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) for the forward simulation. The incorporation of multiple scattering simulation in PCRTM allows the direct radiative relationship between single field-of-view (FOV) radiance observations and corresponding thermal dynamic variables including cloud properties to be established. Therefore, radiance ?closure? can be achieved under all-sky conditions by the fingerprinting scheme. This methodology has been used to derive climate anomalies from the space-time averaged spectra of AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS. The use of a consistent fingerprinting scheme provides an effective mean of generating continuity product by merging observations from different platforms and therefore facilitating the long-term climate trend study.

Wan Wu↗