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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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At least 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Rapid X-ray and optical flares from Scorpius X-1

A 1 second time structure in X-ray flares from Sco X-1 and simultaneous optical flares with time structures no faster than 20 s are reported. The shortest reported time scale in the X-ray emission from Sco X-1 is decreased by a factor of 10, while remaining consistent with the parameters of the standard plasma model from Sco X-1. Different mechanisms for the production of X-ray flares and optical flares are suggested, and the production of optical flares by reprocessing on the surface of the binary companion of Sco X-1 is ruled out by the X-ray/optical flare time delay.

Petro, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Eclipse mapping of the accreting magnetic white dwarf in DP Leonis with HST

We present time-resolved ultraviolet spectrophotometry of the AM Her system DP Leo (E1114+182), obtained with the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in 1991 October. During this period, the binary was in a low-activity state. Complementary optical spectrophotometry and spectopolarimetry were obtained in 1991 October and December, as well as in 1992 April when the object had entered a high-accretion state. The HST spectrophotometry reveals two UV-emitting components-a hot 'spot' (T approximately 50,000 K, very approximately) near the magnetic pole into which most material is accreted, and the white dwarf photosphere (T approximately 16,000 K), which dominates when the spot is not in view. Both components appear as rapid and gradual components in the ingress and egress of secondary eclipse, the latter indicating a normal white dwarf radius of 0.8 x 10(exp 9) cm. The fractional area of the spot (f approximately 0.006) implied by the eclipse data is consistent with the observed UV flux and a minimum distance of 380 pc is similar to those found in other AM Her systems. The nearly identical eclipse light curves from the HST and earlier optical observations imply that the UV-emitting reprocessing area is not more extended than the cyclotron source of optical radiation in the accretion funnel. The timing of the onset of the bright phase indicated that the spot leads the secondary in orbital azimuth by approximately 3 deg.

Stockman, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS2003

An X-ray Investigation of the NGC 346 Field in the SMC (2): The Field Population

We present results from a Chandra observation of the NGC 346 cluster, which is the ionizing source of N66, the most luminous HII region and the largest star formation region in the SMC. In the first part of this investigation, we have analysed the X-ray properties of the cluster itself and the remarkable star HD 5980. But the field contains additional objects of interest. In total, 79 X-ray point sources were detected in the Chandra observation: this is more than five times the number of sources detected by previous X-ray surveys. We investigate here their characteristics in detail. The sources possess rather high hardness ratios, and their cumulative luminosity function is steeper than that for the rest of the SMC at higher .luminosities. Their absorption columns suggest that most of the sources belong to NGC346. Using new UBV RI imaging with the ESO 2.2m telescope, we also discovered possible counterparts for 36 of these X-ray sources and estimated a B spectral type for a large number of these counterparts. This tends to suggest that most of the X-ray sources in the field are in fact X-ray binaries. Finally, some objects show X-ray and/or optical variability, with a need for further monitoring.

Naze, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Space Vehicle Pose Estimation via Optical Correlation and Nonlinear Estimation

A technique for 6-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) pose estimation of space vehicles is being developed. This technique draws upon recent developments in implementing optical correlation measurements in a nonlinear estimator, which relates the optical correlation measurements to the pose states (orientation and position). For the optical correlator, the use of both conjugate filters and binary, phase-only filters in the design of synthetic discriminant function (SDF) filters is explored. A static neural network is trained a priori and used as the nonlinear estimator. New commercial animation and image rendering software is exploited to design the SDF filters and to generate a large filter set with which to train the neural network. The technique is applied to pose estimation for rendezvous and docking of free-flying spacecraft and to terrestrial surface mobility systems for NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. Quantitative pose estimation performance will be reported. Advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of this technique are discussed.

Rakoczy, John↗
NASA NTRS2008

Space Vehicle Pose Estimation via Optical Correlation and Nonlinear Estimation

A technique for 6-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) pose estimation of space vehicles is being developed. This technique draws upon recent developments in implementing optical correlation measurements in a nonlinear estimator, which relates the optical correlation measurements to the pose states (orientation and position). For the optical correlator, the use of both conjugate filters and binary, phase-only filters in the design of synthetic discriminant function (SDF) filters is explored. A static neural network is trained a priori and used as the nonlinear estimator. New commercial animation and image rendering software is exploited to design the SDF filters and to generate a large filter set with which to train the neural network. The technique is applied to pose estimation for rendezvous and docking of free-flying spacecraft and to terrestrial surface mobility systems for NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. Quantitative pose estimation performance will be reported. Advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of this technique are discussed.

Rakoczy, John M.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Handbook of X-Ray Astronomy

X-ray astronomy was born in the aftermath of World War II as military rockets were repurposed to lift radiation detectors above the atmosphere for a few minutes at a time. These early flights detected and studied X-ray emission from the Solar corona. The first sources beyond the Solar System were detected during a rocket flight in 1962 by a team headed by Riccardo Giaccom at American Science and Engineering, a company founded by physicists from MIT. The rocket used Geiger counters with a system designed to reduce non-X-ray backgrounds and collimators limiting the region of sky seen by the counters. As the rocket spun, the field of view (FOV) happened to pass over what was later found to be the brightest non-Solar X-ray source; later designated See X-1. It also detected a uniform background glow which could not be resolved into individual sources. A follow-up campaign using X-ray detectors with better spatial resolution and optical telescopes identified See X-1 as an interacting binary with a compact (neutron star) primary. This success led to further suborbital rocket flights by a number of groups. More X-ray binaries were discovered, as well as X-ray emission from supernova remnants, the radio galaxies M87 and Cygnus-A, and the Coma cluster. Detectors were improved and Geiger counters were replaced by proportional counters, which provided information about energy spectra of the sources. A constant challenge was determining precise positions of sources as only collimators were available.

Arnaud, Keith A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Discovery of a quasar with double-peaked broad balmer emission lines

ABSTRACT Most massive galaxies contain a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at their centre. When galaxies merge, their SMBHs sink to the centre of the new galaxy, where they are thought to eventually merge. During this process, an SMBH binary is formed. The presence of two sets of broad emission lines in the optical spectrum of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) has been interpreted as evidence for two broad-line regions (BLRs), one surrounding each SMBH in a binary. We modelled the broad Balmer emission lines in the SDSS spectra of 373 extreme variability AGNs using one broad and several narrow Gaussian components. We report on the discovery of SDSS J021647.53 − 011341.5 (hereafter J0216) as a double-peaked broad emission line source. Among the 373 AGNs, there were five sources that are known as double-peaked emission line sources. Three of these have been reported as candidate SMBH binaries in previous studies. We present all six objects and their double-peaked broad Balmer emission lines, and discuss the implications for a tidal disruption event (TDE) interpretation of the extreme variability, assuming the double-peaked sources are SMBH binaries.

Terwel, Jacco H. (ORCID:0000000198343439)↗
NASA NTRS1989

Auto- and hetero-associative memory using a 2-D optical logic gate

An optical associative memory system suitable for both auto- and hetero-associative recall is demonstrated. This system utilizes Hamming distance as the similarity measure between a binary input and a memory image with the aid of a two-dimensional optical EXCLUSIVE OR (XOR) gate and a parallel electronics comparator module. Based on the Hamming distance measurement, this optical associative memory performs a nearest neighbor search and the result is displayed in the output plane in real-time. This optical associative memory is fast and noniterative and produces no output spurious states as compared with that of the Hopfield neural network model.

Chao, Tien-Hsin↗
DOE OSTI2012

GEMINI MULTI-OBJECT SPECTROGRAPH SPECTROSCOPY OF EXO 0748-676 (=UY Vol) IN OUTBURST

We present a phase-resolved, optical, spectroscopic study of the eclipsing low-mass X-ray binary, EXO 0748-676 = UY Vol. The sensitivity of Gemini, combined with our complete phase coverage, makes for the most detailed blue spectroscopic study of this source obtained during its extended 24 year period of activity. We identify 12 optical emission lines and present trailed spectra, tomograms, and the first modulation maps of this source in outburst. The strongest line emission originates downstream of the stream-impact point, and this component is quite variable from night to night. Underlying this is weaker, more stable axisymmetric emission from the accretion disk. We identify weak, sharp emission components moving in phase with the donor star, from which we measure K{sub em} = 329 {+-} 26 km s{sup -1}. Combining all the available dynamical constraints on the motion of the donor star with our observed accretion disk velocities, we favor a neutron star mass close to canonical (M{sub 1} {approx_equal} 1.5 M{sub Sun }) and a very low mass donor (M{sub 2} {approx_equal} 0.1 M{sub Sun }). We note, however, that there is no evidence for CNO processing, which is often associated with undermassive donor stars. A main-sequence donor would require both a neutron star more massive than 2 M{sub Sun }, and substantially sub-Keplerian disk emission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Properties and evolution of the redback millisecond pulsar binary PSR J2129–0429

PSR J2129−0429 is a “redback” eclipsing millisecond pulsar binary with an unusually long 15.2 hr orbit. It was discovered by the Green Bank Telescope in a targeted search of unidentified Fermi gamma-ray sources. The pulsar companion is optically bright (mean m{sub R} = 16.6 mag), allowing us to construct the longest baseline photometric data set available for such a system. We present 10 years of archival and new photometry of the companion from the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research Survey, the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey, the Palomar Transient Factory, the Palomar 60 inch, and the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope. Radial velocity spectroscopy using the Double-Beam Spectrograph on the Palomar 200 inch indicates that the pulsar is massive: 1.74 ± 0.18 M{sub ⊙}. The G-type pulsar companion has mass 0.44 ± 0.04 M{sub ⊙}, one of the heaviest known redback companions. It is currently 95 ± 1% Roche-lobe filling and only mildly irradiated by the pulsar. We identify a clear 13.1 mmag yr{sup −1} secular decline in the mean magnitude of the companion as well as smaller-scale variations in the optical light curve shape. This behavior may indicate that the companion is cooling. Binary evolution calculations indicate that PSR J2129−0429 has an orbital period almost exactly at the bifurcation period between systems that converge into tighter orbits as black widows and redbacks and those that diverge into wider pulsar–white dwarf binaries. Its eventual fate may depend on whether it undergoes future episodes of mass transfer and increased irradiation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Discovery of a low-luminosity, tight substellar binary at the T/Y transition

We have discovered that the brown dwarf WISE J014656.66+423410.0 is a close binary (0.″ 0875 ± 0.″ 0021, 0.93{sub −0.16}{sup +0.12} AU) from Keck laser guide star adaptive optics imaging. Our photometry for this system reveals that both components are less luminous than those in any known substellar binary. Combining a new integrated-light spectrum (T9p) and resolved YJH-band photometry from Keck allows us to perform spectral decomposition and assign component types of T9 and Y0. Many of the unusual features in the spectrum might be explained by high surface gravity: Y-band peak broadened to the blue; J-band peak broadened to the red; H-band peak shifted slightly to the red; and red Y − J colors. Interestingly, the very low component luminosities imply that the T9 primary is unexpectedly cold (T{sub eff} = 345 ± 45 K assuming an age of 10 Gyr), making it ≈100 K cooler than any other late-T dwarf and comparable to Y dwarfs. One intriguing explanation for this apparent discrepancy is that the J- and H-band spectral features that trigger the transition from T to Y spectral types are highly gravity dependent. This can be tested directly in the very near future by orbit monitoring. We constrain the orbital period to be ≲10 yr by combining evolutionary-model-based mass estimates for the components (≈12–21 M{sub Jup}, 1σ at 10 Gyr) with a statistical constraint on the semimajor axis (≲1.3 AU). Such a period is shorter than any other known T/Y transition binary, meaning that WISE J0146+4234AB will likely yield a dynamical mass within the next few years.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Laser annealing of electrodeposited CuInSe 2 semiconductor precursors: experiment and modeling

Laser annealing can reduce the annealing time required to form Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 (CIGSe) thin films for use in thin film photovoltaics to a single second timescale, if not faster. In this work, we use microstructural characterization coupled with modeling of the optical and thermal properties to understand the laser annealing of three types of electrodeposited precursor stacks for the CIGSe parent compound CuInSe 2 . The precursor films are: stacked elemental layers Cu/In/Se, stacked binary selenides In 2 Se 3 /Cu 2– x Se, and a single layer of coelectrodeposited Cu–In–Se. Conceptually, these stacks are ordered in terms of decreasing stored chemical and interfacial potential free energy, consideration of which predicts that the formation of large grained CuInSe 2 from the stacked elemental layers would be the most exothermic and thus most rapid process. However we find that microstructural details of the electrodeposited films such as void fraction present in the stacked binary selenides dramatically alter the heat and mass flow. Additionally, modeling of the optical absorption within the elemental stacked precursor suggests extremely localized heating at the In/Se interface resulting in significant Se loss. Despite its lower chemical potential energy, the coelectrodeposited CuInSe 2 precursor's more uniform optical absorption of near-bandgap light coupled with its compact, low void fraction microstructure of nano-sized grains results in the most optimal recrystallization and compositional homogenization via interdiffusion. Furthermore this annealed layer formed a working device with a short circuit current density of 23 mA cm –2 . As a result, this combined modeling and experimental investigation underscores the need to consider practical micro- and nanostructure-dependent properties as well as the optical absorption and not simply thermodynamics when designing accelerated two step deposition and annealing processes for compound semiconductors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

DESGW: Optical Follow-up of BBH LIGO-Virgo Events with DECam

The DESGW program is a collaboration between members of the Dark Energy Survey, the wider astronomical community, and the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration to search for optical counterparts of gravitational wave events, such as those expected from binary neutron star mergers or neutron star-black hole mergers. While binary black hole (BBH) events are not expected to produce an electromagnetic (EM) signature, emission is certainly not impossible. The DESGW program has performed follow-up observations of four BBH events detected by LIGO in order to search for any possible EM counterpart. Failure to nd such counterparts is still relevant in that it produces limits on optical emission from such events. This is a review of follow-up results from O1 BBH events and a discussion of the status of ongoing uniform re-analysis of all BBH events that DESGW has followed up to date.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

DISCOVERY OF AN ULTRACOMPACT GAMMA-RAY MILLISECOND PULSAR BINARY CANDIDATE

We report multi-wavelength observations of the unidentified Fermi object 2FGL J1653.6-0159. With the help of high-resolution X-ray observations, we have identified an X-ray and optical counterpart to 2FGL J1653.6-0159. The source exhibits a periodic modulation of 75 minutes in the optical and possibly also in the X-ray. We suggest that 2FGL J1653.6-0159 is a compact binary system with an orbital period of 75 minutes. Combining the gamma-ray and X-ray properties, 2FGL J1653.6-0159 is potentially a black-widow-/redback-type gamma-ray millisecond pulsar (MSP). The optical and X-ray light curve profiles show that the companion is mildly heated by the high-energy emission and that the X-rays are from intrabinary shock. Although no radio pulsation has yet been detected, we estimated that the spin period of the MSP is ∼ 2 ms based on a theoretical model. If pulsation can be confirmed in the future, 2FGL J1653.6-0159 will become the first ultracompact rotation-powered MSP.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

A monitoring campaign for Luhman 16AB. I. Detection of resolved near-infrared spectroscopic variability

We report resolved near-infrared spectroscopic monitoring of the nearby L dwarf/T dwarf binary WISE J104915.57–531906.1AB (Luhman 16AB), as part of a broader campaign to characterize the spectral energy distribution and temporal variability of this system. A continuous 45 minute sequence of low-resolution IRTF/SpeX data spanning 0.8-2.4 μm were obtained, concurrent with combined-light optical photometry with ESO/TRAPPIST. Our spectral observations confirm the flux reversal of this binary, and we detect a wavelength-dependent decline in the relative spectral fluxes of the two components coincident with a decline in the combined-light optical brightness of the system over the course of the observation. These data are successfully modeled as a combination of achromatic (brightness) and chromatic (color) variability in the T0.5 Luhman 16B, consistent with variations in overall cloud opacity; and no significant variability was found in L7.5 Luhman 16A, consistent with recent resolved photometric monitoring. We estimate a peak-to-peak amplitude of 13.5% at 1.25 μm over the full light curve. Using a simple two-spot brightness temperature model for Luhman 16B, we infer an average cold covering fraction of ≈30%-55%, varying by 15%-30% over a rotation period assuming a ≈200-400 K difference between hot and cold regions. We interpret these variations as changes in the covering fraction of a high cloud deck and corresponding 'holes' which expose deeper, hotter cloud layers, although other physical interpretations are possible. A Rhines scale interpretation for the size of the variable features explains an apparent correlation between period and amplitude for Luhman 16B and the variable T dwarfs SIMP 0136+0933 and 2MASS J2139+0220, and predicts relatively fast winds (1-3 km s{sup –1}) for Luhman 16B consistent with light curve evolution on an advective time scale (1-3 rotation periods). The strong variability observed in this flux reversal brown dwarf pair supports the model of a patchy disruption of the mineral cloud layer as a universal feature of the L dwarf/T dwarf transition.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

DISCOVERY OF X-RAY EMISSION FROM THE FIRST Be/BLACK HOLE SYSTEM

MWC 656 (=HD 215227) was recently discovered to be the first binary system composed of a Be star and a black hole (BH). We observed it with XMM-Newton, and detected a faint X-ray source compatible with the position of the optical star, thus proving it to be the first Be/BH X-ray binary. The spectrum analysis requires a model fit with two components, a blackbody plus a power law, with k{sub B}T=0.07{sub −0.03}{sup +0.04} keV and a photon index Γ = 1.0 ± 0.8, respectively. The non-thermal component dominates above ≅0.8 keV. The obtained total flux is F(0.3-5.5 keV)=(4.6{sub −1.1}{sup +1.3})×10{sup −14} erg cm{sup –2} s{sup –1}. At a distance of 2.6 ± 0.6 kpc the total flux translates into a luminosity L {sub X} = (3.7 ± 1.7) × 10{sup 31} erg s{sup –1}. Considering the estimated range of BH masses to be 3.8-6.9 M {sub ☉}, this luminosity represents (6.7 ± 4.4) × 10{sup –8} L {sub Edd}, which is typical of stellar-mass BHs in quiescence. We discuss the origin of the two spectral components: the thermal component is associated with the hot wind of the Be star, whereas the power-law component is associated with emission from the vicinity of the BH. We also find that the position of MWC 656 in the radio versus X-ray luminosity diagram may be consistent with the radio/X-ray correlation observed in BH low-mass X-ray binaries. This suggests that this correlation might also be valid for BH high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) with X-ray luminosities down to ∼10{sup –8} L {sub Edd}. MWC 656 will allow the accretion processes and the accretion/ejection coupling at very low luminosities for BH HMXBs to be studied.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE BINARY BLACK HOLE MODEL FOR MRK 231 BITES THE DUST

Mrk 231 is a nearby quasar with an unusually red near-UV-to-optical continuum, generally explained as heavy reddening by dust. Yan et al. proposed that Mrk 231 is a milliparsec black hole binary with little intrinsic reddening. We show that if the observed FUV continuum is intrinsic, as assumed by Yan et al., it fails by a factor of about 100 in powering the observed strength of the near-infrared emission lines and the thermal near and mid-infrared continuum. In contrast, the line and continuum strengths are typical for a reddened AGN spectral energy distribution (SED). We find that the He i*/P β ratio is sensitive to the SED for a one-zone model. If this sensitivity is maintained in general broadline region models, then this ratio may prove a useful diagnostic for heavily reddened quasars. Analysis of archival Hubble Space Telescope STIS and Faint Object Camera data revealed evidence that the far-UV continuum emission is resolved on size scales of ∼40 pc. The lack of broad absorption lines in the far-UV continuum might be explained if it were not coincident with the central engine. One possibility is that it is the central engine continuum reflected from the receding wind on the far side of the quasar.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1980

X-ray bursters and the X-ray sources of the galactic bulge

Type 1 X-ray bursts, optical, infrared, and radio properties of the galactic bulge sources, are discussed. It was proven that these burst sources are neutron stars in low mass, close binary stellar systems. Several burst sources are found in globular clusters with high central densities. Optical type 1 X-ray bursts were observed from three sources. Type 2 X-ray bursts, observed from the Rapid Burster, are due to an accretion instability which converts gravitational potential energy into heat and radiation, which makes them of a fundamentally different nature from Type 1 bursts.

Lewin, W. H. G.↗