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At least 91 records · Page 5

Five New Millisecond Pulsars from a Radio Survey of 14 Unidentified Fermi-LAT Gamma-Ray Sources

We have discovered five millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in a survey of 14 unidentified Ferm;'LAT sources in the southern sky using the Parkes radio telescope. PSRs J0101-6422, J1514-4946, and J1902-5105 reside in binaries, while PSRs J1658-5324 and J1747-4036 are isolated. Using an ephemeris derived from timing observations of PSR JOl01-6422 (P=2.57ms, DH=12pc/cubic cm ), we have detected gamma-ray pulsations and measured its proper motion. Its gamma-ray spectrum (a power law of Gamma = 0.9 with a cutoff at 1.6 GeV) and efficiency are typical of other MSPs, but its radio and gamma-ray light curves challenge simple geometric models of emission. The high success rate of this survey -- enabled by selecting gamma-ray sources based on their detailed spectral characteristics -- and other similarly successful searches indicate that a substantial fraction of the local population of MSPs may soon be known.

Kerr, M.↗

Gamma-ray sources as Comptonized X-ray sources

The possible contribution of Compton scattering to the formation of gamma-ray burst spectra is analyzed. Monte Carlo calculations are used to study the spectral distribution emerging from a plasma at temperatures typical of gamma-ray burst spectra (above 100 keV) with an underlying source of photons reprocessed by inverse Compton scattering surrounding a point source of blackbody radiation. Comparison of the computations with the observed spectrum of the burst GB781104 results in a best fit with a blackbody X-ray source at 2.4 keV, plasma temperature of about 150 eV and plasma column density of 4 x 10 to the 24th electrons/sq cm. The Comptonization model is also shown to be capable of accounting for the two-component spectra observed for bursts GB790329 and GB790524, and the moving low-energy spectral cut-off in the burst of November 18, 1978.

Fenimore, E. E.↗

Method and System for Gamma-Ray Localization Induced Spacecraft Navigation Using Celestial Gamma-Ray Sources

A method and system for spacecraft navigation using distant celestial gamma-ray bursts which offer detectable, bright, high-energy events that provide well-defined characteristics conducive to accurate time-alignment among spatially separated spacecraft. Utilizing assemblages of photons from distant gamma-ray bursts, relative range between two spacecraft can be accurately computed along the direction to each burst's source based upon the difference in arrival time of the burst emission at each spacecraft's location. Correlation methods used to time-align the high-energy burst profiles are provided. The spacecraft navigation may be carried out autonomously or in a central control mode of operation.

Sheikh, Suneel I.↗

An EAS experiment at mountain altitude for the detection of gamma-ray sources

The plan of an extensive air shower experiment 2.200 m above sea level for the detection of 10 to the 14th power eV to 10 to the 17th power eV gamma rays from sources in the declination band 0 deg to + 60 deg is described. The site selection, detector array and electronic layout are detailed.

Allkofer, O. C.↗

Survey of candidate gamma-ray sources at TeV energies using a high-resolution Cerenkov imaging system - 1988-1991

The steady TeV gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula has been used to optimize the sensitivity of the Whipple Observatory atmospheric Cerenkov imaging telescope. Using this method, which is of order 20 times more sensitive than the standard method using a simple non-imaging detector, it is possible to detect the Crab Nebula at a significance level in excess of 6 standard deviations (6 sigma) in under 1 hr on source (with a corresponding time observing a background comparison region); a source one-tenth the strength of the Crab Nebula can be detected at the 4 sigma level after 40 hr on the source (and 40 hr on a background region). A variety of sources have been monitored using this technique over the period 1988-1991, but none were detected apart from the Crab Nebula. Upper limits are presented which in many instances are a factor of 10 below the flux of the Crab Nebula. These upper limits assume steady emission from the source and cannot rule out sporadic gamma-ray emission with short duty cycles.

Reynolds, P. T.↗

On the 1983 observations of the gamma-ray source 2CG195+4

The source 2CG 195+4 (Geminga) was observed at E = gamma 2 x 10 to the 7th power eV in December, 1983 with the Tien Shan high altitude facility. The mean gamma flux was equal to (7.0 + or - 4.5) x 10 to the -11th power quanta/sq cm sec. Probably the gamma ray flux is varying with the time with a period 59.49 s.

Zyskin, Y. L.↗

Tests and consequences of disk plus halo models of gamma-ray burst sources

The gamma-ray burst observations made by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) and by previous experiments are still consistent with a combined Galactic disk (or Galactic spiral arm) plus extended Galactic halo model. Testable predictions and consequences of the disk plus halo model are discussed here; tests performed on the expanded BATSE database in the future will constrain the allowed model parameters and may eventually rule out the disk plus halo model. Using examples, it is shown that if the halo has an appropriate edge, BATSE will never detect an anisotropic signal from the halo of the Andromeda galaxy. A prediction of the disk plus halo model is that the fraction of the bursts observed to be in the 'disk' population rises as the detector sensitivity improves. A careful reexamination of the numbers of bursts in the two populations for the pre-BATSE databases could rule out this class of models. Similarly, it is predicted that different satellites will observe different relative numbers of bursts in the two classes for any model in which there are two different spatial distribiutions of the sources, or for models in which there is one spatial distribution of the sources that is sampled to different depths for the two classes. An important consequence of the disk plus halo model is that for the birthrate of the halo sources to be small compared to the birthrate of the disk sources, it is necessary for the halo sources to release many orders of magnitude more energy over their bursting lifetime than the disk sources. The halo bursts must also be much more luminous than the disk bursts; if this disk-halo model is correct, it is necessary to explain why the disk sources do not produce halo-type bursts.

Smith, I. A.↗

COS-B gamma ray sources beyond the predicted diffuse emission

COS-B data were reanalyzed using for background subtraction the modeled galactic diffuse gamma-ray emission based on HI- and CO-line surveys and the gamma-ray data itself. A methodology was developed for this purpose with the following three features: automatic generation of source catalogs using correlation analysis, simulation of trials to derive significance thresholds for source detection, and bootstrap sampling to drive error boxes and confidence intervals for source parameters. The analysis shows that about half of the 2CG sources are explained by concentrations in the distribution of molecular hydrogen. Indication for a few weak new sources is also obtained.

Mayer-Hasselwander, H. A.↗

Coded aperture imaging of X-ray and gamma-ray sources

Coded aperture telescopes employing arrays of a small number of discrete detector elements for hard X-rays or gamma-rays are discussed. Aperture patterns are described that permit a unique reconstruction of the image with high contrast, and that exhibit a specific rotational antisymmetry to suppress systematic distortions. It is shown that high flux sensitivity can be achieved in this fashion as well as good angular resolution.

Kroeger, R.↗

NuSTAR Discovery Of A Young, Energetic Pulsar Associated with the Luminous Gamma-Ray Source HESS J1640-465

We report the discovery of a 206 ms pulsar associated with the TeV gamme-ray source HESS J1640−465 using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) X-ray observatory. PSR J1640−4631 lies within the shelltype supernova remnant (SNR) G338.3−0.0, and coincides with an X-ray point source and putative pulsar wind nebula (PWN) previously identified in XMM-Newton and Chandra images. It is spinning down rapidly with period derivative P = 9.758(44) × 10(exp −13), yielding a spin-down luminosity E = 4.4 × 10(exp 36) erg s(exp −1), characteristic age tau(sub c) if and only if P/2 P = 3350 yr, and surface dipole magnetic field strength B(sub s) = 1.4×10(exp 13) G. For the measured distance of 12 kpc to G338.3−0.0, the 0.2-10 TeV luminosity of HESS J1640−465 is 6% of the pulsar's present E. The Fermi source 1FHL J1640.5−4634 is marginally coincident with PSR J1640−4631, but we find no gamma-ray pulsations in a search using five years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data. The pulsar energetics support an evolutionary PWN model for the broadband spectrum of HESS J1640−465, provided that the pulsar's braking index is n approximately equal to 2, and that its initial spin period was P(sub 0) approximately 15 ms.

pulsars: individual↗

EGRET gamma-ray sources: GRO J0744+54 and GRO J0957+65 (= BL Lacertae object 0954+658)

EGRET detected an unidentified source, GRO J0744+54, at a significance of 6.5 sigma, during its observations from 1993 June 28 to July 12. The source was seen again in the following 2 week viewing period and was weakly evident in the earlier phase 1 of the EGRET observations. Considering the variability of its gamma-ray flux, and its location at high Galactic latitude, GRO J0744+54 is likely to be a previously undetected blazar. Its most likely identification is with the radio source 87GB 073840.5+545138. A second source, GRO J0957+65, was seen by EGRET during the same two viewing periods at a combined significance of 5.7 sigma. The most probable counterpart of GRO J0957+65 is the BL Lacertae object 0954+658. The spectra, time variability, and positions of the two sources are presented. Multiwavelength observations of 0954+658 are also presented.

Mukherjee, R.↗

Helios 2-Vela-Ariel 5 gamma-ray burst source position

The gamma-ray burst of January 28, 1976, one of 18 events thus far detected in interplanetary space with Helios 2, was also observed with the Vela 5A and 6A and the Ariel 5 satellites. A small source field is obtained from the intersection of the region derived from the observed time delays between Helios 2 and Vela 5A and 6A, with the source region independently found with the Ariel 5 X-ray detector. This area contains neither any steady X-ray source as scanned by HEAO 1 nor any previously cataloged X-ray, radio, or infrared sources, X-ray transients, quasars, Seyferts, globular clusters, flare stars, pulsars, white dwarfs, or high enery gamma-ray sources. The region is, however, within the source field of a gamma-ray transient observed in 1974 by Jacobson et al. (1978) which exhibited nuclear gamma-ray line structure.

Cline, T. L.↗

Helios-2 Vela-Ariel-5 gamma-ray burst source position

The gamma-ray burst of 28 January 1976, one of 18 events thus far detected in interplanetary space with Helios-2, was also observed with the Vela-5A, -6A and the Ariel-5 satellites. A small source field is obtained from the intersection of the region derived from the observed time delays between Helios-2 and Vela-5A and -6A with the source region independently found with the Ariel-5 X-ray detector. This area contains neither any steady X-ray source as scanned by HEAO-A nor any previously catalogued X-ray, radio or infrared sources, X-ray transients, quasars, seyferts, globular clusters, flare stars, pulsars, white dwarfs or high energy gamma-ray sources. The region is however, within the source field of a gamma-ray transient observed in 1974, which exhibited nuclear gamma-ray line structure.

Cline, T. L.↗

Discovery of soft X-ray pulsations from the gamma-ray source Geminga

Soft X-ray observations of the Geminga field using Rosat have been used to detect coherent pulsations from 1E0630 + 178 at a period of 0.237 s. This result confirms suggestions that Geminga is, like Vela, a gamma-ray pulsar. It is speculated that Geminga is somewhat the older of the two.

Halpern, J. P.↗

EGRET/COMPTEL Observations of an Unusual, Steep-Spectrum Gamma-Ray Source

During analysis of sources below the threshold of the third EGRET catalog, we have discovered a source, named GRO J1400-3956 based on the best position, with a remarkably steep spectrum. Archival analysis of COMPTEL data shows that the spectrum must have a strong turn-over in the energy range between COMPTEL and EGRET. The EGRET data show some evidence of time variability, suggesting an AGN, but the spectral change of slope is larger than that seen for most gamma-ray blazars. The sharp cutoff resembles the high-energy spectral breaks seen in some gamma-ray pulsars. There have as yet been no OSSE observations of this source.

Thompson, D. J.↗

Soviet-French working group interpretation of the scientific information during the search for celestial sources of gamma pulses, abstract of reports, 24-30 March 1977

The progress made and techniques used by the Soviet-French group in the study of gamma and X ray pulses are described in abstracts of 16 reports. Experiments included calibration and operation of various recording instruments designed for measurements involving these pulses, specifically the location of sources of such pulses in outer space. Space vehicles are utilized in conjunction with ground equipment to accomplish these tests.

Estulin, I. V.↗