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At least 91 records · Page 5

Spectral flux from low-density photospheres - Numerical results

Radiative transfer through sharp, quasi-static atmospheres whose opacity is dominated by hydrogen is considered at densities low enough that scattering usually dominates absorption and radiative excitations usually dominate collisional excitations. Numerical results for the continuum spectral flux are obtained for effective temperatures T(e) = 6000-16,000 K and scale heights Delta-R = 10 to the 10th - 10 to the 14th cm. Spectra are significantly different than if LTE level populations were assumed. Comparison with observations of the Type II supernova 1980k tends to increase the value of the Hubble constant previously obtained by the Baade (1926) method.

Hershkowitz, S.↗

Spectral flux from low-density photospheres - Approximate results

Radiative transfer through sharp, quasi-static atmospheres containing mostly hydrogen is considered at densities low enough that scattering dominates absorption and collisional excitations are negligible. It is found that the balance between photoionization and radiative recombination which governs the atomic level populations greatly reduces the effective absorptive opacity. Approximate results for the emergent continuum spectral flux are obtained, significantly different than if local thermodynamic equilibrium level populations were assumed. The flux jumps at the photoionization thresholds are relatively small for the photospheric temperatures T sub p(v) greater than or about 6000 K considered, and T sub p increases toward the far-ultraviolet. It appears that the lack of a Balmer jump in spectra of Type II supernovae implies that the flux is diluted below that of a blackbody at the same color temperature, which increases the value of the Hubble constant obtained by the Baade (1926) method.

Hershkowitz, S.↗

Amplification and polarization of supernovae by gravitational lensing

The gravitational lensing of supernovae by individual masses which could comprise the dark matter is analyzed. Detailed predictions of the amplification and polarization are presented, including effects of a galactic environment. Their time dependence is produced by the expansion of the supernovae beam within the lens. The fraction of supernovae which might thus be identified as being lensed in surveys at proposed limiting magnitudes is estimated. These two effects could provide the only known unique signature of microlensing.

Schneider, P.↗

Spectral flux from low-density photospheres - Low-temperature results

Previous studies of low-density, hydrogen-dominated, quasi-static photospheres (such as those of Type II supernovae) are extended to effective temperatures Te = 4000-6000 K. These temperatures include those at which hydrogen recombines at the densities investigated, corresponding to scale heights Delta R = (1-100) x 10 to the 14th cm. In addition to presenting results for the emergent spectral flux (required to obtain supernova distances via the Baade method), the validity of some assumptions previously made is demonstrated. It is shown that the level populations of hydrogen are governed solely by a balance between photoionization directly to and recombination directly from the continuum.

Hershkowitz, Stephen↗

Gravitational lensing statistics of amplified supernovae

Amplification statistics of gravitationally lensed supernovae can provide a valuable probe of the lensing matter in the universe. A general probability distribution for amplification by compact objects is derived which allows calculation of the lensed fraction of supernovae at or greater than an amplification A and at or less than an apparent magnitude. Comparison of the computed fractions with future results from ongoing supernova searches can lead to determination of the mass density of compact dark matter components with masses greater than about 0.001 solar mass, while the time-dependent amplification (and polarization) of the expanding supernovae constrain the individual masses. Type II supernovae are found to give the largest fraction for deep surveys, and the optimum flux-limited search is found to be at approximately 23d magnitude, if evolution of the supernova rate is neglected.

Linder, Eric V.↗

Gravitational lensing of supernovae by dark matter candidates of mass M greater than about 0.001 solar masses

A review is presented concerning the gravitational lensing of supernovae by intervening condensed objects, including dark matter candidates such as dim stars and black holes. the expansion of the supernova beam within the lens produces characteristic time-dependent amplification and polarization which depend upon the mass of the lens. The effects of the shearing of the beam due to surrounding masses are considered, although the study of these effects is confined to isolated masses whose size is much less than that of the supernova (about 10 to the 15th cm). Equations for the effects of lensing and graphs comparing these effects in different classes of supernovae are compared. It is found that candidates for lensing would be those supernovae at least as bright as their parent galaxy, or above the range of luminosities expected for their spectral class.

Wagoner, Robert V.↗

Determining the properties of accretion-gap neutron stars

If neutron stars have radii as small as has been argued by some, observations of accretion-powered X-rays could verify the existence of innermost stable circular orbits (predicted by general relativity) around weakly magnetized neutron stars. This may be done by detecting X-ray emission from clumps of matter before and after they cross the gap (where matter cannot be supported by rotation) between the inner accretion disk and the stellar surface. Assuming the validity of general relativity, it would then be possible to determine the masses of such neutron stars independently of any knowledge of binary orbital parameters. If an accurate mass determination were already available through any of the methods conventionally used, the new mass determination method proposed here could then be used to quantitatively test strong field effects of gravitational theory.

Kluzniak, Wlodzimierz↗

Continuum opacity produced by spectral lines in supernovae and similar expansions

Within rapidly expanding objects such as supernovae, the large velocity gradient Doppler spreads the spectral lines to such an extent that even relatively weak transitions affect the propagation of radiation. It is shown that under appropriate conditions (involving the separation between lines and the velocity gradient), the effects of many lines within a small frequency interval produce a contribution to the transfer equation which acts like an ordinary continuum opacity. This expansion opacity is a surprisingly simple function of the Sobolev optical depth of the lines. The dependence of this opacity on frequency, temperature, density, velocity gradient (1/time), and heavy element abundance is evaluated.

Wagoner, Robert V.↗

Diskoseismology: Probing accretion disks. I - Trapped adiabatic oscillations

The normal modes of acoustic oscillations within thin accretion disks which are terminated by an innermost stable orbit around a slowly rotating black hole or weakly magnetized compact neutron star are analyzed. The dominant relativistic effects which allow modes to be trapped within the inner region of the disk are approximated via a modified Newtonian potential. A general formalism is developed for investigating the adiabatic oscillations of arbitrary unperturbed disk models. The generic behavior is explored by way of an expansion of the Lagrangian displacement about the plane of symmetry and by assuming separable solutions with the same radial wavelength for the horizontal and vertical perturbations. The lowest eigenfrequencies and eigenfunctions of a particular set of radial and quadrupole modes which have minimum motion normal for the plane are obtained. These modes correspond to the standard dispersion relation of disk theory.

Nowak, Michael A.↗

Diskoseismology: Probing accretion disks. II - G-modes, gravitational radiation reaction, and viscosity

A scalar potential is used to derive a single partial differential equation governing the oscillation of a disk. The eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of a variety of disk models are found to fall into two main classes which are analogous to the p-modes and g-modes in the sun. Specifically, the eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of isothermal disks are computed, and the way in which these results can be generalized to other disk models is indicated. The (assumed) relatively small rates of growth or damping of the modes due to various mechanisms, in particular gravitational radiation reaction and parameterized models of viscosity are also computed. It is found that for certain parameters the p-modes are unstable to gravitational radiation reaction (CFS instability), while both the p-modes and g-modes are unstable to viscosity unless highly anisotropic viscosity models are considered.

Nowak, Michael A.↗

Diskoseismology - Signatures of black hole accretion disks

General relativity requires the existence of a spectrum of oscillations which are trapped near the inner edge of accretion disks around black holes. We have developed a general formalism for analyzing the normal modes of such acoustic perturbations of arbitrary thin disk models, approximating the dominant relativistic effects via a modified Newtonian potential (these modes do not exist in Newtonian gravity). The eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of a variety of disk models are found to fall in to two main classes, which are analogous to the p-modes and g-modes in the sun. In this work, we compute the eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of isothermal disks. The (relatively small) rates of growth or damping of these oscillations due to gravitational radiation and parameterized models of viscosity are also computed.

Nowak, Michael↗

Transonic flow past a wedge profile with detached bow wave

A theoretical study has been made of the aerodynamic characteristics at zero angle of attack of a thin, doubly symmetrical double-wedge profile in the range of supersonic flight speed in which the bow wave is detached. The analysis utilizes the equations of the transonic small-disturbance theory and involves no assumptions beyond those implicit in this theory. The mixed flow about the front half of the profile is calculated by relaxation solution of boundary conditions along the shock polar and sonic line. The purely subsonic flow about the rear of the profile is found by means of the method of characteristics specialized to the transonic small-disturbance theory. Complete calculations were made for four values of the transonic similarity parameter. These were found sufficient to bridge the gap between the previous results of Guderley and Yoshihara at a Mach number of 1 and the results which are readily obtained when the bow wave is attached and the flow is completely supersonic.

Vincenti, Walter G↗

Theoretical study of the transonic lift of a double-wedge profile with detached bow wave

A theoretical study is described of the aerodynamic characteristics at small angle of attack of a thin, double-wedge profile in the range of supersonic flight speed in which the bow wave is detached. The analysis is carried out within the framework of the transonic (nonlinear) small-disturbance theory, and the effects of angle of attack are regarded as a small perturbation on the flow previously calculated at zero angle. The mixed flow about the front half of the profile is calculated by relaxation solution of a suitably defined boundary-value problem for transonic small-disturbance equation in the hodograph plane (i.e., the Tricomi equation). The purely supersonic flow about the rear half is found by an extension of the usual numerical method of characteristics. Analytical results are also obtained, within the framework of the same theory, for the range of speed in which the bow wave is attached and the flow is completely supersonic.

Vincenti, Walter G↗

The 67 Hz Feature in the Black Hole Candidate GRS 1915+105 as a Possible Diskoseismic Mode

The Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer has made feasible for the first time the search for high-frequency (greater than or equal to 100 Hz) periodic features in Black Hole Candidate (BHC) systems. Such a feature, with a 67 Hz frequency, recently has been discovered in the BHC GRS 1915+105 (Morgan, Remillard, & Greiner). This feature is weak (rms variability approx. 0.3%-1.6%), stable in frequency (to within approx. 2 Hz) despite appreciable luminosity fluctuations, and narrow (quality factor Q approx. 20). Several of these properties are what one expects for a 'diskoseismic' g-mode in an accretion disk about a 10.6 M(solar mass) (nonrotating) to 36.3 M(solar mass) (maximally rotating) black hole (if we are observing the fundamental-mode frequency). We explore this possibility by considering the expected luminosity modulation, as well as possible excitation and growth mechanisms-including turbulent excitation, damping, and 'negative' radiation damping. We conclude that a diskoseismic interpretation of the observations is viable.

Nowak, Michael A.↗