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NASA NTRS1984

High pressure cosmochemistry applied to major planetary interiors: Experimental studies

Progress is reported on a project to determine the properties and boundaries of high pressure phases of the H2-He-H2O-NH3-CH4 system that are needed to constrain theoretical models of the interiors of the major planets. This project is one of the first attempts to measure phase equilibria in binary fluid-solid systems in diamond anvil cells. Vibrational spectroscopy, direct visual observations, and X-ray diffraction crystallography of materials confined in externally heated cells are the primary experimental probes. Adiabats of these materials are also measured in order to constrain models of heat flow in these bodies and to detect phase transitions by thermal anomalies. Initial efforts involve the NH3-H2O binary. This system is especially relevant to models for surface reconstruction of the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. Thermal analysis experiments were completed for the P-X space, p4GPa:0 or = 0.50, near room temperature. The cryostat, sample handling equipment, and optics needed to extend the optical P-T-X work below room temperature was completed.

Nicol, M. F.↗

NASA NTRS2001

The Ever Changing X-ray Sky: X-ray Transients Observed With BATSE

X-ray transients are typically sources in our own galaxy. They are called "transient" because they usually spend more time in quiescence than in outburst. These transients consist of a compact object and a "normal" star in a binary system. The compact objects in some of these systems are known to be neutron stars because they exhibit X-ray bursts or periodic pulsations, Other systems are believed to contain black holes based upon their outburst behavior and in some cases, optical measurements of their masses. The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE), one of 4 instruments on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, was an all-sky instrument sensitive to photons from about 20 keV to 2 MeV, designed primarily to detect gamma-ray bursts. Transient and persistent hard X-ray point sources were extracted from the data using the Earth occultation method to measure source intensities. In this method, the change in count rate in a BATSE detector was measured just before and just after a source location was occulted by the Earth. For long period pulsars (>1 second) Fourier transforms and epoch-folded searches were used to measure pulse frequency and pulsed flux. Using these methods, 3 black hole candidates and 6 X-ray pulsars were discovered with BATSE during its 9 years in orbit. BATSE provided unprecedented temporal coverage in the 20 keV - 2 MeV band, allowing detection of numerous new outbursts of X-ray transients. In this talk, I will describe the BATSE instrument, discuss methods we use to detect hard X-ray sources, and describe observations of X-ray transients.

Wilson-Hodge, Colleen A.↗

NASA NTRS2014

An Accreting White Dwarf near the Chandrasekhar Limit in the Andromeda Galaxy

The iPTF (Intermediate Palomar Transient Factory) detection of the most recent outburst of the recurrent nova system RX J0045.4+4154 in the Andromeda Galaxy has enabled the unprecedented study of a massive (mass is greater than 1.3 solar masses) accreting white dwarf (WD). We detected this nova as part of the near daily iPTF monitoring of M31 to a depth of R (red band-pass filter) approximately equal to magnitude 21 and triggered optical photometry, spectroscopy and soft X-ray monitoring of the outburst. Peaking at an absolute magnitude of MR (red, mid-infrared band-pass filter) equals magnitude −6.6, and with a decay time of 1 magnitude per day, it is a faint and very fast nova. It shows optical emission lines of He/N and expansion velocities of 1900 to 2600 kilometers per second 1-4 days after the optical peak. The Swift monitoring of the X-ray evolution revealed a supersoft source (SSS) with kT (energy: Boltzmann constant times temperature) (sub eff (effective)) approximately equal to 90-110 electronvolts that appeared within 5 days after the optical peak, and lasted only 12 days. Most remarkably, this is not the first event from this system, rather it is a recurrent nova with a time between outbursts of approximately 1 year, the shortest known. Recurrent X-ray emission from this binary was detected by ROSAT in 1992 and 1993, and the source was well characterized as a mass greater than 1.3 solar masses WD SSS. Based on the observed recurrence time between different outbursts, the duration and effective temperature of the SS phase, MESA models of accreting WDs allow us to constrain the accretion rate to mass greater than 1.7x10 (sup −7) solar masses per year and WD mass greater than 1.30 solar masses. If the WD keeps 30 percent of the accreted material, it will take less than a million years to reach core densities high enough for carbon ignition (if made of C/O) or electron capture (if made of O/Ne) to end the binary evolution.

dwarf↗

DOE OSTI2012

DISCOVERY OF TWO VERY WIDE BINARIES WITH ULTRACOOL COMPANIONS AND A NEW BROWN DWARF AT THE L/T TRANSITION

We present the discovery and spectroscopic follow-up of a nearby late-type L dwarf (2M0614+3950), and two extremely wide very low mass binary systems (2M0525-7425AB and 2M1348-1344AB), resulting from our search for common proper motion pairs containing ultracool components in the Two Micron All Sky Survey and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer catalogs. The near-infrared spectrum of 2M0614+3950 indicates a spectral type L9 {+-} 1 object residing at a distance of 26.0 {+-} 1.8 pc. The optical spectrum of 2M0525-7425A reveals an M3.0 {+-} 0.5 dwarf primary, accompanied by a secondary previously classified as L2. The system has an angular separation of {approx}44'', equivalent to {approx}2000 AU at a distance of 46.0 {+-} 3.0 pc. Using optical and infrared spectra, respectively, we classify the components of 2M1348-1344AB as M4.5 {+-} 0.5 and T5.5 {+-} 1. The angular separation of {approx}68'' is equivalent to {approx}1400 AU at a distance of 20.7 {+-} 1.4 pc. 2M1348-1344AB is one of only six very wide (separation >1000 AU) systems containing late T dwarfs known to date.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Radio emission and orbital motion from the close-encounter star–brown dwarf binary WISE J072003.20–084651.2

We report the detection of radio emission and orbital motion from the nearby star–brown dwarf binary WISE J072003.20–084651.2AB. Radio observations across the 4.5–6.5 GHz band with the Very Large Array identify at the position of the system quiescent emission with a flux density of 15 ± 3 μJy, and a highly polarized radio source that underwent a 2–3 minute burst with peak flux density 300 ± 90 μJy. The latter emission is likely a low-level magnetic flare similar to optical flares previously observed for this source. No outbursts were detected in separate narrow-band Hα monitoring observations. We report new high-resolution imaging and spectroscopic observations that confirm the presence of a co-moving T5.5 secondary and provide the first indications of three-dimensional orbital motion. We used these data to revise our estimates for the orbital period (4.1{sub −1.3}{sup +2.7} year) and tightly constrain the orbital inclination to be nearly edge-on (93.°6{sup +1.°6}{sub −1.°4}), although robust measures of the component and system masses will require further monitoring. The inferred orbital motion does not change the high likelihood that this radio-emitting very low-mass binary made a close pass to the Sun in the past 100 kyr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

OBSERVATIONS OF HIERARCHICAL SOLAR-TYPE MULTIPLE STAR SYSTEMS

Twenty multiple stellar systems with solar-type primaries were observed at high angular resolution using the PALM-3000 adaptive optics system at the 5 m Hale telescope. The goal was to complement the knowledge of hierarchical multiplicity in the solar neighborhood by confirming recent discoveries by the visible Robo-AO system with new near-infrared observations with PALM-3000. The physical status of most, but not all, of the new pairs is confirmed by photometry in the Ks band and new positional measurements. In addition, we resolved for the first time five close sub-systems: the known astrometric binary in HIP 17129AB, companions to the primaries of HIP 33555, and HIP 118213, and the companions to the secondaries in HIP 25300 and HIP 101430. We place the components on a color–magnitude diagram and discuss each multiple system individually.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Finely tunable dynamical coloration using bicontinuous micrometer-domains

Nanostructures similar to those found in the vividly blue wings of Morpho butterflies and colorful photonic crystals enable structural color through constructive interference of light waves. Different from commonly studied structure-colored materials using periodic structures to manipulate optical properties, we report a previously unrecognized approach to precisely control the structural color and light transmission via a novel photonic colloidal gel without long-range order. Nanoparticles in this gel form micrometer-sized bicontinuous domains driven by the microphase separation of binary solvents. This approach enables dynamic coloration with a precise wavelength selectivity over a broad range of wavelengths extended well beyond the visible light that is not achievable with traditional methods. The dynamic wavelength selectivity is thermally tunable, reversible, and the material fabrication is easily scalable.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2010

DO HOT HALOS AROUND GALAXIES CONTAIN THE MISSING BARYONS?

Galaxies are missing most of their baryons, and many models predict these baryons lie in a hot halo around galaxies. We establish observationally motivated constraints on the mass and radii of these halos using a variety of independent arguments. First, the observed dispersion measure of pulsars in the Large Magellanic Cloud allows us to constrain the hot halo around the Milky Way: if it obeys the standard Navarro, Frenk, and White (NFW) profile, it must contain less than 4%-5% of the missing baryons from the Galaxy. This is similar to other upper limits on the Galactic hot halo, such as the soft X-ray background and the pressure around high-velocity clouds. Second, we note that the X-ray surface brightness of hot halos with NFW profiles around large isolated galaxies is high enough that such emission should be observed, unless their halos contain less than 10%-25% of their missing baryons. Third, we place constraints on the column density of hot halos using nondetections of O VII absorption along active galactic nucleus (AGN) sightlines: in general they must contain less than 70% of the missing baryons or extend to no more than 40 kpc. Flattening the density profile of galactic hot halos weakens the surface brightness constraint so that a typical L{sub *} galaxy may hold half its missing baryons in its halo, but the O VII constraint remains unchanged, and around the Milky Way a flattened profile may only hold 6%-13% of the missing baryons from the Galaxy ((2-4) x 10{sup 10} M{sub sun}). We also show that AGN and supernovae at low to moderate redshift-the theoretical sources of winds responsible for driving out the missing baryons-do not produce the expected correlations with the baryonic Tully-Fisher relationship and, therefore, are insufficient to explain the missing baryons from galaxies. We conclude that most of missing baryons from galaxies do not lie in hot halos around the galaxies, and that the missing baryons never fell into the potential wells of protogalaxies in the first place. They may have been expelled from the galaxies as part of the process of galaxy formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2010

A BRIGHT MOLECULAR CORE IN A CRAB NEBULA FILAMENT

In a sub-arcsec near-infrared survey of the Crab Nebula using the new Spartan Infrared Camera, we have found several knots with high surface brightness in the H{sub 2} 2.12 {mu}m line and a very large H{sub 2} 2.12 {mu}m to Br{gamma} ratio. The brightest of these knots has an intensity ratio I(H{sub 2} 2.12 {mu}m)/I(Br{gamma}) = 18 {+-} 9, which we show sets a lower limit on the ratio of masses in the molecular and recombination (i.e., ionized) zones M{sub mol}/M{sub rec} {>=} 0.9, and a total molecular mass within this single knot M{sub mol} {>=} 5 x 10{sup -5} M{sub sun}. We argue that the knot discussed here probably is able to emit so strongly in the 2.12 {mu}m line because its physical conditions are better tuned for such emission than is the case in other filaments. It is unclear whether this knot has an unusually large M{sub mol}/M{sub rec} ratio, or if many other Crab filaments also have similar amounts of molecular gas which is not emitting because the physical conditions are not so well tuned.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2010

TESTING THE DISTANCE-DUALITY RELATION WITH GALAXY CLUSTERS AND TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

In this Letter, we propose a new and model-independent cosmological test for the distance-duality (DD) relation, {eta} = D{sub L} (z)(1 + z){sup -2}/D{sub A} (z) = 1, where D{sub L} and D{sub A} are, respectively, the luminosity and angular diameter distances. For D{sub L} we consider two sub-samples of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) taken from Constitution data whereas D{sub A} distances are provided by two samples of galaxy clusters compiled by De Filippis et al. and Bonamente et al. by combining Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect and X-ray surface brightness. The SNe Ia redshifts of each sub-sample were carefully chosen to coincide with the ones of the associated galaxy cluster sample ({Delta}z < 0.005), thereby allowing a direct test of the DD relation. Since for very low redshifts, D{sub A} (z) ape D{sub L} (z), we have tested the DD relation by assuming that {eta} is a function of the redshift parameterized by two different expressions: {eta}(z) = 1 + {eta}{sub 0} z and {eta}(z) = 1 + {eta}{sub 0} z/(1 + z), where {eta}{sub 0} is a constant parameter quantifying a possible departure from the strict validity of the reciprocity relation ({eta}{sub 0} = 0). In the best scenario (linear parameterization), we obtain {eta}{sub 0} = -0.28{sup +0.44} {sub -0.44} (2{sigma}, statistical + systematic errors) for the De Filippis et al. sample (elliptical geometry), a result only marginally compatible with the DD relation. However, for the Bonamente et al. sample (spherical geometry) the constraint is {eta}{sub 0} = -0.42{sup +0.34} {sub -0.34} (3{sigma}, statistical + systematic errors), which is clearly incompatible with the duality-distance relation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Periodic Gamma-Ray Modulation of the Blazar PG 1553+113 Confirmed by Fermi-LAT and Multiwavelength Observations

A 2.1 yr periodic oscillation of the gamma-ray flux from the blazar PG 1553+113 has previously been tentatively identified in ∼7 yr of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope. After 15 yr of Fermi sky-survey observations, doubling the total time range, we report >7 cycle gamma-ray modulation with an estimated significance of 4σ against stochastic red noise. Independent determinations of oscillation period and phase in the earlier and the new data are in close agreement (chance probability <0.01). Pulse timing over the full light curve is also consistent with a coherent periodicity. Multiwavelength new data from Swift X-Ray Telescope, Burst Alert Telescope, and UVOT, and from KAIT, Catalina Sky Survey, All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae, and Owens Valley Radio Observatory ground-based observatories as well as archival Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer satellite-All Sky Monitor data, published optical data of Tuorla, and optical historical Harvard plates data are included in our work. Optical and radio light curves show clear correlations with the gamma-ray modulation, possibly with a nonconstant time lag for the radio flux. We interpret the gamma-ray periodicity as possibly arising from a pulsational accretion flow in a sub-parsec binary supermassive black hole system of elevated mass ratio, with orbital modulation of the supplied material and energy in the jet. Other astrophysical scenarios introduced include instabilities, disk and jet precession, rotation or nutation, and perturbations by massive stars or intermediate-mass black holes in polar orbit.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1983

Accreting degenerate dwarfs in close binary systems

Advances in the study of cataclysmic variables made during the past few years are reviewed. The classification of cataclysmic binaries and their dynamic properties are summarized. The hard and soft X-ray emission from these objects is discussed, and two alternative accretion geometries for producing this radiation from deep in the potential well of the degenerate dwarf are considered. The ultraviolet and optical spectrum is addressed, including disk emission and contributions from the companion star. Magnetic fields in cataclysmic variables are discussed, and the temporal behavior of these stars is addressed, including periodic modulations associated with orbital motion and rotation as well as flickering and pulsation reflecting the mass transfer process and the dynamics of matter near the surface of the accreting star. The outburst process is considered, including classical novae, recurrent novae, and dwarf novae.

Cordova, F. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The low-luminosity X-ray sources in Omega Centauri

UBV observations of three X-ray sources in Omega Cen (sources A, D, and E of Hertz and Grindlay, 1983), obtained with a CCD detector on the 4-m telescope at CTIO in February and August 1985, are reported. The results are presented in images, graphs, and tables and characterized in detail. No optical cataclysmic variable candidates are found down to V = 24.5 mag, corresponding to M(V) = 10.6 in the cluster. It is inferred that these low-luminosity sources, located outside the globular cluster, may be superposed unrelated objects rather than close mass-exchange binaries.

Margon, Bruce↗

NASA NTRS2007

GRO J1655-40: Early Stages of the 2005 Outburst

The black-hole X-ray binary transient GRO J1655-40 underwent an outburst beginning in early 2005. We present the results of our multi-wavelength observational campaign to study the early outburst spectral and temporal evolution, which combines data from X-ray (RXTE, INTEGRAL), radio (VLA) and optical (ROTSE, SMARTS) instruments. During the reported period the source left quiescence and went through four major accreting black hole states: low-hard, hard intermediate, soft intermediate and high-soft. We investigated dipping behavior in the RXTE band and compare our results to the 1996-1997 case, when the source was predominantly in the high-soft state, finding significant differences. We consider the evolution of the low frequency quasi-periodic oscillations and find that the frequency strongly correlates with the spectral characteristics, before shutting off prior to the transition to the high-soft state. We model the broad-band high-energy spectrum in the context of empirical models, as well as more physically motivated thermal and bulk-motion Comptonization and Compton reflection models. RXTE and INTEGRAL data together support a statistically significant high energy cut-off in the energy spectrum at approximately equal to 100 - 200 keV during the low-hard state. The RXTE data alone also show it very significantly during the transition, but cannot see one in the high-soft state spectra. We consider radio, optical and X-ray connections in the context of possible synchrotron and synchrotron self-Compton origins of X-ray emission in low-hard and intermediate states. In this outburst of GRO J1655-40, the radio flux does not rise strongly with the X-ray flux.

Shaposhnikov, N.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Effects of the LBV Primary's Mass-loss Rate on the 3D Hydrodynamics of eta Carinae's Colliding Winds

At the heart of eta Carinae's spectacular "Homunculus" nebula lies an extremely luminous (L(sub Total) greater than approximately 5 × 10(exp 6) solar luminosity) colliding wind binary with a highly eccentric (e approximately 0.9), 5.54-year orbit (Figure 1). The primary of the system, a Luminous Blue Variable (LBV), is our closest (D approximately 2.3 kpc) and best example of a pre-hypernova or pre-gamma ray burst environment. The remarkably consistent and periodic RXTE X-ray light curve surprisingly showed a major change during the system's last periastron in 2009, with the X-ray minimum being approximately 50% shorter than the minima of the previous two cycles1. Between 1998 and 2011, the strengths of various broad stellar wind emission lines (e.g. Halpha, Fe II) in line-of-sight (l.o.s.) also decreased by factors of 1.5 - 3 relative to the continuum2. The current interpretation for these changes is that they are due to a gradual factor of 2 - 4 drop in the primary's mass-loss rate over the last approximately 15 years1, 2. However, while a secular change is seen for a direct view of the central source, little to no change is seen in profiles at high stellar latitudes or reflected off of the dense, circumbinary material known as the "Weigelt blobs"2, 3. Moreover, model spectra generated with CMFGEN predict that a factor of 2 - 4 drop in the primary's mass-loss rate should lead to huge changes in the observed spectrum, which thus far have not been seen. Here we present results from large- (plus or minus 1620 AU) and small- (plus or minus 162 AU) domain, full 3D smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of eta Car's massive binary colliding winds for three different primary-star mass-loss rates (2.4, 4.8, and 8.5 × 10(exp -4) solar mass/yr). The goal is to investigate how the mass-loss rate affects the 3D geometry and dynamics of eta Car's optically-thick wind and spatially-extended wind-wind collision (WWC) regions, both of which are known sources of observed X-ray, optical, UV, and near-IR emission and absorption. We use two domain sizes in order to better understand how the primary's mass-loss rate influences the various observables that form at different length scales. The 3D simulations provide information important for helping constrain η Car's recent mass-loss history and future state.

lavestigate↗

NASA NTRS1976

The 3U 0900-40 binary system - Orbital elements and masses

Observations of the 283-s X-ray pulsations from 3U 0900-40 (Vela X-1) over a 36-day interval have led to a determination of the orbital elements for the X-ray star. These elements yield an X-ray mass function of about 18.5 solar masses and, when combined with the results of optical studies of the companion star HD 77581, give a probable lower limit of 1.4 solar masses to the mass of the X-ray star.

Rappaport, S.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Achievements in optical data storage and retrieval

The present paper deals with the current achievements in two technology efforts, one of which is a wideband holographic recorder which uses multichannel recording of data in the form of holograms on roll film for storage and retrieval of large unit records at hundreds of megabit per second. The second effort involves a system (termed DIGIMEN) which uses binary spot recording on photographic film in the form of microfiche to provide a mass storage capability with automatic computer-controlled random access to stored records. Some potential design improvements are noted.

Nelson, R. H.↗

DOE OSTI2010

ULTRA-BRIGHT OPTICAL TRANSIENTS ARE LINKED WITH TYPE Ic SUPERNOVAE

Recent searches by unbiased, wide-field surveys have uncovered a group of extremely luminous optical transients. The initial discoveries of SN 2005ap by the Texas Supernova Search and SCP-06F6 in a deep Hubble pencil beam survey were followed by the Palomar Transient Factory confirmation of host redshifts for other similar transients. The transients share the common properties of high optical luminosities (peak magnitudes {approx}-21 to -23), blue colors, and a lack of H or He spectral features. The physical mechanism that produces the luminosity is uncertain, with suggestions ranging from jet-driven explosion to pulsational pair instability. Here, we report the most detailed photometric and spectral coverage of an ultra-bright transient (SN 2010gx) detected in the Pan-STARRS 1 sky survey. In common with other transients in this family, early-time spectra show a blue continuum and prominent broad absorption lines of O II. However, about 25 days after discovery, the spectra developed type Ic supernova features, showing the characteristic broad Fe II and Si II absorption lines. Detailed, post-maximum follow-up may show that all SN 2005ap and SCP-06F6 type transients are linked to supernovae Ic. This poses problems in understanding the physics of the explosions: there is no indication from late-time photometry that the luminosity is powered by {sup 56}Ni, the broad light curves suggest very large ejected masses, and the slow spectral evolution is quite different from typical Ic timescales. The nature of the progenitor stars and the origin of the luminosity are intriguing and open questions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗