scholarly journals Radio variability from corotating interaction regions threading Wolf–Rayet winds

2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (1) ◽  
pp. 1127-1134
Author(s):  
Richard Ignace ◽  
Nicole St-Louis ◽  
Raman K Prinja
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Phenomenological Model ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Parameter Study ◽  
Detailed Structure ◽  
Corotating Interaction Regions ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cent Level ◽  
Interaction Regions

ABSTRACT The structured winds of single massive stars can be classified into two broad groups: stochastic structure and organized structure. While the former is typically identified with clumping, the latter is typically associated with rotational modulations, particularly the paradigm of corotating interaction regions (CIRs). While CIRs have been explored extensively in the ultraviolet band, and moderately in the X-ray and optical, here we evaluate radio variability from CIR structures assuming free–free opacity in a dense wind. Our goal is to conduct a broad parameter study to assess the observational feasibility, and to this end, we adopt a phenomenological model for a CIR that threads an otherwise spherical wind. We find that under reasonable assumptions, it is possible to obtain radio variability at the 10 per cent level. The detailed structure of the folded light curve depends not only on the curvature of the CIR, the density contrast of the CIR relative to the wind, and viewing inclination, but also on wavelength. Comparing light curves at different wavelengths, we find that the amplitude can change, that there can be phase shifts in the waveform, and the entire waveform itself can change. These characterstics could be exploited to detect the presence of CIRs in dense, hot winds.

scholarly journals Hydrodynamic Models of Solar and Stellar Flares

1989 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 289-298
Author(s):  
Giovanni Peres
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Light Curve ◽  
Solar Flares ◽  
Impulsive Phase ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Hydrodynamic Models ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Stellar Flares

AbstractThis paper discusses the hydrodynamic modeling of flaring plasma confined in magnetic loops and its objectives within the broader scope of flare physics. In particular, the Palermo-Harvard model is discussed along with its applications to the detailed fitting of X-ray light curves of solar flares and to the simulation of high-resolution Caxix spectra in the impulsive phase. These two approaches provide complementary constraints on the relevant features of solar flares. The extension to the stellar case, with the fitting of the light curve of an X-ray flare which occurred on Proxima Centauri, demonstrates the feasibility of using this kind of model for stars too. Although the stellar observations do not provide the wealth of details available for the Sun, and, therefore, constrain the model more loosely, there are strong motivations to pursue this line of research: the wider range of physical parameters in stellar flares and the possibility of studying further the solar-stellar connection.

scholarly journals X-ray spectra and light curves of cooling novae and a nova like

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 3006-3018
Author(s):  
Bangzheng Sun ◽  
Marina Orio ◽  
Andrej Dobrotka ◽  
Gerardo Juan Manuel Luna ◽  
Sergey Shugarov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Gravitational Energy ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Clear Correlation ◽  
X Rays ◽  
High State ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low X

ABSTRACT We present X-ray observations of novae V2491 Cyg and KT Eri about 9 yr post-outburst of the dwarf nova and post-nova candidate EY Cyg, and of a VY Scl variable. The first three objects were observed with XMM–Newton, KT Eri also with the Chandra ACIS-S camera, V794 Aql with the Chandra ACIS-S camera and High Energy Transmission Gratings. The two recent novae, similar in outburst amplitude and light curve, appear very different at quiescence. Assuming half of the gravitational energy is irradiated in X-rays, V2491 Cyg is accreting at $\dot{m}=1.4\times 10^{-9}{\!-\!}10^{-8}\,{\rm M}_\odot \,{\rm yr}^{-1}$, while for KT Eri, $\dot{m}\lt 2\times 10^{-10}{\rm M}_\odot \,{\rm yr}$. V2491 Cyg shows signatures of a magnetized WD, specifically of an intermediate polar. A periodicity of  39 min, detected in outburst, was still measured and is likely due to WD rotation. EY Cyg is accreting at $\dot{m}\sim 1.8\times 10^{-11}{\rm M}_\odot \,{\rm yr}^{-1}$, one magnitude lower than KT Eri, consistently with its U Gem outburst behaviour and its quiescent UV flux. The X-rays are modulated with the orbital period, despite the system’s low inclination, probably due to the X-ray flux of the secondary. A period of  81 min is also detected, suggesting that it may also be an intermediate polar. V794 Aql had low X-ray luminosity during an optically high state, about the same level as in a recent optically low state. Thus, we find no clear correlation between optical and X-ray luminosity: the accretion rate seems unstable and variable. The very hard X-ray spectrum indicates a massive WD.

scholarly journals X-ray light curves from realistic polar cap models: inclined pulsar magnetospheres and multipole fields

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (2) ◽  
pp. 1774-1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Lockhart ◽  
Samuel E Gralla ◽  
Feryal Özel ◽  
Dimitrios Psaltis
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Quadrupole Moment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Realistic Model ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Polar Caps ◽  
Thin Ring ◽  
Magnetic Quadrupole ◽  
South Asymmetry

ABSTRACT Thermal X-ray emission from rotation-powered pulsars is believed to originate from localized ‘hotspots’ on the stellar surface occurring where large-scale currents from the magnetosphere return to heat the atmosphere. Light-curve modelling has primarily been limited to simple models, such as circular antipodal emitting regions with constant temperature. We calculate more realistic temperature distributions within the polar caps, taking advantage of recent advances in magnetospheric theory, and we consider their effect on the predicted light curves. The emitting regions are non-circular even for a pure dipole magnetic field, and the inclusion of an aligned magnetic quadrupole moment introduces a north–south asymmetry. As the quadrupole moment is increased, one hotspot grows in size before becoming a thin ring surrounding the star. For the pure dipole case, moving to the more realistic model changes the light curves by $5\!-\!10{{\, \rm per\, cent}}$ for millisecond pulsars, helping to quantify the systematic uncertainty present in current dipolar models. Including the quadrupole gives considerable freedom in generating more complex light curves. We explore whether these simple dipole+quadrupole models can account for the qualitative features of the light curve of PSR J0437−4715.

scholarly journals Evidence for variability time-scale-dependent UV/X-ray delay in Seyfert 1 AGN NGC 7469

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (3) ◽  
pp. 4057-4068
Author(s):  
Mayukh Pahari ◽  
I M McHardy ◽  
Federico Vincentelli ◽  
Edward Cackett ◽  
Bradley M Peterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cross Correlation Analysis ◽  
Optical Continuum ◽  
Delay Prediction ◽  
Ngc 7469

ABSTRACT Using a month-long X-ray light curve from RXTE/PCA and 1.5 month-long UV continuum light curves from IUE spectra in 1220–1970 Å, we performed a detailed time-lag study of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469. Our cross-correlation analysis confirms previous results showing that the X-rays are delayed relative to the UV continuum at 1315 Å by 3.49 ± 0.22 d, which is possibly caused by either propagating fluctuation or variable Comptonization. However, if variations slower than 5 d are removed from the X-ray light curve, the UV variations then lag behind the X-ray variations by 0.37 ± 0.14 d, consistent with reprocessing of the X-rays by a surrounding accretion disc. A very similar reverberation delay is observed between Swift/XRT X-ray and Swift/UVOT UVW2, U light curves. Continuum light curves extracted from the Swift/GRISM spectra show delays with respect to X-rays consistent with reverberation. Separating the UV continuum variations faster and slower than 5 d, the slow variations at 1825 Å lag those at 1315 Å by 0.29 ± 0.06 d, while the fast variations are coincident (0.04 ± 0.12 d). The UV/optical continuum reverberation lag from IUE, Swift, and other optical telescopes at different wavelengths are consistent with the relationship: τ ∝ λ4/3, predicted for the standard accretion disc theory while the best-fitting X-ray delay from RXTE and Swift/XRT shows a negative X-ray offset of ∼0.38 d from the standard disc delay prediction.

scholarly journals Supersoft X-ray phases of recurrent novae as an indicator of their white dwarf masses

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariko Kato ◽  
Izumi Hachisu
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Simple Relation ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Curve Shape ◽  
Plateau Phase ◽  
Hydrogen Burning ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Recurrent Nova

Abstract We have examined the optical/X-ray light curves of seven well-observed recurrent novae, V745 Sco, M31N 2008-12a, LMC N 1968, U Sco, RS Oph, LMC N 2009a, T Pyx, and one recurrent nova candidate LMC N 2012a. Six novae out of the eight show a simple relation that the duration of supersoft X-ray source (SSS) phase is 0.70 times the total duration of the outburst (= X-ray turnoff time), i.e., tSSS = 0.70 toff, the total duration of which ranges from 10 to 260 d. These six recurrent novae show a broad rectangular X-ray light curve shape, the first half-period of which is highly variable in the X-ray count rate. The SSS phase also corresponds to an optical plateau phase that indicates a large accretion disk irradiated by a hydrogen-burning white dwarf (WD). The two other recurrent novae, T Pyx and V745 Sco, show a narrow triangular-shaped X-ray light curve without an optical plateau phase. Their relations between tSSS and toff are rather different from the above six recurrent novae. We also present theoretical SSS durations for recurrent novae with various WD masses and stellar metallicities (Z = 0.004, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05) and compare them with the observed durations of these recurrent novae. We show that SSS duration is a good indicator of WD mass in recurrent novae with a broad rectangular X-ray light curve shape.

scholarly journals X-Ray Observations of Cataclysmic Variables

1987 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 207-223
Author(s):  
J.P. Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Spectral Range ◽  
Cataclysmic Variables ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Broad Spectral Range ◽  
Intermediate Polars ◽  
Recurrent Nova

AbstractThe X-ray observatory EXOSAT spent over 1000 hours observing cataclysmic variables. Some of the major results reviewed here are: soft X-ray light curve changes in AM Her objects, orbital effects in the X-ray light curves of intermediate polars and U Gem, regular behaviour in the inter-outburst X-ray flux of VW Hyi, and X-ray emission from the tenuous remnant of the recent recurrent nova RS Oph. The ability of EXOSAT to make long uninterupted observations at high sensitivity over a broad spectral range and to react quickly to cosmic events has yielded a dataset of a quality that will not be surpassed for many years.

scholarly journals Preflare very long-periodic pulsations observed in Hα emission before the onset of a solar flare

2020 ◽  
Vol 639 ◽  
pp. L5
Author(s):  
Dong Li ◽  
Song Feng ◽  
Wei Su ◽  
Yu Huang
Keyword(s):  
Solar Flare ◽  
Light Curve ◽  
Solar Flares ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Trigger Mechanism ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hα Emission ◽  
Plasma Loop ◽  
Full Disk

Context. Very long-periodic pulsations during preflare phases (preflare-VLPs) have been detected in the full-disk solar soft X-ray (SXR) flux. They may be regarded as precursors to solar flares and may help us better understand the trigger mechanism of solar flares. Aims. In this Letter, we report a preflare-VLP event prior to the onset of an M1.1 circular-ribbon flare on 2015 October 16. It was simultaneously observed in Hα, SXR, and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths. Methods. The SXR fluxes in 1−8 Å and 1−70 Å were recorded by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) and Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment, respectively; the light curves in Hα and EUV 211 Å were integrated over a small local region, which were measured by the 1 m New Vacuum Solar Telescope and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), respectively. The preflare-VLP is identified as the repeat and quasi-periodic pulses in light curves during preflare phase. The quasi-periodicity can be determined from the Fourier power spectrum with Markov chain Monte Carlo-based Bayesian. Results. Seven well-developed pulses are found before the onset of an M1.1 circular-ribbon flare. They are firstly seen in the local light curve in Hα emission and then discovered in full-disk SXR fluxes in GOES 1−8 Å and ESP 1−70 Å, as well as the local light curve in AIA 211 Å. These well-developed pulses can be regarded as the preflare-VLP, which might be modulated by LRC-circuit oscillation in the current-carrying plasma loop. The quasi-period is estimated to be ∼9.3 min. Conclusions. We present the first report of a preflare-VLP event in the local Hα line and EUV wavelength, which could be considered a precursor of a solar flare. This finding should therefore prove useful for the prediction of solar flares, especially for powerful flares.

scholarly journals Monte Carlo simulations of polarimetric and light variability from corotating interaction regions in hot stellar winds

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (2) ◽  
pp. 2873-2886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danny Carlos-Leblanc ◽  
Nicole St-Louis ◽  
Jon E Bjorkman ◽  
Richard Ignace
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Corotating Interaction Regions ◽  
Photometric Variability ◽  
3D Monte Carlo ◽  
Interaction Regions ◽  
Light Variability ◽  
Small Excess

ABSTRACT We use a 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code to study the polarimetric and photometric variability from stationary corotating interaction regions (CIR) in the wind of massive stars. Our CIRs are approximated by Archimedean spirals of higher (or lower) density formed in a spherical wind originating from the star and we also made allowance for a bright Gaussian spot at the base of the CIR. Comparing results from our code to previous analytical calculations in the optically thin case, we find differences which we attribute mainly to a better estimation of the total unpolarized flux reaching the observer. In the optically thick case, the differences with the analytical calculations are much larger, as multiple scattering introduces additional complexities including occultation effects. The addition of a Gaussian spot does not alter the shape of the polarization curve significantly but does create a small excess in polarization. On the other hand, the effect can be larger on the light curve and can become dominant over the resulting CIR, depending on the spot parameters and density of the wind.

scholarly journals Possible ~1 hour quasi-periodic oscillation in narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG–06–30–15

2018 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. L6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok C. Gupta ◽  
Ashutosh Tripathi ◽  
Paul J. Wiita ◽  
Minfeng Gu ◽  
Cosimo Bambi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Energy Range ◽  
Periodic Oscillation ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Narrow Line ◽  
Quasi Periodic Oscillation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
S Period

We found a possible ~1 h quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in a ~55 ks X-ray observation of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG–06–30–15 made with the XMM-Newton EPIC/pn detector in the energy range 0.3–10 keV. We identify a total modulation of ~16% in the light curve and find a ≃3670 s quasi-period using Lomb-Scargle periodogram (LSP) and weighted wavelet Z-transform (WWZ) techniques. Our analyses of eight light curves of MCG–06–30–15, indicated the possible presence of an oscillation during one of them. The LSP indicates a statistically significant (≃3σ) QPO detection. A WWZ analysis shows that the signal at this possible roughly 3670 s period is present, and rather persistent, throughout the observation; however, a signal around 8735 s is more persistent. We briefly discuss models that can produce X-ray QPOs with such periods in narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies, as both other claimed QPO detections in this class of AGN had very similar periods.

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