scholarly journals X-ray spectroscopy of the γ-ray brightest nova V906 Car (ASASSN-18fv)

2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (3) ◽  
pp. 2569-2585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirill V Sokolovsky ◽  
Koji Mukai ◽  
Laura Chomiuk ◽  
Raimundo Lopes de Oliveira ◽  
Elias Aydi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Shocks in γ-ray emitting classical novae are expected to produce bright thermal and non-thermal X-rays. We test this prediction with simultaneous NuSTAR and Fermi/LAT observations of nova V906 Car, which exhibited the brightest GeV γ-ray emission to date. The nova is detected in hard X-rays while it is still γ-ray bright, but contrary to simple theoretical expectations, the detected 3.5–78 keV emission of V906 Car is much weaker than the simultaneously observed >100 MeV emission. No non-thermal X-ray emission is detected, and our deep limits imply that the γ-rays are likely hadronic. After correcting for substantial absorption (NH ≈ 2 × 1023 cm−2), the thermal X-ray luminosity (from a 9 keV optically thin plasma) is just ∼2 per cent of the γ-ray luminosity. We consider possible explanations for the low thermal X-ray luminosity, including the X-rays being suppressed by corrugated, radiative shock fronts or the X-rays from the γ-ray producing shock are hidden behind an even larger absorbing column (NH > 1025 cm−2). Adding XMM–Newton and Swift/XRT observations to our analysis, we find that the evolution of the intrinsic X-ray absorption requires the nova shell to be expelled 24 d after the outburst onset. The X-ray spectra show that the ejecta are enhanced in nitrogen and oxygen, and the nova occurred on the surface of a CO-type white dwarf. We see no indication of a distinct supersoft phase in the X-ray light curve, which, after considering the absorption effects, may point to a low mass of the white dwarf hosting the nova.

Galaxies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung Yue Hui ◽  
Kwan Lok Li

The population of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) has been expanded considerably in the last decade. Not only is their number increasing, but also various classes of them have been revealed. Among different classes of MSPs, the behaviours of black widows and redbacks are particularly interesting. These systems consist of an MSP and a low-mass companion star in compact binaries with an orbital period of less than a day. In this article, we give an overview of the high energy nature of these two classes of MSPs. Updated catalogues of black widows and redbacks are presented and their X-ray/ γ -ray properties are reviewed. Besides the overview, using the most updated eight-year Fermi Large Area Telescope point source catalog, we have compared the γ -ray properties of these two MSP classes. The results suggest that the X-rays and γ -rays observed from these MSPs originate from different mechanisms. Lastly, we will also mention the future prospects of studying these spider pulsars with the novel methodologies as well as upcoming observing facilities.


1987 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 279-279
Author(s):  
H. Ögelman ◽  
J. Krautter ◽  
K. Beuermann

AbstractThe initial discovery of soft X-rays from Nova Muscae 1983 was followed by eight additional observations of the three brightest novae whose outburst stage coincided with the lifetime of EXOSAT satellite; namely three more observations of Nova Muscae 1983, three observations of Nova Vulpeculae 1984 # 1 (PW Vul), and two observations of Nova Vulpeculae 1984 # 2. Through these observations we sampled the soft X-ray light curve of classical novae from optical maximum to ~ 900 days after. The observations seem best explained by the constant bolometric luminosity model of a hot white dwarf remnant. Although the measurements suffer from limited statistics, very broad energy bandpass, and incomplete sampling of any single nova, their constraints on the theories of nova outburst are significant. One constraint is that the lifetime of the white dwarf remnant in Nova Muscae 1983 is ~ 2 to 3 years, which leads to the conclusion that the burned envelope mass Mburn should be of the order of . The second constraint is that the maximum temperature, of the white dwarf remnant should approximately be within 200 000 K to 400 000 K. We estimate that a white dwarf remnant evolving like the central star of a planetary nebula, with core mass of 0.8 to 0.9 M⊙, core luminosity of ~ 2 × 104L⊙, and envelope mass of 10−6M⊙, can explain the general characteristics of the X-ray measurements for Nova Muscae 1983. In order to have ≥ 1.1 M⊙ core mass, estimated from the early observations of bolometric luminosity in the UV to infrared range, a wind with Ṁ ≤ 5 × 10−7M⊙yr−1 appears to be necessary. The few observations of Nova Vulpeculae 1984 # 1 and Nova Vulpeculae 1984 # 2 , during the first year after outburst, give a risetime and intensity that is consistent with a constant bolometric luminosity model.


1995 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 268-271
Author(s):  
Meil Abada-Simon ◽  
Tim S. Bastian ◽  
Jay A. Bookbinder ◽  
Monique Aubier ◽  
Gordon Bromage ◽  
...  

AE Aquarii is a magnetic cataclysmic variable containing a white dwarf and a K3-K7 star which lies slightly above the main sequence. The white dwarf is the most rapidly rotating known (Prot ≃ 33.08 s, Patterson 1979), and it is the most strongly asynchronous with its revolution (Porb = 9.88 hr). The white dwarf accretes matter from the K star, which approximately fills the Roche lobe. AE Aqr exhibits flares in the soft X-rays, the ultra-violet, and almost continuously in the visible and the radio regimes. Rapid optical and TeV γ-ray bursts have also been discovered, which are modulated with the period of the white dwarf and at half of this period (de Jager & Meintjes 1993). This modulation, also found in X-rays, is interpreted as the accretion of matter onto the white dwarf’s magnetic poles. The strength of the white dwarf’s magnetic field is not well-determined, it is estimated to be ∼ 6.104 - 105 G (Lamb & Patterson 1983, Cropper 1986) at the white dwarf’s surface. Eracleous et al. (1994) recently suggested that the magnetic dipole axis lies close to the equatorial plane (∼ 20°). De Jager et al. (1994) discovered a rapid spin down of the white dwarf leading to a spin down power which exceeds the accretion power. They suggest that a significant fraction of the spin down power may be converted to the acceleration of particles, which may explain the radio and the γ-ray emissions. Both the characteristics of the optical flares and the existence of TeV γ-rays suggest a relation with the non-thermal radio flares.


1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Sen ◽  
M. Kingman ◽  
H. Bakhru ◽  
N. Cue

The decay of 146Gd to levels of 146Eu has been studied using high resolution X-ray and γ-ray detectors. γ–γ directional correlation studies, using X and γ-ray Ge(Li) detectors, were made to assign the spins of the low lying states in 146Eu. γ–γ coincidence experiments with two Ge(Li) detectors and between Eu X rays and γ rays were performed to pin down the levels of 146Eu. On the basis of these measurements, Jπ of 4−, 3−, 2−, and 1− have been assigned respectively to the ground, 115.66, 230.51, and 385.11 keV states in 146Eu. More accurate evaluation of the E2 admixtures in the M1 transitions, 114.85, 115.66, and 154.60 keV, have been obtained. Based on the above results a tentative level scheme for 146Eu has been proposed.


1990 ◽  
Vol 122 ◽  
pp. 306-310
Author(s):  
Sumner Starrfield ◽  
James W. Truran ◽  
Warren M. Sparks ◽  
Joachim Krautter ◽  
James MacDonald

AbstractTheoretical modeling of novae in outburst predicts that they should be active emitters of radiation at soft X-ray wavelengths twice during their outburst. The first time occurs very early in the outburst when only a very sensitive all sky survey will be able to detect them. This period lasts only a few hours for the very fastest novae. They again become bright in X-rays late in the outburst when the remnant object becomes very hot and is still luminous. Both simulations and observations show that novae can remain very hot for months to years. It is important to observe them at these late times because a measurement both of the flux and temperature can provide information about the mass of the white dwarf, the turn-off time scale, and the energy budget of the outburst.


2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (3) ◽  
pp. 3642-3655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vineet Ojha ◽  
Hum Chand ◽  
Gopal Krishna ◽  
Sapna Mishra ◽  
Krishan Chand

ABSTRACT In a systematic program to characterize the intranight optical variability (INOV) of different classes of narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1s) galaxies, we report here the first comparative INOV study of NLSy1 sets detected in the X-ray and γ-ray bands. Our sample consists of 18 sources detected in X-rays but not in γ-rays (hereafter x_NLSy1s) and seven sources detected in γ-rays (hereafter g_NLSy1s), out of which five are detected also in X-rays. We have monitored these two sets of NLSy1s, respectively, in 24 and 21 sessions of a minimum of 3-h duration each. The INOV duty cycles for these two sets are found to be 12 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively (at a 99 per cent confidence level). In the set of 18 x_NLSy1s, INOV duty cycle is found to be zero for the 13 radio-quiet members (monitored in 14 sessions) and 43 per cent for the five radio-loud members (10 sessions). The latter is very similar to the aforementioned duty cycle of 53 per cent found here for the set of g_NLSy1s (all of which are radio-loud). Thus, it appears that the radio-loudness level is the prime factor behind the INOV detection and the pattern of the high-energy radiation plays only a minor role.


1996 ◽  
Vol 152 ◽  
pp. 401-405
Author(s):  
Guy S. Stringfellow ◽  
Stuart Bowyer

We have conducted an extensive analysis of the observability of Classical Novae with the EUVE Lex/B and Al/Ti/C detectors. Predicted count rates have been computed using optically thin, isothermal plasma models for solar and metal-rich compositions, and hot ONeMg white dwarf model atmospheres. We find EUVE to be quite sensitive to both the EUV and soft X-ray emission emitted by the underlying hot white dwarf during novae outbursts, except for the coolest temperatures with very high intervening hydrogen column density. These results are used to interpret the emission detected during the EUVE all-sky survey of Nova Cygni 1992 (≡ V1974 Cyg), 279–290 days after visual maximum. We find the best fit to the observed emission from V1974 Cyg arises from a hot ONeMg white dwarf with surface temperature ~ 4 × 105 K and a mass of ~1.2 M⊙, and derive an interstellar hydrogen column density of ~ 3 × 1021 cm−2. Virtually all this emission arises from supersoft X-rays rather than the EUV. We also report the detection of V1974 Cyg with the EUVE Deep Survey detector at 549 days after visual maximum. This observation is compatible with the above properties, indicating that the mechanism responsible for the soft X-ray emission, connected with the underlying white dwarf, had not yet entirely turned off. We also present analysis of a ROSAT PSPC observation which is contemporaneous with the EUVE survey observations; this independently confirms the high column density we derived from the EUVE survey observation. Light curves for the EUVE and ROSAT observations are presented. Statistical tests for variability show that all of these observations are indeed highly variable over various time scales. The EUVE survey data shows one day variations, the EUVE DS data show ~30 minute fluctuations, while the ROSAT data vary rapidly on time scales of seconds. The EUVE data shows no periodic variability on any time scale. The implications of the rapid variability are briefly discussed.


Author(s):  
R. L. Stears

Because of the nature of the bacterial endospore, little work has been done on analyzing their elemental distribution and composition in the intact, living, hydrated state. The majority of the qualitative analysis entailed intensive disruption and processing of the endospores, which effects their cellular integrity and composition.Absorption edge imaging permits elemental analysis of hydrated, unstained specimens at high resolution. By taking advantage of differential absorption of x-ray photons in regions of varying elemental composition, and using a high brightness, tuneable synchrotron source to obtain monochromatic x-rays, contact x-ray micrographs can be made of unfixed, intact endospores that reveal sites of elemental localization. This study presents new data demonstrating the application of x-ray absorption edge imaging to produce elemental information about nitrogen (N) and calcium (Ca) localization using Bacillus thuringiensis as the test specimen.


Author(s):  
Yunus Emre Bahar ◽  
Manoneeta Chakraborty ◽  
Ersin Göğüş

Abstract We present the results of our extensive binary orbital motion corrected pulsation search for 13 low-mass X-ray binaries. These selected sources exhibit burst oscillations in X-rays with frequencies ranging from 45 to 1 122 Hz and have a binary orbital period varying from 2.1 to 18.9 h. We first determined episodes that contain weak pulsations around the burst oscillation frequency by searching all archival Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer data of these sources. Then, we applied Doppler corrections to these pulsation episodes to discard the smearing effect of the binary orbital motion and searched for recovered pulsations at the second stage. Here we report 75 pulsation episodes that contain weak but coherent pulsations around the burst oscillation frequency. Furthermore, we report eight new episodes that show relatively strong pulsations in the binary orbital motion corrected data.


Nano Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alevtina Smekhova ◽  
Alexei Kuzmin ◽  
Konrad Siemensmeyer ◽  
Chen Luo ◽  
Kai Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractModern design of superior multi-functional alloys composed of several principal components requires in-depth studies of their local structure for developing desired macroscopic properties. Herein, peculiarities of atomic arrangements on the local scale and electronic states of constituent elements in the single-phase face-centered cubic (fcc)- and body-centered cubic (bcc)-structured high-entropy Alx-CrFeCoNi alloys (x = 0.3 and 3, respectively) are explored by element-specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy in hard and soft X-ray energy ranges. Simulations based on the reverse Monte Carlo approach allow to perform a simultaneous fit of extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra recorded at K absorption edges of each 3d constituent and to reconstruct the local environment within the first coordination shells of absorbers with high precision. The revealed unimodal and bimodal distributions of all five elements are in agreement with structure-dependent magnetic properties of studied alloys probed by magnetometry. A degree of surface atoms oxidation uncovered by soft X-rays suggests different kinetics of oxide formation for each type of constituents and has to be taken into account. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism technique employed at L2.3 absorption edges of transition metals demonstrates reduced magnetic moments of 3d metal constituents in the sub-surface region of in situ cleaned fcc-structured Al0.3-CrFeCoNi compared to their bulk values. Extended to nanostructured versions of multicomponent alloys, such studies would bring new insights related to effects of high entropy mixing on low dimensions.


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