Positioning Evaluation of Single and Dual-Frequency Low-Cost GNSS Receivers Signals Using PPP and Static Relative Methods in Urban Areas

A positional accuracy obtained by the Precise Point Positioning and static relative methods was compared and analyzed. Test data was collected using low-cost GNSS receivers of single- and dual-frequency in urban areas. The data was analyzed for quality using the TEQC program to determine the degree of affectation of the signal in the urban area. Low-cost GNSS receivers were found to be sensitive to the multipath effect, which impacts positioning. The horizontal and vertical accuracy was evaluated with respect to Mexican regulations for the GNSS establishment criteria. Probable Error Circle (CEP) and Vertical Positioning Accuracy (EPV) were performed on low cost GNSS receiver observation data. The results show that low-cost dual-frequency GNSS receivers can be used in urban areas. The precision was obtained in the order of 0.013 m in the static relative method. The results obtained are comparable to a geodetic receiver in a geodetic baseline of <20 km. The study does not recommend using single and dual frequencies low cost GNSS receivers based on results obtained by the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) method in urban areas. The inclusion of the GGM10 model reduces the vertical precision obtained by using low cost GNSS receivers in both methods, conforming to the regulations only in the horizontal component.

Effect of fisheye failure on material performance inducing error circle under high cycles

In the engineering application of high strength steel and surface strengthening steel, fisheye failure is often happened in high cycle fatigue. To explore the effect of fisheye failure on high cycle fatigue properties of materials, a high cycle fatigue life model was established based on the Murakami and Tanaka’s fatigue strength models. The model introduces the error circle to evaluate fisheye size, and discusses the influencing factors of fatigue strength. The results show that the size and depth of fisheye failure will affect performance of materials. The proposed model considering the size and depth of defect quantitatively shows the influence of fisheye details on material performance, and effectively predicts the high/ultra-high cycle fatigue life.

A compact X-ray emitting binary in likely association with 4FGL J0935.3+0901

ABSTRACT 4FGL J0935.3+0901 is a γ-ray source detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. We have conducted detailed analysis of the LAT data for this source and multiwavelength studies of the source field. Its γ-ray emission can be described with a power law (Γ = 2.0 ± 0.2) with an exponential cut-off (Ec = 2.9 ± 1.6 GeV), while the flux shows significant long-term variations. From analysis of archival Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory X-Ray Telescope data, we find only one X-ray source in the LAT’s 2σ error region. Within a $3.7\,{\rm arcsec}$ radius error circle of the X-ray source, there is only one optical object down to r′ ∼ 23 mag. Time-resolved photometry of the optical object indicates a likely 2.5 h periodic modulation, while its spectrum shows double-peaked hydrogen and helium emission lines (similar to those seen in accretion discs in low-mass X-ray binaries). Combining these results, we conclude that we have discovered a compact X-ray emitting binary in likely association with 4FGL J0935.3+0901, i.e. a millisecond pulsar (MSP) binary. We discuss the implication of the optical spectral features: this binary could be a transitional MSP system at a subluminous disc state, although the other possibility, the binary in a rotation-powered state showing the optical emission lines due to intrabinary interaction processes, cannot be excluded. Further observational studies will help to determine detailed properties of this candidate MSP binary and thus clarify its current state.

The nature of the unassociated 2FGL sources

The majority of Fermi-LAT detected (2FGL) sources are AGN, mostly blazars. However, the second largest category in the 2FGL are unassociated sources (~30% or 575 sources), whose multi-wavelength counterpart is either inconclusive or absent. Follow-up observations and archival data at X-ray, optical, and radio frequencies suggest that many unassociated 2FGL sources are strong candidates to be AGN. Typical observed characteristics of 2FGL detected AGN include variability at all frequencies and a spectral energy distribution (SED) with two “bumps”; a low-frequency synchrotron peak in the radio to optical/X-ray region and a high-frequency peak, possibly due to synchrotron self-Compton or Inverse Compton processes, that extends up to TeV energies. We present optical follow-up observations of a sample of Fermi unassociated sources with one or more potential X-ray counterparts detected within the LAT error circle.

On the Progenitor of SNR 0509-67.5

We have used three independent methods to determine an accurate and precise geometric center of SNR 0509-67.5, at RA=05:09:31.208, DEC=−67:31:17.48 (J2000). This supernova, which occurred approximately 400 years ago in the Large Magellanic Cloud, was confirmed to be a Type Ia by Rest et al. (2005), Rest et al. (2008) based on spectra of a light echo from the eruption. If this supernova had a single-degenerate progenitor system, we would see the “leftover” companion star within a certain distance of the remnant's center. Accounting for an offset due to enhanced ISM in the west-southwest quadrant of the remnant, we find the eruption position to be at RA=05:09:30.976, DEC=−67:31:17.90; the error circle which should contain any possible ex-companion star has a radius of 1.60″ for 99.73% (3-sigma) containment. This accounts for the proper motion of the stars, the possibility of kicks from the supernova, and asymmetries in the explosion and remnant expansion. We find no possible ex-companion stars within this ellipse, to a limiting magnitude of V=26.9: there are no red giants, which precludes symbiotic progenitors, no subgiants, which when combined with the lack of red giants precludes recurrent nova progenitors, and no main sequence stars with mass greater than 1.16 solar masses (V brighter than 22.7 mag), which precludes persistent supersoft X-ray source progenitors. Indeed, all published SD models are eliminated, so we conclude that this particular Type Ia supernova had a double-degenerate progenitor.

Searching for X-ray counterparts of Fermi Gamma-ray pulsars in Suzaku observations

We report the Suzaku follow-up observations of the Gamma-ray pulsars, 1FGL J0614,13328, J1044.55737, J1741.82101, and J1813.31246, which were discovered by the Fermi Gamma-ray observatory. Analysing Suzaku/XIS data, we detected X-ray counterparts of these pulsars in the Fermi error circle and interpreted their spectra with absorbed power-law functions. These results indicate that the origin of these X-ray sources is non-thermal emission from the pulsars or from Pulsar Wind Nebulae (PWNe) surrounding them. Moreover we found that J1741.82101 exhibits a peculiar profile: spin-down luminosity vs flux ratio between X- and gamma-rays is unusually large compared to usual radio pulsars.

Discovery of a supernova remnant with a central X-ray source: AX J184453.3-025642 in G 29.6+0.1

We report preliminary results from our follow-up X-ray and radio study of AX J1845–0258, the 7-s X-ray pulsar whose characteristics are similar to those found for the anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs). We have located a faint X-ray source within the pulsar’s error circle implying a dramatic reduction in flux, however, the source is too faint to provide a confirmation of the expected pulsations. Centered on this X-ray source is a newly discovered supernova remnant, evident in both radio and X-ray emission. This is the third example of an AXP-like object associated with a supernova remnant.

Identifications of Faint IRAS Sources

From overlapping scans in the IRAS all-sky survey and additional pointed observations the deepest far infrared survey before ISO exists in the region around the North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) (Hacking P. and Houck J.R., ApJS 63 p. 311). This survey contains detections up to 10 and fluxes up to 100 times fainter than the IRAS survey. In the central square degree around the NEP we combine the far IR-survey with deep radio data at 151 MHz and 1.5 GHz (Visser, A.E. et al., A&AS 110 p. 419, Kollgaard, R.I. et al., ApJS 93 p. 145) and own observation at 2.2μm (K′) and 435nm (B). The error circle around the IRAS source was chosen to include the true source with 85% probability (1.4 sigma). For 29 of the 32 IRAS sources we found at least one possible counterpart. Ten of the objects have multiple (up to four) counterparts in K′. Four of the IRAS sources have counterparts in the 1.5 GHz survey. The higher accuracy of the radio position (∼ 1″) allowed an unambiguous identification of the K′ counterpart. None of the IRAS sources could be found in the 151 MHz survey. The broad band spectra of the three galaxies with measured radio flux exhibit maximum emission between the radio band and 100μm which corresponds to emission by cool dust (< 50 K). Contrary to the infrared luminosity functions at 12μm and 60μm which show power laws, the K′ luminosity function is bimodal. The brightest K′ objects are all point sources. Due to the small number statistics the power law indices of the luminosity functions can not be distinguished. We find a linear relationship between the K′ flux and the flux at 60μm and 12μm over at least one decade. The large deviations by individual sources make an identification of the correct counterpart through this relation impossible. The spectral energy distributions of unambiguously identified sources span only one decade in energy (vSv), i.e. they have flat energy distributions. This suggests an identification of K′ objects with flat energy distribution in case of multiple counterparts.

TheEUVEOptical Identification Campaign II: Late-Type and White Dwarf Stars

We present optical identifications of nine previously unidentified extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources discovered during theExtreme Ultraviolet Explorer(EUVE) satellite surveys. The all-sky survey detected four of the sources and the more sensitive deep survey detected the other five sources. Three of the four all-sky survey sources, EUVE_J1918+59.9, EUVE_J2249+58.5, and EUVE_J2329+41.4, are listed in present catalogs as having possible associations with optical counterparts but without spectral class. The first two of these sources are hot DA white dwarfs showing an optical spectrum with broad Balmer lines. The source EUVE_J2329+41.4 is listed as having a possible association with an unclassified M star. We show that a pair of dMe stars are actually optical counterparts located within the error circle of theEUVEsource position. The EUVE_J2114+503 remains unidentified even though all the possible candidates have been studied. Based on the count rates we predict a fainter white dwarf or a cataclysmic variable counterpart for this candidate. All five sources discovered with theEUVEdeep survey, EUVE_J0318+184, EUVE_J0419+217, EUVE_J2053−175, EUVE_J2056−171 and EUVE_J2233−096, have been identified as late-type stars. The spectral classes, distances, visual magnitudes, and estimated hydrogen column densities for theseEUVEsources are presented.