919 research outputs found
High-energy particle transport in 3D hydrodynamic models of colliding-wind binaries
Massive stars in binary systems (as WR140, WR147 or Carinae) have long
been regarded as potential sources of high-energy -rays. The emission
is thought to arise in the region where the stellar winds collide and produce
relativistic particles which subsequently might be able to emit -rays.
Detailed numerical hydrodynamic simulations have already offered insight in the
complex dynamics of the wind collision region (WCR), while independent
analytical studies, albeit with simplified descriptions of the WCR, have shed
light on the spectra of charged particles. In this paper, we describe a
combination of these two approaches. We present a 3D-hydrodynamical model for
colliding stellar winds and compute spectral energy distributions of
relativistic particles for the resulting structure of the WCR. The hydrodynamic
part of our model incorporates the line-driven acceleration of the winds,
gravity, orbital motion and the radiative cooling of the shocked plasma. In our
treatment of charged particles we consider diffusive shock acceleration in the
WCR and the subsequent cooling via inverse Compton losses (including
Klein-Nishina effects), bremsstrahlung, collisions and other energy loss
mechanisms.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures / accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
X-ray irradiation in low mass binary systems
We calculate self-consistent models of X-ray irradiated accretion discs in
close binary systems. We show that a point X-ray source powered by accretion
and located in the disc plane cannot modify the disc structure, mainly because
of the self-screening by the disc of its outer regions. Since observations show
that the emission of the outer disc regions in low mass X-ray binaries is
dominated by the reprocessed X-ray flux, accretion discs in these systems must
be either warped or irradiated by a source above the disc plane, or both. We
analyse the thermal-viscous stability of irradiated accretion discs and derive
the stability criteria of such systems. We find that, contrary to the usual
assumptions, the critical accretion rate below which a disc is unstable is
rather uncertain since the correct formula describing irradiation is not well
known.Comment: to be published in MNRAS, uses epsfig.st
The Compact UV Nucleus of M33
The most luminous X-ray source in the Local Group is associated with the
nucleus of M33. This source, M33 X-8, appears modulated by ~20% over a ~106 day
period, making it unlikely that the combined emission from unresolved sources
could explain the otherwise persistent ~1e39 erg/s X-ray flux (Dubus et al.
1997, Hernquist et al. 1991). We present here high resolution UV imaging of the
nucleus with the Planetary Camera of the HST undertaken in order to search for
the counterpart to X-8. The nucleus is bluer and more compact than at longer
wavelength images but it is still extended with half of its 3e38 erg/s UV
luminosity coming from the inner 0.14". We cannot distinguish between a
concentrated blue population and emission from a single object.Comment: 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
What can Simbol-X do for gamma-ray binaries?
Gamma-ray binaries have been uncovered as a new class of Galactic objects in
the very high energy sky (> 100 GeV). The three systems known today have hard
X-ray spectra (photon index ~ 1.5), extended radio emission and a high
luminosity in gamma-rays. Recent monitoring campaigns of LSI +61 303 in X-rays
have confirmed variability in these systems and revealed a spectral hardening
with increasing flux. In a generic one-zone leptonic model, the cooling of
relativistic electrons accounts for the main spectral and temporal features
observed at high energy. Persistent hard X-ray emission is expected to extend
well beyond 10 keV. We explain how Simbol-X will constrain the existing models
in connection with Fermi Space Telescope measurements. Because of its
unprecedented sensitivity in hard X-rays, Simbol-X will also play a role in the
discovery of new gamma-ray binaries, giving new insights into the evolution of
compact binaries.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Proceedings of the 2nd International Simbol-X
symposium held in Paris, 2-5 December 200
High Sensitivity Ion Microscopy: A Tool for Material Science Research
Direct ion imaging is a strong point of the CAMECA IMS 3f ion microscope, but has undergone little commercial development. A modified image acquisition system is presented which incorporates a high sensitivity video camera allied with a rapid image digitizer/processor. Individual ion impacts on the channel plate are detected at maximum gain and image sensitivity is effectively increased to that of the mass spectrometer. For intermediate (103 to 105) and low (\u3c103) count rates image processing such as averaging or integration is essential to improve the poor detection statistics and allow real time image formation. Rapid image processing means that ion micrographs are immediately ready for interpretation or storage on a suitable medium. The improved instrument performance is illustrated from the point of view of materials science research: the routine use of an optimum lateral resolution, imaging at high mass resolution (M/M = 20,000), improved imaging for insulating samples, trace element/molecular ion imaging and high quality images suitable for rapid transfer to an image analyzer for detailed quantitative analysis
Long Term X-ray Monitoring Of The TeV Binary LS I +61 303 with RXTE
We report on the results of a long term X-ray monitoring campaign of the
galactic binary LS I +61 303 performed by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. This
dataset consists of 1 ks pointings taken every other day between 2007 August 28
until 2008 February 2. The observations covered six full cycles of the 26.496
day binary period and constitute the largest continuous X-ray monitoring
dataset on LS I +61 303 to date with this sensitivity. There is no
statistically strong detection of modulation of flux or photon index with
orbital phase; however, we do find a strong correlation between flux and photon
index, with the spectrum becoming harder at higher fluxes. The dataset contains
three large flaring episodes, the largest of these reaching a flux level of 7.2
(+0.1,-0.2)*10^-11 erg cm^-2 s^-1 in the 3-10 keV band, which is a factor of
three times larger than flux levels typically seen in the system. Analysis of
these flares shows the X-ray emission from LS I +61 303 changing by up to a
factor of six over timescales of several hundred seconds as well as doubling
times as fast as 2 seconds. This is the fastest variability ever observed from
LS I +61 303 at this wavelength and places constraints on the size of the X-ray
emitting region.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap
Near-infrared jet emission in the microquasar XTE J1550-564
Context: Microquasars are accreting Galactic sources that are also observed
to launch relativistic jets. A key signature of the ejection is non-thermal
radio emission. The level of this jet component at high frequencies is still
poorly constrained. Aims: The X-ray binary and microquasar black hole candidate
XTE J1550-564 exhibited a faint X-ray outburst in April 2003 during which it
stayed in the X-ray low/hard state. We took optical and near-infrared (NIR)
observations with the ESO/NTT telescope during this outburst to disentangle the
various contributions to the spectral energy distribution (SED) and investigate
the presence of a jet component. Methods: Photometric and spectroscopic
observations allowed us to construct an SED and also to produce a high
time-resolution lightcurve. Results: The SED shows an abrupt change of slope
from the NIR domain to the optical. The NIR emission is attributed to
non-thermal synchrotron emission from the compact, self-absorbed jet that is
known to be present in the low/hard state. This is corroborated by the fast
variability, colours, lack of prominent spectral features and evidence for
intrinsic polarisation. The SED suggests the jet break from the optically thick
to the thin regime occurs in the NIR. Conclusions: The simultaneous optical-NIR
data allow an independent confirmation of jet emission in the NIR. The
transition to optically thin synchrotron occurs at NIR frequencies or below,
which leads to an estimated characteristic size greater than 2x10^8cm and
magnetic field less than 5T for the jet base, assuming a homogeneous one-zone
synchrotron model.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Section 7.
Stellar structure and evolution; 8 pages, 6 figures
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