322 research outputs found
The emission regions in X-ray binaries: dipping as a diagnostic
X-ray dipping in the black hole binary Cygnus X-1, the Galactic jet source
GRO J1655-40 and in low mass X-ray binaries is discussed. It is shown that
spectral analysis strongly constrains emission models. Measurement of dip
ingress/egress times allows the sizes of extended emission regions to be
determined, notably for the Accretion Disk Corona which is responsible for
Comptonization in X-ray binaries. In LMXB, the radius of the ADC is shown to be
between ~ 10^9 and ~ 5x10^10 cm, an appreciable fraction of the accretion disk
radius. This is inconsistent with Comptonization models requiring a localized
Comptonizing region, for example, in the immediate neighbourhood of the neutron
star. Results from a survey of LMXB using ASCA and BeppoSAX reveal an
approximate equality between the height of the blackbody emission region on the
neutron star and the height of the inner radiatively-supported disk, suggesting
either that there is a direct causal link, such as a radial accretion flow
between the inner disk edge and the star, or an indirect link, as in the case
of accretion flow creep on the surface of the neutron star as suggested by
Inogamov & Sunyaev. Finally, the survey shows that the blackbody cannot
originate on the accretion disk as the required inner radii in many sources are
substantially less than the neutron star radius.Comment: solicited review paper presented at COSPAR 2000 "X-ray and Gamma-ray
Signatures of Black Holes and Weakly Magnetized Neutron Stars"; accepted for
publication in Advances in Space Research (2nd affiliation added
Can't find a pulse? Celtic bean (Vicia faba L.) in British prehistory
Archaeobotanical research on prehistoric crops in Britain has primarily focussed on cereals and the potential importance of alternative crops, such as pulses, has often been overlooked. This paper reviews evidence for Celtic bean (Vicia faba L.) in British prehistory, using a database of archaeobotanical assemblages from 75 sites. Celtic bean is rare in the Neolithic – Early Bronze Age and it only becomes frequent from the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1500 cal BC) onwards, particularly in southern England. Though there is a paucity of evidence at many sites, it is suggested that this reflects a preservation bias and in some areas at least, Celtic bean formed an important element of past agricultural systems
The influence of manuring on stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) in Celtic bean (Vicia faba L.): archaeobotanical and palaeodietary implications
This paper examines the impact of animal manure on δ15N and δ13C values in a legume, Celtic Black broad bean (Vicia faba). In a field experiment, V. faba was cultivated in plots treated with farmyard manure and pure sheep manure. The results indicate that highly intensive manuring can increase δ15N values in beans, stems, leaves and pods. In comparison, manuring had a relatively small impact on δ13C values. In terms of palaeodietary reconstructions, the high δ15N values in very intensively manured beans (+3 ‰) are equivalent to the trophic-level effect. Based on the experimental results, it is suggested that high δ15N values in archaeobotanical remains of V. faba may be attributable to small-scale cultivation with intensive manuring
Reservoirs and radiocarbon: <sup>14</sup>C dating problems in Myvatnssveit, Northern Iceland
This paper examines 2 potential sources of the radiocarbon offset between human and terrestrial mammal (horse) bones recovered from Norse (~AD 870–1000) pagan graves in Mývatnssveit, north Iceland. These are the marine and freshwater 14C reservoir effects that may be incorporated into human bones from dietary sources. The size of the marine 14C reservoir effect (MRE) during the Norse period was investigated by measurement of multiple paired samples (terrestrial mammal
and marine mollusk shell) at 2 archaeological sites in Mývatnssveit and 1 site on the north Icelandic coast. These produced 3 new ΔR values for the north coast of Iceland, indicating a ΔR of 106 ± 10 14C yr at AD 868–985, and of 144 ± 28 14C yr at AD 1280–1400. These values are statistically comparable and give an overall weighted mean ΔR of 111 ± 10 14C yr.
The freshwater reservoir effect was similarly quantified using freshwater fish bones from a site in Mývatnssveit. These show an offset of between 1285 and 1830 14C yr, where the fish are depleted in 14C relative to the terrestrial mammals. This is attributed to the input of geothermally derived CO2 into the groundwater and subsequently into Lake Mývatn. We conclude the following: i) some of the Norse inhabitants of Mývatnssveit incorporated non-terrestrial resources into their diet that may be identified from the stable isotope composition of their bone collagen; ii) the MRE off the north Icelandic coast during the Norse period fits a spatial gradient of wider North Atlantic MRE values with increasing values to the northwest; and iii) it is important to consider the effect that geothermal activity could have on the 14C activity of samples influenced by groundwater at Icelandic archaeological sites
Temporal and spatial variations in freshwater 14C reservoir effects: Lake Myvatn, Northern Iceland
Lake Mývatn is an interior highland lake in northern Iceland that forms a unique ecosystem of international scientific importance and is surrounded by a landscape rich in archaeological and palaeoenvironmental sites. A significant Freshwater 14C Reservoir Effect (FRE) has been identified in carbon from the lake at some Norse (c.870-1000 AD) archaeological sites in the wider region (Mývatnssveit). Previous AMS measurements indicated this FRE was ~1500-1900 14C years. Here we present the results of a study using stable isotope and 14C measurements to quantify the Mývatn FRE for both the Norse and modern periods. This work has identified a temporally variable FRE that is greatly in excess of previous assessments. New, paired samples of contemporaneous bone from terrestrial herbivores and omnivores (including humans) from Norse sites demonstrate at least some omnivore diets incorporated sufficient freshwater resources to result in a herbivore-omnivore age offset of up to 400 14C yrs. Modern samples of benthic detritus, aquatic plants, zooplankton, invertebrates and freshwater fish indicate an FRE in excess of 5000 14C yrs in some species. Likely geothermal mechanisms for this large FRE are discussed, along with implications for both chronological reconstruction and integrated investigation of stable and radioactive isotop
Thin accretion disc with a corona in a central magnetic field
We study the steady-state structure of an accretion disc with a corona
surrounding a central, rotating, magnetized star. We assume that the
magneto-rotational instability is the dominant mechanism of angular momentum
transport inside the disc and is responsible for producing magnetic tubes above
the disc. In our model, a fraction of the dissipated energy inside the disc is
transported to the corona via these magnetic tubes. This energy exchange from
the disc to the corona which depends on the disc physical properties is
modified because of the magnetic interaction between the stellar magnetic field
and the accretion disc. According to our fully analytical solutions for such a
system, the existence of a corona not only increases the surface density but
reduces the temperature of the accretion disc. Also, the presence of a corona
enhances the ratio of gas pressure to the total pressure. Our solutions show
that when the strength of the magnetic field of the central neutron star is
large or the star is rotating fast enough, profiles of the physical variables
of the disc significantly modify due to the existence of a corona.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc
The rms-flux relations in different branches in Cyg X-2
In this paper, the rms-flux (root mean square-flux) relation along the
Z-track of the bright Z-Source Cyg X-2 is analyzed using the observational data
of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). Three types of rms-flux relations, i.e.
positive, negative, and 'arch'-like correlations are found in different
branches. The rms is positively correlated with flux in normal branch (NB), but
anti-correlated in the vertical horizontal branch (VHB). The rms-flux relation
shows an 'arch'-like shape in the horizontal branch (HB). We also try to
explain this phenomenon using existing models.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc
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