Registration of the First Thermonuclear X-ray Burst from AX J1754.2-2754

During the analysis of the INTEGRAL observatory archival data we found a powerful X-ray burst, registered by JEM-X and IBIS/ISGRI telescopes on April 16, 2005 from a weak and poorly known source AX J1754.2-2754. Analysis of the burst profiles and spectrum shows, that it was a type I burst, which result from thermonuclear explosion on the surface of nutron star. It means that we can consider AX J1754.2-2754 as an X-ray burster. Certain features of burst profile at its initial stage witness of a radiation presure driven strong expansion and a corresponding cooling of the nutron star photosphere. Assuming, that the luminosity of the source at this phase was close to the Eddington limit, we estimated the distance to the burst source d=6.6+/-0.3 kpc (for hidrogen atmosphere of the neutron star) and d=9.2+/-0.4 kpc (for helium atmosphere).Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Noble gases from the interstellar medium trapped on the MIR space station and analyzed by in vacuo etching

Introduction: The composition of the present interstellar medium (ISM) provides an important benchmark in cosmochemistry. It serves as a reference for galactic chemical evolution (GCE) models, solar mixing predictions and provides information for understanding Big Bang nucleosynthesis. The present-day ISM 3He abundance allows, combined with the protosolar 3He, deduced from the Jovian atmosphere or meteorites [1,2], tracing the GCE over the past 4.56 Ga. 3He/4He = (2.5 0.6) x 10-4 has been determined for the local ISM [3]. However, the uncertainty is too large to better constrain GCE models and - in combination with the present-day solar wind value - the protosolar D/H [4]

Outburst of the X-ray transient SAX J1818.6-1703 detected by INTEGRAL in September 2003

During the observation of the Galactic-center field by the INTEGRAL observatory on September 9, 2003, the IBIS/ISGRI gamma-ray telescope detected a short (several-hours-long) intense (~380 mCrab at the peak) outburst of hard radiation from the X-ray transient SAX J1818.6-1703. Previously, this source was observed only once in 1998 during a similar short outburst. We present the results of our localization, spectral and timing analyses of the object and briefly discuss the possible causes of the outburst. The release time of the bulk of the energy in such an outburst is appreciably shorter than the accretion (viscous) time that characterizes the flow of matter through a standard accretion disk.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Astronomy Letters, v. 31, n. 10, p. 672 (2005

Nucleon-induced fission cross-sections of tantalum and separated tungsten isotopes and "compound nucleus" effect in intermediate energy region

Neutron- and proton-induced fission cross-sections of separated isotopes of tungsten (182W, 183W, 184W, and 186W) and 181Ta relative to 209Bi have been measured in the incident nucleon energy region 50 - 200 MeV using fission chambers based on thin-film breakdown counters (TFBC) using quasi-monoenergetic neutrons from the 7Li(p,n) reaction and at the proton beams of The Svedberg Laboratory (TSL), Uppsala University (Uppsala, Sweden). The results are compared with predictions by the CEM03.01 event generator, as well as with the recent data for nuclei in the lead-bismuth region. The effect of "compound nucleus" in the intermediate energy region is discussed, displaying in exponential dependence of nucleon-induced fission cross-sections on the parameter Z^2/A of the composite system (projectile+target nucleus), and in other characteristics of the fission process for which parameter Z^2/A plays a role similar to the one of the usual liquid-drop parameter Z^2/A of compound nuclei.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, only pdf file, to be published in Proc. Int. Conf. on Nucl. Data for Sci. and Technology (ND2007), Nice, France, April 22-27, 200

Hard X-ray Bursts Recorded by the IBIS Telescope of the INTEGRAL Observatory in 2003-2009

To find X-ray bursts from sources within the field of view of the IBIS/INTEGRAL telescope, we have analysed all the archival data of the telescope available at the time of writing the paper (the observations from January 2003 to April 2009). We have detected 834 hard (15-25 keV) X-ray bursts, 239 of which were simultaneously recorded by the JEM-X/INTEGRAL telescope in the standard X-ray energy range. More than 70% of all bursts (587 events) have been recorded from the well-known X-ray burster GX 354-0. We have found upper limits on the distances to their sources by assuming that the Eddington luminosity limit was reached at the brightness maximum of the brightest bursts.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

Broadband X-ray spectrum of XTE J1550-564 during 2003 outburst

Results of broadband INTEGRAL and RXTE observations of the Galactic microquasar XTE J1550-564 during outburst in spring 2003 are presented. During the outburst the source was found in a canonical low/hard spectral state.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy Letter

New fast X-ray transient IGR J18462-0223 discovered by the INTEGRAL observatory

Details of the discovery of a new X-ray source, IGR J18462-0223, on October 12, 2007, during a short (several hours), intense (~ 35 mCrab at the peak) outburst of hard radiation by the IBIS/ISGRI gamma-ray telescope onboard the INTEGRAL observatory are given. The detection of another earlier outburst from this source occurred on April 28, 2006, in the archival data of the telescope is reported. We present the results of the source's localization and our spectral/timing analysis of the observational data. The source may turn out to be yet another representative of the continuously growing population of fast X-ray transients, which are the focus of attention because of the identification of their optical counterparts with early-type supergiants

INTEGRAL/IBIS survey of the Sagittarius Arm Tangent region: A source catalog

Analysis of 18-120 keV images of the Sagittarius Arm Tangent region (SATR) obtained by IBIS telescope onboard INTEGTRAL observatory during the spring of 2003 is performed. In the 18-60 keV energy range, 28 sources have been detected with a flux level above 1.4 mCrab. Of these sources, 16 were identified earlier as galactic X-ray binary systems, 3 as extragalactic objects, 2 as pulsars inside supernova remnants, and 7 has unknown nature. The analysis revealed the presence of three previously unknown sources. Fourteen sources show significant flux in the 60-120 keV energy rangeComment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy Letter