Gamma-Ray Burst Polarization: Limits from RHESSI Measurements

Using the RHESSI satellite as a Compton polarimeter, a recent study claimed that the prompt emission of GRB021206 was almost fully linearly polarized. This was challenged by a subsequent reanalysis. We present an novel approach, applying our method to the same data. We identify Compton scattering candidates by carefully filtering events in energy, time, and scattering geometry. Our polarization search is based on time dependent scattering rates in perpendicular directions, thus optimally excluding systematic errors. We perform simulations to obtain the instrument's polarimetric sensitivity, and these simulations include photon polarization. For GRB021206, we formally find a linear polarization degree of 41% (+57% -44%), concluding that the data quality is insufficient to constrain the polarization degree in this case. We further applied our analysis to GRB030519B and found again a null result.Comment: 39 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication by the Astrophysical Journa

Solar Wind and its Evolution

By using our previous results of magnetohydrodynamical simulations for the solar wind from open flux tubes, I discuss how the solar wind in the past is different from the current solar wind. The simulations are performed in fixed one-dimensional super-radially open magnetic flux tubes by inputing various types of fluctuations from the photosphere, which automatically determines solar wind properties in a forward manner. The three important parameters which determine physical properties of the solar wind are surface fluctuation, magnetic field strengths, and the configuration of magnetic flux tubes. Adjusting these parameters to the sun at earlier times in a qualitative sense, I infer that the quasi-steady-state component of the solar wind in the past was denser and slightly slower if the effect of the magneto-centrifugal force is not significant. I also discuss effects of magneto-centrifugal force and roles of coronal mass ejections.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, Earth, Planets, & Space in press (based on 5th Alfven Conference) correction of discussion on a related pape

Detection of the Neupert Effect in the Corona of an RS CVn Binary System by XMM-Newton and the VLA

The RS CVn-type binary $\sigma$ Geminorum was observed during a large, long-duration flare simultaneously with {\it XMM-Newton} and the VLA. The light curves show a characteristic time dependence that is compatible with the Neupert effect observed in solar flares: The time derivative of the X-ray light curve resembles the radio light curve. This observation can be interpreted in terms of a standard flare scenario in which accelerated coronal electrons reach the chromosphere where they heat the cool plasma and induce chromospheric evaporation. Such a scenario can only hold if the amount of energy in the fast electrons is sufficient to explain the X-ray radiative losses. We present a plausibility analysis that supports the chromospheric evaporation model.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Some Like it Hot: The X-Ray Emission of The Giant Star YY Mensae

(Abridged abstract) We present an analysis of the X-ray emission of the rapidly rotating giant star YY Mensae observed by Chandra HETGS and XMM-Newton. Although no obvious flare was detected, the X-ray luminosity changed by a factor of two between the XMM-Newton and Chandra observations taken 4 months apart. The coronal abundances and the emission measure distribution have been derived from three different methods using optically thin collisional ionization equilibrium models. The abundances show an inverse first ionization potential (FIP) effect. We further find a high N abundance which we interpret as a signature of material processed in the CNO cycle. The corona is dominated by a very high temperature (20-40 MK) plasma, which places YY Men among the magnetically active stars with the hottest coronae. Lower temperature plasma also coexists, albeit with much lower emission measure. Line broadening is reported, which we interpret as Doppler thermal broadening, although rotational broadening due to X-ray emitting material high above the surface could be present as well. We use two different formalisms to discuss the shape of the emission measure distribution. The first one infers the properties of coronal loops, whereas the second formalism uses flares as a statistical ensemble. We find that most of the loops in the corona of YY Men have their maximum temperature equal to or slightly larger than about 30 MK. We also find that small flares could contribute significantly to the coronal heating in YY Men. Although there is no evidence of flare variability in the X-ray light curves, we argue that YY Men's distance and X-ray brightness does not allow us to detect flares with peak luminosities Lx <= 10^{31} erg/s with current detectors.Comment: Accepted paper to appear in Astrophysical Journal, issue Nov 10, 2004 (v615). This a revised version. Small typos are corrected. Figure 7 and its caption and some related text in Sct 7.2 are changed, without incidence for the conclusion

Flare Heating in Stellar Coronae

We investigate the contribution of very weak flares to the coronal luminosity of low-mass active stars. We analyze EUVE/DS events data from FK Aqr, V1054 Oph, and AD Leo and conclude that in all these cases the coronal emission is dominated by flares to such an extent that in some cases the entire emission may be ascribed to flare heating. We have developed a new method to directly model for the first time stochastically produced flare emission, including undetectable flares, and their effects on the observed photon arrival times. We find that the index of the power-law distribution of flare energies (dN/dE ~ E^{-alpha}) is 2.6+-0.34, 2.74+-0.35, and 2.03-2.32 for FK Aqr, V1054 Oph, and AD Leo respectively. We also find that the flare component accounts for a large fraction (generally >50 percent) of the total flux.Comment: 20 pages in 2-columns AASTeX, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

The Properties of X-ray Luminous Young Stellar Objects in the NGC 1333 and Serpens Embedded Clusters

We present Chandra X-ray data of the NGC 1333 embedded cluster, combining these data with existing Chandra data, Sptizer photometry and ground based spectroscopy of both the NGC 1333 & Serpens North clusters to perform a detailed study of the X-ray properties of two of the nearest embedded clusters to the Sun. In NGC 1333, a total of 95 cluster members are detected in X-rays, of which 54 were previously identified with Spitzer. Of the Spitzer sources, we detect 23% of the Class I protostars, 53% of the Flat Spectrum sources, 52% of the Class II, and 50% of the Transition Disk YSOs. Forty-one Class III members of the cluster are identified, bringing the total identified YSO population to 178. The X-ray Luminosity Functions (XLFs) of the NGC 1333 and Serpens clusters are compared to each other and the Orion Nebula Cluster. Based on this comparison, we obtain a new distance for the Serpens cluster of 360+22/-13 pc. The X-ray luminosity was found to depend on the bolometric luminosity as in previous studies of other clusters, and that Lx depends primarily on the stellar surface area. In the NGC 1333 cluster, the Class III sources have a somewhat higher X-ray luminosity for a given surface area. We also find evidence in NGC 1333 for a jump in the X-ray luminosity between spectral types of M0 and K7, we speculate that this may result from the presence of radiative zones in the K-stars. The gas column density vs. extinction in the NGC 1333 was found to be N_H = 0.89 +/- 0.13 x 10^22 A_K, this is lower than expected of the standard ISM but similar to that found previously in the Serpens Cloud Core.Comment: 58 pages, 14 figures, accepted by A

INTEGRAL/SPI Limits on Electron-Positron Annihilation Radiation from the Galactic Plane

The center of our Galaxy is a known strong source of electron-positron 511 keV annihilation radiation. Thus far, however, there have been no reliable detection of annihilation radiation outside of the central radian of our Galaxy. One of the primary objectives of the INTEGRAL (International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory mission, resolution, coded-apeture gamma-ray telescope with an unprecedented combination of sensitivity, angular resolution, and energy resolution. We resport results from the first 10 months of observation. During this period a significant fraction of the observing time was spent in or near the Galactic plan. No positive annihilation flux was detected outside of the central regin ( l \u3e 40°) of our Galaxy. In this paper we describe observation and data analysis method and give limits on the 511 keV flu

Evolution of the Solar Activity over Time and Effects on Planetary Atmospheres: I. High-energy Irradiances (1-1700 A)

We report on the results of the Sun in Time multi-wavelength program (X-rays to the UV) of solar analogs with ages covering ~0.1-7 Gyr. The chief science goals are to study the solar magnetic dynamo and to determine the radiative and magnetic properties of the Sun during its evolution across the main sequence. The present paper focuses on the latter goal, which has the ultimate purpose of providing the spectral irradiance evolution of solar-type stars to be used in the study and modeling of planetary atmospheres. The results from the Sun in Time program suggest that the coronal X-ray-EUV emissions of the young main-sequence Sun were ~100-1000 times stronger than those of the present Sun. Similarly, the transition region and chromospheric FUV-UV emissions of the young Sun are expected to be 20-60 and 10-20 times stronger, respectively, than at present. When considering the integrated high-energy emission from 1 to 1200 A, the resulting relationship indicates that the solar high-energy flux was about 2.5 times the present value 2.5 Gyr ago and about 6 times the present value about 3.5 Gyr ago (when life supposedly arose on Earth). The strong radiation emissions inferred should have had major influences on the thermal structure, photochemistry, and photoionization of planetary atmospheres and also played an important role in the development of primitive life in the Solar System. Some examples of the application of the Sun in Time results on exoplanets and on early Solar System planets are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

XMM-Newton Detection of Hard X-ray Emission in the Nitrogen-Type Wolf-Rayet Star WR110

We have used the excellent sensitivity of XMM-Newton to obtain the first high-quality X-ray spectrum of a Wolf-Rayet (WR) star which is not known to be a member of a binary system. Our target, the nitrogen-type star WR 110 (= HD 165688) was also observed and detected with the VLA at four different frequencies. The radio data are in excellent agreement with that expected for free-free wind emission. and the ionized mass-loss rate is derived. The X-ray emission measure distribution shows a dominant contribution from cool plasma at kT$_{cool}$ = 0.5 keV (6 MK) which is only weakly absorbed. We argue that this cool emission originates at hundreds of radii if the wind is spherical and homogeneous and derive shock velocities and the X-ray filling factor using radiative shock models. A surprising result is the unambiguous detection of a hard X-ray component clearly seen in the hard-band images and the spectra. This hard component accounts for about half of the observed flux and can be acceptably fitted by a hot optically thin thermal plasma or a power-law model. If the emission is thermal, then a temperature kT$_{hot}$ $\geq$ 3 keV is derived. Such high temperatures are not predicted by current instability-driven wind shock models. We examine several alternatives and show that the hard emission could be accounted for by the WR wind shocking onto a close stellar companion which has so far escaped detection. However, until persuasive evidence for binarity is found we are left with the intriguing possibility that the hard X-ray emission is produced entirely by the Wolf-Rayet star.Comment: 2 tables, 7 figure