XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic Centre Region - II: The soft thermal emission

We have extended our earlier study (Heard & Warwick 2013, Paper I) of the X-ray emission emanating from the central 100 pc x 100 pc region of our Galaxy to an investigation of several features prominent in the soft X-ray (2-4.5 keV) band. We focus on three specific structures: a putative bipolar outflow from the vicinity of Sgr A*; a high surface brightness region located roughly 12 arcmin to the north-east of Sgr A*; and a lower surface-brightness extended loop feature seen to the south of Sgr A*. We show that all three structures are thermal in nature and have similar temperatures (kT ~ 1 keV). The inferred X-ray luminosities lie in the range (2 - 10) x 10^34 erg s^-1. In the case of the bipolar feature we suggest that the hot plasma is produced by the shock-heating of the winds from massive stars within the Central Cluster, possibly collimated by the Circumnuclear Disc. Alternatively the outflow may be driven by outbursts on Sgr A*, which follow tidal disruption events occurring at a rate of roughly 1 every 4000 yr. The north-east enhancement is centred on a candidate PWN which has a relatively hard non-thermal X-ray spectrum. We suggest that the coincident soft-thermal emission traces the core of a new thermal-composite supernova remnant, designated as SNR G0.13-0.12. There is no clear evidence for an associated radio shell but such a feature may be masked by the bright emission of the nearby Radio Arc and other filamentary structures. SNR G0.13-0.12 is very likely interacting with the nearby molecular cloud, G0.11-0.11, and linked to the Fermi source, 2FGL J1746.4-2851c. Finally we explore a previous suggestion that the elliptically-shaped X-ray loop to the south of Sgr A*, of maximum extent ~45 pc, represents the shell of a superbubble located in the GC region. Although plausible, the interpretation of this feature in terms a coherent physical structure awaits confirmation.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Old Testament Poems for Vow Fulfillment: A Form-Critical and Theological Study

The most pervasive and enduring contribution of Hermann Gunkel\u27s form­-critical program for psalms studies is the insight that certain types of poems are par­ticularly well suited to certain types of cultic occasions. One such occasion is the fulfillment of a vow, mentioned in eight psalms, one poem outside the book of Psalms and several other contexts. To date, however, a separate category of poems for vow fulfillment has not been widely recognized. The form-critical insight men­tioned above raises the question whether there exists among Hebrew poems a genre of poems for vow fulfillment. The recurrence in the psalms of phrases in which a first person D form of the verb fulfill, takes as its object a form of the noun נדר, vow, further suggests the existence of a genre of poems for vow fulfillment. Such phrases appear in Psalms 22; 56; 61; 66; 116 and Jonah 2:3-10, making them can­didates for inclusion in such a genre

The Dao of Qoheleth: An Intertextual Reading of the Daode Jing and the Book of Ecclesiastes

Of all the world\u27s literary works which may appropriately be labeled religious classics, the Hebrew scriptures and the Daode Jing stand out as two of the most popular across cultural and linguistic boundaries. One might suppose that the cross-cultural popularity of these classics would have brought them into frequent contact with one another. However, not much seems to have been done to relate the Bible to the Daode Jing in a constructive way. In this article, I seek to begin redressing this lack of conversation by offering a reading of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes using the Daode Jing as an intertext

What Does the Mob Want Lot to Do in Genesis 19:9?

Most English Bible translations render [Hebrew text A-B] in Gen 19:9 with some variant of “Stand back!” However, a very few interpreters recommend a translation along the lines of “Come closer!” more in keeping with the typical gloss on [Hebrew text A]. A detailed study of the syntax and semantics of both [Hebrew text A] and [Hebrew text B], as well as constructions similar to [Hebrew text A-B] demonstrates the strength of the minority suggestion

Narrative Criticism and The Hebrew Scriptures: A Review and Assessment

Heard, R. Christopher (1996) Narrative Criticism and The Hebrew Scriptures: A Review and Assessment, Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 38 : No. 1. This repository hosts selected Restoration Quarterly articles in downloadable PDF format. For the benefit of users who would like to browse the contents of RQ, we have included all issue covers even when full-text articles from that issue are unavailable. All Restoration Quarterly articles are available in full text in the ATLA Religion Database, available through most university and theological libraries or through your local library’s inter-library loan service

Fabrication and characterizations of proton-exchanged LiNbO3 waveguides fabricated by inductively coupled plasma technique

This Letter reports the use of an inductively coupled plasma technique for fabrication of proton-exchanged (PE) LiNbO3 (LN) waveguides. Planar and stripe waveguides have been formed in Y-cut LN which are difficult to obtain with the conventional molten acid method due to the occurrence of surface damage. Secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared absorption spectrum characterization results revealed that a uniform vertical PE profile with a single low order crystal phase has been directly obtained as a result of this unique process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization of the treated surface revealed the existence of NbO as the cause for a sometimes darkened surface and confirms the ability to completely restore the surface to LN by oxygen plasma treatment. Atomic force microscopy measurement confirms that good surface quality has been maintained after regeneration of the surface to LN

An algorithm for determining program feasibility of a multi-mode PAM commutator telemetry system Technical report no. 10

Algorithm formulation for evaluation of strapping arrangement programs for PAM multimode commutation system of Saturn telemetry syste