19,025 research outputs found
On the lack of X-ray iron line reverberation in MCG-6-30-15: Implications for the black hole mass and accretion disk structure
We use the method of Press, Rybicki & Hewitt (1992) to search for time lags
and time leads between different energy bands of the RXTE data for MCG-6-30-15.
We tailor our search in order to probe any reverberation signatures of the
fluorescent iron Kalpha line that is thought to arise from the inner regions of
the black hole accretion disk. In essence, an optimal reconstruction algorithm
is applied to the continuum band (2-4keV) light curve which smoothes out noise
and interpolates across the data gaps. The reconstructed continuum band light
curve can then be folded through trial transfer functions in an attempt to find
lags or leads between the continuum band and the iron line band (5-7keV). We
find reduced fractional variability in the line band. The spectral analysis of
Lee et al. (1999) reveals this to be due to a combination of an apparently
constant iron line flux (at least on timescales of few x 10^4s), and flux
correlated changes in the photon index. We also find no evidence for iron line
reverberation and exclude reverberation delays in the range 0.5-50ksec. This
extends the conclusions of Lee et al. and suggests that the iron line flux
remains constant on timescales as short as 0.5ksec. The large black hole mass
(>10^8Msun) naively suggested by the constancy of the iron line flux is
rejected on other grounds. We suggest that the black hole in MCG-6-30-15 has a
mass of M_BH~10^6-10^7Msun and that changes in the ionization state of the disk
may produce the puzzling spectral variability. Finally, it is found that the
8-15keV band lags the 2-4keV band by 50-100s. This result is used to place
constraints on the size and geometry of the Comptonizing medium responsible for
the hard X-ray power-law in this AGN.Comment: 11 pages, 13 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
Edge coating of flat wires
An apparatus and technique is described for the coating of the edge surfaces of flat ribbon conductors with an adherent coating of a dielectric insulating material. Means for passing the ribbon conductors between a pair of generally axially aligned rollers is provided. The edge surfaces of the conductor are disposed adjacent to and generally tangentially to the confronting surfaces of the roller so as to form a fillet of dielectric material along the edge surface of the conductor
Are the Nuclei of Seyfert 2 Galaxies Viewed Face-On?
We show from modeling the Fe Kalpha line in the ASCA spectra of four X-ray
bright narrow emission line galaxies (Seyfert types 1.9 and 2) that two equally
viable physical models can describe the observed line profile. The first is
discussed by Turner et al. (1998) and consists of emission from a nearly
pole-on accretion disk. The second, which is statistically preferred, is a
superposition of emission from an accretion disk viewed at an intermediate
inclination of about 48 degrees and a distinct, unresolved feature that
presumably originates some distance from the galaxy nucleus. The intermediate
inclination is entirely consistent with unified schemes and our findings
challenge recent assertions that Seyfert 2 galaxies are preferentially viewed
with their inner regions face-on. We derive mean equivalent widths for the
narrow and disk lines of =60 eV and = 213 eV, respectively. The
X-ray data are well described by a geometry in which our view of the active
nucleus intersects and is blocked by the outer edges of the obscuring torus,
and therefore do not require severe misalignments between the accretion disk
and the torus.Comment: 19 pages, 3 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ
Advection-Dominated Accretion with Infall and Outflows
We present self-similar solutions for advection-dominated accretion flows
with radial viscous force in the presence of outflows from the accretion flow
or infall. The axisymmetric flow is treated in variables integrated over polar
sections and the effects of infall and outflows on the accretion flow are
parametrised for possible configurations compatible with the self-similar
solution. We investigate the resulting accretion flows for three different
viscosity laws and derive upper limits on the viscosity parameter alpha. In
addition, we find a natural connection to non-rotating and spherical accretion
with turbulent viscosity, which is assumed to persist even without differential
rotation. Positive Bernoulli numbers for advection-dominated accretion allow a
fraction of the gas to be expelled in an outflow and the upper limit on the
viscosity predicts that outflows are inevitable for equations of state close to
an ideal gas.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
The implementation and use of Ada on distributed systems with reliability requirements
The issues involved in the use of the programming language Ada on distributed systems are discussed. The effects of Ada programs on hardware failures such as loss of a processor are emphasized. It is shown that many Ada language elements are not well suited to this environment. Processor failure can easily lead to difficulties on those processors which remain. As an example, the calling task in a rendezvous may be suspended forever if the processor executing the serving task fails. A mechanism for detecting failure is proposed and changes to the Ada run time support system are suggested which avoid most of the difficulties. Ada program structures are defined which allow programs to reconfigure and continue to provide service following processor failure
Evolutionary art with an EEG fitness function
This project involved the use of an interactive Genetic Al-gorithm (iGA) with an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based fitness function to create paintings in the style of Piet Mondrian, a Dutch painter who used geometric elements in his later paintings. Primary data for the prototype was gathered by analysis of twenty-seven existing Mondrian paintings. An EEG gaming headset was used to read EEG signals, which were transmitted by Bluetooth to an Arduino running an iGA. These values were used as the iGA fitness function. The data was sent to a PC running Processing to dis-play the artwork. The resultant displayed artwork evolves to favour higher attention and meditation levels, which are considered to represent greater mindfulness. The process ends when the observer identifies a piece of art they would like to keep. However, convergence of the algorithm is difficult to test as many parameters can affect the process. A number of issues aris-ing from the research are discussed and further work is proposed
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Mental illness and recovery: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of Black African service users in England
Background: Research conceptualising recovery is predominantly Eurocentric. This paper develops the conceptualisation of recovery by Black African service users.
Aims: Our aim was to explore Black African service usersâ experiences of recovery from mental illness and to understand how they conceptualise recovery. Methods: Using a qualitative research approach and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Black African service users recovering from mental illness in England.
Results: Participants conceptualised recovery as a pragmatic and subjective concept distributed across a continuum of clinical, functional and spiritual dimensions, resilience, identity and their social and cultural backgrounds.
Conclusions: It seems critical for all stakeholders to ensure that these components are embedded in recovery-oriented services for Black African service users
Implications of the X-ray Variability for the Mass of MCG-6-30-15
The bright Seyfert 1 galaxy \mcg shows large variability on a variety of time
scales. We study the \aproxlt 3 day time scale variability using a set of
simultaneous archival observations that were obtained from \rxte and the {\it
Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics} (\asca). The \rxte\
observations span nearly sec and indicate that the X-ray Fourier Power
Spectral Density has an rms variability of 16%, is flat from approximately
10^{-6} - 10^{-5} Hz, and then steepens into a power law
with \alpha\aproxgt 1. A further steepening to occurs
between 10^{-4}-10^{-3} Hz. The shape and rms amplitude are comparable to what
has been observed in \ngc and \cyg, albeit with break frequencies that differ
by a factor of 10^{-2} and 10^{4}, respectively. If the break frequencies are
indicative of the central black hole mass, then this mass may be as low as
. An upper limit of ks for the relative lag
between the 0.5-2 keV \asca band compared to the 8-15 keV \rxte band was also
found. Again by analogy with \ngc and \cyg, this limit is consistent with a
relatively low central black hole mass.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX, uses emulateapj.sty and apjfonts.sty,
revised version, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Aerothermal modeling program, phase 1
Aerothermal submodels used in analytical combustor models are analyzed. The models described include turbulence and scalar transport, gaseous full combustion, spray evaporation/combustion, soot formation and oxidation, and radiation. The computational scheme is discussed in relation to boundary conditions and convergence criteria. Also presented is the data base for benchmark quality test cases and an analysis of simple flows
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