2,531 research outputs found

    Ultracompact X-ray Binaries in Globular Clusters: Variability of the Optical Counterpart of X1832-330 in NGC 6652

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    Evidence is emerging that the luminous X-ray sources in the cores of globular clusters may often consist of, or perhaps even as a class be dominated by, ultracompact (P < 1 hr) binary stars. To the two such systems already known, in NGC 6624 and NGC 6712, we now add evidence for two more. We detect large amplitude variability in the candidate optical counterpart for the X-ray source in the core of NGC 6652. Although the available observations are relatively brief, the existing Hubble Space Telescope data indicate a strong 43.6 min periodic modulation of the visible flux of semi-amplitude 30%. Further, although the orbital period of the source in NGC 1851 is not yet explicitly measured, we demonstrate that previous correlations of optical luminosity with X-ray luminosity and accretion disk size, strengthened by recent data, strongly imply that the period of that system is also less than 1 hr. Thus currently there is evidence that 4 of the 7 globular cluster X-ray sources with constrained periods are ultracompact, a fraction far greater than that found in X-ray binaries the field.Comment: 10 pages including 2 figures and 1 table. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

    The Ursinus Weekly, December 18, 1916

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    Schaff anniversary observed on Friday • Memorial service for late Mr. Dimon • Ursinus quintet loses to Temple • Christmas in Hawaii • College directory • A Christmas hymn: the Christ child • Resolutions • On the campushttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2575/thumbnail.jp

    The UV Spectrum of the Ultra-compact X-ray Binary- 4U 1627-673

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    We have obtained Hubble Space Telescope/STIS low-resolution ultraviolet spectra of the X-ray pulsar 4U 1626-67 (=KZ TrA); 4U 1626-67 is unusual even among X-ray pulsars due to its ultra-short binary period (P=41.4 min) and remarkably low mass-function (<1.3e-6 Msun). The far-UV spectrum was exposed for a total of 32ks and has sufficient signal-to-noise to reveal numerous broad emission and prominent narrower absorption lines. Most of the absorption lines are consistent in strength with a purely interstellar origin. However, there is evidence that both CI and CIV require additional absorbing gas local to the system. In emission, the usual prominent lines of NV and HeII are absent, whilst both OIV and OV are relatively strong. We further identify a rarely seen feature at ~1660A as the OIII] multiplet. Our ultraviolet spectra therefore provide independent support for the recent suggestion that the mass donor is the chemically fractionated core of either a C-O-Ne or O-Ne-Mg white dwarf; this was put forward to explain the results of Chandra high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. The velocity profiles of the ultraviolet lines are in all cases broad and/or flat-topped, or perhaps even double-peaked for the highest ionization cases of O; in either case the ultraviolet line profiles are in broad agreement with the Doppler pairs found in the X-ray spectra. Both the X-ray and far-UV lines are plausibly formed in (or in an corona just above) a Keplerian accretion disc; the combination of ultraviolet and X-ray spectral data may provide a rich data set for follow-on detailed models of the disk dynamics and ionization structure in this highly unusual low-mass X-ray pulsar system.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures (color but ok in greyscale), revised version with minor changes; accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa

    Chandra Observation of the Globular Cluster NGC 6440 and the Nature of Cluster X-ray Luminosity Functions

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    As part of our campaign to determine the nature of the various source populations of the low-luminosity globular cluster X-ray sources, we have obtained a Chandra X-ray Observatory ACIS-S3 image of the globular cluster NGC 6440. We detect 24 sources to a limiting luminosity of ~2 times 10^31 erg/s (0.5-2.5keV) inside the cluster's half-mass radius, all of which lie within ~2 core radii of the cluster center. We also find excess emission in and around the core which could be due to unresolved point sources. Based upon X-ray luminosities and colors, we conclude that there are 4-5 likely quiescent low-mass X-ray binaries and that most of the other sources are cataclysmic variables. We compare these results to Chandra results from other globular clusters and find the X-ray luminosity functions differ among the clusters.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted by ApJ, minor changes, added table of clusters' physical parameter

    X-ray Spectroscopy of Candidate Ultracompact X-ray Binaries

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    We present high-resolution spectroscopy of the neutron star/low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) 4U 1850-087 and 4U 0513-40 as part of our continuing study of known and candidate ultracompact binaries. The LMXB 4U 1850-087 is one of four systems in which we had previously inferred an unusual Ne/O ratio in the absorption along the line of sight, most likely from material local to the binaries. However, our recent Chandra X-ray Observatory LETGS spectrum of 4U 1850-087 finds a Ne/O ratio by number of 0.22+/-0.05, smaller than previously measured and consistent with the expected interstellar value. We propose that variations in the Ne/O ratio due to source variability, as previously observed in these sources, can explain the difference between the low- and high-resolution spectral results for 4U 1850-087. Our XMM-Newton RGS observation of 4U 0513-40 also shows no unusual abundance ratios in the absorption along the line of sight. We also present spectral results from a third candidate ultracompact binary, 4U 1822-000, whose spectrum is well fit by an absorbed power-law + blackbody model with absorption consistent with the expected interstellar value. Finally, we present the non-detection of a fourth candidate ultracompact binary, 4U 1905+000, with an upper limit on the source luminosity of < 1 x 10^{32} erg s^{-1}. Using archival data, we show that the source has entered an extended quiescent state.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication to the Astrophysical Journa

    Casimir forces between cylinders at different temperatures

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    We study Casimir interactions between cylinders in thermal non-equilibrium, where the objects as well as the environment are held at different temperatures. We provide the general formula for the force, in a one reflection approximation, for cylinders of arbitrary radii and optical properties. As is the case for equilibrium, we find that the force for optically diluted cylinders can be obtained by appropriate summation of the corresponding result for spheres. We find that the non-equilibrium forces are generally larger than their equilibrium counterpart at separations greater than the thermal wavelength. They may also exhibit oscillations as function of separation, leading to stable points of zero net force. These effects are particularly pronounced for thin conducting cylinders (e.g. 40nm diameter nano-wires of tungsten) due to their large emissivity.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
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