1,528 research outputs found
A computer operated mass spectrometer system
Digital computer system for processing mass spectrometer output dat
Multiple Cyclotron Lines in the Spectrum of 4U 0115+63
We report phase resolved spectroscopy of the transient accreting pulsar,
4U0115+63. For the first time, more than two cylotron resonance scattering
features are detected in the spectrum of an X-ray pulsar. The shape of the
fundamental line appears to be complex, and this is in agreement with
predictions of Monte-Carlo models. As in other pulsars, the line energies and
optical depths are strong functions of pulse phase. One possible model for this
is an offset of the dipole of the neutron star magnetic field.Comment: 5 pages. To appear in "Proceedings of the 5th Compton Symposium
The Effects of Eight Weeks of Leucine/Whey Protein Supplementation and Resistance Training on Isokinetic Peak Torque
Resistance training can lead to significant increases in muscle size and strength. Supplementing the diet with leucine and whey protein purportedly increases protein synthesis, potentially accelerating the processes involved with hypertrophy and strength increases. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of leucine and whey protein supplementation during 8 weeks of unilateral dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) training on isokinetic peak torque. METHODS: Thirty-five men (mean age ± SD = 22.3 ± 2.3 y) volunteered to participate in this investigation. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: supplement (SUPP), placebo (PLA), or control (CON). The SUPP and PL participants then trained the leg extensors of the dominant limb (based on kicking preference) three times per week for eight weeks. Leg extension peak torque was determined for all participants pretraining and post training at 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300°.s-1 using an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: The results indicated there was no significant time à velocity à group interaction (p = 0.55). There was, however, a significant time à group interaction. Both the SUPP group (p \u3c 0.001) and the PLA group (p = 0.02) demonstrated significant increases in peak torque from pretraining to post training, while the CON group did not (p = 0.59). There was no difference in the magnitude of the gain in isokinetic peak torque between the SUPP and PLA groups (p = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Isokinetic peak torque increased significantly following 8 weeks of DCER training. However, the increase in peak torque was not augmented by leucine and whey protein supplementation
Discovery of a Cyclotron Resonance Scattering Feature in the X-ray Spectrum of XTE J1946+274
Observations of the transient accreting pulsar XTE J1946+274 made with the
Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer during the course of the 1998 September-November
outburst, reveal a cyclotron resonance scattering feature (or "cyclotron line")
in the hard X-ray spectrum near 35 keV. We determine a centroid energy of 36.2
+0.5/-0.7 keV, which implies a magnetic field strength of 3.1(1+z)x10^12 G,
where z is the gravitational redshift of the scattering region. The optical
depth, Tau = 0.33 +0.07/-0.06, and width, sigma = 3.37 +0.92/-0.75 keV, are
typical of known cyclotron lines in other pulsars. This discovery makes XTE
J1946+274 one of thirteen pulsars with securely detected cyclotron lines
resulting in direct magnetic field measurements.Comment: Five pages including four postscript figures and two tables. Uses
emulateapj5. Published in ApJ Letters:
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2001ApJ...563L..35
Discovery of a flux-related change of the cyclotron line energy in Her X-1
We present the results of ten years of repeated measurements of the Cyclotron
Resonance Scattering Feature (CRSF) in the spectrum of the binary X-ray pulsar
Her X-1 and report the discovery of a positive correlation of the centroid
energy of this absorption feature in pulse phase averaged spectra with source
luminosity.Our results are based on a uniform analysis of observations bythe
RXTE satellite from 1996 to 2005, using sufficiently long observations of 12
individual 35-day Main-On states of the source. The mean centroid energy E_c of
the CRSF in pulse phase averaged spectra of Her X-1 during this time is around
40 keV, with significant variations from one Main-On state to the next. We find
that the centroid energy of the CRSF in Her X-1 changes by ~5% in energy for a
factor of 2 in luminosity. The correlation is positive, contrary to what is
observed in some high luminosity transient pulsars. Our finding is the first
significant measurement of a positive correlation between E_c and luminosity in
any X-ray pulsar. We suggest that this behaviour is expected in the case of
sub-Eddington accretion and present a calculation of a quantitative estimate,
which is very consistent with the effect observed in Her X-1.We urge that Her
X-1 is regularly monitored further and that other X-ray pulsars are
investigated for a similar behaviour.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted by A&A Letter
Study of the cyclotron feature in MXB 0656-072
We have monitored a type II outburst of the Be/X-ray binary MXB 0656â072 in a series of pointed RXTE observations during October through December 2003. The source spectrum shows a cyclotron resonance scattering feature at 32.8 +0.5
â0.4 keV, corresponding to a magnetic field strength of 3.67
+0.06 â0.04 Ă 10 12 G and is stable through the outburst and over the pulsar spin phase. The pulsar, with an average pulse period of 160.4 ± 0.4s,shows a spin-up of 0.45 s over the duration of the outburst. From optical data, the source distance is estimated to be 3.9 ± 0.1 kpc and this is used to estimate the X-ray luminosity and a theoretical prediction of the pulsar spin-up during the outburst
Nonsolar astronomy with the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)
The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) is a NASA Small Explorer satellite designed to study hard x-ray and gamma-ray emission from solar flares. In addition, its high-resolution array of germanium detectors can see photons from high-energy sources throughout the Universe. Here we discuss the various algorithms necessary to extract spectra, lightcurves, and other information about cosmic gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, and other astrophysical phenomena using an unpointed, spinning array of detectors. We show some preliminary results and discuss our plans for future analyses. All RHESSI data are public, and scientists interested in participating should contact the principal author
Discovery of a Transition to Global Spin-up in EXO 2030+375
EXO 2030+375, a 42-second transient X-ray pulsar with a Be star companion,
has been observed to undergo an outburst at nearly every periastron passage for
the last 13.5 years. From 1994 through 2002, the global trend in the pulsar
spin frequency was spin-down. Using RXTE data from 2003 September, we have
observed a transition to global spin-up in EXO 2030+375. Although the spin
frequency observations are sparse, the relative spin-up between 2002 June and
2003 September observations, along with an overall brightening of the outbursts
since mid 2002 observed with the RXTE ASM, accompanied by an increase in
density of the Be disk, indicated by infrared magnitudes, suggest that the
pattern observed with BATSE of a roughly constant spin frequency, followed by
spin-up, followed by spin-down is repeating. If so this pattern has
approximately an 11 year period, similar to the 15 +/- 3 year period derived by
Wilson et al. (2002) for the precession period of a one-armed oscillation in
the Be disk. If this pattern is indeed repeating, we predict a transition from
spin-up to spin-down in 2005.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters, 4 pages, 5 figures, using
emulateapj.cl
Lorentz violating electrodynamics
After summarizing the most interesting results in the calculation of
synchrotron radiation in the Myers-Pospelov effective model for Lorentz
invariance violating (LIV) electrodynamics, we present a general unified way of
describing the radiation regime of LIV electrodynamics which include the
following three different models : Gambini-Pullin, Ellis et al. and
Myers-Pospelov. Such unification reduces to the standard approach of radiation
in a dispersive and absortive (in general) medium with a given index of
refraction. The formulation is presented up to second order in the LIV
parameter and it is explicitly applied to the synchrotron radiation case.Comment: 11 pages, extended version of the talk given by L.F. Urrutia in the
VI Mexican School: Approaches to Quantum Gravity, Playa del Carmen, Mexico,
Nov. 2004. Minor chages in the text and added reference
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