7,253 research outputs found
A model for the Z-track phenomenon in GX 5-1 and observational evidence for the physical origins of the kHz QPO
We present results of a combined investigation of the spectral and kHz QPO
evolution around the Z-track in GX 5-1 based on high-quality RXTE data. The
Extended ADC emission model provides very good fits to the spectra, the results
pointing clearly to a model for the nature of the Z-track, in agreement with
previous results for the similar source GX 340+0. In this model, at the soft
apex of the Z-track, the mass accretion rate Mdot is minimum and the neutron
star has its lowest temperature; but as the source moves along the normal
branch, the luminosity of the Comptonized emission increases, indicating that
Mdot increases and the neutron star gets hotter. The measured flux f of the
neutron star emission increases by a factor of ten becoming super-Eddington,
and we propose that this disrupts the inner disk so forming jets. In flaring,
the luminosity of the dominant Comptonized emission from the ADC is constant,
while the neutron star emission increases, and we propose for the first time
that flaring consists of unstable nuclear burning on the neutron star, and the
measured mass accretion rate per unit area mdot at the onset of flaring agrees
well with the theoretical critical value at which burning becomes unstable.
There is a striking correlation between the frequencies of the kHz QPO and the
ratio of the flux to the Eddington value: f/f_Edd, suggesting an explanation of
the higher frequency QPO and of its variation along the Z-track. It is well
known that a Keplerian orbit in the disk at this frequency corresponds to a
position some distance from the neutron star; we propose that the oscillation
always occurs at the inner disk edge, which moves radially outwards on the
upper normal and horizontal branches as the measured increasing radiation
pressure increasingly disrupts the inner disk.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics, in pres
Spectral Investigations of the nature of the Sco X-1 like sources
We present results of spectral investigations of the Sco X-1 like Z-track
sources Sco X-1, GX 349+2 and GX 17+2 based on Rossi-XTE observations using an
extended accretion disk corona model. The results are compared with previous
results for the Cyg X-2 like group: Cyg X-2, GX 340+0 and GX 5-1 and a general
model for the Z-track sources proposed. On the normal branch, the Sco-like and
Cyg-like sources are similar, the results indicating an increase of mass
accretion rate Mdot between soft and hard apex, not as in the standard view
that this increases around the Z. In the Cyg-like sources, increasing Mdot
causes the neutron star temperature kT to increase from ~1 to ~2 keV. At the
lower kT, the radiation pressure is small, but at the higher kT, the emitted
flux of the neutron star is several times super-Eddington and the high
radiation pressure disrupts the inner disk launching the relativistic jets
observed on the upper normal and horizontal branches. In the Sco-like sources,
the main physical difference is the high kT of more than 2 keV on all parts of
the Z-track suggesting that jets are always possible, even on the flaring
branch. The flaring branch in the Cyg-like sources is associated with release
of energy on the neutron star consistent with unstable nuclear burning. The
Sco-like sources are very different as flaring appears to be a combination of
unstable burning and an increase of Mdot which makes flaring much stronger.
Analysis of 15 years or RXTE ASM data on all 6 classic Z-track sources shows
the high rate and strength of flaring in the Sco-like sources suggesting that
continual release of energy heats the neutron star causing the high kT. A Sco
X-1 observation with unusually little flaring supports this. GX 17+2 appears to
be transitional between the Cyg and Sco-like types. Our results do not support
the suggestion that Cyg or Sco-like nature is determined by luminosity.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics in press; 21 pages, 13 figure
On the nature of the Cygnus X-2 like Z-track sources
Based on the results of applying the extended ADC emission model for low mass
X-ray binaries to three Z-track sources: GX340+0, GX5-1 and CygX-2, we propose
an explanation of the CygnusX-2 like Z-track sources. The Normal Branch is
dominated by the increasing radiation pressure of the neutron star caused by a
mass accretion rate that increases between the soft apex and the hard apex. The
radiation pressure continues to increase on the Horizontal Branch becoming
several times super-Eddington. We suggest that this disrupts the inner
accretion disk and that part of the accretion flow is diverted vertically
forming jets which are detected by their radio emission on this part of the
Z-track. We thus propose that high radiation pressure is the necessary
condition for the launching of jets. On the Flaring Branch there is a large
increase in the neutron star blackbody luminosity at constant mass accretion
rate indicating an additional energy source on the neutron star. We find that
there is good agreement between the mass accretion rate per unit emitting area
of the neutron star mdot at the onset of flaring and the theoretical critical
value at which burning becomes unstable. We thus propose that flaring in the
CygnusX-2 like sources consists of unstable nuclear burning. Correlation of
measurements of kilohertz QPO frequencies in all three sources with spectral
fitting results leads to the proposal that the upper kHz QPO is an oscillation
always taking place at the inner accretion disk edge, the radius of which
increases due to disruption of the disk by the high radiation pressure of the
neutron star.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics, in pres
Prospective evaluation of a protocol for transitioning porcine lente insulintreated diabetic cats to human recombinant protamine zinc insulin
Objectives The objective was to evaluate a nadir-led protocol for transitioning porcine lente insulin suspension (PLIS)-treated diabetic cats onto human recombinant protamine zinc insulin (PZIR).
Methods Recently diagnosed (<5 months) diabetic cats, treated with PLIS q12h for 6 weeks, were recruited. Fructosamine, 24 h blood glucose curve (BGC), quality of life assessment (DIAQoL-pet score) and Diabetic Clinical Score (DCS) were assessed at enrolment (PLIS-treated) and 2, 4 and 12 weeks after transitioning to PZIR (starting dose 0.2-0.7 U/kg q12h). Short duration of insulin action was defined as <9 h. Linear mixed effects modelling assessed for change in fructosamine, mean blood glucose (MBG) during BGCs, DIAQoL-pet score, DCS and q12h insulin dose. McNemar's tests compared the proportion of cats with hypoglycaemia at week 0 (PLIS-treated) and week 4 (PZIR-treated).
Results Twenty-two cats were recruited. Median PLIS dose at enrolment was 0.5 U/kg (interquartile range 0.3-0.7 U/kg) q12h, equalling median PZIR starting dose (0.5 U/kg; interquartile range 0.3-0.7 U/kg q12h). Transitioning was followed by significant decreases in fructosamine (P = 0.00007), insulin dose (P = 0.02), DCS (P = 8.1 x 10(-8)) and DIAQoL-pet score (P = 0.003), indicating improved quality of life. MBG did not alter significantly (P = 0.1). Five cats (22.7%) achieved remission. Hypoglycaemia was recorded in 30/190 12 h BGCs (15.8%) and five cats experienced clinical hypoglycaemia. The proportion of cats with hypoglycaemia did not differ between PLIS (week 0) and PZIR (week 4) (P = 1.0). Duration of action was analysed in 19 cats. Six cats (31.6%) showed short duration of action on PLIS, compared with two cats (10.5%) after 4 weeks on PZIR. All six cats with short PLIS duration showed duration of 9 h on PZIR.
Conclusions and relevance Used alongside a low-carbohydrate diet, transitioning to PZIR was associated with significantly improved clinical signs and quality of life, with some cats achieving remission. Transition to PZIR should be considered for cats with short duration of action on PLIS
Chandra HRC Localization of the Low Mass X-ray Binaries X1624-490 and X1702-429: The Infrared Counterparts
We report on the precise localization of the low mass X-ray binaries
X1624-490 and X1702-429 with the Chandra HRC-I. We determine the best positions
to be 16:28:02.825 -49:11:54.61 (J2000) and 17:06:15.314 -43:02:08.69 (J2000)
for X1624-490 and X1702-429, respectively, with the nominal Chandra positional
uncertainty of 0.6". We also obtained deep IR observations of the fields of
these sources in an effort to identify the IR counterparts. A single, faint
(Ks=18.3 +/- 0.1) source is visible inside the Chandra error circle of
X1624-490, and we propose this source as its IR counterpart. For X1702-429, a
Ks=16.5 +/- 0.07 source is visible at the edge of the Chandra error circle. The
brightness of both counterpart candidates is comparable to that of other low
mass X-ray binary IR counterparts when corrected for extinction and distance.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Simple Photoelectric Absorption during Dipping in the ASCA Observation of XB1916-053
We report results of analysis of the ASCA observation of the Low Mass X-ray
Binary dipping source XB1916-053 made on 1993, May 2nd. We have shown that the
spectra can be well fitted by the same two-component model previously used to
give good explanations of the very different dip sources X1755-338 and
X1624-490, consisting of point-source blackbody emission from the neutron star
plus extended Comptonised emission from the accretion disk corona. In
XB1916-053, all levels of dipping can be fitted using kT_bb= 2.14+/-0.28 keV
and power law photon index = 2.42 +/-0.21. Dipping is shown to be due to large
increases of column density for the point-like blackbody, combined with the
extended power law component being progressively covered by absorber until in
the deepest parts of dips, the partial covering fraction approaches unity. This
approach differs radically from the ``absorbed plus unabsorbed'' approach
previously used in spectral modelling of XB1916-053 and similar sources, in
which the normalisation of the unabsorbed component is allowed to decrease
markedly in dipping, behavior generally attributed to the effects of electron
scattering. Thus we have shown that spectral evolution in XB1916-053 can be
explained simply in terms of photoelectric absorption without the need for
substantial electron scattering. This explanation is supported by calculation
of the relative importance of photoelectric absorption and electron scattering
in the absorbing region which shows that little electron scattering is expected
in the ASCA energy band.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, 5 eps figure
Cryogenic microstripline-on-Kapton microwave interconnects
Simple broadband microwave interconnects are needed for increasing the size
of focal plane heterodyne radiometer arrays. We have measured loss and
cross-talk for arrays of microstrip transmission lines in flex circuit
technology at 297 and 77 K, finding good performance to at least 20 GHz. The
dielectric constant of Kapton substrates changes very little from 297 to 77 K,
and the electrical loss drops. The small cross-sectional area of metal in a
printed circuit structure yields overall thermal conductivities similar to
stainless steel coaxial cable. Operationally, the main performance tradeoffs
are between crosstalk and thermal conductivity. We tested a patterned ground
plane to reduce heat flux.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, submitted to The Review of Scientific Instrument
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