801 research outputs found
Chandra Observation of the Globular Cluster NGC 6440 and the Nature of Cluster X-ray Luminosity Functions
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
Classical Novae as a Probe of the Cataclysmic Variable Population
Classical Novae (CNe) are the brightest manifestation of mass transfer onto a
white dwarf in a cataclysmic variable (CV). As such, they are probes of the
mass transfer rate, Mdot, and WD mass, Mwd, in these interacting binaries. Our
calculations of the dependence of the CN ignition mass, Mign, on Mdot and Mwd
yields the recurrence times of these explosions. We show that the observed CNe
orbital period distribution is consistent with the interrupted magnetic braking
evolutionary scenario, where at orbital periods Porb > 3 hr mass transfer is
driven by angular momentum loss via a wind from the companion star and at Porb
< 3 hr by gravitational radiation. About 50% of CNe occur in binaries accreting
at Mdot ~= 10^{-9} Msun/yr with Porb = 3-4 hr, with the remaining 50% split
evenly between Porb longer (higher Mdot) and shorter (lower Mdot) than this.
This resolution of the relative contribution to the CN rate from different CVs
tells us that 3(9)x10^5 CVs with WD mass 1.0(0.6)Msun are needed to produce one
CN per year. Using the K-band specific CN rate measured in external galaxies,
we find a CV birthrate of 2(4)x10^{-4}/yr per 10^{10}Lsun,K, very similar to
the luminosity specific Type Ia supernova rate in elliptical galaxies.
Likewise, we predict that there should be 60-180 CVs for every 10^6Lsun,K in an
old stellar population, similar to the number of X-ray identified CVs in the
globular cluster 47 Tuc, showing no overabundance relative to the field. Using
a two-component steady state model of CV evolution we show that the fraction of
CVs which are magnetic (22%) implies a birthrate of 8% relative to non-magnetic
CVs, similar to the fraction of strongly magnetic field WDs. (abridged)Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Accepted to the Astrophysical Journa
Newtonian nudging for a Richards equation-based distributed model
This report describes a series of simulations conducted with a hydrological model, CATHY, to test a recently implemented data assimilation technique, Newtonian nudging
Identification of the LMXB and Faint X-ray Sources in NGC 6652
We have detected three new x-ray point sources, in addition to the known
low-mass x-ray binary (LMXB) X1832-330, in the globular cluster NGC 6652 with a
Chandra 1.6 ksec HRC-I exposure. Star 49 (M_{V}~4.7), suggested by Deutsch et
al.(1998) as the optical candidate for the LMXB, is identified (<0.3") not with
the LMXB, but with another, newly detected source (B). Using archival HST
images, we identify (<0.3") the LMXB (A) and one of the remaining new sources
(C) with blue variable optical counterparts at M_{V}~3.7 and 5.3 respectively.
The other new source (D) remains unidentified in the crowded cluster core. In
the 0.5-2.5 keV range, assuming a 5 keV thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum and
N_{H}=5.5*10^{20}, source A has intrinsic luminosity L_{X}~5.3*10^{35} ergs/s.
Assuming a 1 keV thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum, B has L_{X}~4.1*10^{33}
ergs/s, while C and D have L_{X}~8*10^{32}$ ergs/s. Source B is probably a
quiescent LMXB, while source C may be either a luminous CV or quiescent LMXB.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Astrophysical Journa
Another Faint UV Object Associated with a Globular Cluster X-Ray Source: The Case of M92
The core of the metal poor Galactic Globular Cluster M92 (NGC 6341) has been
observed with WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope through visual, blue and
mid-UV filters in a program devoted to study the evolved stellar population in
a selected sample of Galactic Globular Clusters. In the UV color magnitude diagram we have discovered a faint `UV-dominant'
object. This star lies within the error box of a Low Luminosity Globular
Cluster X-ray source (LLGCX) recently found in the core of M92. The properties
of the UV star discovered in M92 are very similar to those of other UV stars
found in the core of some clusters (M13, 47 Tuc, M80, etc)---all of them are
brighter in the UV than in the visible and are located in the vicinity of a
LLGCX. We suggest that these stars are a new sub-class of cataclysmic
variables.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures. Astrophysical journal in pres
New BeppoSAX-WFC results on superbursts
Presently seven superbursters have been identified representing 10% of the
total Galactic X-ray burster population. Four superbursters were discovered
with the Wide Field Cameras (WFCs) on BeppoSAX and three with the All-Sky
Monitor and Proportional Counter Array on RXTE. We discuss the properties of
superbursters as derived from WFC observations. There are two interesting
conclusions. First, the average recurrence time of superbursts among X-ray
bursters that are more luminous than 10% of the Eddington limit is 1.5 yr per
object. Second, superbursters systematically have higher alpha values and
shorter ordinary bursts than most bursters that have not exhibited superbursts,
indicating a higher level of stable thermonuclear helium burning. Theory
predicts hitherto undetected superbursts from the most luminous neutron stars.
We investigate the prospects for finding these in GX~17+2.Comment: Submitted in January 2004 for the Proceedings of the meeting 'X-Ray
Timing 2003: Rossi and Beyond', eds. P. Kaaret, F. K. Lamb, & J. H. Swank
(Melville, NY: American Institute of Physics
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