66 research outputs found
Theoretical Black Hole Mass Distributions
We derive the theoretical distribution function of black hole masses by
studying the formation processes of black holes. We use the results of recent
2D simulations of core-collapse to obtain the relation between remnant and
progenitor masses and fold it with an initial mass function for the
progenitors. We examine how the calculated black-hole mass distributions are
modified by (i) strong wind mass loss at different evolutionary stages of the
progenitors, and (ii) the presence of close binary companions to the black-hole
progenitors. Thus, we are able to derive the binary black hole mass
distribution. The compact remnant distribution is dominated by neutron stars in
the mass range 1.2-1.6Msun and falls off exponentially at higher remnant
masses. Our results are most sensitive to mass loss from winds which is even
more important in close binaries. Wind mass-loss causes the black hole
distribution to become flatter and limits the maximum possible black-hole mass
(<10-15Msun). We also study the effects of the uncertainties in the explosion
and unbinding energies for different progenitors. The distributions are
continuous and extend over a broad range. We find no evidence for a gap at low
values (3-5Msun) or for a peak at higher values (~7Msun) of black hole masses,
but we argue that our black hole mass distribution for binaries is consistent
with the current sample of measured black-hole masses in X-ray transients. We
discuss possible biases against the detection or formation of X-ray transients
with low-mass black holes. We also comment on the possibility of black-hole
kicks and their effect on binaries.Comment: 22 pages, submitted to Ap
Intra-abdominal pressure alterations after large pancreatic pseudocyst transcutaneous drainage
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acute pancreatitis leads to abdominal hypertension and compartment syndrome. Weeks after the episodes pancreatic fluids sometimes organize to pseudocysts, fluid collections by or in the gland.</p> <p>Aims of the present study were to evaluate the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) induced by large pancreatic pseudocysts and to examine the effect of their transcutaneous drainage on IAP.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty seven patients with a pancreatic pseudocyst were included. Nine patients with pseudocysts greater than 1l (group A) had CT drainage and eighteen (volume less than 1l) were the control group. The measurements of group A were taken 6 hours before and every morning after the drainage, while for group B, two measurements were performed, one at the day of the initial CT and one 7 days after. Abdominal compliance (Cabd) was calculated. Data were analyzed using student's <it>t</it>-test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline IAP for group A was 9.3 mmHg (S.D. 1.7 mmHg), while the first post-drainage day (PDD) IAP was 5.1 mmHg (S.D. 0.7 mmHg). The second PDD IAP was 5.6 mmHg (S.D. 0.8 mmHg), the third 6.4 mmH (S.D. 1.2 mmHg)g, the fourth 6.9 mmHg (S.D. 1.6 mmHg), the fifth 7.9 mmHg (S.D. 1.5 mmHg), the sixth 8.2 mmHg (S.D. 1.4 mmHg), and the seventh 8.2 mmHg (S.D. 1.5 mmHg). Group B had baseline IAP 8.0 mmHg (S.D. 1.2 mmHg) and final 8.2 mmHg (S.D. 1.4 mmHg). Cabd after drainage was 185.6 ml/mmHg (SD 47.5 ml/mmHg).</p> <p>IAP values were reduced between the baseline and all the post-drainage measurements in group A. IAPs seem to stabilize after the 5<sup>th </sup>post-drainage day. Baseline IAP was higher in group A than in group B, while the two values, at day 7, were equivalent.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The drainage of large pancreatic pseudocyst reduces IAP. Moreover, the IAP seems to rise shortly after the drainage again, but in a way that it remains inferior to the initial value. More chronic changes to the IAP are related to abdominal cavity's properties and have to be further studied.</p
Implications of X-Ray Line Variations for 4U1822-371
4U 1822-371 is one of the proto-type accretion disk coronal sources with an
orbital period of about 5.6 hours. The binary is viewed almost edge-on at a
high inclination angle of 83 degrees, which makes it a unique candidate to
study binary orbital and accretion disk dynamics in high powered X-ray sources.
We observed the X-ray source in 4U 1822-371 with the Chandra High Energy
Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS) for almost nine binary orbits. X-ray
eclipse times provide an update of the orbital ephemeris. We find that our
result follows the quadratic function implied by previous observations;
however, it suggests a flatter trend. Detailed line dynamics also confirm a
previous suggestion that the observed photo-ionized line emission originates
from a confined region in the outer edge of the accretion disk near the hot
spot. Line properties allow us to impose limits on the size of accretion disk,
the central corona, and the emission region. The photo-ionized plasma is
consistent with ionization parameters of log(xi) > 2, and when combined with
disk size and reasonable assumptions for the plasma density, this suggests
illuminating disk luminosities which are over an order of magnitude higher than
what is actually observed. That is, we do not directly observe the central
emitting X-ray source. The spectral continua are best fit by a flat power law
with a high energy cut-off and partial covering absorption (N_H ranging from
5.4-6.3x10^{22} cm^{-2}) with a covering fraction of about 50%. We discuss some
implications of our findings with respect to the photo-ionized line emission
for the basic properties of the X-ray source.Comment: Submitted to the Astrophysical Journa
Discovery of an X-ray pulsar in the low-mass X-ray binary 2A 1822-371
We report the discovery of 0.59 s X-ray pulsations from the low-mass X-ray
binary, 5.57 hr dipping and eclipsing ADC source 2A 1822-371. Pulse arrival
time analysis indicates a circular orbit with e < 0.03 (95% confidence) and an
asini for the neutron star of 1.006(5) lightseconds, implying a mass function
of (2.03+-0.03) x 10^-2 M_sun. The barycentric pulse period was 0.59325(2) s in
1996.270 and 0.59308615(5) s in 1998.205, indicating an average spin up with
P_dot/P = (-1.52+-0.02) x 10^-4 yr^-1. For a magnetic field strength of ~1--5 x
10^12 G as derived from the X-ray spectrum the implied intrinsic X-ray
luminosity is ~2-4 x 10^37 erg s^-1. The pulse amplitude is low, but increases
steeply as a function of energy from a sinusoidal amplitude of 0.25% in 2-5.4
keV to ~3% above 20 keV. We discuss the constraints on the masses of the
companion star and the fact that several aspects of the energy spectrum are in
qualitative accordance with that of a strongly magnetised neutron star.Comment: 6 pages long, including 4 figures, uses emulateapj5, accepted for
ApJL, Replaced figure
The "K-Correction" for Irradiated Emission Lines in LMXBs: Evidence for a Massive Neutron Star in X1822-371 (V691 CrA)
We study the K-correction for the case of emission lines formed in the X-ray
illuminated atmosphere of a Roche lobe filling star. We compute the
K-correction as function of the mass ratio 'q' and the disc flaring angle
'alpha' using a compact binary code where the companion's Roche lobe is divided
into 10^5 resolution elements. We also study the effect of the inclination
angle in the results. We apply our model to the case of the neutron star
low-mass X-ray binary X1822-371 (V691 CrA), where a K-emission velocity
K_em=300 +-8 km/s has been measured by Casares et al. (2003). Our numerical
results, combined with previous determination of system parameters, yields
1.61Msun < M_NS < 2.32Msun and 0.44Msun < M_2 < 0.56Msun for the two binary
components(i. e. 0.24 < q < 0.27), which provide a compelling evidence for a
massive neutron star in this system. We also discuss the implications of these
masses into the evolutionary history of the binary.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
XTE J1118+480: A Metal-Rich Black Hole Binary in the Galactic Halo
We present medium-resolution optical spectra of the secondary star in the
high Galactic latitude black hole X-ray binary XTE J1118+480 and determine the
abundance of Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, and Ni in its atmosphere. For all the elements
investigated we find supersolar abundances; thus, we reject the hypothesis that
the black hole came from the direct collapse of an ancient massive halo star.
The compact primary most likely formed in a supernova event of a massive star
whose nucleosynthetic products polluted the secondary star. The observed
element abundances and their ratios can be explained using a variety of
supernova models with a wide range of metallicities. While an explosive origin
in the Galactic halo or thick disk cannot be discarded, a metal-rich progenitor
is clearly favored by the observed abundance pattern. This suggests that the
black hole was produced in the Galactic thin disk with a violent natal kick,
propelling the X-ray binary to its current location and orbit.Comment: Accepted for publication as a letter in The Astrophysical Journa
Hydrodynamics of the stream-disk impact in interacting binaries
We use hydrodynamic simulations to provide quantitative estimates of the
effects of the impact of the accretion stream on disks in interacting binaries.
For low accretion rates, efficient radiative cooling of the hotspot region can
occur, and the primary consequence of the stream impact is stream overflow
toward smaller disk radii. The stream is well described by a ballistic
trajectory, but larger masses of gas are swept up and overflow at smaller, but
still highly supersonic, velocities. If cooling is inefficient, overflow still
occurs, but there is no coherent stream inward of the disk rim. Qualitatively,
the resulting structure appears as a bulge extending downstream along the disk
rim. We calculate the mass fraction and velocity of the overflowing component
as a function of the important system parameters, and discuss the implications
of the results for X-ray observations and doppler tomography of cataclysmic
variables, low-mass X-ray binaries and supersoft X-ray sources.Comment: 16 pages, including 8 figures. 1 color figure as a jpeg. ApJ, in
pres
Gallstone Obstructive Ileus 3 Years Post-cholecystectomy to a Patient with an Old Ileoileal Anastomosis
The present case is one of gallstone obstructive ileus due to gallstones 3 yr after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It is interesting because of the sex of the patient, the fact that ileus occurred 3 yr after cholecystectomy and that the localization of the obstruction was an old side-to-side ileoileal anastomosis due to a diverticulectomy following intussusception of Meckels' diverticulum at the age of 3
IP Pegasi: Investigation of the accretion disk structure. Searching evidences for spiral shocks in the quiescent accretion disk
We present the results of spectral investigations of the cataclysmic variable
IP Peg in quiescence. Optical spectra obtained on the 6-m telescope at the
Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia), and on the 3.5-m telescope at the
German-Spanish Astronomical Center (Calar Alto, Spain), have been analysed by
means of Doppler tomography and Phase Modelling Technique. From this analysis
we conclude that the quiescent accretion disk of IP Peg has a complex
structure. There are also explicit indications of spiral shocks. The Doppler
maps and the variations of the peak separation of the emission lines confirm
this interpretation. We have detected that all the emission lines show a rather
considerable asymmetry of their wings varying with time. The wing asymmetry
shows quasi-periodic modulations with a period much shorter than the orbital
one. This indicates the presence of an emission source in the binary rotating
asynchronously with the binary system. We also have found that the brightness
of the bright spot changes considerably during one orbital period. The spot
becomes brightest at an inferior conjunction, whereas it is almost invisible
when it is located on the distant half of the accretion disk. Probably, this
phenomenon is due to an anisotropic radiation of the bright spot and an eclipse
of the bright spot by the outer edge of the accretion disk.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures (= 21 EPS files), accepted for publication in
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