4,462 research outputs found
An ``outside-in'' outburst of Aql X--1
We present optical spectroscopy and optical and infrared photometry of the
neutron star soft X-ray transient Aql X--1 during its X-ray outburst of August
1997. By modelling the X-ray, optical, and IR light curves, we find a 3 day
delay between the IR and X-ray rise times, analogous to the UV-optical delay
seen in dwarf novae outbursts and black hole X-ray transients. We interpret
this delay as the signature of an ``outside-in'' outburst, in which a thermal
instability in the outer disc propagates inward. This outburst is the first of
this type definitively identified in a neutron star X-ray transient.Comment: 6 pages latex, 2 figures, Accepted by MNRA
The EXOSAT medium-energy slew survey catalog
We present a catalog of X-ray sources observed during slew maneuvers by the
Medium Energy Detector Array onboard the EXOSAT Observatory. The EXOSAT Medium
Energy slew-survey catalog (EXMS) provides a unique record of the 1--8 keV
X-ray sky between 1983 and 1986. 98% of the sky was observed, with 85%
receiving an exposure of >60 s. 1210 sources were detected. By comparing these
source positions with other catalogs, identifications are given for 992
detections (82% of the sample). These identifications consist of 250 distinct
objects, including 95 different X-ray binary systems, and 14 different AGN. A
further 58 detections have multiple candidates, while 160 detections remain
unidentified. Collimator transmission corrected 1-8 keV count rates are given
for the identified sources, together with raw count rates for the other
detections. The construction of the EXMS and the checks performed to ensure the
validity of the derived source properties are discussed. A publically available
version of this catalog is maintained on the EXOSAT database and archive system
(telnet://[email protected]).Comment: 52 pages. 22 Figures. To be published in A&AS. For more information,
see http://astro.estec.esa.nl/SA-general/Projects/Exosat/exmsintro.htm
UV Spectroscopy of AB Doradus with the Hubble Space Telescope. Impulsive flares and bimodal profiles of the CIV 1549 line in a young star
We observed AB Doradus, a young and active late type star (K0 - K2 IV-V, P=
0.514 d) with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph of the post-COSTAR
Hubble Space Telescope with the time and spectral resolutions of 27 s and 15
km, respectively. The wavelength band (1531 - 1565 A) included the strong CIV
doublet (1548.202 and 1550.774, formed in the transition region at 100 000 K).
The mean quiescent CIV flux state was close to the saturated value and 100
times the solar one. The line profile (after removing the rotational and
instrumental profiles) is bimodal consisting of two Gaussians, narrow (FWHM =
70 km/s) and broad (FWHM =330km/s). This bimodality is probably due to two
separate broadening mechanisms and velocity fields at the coronal base. It is
possible that TR transient events (random multiple velocities), with a large
surface coverage, give rise to the broadening of the narrow component,while
true microflaring is responsible for the broad one.
The transition region was observed to flare frequently on different time
scales and magnitudes. The largest impulsive flare seen in the CIV 1549
emission reached in less than one minute the peak differential emission measure
(10**51.2 cm-3) and returned exponentially in 5 minutes to the 7 times lower
quiescent level.The 3 min average line profile of the flare was blue-shifted
(-190 km/s) and broadened (FWHM = 800 km/s). This impulsive flare could have
been due to a chromospheric heating and subsequent evaporation by an electron
beam, accelerated (by reconnection) at the apex of a coronal loop.Comment: to be published in AJ (April 98), 3 tables and 7 figures as separate
PS-files, print Table 2 as a landscap
The Dependence of the Soft X-ray Properties of LMXBs on the Metallicity of Their Environment
We determine the X-ray spectral properties of a sample of low-mass X-ray
binaries (LMXBs) which reside in globular clusters of M31, as well as five
LMXBs in Galactic globular clusters and in the Large Magellanic Cloud using the
ROSAT PSPC. We find a trend in the X-ray properties of the LMXBs as a function
of globular cluster metallicity. The spectra of LMXBs become progressively
softer as the metallicity of its environment increases. The one M31 globular
cluster LMXB in our sample which has a metallicity greater than solar has
spectral properties similar to those of LMXBs in the bulge of M31, but markedly
different from those which reside in low metallicity globular clusters, both in
M31 and the Galaxy. The spectral properties of this high metallicity LMXB is
also similar to those of X-ray faint early-type galaxies. This lends support to
the claim that a majority of the X-ray emission from these X-ray faint
early-type galaxies results from LMXBs and not hot gas, as is the case in their
X-ray bright counterparts.Comment: 5 pages, 2 embedded Postscript figures, uses emulateapj.sty,
Astrophysical Journal Letters, in pres
Mechanism of droplet-formation in a supersonic microfluidic spray device
Spray drying is an approach employed in automotive, food, and pharmaceutical industries as a robust and cost efficient liquid atomization technique offering direct control over droplet dimensions. The majority of commercially available spray nozzles are designed for large throughput spray drying applications or uniform surface coating, but microfluidic nebulizers have recently been developed as small scale alternatives. Here, we explore the physical parameters that define the droplet size and formation under supersonic flow conditions commonly found in microfluidic spray drying systems. We examined the spray nozzle operation using high speed imaging and laser scattering measurements, which allowed us to describe the spray regimes and droplet size distributions. It was determined that by using this spray nozzle device, droplets with diameters of 4–8 μm could be generated. Moreover, we show that the supersonic de Laval nozzle model can be used to predict the average droplet size. Our approach can be used as a platform for interfacing fluid microprocessing with gas phase detection and characterization
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