14,542 research outputs found
Starburst-driven galactic winds: I. Energetics and intrinsic X-ray emission
We have performed an extensive hydrodynamical parameter study of
starburst-driven galactic winds, motivated by the latest observation data on
the best-studied starburst galaxy M82. We study how the wind dynamics,
morphology and X-ray emission depend on the host galaxy's ISM distribution,
starburst star formation history and strength, and presence and distribution of
mass-loading by dense clouds. We find that the soft X-ray emission from
galactic winds comes from low filling factor (ff < 2 per cent) gas, which
contains only a small fraction (f < 10 per cent) of the mass and energy of the
wind, irrespective of whether the wind models are strongly mass-loaded or not.
X-ray observations of galactic winds therefore do not directly probe the gas
that contains the majority of the energy, mass or metal-enriched gas in the
outflow. The soft X-ray emission comes from gas at a wide range different
temperatures and densities. Estimates of the physical properties of the hot gas
in starburst galaxies, based on fitting the standard simple spectral models to
existing X-ray spectra, should therefore be treated with extreme suspicion. The
majority of the thermal and kinetic energy of these winds is in a volume
filling hot, T approx 10^7 K, component which is extremely difficult to probe
observationally due to its low density and hence low emissivity. Most of the
total energy is in the kinetic energy of this hot gas, a factor which must be
taken into account when attempting to constrain wind energetics
observationally. We also find that galactic winds are efficient at transporting
large amounts of energy out of the host galaxy, in contrast to their
inefficiency at transporting mass out of star-forming galaxies. (Abridged)Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Letter page size postscript
available from http://adcam.pha.jhu.edu/~dks/dks_published.htm
The dominant X-ray wind in massive star binaries
We investigate which shocked wind is responsible for the majority of the
X-ray emission in colliding wind binaries, an issue where there is some
confusion in the literature, and which we show is more complicated than has
been assumed. We find that where both winds rapidly cool (typically close
binaries), the ratio of the wind speeds is often more important than the
momentum ratio, because it controls the energy flux ratio, and the faster wind
is generally the dominant emitter. When both winds are largely adiabatic
(typically long-period binaries), the slower and denser wind will cool faster
and the stronger wind generally dominates the X-ray luminosity.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted by A&A Letter
GMRT Low Frequency Observations of Extrasolar Planetary Systems
Extrasolar planets are expected to emit detectable low frequency radio
emission. In this paper we present results from new low frequency observations
of two extrasolar planetary systems (Epsilon Eridani and HD 128311) taken at
150 MHz with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). These two systems have
been chosen because the stars are young (with ages < 1 Gyr) and are likely to
have strong stellar winds, which will increase the expected radio flux. The
planets are massive (presumably) gas giant planets in longer period orbits, and
hence will not be tidally locked to their host star (as is likely to be the
case for short period planets) and we would expect them to have a strong
planetary dynamo and magnetic field. We do not detect either system, but are
able to place tight upper limits on their low frequency radio emission, at
levels comparable to the theoretical predictions for these systems. From these
observations we have a 2.5sigma limit of 7.8 mJy for Epsilon Eri and 15.5 mJy
for HD 128311. In addition, these upper limits also provide limits on the low
frequency radio emission from the stars themselves. These results are discussed
and also the prospects for the future detection of radio emission from
extrasolar planets.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Probing the wind-wind collision in Gamma Velorum with high-resolution Chandra X-ray spectroscopy: evidence for sudden radiative braking and non-equilibrium ionization
We present a new analysis of an archived Chandra HETGS X-ray spectrum of the
WR+O colliding wind binary Gamma Velorum. The spectrum is dominated by emission
lines from astrophysically abundant elements: Ne, Mg, Si, S and Fe. From a
combination of broad-band spectral analysis and an analysis of line flux ratios
we infer a wide range of temperatures in the X-ray emitting plasma (~4-40 MK).
As in the previously published analysis, we find the X-ray emission lines are
essentially unshifted, with a mean FWHM of 1240 +/- 30 km/s. Calculations of
line profiles based on hydrodynamical simulations of the wind-wind collision
predict lines that are blueshifted by a few hundred km/s. The lack of any
observed shift in the lines may be evidence of a large shock-cone opening
half-angle (> 85 degrees), and we suggest this may be evidence of sudden
radiative braking. From the R and G ratios measured from He-like
forbidden-intercombination-resonance triplets we find evidence that the Mg XI
emission originates from hotter gas closer to the O star than the Si XIII
emission, which suggests that non-equilibrium ionization may be present.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
A three dimensional model of the Venusian thermosphere with superrotation
An improved three dimensional spectral model of the thermosphere of Venus is described. The model solves the Navier-Stokes equations and includes nonlinear effects for an arbitrary number of atmospheric species. A two dimensional axisymmetric model of the superrotation of the thermosphere is also presented. This model addresses the Pioneer-Venus mission finding, which suggested the thermospheric rotation rate to be much higher than that of the planet as seen from the asymmetric distribution of hydrogen and helium. Both models include the effects of an anisotropic eddy diffusion that is consistent with atmospheric mixing length theory
Variations of the amplitudes of oscillation of the Be star Achernar
We report on finding variations in amplitude of the two main oscillation
frequencies found in the Be star Achernar, over a period of 5 years. They were
uncovered by analysing photometric data of the star from the SMEI instrument.
The two frequencies observed, 0.775 c/d and 0.725 c/d, were analysed in detail
and their amplitudes were found to increase and decrease significantly over the
5-year period, with the amplitude of the 0.725 c/d frequency changing by up to
a factor of eight. The nature of this event has yet to be properly understood,
but the possibility of it being due to the effects of a stellar outburst or a
stellar cycle are discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, to be published in MNRA
Asteroseismology of red giants: photometric observations of Arcturus by SMEI
We present new results on oscillations of the K1.5 III giant Arcturus (alpha
Boo), from analysis of just over 2.5 yr of precise photometric observations
made by the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) on board the Coriolis satellite.
A strong mode of oscillation is uncovered by the analysis, having frequency
3.51+/-0.03 micro-Hertz. By fitting its mode peak, we are able offer a highly
constrained direct estimate of the damping time (tau = 24+/-1 days). The data
also hint at the possible presence of several radial-mode overtones, and maybe
some non-radial modes. We are also able to measure the properties of the
granulation on the star, with the characteristic timescale for the granulation
estimated to be 0.50+/-0.05 days.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
Strange Hadron Spectroscopy with a Secondary KL Beam at GlueX
We propose to create a secondary beam of neutral kaons in Hall D at Jefferson
Lab to be used with the GlueX experimental setup for strange hadron
spectroscopy. A flux on the order of 3 x 10^4 KL/s will allow a broad range of
measurements to be made by improving the statistics of previous data obtained
on hydrogen targets by three orders of magnitude. Use of a deuteron target will
provide first measurements on the neutron which is {\it terra incognita}.
The experiment will measure both differential cross sections and
self-analyzed polarizations of the produced {\Lambda}, {\Sigma}, {\Xi}, and
{\Omega} hyperons using the GlueX detector at the Jefferson Lab Hall D. The
measurements will span c.m. cos{\theta} from -0.95 to 0.95 in the c.m. range
above W = 1490 MeV and up to 3500 MeV. These new GlueX data will greatly
constrain partial-wave analyses and reduce model-dependent uncertainties in the
extraction of strange resonance properties (including pole positions), and
provide a new benchmark for comparisons with QCD-inspired models and lattice
QCD calculations.
The proposed facility will also have an impact in the strange meson sector by
providing measurements of the final-state K{\pi} system from threshold up to 2
GeV invariant mass to establish and improve on the pole positions and widths of
all K*(K{\pi}) P-wave states as well as for the S-wave scalar meson
{\kappa}(800).Comment: 97 pages, 63 figures, Proposal for JLab PAC45, PR12-17-001; v3 missed
citation in Sec 9 (pg 22
Energy-dependent evolution in IC10 X-1: hard evidence for an extended corona and implications
We have analyzed a ~130 ks XMM-Newton observation of the dynamically confirmed black hole + Wolf-Rayet (BH+WR) X-ray binary (XB) IC10 X-1, covering ~1 orbital cycle. This system experiences periodic intensity dips every ~35 hr. We find that energy-independent evolution is rejected at a >5σ level. The spectral and timing evolution of IC10 X-1 are best explained by a compact disk blackbody and an extended Comptonized component, where the thermal component is completely absorbed and the Comptonized component is partially covered during the dip. We consider three possibilities for the absorber: cold material in the outer accretion disk, as is well documented for Galactic neutron star (NS) XBs at high inclination; a stream of stellar wind that is enhanced by traveling through the L1 point; and a spherical wind. We estimated the corona radius (r ADC) for IC10 X-1 from the dip ingress to be ~106 km, assuming absorption from the outer disk, and found it to be consistent with the relation between r ADC and 1-30 keV luminosity observed in Galactic NS XBs that spans two orders of magnitude. For the other two scenarios, the corona would be larger. Prior BH mass (M BH) estimates range over 23-38 M ☉, depending on the inclination and WR mass. For disk absorption, the inclination, i, is likely to be ~60-80°, with M BH ~ 24-41 M ☉. Alternatively, the L1-enhanced wind requires i ~ 80°, suggesting ~24-33 M ☉. For a spherical absorber, i ~ 40°, and M BH ~ 50-65 M ☉
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