35 research outputs found
Evidence for a Binary Companion to the Central Compact Object 1E 1207.4-5209
Unique among neutron stars, 1E 1207.4-5209 is an X-ray pulsar with a spin
period of 424 ms that contains at least two strong absorption features in its
energy spectrum. This neutron star has been identified as a member of the
radio-quiet compact central objects in supernova remnants. It has been found
that 1E 1207.4-5209 is not spinning down monotonically suggesting that this
neutron star undergoes strong, frequent glitches, contains a fall-back disk, or
possess a binary companion. Here, we report on a sequence of seven XMM-Newton
observations of 1E 1207.4-5209 performed during a 40 day window in June/July
2005. Due to unanticipated variance in the phase measurements beyond the
statistical uncertainties, we could not identify a unique phase-coherent timing
solution. The three most probable timing solutions give frequency time
derivatives of +0.9, -2.6, and +1.6 X 10^(-12) Hz/s (listed in descending order
of significance). We conclude that the local frequency derivative during our
XMM-Newton observing campaign differs from the long-term spin-down rate by more
than an order of magnitude, effectively ruling out glitch models for 1E
1207.4-5209. If the long-term spin frequency variations are caused by timing
noise, the strength of the timing noise in 1E 1207.4-5209 is much stronger than
in other pulsars with similar period derivatives. Therefore, it is highly
unlikely that the spin variations are caused by the same physical process that
causes timing noise in other isolated pulsars. The most plausible scenario for
the observed spin irregularities is the presence of a binary companion to 1E
1207.4-5209. We identified a family of orbital solutions that are consistent
with our phase-connected timing solution, archival frequency measurements, and
constraints on the companions mass imposed by deep IR and optical observations.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. To be published in the proceedings of "Isolated
Neutron Stars: from the Interior to the Surface" (April 24-28, 2006) - eds.
D. Page, R. Turolla & S. Zan
The Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Gamma-Ray Sources
As the highest-energy photons, gamma rays have an inherent interest to
astrophysicists and particle physicists studying high-energy, nonthermal
processes. Gamma-ray telescopes complement those at other wavelengths,
especially radio, optical, and X-ray, providing the broad, mutiwavelength
coverage that has become such a powerful aspect of modern astrophysics.
Multiwavelength techniques of various types have been developed to help
identify and explore unidentified gamma-ray sources. This overview summarizes
the ideas behind several of these methods.Comment: Proceedings of the Conference "The Multiwavelength Approach to
Unidentified Sources", to appear in the journal Astrophysics and Space
Scienc
Gamma-Ray Pulsars
Gamma-ray photons from young pulsars allow the deepest insight into the
properties and interactions of high-energy particles with magnetic and photon
fields in a pulsar magnetosphere. Measurements with the Compton Gamma-Ray
Observatory have led to the detection of nearly ten gamma-ray pulsars. Although
quite a variety of individual signatures is found for these pulsars, some
general characteristics can be summarized: (1) the gamma-ray lightcurves of
most high-energy pulsars show two major peaks with the pulsed emission covering
more than 50% of the rotation, i.e. a wide beam of emission; (2) the gamma-ray
spectra of pulsars are hard (power law index less than 2), often with a
luminosity maximum around 1 GeV. A spectral cutoff above several GeV is found;
(3) the spectra vary with rotational phase indicating different sites of
emission; and (4) the gamma-luminosity scales with the particle flux from the
open regions of the magnetosphere (Goldreich-Julian current).Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables. To appear in the Proceedings of the
270. WE-Heraeus Seminar on Neutron Stars, Pulsars and Supernova Remnants,
Jan. 21-25, 2002, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, eds W. Becker, H. Lesch & J.
Truemper. Proceedings are available as MPE-Report 27
Studies of Neutron Stars at Optical/IR Wavelengths
In the last years, optical studies of Isolated Neutron Stars (INSs) have expanded from the more classical rotation-powered ones to other categories, like the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) and the Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs), which make up the class of the magnetars, the radio-quiet INSs with X-ray thermal emission and, more recently, the enigmatic Compact Central Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants. Apart from 10 rotation-powered pulsars, so far optical/IR counterparts have been found for 5 magnetars and for 4 INSs. In this work we present some of the latest observational results obtained from optical/IR observations of different types of INSs
AstrĂłcitos imunorreativos Ă proteĂna glial fibrilar ácida (GFAP) em sistema nervoso central de equinos normais e de equinos com leucoencefalomalácia
Project 242: fission fragments direct heating for space propulsion - Programme synthesis and applications to space exploration
Synthesis observations of the region near the proposed new Milky Way companion at 0.610 GHz
Synthesis observations of the region near the proposed new Milky Way companion at 0.610 GHz
Wetensch. publicatieFaculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappe
Fission Fragments Direct Heating for Space Propulsion - Programme Synthesis and Applications to Space Exploration
The status and the main results achieved by Project 242 are presented. Project 242 is a programme (funded by ASI -1999/2002 from an idea of Carlo Rubbia) that studied a new concept of space propulsion motor by using direct conversion of the kinetic energy of fission fragments into increasing of enthalpy of a propellant gas. Project 242 studied the application of this propulsion system to a manned mission to Mars. Preliminary results were very satisfactory and it has been observed that a propulsion system with these characteristics could make the mission feasible. Results for other unmanned missions to the outer solar system are also presented