NBC News Scripts
WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
1954-12-31
Search results
19 records were found.
We present long-term H? monitoring results of five Be/X-ray binaries to study the Be disc size variations and their influence on type II (giant) X-ray outbursts. The work is done in the context of the viscous decretion disc model which predicts that Be discs in binary systems are truncated by resonant torques induced by the neutron star in its orbit. Our observations show that type II outbursts are not correlated (nor anticorrelated) with the disc size, as they are seen to occur both at relatively small and large Be disc radii. We discuss these observations in context of alternate interpretation of Be disc behaviour, such as precession, elongation and density effects, and with cognisance of the limitations of our disc size estimates.
Context. High-mass X-ray binaries are bright X-ray sources. The high-energy emission is caused by the accretion of matter from the massive companion onto a neutron star. The accreting material comes from either the strong stellar wind in binaries with supergiant companions or the cirscumstellar disk in Be/X-ray binaries. In either case, the H? line stands out as the main source of information about the state of the accreting material.
Aims. We present the results of our monitoring program to study the long-term variability of the H? line in high-mass X-ray binaries. Our aim is to characterise the optical variability timescales and study the interaction between the neutron star and the accreting material.
Methods. We fitted the H? line with Gaussian profiles and obtained the line parameters and equivalent width. The pe...
Aims. We present the results of our monitoring program to study the long-term variability of the H? line in high-mass X-ray binaries. Our aim is to characterise the optical variability timescales and study the interaction between the neutron star and the accreting material.
Methods. We fitted the H? line with Gaussian profiles and obtained the line parameters and equivalent width. The pe...
RX J1826.2-1450/LS 5039 has been recently proposed to be a radio emitting high mass X-ray binary. In this paper, we present an analysis of its X-ray timing and spectroscopic properties using different instruments on board the RXTE satellite. The timing analysis indicates the absence of pulsed or periodic emission on time scales of 0.02-2000 s and 2-200 d, respectively. The source spectrum is well represented by a power-law model, plus a Gaussian component describing a strong iron line at 6.6 keV. Significant emission is seen up to 30 keV, and no exponential cut-off at high energy is required. We also study the radio properties of the system according to the GBI-NASA Monitoring Program. RX J1826.2-1450/LS 5039 continues to display moderate radio variability with a clearly non-thermal spectral index. No strong radio outbursts have been d...
We report on the results of the spectral and timing analysis of a BeppoSAX observation of the microquasar system LS 5039/RX J1826.2-1450. The source was found in a low-flux state with Fx(1-10 keV)= 4.7 x 10^{-12} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}, which represents almost one order of magnitude lower than a previous RXTE observation 2.5 years before. The 0.1--10 keV spectrum is described by an absorbed power-law continuum with photon-number spectral index Gamma=1.8+-0.2 and hydrogen column density of NH=1.0^{+0.4}_{-0.3} x 10^{22} cm^{-2}. According to the orbital parameters of the system the BeppoSAX observation covers the time of an X-ray eclipse should one occur. However, the 1.6-10 keV light curve does not show evidence for such an event, which allows us to give an upper limit to the inclination of the system. The low X-ray flux detected during th...
From the radial velocities of the N iv?4058 and He ii?4686 emission lines, and the N v?4604-20 absorption lines, determined in digital spectra, we report the discovery that the X-ray bright emission line star Wack 2134 (= WR 21a) is a spectroscopic binary system with an orbital period of 31.673 ± 0.002 d . With this period, the N iv and He ii emission and N v absorption lines, which originate in the atmosphere of the primary component, define a rather eccentric binary orbit (e= 0.64 ± 0.03) . The radial velocity variations of the N v absorptions have a lower amplitude than those of the He ii emission. Such a behaviour of the emission line radial velocities could be due to distortions produced by a superimposed absorption component from the companion. High-resolution echelle spectra observed during the quadrature phases of the binary sh...
We present a compilation of spectroscopic observations of the sgB[e] star CI Cam, the optical counterpart of XTE J0421+560. This includes data from before, during, and after its 1998 outburst, with quantitative results spanning 37 years. The object shows a rich emission line spectrum originating from circumstellar material, rendering it difficult to determine the nature of either star involved or the cause of the outburst. We collate all available pre-outburst data to determine the state of the system before this occurred and provide a baseline for comparison with outburst and post-outburst data. During the outburst all lines become stronger, and hydrogen and helium lines become significantly broader and asymmetric. After the outburst, spectral changes persist for at least three years, with Fe II and [N II] lines still a factor of simi...
We present extensive optical spectroscopy of the early-type magnetic star HD 191612 (O6.5f ? pe-O8fp). The Balmer and He i lines show strongly variable emission which is highly reproducible on a well-determined 538-d period. He ii absorptions and metal lines (including many selective emission lines but excluding He ii lambda 4686 angstrom emission) are essentially constant in line strength, but are variable in velocity, establishing a double-lined binary orbit with P-orb = 1542 d, e = 0.45. We conduct a model-atmosphere analysis of the spectrum, and find that the system is consistent with a similar to O8 giant with a similar to B1 main-sequence secondary. Since the periodic 538-d changes are unrelated to orbital motion, rotational modulation of a magnetically constrained plasma is strongly favoured as the most likely underlying 'clock'...
We present extensive optical spectroscopy of the early-type magnetic star HD 191612 (O6.5f?pe-O8fp). The Balmer and HeI lines show strongly variable emission which is highly reproducible on a well-determined 538-d period. Metal lines and HeII absorptions (including many selective emission lines but excluding He II 4686A emission) are essentially constant in line strength, but are variable in velocity, establishing a double-lined binary orbit with P(orb) = 1542d, e=0.45. We conduct a model-atmosphere analysis of the primary, and find that the system is consistent with a O8: giant with a B1: main-sequence secondary. Since the periodic 538-d changes are unrelated to orbital motion, rotational modulation of a magnetically constrained plasma is strongly favoured as the most likely underlying `clock'. An upper limit on the equatorial rotatio...
