A Search for Anomalous Tails of Short-Period Comets
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
In-Flight PSF Calibration of the Nustar Hard X-Ray Optics
In-flight PSF calibration of the NuSTAR hard X-ray optics Hongjun Ana, Kristin K. Madsenb, Niels J. Westergaardc, Steven E. Boggsd, Finn E. Christensenc, William W. Craigd,e, Charles J. Haileyf, Fiona A. Harrisonb, Daniel K. Sterng, William W. Zhangh aDepartment of Physics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2T8, Canada; bCahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; cDTU Space, National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Elektrovej 327, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark; dSpace Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; eLawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA; fColumbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, New York NY 10027, USA; gJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA; hGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA ABSTRACT We present results of the point spread function (PSF) calibration of the hard X-ray optics of the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). Immediately post-launch, NuSTAR has observed bright point sources such as Cyg X-1, Vela X-1, and Her X-1 for the PSF calibration. We use the point source observations taken at several off-axis angles together with a ray-trace model to characterize the in-orbit angular response, and find that the ray-trace model alone does not fit the observed event distributions and applying empirical corrections to the ray-trace model improves the fit significantly. We describe the corrections applied to the ray-trace model and show that the uncertainties in the enclosed energy fraction (EEF) of the new PSF model is ∼<3% for extraction ′′ apertures of R ∼> 60 with no significant energy dependence. -
Nustar Observatory Guide
NuSTAR Guest Observer Program NuSTAR Observatory Guide Version 3.2 (June 2016) NuSTAR Science Operations Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, MD nustar.caltech.edu heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nustar/index.html i Revision History Revision Date Editor Comments D1,2,3 2014-08-01 NuSTAR SOC Initial draft 1.0 2014-08-15 NuSTAR GOF Release for AO-1 Addition of more information about CZT 2.0 2014-10-30 NuSTAR SOC detectors in section 3. 3.0 2015-09-24 NuSTAR SOC Update to section 4 for release of AO-2 Update for NuSTARDAS v1.6.0 release 3.1 2016-05-10 NuSTAR SOC (nusplitsc, Section 5) 3.2 2016-06-15 NuSTAR SOC Adjustment to section 9 ii Table of Contents Revision History ......................................................................................................................................................... ii 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 NuSTAR Program Organization ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. The NuSTAR observatory .................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 NuSTAR Performance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ -
Building the Coolest X-Ray Satellite
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Building the Coolest X-ray Satellite 朱雀 Suzaku A Video Guide for Teachers Grades 9-12 Probing the Structure & Evolution of the Cosmos http://suzaku-epo.gsfc.nasa.gov/ www.nasa.gov The Suzaku Learning Center Presents “Building the Coolest X-ray Satellite” Video Guide for Teachers Written by Dr. James Lochner USRA & NASA/GSFC Greenbelt, MD Ms. Sara Mitchell Mr. Patrick Keeney SP Systems & NASA/GSFC Coudersport High School Greenbelt, MD Coudersport, PA This booklet is designed to be used with the “Building the Coolest X-ray Satellite” DVD, available from the Suzaku Learning Center. http://suzaku-epo.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Table of Contents I. Introduction 1. What is Astro-E2 (Suzaku)?....................................................................................... 2 2. “Building the Coolest X-ray Satellite” ....................................................................... 2 3. How to Use This Guide.............................................................................................. 2 4. Contents of the DVD ................................................................................................. 3 5. Post-Launch Information ........................................................................................... 3 6. Pre-requisites............................................................................................................. 4 7. Standards Met by Video and Activities ...................................................................... 4 II. Video Chapter 1 -
On the Spectra of Gamma-Ray Bursts at High Energies
University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Spring 1986 ON THE SPECTRA OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS AT HIGH ENERGIES STEVEN MICHAEL MATZ University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation MATZ, STEVEN MICHAEL, "ON THE SPECTRA OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS AT HIGH ENERGIES" (1986). Doctoral Dissertations. 1483. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1483 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a manuscript sent to us for publication and microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to pho tograph and reproduce this manuscript, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. Pages in any manuscript may have indistinct print. In all cases the best available copy has been filmed. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help clarify notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. Manuscripts may not always be complete. When it is not possible to obtain missing pages, a note appears to indicate this. 2. When copyrighted materials are removed from the manuscript, a note ap pears to indicate this. 3. Oversize materials (maps, drawings, and charts) are photographed by sec tioning the original, beginning at the upper left hand comer and continu ing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. -
Software Error Doomed Japanese Hitomi Spacecraft!
Software error doomed Japanese Hitomi spacecraft! ! Space agency declares the astronomy satellite a loss.! ! Japan’s flagship Hitomi astronomical satellite, which launched successfully on 17 February but tumbled out of control five weeks later, may have been doomed by a basic engineering error. Confused about how it was oriented in space and trying to stop itself from spinning, Hitomi's software apparently fired a thruster jet in the wrong direction — accelerating rather than slowing the craft's rotation.! ! http://www.nature.com/news/software-error-doomed-japanese-hitomi- spacecraft-1.19835! 1! Gamma-Ray Bursts- Longair 22.7! • Are bright flashes of γ-rays- for a short period of time (<100 sec )! • fluxes of ~0.1-100 photon/cm2/sec/keV emitted primarily in the 20-500 keV band.! – Distribution is isotropic on the sky! • Because of these properties it took ~30 years from their discovery (1967) to their identification! – They are at very large distances (z up to 8 (!)) with apparent luminosities of 3x1054 erg/sec! – Rate is ~10-7/yr/galaxy ! • What are they??- short timescales imply compact object ; what could the 2 33 energy reservoir be- Mc implies M~10 gms~ Msun if total conversion of mass into energy How does all this energy end up as γ-rays ?! – Location of long γRBs is in and near star forming regions in smallish galaxies- associated with star formation! – a few γRBs have been associated with a type Ic supernova! 2! 3! Gamma-Ray Bursts ! • Cosmic γ-ray bursts (GRBs) were first reported in 1973 by Klebesadel et al (l973) but were first seen -
A Thin Diffuse Component of the Galactic Ridge X-Ray Emission and Heating of the Interstellar Medium Contributed by the Radiation of Galactic X-Ray Binaries
A&A 564, A107 (2014) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201323332 & c ESO 2014 Astrophysics A thin diffuse component of the Galactic ridge X-ray emission and heating of the interstellar medium contributed by the radiation of Galactic X-ray binaries Margherita Molaro1, Rishi Khatri1, and Rashid A. Sunyaev1,2 1 Max Planck Institut für Astrophysik, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 1, 85741 Garching, Germany e-mail: [email protected] 2 Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya 84/32, 117997 Moscow, Russia Received 23 December 2013 / Accepted 14 January 2014 ABSTRACT We predict athindiffuse component of the Galactic ridge X-ray emission (GRXE) arising from the scattering of the radiation of bright X-ray binaries (XBs) by the interstellar medium. This scattered component has the same scale height as that of the gaseous disk (∼80 pc) and is therefore thinner than the GRXE of stellar origin (scale height ∼130 pc). The morphology of the scattered component is furthermore expected to trace the clumpy molecular and HI clouds. We calculate this contribution to the GRXE from known Galactic XBs assuming that they are all persistent. The known XBs sample is incomplete, however, because it is flux limited and spans the lifetime of X-ray astronomy (∼50 years), which is very short compared with the characteristic time of 1000−10 000 years that would have contributed to the diffuse emission observed today due to time delays. We therefore also use a simulated sample of sources, to estimate the diffuse emission we should expect in an optimistic case assuming that the X-ray luminosity of our Galaxy is on average similar to that of other galaxies. -
Abundances 164 ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) 1, 21, 60, 71
Index abundances 164 CIR (corotating interaction region) 3, ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) 1, 14À15, 32, 36À37, 47, 62, 108, 151, 21, 60, 71, 170À171, 173, 175, 177, 254À255 200, 251 energetic particles 63, 154 SWICS 43, 86 Climax neutron monitor 197 ACRs (anomalous cosmic rays) 10, 12, 197, CME (coronal mass ejection) 3, 14À15, 56, 258À259 64, 86, 93, 95, 123, 256, 268 CIRs 159 composition 268 pickup ions 197 open flux 138 termination shock 197, 211 comets 2À4, 11 active longitude 25 ComptonÀGetting effect 156 active region 25 convection equation tilt 25 diffusion 204 activity cycle (see also solar cycle) 1À2, corona 1À2 11À12 streamers 48, 63, 105, 254 Advanced Composition Explorer see ACE temperature 42 Alfve´n waves 116, 140, 266 coronal hole 30, 42, 104, 254, 265 AMPTE (Active Magnetospheric Particle PCH (polar coronal hole) 104, 126, 128 Tracer Explorer) mission 43, 197, coronal mass ejections see CME 259 corotating interaction regions see CIR anisotropy telescopes (AT) 158 corotating rarefaction region see CRR Cosmic Ray and Solar Particle Bastille Day see flares Investigation (COSPIN) 152 bow shock 10 cosmic ray nuclear composition (CRNC) butterfly diagram 24À25 172 cosmic rays 2, 16, 22, 29, 34, 37, 195, 259 Cassini mission 181 anomalous 195 CELIAS see SOHO charge state 217 CH see coronal hole composition 196, 217 CHEM 43 convection–diffusion model 213 282 Index cosmic rays (cont.) Energetic Particle Composition Experiment drift 101, 225 (EPAC) 152 force-free approximation 213 energetic particle 268 galactic 195 anisotropy 156, -
The Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-Survey
ariel The Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey Towards an H-R Diagram for Planets A Candidate for the ESA M4 Mission TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 1 2 Science Case ................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 The ARIEL Mission as Part of Cosmic Vision .................................................................... 3 2.1.1 Background: highlights & limits of current knowledge of planets ....................................... 3 2.1.2 The way forward: the chemical composition of a large sample of planets .............................. 4 2.1.3 Current observations of exo-atmospheres: strengths & pitfalls .......................................... 4 2.1.4 The way forward: ARIEL ....................................................................................... 5 2.2 Key Science Questions Addressed by Ariel ....................................................................... 6 2.3 Key Q&A about Ariel ................................................................................................. 6 2.4 Assumptions Needed to Achieve the Science Objectives ..................................................... 10 2.4.1 How do we observe exo-atmospheres? ..................................................................... 10 2.4.2 Targets available for ARIEL .................................................................................. -
Arxiv:2009.09059V2 [Astro-Ph.HE] 24 Jan 2021 at Lower ALP Masses, As Shown in Fig.1, More Strin- Ring in the LAT field of View
Constraints on Axion-like Particles from a Hard X-ray Observation of Betelgeuse Mengjiao Xiao,1, ∗ Kerstin M. Perez,1, y Maurizio Giannotti,2, z Oscar Straniero,3, x Alessandro Mirizzi,4, 5, { Brian W. Grefenstette,6, ∗∗ Brandon M. Roach,1, yy and Melania Nynka7, zz 1Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA 2Physical Sciences, Barry University, 11300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Shores, Florida 33161, USA 3INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico d'Abruzzo, 64100 Teramo, Italy 4Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica \Michelangelo Merlin", Via Amendola 173, 70126 Bari, Italy 5Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare - Sezione di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy 6Cahill Center for Astrophysics, 1216 E. California Blvd, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA 7MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA (Dated: January 26, 2021) We use the first observation of Betelgeuse in hard X-rays to perform a novel search for axion-like particles (ALPs). Betelgeuse is not expected to be a standard source of X-rays, but light ALPs produced in the stellar core could be converted back into photons in the Galactic magnetic field, producing a detectable flux that peaks in the hard X-ray band (Eγ > 10 keV). Using a 50 ks obser- vation of Betelgeuse by the NuSTAR satellite telescope, we find no significant excess of events above the expected background. Using models of the regular Galactic magnetic field in the direction of −11 Betelgeuse, we set a 95% C.L. upper limit on the ALP-photon coupling of gaγ < (0:5 − 1:8) × 10 −1 −11 GeV (depending on magnetic field model) for ALP masses ma < (5:5 − 3:5) × 10 eV. -
Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)
Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) www.nasa.gov Interstellar Boundary Explorer Mission Overview IBEX was built in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratories, Lockheed IBEX is a NASA-funded Small Explorer satellite mission that creates the first maps of Martin Advanced Technology Center, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Johns Hopkins the boundary of the Solar System from an orbit around Earth. The acronym IBEX University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, the University of New Hampshire, Boston stands for Interstellar Boundary Explorer. University, and the University of Bern in Switzerland. IBEX’s Education and Public Outreach efforts are led by Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL. The invisible boundary of our solar system is created by the interaction between particles from the Sun that are streaming outward, called the solar wind, and material between Educational Activity the stars, called the interstellar medium (ISM). The solar wind streams out into space and carves out a protective bubble, called the heliosphere, in the ISM around our Solar How far is IBEX from the Earth? How far is the Moon from Earth? System. When the solar wind and ISM meet, their interactions make energetic neutral Grab a ball – any ball will do! This will be the Earth. How far do you think the Moon atoms (ENAs), which are particles with no charge that move very fast. Although ENAs is from the Earth? On this scale, how far would a model of the Moon be from your leave the boundary in all directions, some travel back towards Earth and can be collected model of the Earth? Make some guesses, and ask others with you to guess, too. -
Interstellar Heliospheric Probe/Heliospheric Boundary Explorer Mission—A Mission to the Outermost Boundaries of the Solar System
Exp Astron (2009) 24:9–46 DOI 10.1007/s10686-008-9134-5 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Interstellar heliospheric probe/heliospheric boundary explorer mission—a mission to the outermost boundaries of the solar system Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber · Ralph McNutt · Nathan A. Schwadron · Priscilla C. Frisch · Mike Gruntman · Peter Wurz · Eino Valtonen · The IHP/HEX Team Received: 29 November 2007 / Accepted: 11 December 2008 / Published online: 10 March 2009 © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009 Abstract The Sun, driving a supersonic solar wind, cuts out of the local interstellar medium a giant plasma bubble, the heliosphere. ESA, jointly with NASA, has had an important role in the development of our current under- standing of the Suns immediate neighborhood. Ulysses is the only spacecraft exploring the third, out-of-ecliptic dimension, while SOHO has allowed us to better understand the influence of the Sun and to image the glow of The IHP/HEX Team. See list at end of paper. R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber (B) Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstr. 11, 24098 Kiel, Germany e-mail: [email protected] R. McNutt Applied Physics Laboratory, John’s Hopkins University, Laurel, MD, USA N. A. Schwadron Department of Astronomy, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA P. C. Frisch University of Chicago, Chicago, USA M. Gruntman University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA P. Wurz Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland E. Valtonen University of Turku, Turku, Finland 10 Exp Astron (2009) 24:9–46 interstellar matter in the heliosphere. Voyager 1 has recently encountered the innermost boundary of this plasma bubble, the termination shock, and is returning exciting yet puzzling data of this remote region. -
Extension of Upper Limit Servers and Spectral Analysis of the X-Ray Binary GRO J1744−28
Extension of Upper Limit Servers and spectral analysis of the X-ray binary GRO J1744−28 Master's Thesis in Physics Presented by Ole K¨onig Wednesday 31st July, 2019 Dr. Karl Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP Friedrich-Alexander-Universit¨atErlangen-N¨urnberg Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J¨ornWilms Abstract This thesis is about applications in the field of X-ray astronomy. It is divided into a software development and data analysis part. The Upper Limit Servers allow the user to generate long-term lightcurves of X-ray sources. They combine historical data and calculate upper limits in real-time. A web-based front- end provides facile querying, plotting and downloading of the data. They utilize data from 12 satellites including current observatories such as XMM-Newton, back to ROSAT, Einstein, Ariel V and Uhuru. This enables the user to query 50 years of X-ray data and, for instance, study outburst behavior of transient sources. Part I of this thesis describes the software layout, database format, as well as nine X-ray missions, which I implemented. In particular, the implementation of catalog calls, image footprints, point spread functions, and vignetting is described. The count rate is converted to a flux by approximating the spectral shape with an absorbed power-law or black body. In order to outline possible applications of this software, I interpret four lightcurves. In the second part, the spectral analysis of the low-mass X-ray binary GRO J1744−28 is presented. The ∼29 ks data was taken with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in 2017 February, during the source's fourth reactivation phase after three years of quiescence.