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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Astrophysics and Astronomy

Swarthmore College

2002

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Analysis Of Doppler-Broadened X-Ray Emission Line Profiles From Hot Stars, David H. Cohen, Roban Hultman Kramer , '03, S. P. Owocki Dec 2002

Analysis Of Doppler-Broadened X-Ray Emission Line Profiles From Hot Stars, David H. Cohen, Roban Hultman Kramer , '03, S. P. Owocki

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We show how X-ray emission arising within an accelerating, expanding medium that also contains a source of continuum absorption generates line profiles of a characteristic shape. A simple, spherical wind model based on this picture provides good fits to the Chandra HETGS spectrum of the prototypical O star, Zeta Pup. We discuss the model, the fitting procedure and the determination of confidence limits on the model parameters, and our initial results for this star. The derived fit parameters are consistent with a generic wind-shock scenario for Zeta Pup, but there are several surprising aspects of the results, including a lower-than-expected …


New Challenges For Wind Shock Models: The Chandra Spectrum Of The Hot Star Delta Orionis, N. A. Miller, J. P. Cassinelli, W. L. Waldron, J. J. Macfarlane, David H. Cohen Oct 2002

New Challenges For Wind Shock Models: The Chandra Spectrum Of The Hot Star Delta Orionis, N. A. Miller, J. P. Cassinelli, W. L. Waldron, J. J. Macfarlane, David H. Cohen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

The Chandra spectrum of delta Ori A shows emission lines from hydrogen- and helium-like states of Si, Mg, Ne, and O, along with N VII Lyalpha and lines from ions in the range Fe XVII-Fe XXI In contrast to the broad lines seen in zeta Pup and zeta Ori (850 +/- 40 and 1000 +/- 240 km s(-1) half-width at half-maximum [HWHM], respectively), these lines are broadened to only 430 +/- 60 km s(-1) HWHM. This is much lower than the measured wind terminal velocity of 2000 km s(-1). The forbidden, intercombination, and resonance (fir) lines from He-like ions indicate …


Radiation Science Using Z-Pinch X-Rays, J. E. Bailey, G. A. Chandler, David H. Cohen, M. E. Cuneo, M. E. Foord, R. F. Heeter, D. Jobe, P. W. Lake, J. J. Macfarlane, T. J. Nash, D. S. Nielson, R. Smelser, J. Torres May 2002

Radiation Science Using Z-Pinch X-Rays, J. E. Bailey, G. A. Chandler, David H. Cohen, M. E. Cuneo, M. E. Foord, R. F. Heeter, D. Jobe, P. W. Lake, J. J. Macfarlane, T. J. Nash, D. S. Nielson, R. Smelser, J. Torres

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

Present-day Z-pinch experiments generate 200 TW peak power, 5–10 ns duration x-ray bursts that provide new possibilities to advance radiation science. The experiments support both the underlying atomic and plasma physics, as well as inertial confinement fusion and astrophysics applications. A typical configuration consists of a sample located 1–10 cm away from the pinch, where it is heated to 10–100 eV temperatures by the pinch radiation. The spectrally-resolved sample-plasma absorption is measured by aiming x-ray spectrographs through the sample at the pinch. The pinch plasma thus both heats the sample and serves as a backlighter. Opacitymeasurements with this source are …


Mass-Loss And Magnetospheres: X-Rays From Hot Stars And Young Stellar Objects, M. Gagné, David H. Cohen, S. P. Owocki, A. Ud-Doula Jan 2002

Mass-Loss And Magnetospheres: X-Rays From Hot Stars And Young Stellar Objects, M. Gagné, David H. Cohen, S. P. Owocki, A. Ud-Doula

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

High-resolution X-ray spectra of high-mass stars and low-mass T-Tauri stars obtained during the first year of the Chandra mission are providing important clues about the mechanisms which produce X-rays on very young stars. For zeta Puppis (O4 If) and zeta Ori (O9.5 I), the broad, blue-shifted line profiles, line ratios, and derived temperature distribution suggest that the X-rays are produced throughout the wind via instability-driven wind shocks. For some less luminous OB stars, like theta^1 Ori C (O7 V) and tau Sco (B0 V), the line profiles are symmetric and narrower. The presence of time-variable emission and very high-temperature lines …