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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Magnetic Inhibition Of Convection And The Fundamental Properties Of Low-Mass Stars. I. Stars With A Radiative Core, Gregory A. Feiden, Brian Chaboyer Dec 2013

Magnetic Inhibition Of Convection And The Fundamental Properties Of Low-Mass Stars. I. Stars With A Radiative Core, Gregory A. Feiden, Brian Chaboyer

Dartmouth Scholarship

Magnetic fields are hypothesized to inflate the radii of low-mass stars—defined as less massive than 0.8 M —in detached eclipsing binaries (DEBs). We investigate this hypothesis using the recently introduced magnetic Dartmouth stellar evolution code. In particular, we focus on stars thought to have a radiative core and convective outer envelope by studying in detail three individual DEBs: UV Psc, YY Gem, and CU Cnc. Our results suggest that the stabilization of thermal convection by a magnetic field is a plausible explanation for the observed model-radius discrepancies. However, surface magnetic field strengths required by the models are significantly stronger …


Veritas Observations Of The Microquasar Cygnus X-3, P. T. Reynolds, Et Al Dec 2013

Veritas Observations Of The Microquasar Cygnus X-3, P. T. Reynolds, Et Al

Physical Sciences Publications

We report results from TeV gamma-ray observations of the microquasar Cygnus X-3. The observations were made with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) over a time period from 2007 June 11 to 2011 November 28. VERITAS is most sensitive to gamma rays at energies between 85 GeV and 30 TeV. The effective exposure time amounts to a total of about 44 hr, with the observations covering six distinct radio/X-ray states of the object. No significant TeV gamma-ray emission was detected in any of the states, nor with all observations combined. The lack of a positive signal, especially …


Broad Iron Lines In Neutrons Stars: Dynamical Broadening Or Wind Scattering?, E. M. Cackett, Jon M. Miller Nov 2013

Broad Iron Lines In Neutrons Stars: Dynamical Broadening Or Wind Scattering?, E. M. Cackett, Jon M. Miller

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

Broad iron emission lines are observed in many accreting systems from black holes in active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries to neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries. The origin of the line broadening is often interpreted as due to dynamical broadening and relativistic effects. However, alternative interpretations have been proposed, included broadening due to Compton scattering in a wind or accretion disk atmosphere. Here we explore the observational signatures expected from broadening in a wind, in particular that the iron line width should increase with an increase in the column density of the absorber (due to an increase in the number …


0112+1703_Nir_Gnirs, Michael C. Liu Nov 2013

0112+1703_Nir_Gnirs, Michael C. Liu

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.


2114-2251_Nir_Gnirs, Michael C. Liu Nov 2013

2114-2251_Nir_Gnirs, Michael C. Liu

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.


A Change In The Quiescent X-Ray Spectrum Of The Neutron Star Low-Mass X-Ray Binary Mxb 1659-29, E. M. Cackett, E. F. Brown, A. Cumming, N. Degenaar, J. K. Fridriksson, J. Homan, J. M. Miller, R. Wijnands Sep 2013

A Change In The Quiescent X-Ray Spectrum Of The Neutron Star Low-Mass X-Ray Binary Mxb 1659-29, E. M. Cackett, E. F. Brown, A. Cumming, N. Degenaar, J. K. Fridriksson, J. Homan, J. M. Miller, R. Wijnands

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

The quasi-persistent neutron star low-mass X-ray binary MXB 1659-29 went into quiescence in 2001, and we have followed its quiescent X-ray evolution since. Observations over the first 4 yr showed a rapid drop in flux and temperature of the neutron star atmosphere, interpreted as cooling of the neutron star crust which had been heated during the 2.5 yr outburst. However, observations taken approximately 1400 and 2400 days into quiescence were consistent with each other, suggesting the crust had reached thermal equilibrium with the core. Here we present a new Chandra observation of MXB 1659-29 taken 11 yr into quiescence and …


Continued Neutron Star Crust Cooling Of The 11 Hz X-Ray Pulsar In Terzan 5: A Challenge To Heating And Cooling Models?, N. Degenaar, R. Wijnands, E. F. Brown, D. Altamirano, E. M. Cackett, J. Fridriksson, J. Homan, C. O. Heinke, J. M. Miller, D. Pooley, G. R. Sivakoff Sep 2013

Continued Neutron Star Crust Cooling Of The 11 Hz X-Ray Pulsar In Terzan 5: A Challenge To Heating And Cooling Models?, N. Degenaar, R. Wijnands, E. F. Brown, D. Altamirano, E. M. Cackett, J. Fridriksson, J. Homan, C. O. Heinke, J. M. Miller, D. Pooley, G. R. Sivakoff

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

The transient neutron star low-mass X-ray binary and 11 Hz X-ray pulsar IGR J17480-2446 in the globular cluster Terzan 5 exhibited an 11 week accretion outburst in 2010. Chandra observations performed within five months after the end of the outburst revealed evidence that the crust of the neutron star became substantially heated during the accretion episode and was subsequently cooling in quiescence. This provides the rare opportunity to probe the structure and composition of the crust. Here, we report on new Chandra observations of Terzan 5 that extend the monitoring to sime2.2 yr into quiescence. We find that the thermal …


An X-Ray-Uv Correlation In Cen X-4 During Quiescence, E. M. Cackett, E. F. Brown, N. Degenaar, J. M. Miller, M. Reynolds, R. Wijnands Aug 2013

An X-Ray-Uv Correlation In Cen X-4 During Quiescence, E. M. Cackett, E. F. Brown, N. Degenaar, J. M. Miller, M. Reynolds, R. Wijnands

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

Quiescent emission from the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary Cen X-4 is seen to be variable on time-scales from hundreds of seconds to years, suggesting that at least in this object, low-level accretion is important during quiescence. Here, we present results from recent XMM-Newton and Swift observations of Cen X-4, where the X-ray flux (0.5-10 keV) varies by a factor of 6.5 between the brightest and faintest states. We find a positive correlation between the X-ray flux and the simultaneous near-ultraviolet (UV) flux, where as there is no significant correlation between the X-ray and simultaneous optical (V, B) fluxes. This …


The Magnesium Isotopologues Of Mgh In The A2Π-X 2Σ+ System, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Lloyd Wallace, Ram S. Ram, Peter F. Bernath, Christopher Sneden, Sara Lucatello Aug 2013

The Magnesium Isotopologues Of Mgh In The A2Π-X 2Σ+ System, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Lloyd Wallace, Ram S. Ram, Peter F. Bernath, Christopher Sneden, Sara Lucatello

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Using laboratory hollow cathode spectra we have identified lines of the less common magnesium isotopologues of MgH, 25MgH and 26MgH, in the A2Π-X2Σ+ system. Based on the previous analysis of 24MgH, molecular lines have been measured and molecular constants derived for 25MgH and 26MgH. Term values and linelists, in both wavenumber and wavelength units, are presented. The A2Π-X2Σ+ system of MgH is important for measuring the magnesium isotope ratios in stars. Examples of analysis using the new linelists to derive the Mg isotope ratio in …


Orbital, Superhump And Superorbital Periods In The Cataclysmic Variables Aq Mensae And Im Eridani, E. Armstrong, J. Patterson, E. Michelsen, John Thorstensen Jul 2013

Orbital, Superhump And Superorbital Periods In The Cataclysmic Variables Aq Mensae And Im Eridani, E. Armstrong, J. Patterson, E. Michelsen, John Thorstensen

Dartmouth Scholarship

We report photometric detections of orbital and superorbital signals, and negative orbital sidebands, in the light curves of the nova-like cataclysmic variables AQ Mensae and IM Eridani. The frequencies of the orbital, superorbital, and sideband signals are 7.0686 (3), 0.263 (3), and 7.332 (3) cycles per day (c/d) in AQ Mensae, and 6.870 (1), 0.354 (7), and 7.226 (1) c/d in IM Eridani. We also find a spectroscopic orbital frequency in IM Eridani of 6.86649 (2) c/d. These observations can be reproduced by invoking an accretion disc that is tilted with respect to the orbital plane. This model works well …


A Report On The X-Ray Properties Of The Τ Sco Class Of Stars., Richard Ignace, L. Oskinova, D. Massa Feb 2013

A Report On The X-Ray Properties Of The Τ Sco Class Of Stars., Richard Ignace, L. Oskinova, D. Massa

ETSU Faculty Works

An increasing number of OB stars have been shown to possess magnetic fields. Although the sample remains small, it is surprising that the magnetic and X-ray properties of these stars appear to be far less correlated than expected. This contradicts model predictions, which generally indicate that the X-rays from magnetic stars are harder and more luminous than their non-magnetic counterparts. Instead, the X-ray properties of magnetic OB stars are quite diverse. τ Sco is one example where the expectations are better met. This bright main-sequence, early B star has been studied extensively in a variety of wavebands. It has a …


Constellation: Perseus, Marci Holman Jan 2013

Constellation: Perseus, Marci Holman

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

Using the constellation Perseus, the purpose of this project was to gain insight on how information is gathered about stars and what purpose that information serves. This is a project for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College.