Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

X-Ray Microcalorimeter Observations Of High-Mass X-Ray Binaries With The Resolve Instrument Onboard Xrism, Pragati Pradhan, Masahiro Tsujimoto

Publications

The X-ray Imaging and Spectrometer Mission (XRISM) was put into orbit successfully in September 2023. Resolve, one of the scientific instruments onboard XRISM, hosts an X-ray spectrometer based on X-ray microcalorimetery technology. It excels in high spectral resolution, a large throughput, a large bandpass, low background, and good timing accuracy. These properties are suited to bring new insights especially in high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXB). We describe these unique features of Resolve and present initial highlights of two HMXB sources.

The Giant Outburst Of Exo 2030+375, P. Thalhammer, R. Ballhausen, E. Sokolova-Lapa, J. Stierhof, A. Zainab, R. Staubert, K. Pottschmidt, J.B. Coley, R.E. Rothschild, G.K. Jaisawal, B. West, P.A. Becker, Pragati Pradhan, P. Kretschmar, J. Wilms

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The Be X-ray binary EXO 2030+375 went through its third recorded giant outburst from June 2021 to early 2022. We present the results of both spectral and timing analysis based on NICER monitoring, covering the 2−10 keV flux range from 20 to 310 mCrab. Dense monitoring with observations carried out about every second day and a total exposure time of ∼160 ks allowed us to closely track the source evolution over the outburst. Changes in the spectral shape and pulse profiles showed a stable luminosity dependence during the rise and decline. The same type of dependence has been seen in …

The Unaltered Pulsar: Gro J1750-27, A Supercritical X-Ray Neutron Star That Does Not Blink An Eye, C. M. Malacaria, L. Moritz Ducci, M. Falanga, D. A. Altamirano, E. Bozzo, S. J. Guillot, G.K. Jaisawal, P. Kretschmar, M. Ng, Pragati Pradhan, R. Rothschild, A. Sanna, P. Thalhammer, J. Wilms

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When accreting X-ray pulsars (XRPs) undergo bright X-ray outbursts, their luminosity-dependent spectral and timing features can be analyzed in detail. The XRP GRO J1750-27 recently underwent one such episode, during which it was observed with NuSTAR and monitored with NICER. Such a data set is rarely available, as it samples the outburst over more than 1 month at a luminosity that is always exceeding ∼5 × 1037 erg s−1 . This value is larger than the typical critical luminosity value, where a radiative shock is formed above the surface of the neutron star. Our data analysis of the joint spectra …

Multi-Wavelength Study Of 1erass J085039.9−421151 With Erosita, Nustar, And X-Shooter, A. Zainab, A. Avakyan, V. Doroshenko, P. Thalhammer, E. Sokolova-Lapa, R. Ballhausen, N. Zalot, J. Stierhof, S. Hämmerich, C. M. Diez, P. Weber, T. Dauser, K. Berger, P. Kretschmar, K. Pottschmidt, Pragati Pradhan, N. Islam, C. Maitra, J.B. Coley, P. Blay, R.H.D. Corbet, R.E. Rothschild, K. Wood, A. Santangelo, U. Heber, J. Wilms

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The eROSITA instrument on board Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) has completed four scans of the X-ray sky, leading to the detection of almost one million X-ray sources in eRASS1 alone, including multiple new X-ray binary candidates. We report on analysis of the X-ray binary 1eRASS J085039.9−421151, using a ∼55 ks long NuSTAR observation, following its detection in each eROSITA scan. An analysis of the eROSITA and NuSTAR X-ray spectra in combination with X-shooter data of the optical counterpart provide evidence of an X-ray binary with a red supergiant (RSG) companion, confirming previous results. However, we did determine a cooler spectral type for …

Stable Coronal X-Ray Emission Over 20 Yr Of Xz Tau, Steven M. Silverberg, Hans Moritz Günther, Pragati Pradhan, David A. Principe, P.C. Schneider, Scott J. Wolk

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XZ Tau AB is a frequently observed binary young stellar object in the Taurus Molecular Cloud; XZ Tau B has been classified as an EXOr object. We present new Chandra/HETG-ACIS-S observations of XZ Tau AB, complemented with variability monitoring of the system with XMM-Newton, to constrain the variability of this system and identify high-resolution line diagnostics to better understand the underlying mechanisms that produce the X-rays. We observe two flares with XMM-Newton but find that outside of these flares the coronal X-ray spectrum of XZ Tau AB is consistent over 20 yr of observations. We compare the ensemble of XZ …

A Search For Subdwarf B Binaries Using Pulsation Timing From Tess, Tomomi Otani, Andrzej S. Baran, Lindsay C. Spence, Ted A. Von Hippel, Ellesse A. Lynum-Lozano, Julia M. Clark

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Hot subdwarf B (sdB) stars are post-main-sequence stars of high temperature and gravity. Approximately 30% of sdBs exhibit stable pressure and/or gravity-mode pulsations, which can be used via the timing method to test for companion stars and determine their orbital solutions. We used short cadence data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to search for previously undiscovered companions to sdBs. In this paper, we focus on searching for companions with orbital periods shorter than 13.5 days which are detectable within one sector of TESS data (about 27 days). The timing method requires that we derive pulsation frequencies in subsets …

Rapid Mid-Infrared Spectral Timing With Jwst: Grs 1915+105 During An Mir-Bright And X-Ray-Obscured State, P. Gandhi, E.S. Borowski, J. Byrom, R.I. Hynes, T.J. Maccarone, A.W. Shaw, O.K. Adegoke, D. Altamirano, M.C. Baglio, Y. Bhargava, C.T. Britt, D.A.H. Buckley, D.J.K. Buisson, P. Casella, N. Castro Segura, P.A. Charles, J.M. Corral-Santana, V.S. Dhillon, R. Fender, A. Gurpide, C.O. Heinke, A.B. Igl, C. Knigge, S. Markoff, G. Mastroserio, M.L. Mccollough, M. Middleton, J.M. Miller, J.C.A. Miller-Jones, S.E. Motta, J.A. Paice, D.D. Pawar, R.M. Plotkin, P. Pradhan, M.E. Ressler, D.M. Russell, T.D. Russell, P. Santos-Sanz, T. Shahbaz, T. Shahbaz, G.R. Sivakoff, D. Steeghs, A.J. Tetarenko, J.A. Tomsick, F.M. Vincentelli, M. George, M. Gurwell, R. Rao

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No abstract provided.

A Time-Dependent Spectral Analysis Of Γ Cassiopeiae, Sean J. Gunderson, David P. Huenemoerder, José M. Torrejón, Dustin K. Swarm, Joy S. Nichols, Pragati Pradhan, Richard Ignace, Hans Moritz Guenther, A.M.T. Pollock, Norbert S. Schulz

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We investigated the temporal and spectral features of γ Cassiopeiae’s X-ray emission within the context of the white dwarf (WD) accretion hypothesis. We find that the variabilities present in the X-ray data show two different signals, one primarily due to absorption and the other due to flickering like in nonmagnetic cataclysmic variables. We then use this two-component insight to investigate previously unreported simultaneous XMM and NuSTAR data. The results of model fitting find WD properties consistent with optical studies alongside a significant secondary, thermal source. We propose a secondary shock between the Be decretion disk and WD accretion disk as …

Pulse-Profile Modeling And Spin–Orbit Alignment In A Suzaku Sample Of Accreting X-Ray Binary Pulsars, Silas G.T. Laycock, Rigel C. Cappallo, Pragati Pradhan, Dimitris M. Christodoulou, Biswajit Paul

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We report pulse-profile modeling of a sample of 23 X-ray binary pulsars observed with the Suzaku X-ray satellite. These pulsars have spin periods ranging from 0.7 to 9400 s, and their X-ray emission is powered by the accretion from their stellar companions. We fitted each individual pulse profile with the Polestar geometric model, which accounts for X-ray emission from two hot spots modeled as a simple combination of fan+pencil beam components, including an approximation for gravitational light bending. In 14 of 21 cases, our measurements of the inclinations of the pulsar spin axes broadly agree with the corresponding inclinations of …

Detection Of The Orbital Modulation Of Fe Kα Fluorescence Emission In Centaurus X-3 Using The High-Resolution Spectrometer Resolve On Board Xrism, Yuto Mochizuki, Masahiro Tsujimoto, Richard L. Kelley, Bert Vander Meulen, Teruaki Enoto, Yutaro Nagai, Chris Done, Pragati Pradhan, Natalie Hell, Katja Pottschmidt, Ken Ebisawa, Ehud Behar

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The Fe Kα fluorescence line emission in X-ray spectra is a powerful diagnostic tool for various astrophysical objects to reveal the distribution of cold matter around photoionizing sources. The advent of the X-ray microcalorimeter on board the XRISM satellite will bring new constraints on the emission line. We present one of the first such results for the high-mass X-ray binary Centaurus X-3, which is composed of an O-type star and a neutron star (NS). We conducted a 155 ks observation covering an entire binary orbit. A weak Fe Kα line was detected in all orbital phases at an equivalent width …

Legal And Ethical Considerations For Balancing Space Innovation And Dark Sky Preservation, Sara M. Langston, Kayla D. Taylor

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The proliferation of satellites in Earth’s orbit has significantly enhanced capabilities in communication, Earth observation, and scientific research. However, this rapid expansion presents considerable legal and ethical challenges, particularly regarding the preservation of dark and quiet skies. As low Earth orbit becomes increasingly congested, the implications for astronomical observation, environmental integrity, and cultural heritage require critical examination.

This presentation provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the legal, practical and ethical considerations essential for preserving dark and quiet skies. It begins by exploring the legal frameworks governing the use of space, highlighting relevant international treaties, national responsibilities, and emerging issues aimed at …

Sharp Periodic Flares And Long-Term Variability In The High-Mass X-Ray Binary Xte J1829−098 From Rxte Pca, Swift Bat, And Maxi Observations, Robin H.D. Corbet, Ralf Ballhausen, Peter A. Becker, Joel B. Coley, Felix Fuerst, Keith C. Gendreau, Sebastien Guillot, Nazma Islam, Gaurava Kumar Jaisawal, Peter Jenke, Peter Kretschmar, Alexander Lange, Christian Malacaria, Mason Ng, Katja Pottschmidt, Pragati Pradhan, Paul S. Ray, Richard E. Rothschild, Philipp Thalhammer, Lee J. Townsend, Joern Wilms, Colleen A. Wilson-Hodge, Michael T. Wolff

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XTE J1829−098 is a transient X-ray pulsar with a period of ∼7.8 s. It is a candidate Be star system, although the evidence for this is not yet definitive. We investigated the twenty-year-long X-ray light curve using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array (PCA), Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Burst Alert Telescope, and the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image. We find that all three light curves are clearly modulated on the ∼244 days orbital period previously reported from PCA monitoring observations, with outbursts confined to a narrow phase range. The light curves also show that XTE J1829−098 was in …

Prospects For Time-Domain And Multi-Messenger Science With Axis, Riccardo Arcodia, Franz E. Bauer, S. Bradley Cenko, Kristen C. Dage, Daryl Haggard, Wynn C.G. Ho, Erin Kara, Michael Koss, Tingting Liu, Labani Mallick, Michela Negro, Pragati Pradhan, J. Quirola-Vásquez, Mark T. Reynolds, Claudio Ricci, Richard E. Rothschild, Navin Sridhar, Eleonora Troja, Yuhan Yao

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The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) promises revolutionary science in the X-ray and multi-messenger time domain. AXIS will leverage excellent spatial resolution (< 1.5 arcsec), sensitivity (80× that of Swift), and a large collecting area (5–10× that of Chandra) across a 24-arcmin diameter field of view at soft X-ray energies (0.3–10.0 keV) to discover and characterize a wide range of X-ray transients from supernova-shock breakouts to tidal disruption events to highly variable supermassive black holes. The observatory’s ability to localize and monitor faint X-ray sources opens up new opportunities to hunt for counterparts to distant binary neutron star mergers, fast radio bursts, and exotic phenomena like fast X-ray transients. AXIS will offer a response time of < 2 h to community alerts, enabling studies of gravitational wave sources, high-energy neutrino emitters, X-ray binaries, magnetars, and other targets of opportunity. This white paper highlights some of the discovery science that will be driven by AXIS in this burgeoning field of time domain and multi-messenger astrophysics. This White Paper is part of a series commissioned for the AXIS Probe Concept Mission; additional AXIS White Papers can be found at the AXIS website.

An In-Depth Analysis Of The Variable Cyclotron Lines In Gx 301−2, Nicolas Zalot, Ekaterina Sokolova-Lapa, Jakob Stierhof, Ralf Ballhausen, Aafia Zainab, Katja Pottschmidt, Felix Fürst, Philipp Thalhammer, Nazma Islam, Camille M. Diez, Peter Kretschmar, Katrin Berger, Richard Rothschild, Christian Malacaria, Pragati Pradhan, Jörn Wilms

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Context. The high-mass X-ray binary system GX 301−2 is a persistent source with a well-known variable cyclotron line centered at 35 keV. Recently, a second cyclotron line at 50 keV has been reported with a presumably different behavior than the 35 keV line. Aims. We investigate the presence of the newly discovered cyclotron line in the phase-averaged and phase-resolved spectra at higher luminosities than before. We further aim to determine the pulse-phase variability of both lines.

Methods. We analyze a NuSTAR observation of GX 301−2 covering the pre-periastron flare, where the source luminosity reached its peak of ∼4×1037 …

Chandra Hetg X-Ray Spectra And Variability Of Π Aqr, A Γ Cas-Type Be Star, David P. Huenemoerder, Pragati Pradhan, Claude R. Canizares, Sean Gunderson, Richard Ignace, Joy S. Nichols, A.M.T. Pollock, Norbert S. Schulz, Dustin K. Swarm, José M. Torrejón

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High-resolution X-ray spectra of π Aqr, a γ Cas-type star, obtained with the Chandra/HETG spectrometer, revealed emission lines of H-like ions of Mg, Si, S, and Fe; a strong, hard continuum; and a lack of He-like ions, indicating the presence of very hot thermal plasma. The X-ray light curve showed significant fluctuations, with coherent variability at a period of about 3400 s in one observation. The hardness ratio was relatively constant except for one observation in which the spectrum was much harder and more absorbed. We interpret the X-ray emission as arising from accretion onto the secondary, which is likely …

Energy Dependence Of Quasi-Periodic Oscillations In Accreting X-Ray Pulsars, Hemanth Manikantan, Biswajit Paul, Rahul Sharma, Pragati Pradhan, Vikram Rana

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We present the results from an investigation of the energy dependence of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) exhibited by accreting X-ray pulsars using data from archival XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, RXTE, and NICER observations. In a search for the presence of QPOs in 99 XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations, we detected QPOs in eleven observations of five sources, viz., 4U 1626–67 (48 mHz), IGR J19294+1816 (30 mHz), V 0332+53 (2, 18, and 40 mHz), Cen X–3 (30 mHz), and XTE J1858+034 (180 mHz). A positive correlation of the QPO rms amplitude with energy is exhibited by 4U 1626–67, IGR J19294+1816, Cen X–3 and XTE J1858+034, …

Density And Magnetic Field Asymmetric Kelvin‐Helmholtz Instability, Xuanye Ma, Peter Delamere, Katariina Nykyri, Antonius Otto, Stefan Eriksson, Lihui Chai, Brandon Burkholder, Andrew Dimmock, Yu-Lun Liou, Shiva Kavosi

Publications

The Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) instability can transport mass, momentum, magnetic flux, and energy between the magnetosheath and magnetosphere, which plays an important role in the solar‐wind‐ magnetosphere coupling process for different planets. Meanwhile, strong density and magnetic field asymmetry are often present between the magnetosheath (MSH) and magnetosphere (MSP), which could affect the transport processes driven by the KH instability. Our magnetohydrodynamics simulation shows that the KH growth rate is insensitive to the density ratio between the MSP and the MSH in the compressible regime, which is different than the prediction from linear incompressible theory. When the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) …

Observed Epochal Variations In X-Ray Lines From The O Supergiant Ζ Puppis Do Not Require Substantial Changes In The Wind Mass Flux, Sean J. Gunderson, Kenneth G. Gayley, David P. Huenemoerder, Pragati Pradhan, Nathan A. Miller

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We fit the high-resolution Chandra X-ray spectra of the O supergiant ζ Puppis using the variable boundary condition (VBC) line model to test the stability of its mass-loss rate between two epochs of observation: 2000 March and 2018 July – 2019 August. At issue is whether the observed variations are induced by global changes in the cool (unshocked) wind itself or are isolated to the local pockets of hot gas (i.e. changes in the frequency and location of the shocks). Evidence in the literature favoured the possibility of a 40 per cent increase in the mass flux of the entire …

The High Energy X-Ray Probe (Hex-P): A New Window Into Neutron Star Accretion, R.M. Ludlam, C. Malacaria, E. Sokolova-Lapa, F. Fuerst, P. Pradhan, A.W. Shaw, K. Pottschmidt, S. Pike, G. Vasilopoulos, J. Wilms, J.A. Garcia, K. Madsen, D. Stern, C. Maitra, M. Del Santo, D.J. Walton, M.C. Brumback, J. Van Den Eijnden

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Accreting neutron stars (NSs) represent a unique laboratory for probing the physics of accretion in the presence of strong magnetic fields (B ≳ 10⁸ G). Additionally, the matter inside the NS itself exists in an ultra-dense, cold state that cannot be reproduced in Earth-based laboratories. Hence, observational studies of these objects are a way to probe the most extreme physical regimes. Here we present an overview of the field and discuss the most important outstanding problems related to NS accretion. We show how these open questions regarding accreting NSs in both low-mass and high-mass X-ray binary systems can …

The Life Cycle Of Stars And Their Planets From The High Energy Perspective, Lia Corrales, Keivan G. Stassun, Tim Cunningham, Girish M. Duvvuri, Jeremy J. Drake, Catherine Espaillat, Adina D. Feinstein, Elena Gallo, Hans Moritz Günther, George W. King, Marina Kounkel, Carey M. Lisse, Rodolfo Montez Jr., David A. Principe, Jesús A. Toalá, Scott J. Wolk, Raven Cilley, Tansu Daylan, Margarita Karovska, Pragati Pradhan, Peter J. Wheatley, Jun Yang

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One of the key research themes identified by the Astro2020 decadal survey is Worlds and Suns in Context. The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) is a proposed NASA APEX mission that will become the prime high-energy instrument for studying star-planet connections from birth to death. This work explores the major advances in this broad domain of research that will be enabled by the AXIS mission, through X-ray observations of stars in clusters spanning a broad range of ages, flaring M-dwarf stars known to host exoplanets, and young stars exhibiting accretion interactions with their protoplanetary disks. In addition, we explore the …

The Gbt Diffuse Ionized Gas Survey (Gdigs): Discrete Sources, Dylan J. Linville, Matteo Luisi, Bin Liu, T. M. Bania, Dana S. Balser, Trey V. Wenger, L. M. Haffner

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The Green Bank Telescope (GBT) Diffuse Ionized Gas Survey (GDIGS) traces ionized gas in the Galactic midplane by observing radio recombination line (RRL) emission from 4–8 GHz. The nominal survey zone is 32.3◦ > ℓ > −5◦, | b | < 0.5◦. Here, we analyze GDIGS Hnα ionized gas emission toward discrete sources. Using GDIGS data, we identify the velocity of 35 H II regions that have multiple detected RRL velocity components. We identify and characterize RRL emission from 88 H II regions that previously lacked measured ionized gas velocities. We also identify and characterize RRL emission from eight locations that appear to be previously-unidentified H II regions and 30 locations of RRL emission that do not appear to be H II regions based on their lack of mid-infrared emission. This latter group may be a compact component of the Galactic Diffuse Ionized Gas (DIG). There are an additional 10 discrete sources that have anomalously high RRL velocities for their locations in the Galactic plane. We compare these objects’ RRL data to 13CO, H I and mid-infrared data, and find that these sources do not have the expected 24 µm emission characteristic of H II regions. Based on this comparison we do not think these objects are H II regions, but we are unable to classify them as a known type of object.

The Rs Oph Outburst Of 2021 Monitored In X-Rays With Nicer, Marina Orio, Keith Gendreau, Morgan Giese, Gerardo Jaun M. Luna, Jozef Magdolen, Tod E. Strohmayer, Andy E. Zhang, Diego Altamirano, Andrej Dobrotka, Teruaki Enoto, Elizabeth C. Ferrara, Richard Ignace, Sebastian Heinz, Craig Markwardt, Joy S. Nichols, Michael L. Parker, Dheeraj R. Pasham, Songpeng Pei, Pragati Pradhan, Ron Remillard, James F. Steiner, Francesco Tombesi

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The 2021 outburst of the symbiotic recurrent nova RS Oph was monitored with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer Mission (NICER) in the 0.2–12 keV range from day one after the optical maximum, until day 88, producing an unprecedented, detailed view of the outburst development. The X-ray flux preceding the supersoft X-ray phase peaked almost 5 days after optical maximum and originated only in shocked ejecta for 21–25 days. The emission was thermal; in the first 5 days, only a non-collisional-ionization equilibrium model fits the spectrum, and a transition to equilibrium occurred between days 6 and 12. The ratio of …

Survey Of X-Rays From Massive Stars Observed At High Spectral Resolution With Chandra, Pragati Pradhan, David P. Huenemoerder, Richard Ignace, Joy S. Nichols, A.M.T. Pollock

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Identifying trends between observational data and the range of physical parameters of massive stars is a critical step to the still-elusive full understanding of the source, structure, and evolution of X-ray emission from the stellar winds, requiring a substantial sample size and systematic analysis methods. As of 2022, the Chandra data archive contains 37 high-resolution spectra of O, B, and WR stars, observed with the Chandra/HETGS, and of sufficient quality to fit the continua and emission-line profiles. Using a systematic approach to the data analysis, we explore morphological trends in the line profiles (i.e., O, Ne, Mg, and Si) and …

Quiet, But Not Silent: Uncovering Quiescent State Properties Of Two Transient High-Mass X-Ray Binaries, Gayathri Raman, Pragati Pradhan, Jamie Kennea

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We present the first set of broad-band spectral and timing studies of two transient X-ray pulsars, MXB 0656 −072 and MAXI J1409 −619 using NuSTAR observations conducted during quiescence. Despite being captured at one of their lowest luminosity states, both these targets show signs of ongoing low-level accretion. Results from the time-averaged spectral analysis indicate for the first time, the presence of a strong soft power-law component along with thermal emission from the neutron star hotspots. For both targets, the quiescent thermal X-ray emission is consistent with the deep crustal heating model. In MXB 0656 −072, we do not detect …

Advancing Our Understanding Of Martian Proton Aurora Through A Coordinated Multi-Model Comparison Campaign, Andrea C. G. Hughes, Michael Scott Chaffin, Edwin J. Mierkiewicz, Justin Deighan, Rebecca Jolitz, Esa Kallio, Guillaume Gronof, Valery I. Shematovich, Dmitry Bisikalo, Cyril L. Simon Wedlund, Jasper S. Halekas, Nicholas M. Schneider, Birgit Ritter, Zachary Girazian, Sonal Jain, Jean-Claude M. C. G´Erard, Bradley Michael Hegyi

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Proton aurora are the most commonly observed yet least studied type of aurora at Mars. In order to better understand the physics and driving processes of Martian proton aurora, we undertake a multi-model comparison campaign. We compare results from four different proton/hydrogen precipitation models with unique abilities to represent Martian proton aurora: Jolitz model (3-D Monte Carlo), Kallio model (3-D Monte Carlo), Bisikalo/Shematovich et al. model (1-D kinetic Monte Carlo), and Gronoff et al. model (1-D kinetic). This campaign is divided into two steps: an inter-model comparison and a data-model comparison. The inter-model comparison entails modeling five different representative cases …

Estimation Of The Kelvin–Helmholtz Unstable Boundary, Xuanye Ma

Publications

The Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability is one of the most important mechanisms of the viscous like interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere (MSP), which transport the mass, energy, momentum, and magnetic flux. Thus, it is important to examine whether the magnetopause boundary is KH unstable or not. Based on the KH onset conditions, this report proposes to use a matrix to identify the most KH unstable direction based on the in-situ measurements of the density, velocity, and magnetic field in the MSP and magneto sheath. The range of the KH unstable direction can be easily estimated based on the …

Extreme Horizontal Wind Perturbations In The Mesosphere And Lower Thermosphere Over South America Associated With The 2022 Hunga Eruption, Facundo L. Poblet, Jorge L. Chau, J. Federico Conte, Juha Vierinen, Jose Suclupe, Alan Liu, Rodolfo R. Rodriguez

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On 15 January 2022, the Hunga volcano produced a massive explosion that generated perturbations in the entire atmosphere. Nonetheless, signatures in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) have been challenging to identify. We report MLT horizontal wind perturbations using three multistatic specular meteor radars on the west side of South America (spanning more than 3,000 km). The most notorious signal is an exceptional solitary wave with a large vertical wavelength observed around 18 UT at all three sites, with an amplitude of ∼50 m/s mainly in the westward direction. Using a customized analysis, the wave is characterized as traveling at …

Bayesian Inference For The White Dwarf Initial-Final Mass Relation, Nathan Stein, Ted Von Hippel, David Van Dyk, Steven Degennaro, Elizabeth Jeffery, Bill Jefferys

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Stars lose mass as they age, and understanding mass loss is important for understanding stellar evolution. The initial-final mass relation (IFMR) is the relationship between a white dwarf’s initial mass on the main sequence and its final mass. We have developed a new method for fitting the IFMR based on a Bayesian analysis of photometric observations, combining deterministic models of stellar evolution in an internally coherent way. No mass data are used. Our method yields precise inferences (with uncertainties) for a parameterized linear IFMR. Our method can also return posterior distributions of white dwarf initial and final masses.

Databases And Inter-Connectivity In Ground-Based Astronomy, Ted Von Hippel, C. M. Mountain

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Optical and infrared ground-based astronomy is undergoing a renaissance. Advances in material technology, system modeling, and the ability to correct atmospheric distortions in real time have produced a new generation of powerful, large telescopes. An equally profound revolution stems from the availability of large observational databases that span the electromagnetic spectrum. The increased use of such databases as well as the need to operate the new telescopes efficiently requires the development of a National or International Virtual Observatory to set standards for astronomical database formats, data quality assurance, and access protocols, and also to provide all-inclusive centers for data products.

Identifying Gravity Waves Launched By The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’Apai Volcanic Eruption In Mesosphere/Lower-Thermosphere Winds Derived From Condor And The Nordic Meteor Radar Cluster, Gunter Stober, Alan Liu, Alexander Kozlovsky, Zishun Qiao, Witali Krochin, Guochun Shi, Johan Kero, Et Al.

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The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption was a unique event that caused many atmospheric phenomena around the globe. In this study, we investigate the atmospheric gravity waves in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) launched by the volcanic explosion in the Pacific, leveraging multistatic meteor radar observations from the Chilean Observation Network De Meteor Radars (CONDOR) and the Nordic Meteor Radar Cluster in Fennoscandia. MLT winds are computed using a recently developed 3DVAR+DIV algorithm. We found eastward- and westward-traveling gravity waves in the CONDOR zonal and meridional wind measurements, which arrived 12 and 48 h after the eruption, and we found one …