Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy Commons^™

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

Publications

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 …

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

Publications

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 …

How To Form A Gravitational-Wave Source: Quantifying Intermediate Evolutionary Stages In Isolated Binary Stellar Evolution, Ana Lam

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Gravitational-wave (GW) detections from double compact object (DCO) mergers provide crucial observational constraints for understanding massive stars across cosmic time. Coupled with these observations, binary population synthesis simulations become powerful tools for probing the formation, evolution, and ultimate fates of their progenitors---massive binary stars. However, complex evolutionary pathways, shaped by key intermediate stages such as mass transfer phases and supernovae, present a significant challenge to assess their impact. To address this, we develop a framework to quantify the influence of intermediate evolutionary stages on GW sources. By combining Sankey diagrams with survival factors, we systematically investigate how intermediate stages influence …

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

Publications

No abstract provided.

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

Publications

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 …

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

Publications

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, …

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

Publications

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 …

Detection And Characterisation Of 54 Massive Companions With The Sophie Spectrograph: Seven New Brown Dwarfs And Constraints On The Brown Dwarf Desert, ‪Flavien Kiefer, Guillaume Hébrard, Johannes Sahlmann, Sérgio G. Sousa, Thierry Forveille, Nuno Santos, Michel Mayor, Magali Deleuil, Paul Anthony Wilson, Shweta Dalal, Rodrigo F. Díaz, Gregory W. Henry, Janis Hagelberg, Melissa J. Hobson, Olivier Demangeon, Vincent Bourrier, Xavier Delfosse, Luc Arnold, Nicola Astudillo-Defru, Jean-Luc Beuzit, Isabelle Boisse, Xavier Bonfils, Simon Borgniet, François Bouchy, B. Courcol, David Ehrenreich, Nathan Hara, Anne-Marie Lagrange, Christophe Lovis, Guillaume Montagnier, C. Moutou, Francesco Pepe, Christian Perrier, Javiera Rey, Alexandre Santerne, Damien Ségransan, Stephane Udry, Alfred Vidal-Madjar

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Context. Brown dwarfs (BD) are substellar objects intermediate between planets and stars with masses of ~13–80 M_J. While isolated BDs are most likely produced by gravitational collapse in molecular clouds down to masses of a few M_J, a non-negligible fraction of low-mass companions might be formed through the planet-formation channel in protoplanetary discs. The upper mass limit of objects formed within discs is still observationally unknown, the main reason being the strong dearth of BD companions at orbital periods shorter than 10 yr, also known as the BD desert.

Aims. To address this question, we aim …

A Study Of Hα Line Profile Variations In Β Lyr, Richard Ignace, Sharon K. Gray, Macno A. Magno, Gary D. Henson, Derek Massa

ETSU Faculty Works

We examine over 160 archival Hα spectra from the Ritter Observatory for the interacting binary β Lyr obtained between 1996 and 2000. The emission is characteristically double-peaked, but asymmetric, and with an absorption feature that is persistently blueshifted. Using a set of simplifying assumptions, phase varying emission line profiles are calculated for Hα formed entirely in a Keplerian disk, and separately for the line formed entirely from an off-center bipolar flow. However, a dynamic spectrum of the data indicates that the blueshifted feature is not always present, and the data are even suggestive of a drift of the …

An Additional Pulsating Mode (7.35 Mhz) And Pulsations Timing Variations Of Pg 1613+426, Tomomi Otani, Terry D. Oswalt, Patrice Majewski, Riley Jordan, Marc Amaral, Adam Moss

Publications

We present the detection of an additional pulsation mode (7.35 mHz) of a subdwarf B star, PG 1613+426, and periodic Observed minus Calculated (O-C) variations for two existing pulsations. PG 1613+426 is near the hot end of the sdB instability strip. One pulsation mode (6.94 mHz) was detected so far by Bonanno et al. (2002) and another pulsation mode candidate (7.05 mHz) was proposed with a confidence level above 90% by Kuassivi and Ferlet (2005). To constrain sdB star evolutional scenarios, this star was monitored in 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2017 as a part of a project for finding companions …

A Search For Very High-Energy Gamma Rays From The Missing Link Binary Pulsar J1023+0038 With Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et Al

Physical Sciences Publications

The binary millisecond radio pulsar PSR J1023+0038 exhibits many characteristics similar to the gamma-ray binary system PSR B1259–63/LS 2883, making it an ideal candidate for the study of high-energy nonthermal emission. It has been the subject of multiwavelength campaigns following the disappearance of the pulsed radio emission in 2013 June, which revealed the appearance of an accretion disk around the neutron star. We present the results of very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray observations carried out by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System before and after this change of state. Searches for steady and pulsed emission of both data …

Very High Energy Observations Of The Binaries V 404 Cyg And 4u 0115+634 During Giant X-Ray Outbursts, P. T. Reynolds, Et Al

Physical Sciences Publications

Transient X-ray binaries produce major outbursts in which the X-ray flux can increase over the quiescent level by factors as large as 107. The low-mass X-ray binary V 404 Cyg and the high-mass system 4U 0115+634 underwent such major outbursts in 2015 June and October, respectively. We present here observations at energies above hundreds of GeV with the VERITAS observatory taken during some of the brightest X-ray activity ever observed from these systems. No gamma-ray emission has been detected by VERITAS in 2.5 hr of observations of the microquasar V 404 Cyg from 2015, June 20–21. The upper flux limits …

Reconciling Ag-Star Formation, The Soltan Argument, And Meier's Paradox, David Garofalo, Matthew I. Kim, Damian J. Christian, Emily Hollingworth

Faculty Articles

We provide a theoretical context for understanding the recent work of Kalfountzou et al. showing that star formation is enhanced at lower optical luminosity in radio-loud quasars. Our proposal for coupling the assumption of collimated FRII quasar-jet-induced star formation with lower accretion optical luminosity also explains the observed jet power peak in active galaxies at higher redshift compared to the peak in accretion power, doing so in a way that predicts the existence of a family of radio-quiet active galactic nuclei associated with rapidly spinning supermassive black holes at low redshift, as mounting observations suggest. The relevance of this work …

Exceptionally Bright Tev Flares From The Binary Ls I+61 Degrees 303, P. T. Reynolds, Et Al

Physical Sciences Publications

The TeV binary system LS I +61° 303 is known for its regular, non-thermal emission pattern that traces the orbital period of the compact object in its 26.5 day orbit around its B0 Ve star companion. The system typically presents elevated TeV emission around apastron passage with flux levels between 5% and 15% of the steady flux from the Crab Nebula (>300 GeV). In this article, VERITAS observations of LS I +61° 303 taken in late 2014 are presented, during which bright TeV flares around apastron at flux levels peaking above 30% of the Crab Nebula flux were detected. …

A Coordinated X-Ray And Optical Campaign Of The Nearest Massive Eclipsing Binary, Δ Ori Aa: I. Overview Of The X-Ray Spectrum., Michael Corcoran, Joy Nichols, H. Pablo, Tomer Shenar, Andy Pollock, W. Waldron, A. Moffat, N. Richardson, C. Russell, K. Hamaguchi, D. Huenemoerder, L. Oskinova, W.-R. Hamann, Y. Nazé, Richard Ignace, Nancy Evans, Jamie Lomax, J. Hoffman, K. Gayley, S. Owocki, M. Leutenegger, T. Gull, K. Hole, J. Lauer, R. Iping

ETSU Faculty Works

We present an overview of four deep phase-constrained Chandra HETGS X-ray observations of δ Ori A. Delta Ori A is actually a triple system that includes the nearest massive eclipsing spectroscopic binary, δ Ori Aa, the only such object that can be observed with little phase-smearing with the Chandra gratings. Since the fainter star, δ Ori Aa2, has a much lower X-ray luminosity than the brighter primary (δ Ori Aa1), δ Ori Aa provides a unique system with which to test the spatial distribution of the X-ray emitting gas around δ Ori Aa1 via occultation by the photosphere of, and …

A Coordinated X-Ray And Optical Campaign Of The Nearest Massive Eclipsing Binary, Δ Orionis Aa. Iii. Analysis Of Optical Photometric (Most) And Spectroscopic (Ground Based) Variations., Herbert Pablo, Noel Richardson, Anthony Moffat, Michael Corcoran, Tomer Shenar, Omar Benvenuto, Jim Fuller, Yaël Nazé, Jennifer Hoffman, Anatoly Miroshnichenko, Jesús Apellániz, Nancy Evans, Thomas Eversberg, Ken Gayley, Ted Gull, Kenji Hamaguchi, Wolf-Rainer Hamann, Huib Henrichs, Tabetha Hole, Richard Ignace, Rosina Iping, Jennifer Lauer, Maurice Leutenegger, Jamie Lomax, Joy Nichols, Lida Oskinova, Stan Owocki, Andy Pollock, Christopher Russell, Wayne Waldron, Christian Buil, Thierry Garrel, Keith Graham, Bernard Heathcote, Thierry Lemoult, Dong Li, Benjamin Mauclaire, Mike Potter, Jose Ribeiro, Jaymie Matthews, Chris Cameron, David Guenther, Rainer Kuschnig, Jason Rowe, Slavek Rucinski, Dimitar Sasselov, Werner Weiss

ETSU Faculty Works

We report on both high-precision photometry from the Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars (MOST) space telescope and ground-based spectroscopy of the triple system δ Ori A, consisting of a binary O9.5II+early-B(Aa1 and Aa2) with P=5.7 days, and a more distant tertiary(O9 IV P 400 years). This data was collected in concert with X-ray spectroscopy from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Thanks to continuous coverage for three weeks, the MOST light curve reveals clear eclipses between Aa1 and Aa2 for the first time in non-phased data. From the spectroscopy, we have a well-constrained radial velocity (RV)curve of Aa1. While we are unable …

A Coordinated X-Ray And Optical Campaign Of The Nearest Massive Eclipsing Binary, Δ Orionis Aa: Ii. X-Ray Variability., Joy Nichols, D. Huenemoerder, Michael Corcoran, W. Waldron, Y. Nazé, Andy Pollock, A. Moffat, J. Lauer, Tomer Shenar, C. Russell, N. Richardson, H. Pablo, N. Evans, K. Hamaguchi, T. Gull, W.-R. Hamann, L. Oskinova, Richard Ignace, Jennifer Hoffman, K. Hole, Jamie Lomax

ETSU Faculty Works

We present time-resolved and phase-resolved variability studies of an extensive X-ray high-resolution spectral data set of the δ Ori Aa binary system. The four observations, obtained with Chandra ACIS HETGS, have a total exposure time of ≈ 479 ks and provide nearly complete binary phase coverage. Variability of the total X-ray flux in the range of 5–25 Å is confirmed, with a maximum amplitude of about ±15% within a single ≈ 125 ks observation. Periods of 4.76 and 2.04 days are found in the total X-ray flux, as well as an apparent overall increase in the flux level throughout the …

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

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 …

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

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

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 …

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 …

Using Photometry To Probe The Circumstellar Environment Of Δ Scorpii, Carol E. Jones, Paul A. Wiegert, Christopher Tycner, Gregory W. Henry, Richard P. Cyr, Robbie J. Halonen, Matthew W. Muterspaugh

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We acquired Johnson BV photometry of the binary Be disk system δ Scorpii during its 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 observing seasons and used it to probe the innermost regions of the disk. We found that several disk building events have occurred during this time, resulting in an overall brightening in the V band and reddening of the system. In addition to these long-term trends, we found cyclical variability in each observing season on timescales between 60 and 100 days. We were able to reproduce the changes in the magnitude and color of δ Sco using our theoretical models and …

The Disk-Wind-Jet Connection In The Black Hole H 1743-322, J. M. Miller, J. Raymond, A. C. Fabian, C. S. Reynolds, A. L. King, T. R. Kallman, E. M. Cackett, M. Van Der Klis, D. T. H. Steeghs

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

X-ray disk winds are detected in spectrally soft, disk-dominated phases of stellar-mass black hole outbursts. In contrast, compact, steady, relativistic jets are detected in spectrally hard states that are dominated by non-thermal X-ray emission. Although these distinctive outflows appear to be almost mutually exclusive, it is possible that a disk wind persists in hard states but cannot be detected via X-ray absorption lines owing to very high ionization. Here, we present an analysis of a deep, 60 ks Chandra/HETGS observation of the black hole candidate H 1743-322 in the low/hard state. The spectrum shows no evidence of a disk wind, …

A Four-Year Xmm-Newton/Chandra Monitoring Campaign Of The Galactic Centre: Analysing The X-Ray Transients, N. Degenaar, R. Wijnands, E. M. Cackett, J. Homan, J. J. M. In 'T Zand, E. Kuulkers, T. J. Maccarone, M. Van Der Klis

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

We report on the results of a four-year long X-ray monitoring campaign of the central 1.2 square degrees of our Galaxy, performed with Chandra and XMM-Newton between 2005 and 2008. Our study focuses on the properties of transient X-ray sources that reach 2-10 keV luminosities of L_X ≳ 10³⁴ erg s^-1 for an assumed distance of 8 kpc. There are 17 known X-ray transients within the field of view of our campaign, eight of which were detected in outburst during our observations: the transient neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries GRS 1741-2853, AX J1745.6-2901, SAX J1747.0-2853, KS 1741-293 …

On The Role Of The Accretion Disk In Black Hole Disk-Jet Connections, J. M. Miller, G. G. Pooley, A. C. Fabian, M. A. Nowak, R. C. Reis, E. M. Cackett, K. Pottschmidt, J. Wilms

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

Models of jet production in black hole systems suggest that the properties of the accretion disk—such as its mass accretion rate, inner radius, and emergent magnetic field—should drive and modulate the production of relativistic jets. Stellar-mass black holes in the "low/hard" state are an excellent laboratory in which to study disk-jet connections, but few coordinated observations are made using spectrometers that can incisively probe the inner disk. We report on a series of 20 Suzaku observations of Cygnus X-1 made in the jet-producing low/hard state. Contemporaneous radio monitoring was done using the Arcminute MicroKelvin Array radio telescope. Two important and …

A Comparison Of Broad Iron Emission Lines In Archival Data Of Neutron Star Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries, Edward M. Cackett, Jon M. Miller, Rubens C. Reis, Andrew C. Fabian, Didier Barret

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

Relativistic X-ray disklines have been found in multiple neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries, in close analogy with black holes across the mass scale. These lines have tremendous diagnostic power and have been used to constrain stellar radii and magnetic fields, often finding values that are consistent with independent timing techniques. Here, we compare CCD-based data from Suzaku with Fe K line profiles from archival data taken with gas-based spectrometers. In general, we find good consistency between the gas-based line profiles from EXOSAT, BeppoSAX, and RXTE and the CCD data from Suzaku, demonstrating that the broad profiles seen are intrinsic to …

Hypervelocity Planets And Transits Around Hypervelocity Stars, Idan Ginsburg, Abraham Loeb, Gary A. Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

The disruption of a binary star system by the massive black hole at the Galactic Centre, SgrA*, can lead to the capture of one star around SgrA* and the ejection of its companion as a hypervelocity star (HVS). We consider the possibility that these stars may have planets and study the dynamics of these planets. Using a direct N-body integration code, we simulated a large number of different binary orbits around SgrA*. For some orbital parameters, a planet is ejected at a high speed. In other instances, a HVS is ejected with one or more planets orbiting around it. …

The Similarity Of Broad Iron Lines In X-Ray Binaries And Active Galactic Nuclei, D. J. Walton, R. C. Reis, E. M. Cackett, A. C. Fabian, J. M. Miller

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

We have compared the 2001 XMM-Newton spectra of the stellar mass black hole binary XTE J1650-500 and the active galaxy MCG-6-30-15, focusing on the broad, excess emission features at ˜4-7 keV displayed by both sources. Such features are frequently observed in both low-mass X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei (AGN). For the former case it is generally accepted that the excess arises due to iron emission, but there is some controversy over whether their width is partially enhanced by instrumental processes, and hence also over the intrinsic broadening mechanism. Meanwhile, in the latter case, the origin of this feature is …