Optical bursts from X-ray irradiated accretion disk

A new burst mode of MXB 1730 - 335, the rapid burster, as discovered by Hakucho in August 1979, is characterized by a train of long X-ray bursts whose behaviour is dictated by the accretion rate. In this mode the burst luminosity reaches the Eddington limit, so that the X-ray pressure controls the accretion from a reservoir in the magnetopause and accretion columns in the polar regions explain general features of the rapid burster observed in August 1979.     

The rapid burster activity observed from tenma

The Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite Hakucho and Tenma observed the activity of the rapid burster MXB 1730-335 in 1979 and 1983. In the first observation from 8 to 22 August 1979, the activity began with rapidly repetitive type II bursts which are similar to those observed earlier. Then the energy per burst quickly increased and evolved to exhibit a long flat top or roughly trapezoidal shape. In the last phase, burst size became smaller and the activity returned to the short type II burst mode. In the second observation from 5 to 31 August 1983, the burster started to emit a train of bursts which aparently resemble to type I bursts with quasi-periodical occurrence of 74 ～ 90 minutes. In the second phase, there appeared long type II bursts of trapezoidal profiles and exotic long bursts. In the last phase, about 3000 rapidly repetitive short type II bursts were observed. The bursts with shortest intervals exhibited almost periodic features of 16 sec.The type II bursts in both observation evolved to the size E of ～ 6 × 10⁴⁰ erg that is one order larger than ever observed. They were long bursts (τ ≦ 600 s) of flat topped (trapezoidal) shape and those of exotic profiles. Those type II bursts exhibited some kinds of quasi-periodicities, which implies the vibrations or instabilities of the mass accretion onto the neutron stars. The type I bursts were often observed with/without type II bursts.     

Fundamental parameters of low mass X-ray binaries II: X-ray persistent systems

The determination of fundamental parameters in X-ray luminous (persistent) X-ray binaries has been classically hampered by the large optical luminosity of the accretion disc. New methods, based on irradiation of the donor star and burst oscillations, provide the opportunity to derive dynamical information and mass constraints in many persistent systems for the first time. These techniques are here reviewed and the latest results presented.     

Theromonuclear flashes in accreting neutron star envelopes

The thermonuclear model for x-ray burster and “soft transient” is discussed. The mass accretion rate M, the chemical composition of accreted matter, the gravitational potential of the neutron star and thermal state of outer layer / or core/ are the main parameters which determine the burning regime. Importance of nuclear network used for the properties of subsequent flashes is pointed out.     

A review of recent results on cosmic gamma-ray bursts

The results obtained on cosmic gamma-ray bursts over the last several years are reviewed and compared with the older “historical” results. Fine time resolution measurements of burster light curves continue to reveal structure at the millisecond and sub-millisecond level, suggesting a compact object origin. Similarly, the evolution of the low energy X-ray spectra of bursts towards shapes consistent with 1–2 keV blackbodies may be interpreted in terms of a neutron star origin, as can the continuing detection of absorption and emission features. The statistical evidence, however, argues strongly for an isotropic distribution which has been completely sampled. To reconcile this with galactic neutron stars requires the assumption that they are Population II objects. Counterpart searches have evolved to the point where they may be carried out within days of an event, and a soft X-ray source has now been detected in the error box of one recent burst.     

Evolution of the temporal and the spectral properties in 2010 and 2011 outbursts of H 1743-322

The Galactic black hole candidate H 1743-322 exhibited two X-ray outbursts in rapid succession: one in August 2010 and the other in April 2011. We analyze archival data of this object from the PCA instrument on board RXTE (2–25 keV energy band) to study the evolution of its temporal and spectral characteristics during both the outbursts, and hence to understand the behavioral change of the accretion flow dynamics associated with the evolution of the various X-ray features. We study the evolution of QPO frequencies during the rising and the declining phases of both the outbursts. We successfully fit the variation of QPO frequency using the Propagating Oscillatory Shock (POS) model in each of the outbursts and obtain the accretion flow parameters such as the instantaneous shock locations, the shock velocity and the shock strength. Based on the degree of importance of the thermal (disk black body) and the non-thermal (power-law) components of the spectral fit and properties of the QPO (if present), the entire profiles of the 2010 and 2011 outbursts are subdivided into four different spectral states: hard, hard-intermediate, soft-intermediate and soft. We attempt to explain the nature of the outburst profile (i.e., hardness-intensity diagram) with two different types of mass accretion flow.     

Limit cycles of accretion disks in the Rapid Burster and GRS 1915+105

The Rapid Burster is known to show rapidly repetitive bursts (Type II bursts). An interesting feature of the Type II burst is an approximate proportionality of the burst duration to the time to the next burst. The time sequence from a burst to the following quiescent phase can be said to be a time-scale invariant high (burst phase)–low (quiescent phase) transition. The Galactic superluminal source, GRS 1915+105 exhibits a variety of the time variation of the X-ray flux and often repeats transitions between a high-flux level and a low-flux level. In such high–low transitions, Belloni et al. (1997b) found an approximate proportionality between the duration of the low-flux phase and that of the following high-flux phase, over a wide range of the time scale. This low–high transition can again be said to be time-scale invariant. However, an interesting difference between the two time scale invariant transitions is an opposite order of the high and low-flux phase in the time-scale invariant sequence. In the case of the Rapid Burster, the high-flux (burst) phase is the first, while the low-flux phase is the first in the case of GRS1915+105. A limit cycle between an accretion disk in a state of the standard-disk and that in a state of the ADAF (advection dominated accretion flow) is discussed to explain the time-scale invariant high–low (or low–high) transition as well as the difference between the neutron star system and the black-hole system, qualitatively. A phenomenological relation of the accretion disk change with mass ejections from the central part of the disk is also discussed.     

Self-similar problems of the time-dependant discs accretion and the nature of the temporary X-ray sources

Self-similar solutions, obtained by means of non-linear hydrodynamic equations, describing the picture of the time-dependant discs accretion. Some of the solutions describe the evolution of the accumulating disc, which is created around the neutron star with a strong magnetic field. Others give the time evolution of the initial narrow material ring, thrown at a certain distance around the gravitation centre. Practically all problems of the time-dependant disc accretion, asymptotically come to the above mentioned solutions.It is shown that the time-dependant disc accretion of the gas of the neutron star from the accumulating disc cause recurrent X-ray outbursts. The fall of the X-ray luminosity at the maximum stage depends of the time to a certain degree; is near the ones which are observed in the time-dependant X-ray sources. The model of the time-dependant X-ray sources is explained in the framework of the time-dependant disc accretion of magnetized neutron star with a strong magnetic field.     

Optical/X-ray correlations as a signature of jet-disc coupling in the accreting black hole XTE J1118+480

We interpret the rapid correlated UV/optical/X-ray variability of XTE J1118+480 as a signature of the coupling between the X-ray corona and a jet emitting synchrotron radiation in the optical band. We propose a scenario in which the jet and the X-ray corona are fed by the same energy reservoir where large amounts of accretion power are stored before being channelled into either the jet or the high energy radiation. This time-dependent model reproduces the main features of the rapid multi-wavelength variability of XTE J1118+480. A strong requirement of the model is that the total jet power should be at least a few times larger than the observed X-ray luminosity, implying a radiative efficiency for the jet _j  3 × 10⁻³. This would be consistent with the overall low radiative efficiency of the source. We present independent arguments showing that the jet probably dominates the energetic output of all accreting black holes in the low-hard state.     

X-ray observations of black-hole accretion disks

Our current theoretical and observational understandings of the accretion disks around Galactic black-holes are reviewed. Historically, a simple phenomenological accretion disk model has been used to interpret X-ray observations. Although such a phenomenological interpretation is still useful, high quality X-ray data from contemporary instruments allow us to test more realistic accretion disk models. In a simple and ideal case, the standard optically thick accretion disk model is successful to explain observations, such that the inner disk radius is constant at three times the Schwarzschild radius over large luminosity variations. However, when disk luminosity is close to or exceeds the Eddington luminosity, the standard disk model breaks, and we have to consider the “slim disk” solution in which radial energy advection is dominant. Recent observations of Ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs), which may not be explained by the standard disk model, strongly suggest the slim disk solution. We compare theoretical X-ray spectra from the slim disk with observed X-ray spectra of ULXs. We have found that the slim disk model is successful to explain ULX spectra, in terms of the massive stellar black-holes with several tens of solar mass and the super-Eddington mass accretion rates. In order to explain the large luminosities (>10⁴⁰ ergs s⁻¹) of ULXs, “intermediate black-holes” (>100M) are not required. Slim disks around massive stellar black-holes of up to several tens of solar mass would naturally explain the observed properties of ULXs.     

Observational appearances of isolated stellar-mass black hole accretion – Theory and observations

General properties of accretion onto isolated stellar-mass black holes in the Galaxy are discussed. An analysis of plasma internal energy growth during the infall is performed. Adiabatic heating of collisionless accretion flow due to magnetic adiabatic invariant conservation is 25% more efficient than in the standard non-magnetized gas case. It is shown that magnetic field line reconnections in discrete current sheets lead to significant nonthermal electron component formation, which leads to a formation of a hard (UV, X-ray, up to gamma), highly variable spectral component in addition to the standard synchrotron optical component first derived by Shvartsman generated by thermal electrons in the magnetic field of the accretion flow. Properties of accretion flow emission variability are discussed. Observation results of two single black hole candidates – gravitational lens MACHO-1999-BLG-22 and radio-loud X-ray source with featureless optical spectrum J1942+10 – in optical band with high temporal resolution are presented and interpreted in the framework of the proposed model.     

The case for massive,evolving winds in black hole X-ray binaries

In the last decade, high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy has revolutionized our understanding of the role of accretion disk winds in black hole X-ray binaries. Here I present a brief review of the state of wind studies in black hole X-ray binaries, focusing on recent arguments that disk winds are not only extremely massive, but also highly variable. I show how new and archival observations at high timing and spectral resolution continue to highlight the intricate links between the inner accretion flow, relativistic jets, and accretion disk winds. Finally, I discuss methods to infer the driving mechanisms of observed disk winds and their implications for connections between mass accretion and ejection processes.     

Production and evolution of millisecond X-ray and radio pulsars

Observations using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) have discovered dozens of accreting neutron stars with millisecond spin periods in low-mass binary star systems. Eighteen are millisecond X-ray pulsars powered by accretion or nuclear burning or both. These stars have magnetic fields strong enough for them to become millisecond rotation-powered (radio) pulsars when accretion ceases. Few, if any, accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars have spin rates higher than 750 Hz. There is strong evidence that the spin-up of some accreting neutron stars is limited by magnetic spin-equilibrium whereas the spin-up of others is halted when accretion ends. Further study will show whether the spin rates of some accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars are or were limited by emission of gravitational radiation.     

Multiwavelength monitoring of active galactic nuclei

Recent multiwavelength monitoring of active galactic nuclei (AGN), particularly with the IUE satellite, has produced extraordinary advances in our understanding of the energy-generation mechanism(s) in the central engine and of the structure of the surrounding material. Examples discussed here include both ordinary AGN and blazars (the collective name for highly variable, radio-loud AGN like BL Lac objects and Optically Violently Variable quasars). In the last decade, efforts to obtain single-epoch multiwavelength spectra led to fundamentally new models for the structure of AGN, involving accretion disks for AGN and relativistic jets for blazars. Recent extensions of multiwavelength spectroscopy into the temporal domain have shown that while these general pictures may be correct, the details were probably wrong. Campaigns to monitor Seyfert 1 galaxies like NGC 4151, NGC 5548 and Fairall 9 at infrared, optical, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths indicate that broad-emission line regions are stratified by ionization, density, and velocity; argue against a standard thin accretion disk model; and suggest that X-rays represent primary rather than reprocessed radiation. For blazars, years of radio monitoring indicated emission from an inhomogeneous synchrotron-emitting plasma, which could also produce at least some of the shorter-wavelength emission. The recent month-long campaign to observe the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 has revealed remarkably rapid variability that extends from the infrared through the X-ray with similar amplitude and little or no discernible lag. This lends strong support to relativistic jet models and rules out the proposed accretion disk model for the ultraviolet-X-ray continuum.     

The γ-ray bursts as a result of the proper activity of the neutron star

The model of the Γ-ray burst is developed which is based on the nuclear explosion in the neutron star envelope because of the chain fission reaction of the superheavy nuclei. It is shown, that the main part of the Γ-ray burst radiation must have thermal origin, but the nonthermal component and Γ-ray lines may be present. The parameters of the strong burst of 5 March 1979 are evaluated on the basis of its radiation spectra and the present model. The distance to this burst is about 100 pc and the total energy of this Γ-ray burst is about 2.1039 ergs.     

Jikiken(EXOS-B) observation of siple transmissions

A Japanese magnetospheric satellite Jikiken (EXOS-B) was used to observe Siple transmissions and VLF emissions triggered by the Siple signals. Energetic particle fluxes were also observed at the same time. The first experiments were made during July, August and September in 1979 and the second experiments were made during December in 1979 and January in 1980. The Siple triggered emissions were observed in August. This report reviews the preliminary results.     

SIGMA observations of hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray emission from X-ray binaries

After more than two years of operation, the imaging γ-ray SIGMA telescope has accumulated several days of observation toward well known X-ray binaries. Four bright sources falling in this category have been detected so far: The pulsar GX 1+4 near the center of our galaxy, the stellar wind accreting system 4U 1700-377, and the black hole candidates Cygnus X-1 and GX 339-4. Moreover, SIGMA have observed three transients sources, which turned out to be also hard X-ray sources : The burster KS 1731-260, Tra X-1, and the Musca Nova. The properties of these systems in the SIGMA domain will be reviewed and a spectral distinction between black holes and neutron stars will be sketched.     

机翼前缘积冰对大飞机操稳特性的影响

机翼结冰影响飞机的操稳特性和飞行性能,对飞行安全造成危害。基于实验数据构建了典型的不同结冰严重程度的机翼前缘积冰冰形,采用高精度数值模拟方法得到背景飞机机翼前缘积冰的气动数据,建立了飞机六自由度非线性动力学模型,在此基础上设计了俯仰角保持、滚转角保持及高度保持模式的自动驾驶仪闭环仿真系统。通过开环仿真,分析了不同程度积冰对飞机配平特性、纵向长短周期模态及横航向模态的影响,比较了不同程度积冰情形下飞机动态响应的差异。通过闭环仿真,研究了积冰对3种模式下自动驾驶性能的影响。仿真结果表明:积冰对飞机配平特性、模态特性及开环动态响应特性均会造成一定的不良影响,威胁飞行安全。      

Production of QPOs in accreting neutron star systems

Kilohertz QPOs have been detected from more than 20 neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries. Several different ideas have been proposed for their generation, involving resonances, magnetic interactions, and sharp transitions in the accretion flow. We show that although details are uncertain at this time, it is clear that the stellar magnetic field has a dynamic influence on the accretion flow. We also discuss the inferences about dense matter and strong gravity that can be drawn from all models, and the qualitative advances expected with a future X-ray timing mission.     

微波爆发前太阳射电发射的周期振荡

本文分析了1979年1月一12月紫台3.2cm、10cm波段上的爆发资料,峰值流量增量ΔS/S≥50%的爆发共计25个,发现所有25个爆发的爆前记录曲线上都存在着周期从几秒一10几秒、振幅约为太阳非扰动分量l%的振荡。这种振荡一般先于爆发几小时或几天。但对于特大爆发,如47GB型爆发,在长时间持续振荡以后,往往在爆前几十分钟或几小时突归宁静,呈平滑记录;对于较小的爆发,脉冲爆或持续期较短的复杂爆,如3S型、20GRF型以及45C型,在振荡同爆发之间不存在记录曲线的宁静时段,而往往由振荡直接延续到爆发。因此微波辐射的这种振荡特性可能是耀斑区域储能过程的一种反映。