Evolution of galaxy cluster scaling from XMM-Newton observation of the galaxy clusters at z ⩾ 0.4

We present here new XMM-Newton observations of 3 relatively cool clusters at z ≈ 0.4, complemented by archival observations of 3 other clusters at similar redshift. We derived the M–T and R–T relations from the hydrostatic equation using an isothermal temperature distribution.     

XMM-Newton survey of non-thermal shell candidates: Preliminary results on DA 530

The investigation of the general properties of non-thermal (NT) X-ray shell supernova remnants (SNRs), of which SN 1006 is the prototype, is important to understand how electrons are accelerated in SNR shocks and what is the origin of cosmic rays. Using the XMM-Newton satellite, we are carrying on a survey of putative non-thermal SNR candidates previously unknown or little studied in the X-ray band, in order to investigate the different manifestations of NT emission in SNR shells. The SNRs we have selected are likely to expand in a low density medium, and therefore to have a low thermal X-ray emission, that usually outshines the non-thermal one. We report here preliminary results obtained on the SNR shell DA 530.     

金属多层膜超晶格结构研究

用高分辨的三晶体x—射线衍射仪测量了Zr、Cu金属交替的多层膜的x—射线小角反射谱。用扩展了的Born—wolf光学模型对Zr、Cu多层膜的x—射线小角反射数据进行了定量分析。结果表明，该金属多层膜在其生长方向具有超晶格结构。在两层金属膜之间的界面上，由于内扩散，形成了界面交混层，它使x—射线小角反射所产生的高阶Bragg峰的强度减弱。由于两种金属膜的晶格不匹配，使高阶Bragg峰加宽。界面的粗糙度可用来模拟x—射线小角反射曲线的阻尼振荡效应。     

基于DCT-CS的脉冲星周期超快速估计方法

受快速傅里叶变换（fast Fourier transform，FFT）的影响，基于FFT和压缩感知（compressive sensing, CS）的脉冲星周期快速估计算法的计算量大。为进一步减小计算量并提高计算精度，利用离散余弦变换（discrete cosine transform，DCT)取代FFT，提出了一种基于DCT-CS的脉冲星周期超快速估计算法。在该方法中，利用DCT提取脉冲星信号的低频部分构建低频DCT矩阵；构建畸变轮廓字典并获取累积轮廓；提出了利用最大值超分辨率稀疏恢复估计脉冲星周期的方法。仿真结果表明，DCT-CS的脉冲星周期估计精度达到了3.82×10-12 s，计算时间达到了9.31 ms。与FFT-CS相比，周期估计精度提高了约16%，计算时间缩短了约37.5%，实现了实时高精度的脉冲星周期估计。     

Soft X-ray observations of helmet structures from SXT/Yohkoh

We present soft X-ray observations of helmet structures in solar active regions obtained from SXT/Yohkoh. These helmet structures are observed to form in the flare decay phase and to be associated with active region loop interactions. Their morphology is similar to the much larger scale helmet streamers that appear in the outer corona as shown in optical images of solar eclipse. The observed X-ray helmet structures appear to be in quasi-equilibrium with lifetimes greater than the MHD time scale. Using the filter ratio method for the X-ray observations, we find that the cusp region has lower temperature and higher density than that in the stalk region above it. The plasma pressure in the cusp region is about the same or slightly higher than that in the stalk region.     

Indicators of black-hole mass and Eddington accretion ratio from QSO X-ray and UV spectra

The evolution of luminous QSOs is linked to the evolution of massive galaxies. We know this because the relic black-holes found locally have masses dependent on the properties of the host galaxy’s bulge. An important way to explore this evolution would be to measure dependences of black-hole masses and Eddington accretion ratios over a range of redshifts, i.e., with cosmological age. For low redshift QSOs (and their lower luminosity Seyfert galaxy counterparts) it has been possible to infer black-hole masses from the luminosities and velocity dispersions of their host-galaxy bulges. These masses agree with those virial black-hole masses calculated from the Doppler widths of the broad Hβ emission lines. The latter method can then be extended to more distant and luminous QSOs, up to redshifts of 0.6 with ground-based optical observations. We discuss ways to extend these explorations to higher redshifts – up to 3 using the widths of QSOs’ broad UV emission lines, and in principle, and to redshifts near 4 from ground-based infrared observations of rest-frame Hβ at 2.5 μm. We discuss the possibility of investigating the accretion history of the higher redshift QSOs using measures of Eddington accretion ratio – the soft X-ray spectral index and the eigenvectors of Principal Components Analyses of QSOs’ UV emission-line spectra.     

X-Ray Emission from Flare Collapsing Trap

An acceleration process in the collapsing magnetic trap, formed in the flare with cusp magnetic field topology, is described. Computations show that high-energy electrons are accumulated in the central part of the collapsing magnetic trap due to an increase of their pitch angles. The effect explains in a natural way the formation of X-ray loop-top sources. Then, using the model with the collapsing trap and considering only the adiabatic heating process, a possible explanation for the motion of the X-ray loop-top source observed at the beginning of some cusp-type flares is presented.     

Overview of QPOs in neutron-star low-mass X-ray binaries

Some aspects of the rapid X-ray variability of low magnetic-field neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries are briefly summarized.     

Evolution of binaries with chemically peculiar primaries

The chemically peculiar (CP) stars are classified into subgroups based on the type of peculiarities. A significant fraction of these are known to be binaries. The faster evolution of the massive component leads to a white dwarf or a neutron star. Further evolution of the binary is analysed taking into consideration, the orbital parameters, effect of magnetic field, spectroscopic peculiarities and finally the statistics of CP binaries and Low Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXB).

The possible consequences of the evolution to lead to the formation of Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables (MCV) and LMXB are discussed.     

Near infrared studies of the massive X-ray binary 2S 0114+65

We present near-infrared spectroscopy of the massive X-ray binary 2S 0114+650. These observations covering the spectral range 1.08–2.35 μm span the region where Paschen and Brackett series recombination lines of hydrogen are expected to be seen, namely, Paβ , Brγ and Br 10–17 lines. The absence of any of these lines in emission supports earlier inferences that the optical component in 2S 0114+650 is unlikely to be a Be star but rather a B type supergiant. Near-IR photometry gives J = 8.78, H = 8.53 and K = 7.96; these values show marginal variations from earlier reported measurements.