Optical identification of X-ray sources in the Einstein observatory medium and deep surveys

Methods are discussed for establishing the optical identification of X ray sources in the medium and deep X-ray surveys of the Einstein Observatory. Of the 63 X-ray sources with a statistical significance of 5 in the medium survey (Maccacaro et al. 1981), optical identification work is summarized for 51, of which identifications have been made with 30 active galactic nuclei. The optical properties of some of these X-ray selected objects are briefly discussed.The Einstein deep survey of Pavo (Griffiths et al. 1981) is used to illustrate the problems and methods used for securing optical identifications for X-ray sources in the deep survey fields. Identifications have been made with 4 QSOs at the bright end of the optical candidate distribution (together with 3 G stars) and it is shown that a further 7 fainter objects are also likely to be QSOs.     

Wrinkling analysis for small solar-photon sails: An experimental and analytic approach for trajectory design

A good model of solar-radiation pressure induced thrust is one of the key points in sailcraft trajectory design. The sail membrane’s local topographic deformations, i.e. wrinkles and creases, are among the main aspects that such a model should include. We have analyzed the influence of wrinkles/creases, as a whole, by measuring the related deformations on small samples of sail membrane, 2.5?μm thick, consisting of CP1 and physical-vapor-deposition Aluminum. Experimental outcomes from our laboratory facility have been processed, statistically investigated, and inserted into the lightness vector formalism. We have used such formalism for accurate sailcraft trajectory computation via a non-ideal reflection sail thrust model. Finally, we computed the deviations of wrinkled-sail sailcraft final orbital states with respect to the no-wrinkle sail final orbital ones for a circular to circular 2D inward transfer. The radii of the orbits are 1?AU and the semi-major axis of Mercury, respectively. It appears that sail wrinkles and creases are no longer negligible in the sailcraft trajectory design.     

A study of M100 in X-rays

During a search for X-ray emission from Supernova 1979c, the parent galaxy M100 (NGC 4321) was repeatedly observed with the IPC and HRI instruments aboard the Einstein X-ray Observatory. The X-ray data reveal two possible sources in the arms of the spiral galaxy, two components in the nuclear bulge and extended X-ray emission from the central part of the galaxy (160x160 square arc seconds centered on the nucleus). We find that the estended X-ray emission cannot be explained in terms of inverse Compton effect on radio, optical or 3 K blackbody photons but rather it is likely to originate from supernova remnants (M100 is indeed a prolific supernova producer) and/or early type stars. As for M100 as a whole, the ratio of X-ray to optical liminosity places it half way between normal galaxies e.g. M31 or M33 and peculiar or active galaxies.     

The einstein observatory medium sensitivity survey

Results are presented from an X-ray survey of 50 square degrees of the high galactic latitude sky at sensitivities in the range 7·10^–14 – 5·10^–12 erg/cm² sec (0·3–3·5 keV) carried out with the Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) aboard the Einstein Observatory. The extragalactic sample consists of 48 sources which have been used to determine the number flux relation. The content of the sample is analyzed in terms of types of sources and is found to be significantly different from the content of similar samples selected at higher fluxes.