Black Hole Systems Seen at High Spectral Resolution: Inflow and Outflow

High-resolution Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray spectroscopic studies of stellar and supermassive black holes have revealed that these phenomenologically different systems share many common physical characteristics. The observed outflows in the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105, the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG–6-30-15 and the Seyfert 2 galaxy IRAS 18325-5926 are the focus of this proceeding.     

The X-ray pulse profile of BG CMi

We present an analysis of the X-ray data of a magnetic cataclysmic variable, BG CMi, obtained with ROSAT in March 1992 and with ASCA in April 1996. We show that four peaks clearly exist in the X-ray pulse profile, unlike a single peak found in the optical profile. The fluxes of two major pulses are 2–5 times larger than those of two minor pulses. The fraction of the total pulsed flux increases from 51% to 85% with increasing energy in 0.1–2.0 keV, whereas it decreases from 96% to 22% in 0.8–10 keV. We discuss the implications of our findings for the origin of the pulse profile and its energy dependence.     

1998年4月23日发生在日面边缘上的软X射线日冕物质抛射

使用Yohkoh卫星上的SXT／HXT和Nobeyama射电日像仪（NoRH）观测资料，对1998年4月23日发生在日面东南边缘上的软X射线日冕物质抛射（CME）作了分析研究，结果表明，软X射线CME具有两个磁偶极源（MDSs）。在两个磁偶极源之间有一个磁容带（MCB）、一个中性电流片9NCS）和少有的激活源（ASs）。在磁容带被激活源变成磁能带期间，物质和能量都向NCS集中，这正是NCS形成的过程。当两磁偶极源被MEB接通时，NCS形成，并且CME发生，物质抛射不仅从NCS处升起，而且从整个MEB上升起，CME膨胀环具有两个足点，它们正是两个磁偶极源，膨胀环的头总是倾向于弱源的足点。头的轨迹是中性线，由中性线也可以确认NCS的位置。     

Gas hydrate characterization and grain-scale imaging of recovered cores from the Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well, Alaska North Slope

Using cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (CSEM), powder X-ray diffraction, and gas chromatography methods, we investigated the physical states, grain characteristics, gas composition, and methane isotopic composition of two gas-hydrate-bearing sections of core recovered from the BPXA-DOE-USGS Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well situated on the Alaska North Slope. The well was continuously cored from 606.5 m to 760.1 m depth, and sections investigated here were retrieved from 619.9 m and 661.0 m depth. X-ray analysis and imaging of the sediment phase in both sections shows it consists of a predominantly fine-grained and well-sorted quartz sand with lesser amounts of feldspar, muscovite, and minor clays. Cryogenic SEM shows the gas-hydrate phase forming primarily as a pore-filling material between the sediment grains at approximately 70-75% saturation, and more sporadically as thin veins typically several tens of microns in diameter. Pore throat diameters vary, but commonly range 20-120 microns. Gas chromatography analyses of the hydrate-forming gas show that it is comprised of mainly methane (>99.9%), indicating that the gas hydrate is structure I. Here we report on the distribution and articulation of the gas-hydrate phase within the cores, the grain morphology of the hydrate, the composition of the sediment host, and the composition of the hydrate-forming gas.     

西南喀斯特地区不同石漠化阶段土壤黏土矿物组成及其含量变异研究

为了探索西南喀斯特地区土壤中黏土矿物组成及其含量的变异规律,以贵州省普定县和荔波县不同石漠化阶段典型土壤的黏土矿物为例,采用X-射线衍射仪图谱分析方法,计算得到黏土矿物组成及其含量,探讨不同石漠化阶段黏土矿物组成变化规律及其含量之间的线性关系.结果表明:不同石漠化阶段黏土矿物的组成是相同的,均为高岭石、蒙脱石和伊利石;在未石漠化、轻度石漠化、中度石漠化阶段,蒙脱石在剖面表层的质量分数分别为27.82％、29.34％、58.32％,高岭石分别为21.39％、31.81％、36.93％,伊利石分别为50.79％、38.85％、4.75％;在西南喀斯特地区,各石漠化阶段伊利石与蒙脱石的含量之间以及伊利石和高岭石的含量之间都呈显著的线性相关,相关系数分别为-0.970 3、-0.945 6;西南喀斯特地区土壤相似的成土作用和成土环境造成了黏土矿物相同的组成,而黏土矿物含量的差异说明各成土作用的程度或阶段是不同的;粉粒中的黏土矿物主要为石英和白云母,而砂砾中的黏土矿物主要为石英.     

Formation and Evolution of Intermediate Mass Black Hole X-Ray Binaries

The evolution of young (≲ 10 Myr) star clusters with a density exceeding about 10⁵ star pc⁻³ are strongly affected by physical stellar collisions during their early lifetime. In such environments the same star may participate in several tens to hundreds of collisions ultimately leading to the collapse of the star to a black hole of intermediate mass. At later time, the black hole may acquire a companion star by tidal capture or by dynamical – three-body – capture. When the captured star evolves it starts to fill its Roche-lobe and transfers mass to its accompanying black hole. This then leads to a bright phase of X-ray emission, which lasts for the remaining main-sequence lifetime of the donor. If the star captured by the intermediate mass black hole is relatively low mass ≲ 2 M⊙) the binary will also be visible as a bright source in gravitational waves. Based on empirical models we argue that, for as long as the donor remains on the main sequence, the source will be ultraluminous L_x >rsim 10⁴⁰ ergs^-1 for about a week every few month. When the donor star is more massive >15 M⊙, or evolved off the main sequence the bright time is longer, but the total accretion phase lasts much shorter.     

Ultraviolet Studies Of Interacting Binaries

Interacting Binaries consist of a variety of stellar objects in different stages of evolution and those containing accreting compact objects still represent a major challenge to our understanding of not only close binary evolution but also of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. These end-points of binary star evolution are ideal laboratories for the study of accretion and outflow processes, and provide insight on matter under extreme physical conditions. One of the key-questions of fundamental relevance is the nature of SN Ia progenitors. The study of accreting compact binary systems relies on observations over the entire electromagnetic spectrum and we outline here those unresolved questions for which access to the ultraviolet range is vital, as they cannot be addressed by observations in any other spectral region.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Solar Impulsive Hard X-Ray Emission and Two-Stage Electron Acceleration

Heating and acceleration of electrons in solar impulsive hard X-ray (HXR) flares are studied according to the two-stage acceleration model developed by Zhang for solar 3He-rich events. It is shown that electrostatic H-cyclotron waves can be excited at a parallel phase velocity less than about the electron thermal velocity and thus can significantly heat the electrons (up to 40 MK) through Landau resonance. The preheated electrons with velocities above a threshold are further accelerated to high energies in the flare-acceleration process. The flare-produced electron spectrum is obtained and shown to be thermal at low energies and power law at high energies. In the non-thermal energy range, the spectrum can be double power law if the spectral power index is energy dependent or related. The electron energy spectrum obtained by this study agrees quantitatively with the result derived from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) HXR observations in the flare of 2002 July 23. The total flux and energy flux of electrons accelerated in the solar flare also agree with the measurements.     

Physics of the sun’s hot atmosphere

This article briefly overviews the physics of the Sun’s hot atmosphere, using observations from recent solar spacecrafts: Yohkoh, SOHO, TRACE and RHESSI.     

A study of the X-ray characteristics of mixed-morphology supernova remnants with 1720 MHz OH maser emission

Radio surveys of supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Galaxy have discovered 19 SNRs which are accompanied by the OH maser emission at 1720 MHz. This unusual maser is thought to be produced behind a shock front when a SNR expands into a molecular cloud. An important ingredient of this model is that the X-ray emission from the remnant enhances the production of OH molecules. In this sense, to study the characteristics of the mixed-morphology SNRs accompanied by the OH maser emission at 1720 MHz is important. By studying the X-ray characteristics of the mixed-morphology SNRs accompanied by the 1720 MHz OH maser emission, it is found that the ionization rate of X-ray is not correlated with the physical parameters , D, r, r² and so on, but is correlated with the X-ray luminosity L_x. Meanwhile, L_x is closely correlated with the beam flux density of the weakest feature of the accompanying 1720 MHz OH maser emission. These mean that the X-ray emission from SNRs is sufficient to dissociate the water molecules behind a shock front and to produce the 1720 MHz OH masers.