K. J. Frost

Millisecond time variations in hard X-ray solar flares

The results of a search for fast spikes in 2830 hard X-ray solar flares as observed with the hard X-ray burst spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) are presented. Hundreds of fast spikes with durations of less than 1 sec have been detected at time resolutions of 128 msec and 10 msec. Fast spikes have been detected with rise and decay times as short as 20 msec and with widths as short as 45 msec. They are the fastest hard X-ray variations yet seen from the sun. The observations of such fast variations place new constraints on the physical nature of the source, and these observations and constraints are discussed in terms of nonthermal and thermal models of flares.

Fast variations in high-energy x-rays from solar flares and their constraints on nonthermal models

The results of a quantitatve analysis of quantitative the temporal properties of over 7000 hard X-ray solar flares are presented. The data were obtained with the Hard X-ray Burst Spectrometer of the SMM satellite. The data reveal examples of hundreds of fast spikes with durations of less than 1 s. The spectra of a well-observed fast spike were compared with the predicted spectra of a detailed nonthermal electron beam model, in order to determine upper limits for electron beam parameters and path lengths. The theoretical spectra were found to be consistent with the observed spectra when the separation of between the accretion site and the thick target was greater than 10 to the 8th cm. It is shown that if the separation is much greater than 3 x 10 to the 9th cm, the electrons with high pitch angles (greater than 60 deg) are either not emitted or are mirrored before they reach the footpoints.

Observations of solar flares on 1980 April 30 and June 7 with the hard X-ray burst spectrometer

Descriptions of hard X-ray observations for solar flares occurring on 1980 April 30 and June 7 are presented. The hard X-ray light curve for the June 7 event shows complex intensity variations on time scales of 100 ms and spectral variations on time scales of seconds. The results for the 1980 April 30 flare are compared with simultaneous observations from other SMM instruments and from ground-based observatories. These comparisons have enhanced our interpretation of the hard X-ray data for this event and have permitted us to identify tentatively the origin of the hard X-ray emission with a small loop structure within the flare region.

High-energy X-ray spectra of Cygnus XR-1 observed from OSO 8

X-ray spectra of Cygnus XR-1 were measured with the scintillation spectrometer on board the OSO-8 satellite during a period of one and one-half to three weeks in each of the years from 1975 to 1977. Observations were made when the source was both in a high state and in a low state. Typical spectra of the source between 15 and 250 keV are presented. The observed pivoting effect is consistent with two temperature accretion disk models of the X-ray emitting region. No significant break in the spectrum occurred at energies up to 150 keV. The high state as defined in the 3 to 6 keV bandwidth was found to be the higher luminosity state of the X-ray source. One transition from a low to a high state occurred during observations. The time of occurrence of this and other transitions is consistent with the hypothesis that all intensity transitions occur near periastron of the binary system, and that such transitions are caused by changes in the mass transfer rate between the primary and the accretion disk around the secondary.

The high energy X-ray spectrum of the Crab Nebula observed from OSO 8

The X-ray spectrum of the Crab Nebula was measured with the scintillation spectrometer on board the OSO-8 satellite. The total emission of the X-ray source shows no long term variability. The spectrum itself can be described by a single power law out to energies of at least 500 keV.

Concurrent radio, infrared, optical and X-ray observations of the nucleus of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151

The nucleus of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 was observed during May and June 1977 at X-ray energies from 20 to 200 keV using the high-energy X-ray spectrometer on OSO 8 at radio frequencies of 2695 and 8085. Data were also taken in the visual, and at infrared wavelengths of 1 to 2 microns, and from 2 to 6 keV using the OSO 8 proportional counter. Optical data showed variability by a factor of 2 within the observing period, which is comparable to the variability in the 2 to 6 keV X-ray flux. No variability, however, was measured at infrared or radio frequencies. The composite spectrum from radio to gamma-ray is plotted, and it is found that the optical and X-ray fluxes varied during the observing period, although it is not known if they varied concurrently.

The high-energy pulsed X-ray spectrum of Hercules X-1 as observed with OSO 8

Hercules X-1 was observed from August 30 to September 10, 1977, by using the high-energy X-ray scintillation spectrometer on board the OSO 8 satellite. The observation, during which the source was monitored continually for nearly an entire ON-state, covered the energy range from 16 to 280 keV. Pulsed-flux measurements as a function of binary orbit and binary phase are presented for energies between 16 and 98 keV. The pulsed flux between 16 and 33 keV exhibited a sharp decrease following the fourth binary orbit and was consistent with zero pulsed flux thereafter. Only weak evidence was found for temporal variation in the pulsed flux between 33 and 98 keV. The pulsed spectrum has been fitted with a power law, a thermal spectrum without features, and a thermal spectrum with a superposed Gaussian centered at 55 keV. The latter fit has the smallest value of chi-square per degree of freedom, and the resulting integrated line intensity is approximately 0.0015 photon/sec per sq cm for a width of 3.1 (+9.1, -2.6) keV. This result, while of low statistical significance, agrees with the value observed by Truemper (1978) during the same ON-state.

High energy x-ray and radio studies of Scorpius X-1

The results from extended high energy X-ray observations of Scorpius XR-1 from the OSO-8 satellite are reported here. The source was observed for a total of 15 days in 1975, 1977 and 1978. Simultaneous 10.7 GHz and 4.75 GHz radio data were obtained during the 1978 observation, and low energy X-ray data, during the 1975 and 1978 observations. The data reveal a lack of any correlation between the high energy X-rays and the other energy ranges. A three standard deviation upper limit of 22% was obtained for any modulation of the high energy flux with the binary period. No high energy tail was observed at any time.

The high energy X-ray spectrum of 4U 1700-37 observed from OSO 8

The most intense hard X-ray source in the confused region in Scorpius has been identified as 4U 1700-37 (=HD 153919). Observations extending over three binary periods in 1978 September were carried out with the high-energy X-ray spectrometer on OSO 8. The 3.4 day modulation is seen above 20 keV with the intensity during eclipse being consistent with zero flux. The photon-number spectrum from 20 to 150 keV is well represented by a single power law with a photon-number spectral index of -2.77 +- 0.35 or by a thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum with kT=27 (+15, -7) keV. The counting rate above 20 keV outside of eclipse shows no evidence for the 96.8 minute X-ray modulation previously reported at lower energies. Despite the difficulties that exist in reconciling both the lack of periodic modulation in the emitted X-radiation and the orbital dynamics of the system with our currently accepted theories of the evolution and physical properties of neutron stars, the observed properties of 4U 1700-37 are all consistent with the source being a spherically accreting neutron star rather than a black hole.

The high-energy X-ray spectrum of Centaurus XR-3 observed from OSO 8

Observations of the X-ray binary Cen XR-3 in the 20-120 keV energy range by means of OSO 8s high energy X-ray spectrometer, during July 16-19, 1975, and July 5-14 and 28-29, 1978, indicate that the source was in a high luminosity state during 1975 and a low luminosity one in 1978. While mean orbital light curves appear similar in shape in both years, orbit-to-orbit intensity variations are noted. Spectral, luminosity, and the 4.84 sec modulation are characterized. Cen XR-3 may be a system in which mass transfer by Roche lobe overflow, and by accretion from a stellar wind, are both effective in the production of observable X-ray radiation.