Sandeep Kumar Patel

Chandra Observation of Abell 2142: Survival of Dense Subcluster Cores in a Merger

We use Chandra data to map the gas temperature in the central region of the merging cluster A2142. The cluster is markedly nonisothermal; it appears that the central cooling flow has been disturbed but not destroyed by a merger. The X-ray image exhibits two sharp, bow-shaped, shocklike surface brightness edges or gas density discontinuities. However, temperature and pressure profiles across these edges indicate that these are not shock fronts. The pressure is reasonably continuous across these edges, while the entropy jumps in the opposite sense to that in a shock (i.e., the denser side of the edge has lower temperature, and hence lower entropy). Most plausibly, these edges delineate the dense subcluster cores that have survived a merger and ram pressure stripping by the surrounding shock-heated gas.

Chandra Observations of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 4U 0142+61

We present X-ray imaging, timing, and phase-resolved spectroscopy of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61 using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The spectrum is well described by a power-law plus blackbody model with Γ = 3.35(2), kTBB = 0.458(3) keV, and NH = 0.91(2) × 1022 cm-2; we find no significant evidence for spectral features (0.5-7.0 keV). Time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy shows evidence for evolution in phase in either Γ, kTBB, or some combination thereof as a function of pulse phase. We derive a precise X-ray position for the source and determine its spin period, P = 8.68866(30) s. We have detected emission beyond 4 from the central source and extending beyond 100, likely due to dust scattering in the interstellar medium.

SUNYAEV-ZELDOVICH EFFECT IMAGING OF MACS GALAXY CLUSTERS AT z >0 .5

We present 30 GHz interferometric Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect (SZE) measurements of a redshift-limited, X-ray–selected cluster sample from the Massive Cluster Survey (MACS). All eight of the high-redshift (z > 0:5, �> � 15 � ) galaxy clusters were detected. Additional observations were made at 4.8 GHz with the Very Large Array to help constrain the amount of point source contamination to the SZE decrements. From SZE data alone, we derive electron temperatures in the range 5.5–18.5 keV and total masses between 1.5 and

Chandra Observations of the Faintest Low-Mass X-ray Binaries

A group of persistently faint Galactic X-ray sources exist that, based on their location in the Galaxy, high LX/Lopt, association with X-ray bursts, and absence of low-frequency X-ray pulsations, are thought to be low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). We present results from Chandra observations for eight of these systems: 4U 1708-408, 2S 1711-339, KS 1739-304, SLX 1735-269, GRS 1736-297, SLX 1746-331, 1E 1746.7-3224, and 4U 1812-12. Locations for all these sources, excluding GRS 1736-297, SLX 1746-331, and KS 1739-304 (which were not detected), were improved to 06 error circles (90% confidence). Our observations support earlier findings of transient behavior of GRS 1736-297, KS 1739-304, SLX 1746-331, and 2S 1711-339 (which we detect in one of two observations). Energy spectra for 4U 1708-408, 2S 1711-339, SLX 1735-269, 1E 1746.7-3224, and 4U 1812-12 are hard, with power-law indices typically 1.4-2.1, which is consistent with typical faint LMXB spectra.

Spin-Down of the Long-Period Accreting Pulsar 4U 2206+54

4U 2206+54 is a high-mass X-ray binary which has been suspected to contain a neutron star accreting from the wind of its companion, BD +53{sup 0} 2790. Reig et al. have recently detected 5560 s period pulsations in both Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and International Gamma-ray Astrophysics Laboratory observations which they conclude are due to the spin of the neutron star. We present observations made with Suzaku which are contemporaneous with their RXTE observation of this source. We find strong pulsations at a period of 5554 +- 9 s in agreement with their results. We also present a reanalysis of BeppoSAX observations of 4U 2206+54 made in 1998, in which we find strong pulsations at a period of 5420 +- 28 s, revealing a spin-down trend in this long-period accreting pulsar. Analysis of these data suggests that the neutron star in this system is an accretion-powered magnetar.

A DEEP SEARCH WITH THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE FOR LATE-TIME SUPERNOVA SIGNATURES IN THE HOSTS OF XRF 011030 AND XRF 020427

X-ray Flashes (XRFs), are, like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) thought to signal the collapse of massive stars in distant galaxies. Many models posit that the isotropic equivalent energies of XRFs are lower than those for GRBs, such that they are visible hom a reduced range of distances when compared with GRBs. Here we present the results of two epoch Hubble Space Telescope imaging of two XRFs. These images taken approximately 45 and 200 days post bust reveal no evidence for an associated supernova in either case. Supernovae such as SN 1998bw would have been visible out to z approximately 1.5 in each case, while faint supernovae such as SN 2002ap would be visible to z approximately 1. At these distances the bursts would not fit the observed correlations between E(sub p) and E(sub iso) and would have required extremely luminous X-ray afterglows. We conclude that should these XRFs reside at low redshift, it is necessary either that their line of sight is heavily extinguished, or that XRFs, unlike GRBs do not have temporally coincident supernovae.

RXTE Observations of Soft Gamma Repeater Bursts

The spectra of short soft gamma repeater (SGR) bursts at photon energies above 15 keV are often well described by an optically thin thermal bremsstrahlung model (i.e., F(E) ~ E^−1 exp(−E/kT) ) with kT=20−40 keV. However, the spectral shape burst continuum at lower photon energies (down to 2 keV) is not well established. It is important to better understand the SGR burst spectral properties at lower energies since inadequate description of the burst spectral continuum could lead to incorrect conclusions, such as existence of spectral lines. Here, we present detailed spectral investigations (in 2-200 keV) of 163 bursts from SGR 1806-20, all detected with Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer during the 2004 active episode that included the giant flare on 27 December 2004. We find that the great majority of burst spectra are well represented by the combination of a blackbody plus a OTTB models.

Erratum: “Chandra Localization of XTE J1906+090 and Discovery of Its Optical and Infrared Counterparts” (ApJ, 632, 1069 [2005])

Because of an error at the Press, the listings for affiliations 1 and 2 were incorrect. The correct affiliations are: Sabanc5 University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Orhanl5–Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey; ersing@sabanciuniv.edu. Universities Space Research Association, NSSTC, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805. XD-12, Space Science Branch, National Space Science and Technology Center, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The Press sincerely regrets this error.

A Deep Search with HST for Late Time Supernova Signatures in the Hosts of XRF 011030 and XRF 020427

X-ray Flashes (XRFs), are, like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) thought to signal the collapse of massive stars in distant galaxies. Many models posit that the isotropic equivalent energies of XRFs are lower than those for GRBs, such that they are visible hom a reduced range of distances when compared with GRBs. Here we present the results of two epoch Hubble Space Telescope imaging of two XRFs. These images taken approximately 45 and 200 days post bust reveal no evidence for an associated supernova in either case. Supernovae such as SN 1998bw would have been visible out to z approximately 1.5 in each case, while faint supernovae such as SN 2002ap would be visible to z approximately 1. At these distances the bursts would not fit the observed correlations between E(sub p) and E(sub iso) and would have required extremely luminous X-ray afterglows. We conclude that should these XRFs reside at low redshift, it is necessary either that their line of sight is heavily extinguished, or that XRFs, unlike GRBs do not have temporally coincident supernovae.