Seth Shulman

Discovery of X-ray pulsations in SMC X-1

Observations of SMC X-1 from an Aerobee rocket and an Apollo spacecraft have detected X-ray pulsations with a period of 0.716 s. The pulsed fraction in the 1.6--10 keV energy range is 25--35 percent. Evidence for significant pulse shape and pulsed fraction changes in the 0.6--1.6 keV range is also presented. The spectrum during both observations is fitted by a photon power law, 0.040 E/sup -0/./sup 8/. (AIP)

Observations of outbursts from the recurrent X-ray transient A0538-66 and LMC X-4

Nine X-ray outbursts from the LMC have been observed with the HEAO 1 Large-Area Sky Survey Instrument. Some are shown to originate in the recurrent transient A0538-66, confirming the proposed 16 day periodicity and showing that the duration of the events can be as long as 14 days or as short as a few hours. Deviations from precise periodicity can be attributed to phase jitter or to a change in period occurring around the time of an exceptionally long outburst. Other outbursts which are irregular and consistently shorter originate in LMC X-4. A long-term light curve indicates that the LMC X-4 outbursts occur only when the source is in a high state, but are not strongly correlated with the binary phase.

Observations of the Soft X-Ray Background,

Abstract : Observations of the diffuse X-ray background over a hemisphere of the sky in the galactic anticenter direction provide clear evidence for an excess intensity below 1 keV in all directions. The correlation of this low energy flux with galactic latitude and with hydrogen column density implies that the radiation originates partially within and partially outside the absorbing layers of the Galaxy. (Author)

Soft X-ray emission in Eridanus: An old supernova remnant

Data are presented on the soft X-ray intensity and spectrum of a region of extended emission in the constellation Eridanus. This region also includes optical filaments, the hard X-ray source 3U 0431--10, the radio pulsar MP 0450, a neutral hydrogen shell structure, and an O VI absorption feature. It is suggested that these features are all part of an old supernova remnant with an age in the range 10/sup 5/--10/sup 6/ yrs. (AIP)

High-resolution observations of X-ray sources at the galactic center

A region about 1 deg of arc in radius and centered on the galactic nucleus has been surveyed during a rocket flight, using X-ray detectors equipped with 10-arcmin by 4-deg (FWHM) collimators. The extended source 4U 1743-29 has been resolved into at least four discrete sources having luminosities (2-10 KeV) between 4 by 10 to the 36th power and 3.5 by 10 to the 37th power erg/s.

Soft X-ray sources and supernova remnants in Cygnus - Rocket and Apollo-Soyuz results

Soft X-ray observations of the Cygnus region obtained from proportional counters aboard a rocket and also on the Apollo-Soyuz mission are reported. It is found that Cyg X-6, a source whose flux in confined to the 0.5-2.0-keV band, is a long narrow filament oriented nearly perpendicular to the galactic plane. This feature has a linear dimension greater than or of the order of 150 parsecs, and its spectrum is adequately described by an exponential. Another intense soft source whose flux is also confined to the 0.5-2.0-keV band has been discovered near Gamma Cygni. This source, designed Cyg X-7, has a spectrum characterized by a temperature of 1.5 to 5 million K and a hydrogen column density of at least 10 to the 21st power per sq cm. The possible association of Cyg X-7 with the supernova remnant DR 4 is discussed. An interpretation of this object in terms of the standard adiabatic spherical-shock-wave model yields plausible values for the free paramenters. HB 21, another old supernova remnant, has not been detected as a soft X-ray source.

X-ray evidence for the supernova origin of the North Polar spur

Soft X-ray observations during four scans across the North Polar radio continuum spur have provided additional evidence that the spur encircles an old supernova remnant. From the measured intensity of the X-ray emission, and the known diameter of the remnant, it is estimated that its age is several hundred thousand years and that the supernova was of Type II, with an energy between 10 to the 51st and 10 to the 53rd ergs.

An X-ray survey of distant rich clusters of galaxies with HEAO 1

We present a 1--10keV survey of distance class 4, 5 and 6 Abell clusters using the HEAO 1 NRL large area survey experiment. The survey is a little less than 1/30 of the Abell catalog. Eleven clusters are identified with X-ray sources, and X-ray upper limits are provided for 60 others.

Far-ultraviolet studies. II - Galactic-latitude dependence of the 1530 A interstellar radiation field

A 0.62-sq cm Geiger counter, sensitive between 1425 and 1640 A, was used to map the far-ultraviolet brightness of about half the sky, providing an experimental measurement of the far-ultraviolet interstellar radiation field. At 1530 A, the energy density is approximately 7.4 by 10 to the -17th power erg/cu cm per A. Comparison with integrations of star catalogs calibrated to the ultraviolet shows, as expected, that the bulk of the radiation comes directly from B- and A-type stars. The galactic-latitude dependence of the radiation is analyzed in an unsuccessful attempt to set limits on the absorbing and scattering properties of the interstellar grains in the far-ultraviolet. Excess radiation observed at the galactic pole is probably residual airglow from above the rocket altitude.

The X-ray light curve of 4U 2129+47

We present the light curve of 4U 2129+47 and show that it almost certainly has a period of approx.0.22 days. This is the same period as the optical candidate proposed by Thorstensen et al. Binary X-ray source models, consisting of an M dwarf plus either a neutron star or a white dwarf, are briefly discussed.