Hard X-ray Observations Research Articles

Disentangling jet and disc emission from the 2005 outburst of XTE J1118+480

The black hole X-ray transient, XTE J1118+480, has now twice been observed in outburst - 2000 and 2005 - and on both occasions remained in the low/hard X-ray spectral state. Here we present radio, infrared, optical, soft X-ray and hard X-ray observations of the more recent outburst. We find that the lightcurves have very different morphologies compared with the 2000 event and the optical decay is delayed relative to the X-ray/radio. We attribute this lesser degree of correlation to contributions of emission from multiple components, in particular the jet and accretion disc. Whereas the jet seemed to dominate the broadband spectrum in 2000, in 2005 the accretion disc seems to be more prominent and we use an analysis of the lightcurves and spectra to distinguish between the jet and disc emission. There also appears to be an optically thin component to the radio emission in the 2005 data, possibly associated with multiple ejection events and decaying as the outburst proceeds. These results add to the discussion that the term "low/hard state'" covers a wider range of properties than previously thought, if it is to account for XTE J1118+480 during these two outbursts.

RT-2 DETECTION OF QUASI-PERIODIC PULSATIONS IN THE 2009 JULY 5 SOLAR HARD X-RAY FLARE

We present the results of an analysis of hard X-ray observations of the C2.7 solar flare detected by the RT-2 Experiment onboard the Coronas - Photon satellite. We detect hard X-ray pulsations at periods of ~12 s and ~15 s. We find a marginal evidence for a decrease in period with time. We have augmented these results using the publicly available data from the RHESSI satellite. We present a spectral analysis and measure the spectral parameters.

DERIVATION OF STOCHASTIC ACCELERATION MODEL CHARACTERISTICS FOR SOLAR FLARES FROM RHESSI HARD X-RAY OBSERVATIONS

The model of stochastic acceleration of particles by turbulence has been successful in explaining many observed features of solar flares. Here, we demonstrate a new method to obtain the accelerated electron spectrum and important acceleration model parameters from the high-resolution hard X-ray (HXR) observations provided by RHESSI. In our model, electrons accelerated at or very near the loop top (LT) produce thin target bremsstrahlung emission there and then escape downward producing thick target emission at the loop footpoints (FPs). Based on the electron flux spectral images obtained by the regularized spectral inversion of the RHESSI count visibilities, we derive several important parameters for the acceleration model. We apply this procedure to the 2003 November 3 solar flare, which shows an LT source up to 100–150 keV in HXR with a relatively flat spectrum in addition to two FP sources. The results imply the presence of strong scattering and a high density of turbulence energy with a steep spectrum in the acceleration region.

Hard X-ray emission from accretion shocks around galaxy clusters

We show that the hard X-ray (HXR) emission observed from several galaxy clusters is consistent with a simple model, in which the nonthermal emission is produced by inverse Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons by electrons accelerated in cluster accretion shocks: The dependence of HXR surface brightness on cluster temperature is consistent with that predicted by the model, and the observed HXR luminosity is consistent with the fraction of shock thermal energy deposited in relativistic electrons being ≲0.1. Alternative models, where the HXR emission is predicted to be correlated with the cluster thermal emission, are disfavored by the data. The implications of our predictions to future HXR observations (e.g. by NuStar, Simbol-X) and to (space/ground based) γ-ray observations (e.g. by Fermi, HESS, MAGIC, VERITAS) are discussed.

DUAL-STAGE RECONNECTION DURING SOLAR FLARES OBSERVED IN HARD X-RAY

In this Letter, we present hard X-ray (HXR) observation by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager of the 2003 October 29 X10 flare. Two pairs of HXR conjugate footpoints have been identified during the early impulsive phase. This geometric configuration is very much in the manner predicted by the tether-cutting scenario first proposed by Moore & Roumeliotis. The HXR light curves show that the outer pair of footpoints disappeared much faster than the other pair. This temporal behavior further confirms that this event is a good example of the tether-cutting model. In addition, we reconstructed a three-dimensional magnetic field based on the nonlinear force-free extrapolation and found that each pair of HXR footpoints were indeed linked by corresponding magnetic field lines.

A STATISTICAL STUDY OF SPECTRAL HARDENING IN SOLAR FLARES AND RELATED SOLAR ENERGETIC PARTICLE EVENTS

Using hard X-ray observations from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), we investigate the reliability of spectral hardening during solar flares as an indicator of related solar energetic particle (SEP) events at Earth. All RHESSI data are analyzed, from 2002 February through the end of Solar Cycle 23, thereby expanding upon recent work on a smaller sample of flares. Previous investigations have found very high success when associating soft-hard-harder (SHH) spectral behavior with energetic proton events, and confirmation of this link would suggest a correlation between electron acceleration in solar flares and SEPs seen in interplanetary space. In agreement with these past findings, we find that of 37 magnetically well-connected flares (W30–W90), 12 of 18 flares with SHH behavior produced SEP events and none of 19 flares without SHH behavior produced SEPs. This demonstrates a statistically significant dependence of SHH and SEP observations, a link that is unexplained in the standard scenario of SEP acceleration at the shock front of coronal mass ejections and encourages further investigation of the mechanisms which could be responsible.

ANALYSIS OF KINETIC PROCESS OF ENERGETIC ELECTRON DURING A FLARE ON 2004 DECEMBER 1

We analyze the M1.1 flare event peaked at 07:20:00 UT on 2004 December 1 mainly from radio and hard X-ray (HXR) observations. By eliminating the thermal component from the observed total radio emission flux, the non-thermal part of the radio and HXR burst process is investigated in a self-consistent way. The spectral index of energetic electrons deduced from the radio burst evolves as a Soft-Hard-Hard pattern and that from HXR as a Soft-Hard-Soft pattern corresponding to an initial-main-decay phase. The trap-plus-precipitation model is applied in the kinetic process of energetic electrons for this flare event. The radio fluxes at six frequencies selected from the 2.6-7.6 GHz range are fitted with a gyrosynchrotron radiation mechanism. It is found that a linearly increasing electron escape rate can best fit to the observed radio fluxes from 07:00:00 UT to 07:40:00 UT and the slope of the electron escape rate for the six selected frequencies decreases with increasing frequency. During the decay phase from 07:15:00 UT to 07:20:00 UT, the hardened spectrum of the radio burst may be due to the increasing amount of trapped electrons with higher energy by a lower escape rate. Meanwhile, the increasing amount of precipitating electrons with a lower energy band may soften the HXR spectrum. In the decay phase after 07:20:00 UT, thermal emission is the dominating component for the radio burst.

Hard X-ray properties of magnetic cataclysmic variables

Hard X-ray surveys have proven remarkably efficient in detecting intermediate polars and asynchronous polars, two of the rarest type of cataclysmic variable (CV). Here we present a global study of hard X-ray selected intermediate polars and asynchronous polars, focusing particularly on the link between hard X-ray properties and spin/orbital periods. To this end, we first construct a new sample of these objects by cross-correlating candidate sources detected in INTEGRAL/IBIS observations against catalogues of known CVs. We find 23 cataclysmic variable matches, and also present an additional 9 (of which 3 are definite) likely magnetic cataclysmic variables (mCVs) identified by others through optical follow-ups of IBIS detections. We also include in our analysis hard X-ray observations from Swift/BAT and SUZAKU/HXD in order to make our study more complete. We find that most hard X-ray detected mCVs have P_{spin}/P_{orb}<0.1 above the period gap. In this respect we also point out the very low number of detected systems in any band between P_{spin}/P_{orb}=0.3 and P_{spin}/P_{orb}=1 and the apparent peak of the P_{spin}/P_{orb} distribution at about 0.1. The observational features of the P_{spin} - P_{orb} plane are discussed in the context of mCV evolution scenarios. We also present for the first time evidence for correlations between hard X-ray spectral hardness and P_{spin}, P_{orb} and P_{spin}/P_{orb}. An attempt to explain the observed correlations is made in the context of mCV evolution and accretion footprint geometries on the white dwarf surface.

Nonthermal emission from clusters of galaxies

We show that the spectral and radial distribution of the nonthermal emission of massive, M ≳ 1014.5M☉, galaxy clusters may be approximately described by simple analytic expressions, which depend on the cluster thermal X-ray properties and on two model parameter, βcore and ηe. βcore is the ratio of the cosmic-ray (CR) energy density (within a logarithmic CR energy interval) and the thermal energy density at the cluster core, and ηe(p) is the fraction of the thermal energy generated in strong collisionless shocks, which is deposited in CR electrons (protons). Using a simple analytic model for the evolution of intra-cluster medium CRs, which are produced by accretion shocks, we find that βcore ≃ ηp/200, nearly independent of cluster mass and with a scatter Δln βcore ≃ 1 between clusters of given mass. We show that the hard X-ray (HXR) and γ-ray luminosities produced by inverse Compton scattering of CMB photons by electrons accelerated in accretion shocks (primary electrons) exceed the luminosities produced by secondary particles (generated in hadronic interactions within the cluster) by factors ≃ 500(ηe/ηp)(T/10 keV)−1/2 and ≃ 150(ηe/ηp)(T/10 keV)−1/2 respectively, where T is the cluster temperature. Secondary particle emission may dominate at the radio and very high energy (≳ 1 TeV) γ-ray bands. Our model predicts, in contrast with some earlier work, that the HXR and γ-ray emission from clusters of galaxies are extended, since the emission is dominated at these energies by primary (rather than by secondary) electrons. Our predictions are consistent with the observed nonthermal emission of the Coma cluster for ηp ∼ ηe ∼ 0.1. The implications of our predictions to future HXR observations (e.g. by NuStar, Simbol-X) and to (space/ground based) γ-ray observations (e.g. by Fermi, HESS, MAGIC, VERITAS) are discussed. In particular, we identify the clusters which are the best candidates for detection in γ-rays. Finally, we show that our model's results agree with results of detailed numerical calculations, and that discrepancies between the results of various numerical simulations (and between such results and our model) are due to inaccuracies in the numerical calculations.

MULTIWAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF LS I +61° 303 WITH VERITAS,SWIFT, ANDRXTE

We present results from a long-term monitoring campaign on the TeV binary LSI +61 303 with VERITAS at energies above 500 GeV, and in the 2-10 keV hard X-ray bands with RXTE and Swift, sampling nine 26.5 day orbital cycles between September 2006 and February 2008. The binary was observed by VERITAS to be variable, with all integrated observations resulting in a detection at the 8.8 sigma (2006/2007) and 7.3 sigma (2007/2008) significance level for emission above 500 GeV. The source was detected during active periods with flux values ranging from 5 to 20% of the Crab Nebula, varying over the course of a single orbital cycle. Additionally, the observations conducted in the 2007-2008 observing season show marginal evidence (at the 3.6 sigma significance level) for TeV emission outside of the apastron passage of the compact object around the Be star. Contemporaneous hard X-ray observations with RXTE and Swift show large variability with flux values typically varying between 0.5 and 3.0*10^-11 ergs cm^-2 s^-1 over a single orbital cycle. The contemporaneous X-ray and TeV data are examined and it is shown that the TeV sampling is not dense enough to detect a correlation between the two bands.

SUPERNOVA FEEDBACK EFFICIENCY AND MASS LOADING IN THE STARBURST AND GALACTIC SUPERWIND EXEMPLAR M82

We measure the net energy efficiency of supernova and stellar wind feedback in the starburst galaxy M82 and the degree of mass-loading of the hot gas piston driving its superwind by comparing a large suite of 1 and 2-dimensional hydrodynamical models to a set of observational constraints derived from hard X-ray observations of the starburst region (the fluxes of the He-alpha and Ly-alpha-like lines of S, Ar, Ca and Fe, along with the total diffuse E=2--8 keV X-ray luminosity). These are the first direct measurements of the feedback efficiency and mass-loading of supernova heated and enriched plasma in a starburst galaxy. All the models that satisfy the existing observational constraints have medium to high thermalization efficiencies (30% <= epsilon <= 100$%) and the volume-filling wind fluid that flows out of the starburst region is only mildly centrally mass loaded (1.0 <= beta <= 2.8). These results imply a temperature of the plasma within the starburst region in the range 30--80 million Kelvin, a mass flow rate of the wind fluid out of the starburst region of Mdot_tot ~ 1.4--3.6 Msol/yr and a terminal velocity of the wind in the range v_infinity = 1410--2240 km/s. This velocity is considerably larger than the escape velocity from M82 (v_esc <~ 460 km/s) and the velocity of the H-alpha emitting clumps and filaments within M82's wind (v_H-alpha ~ 600 km/s). Drawing on these results we provide a prescription for implementing starburst-driven superwinds in cosmological models of galaxy formation and evolution. (Abridged)

Flares and the chromosphere

Abstract The chromosphere (the link between the photosphere and the corona) plays a crucial role in flare and CME development. In analogies between flares and magnetic substorms, it is normally identified with the ionosphere, but we argue that the correspondence is not exact. Much of the important physics of this interesting region remains to be explored. We discuss chromospheric flares in the context of recent observations of white-light flares and hard X-rays as observed by TRACE and RHESSI, respectively. We interpret key features of these observations as results of the stepwise changes a flare produces in the photospheric magnetic field.

Evaluation of polarization characteristics of multilayer mirror for hard X-ray observation of astrophysical objects

Polarization measurements in the hard X-ray band can provide crucial information about high energy emission at astrophysical objects. Such measurements require an instrument with high signal-to-noise ratio and high photon throughput for which the multilayer hard X-ray mirror is ideally suited. Future hard X-ray missions equipped with the multilayer mirror including ASTRO-H (Formerly NeXT) and NuStar are expected to detect hard X-ray sources in the flux range of 10 μ Crab . We expect a polarimeter mission using such mirrors to follow. Reflection off the mirror surface can introduce small but finite artificial polarization at the focal plane. We have conducted an experiment to set an upper limit for such polarization using a polarized hard X-ray beam at SPring-8 in Japan. In the experiment, reflectance of a multilayer surface has been measured as a function of the angle between the scattering plane and the hard X-ray polarization plane. The angular dependence of the measured reflectance can be translated to the artificial polarization. We have derived from the experimental results that the artificial polarization is no more than ± 0.8 % at the scattering angle 0.51°. This upper limit ensures that we can measure polarization down to ∼ 1 % using the multilayer X-ray mirror.

A Regularized Visibility-Based Approach to Astronomical Imaging Spectroscopy

We develop a formal procedure for the analysis of imaging spectroscopy data, i.e., remote sensing observations of the structure of a radiation source as a function of an observed parameter (e.g., radiation wavelength, frequency, or energy) and two-dimensional location in the observation plane of the instrument used. In general, imaging spectroscopy involves inversions of both spatial and spectral information. “Traditional” approaches typically proceed by performing the spatial inversion first, and then applying spectral deconvolution algorithms on a “pixel-by-pixel” basis across the source to deduce the (line-of-sight-weighted) form of the “source function” (a function involving only physical properties of the source itself) at each location in the observation plane. However, in the special case where spatial information is encoded in the form of visibilities (two-dimensional spatial Fourier transforms of the source structure), it is advantageous, both conceptually and computationally, to reverse the order of the steps in this procedure. In such an alternative approach, the spectral inversion is performed first, yielding visibilities of the unknown source function, and then these source function visibilities are spatially transformed to yield in situ information on the source, as a function of both energy and position. We illustrate the power and fidelity of this method using simulated data and apply it to hard X-ray observations of a solar flare on April 15, 2002. We also discuss briefly its broader applicability.

MAGNETIC CHANGES IN THE COURSE OF THE X7.1 SOLAR FLARE ON 2005 JANUARY 20

Rapid magnetic changes in the course of the X7.1 solar flare on 2005 January 20 at the photosphere in the host active region (AR), NOAA AR 10720, are diagnosed. The database for this study consists of Huairou vector magnetograms, Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) white light and UV/EUV images, RHESSI hard X-ray, and Solar and Heliospheric Observatory EUV observations. For such an event that is close to but not on the solar west limb (N12 W58), the projection effects in the observed vector magnetograms are untangled by combining an intuitive geometric analysis and a transformation of the magnetograms into the heliographic coordination system. The magnetic changes in the horizontal magnetic fields are emphasized. We find definitive evidence of weakening in the horizontal magnetic fields in a few isolated patches in the outskirts of this ?-sunspot group and strengthening in the horizontal fields (HFs) in an extended area centralized at the magnetic neutral line between major sunspots of opposite polarities. The rapid magnetic changes take place at the level of 100-300 G, several factors of ten of the noise level. The identified HF changes are consistent with the darkening of inner penumbrae and weakening of outer penumbrae in this ?-sunspot group. The enhanced HFs spatially coincide with the TRACE 1550 ? rope-like structures lying low above the magnetic neutral line. Unexpectedly, during the flare, the lower lying rope-like structures remain in place, though they exhibit episodic disturbance and brightening, while the outer EUV loops are impulsively expanding. The rapid magnetic changes manifest an impulsive input of free magnetic energy in the photosphere, resulting from an impulsive growth of a new emerging flux region (EFR) along the magnetic neutral line. The facts of the increasing core fields in magnetic nonpotentiality, the continued disturbance of the inner rope-like structures, and the breakout of the outer loops during the major flare cannot be interpreted by any single flare model. However, the nature of magnetohydrodynamical catastrophe is clearly implied for the flare triggering.

Hard X-ray observations of PSR J1833−1034 and its associated pulsar wind nebula

PSR J1833-1034 and its associated Pulsar Wind Nebula (PWN) has been investigated in depth through X-ray observations ranging from 0.1 to 200 keV. The low energy X-ray data from Chandra reveal a complex morphology that is characterised by a bright central plerion, no thermal shell and an extended diffuse halo. The spectral emission from the central plerion softens with radial distance from the pulsar, with the spectral index ranging from $\Gamma $ = 1.61 in the central region to $\Gamma $ =2.36 at the edge of the PWN. At higher energy INTEGRAL detected the source in the 17--200 keV range. The data analysis clearly shows that the main contribution to the spectral emission in the hard X-ray energy range is originated from the PWN, while the pulsar is dominant above 200 keV. Recent HESS observations in the high energy gamma-ray domain show that PSR J1833-1034 is a bright TeV emitter, with a flux corresponding to $\sim$2 per cent of the Crab in 1--10 TeV range. In addition the spectral shape in the TeV energy region matches well with that in the hard X-rays observed by INTEGRAL. Based on these findings, we conclude that the emission from the pulsar and its associated PWN can be described in a scenario where hard X-rays are produced through synchrotron light of electrons with Lorentz factor $\gamma\sim10^{9}$ in a magnetic field of $\sim$10 micro Gauss. In this hypothesis the TeV emission is due to Inverse Compton interaction of the cooled electrons off the Cosmic Microwave Background photons. Search for PSR J1833-1034 X-ray pulsed emission, via RXTE and Swift X-ray observations, resulted in an upper limit that is about 50 per cent.

Modelling shock drift acceleration of electrons at the reconnection outflow termination shock in solar flares

Context. The acceleration of electrons to nonthermal energies in solar flares is one of the main unsolved questions in solar physics. One possibility for producing these energetic electrons is acceleration at the reconnection outflow termination shock (TS). Aims. By comparing theoretical results with observations of nonthermal electrons, we determine whether shock drift acceleration (SDA) at the TS is a viable electron acceleration mechanism. Methods. We used radio observations to constrain the characteristics of the TS, and hard X-ray observations provided by RHESSI , INTEGRAL , and HXRS to obtain the characteristics of the injected electrons. Invoking relativistic shock-drift acceleration at the TS, we calculated electron flux spectra, which are then compared with the corresponding observational results from RHESSI . A parametric study of the model allows us to answer the question under which conditions the TS is a viable electron accelerator. Results. SDA at the TS is able to reproduce the required fluxes and kinetic power of nonthermal electrons in solar flares as long as there is significant heating of the outflow jet and a sufficiently large shock area. A prediction of the model is that the flux and power of injected electrons is higher than the values that are usually given by fitting observed spectra, since the low-energy cutoff is generally below 10 keV. The synthetic spectra are consistent with the observed spectral indices up to ≈ 100 keV. Beyond that, they soften too quickly. Possibly this is because we have not yet considered various additional effects, such as multiple reflections at the shock or some form of preacceleration. The observed relation between electron flux and spectral index is reproduced by the model, as well as the temporal evolution of the energetic electrons. We conclude that SDA at the TS is a viable electron acceleration mechanism that deserves further study.

Hard X-ray emission from the solar corona

This review surveys hard X-ray emissions of non-thermal electrons in the solar corona. These electrons originate in flares and flare-related processes. Hard X-ray emission is the most direct diagnostic of electron presence in the corona, and such observations provide quantitative determinations of the total energy in the non-thermal electrons. The most intense flare emissions are generally observed from the chromosphere at footpoints of magnetic loops. Over the years, however, many observations of hard X-ray and even γ-ray emission directly from the corona have also been reported. These coronal sources are of particular interest as they occur closest to where the electron acceleration is thought to occur. Prior to the actual direct imaging observations, disk occultation was usually required to study coronal sources, resulting in limited physical information. Now RHESSI has given us a systematic view of coronal sources that combines high spatial and spectral resolution with broad energy coverage and high sensitivity. Despite the low density and hence low bremsstrahlung efficiency of the corona, we now detect coronal hard X-ray emissions from sources in all phases of solar flares. Because the physical conditions in such sources may differ substantially from those of the usual “footpoint” emission regions, we take the opportunity to revisit the physics of hard X-radiation and relevant theories of particle acceleration.

Broadband Quasi‐periodic Radio and X‐Ray Pulsations in a Solar Flare

We describe microwave and hard X-ray observations of strong quasi-periodic pulsations from the GOES X1.3 solar flare on 2003 June 15. The radio observations were made jointly by the Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA), the Nobeyama Polarimeter (NoRP), and the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH). Hard X-ray observations were made by RHESSI. Using Fourier analysis, we study the frequency- and energy-dependent oscillation periods, differential phase, and modulation amplitudes of the radio and X-ray pulsations. Focusing on the more complete radio observations, we also examine the modulation of the degree of circular polarization and of the radio spectral index. The observed properties of the oscillations are compared with those derived from two simple models for the radio emission. In particular, we explicitly fit the observed modulation amplitude data to the two competing models. The first model considers the effects of MHD oscillations on the radio emission. The second model considers the quasi-periodic injection of fast electrons. We demonstrate that quasi-periodic acceleration and injection of fast electrons is the more likely cause of the quasi-periodic oscillations observed in the radio and hard X-ray emission, which has important implications for particle acceleration and transport in the flaring sources.

Stochastic Electron Acceleration in Shell-Type Supernova Remnants

We study the stochastic electron acceleration by fast mode waves in the turbulent downstream of weakly magnetized collisionless astrophysical shocks. The acceleration is most efficient in a dissipative layer, and the model characteristics are determined by the shock speed, density, magnetic field, and turbulence decay length. The model explains observations of shell-type supernova remnants RX J1713.7-3946 and J0852.0-4622 and can be tested by observations in hard X-rays with the HXMT and NuSTAR or gamma-rays with the GLAST.