GeV Gamma-Ray Sources

We report on the preliminary extension of our work on cataloging the GeV sky to approximately 7 years of CGRO/EGRET observations with special emphasis on a search for transient sources. The search method and significance levels are presented. Our initial results on 13 possible transients indicate that 3 may be new gamma-ray sources. Sixteen new steady GeV sources are also detected, 3 of which have never been reported as gamma-ray sources

The Role of Variations of Central Density Of White Dwarf Progenitors Upon Type Ia Supernovae

The discovery of the accelerated expansion of the universe using Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) has stimulated a tremendous amount of interest in the use of SNe Type Ia events as standard cosmological candles, and as a probe of the fundamental physics of dark energy. Recent observations of SNe Ia have indicated a significant population difference depending on the host galaxy. These observational findings are consistent with SNe Ia Ni-56 production in star-forming spiral galaxies some 0.1 solar masses higher - and therefore more luminous than in elliptical galaxies. We present recent full-star, 3D simulations of Type Ia supernovae which may help explain the nature of this systematic variation in SNe Ia luminosities, as well as the nature of the Ia explosion mechanism. These insights may in turn eventually shed light on the mystery of dark energy itself.Comment: 10 Pages, 3 Figures, Submitted to Proceedings of The Ninth Asia-Pacific International Conference on Gravitation and Astrophysics (ICGA9) held June 29 to July 3, 2009, at Huazhong University of Science & Technology in Wuhan, China

Urspelerpes, U. brucei

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyEarth and Planetary Science

Non-association of a celestial gamma ray source with the new Milky Way satellite galaxy

The newly discovered satellite galaxy located in the Milky Way galactic anti-center region is discussed along with the possibility that a nearby gamma ray source is associated with it. The factors which led to the conclusion that the gamma ray excess is not associated with the galaxy are considered

Three New Long Period X-ray Pulsars Discovered in the Small Magellanic Cloud

The Small Magellanic Cloud is increasingly an invaluable laboratory for studying accreting and isolated X-ray pulsars. We add to the class of compact SMC objects by reporting the discovery of three new long period X-ray pulsars detected with the {\it Chandra X-ray Observatory}. The pulsars, with periods of 152, 304 and 565 seconds, all show hard X-ray spectra over the range from 0.6 - 7.5 keV. The source positions of the three pulsars are consistent with known H-alpha emission sources, indicating they are likely to be Be type X-ray binary star systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Simultaneous IUE, EXOSAT and optical observations of the unusual AM Her type variable H058+608

Simultaneous observations of the AM Her type variable H0538+608 made with IUE, EXOSAT, and a 1.3 m ground based telescope, and subsequent optical spectrophotometry at high and low resolution are discussed. The X-ray and optical data show clear evidence of a 3.30 + or - 0.03 hr period. Three SWP spectra were taken outside of eclipse and during overlapping phase intervals. The UV spectra contain strong emission lines characteristic of this class of objects and a flat continuum which appears to be deficient, given the brightness of source at optical and X-ray wavelengths. There is evidence for intensity variations in emission lines, particularly C IV. The X-ray light curves for H0538+608 reveal behavior which may be related to irregularities in its accretion flow

Discovery of Pulsed X-ray Emission from the SMC Transient RX J0117.6-7330

We report on the detection of pulsed, broad-band, X-ray emission from the transient source RX J0117.6-7330. The pulse period of 22 seconds is detected by the ROSAT/PSPC instrument in a 1992 Sep 30 - Oct 2 observation and by the CGRO/BATSE instrument during the same epoch. Hard X-ray pulsations are detectable by BATSE for approximately 100 days surrounding the ROSAT observation (1992 Aug 28 - Dec 8). The total directly measured X-ray luminosity during the ROSAT observation is 1.0E38 (d/60 kpc)^2 ergs s-1. The pulse frequency increases rapidly during the outburst, with a peak spin-up rate of 1.2E-10 Hz s-1 and a total frequency change 1.8%. The pulsed percentage is 11.3% from 0.1-2.5 keV, increasing to at least 78% in the 20-70 keV band. These results establish RX J0117.6-7330 as a transient Be binary system.Comment: 17 pages, Latex, aasms, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter