12,202 research outputs found
Active X-ray optics for the next generation of X-ray space telescopes
No full textDescribed within is the design, manufacture, metrology and X-ray testing of an active X-ray
prototype intended for the next generation of X-ray telescopes. One of the challenges faced by
the X-ray telescope community is how to combine high resolution and high sensitivity into one
system, as weight limitations place constraints on the optics that can be launched. Therefore the
mandate of the active X-ray prototype is to provide high sensitivity through the ability of the optics
to be nested and to deliver high angular resolution through the active control of the optic’s form.
Piezoelectric unimorph actuators provide the active component: it is intended that they will correct
for figure errors within the optic and therefore increase the angular resolution capability.
The prototype’s design is based upon an ellipsoidal segment which provides point-to-point
focussing of an X-ray source. The prototype itself is composed of an electroformed nickel optic
where the non-reflective surface is populated with 30 piezoelectric actuators and it is the production
of the prototype that is the core of the presented research. Metrology of the actuators’ influence
functions is presented and highlight the prototype’s ability to deform its optic surface by microns.
In addition, the measured influence functions are compared against finite element models and a
distinct similarity between the functions is observed.
The prototype was tested at an X-ray beamline facility in November 2008 and the results
showed the prototype’s ability to correct the optic to achieve an improved angular resolution: from
0.786 arc-minutes to 0.686 arc-minutes in terms of full width half maximum. Finally, difficulties
in the manufacture of the prototype and X-ray testing shall be presented alongside future work in
conclusion to this thesis
A 2 h periodic variation in the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1
No full textSpectroscopy of the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1 using the Gran Telescopio Canarias have revealed a ?2 h periodic variability that is present in the three strongest emission lines. We tentatively interpret this variability as due to orbital motion, making it the first indication of the orbital period of Ser X-1. Together with the fact that the emission lines are remarkably narrow, but still resolved, we show that a main-sequence K dwarf together with a canonical 1.4 M? neutron star gives a good description of the system. In this scenario, the most likely place for the emission lines to arise is the accretion disc, instead of a localized region in the binary (such as the irradiated surface or the stream-impact point), and their narrowness is due instead to the low inclination (?10°) of Ser X-1
Optical and X-ray studies of Be/X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud
No full textHigh-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) have proved to be some of the most interesting X-ray sources in the sky. The growing opulation of Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) Be/X-ray binaries is monitored weekly with two 15ks RXTE observations. My thesis focuses on presenting the analysis of the X-ray data and the optical follow-up that enhances it. I present detailed studies of the H emission features in several prominent Be/X-ray binaries in the SMC and examine their outbursting nature by combining the OGLE optical light curves with the RXTE light curves. This has culminated in an orbital solution for SXP18.3 as well as measured orbital periods for SXP2.37, SXP172 and SXP202B. Through detections of quasi-periodic variations in the optical light curves, the details of interactions taking place between the Be star’s circumstellar disk and the neutron star are being revealed. These data are providing the building blocks that may help explain the physical processes that produce the circumstellar disk. In addition, the optical counterpart to SXP15.3 is discussed in the light of recent XMM-Newton results, raising doubt over the true optical counterpart
Fast Reliable Ray-tracing of Procedurally Defined Implicit Surfaces Using Revised Affine Arithmetic
No full textFast and reliable rendering of implicit surfaces is an important area in the field of implicit modelling. Direct rendering, namely ray-tracing, is shown to be a suitable technique for obtaining good-quality visualisations of implicit surfaces. We present a technique for reliable ray-tracing of arbitrary procedurally defined implicit surfaces by using a modification of Affine Arithmetic called Revised Affine Arithmetic. A wide range of procedurally defined implicit objects can be rendered using this technique including polynomial surfaces, constructive solids, pseudo-random objects, procedurally defined microstructures, and others. We compare our technique with other reliable techniques based on Interval and Affine Arithmetic to show that our technique provides the fastest, while still reliable, ray-surface intersections and ray-tracing. We also suggest possible modifications for the GPU implementation of this technique for real-time rendering of relatively simple implicit models and for near real-time for complex implicit models
The nature of the X-ray transient MAXI J0556−332
No full textPhase-resolved spectroscopy of the newly discovered X-ray transient MAXIJ0556-332 has revealed the presence of narrow emission lines in the Bowen region that most likely arise on the surface of the mass donor star in this low-mass X-ray binary. A period search of the radial velocities of these lines provides two candidate orbital periods (16.43 ± 0.12 and 9.754 ± 0.048h), which differ from any potential X-ray periods reported. Assuming that MAXIJ0556-332 is a relatively high-inclination system that harbours a precessing accretion disc in order to explain its X-ray properties, it is only possible to obtain a consistent set of system parameters for the longer period. These assumptions imply a mass ratio of q≃ 0.45, a radial velocity semi-amplitude of the secondary of K 2≃ 190kms -1 and a compact object mass of the order of the canonical neutron star mass, making a black hole nature for MAXIJ0556-332 unlikely. We also report the presence of strong Niii emission lines in the spectrum, thereby inferring a high N/O abundance. Finally, we note that the strength of all emission lines shows a continuing decay over the ≃1 month of our observations
X-ray polarization in relativistic jets
No full textWe investigate the polarization properties of Comptonized X-rays from relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) using Monte Carlo simulations. We consider three scenarios commonly proposed for the observed X-ray emission in AGN: Compton scattering of blackbody photons emitted from an accretion disc; scattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons and self-Comptonization of intrinsically polarized synchrotron photons emitted by jet electrons. Our simulations show that for Comptonization of disc and CMB photons, the degree of polarization of the scattered photons increases with the viewing inclination angle with respect to the jet axis. In both cases, the maximum linear polarization is ≈20 per cent. In the case of synchrotron self-Comptonization (SSC), we find that the resulting X-ray polarization depends strongly on the seed synchrotron photon injection site, with typical fractional polarizations P≈ 10–20 per cent when synchrotron emission is localized near the jet base, while P≈ 20–70 per cent for the case of uniform emission throughout the jet. These results indicate that X-ray polarimetry may be capable of providing unique clues to identify the location of particle acceleration sites in relativistic jets. In particular, if synchrotron photons are emitted quasi-uniformly throughout a jet, then the observed degree of X-ray polarization may be sufficiently different for each of the competing X-ray emission mechanisms (synchrotron, SSC or external Comptonization) to determine which is the dominant process. However, X-ray polarimetry alone is unlikely to be able to distinguish between disc and CMB Comptonization
New insights on accretion in supergiant fast X-ray transients from XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL observations of IGR J17544-2619
No full textXMM–Newton observations of the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544?2619 are reported and placed in the context of an analysis of archival INTEGRAL/IBIS data that provide a refined estimate of the orbital period at 4.9272?±?0.0004?d. A complete outburst history across the INTEGRAL mission is reported. Although the new XMM–Newton observations (each lasting ?15 ks) targeted the peak flux in the phase-folded hard X-ray light curve of IGR J17544?2619, no bright outbursts were observed, the source spending the majority of the exposure at intermediate luminosities of the order of several 1033?erg?s?1 (0.5–10 keV) and displaying only low level flickering activity. For the final portion of the exposure, the luminosity of IGR J17544?2619 dropped to ?4?×?1032?erg?s?1 (0.5–10 keV), comparable with the lowest luminosities ever detected from this source, despite the observations being taken near to periastron. We consider the possible orbital geometry of IGR J17544?2619 and the implications for the nature of the mass transfer and accretion mechanisms for both IGR J17544?2619 and the supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs) population. We conclude that accretion under the ‘quasi-spherical accretion’ model provides a good description of the behaviour of IGR J17544?2619 and suggests an additional mechanism for generating outbursts based upon the mass accumulation rate in the hot shell (atmosphere) that forms around the neutron star under the quasi-spherical formulation. Hence, we hope to aid in explaining the varied outburst behaviours observed across the SFXT population with a consistent underlying physical model
3D ultrastructural organization of whole Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells studied by nanoscale soft x-ray tomography
No full textThe complex architecture of their structural elements and compartments is a hallmark of eukaryotic cells. The creation of high resolution models of whole cells has been limited by the relatively low resolution of conventional light microscopes and the requirement for ultrathin sections in transmission electron microscopy. We used soft x-ray tomography to study the 3D ultrastructural organization of whole cells of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at unprecedented spatial resolution. Intact frozen hydrated cells were imaged using the natural x-ray absorption contrast of the sample without any staining. We applied different fiducial-based and fiducial-less alignment procedures for the 3D reconstructions. The reconstructed 3D volumes of the cells show features down to 30 nm in size. The whole cell tomograms reveal ultrastructural details such as nuclear envelope membranes, thylakoids, basal apparatus, and flagellar microtubule doublets. In addition, the x-ray tomograms provide quantitative data from the cell architecture. Therefore, nanoscale soft x-ray tomography is a new valuable tool for numerous qualitative and quantitative applications in plant cell biology
X-ray waveguides with multiple guiding layers
No full textWe have generalized the principle of resonant x-ray beam coupling to waveguides containing multiple guiding layers and characterized their x-ray optical properties. In such a device, several coherent beams of a width on the order of 10-100 nm can be extracted at the end of the waveguide. By measuring the farfield pattern formed by the interference of the beams, we demonstrate the possibility of using these devices as new tools to tailor the field distribution in the near- and far-field region for specific applications: Besides coherent diffraction and imaging, interferometry with two or more nanometer sized beams can be envisioned
Synthesis and structures of mono and binuclear nickel(II) thiolate complexes of a dicompartmental pseudo-macrocycle with N(imine)2S2 and N(oxime)2S2 metal-binding sites
No full textThe reaction of [Ni(pftp)] [pftp = N,N-propane-1,3-diyl-(6-formyl-4-methyliminatothiophenolato)] with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence potassium acetate in MeOH resulted in the formation of the complex [Ni(LH2)] [L = N,N-propane-1,3-diyl-(4-methyl-2-methyliminato-6-methyloxime-thiophenolato)] in good yield. A single crystal X-ray diffraction structural determination showed a mononuclear nickel(II) complex with the new acyclic ligand LH2 that had been functionalised with two oxime groups containing an empty N(oxime)2S2 pocket to which another metal ion could be added. A further reaction of [Ni(LH2)] with NiCl2·6H2O, triethylamine and ammonium hexafluorophosphate in MeOH gave a dark red product that yielded red crystals of [Ni2(LH)]PF6·DMF via slow recrystallisation from a DMF/PriOH solvent mixture. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study of these crystals confirmed the presence of a dinuclear nickel(II) complex linked by a dithiolato-bridge. Both nickel(II) ions exhibited square-planar geometry where the metal centres are coordinated in two distinct cis-S2N(imine)2 and cis-S2N(oxime)2 binding sites provided by the new dicompartmental oxime/thiolate-containing ligand L
- …
