arXiv subjects

A. Smale

Publications and source records attributed to A. Smale.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

VTSCat: The VERITAS Catalog of Gamma-Ray Observations

The ground-based gamma-ray observatory VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) is sensitive to photons of astrophysical origin with energies in the range between $\approx 85$ GeV to $\approx 30$ TeV. The instrument consists of four 12-m diameter imaging Cherenkov telescopes operating at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO) in southern Arizona. VERITAS started four-telescope operations in 2007 and collects about 1100 hours of good-weather data per year. The VERITAS collaboration has published over 100 journal articles since 2008 reporting on gamma-ray observations of a large variety of objects: Galactic sources like supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, and binary systems; extragalactic sources like star forming galaxies, dwarf-spheroidal galaxies, and highly-variable active galactic nuclei. This note presents VTSCat: the catalog of high-level data products from all VERITAS publications.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

2018 NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop: Scientific Organizing Committee Report

This report provides detailed findings on the critical laboratory astrophysics data needs that are required to maximize the scientific return for NASA's current and near-term planned astrophysics missions. It also provides prioritized rankings on said laboratory astrophysics data, generally by waveband. The Report is based on community input gathered at the 2018 NASA Laboratory Astrophysics Workshop (LAW) from presentations, from discussions during workshop breakout sessions, and from other solicited input deemed appropriate by the Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) obtained prior to and after the meeting. Hence, the Report is a direct reflection of the spirit and participant make-up of LAW 2018. The Report also outlines specific opportunities and threats facing NASA's Laboratory Astrophysics Program, and articulates concrete actions by which the Agency can capitalize on the opportunities and mitigate the challenges. The Report was prepared by the SOC, with help from some invited speakers, and input and review from community members.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2017

NASA's Long-Term Astrophysics Data Archives

NASA regards data handling and archiving as an integral part of space missions, and has a strong track record of serving astrophysics data to the public, beginning with the the IRAS satellite in 1983. Archives enable a major science return on the significant investment required to develop a space mission. In fact, the presence and accessibility of an archive can more than double the number of papers resulting from the data. In order for the community to be able to use the data, they have to be able to find the data (ease of access) and interpret the data (ease of use). Funding of archival research (e.g., the ADAP program) is also important not only for making scientific progress, but also for encouraging authors to deliver data products back to the archives to be used in future studies. NASA has also enabled a robust system that can be maintained over the long term, through technical innovation and careful attention to resource allocation. This article provides a brief overview of some of NASA's major astrophysics archive systems, including IRSA, MAST, HEASARC, KOA, NED, the Exoplanet Archive, and ADS.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2003

Simultaneous ASCA and HST/GHRS observations of Cygnus X-2/V1341 Cygni

We present results from ultraviolet and X-ray observations of the low mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-2. The simultaneous HST/GHRS and ASCA observations took place during the low state of an 82-day cycle. We compare our observations as well as archival IUE and RXTE data with models that predict ultraviolet and optical continuum emission from an X-ray heated disk and a Roche-lobe-filling star. The model predictions are consistent with observed optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray variations over both orbital and long-term periods. The X-ray spectral state, the luminosities implied by fits to the X-ray data, the ultraviolet continuum and line fluxes, and the mass accretion rates obtained from fits to the ultraviolet continuum are consistent with location of our observations on the normal and horizontal branches of the Z-shaped X-ray color-color diagram. A combination of changes to mass accretion rate and obstruction by a warped disk can be invoked as a possible explanation for the motion of the ``Z'' in the color-color plane. The GHRS/G160M measurements concentrated on NV and HeII. The low-resolution (GHRS/G140L) observations captured SiIV, NIV, and CIV. Although the relative line fluxes are consistent with emission from an X-ray heated accretion disk corona, predictions from models of line emission from simple disks do not fit the observed emission line profiles.The radial velocities (80-130 km s$^{-1}$) are consistent with emission from the optical star at the orbital phase (0.70-0.74) of our observations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Day-Scale Variability of 3C 279 and Searches for Correlations in Gamma-Ray, X-Ray, and Optical Bands

Light curves of 3C 279 are presented in optical (R-band), X-rays (RXTE/PCA), and gamma rays (CGRO/EGRET) for 1999 Jan-Feb and 2000 Jan-Mar. During both of those epochs the gamma-ray levels were high, and all three observed bands demonstrated substantial variation, on time scales as short as one day. Correlation analyses provided no consistent pattern, although a rather significant optical/gamma-ray correlation was seen in 1999, with a gamma-ray lag of ~2.5 days, and there are other suggestions of correlations in the light curves. For comparison, correlation analysis is also presented for the gamma-ray and X-ray light curves during the large gamma ray flare in 1996 Feb and the two gamma-bright weeks leading up to it; the correlation at that time was strong, with a gamma-ray/X-ray offset of no more than 1 day.

astro-ph↗