arXiv subjects

M. Orlandini

Publications and source records attributed to M. Orlandini.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

Discovery of a Transient Absorption Edge in the X-ray Spectrum of GRB 990705

We report the discovery of a transient equivalent hydrogen column density with an absorption edge at ~3.8 kiloelectron volts in the spectrum of the prompt x-ray emission of gamma-ray burst (GRB) 990705. This feature can be satisfactorily modeled with a photoelectric absorption by a medium located at a redshift of ~0.86 and with an iron abundance of ~75 times the solar one. The transient behavior is attributed to the strong ionization produced in the circumburst medium by the GRB photons. The high iron abundance points to the existence of a burst environment enriched by a supernova along the line of sight. The supernova explosion is estimated to have occurred about 10 years before the burst. Our results agree with models in which GRBs originate from the collapse of very massive stars and are preceded by a supernova event

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

X-ray emission in the direction of the SNR G318.2+0.1

We report the discovery of three X-ray sources within the radio shell G318.2+0.1, one of which may be extended. Two of the sources were detected during the \sax Galactic Plane Survey and one was found in archival \ros data. The fainter \sax source is coincident with an ultra-compact galactic H {\sc ii} region, and we discuss the possibility that it can be a flaring young stellar object, while the other \sax source has no obvious counterpart. The PSPC source is consistent with emission from a foreground star. The hard spectrum of the brighter \sax source is consistent with a non-thermal origin, although a thermal nature cannot be formally excluded. If this source is associated with G318.2+0.1, then its hard spectrum suggests that it may be site of non-thermal electron acceleration.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Broad band spectrum of Cygnus X-1 in two spectral states with BeppoSAX

We report on the 0.5--200 keV spectral properties of Cyg X-1 observed at different epochs with the Narrow Field Instruments of the BeppoSAX satellite. The source was in its soft state during the first observation of 1996 June. In the second observation of 1996 September, the source had parameters characteristic to its hard state. A soft X-ray excess, a broad Fe K$α$ line and Compton reflection are clearly detected in both states. The soft-state broad-band continuum is well modeled by a disk blackbody (accounting for the soft excess) and Compton upscattering of the disk photons by a hybrid, thermal/non-thermal, plasma, probably forming a corona above the disk (also giving rise to the Compton-reflection component). In the hard state, the primary hard X-ray spectrum can be well modeled by Compton upscattering of a weak blackbody emission by a thermal plasma at a temperature of $\sim 60$ keV. The soft excess is then explained by thermal Comptonization of the same blackbody emission by another hot plasma cloud characterized by a low value of its Compton parameter. Finally, we find the characteristic ratio of the bolometric flux in the soft state to that in the hard state to be about 3. This value is much more compatible with theories of state transitions than the previously reported (and likely underestimated) value of 1.5.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Hard X-rays from Type II bursts of the Rapid Burster and its transition toward quiescence

We report on 4 BeppoSAX Target Of Opportunity observations of MXB 1730-335, the Rapid Burster (RB), made during the 1998 February-March outburst. In the first observation, approximately 20 days after the outburst peak, the X-ray light curve showed Type II bursts at a rate of 43 per hour. Nine days later, during the second BeppoSAX pointing, only 5 Type II bursts were detected at the beginning of the observation. During the third pointing no X-ray bursts were detected and in the fourth and final observation the RB was not detected at all. Persistent emission from the RB was detected up to 10 keV during the first three pointings. The spectra of the persistent and bursting emissions below 10 keV were best fit with a model consisting of two blackbodies. An additional component (a power law) was needed to describe the 1-100 keV bursting spectrum when the persistent emission was subtracted. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of the RB beyond 20 keV. We discuss the evolution of the spectral parameters for the bursting and persistent emission during the outburst decay. The light curve, after the second BeppoSAX pointing, showed a steepening of the previous decay trend, and a sharper decay rate leading to quiescence was observed with BeppoSAX in the two subsequent observations. We interpret this behaviour as caused by the onset of the propeller effect. Finally, we infer a neutron star magnetic field B ~ 4 10^8 Gauss.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Discovery of hard X-ray emission from Type II bursts of the Rapid Burster

We report on results of BeppoSAX Target Of Opportunity (TOO) observations of the source MXB 1730-335, also called the Rapid Burster (RB), made during its outburst of February-March 1998. We monitored the evolution of the spectral properties of the RB from the outburst decay to quiescence. During the first TOO, the X-ray light curve of the RB showed many Type II bursts and its broadband (1-100 keV) spectrum was acceptably fit with a two blackbody plus power law model. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first time that this source is detected beyond 30 keV.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

BeppoSAX Observations of the Galactic Center Region: Soft x-rays from the radio halo of SgrAEast

The BeppoSAX satellite performed a survey of the Galactic Center Region in the 1-10 keV energy band with its Narrow Field Instruments. Several bright X-ray sources containing neutron stars and black holes have been observed and studied, including the possible counterpart of SgrA*. Here we report the results on the diffuse emission coming from the SgrA Complex. The emission from within 8 arcmin from SgrA* has a double-temperature thermal spectrum (kT1~0.6 keV and kT2~8 keV) and an energy-dependent morphology: the hard emission (5-10 keV) is elongated along the galactic plane, while the soft one (2-5 keV) shows a triangular shape, very similar to the radio halo of SgrAEast. This spatial correlation and the physical parameters of the lower temperature component support the interpretation of the radio halo of the Sgr~A~East shell as a SNR.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Unusual quiescent X-ray activity from XTE J0421+560 (CI Cam)

We report on BeppoSAX observations of the X-ray transient XTE J0421+560 in quiescence 156, 541, and ~690 days after the maximum of the 1998 April outburst. In the first observation the source was soft with a power-law photon index of 4.0 (+1.9 -0.9) and absorption, NH, of (1.1 +4.9 -1.1) X 10^21 atom/cm2. In the second observation, the source brightened by a factor ~15 in the 1-10 keV energy range, became significantly harder with a photon index of 1.86 (+0.27 -0.32) and was strongly absorbed with NH = (4.0 +/- 0.8) X 10^23 atom/cm2. There is evidence for a narrow emission line in both spectra at \~7 keV. In the third observation, the source had faded by a factor ~$8 from the previous observation to below the BeppoSAX detection level. It is possible that these variations result from orbital motion of a compact object around the B[e] star companion with the intense, absorbed, spectrum arising during passage through dense circumstellar material. If this is the case, the system may be continuing to exhibit periodic activity.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

BeppoSAX observation of the transient X-ray pulsar GS 1843+00

We present the results from both the timing and spectroscopic analysis of the transient X-ray pulsar GS 1843+00 observed by the BeppoSAX satellite on 1997 April 4, when the source was at a luminosity of ~10^{37} erg s^{-1}. GS 1843+00 shows a very hard spectrum that is well fitted by an absorbed power law (N_H \~2.3 10^{22} cm^{-2}) modified by a high energy cut-off above 6 keV. The source shows a small pulse amplitude in the whole energy band. The pulse profile evolves with energy from a double-peaked to single-peaked shape. The barycentric pulse period is 29.477+/-0.001 s.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Prompt and afterglow emission from the X-ray rich GRB981226 observed with BeppoSAX

We discuss observations of the prompt X and gamma-ray emission and X-ray afterglow from GRB981226. This event has the weakest gamma-ray peak flux detected with the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor. It shows an isolated X-ray precursor and the highest X-ray to gamma-ray fluence ratio measured thus far with the Wide Field Cameras. The event was followed up with the Narrow Field Instruments, and the X-ray afterglow was detected up to 10 keV. The afterglow flux is observed to rise from a level below the sensitivity of the MECS/LECS telescopes up to a peak flux of (5 +/-1) * 10^(-13) erg cm-2 s-1, in the 2-10 keV energy band. This rise is followed by a decline according to a power law with index of 1.31 (+0.44,-0.39). We discuss these results in the light of the current GRB models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

ASCA and BeppoSAX observations of the peculiar X-ray source 4U1700+24/HD154791

The X-ray source 4U1700+24/HD154791 is one of the few galactic sources whose counterpart is an evolved M star. In X-rays the source shows extreme erratic variability and a complex and variable spectrum. While this strongly suggests accretion onto a compact object, no clear diagnosis of binarity was done up to now. We report on ASCA and BeppoSAX X-ray broad band observations of this source and on ground optical observations from the Loiano 1.5 m telescope.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

BeppoSAX spectrum of GRB971214: evidence of a substantial energy output during afterglow

We report the X/gamma-ray spectrum of GRB971214 and of its afterglow. The afterglow was measured few hours after the main event and for an elapsed time of more than two days. The measure of this GRB and afterglow is relevant due to its extreme, cosmological distance (z=3.42). The prompt event shows a hard photon spectrum, consistent with a broken power law with photon indices Gamma_X~0.1 below ~20 keV and Gamma_g~1.3 above 60 keV. The afterglow spectrum, measured with the MECS and LECS BeppoSAX telescopes, is consistent with a power law with spectral photon index Gamma=1.6. Within the statistical accuracy of our measure no spectral evolution is detected during the observation of the afterglow. When integrated during the time span covered by BeppoSAX observations, the power in the afterglow emission, even with very conservative assumptions, is at least comparable with the power in the main event. The IR-to-X rays broad band spectrum is also presented, collecting data from the literature and adding them to the BeppoSAX measure. It shows that the predictions from synchrotron emission models is qualitatively confirmed. The BeppoSAX measurement of the X and gamma ray spectrum of this GRB/afterglow is discussed in the framework of current theoretical models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

X-ray/optical observations of XTE J0421+560/CI Cam in quiescence

We report on a BeppoSAX observation of the transient X-ray source XTE J0421+560 during quiescence performed ~150 days after the 1998 April outburst. The source had an unabsorbed 0.5-10 keV flux of 6.7x10^{-12} erg/cm2/s and was still remarkably soft with most of the emission below 2 keV. The X-ray spectrum can be fit with the same two-temperature model as the outburst observations. There is evidence for the presence of an Iron emission feature at ~7 keV. We report also on a series of optical observations performed using the 72 cm Teramo-Normale Telescope (TNT) of the Teramo Observatory, and the 1.5 m Loiano Telescope of the Bologna Observatory. The optical spectrum includes very strong Balmer emission lines, He I, [Fe II], and [O I] features. From the observed L_x/Lopt~10^{-3} the quiescent optical emission cannot be due to re-processing of the X-rays, but has to be generated in the optical companion or the circumstellar material. Moreover, the quiescent X-ray luminosity cannot be due to the optical star if it is of spectral type OB. Although the nature of the compact object present in the XTE J0421+560/CI Cam system cannot be firmly established, we speculate that it is most probably a white dwarf.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

BeppoSAX and Chandra Observations of SAXJ0103.2-7209=2E0101.5-7225: a new Persistent 345s X-ray Pulsar in the SMC

We report the results of a 1998 July BeppoSAX observation of a field in the SMC which led to the discovery of 345s pulsations in the X-ray flux of SAXJ0103.2-7209. The BeppoSAX X-ray spectrum is well fit by an absorbed power-law with photon index 1.0 plus a black body component with kT=0.1keV. The unabsorbed luminosity in the 2-10 keV energy range is 1.2x10^{36} erg/s. In a very recent Chandra observation the 345s pulsations are also detected. The available period measurements provide a constant period derivative of -1.7s/yr over the last three years making SAXJ0103.2-7209 one of the most rapidly spinning-up X-ray pulsars known. The BeppoSAX position is consistent with that of the Einstein source 2E0101.5-7225 and the ROSAT source RXJ0103.2-7209. This source was detected at a luminosity level of few 10^{35}-10^{36} erg/s in all datasets of past X-ray missions since 1979. The ROSAT HRI and Chandra positions are consistent with that of a m_V=14.8 Be spectral type star already proposed as the likely optical counterpart of 2E0101.5-7225. We conclude that SAXJ0103.2-7209 and 2E0101.5-7225 are the same source, a relatively young and persistent X-ray pulsar in the SMC.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Broad-band BeppoSAX observation of the low-mass X-ray binary X1822-371

Results of a 1997 September 9-10 BeppoSAX observation of the 5.57 hr low-mass X-ray binary (LMXRB) X1822-371 are presented. The 0.3-40 keV spectrum is unusually complex and cannot be fit by any of the standard models applied to other LMXRB. At least two components are required. One component has a shape consistent with that expected from the Comptonization of an input soft (Wein) spectrum while the other, contributing ~40% of the 1-10 keV flux, is consistent with being a blackbody. In addition, there is a ``dip'' in the spectrum which can be modeled by a 1.33 +0.05 -0.11 keV absorption edge with an optical depth, tau, of 0.28 +/- 0.06. If the same model is fit to ASCA Solid-State Imaging Spectrometer spectra obtained in 1993 and 1996, then reasonable fits are also obtained, with a similar absorption feature required. The nature of this feature is highly uncertain; its energy corresponds to the K-edges of highly ionized Ne x and neutral Mg, or to an L-edge of moderately ionized Fe. Surprisingly, no strong (tau > 0.05) Fe-K or (tau > 0.18) O-K edges are visible. The folded lightcurve of X1822-371 is similar to previous observations, except that no strong softening is seen near the eclipse. An updated orbital ephemeris is provided.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Prompt and delayed emission properties of Gamma-Ray Bursts observed with BeppoSAX

We investigated the spectral evolution in the 2--700 keV energy band of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) detected by the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GRBM) and localized with the Wide Field Cameras (WFCs) aboard the BeppoSAX satellite before May 1998. Most of them have been followed-up with the Narrow Field Instruments aboard the same satellite. In the light of these results we discuss open issues on the GRB phenomenon. We find that the optically thin synchrotron shock model (SSM) provides an acceptable representation of most of the time-resolved GRB spectra extending down to 2 keV, except in the initial phases of several bursts and during the whole duration of the quite strong GRB970111, where a low-energy photon depletion with respect to the thin SSM spectrum is observed. We find that the X-ray afterglow starts at about 50% of the GRB duration, and that its fluence, as computed from the WFC light curve, is consistent with the decay law found from the afterglow NFI observations. We also investigate the hydrodynamical evolution of the GRB in our sample and their associated afterglow, when it was detected. We find that the photon index of the latest spectrum of the GRB prompt emission is correlated with the index of the afterglow fading law, when available, as expected on the basis of an external shock of a relativistic fireball.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Discovery of a faint 437 s X-ray pulsar 1SAX J1452.8-5949

A new pulsar, 1SAX J1452.8-5949, was discovered during a BeppoSAX galactic plane survey on 1999 July 20 at R.A.=14h 52m 49s, Dec=-59 49' 18'' (J2000) with a 90% confidence uncertainty radius of 50''. Coherent pulsations were detected with a barycentric period of a 437.4 +/- 1.4 s. The X-ray spectrum can be modeled by a power-law with a photon index of 1.4 +/- 0.6 and absorption consistent with the galactic value in the direction of the source ($1.9 \times 10^{22}$ atom cm$^{-2}$). An Fe K line with a equivalent width of $\approxgt$1.3 keV may be present in the spectrum. The unabsorbed 2-10 keV flux is $9 \times 10^{-13}$ erg cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. The X-ray properties and lack of an obvious optical counterpart are consistent with a Be star companion at a distance of between approximately 6 and 12 kpc which implies a luminosity of (4-15)$\times 10^{33}$ erg s$^{-1}$.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

BeppoSAX spectroscopy of the Hercules X-1 short-on state

We present results of a 5.7 day duration BeppoSAX observation of the short-on state of Her X-1 and a short observation during the decline of the preceding main-on state. The 0.1-10 keV spectra can be fit with a power-law and blackbody model together with Fe emission features at 1.0 keV and 6.5 keV. During the later stages of the short-on state there are long intervals when the absorption is $\approxgt$$5 \times 10^{22}$ atom cm$^{-2}$. These intervals become longer and occur ~0.3 day earlier in each orbital cycle as the short-on state progresses. During the intervals of high absorption the 0.1 keV blackbody is still clearly detected. This may indicate the presence of separate scattered and absorbed spectral components, although other explanations such as partial covering or a partially ionized absorber cannot be excluded. During the rest of the short-on state the ratio of flux in the blackbody compared to the power-law is consistent with that in the main-on state. This supports the view that much of the 35 day modulation is caused by an energy independent process, such as electron scattering. The discovery of strong absorption late in the short-on state is consistent with the predictions of the warped disk model (Petterson 1977, see also Schandl & Meyer 1994) where the end of the short-on state is caused by the accretion disk moving into the line of sight to the neutron star. The pulse phase difference between the blackbody and the power-law maxima is 250 +/- 20 degrees in both observations (separated by 0.43 of a 35 day cycle). This constant phase difference is consistent with the blackbody originating at the inner edge of a precessing accretion disk.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

BeppoSAX Observations of GRB980425: Detection of the Prompt Event and Monitoring of the Error Box

We present BeppoSAX follow-up observations of GRB980425 obtained with the Narrow Field Instruments (NFI) in April, May, and November 1998. The first NFI observation has detected within the 8' radius error box of the GRB an X-ray source positionally consistent with the supernova 1998bw, which exploded within a day of GRB980425, and a fainter X-ray source, not consistent with the position of the supernova. The former source is detected in the following NFI pointings and exhibits a decline of a factor of two in six months. If it is associated with SN 1998bw, this is the first detection of X-ray emission from a Type I supernova above 2 keV. The latter source exhibits only marginally significant variability. The X-ray spectra and variability of the supernova are compared with thermal and non-thermal models of supernova high energy emission. Based on the BeppoSAX data, it is not possible to firmly establish which of the two detected sources is the GRB X-ray counterpart, although probability considerations favor the supernova.

astro-ph↗