ALBERT

Description: Higher order numerical algorithms (4th order in time, 3rd order in space) are applied to the Euler equations and are used to examine vorticity transport and wave motion in a non-self gravitating, initially isentropic Keplerian disk. In this talk we will examine the response of the disk to an isolated vortex with a circulation about equal to the rotation rate of Jupiter. The vortex is located on the 4 AU circle and the nebula is simulated from 1 to 24 AU. We show that the vortex emits pressure-supported density and Rossby-type wave packets before it decays within a few orbits. The acoustic density waves evolve into weak (non entropy preserving) shock waves that propagate over the entire disk. The Rossby waves remain in the vicinity of the initial vortex disturbance, but are rapidly damped. Temporal frequencies and spatial wavenumbers are derived from the nonlinear simulation data and correlated with analytical dispersion relations from the linearized Euler and energy equations.

Description: In our search for "hidden" AGN we present results from a Chandra observation of the nearby cluster Abell 2255. Eight cluster galaxies are associated with point-like X-ray emission, and we classify these galaxies based on their X-ray, radio, and optical properties. At least three are associated with active galactic nuclei (AGN) with no optical signatures of nuclear activity, with a further two being potential AGN. Of the potential AGN, one corresponds to a galaxy with a post-starburst optical spectrum. The remaining three X-ray detected cluster galaxies consist of two starbursts and an elliptical with luminous hot gas. Of the eight cluster galaxies five are associated with luminous (massive) galaxies and the remaining three lie in much lower luminosity systems. We note that the use of X-ray to optical flux ratios for classification of X-ray sources is often misleading, and strengthen the claim that the fraction of cluster galaxies hosting an AGN based on optical data is significantly lower than the fraction based on X-ray and radio data.

Description: We present the results from a approx. 53 ksec XMM observation of NGC 2276. This galaxy has an unusual optical morphology with the disk of this spiral appearing to be truncated along the western edge. This XMM observation shows that the X-ray source at the western edge is a bright Intermediate X-ray Object (IXO). Its spectrum is well fit by a multi-color disk blackbody model used to fit optically thick standard accretion disks around black holes. The luminosity derived for this IXO is 1.1 x 10(exp 41) erg/s in the 0.5 - 10 keV band making it one of the most luminous discovered to date. The large source luminosity implies a large mass black hole if the source is radiating at the Eddington rate. On the other hand, the inner disk temperature determined here is too high for such a massive object given the standard accretion disk model. In addition to the IXO we find that the nuclear source in this galaxy has dimmed by at least a factor of several thousand in the eight years since the ROSAT HRI observations.

Description: SIM Science Team Meeting #10 December 16-18, 2003 Pasadena, California, USA.

Description: In our search for "hidden" active galactic nuclei (AGNs), we present results from a Chandra observation of the nearby cluster A2255. Eight cluster galaxies are associated with pointlike X-ray emission, and we classify these galaxies based on their X-ray, radio, and optical properties. At least three are associated with AGNs with no optical signatures of nuclear activity, with a further two being potential AGNs. Of the potential AGNs, one corresponds to a galaxy with a post-starburst optical spectrum. The remaining three X-ray-detected cluster galaxies consist of two starbursts and an elliptical with luminous hot gas. Of the eight cluster galaxies, five are associated with luminous (massive) galaxies, and the remaining three lie in much lower luminosity systems. We note that the use of X-ray-to-optical flux ratios for classification of X-ray sources is often misleading and strengthens the claim that the fraction of cluster galaxies hosting an AGN based on optical data is significantly lower than the fraction based on X-ray and radio data.

Description: CaAl rich refractory mineral inclusions (CAIs) found at 1 - 10% mass fraction in primitive chondrites appear to be several million years older than the dominant (chondrule) components in the same parent bodies. A prevalent concern is that it is difficult to retain CAIs for this long against gas-drag-induced radial drift into the sun. We assess a hot inner (turbulent) nebula context for CAI formation, using analytical models of nebula evolution and particle diffusion. We show that outward radial diffusion in a weakly turbulent nebula can prevent significant numbers of CAI-size particles from being lost into the sun for times of 1 - 3 x 10(exp 6) years. To match the CAI abundances quantitatively, we advocate an enhancement of the inner hot nebula in silicate-forming material, due to rapid inward migration of very primitive, silicate and carbon rich, meter-sized objects. 'Combustion' of the carbon into CO would make the CAI formation environment more reduced than solar, as certain observations imply. Abundant CO might also play a role in mass-independent chemical fractionation of oxygen isotopes as seen in CAIs and associated primitive, high-temperature condensates.

Description: The dynamical evolution of the protoplanetary nebula is investigated using analytical solutions of the surface density transport equations. Constant and beta viscosity turbulence models are compared with a functional analytical model and the well-known alpha viscosity formulation. The beta viscosity model, heretofore used for steady-state disks, is shown to be a viable tool for separating dynamic and thermodynamic properties of an evolving disk.

Description: Higher order numerical algorithms (4th order in time, 3rd order in space) are applied to the Euler/Energy equations and are used to examine vorticity transport and wave motion in a non-self gravitating, initially isentropic Keplerian disk. In this talk we will examine the response of the nebula to an isolated vortex with a circulation about equal to the rotation rate of Jupiter. The vortex is located on the 4 AU circle and the nebula is simulated from 1 to 24 AU. We show that the vortex emits pressure-supported density and Rossby-type wave packets before it decays within a few orbits. The acoustic density waves evolve into weak (non entropy preserving) shock waves that propagate over the entire disk. The Rossby waves remain in the vicinity of the initial vortex disturbance, but are rapidly damped. Temporal frequencies and spatial wavenumbers are derived using the simulation data and compared with analytical dispersion relations from the linearized Euler/Energy equations.

Description: The Astrobiology Explorer (ABE) is a Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) mission concept currently under study at NASA's Ames Research Center. ABE will conduct infrared (IR) spectroscopic observations with much better sensitivity than Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) or the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy program (SOFIA) in order to address outstanding astrobiologically important problems in astrochemistry as well as important astrophysical investigations. The core observational astrobiology program would make fundamental scientific progress in understanding the cosmic history of molecular carbon, the distribution of organic matter in the diffuse interstellar medium, tracing the chemical history of complex organic molecules in the interstellar medium, and the evolution of organic ices in young planetary systems. The ABE instrument concept includes a 0.5 m aperture Cassegrain telescope and a suite of three moderate resolution (R = 1000 - 4000) spectrographs which cover the entire lambda = 2.5-20 micron spectral region. Use of large format (1024 x 1024 pixel or larger) IR detector arrays will allow each spectrograph to cover an entire octave of spectral range per exposure without any moving parts. The telescope is passively cooled by a sun shade to below 65 K, and the detectors are cooled with solid H2 cryogen to approximately 8 K. ABE will be placed in an Earth-trailing one AU solar orbit by a Delta II launch vehicle. This energetically favorable orbit provides a low thermal background, affords good access to the entire sky over the one year mission lifetime, and allows adequate communications bandwidth. The spacecraft will be stabilized in three axes and will be pointed to an accuracy of approximately one arcsecond at ABE's several thousand individual scientific targets.

Description: The compact primary in the X-ray binary Cygnus X-1 was the first black hole to be established via dynamical observatIOns. We have recently determined accurate values for its mass and distance, and for the orbital inclination angle of the binary. Building on these.results, which are based on our favored (asynchronous) dynamical model, we have measured the radius of the inner edge of the black hole's accretion disk by fitting its thermal continuum.spectrum to a fully relativistic model of a thin accretion disk. Assuming that the spin axis of the black hole is aligned with the orbital angular momentum vector, we have determined that Cygnus X-I contains a near-extreme Kerr black hole with a spin parameter a* 〉 0.95 (3(sigma)). For a less probable (synchronous) dynamIcal model, we find a* 〉 0.92 (3(sigma)). In our analysis, we include the uncertainties in black hole mass orbital inclination angle and distance, and we also include the uncertainty in the calibration of the absolute flux via the Crab. These four sources of uncertainty totally dominate the error budget. The uncertainties introduced by the thin-disk model we employ are particularly small in this case given the extreme spin of the black hole and the disk's low luminosity.