Statistics – Computation
Scientific paper
Aug 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994apj...431..237r&link_type=abstract
The Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 431, no. 1, p. 237-246
Statistics
Computation
38
Crab Nebula, H Ii Regions, Helium, Hydrogen, Interstellar Matter, Ionized Gases, X Ray Sources, Astrophysics, Brightness Temperature, Computational Astrophysics, Line Spectra, Magellanic Clouds, Stellar Luminosity
Scientific paper
In this work we carry out a theoretical investigation of a new type of astrophysical gaseous nebula, viz., ionized regions surrounding supersoft X-ray sources. Supersoft X-ray sources, many of which have characteristic luminosities of approximately 1037-(1038 ergs/s and effective temperatures of approximately 4 x 105 K, were first discovered with the Einstein Observatory. These sources have now been shown to constitute a distinct class of X-ray source and are being found in substantial numbers with ROSAT. We predict that these sources should be surrounded by regions of ionized hydrogen and helium with properties that are distinct from other astrophysical gaseous nebulae. We present caluations of the ionization and temperature structure of these ionization nebulae, as well as the expected optical line fluxes. The ionization profiles for both hydrogen and helium exhibit substantially more gradual transitions from the ionized to the unionized state than is the case for conventional H II regions. The calculated optical line intensitites are presented as absolute fluxes from sources in the Large Magellanic Cloud and as fractions of the central source luminosity. We find, in particular, that (O III) lambda 5008 and He II lambda 4686 are especially prominent in these ionization nebulae as compared to other astrophysical nebulae. We propose that searches for supersoft X-rays via their characteristic optical lines may reveal sources in regions where the soft X-rays are nearly completely absorbed by the interstellar medium.
Chiang Ethan
Kallman Tim
Malina Roger
Rappaport Saul
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