Ariel V hard X-ray observations of Vela X-1

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Astrophys. Lett.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6599374

Lieu, R ^[1]; Engel, A R ^[2]

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1. Calgary, University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2. Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, England

The binary X-ray pulsar Vela X-1 (3U 0900-40) was observed by the Ariel V satellite from February 7, 1979, for approximately 40 days. Data analysis led to a spectral point in the low energy (2.9-7.6 keV) range, and two upper limits in the high energy (26-122 keV) range. The results are compared with the high energy balloon data of the Munich group. Fit with a modified black body spectrum at kT of about 10 keV is shown to be good. At energies of about 40 keV, data from both observations show a steeper cutoff behavior than that predicted by the modified black body. This appears to suggest the presence of strong magnetic fields in the neutron star polar cap region responsible for the hard X-ray emission of Vela X-1.

• OSTI ID: 6599374
• Journal Information: Astrophys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 22:4; ISSN ASTLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ARIEL SATELLITES
BINARY STARS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HARD X RADIATION
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRON STARS
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
STARS
X RADIATION