OSO-8 X-ray observations of AM Herculis

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/182512· OSTI ID:7289129

Swank, J; Lampton, M; Boldt, E; Holt, S; Serlemitsos, P

We report the results of hard X-ray observations of the binary system AM Her, which were coincident with soft X-ray and ground-based optical measurements. In the 2--60 keV band, variability was detected with an eclipse during phases 0.5 to 0.7 with respect to the 0./sup d/12892 period optical minima, synchronous with the known soft X-ray eclipse. The 2--60 keV uneclipsed flux was 9.5 x 10/sup -10/ ergs cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/, of which 86% lies above 10 keV. Thus AM Her contains a hard source located near the similarly eclipsed soft X-ray source. The X-ray data are interpreted in terms of thermal bremsstrahlung from accretion onto a white dwarf.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 7289129
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States) Vol. 216:2; ISSN AJLEA
• 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
BINARY STARS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HARD X RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
RADIATIONS
SOFT X RADIATION
SPECTRA
STARS
VARIATIONS
X RADIATION
X-RAY SPECTRA