we propose to observe with isocam and isophot the superluminal galactic source grs 1915+105. the first aim of the observations is to test the idea that this is a stellar black hole in a giant molecular cloud. if the source injects x-ray photons and relativistic plasma clouds into the dense molecular cloud, the heated dust will radiate in the infrared. we will map the dust emission and the gradients in temperature will provide a direct test for the physical association between the compact source and the molecular cloud. this unique source may be the best laboratory to study the poorly understood phenomena at the interface between high energy astrophysics and the physics of the cold interstellar medium. the spectral information will, in addition, be used to distinguish interstellar dust emission from the x-ray driven free-free mid-infrared emission from the accretion disk around the black hole. the superluminal source is a target for launch in autumn. for a launch in spring we propose to observe the best known black hole candidate a0620-00, which has been detected at 3.5 microns.
Instrument
CAM01 , PHT03
Temporal Coverage
1996-04-28T09:40:23Z/1996-04-28T11:53:09Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the worlds first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
European Space Agency, Mirabel et al., 1999, 'THE GALACTIC SUPERLUMINAL SOURCE GRS 1915+105 IS THE SUPERLUMINAL MICROQUASAR IN A MOLECULAR CLOUD questionMark', 1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wp2eja7
