===================================================================== ===================================================================== ae aquarii is a very peculiar bright nova-like cataclysmic variable in which a magnetized white dwarf accretes matter from a k5-dwarf: it belongs to the intermediate polar group although in many respects ae aqr stands out uniquely in comparison to most of these systems and it indicates several features of extreme physical conditions. it emits over a wide energy range, from tev gamma to radio frequencies, and it displays a wide range of variability on different timescales. it is the strongest radio emitter among cataclysmic variables, its radio radiation is always detectable, either flares as or as quiescence. from one day to another, its average flux density can vary by more than a factor two. but its time-averaged flux increases from 1.4 to 394 ghz (21 cm to 761 microns) following a rather constant power-law. by analogy with the x-ray binary cyg x-3, bastian, dulk and chanmugam (1988, hereafter bdc) interpreted ae aqr.s non-thermal radio emission as the superposition of several plasma clouds. synchrotron radiation. in this model the initial turnover frequency of a given plasmoid is directly related to the initial magnetic field strength bo in this plasmoid: the detection at 761 microns implies that bo > 300 g. in order to estimate directly the value of bo and to restrict the values of other parameters of the plasmoids, which will significantly constrain the bdc model, we want to measure ae aqr.s flux at 90 and 160 microns. this will allow to measure the turnover frequency of the radio-to-far-infrared spectrum and/or to study the unknown optically thin part of this spectrum. only iso can provide measurements at such long wavelength since iras results imply too high upper limits on the far infrared flux.
Instrument
PHT22
Temporal Coverage
1997-04-17T15:21:24Z/1997-04-17T16:19:04Z
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, ABADA-SIMON et al., 1998, 'EXTENSION OF AE AQUARII.S RADIO SPECTRUM TO THE FAR INFRARED SEARCH FOR THE SYNCHROTRON SPECTRUM.S TURNOVER FREQUENCY', 1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-8qzlvq6
