Astronomical Research Activities

Robert M. Hjellming

Between 1963 and 1970 my principal research involved theoretical work on the interstellar medium in general, and HII regions and radio recombination lines in particular.

From 1970 to the present my main research area has been the study of stellar systems that produce radio emission. In recent years this has mainly involved observations and interpretation of classical novae, X-ray binaries, and X-ray transients. Most of the radio-emitting X-ray transients that I have worked on are black hole binaries (GS2000+35, V404 Cyg, Nova Muscae 1991, GRO J0422+32, GRO J1655-40, XTE J1748-248). GRO J1655-40 has been proven to be an eclipsing and spectroscopic binary with a FIV star orbiting around a 7.0 solar mass black hole with a 2.92 day period. Recently VLBA imaging of relativistic jets in the X-ray binaries Cyg X-3 and SS433 has been part of this program.

Very Recent Results

The Radio Counterpart of XTE J1859+226

VLA Detection Image and Initial Radio Light Curve for XTE J1859+226

The Detection, Monitoring, and Imaging of the Radio Counterpart of XTE J11819-254 (=SAX J1819.3-2525=V4641 Sgr)

Image and Radio Light Curves for XTE J1819-254

Recent Results

The Radio Counterpart of XTE J1748-288 with multiple relativistic jet ejection events.

The radio jet images from Aug. 9 and 14, 1998, and radio and X-ray light curves

The Radio Counterpart of XTE J2012+38.

Radio and X-ray Light Curves for XTE J2012+38

Discovery of the Radio Counterpart of the
XTE J0420+560, or CI Cam as reported in IAU Circular 6862

CI Cam (=XTE J0420+560) Image on April 3

Discovery of the Radio Counterpart of the
BHC X-ray Transient XTE J1806-246 as reported in IAU Circular 6900

Detection of Radio Counterpart of
XTE J1806-246

Discovery of the Radio Counterpart of the
BHC X-ray Transient 4U1630-472 as reported in IAU Circular 6827

Image of Counterpart on Feb. 21, 1998
and
Radio and X-ray Light Curves

Radio Search for the X-ray Transient
XTE J1739-302

VLA observations of the field of XTE J1739-302.

Radio Search for the X-ray "Nova" GRS 1737-31

Preliminary results of VLA observations of the field of GRS 1737-31.

Radio Counterpart of the X-ray "Nova"
GRS 1739-278

To see VLA radio images showing the evidence for the detection of the radio counterpart of GRS1739-278, click on Changing Radio Counterpart.

Comparison of X-ray and Radio light curves during the 1996 event.

Optically thin radio spectrum evolution before, after, and during the rise of the initial radio event.

Return of the Radio Counterpart of the Superluminal Jet Source GRO J1655-40

If you want to see VLA 4.8 GHz radio images showing GRO J1655-40 on May 20, 1996, before its return, and when it was seen (for the first time since December 1994) with the VLA on May 29, click on Radio Images , or look at the RXTE ASM and VLA Light Curve.

 

Recently published research results

Radio and X-ray Observations of the 1998 Outburst of the Recurrent X-ray Transient 4U 1630-47

R.M. Hjellming, M.P. Rupen, A.J. Mioduszewski, E. Kuulkers, M.McCollough, B.A. Harmon, M. Buxton, R. Sood, A. Tzioumis, D. Rayner, S. Dieters, and P. Durouchoux, 1999, Ap.J., 514, 383-387

The Shell of QU Vulpeculae at 2.2 microns, Halpha, and 3.6cm

Shin, J.-Y., Gehrz, R.D., Jones, T.J., Krautter, J., Heidt, J., and Hjellming, R.M., 1999, A.J., 116, 1966-1970

Aql X-1: Some Unexpected Results

Garcia, M.R., Callanan, P.J., McCarthy, J, Eriksen, K, and Hjellming, R.M., 1999, Ap. J. (Letters), 518,422-427

Discovery of Correlated Behavior Between the Hard X-ray Bands in Cygnus X-3

McCullough, M.L., Robinson, C.R., Zhang, S.N., Harmon, B.A., Hjellming, R.M., Waltman, E.B., Foster, R.S., Ghigo, F.D., and Johnston, K.J., 1999, Ap. J. , 517, 951-955

An Image of a Highly Relativistic Jet from a Large Flare in the X-Ray Binary Cyg X-3

Mioduszewski, A.J., Hjellming, R.M., Rupen, M.P., Waltman, E.B., Pooley, G.G., Ghigo, F.D., and Fender, R.P., 1998, In IAU Colloquium 164, High Resolution Imaging in Radio Astronomy, A.S.P. Conf. Series, 144, 351-352, Ed. J.A. Zensus, G.B. Taylor, & J.M. Wrobel

High Resolution Imaging of Compact Radio Sources by Gridding with Regularization

S.F. Likachev and R.M. Hjellming, 1998, In IAU Colloquium 164, High Resolution Imaging in Radio Astronomy, A.S.P. Conf. Series, 144, 411-412, Ed. J.A. Zensus, G.B. Taylor, & J.M. Wrobel

RXTE Observations of Cygnus X-3

M.L. McCullough, C.R. Robinson, S.N. Zhang, B.A. Harmon, W.S., Paciesas, S.W. Dieters, R.M. Hjelling, M. Rupen, A.J. Mioduszewski, E.B. Waltman, F.D. Ghigo, G.G. Pooley, R.P. Fender, W. Cui, and S. Trushkin. 1998, New Astronomy Reviews, 42, 629-632

Imaging Relativistic Radio Jets and the X-ray--Radio Connection in X-ray Transients

R.M. Hjellming. 1997, In IAU Colloquium 163, Accretion Phenomena and Related Outflows, A.S.P. Conf. Series, 121, Ed. D.T. Wickramasinghe, G.V Bicknell, and L. Ferrario, pp. 53-62

 

Older published research results

The Black Hole X-ray Transient GRO J1655-40

If you want to see a sequence of 18 cm VLBA images of the superluminal radio jets of GROJ 1655-40, click on IMAGES

The Interacting Binary Star System RY Scuti

If you want to see VLA radio and infra-red images of the circumstellar emission around the interacting binary system RY Scuti, click on Radio and IR Images

Radio and X-ray Flaring Events in X-ray Nova Ophiuchi 1993

Reference: Hjellming, R.M., Rupen, M.P., Shrader, C.R., Campbell-Wilson, D., Hunstead, R.W., and McKay, D.J. 1996 Ap. J. Letters, 470, L105-L10.

A Unified Model for the Radio and Optical Images and Spectra of Nova V1974 Cyg 1992

A paper prepared for the June-July 1995 conference at Keele. Reference: Hjellming, R.M. 1996, Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects, Eds. A. Evans and Janet H. Wood (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht), 317-320. To see the preprint of this paper click on Keele Proceedings Paper

A Unified Model Approach to Interpreting Radio and Optical Images and Spectra for Classical Novae

A invited paper presented at the July 1995 Barcelona Conference. Reference: Hjellming, R.M. 1996, Radio Emission from the Stars and the Sun, Ed. A.R. Taylor and J.M. Paredes, Pub. Astron. Soc. Pacific Conference Series, Volume 93, 174-181. To see the preprint of this paper click on Barcelona Proceedings Paper