A Measurement of the Optical and X-Ray Emission from Scorpius X-1 and the X-Ray Diffuse Background

Abstract

Another simultaneous measurement of the optical and X-ray emission from Sco X-1 has been made. A rocket-borne scintillation counter was used to measure the X-ray spectrum from 4 to 40 keV. The optical intensity at the time of the X-ray measurements was B = 12.97 mag. The X-ray spectrum looks like thin-source thermal bremsstrahlung with an apparent plasma temperature of 7 + 1 keV. These data are compared with previous measurements of X-ray and optical emission. It is possible that total energy emission from Sco X-1 follows the B-magnitude in a nearly linear fashion. The diffuse X-ray background was measured in the energy range 4-70 keV. A shutter arrangement made it possible to correct accurately for the cosmic-ray contribution to the background. This measurement agrees with the previously reported spectrum.