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Full-Text Articles in Astrophysics and Astronomy

A Brightening Of The Symbiotic Variable Sy Muscae, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos, W. A. Feibelman, G. Wallerstein Jan 1982

A Brightening Of The Symbiotic Variable Sy Muscae, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos, W. A. Feibelman, G. Wallerstein

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The symbiotic variable SY Muscae has been observed with IUE in September 1980 and June 1981 and in the photographic region in May 1981. The entire ultraviolet spectrum brightened between September and June by about a factor of 5. The spectrum shows high excitation including emission from N v and high electron density, about 10^10 cm^-3 as determined from various line ratios in the ultraviolet. The optical spectrum is dominated by permitted lines; even [0 m] is very weak again indicating high density in the ionized region. The increase in ultraviolet continuum and line emission may be due to enhanced …


Ultraviolet Observations Of Four Symbiotic Stars, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos, W. A. Feibelman, R. W. Hobbs Jan 1982

Ultraviolet Observations Of Four Symbiotic Stars, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos, W. A. Feibelman, R. W. Hobbs

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Observations were obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) of four symbiotic stars. The UV spectra of YY Her, SY Mus, CL Sco, and BX Mon are characterized by varying degrees of thermal excitation. We have analyzed these low resolution spectra in terms of line-blanketed model atmospheres of early A, B, and F type stars in order to identify the nature of the hot companion in these systems. The expected emission from early main sequence stars does not fully explain the observed distribution of UV continuum energy over the entire IUE spectral range (1200-3200 A). More likely the observed continuum …


International Ultraviolet Explorer Observations Of The Aquarii Jet, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos Jan 1982

International Ultraviolet Explorer Observations Of The Aquarii Jet, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ultraviolet spectra were obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer of the newly discovered optical-radio jet feature in the symbiotic variable R Aquarii. The far-UV continuum of the jet is characterized by strong continuum which rises with decreasing wavelength in the 1200-2000 A wavelength range and is considerably different in appearance from the relatively flat continuum exhibited by ionized nebulosity in the central star. Prominent Si III] and Si II emission lines seen in the central region are virtually absent in the jet. This could reflect the depletion of silicon in the feature, the result of grain formation in material that …


Iue Observations Of The Peculiar Star Rx Puppis, Menas Kafatos, A. G. Michalitsianos, W. A. Feibelman Jan 1982

Iue Observations Of The Peculiar Star Rx Puppis, Menas Kafatos, A. G. Michalitsianos, W. A. Feibelman

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We have obtained the first high-dispersion observations of RX Pup in the wavelength region 1200-2000 A with the International Ultraviolet Explorer. RX Pup has been classified a symbiotic star and has been compared to slow novae as well as to 11 Carinae. The anomalies that we observed in high-excitation lines in RX Pup such as He II, 0 III], C III], C IV, and Si IIIl that show split line profiles, Doppler displaced multiple components, and possible inverse P Cygni profiles inN III] and N IV J suggest dynamic activity in circumstellar material that probably has the form of rings …


Ultraviolet Spectrum Of The Crab Nebula, K. Davidson, T. R. Gull, S. P. Maran, T. P. Stecher, R. A. Fesen, R. A. Parise, C. A. Harvel, Menas Kafatos, V. L. Trimble Jan 1982

Ultraviolet Spectrum Of The Crab Nebula, K. Davidson, T. R. Gull, S. P. Maran, T. P. Stecher, R. A. Fesen, R. A. Parise, C. A. Harvel, Menas Kafatos, V. L. Trimble

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Data from 65 hours of observation of the Crab Nebula with the International Ultraviolet Explorer are reported, together with new ground-based spectrophotometry. We have measured the important C IV λ1549, He II λ1640, and C III] λ1908 emission line intensities and placed upper limits on other ultraviolet features for the brightest filamentary region in the nebula. We have also measured some ultraviolet continuum surface brightnesses at two places in the Crab. The emission lines imply an average ionic abundance ratio n(C^+2)/n(O^+2 ) in the range from 0.4 to 1.5 in the observed gaseous condensations. The elemental abundance ratio of carbon …


Ultraviolet Observations Of The 1980 Eclipse Of The Symbiotic Star Ci Cygni, R. E. Stencel, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos, A. A. Boyarchuk Jan 1982

Ultraviolet Observations Of The 1980 Eclipse Of The Symbiotic Star Ci Cygni, R. E. Stencel, A. G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos, A. A. Boyarchuk

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Secular and eclipse variations of UV lines and continua during the course of nearly a full orbit of the symbiotic binary CI Cygni are presented. High-excitation resonance lines have brightened on an orbital time scale and show minimal effects of eclipse, while intercombination lines have faded and show pronounced but nontotal eclipse effects. The data are discussed in terms of mass transfer from the extended cool envelope of the red giant to a compact secondary. The formation of an accretion disk is a transitory phenomenon in which viscosity eventually dissipates the disk over orbital time scales. A large-scale low-density nebula …


Radio And Optical Observations Of The R Aquarii Jet, R. J. Sopka, G. Herbig, Menas Kafatos, A. G. Michalitsianos Jan 1982

Radio And Optical Observations Of The R Aquarii Jet, R. J. Sopka, G. Herbig, Menas Kafatos, A. G. Michalitsianos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

VLA observations at 6 cm and Lick Observatory optical plates of R Aquarii indicate the existence of a jetlike feature extending 7" -10" from the central star. A wide field map at 6 cm shows an unresolved compact radio source which lies close to the axis defined by the jet at a distance of ~ 3' from R Aqr. Episodic mass transfer in this symbiotic variable could explain the erratic outbursts that R Aqr is known to undergo. Formation of an accretion disk and the accompanying radio-optical jet may characterize the observed outbursts in this system.