Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

The Mystery Of The Missing Boundary Layer, Gary J. Ferland, S. S. Langer, J. Macdonald, G. H. Pepper, G. Shaviv, J. W. Truran

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The question of the nature of the ultraviolet and X-ray radiation field of cataclysmic binaries is addressed. The spectrum and luminosity of this radiation are important in determining the mass transfer rate and energy budget of the system and in studies of the ejecta surrounding novae. In many systems, the soft X-ray luminosity is ~ 10²-10⁴ times weaker than predicted by simple accretion models. We discuss several possible solutions to this discrepancy. The most likely are either that the optical luminosity of a typical old nova is produced partly by reprocessed ultraviolet light from the white dwarf, …

Broad Line Region Clouds And The Absorbing Material In Ngc 4151, Gary J. Ferland, R. F. Mushotzky

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The constraints imposed by X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical observations on the absorbing material in the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy NGC 4151 are discussed. These observations are compared to the predictions of photoionization models of both broad line region clouds, which Holt et al. identify as the source of the extinction, and to models of the narrow line region gas. The weakness of both C III] 1909 and the broad component of Hα relative to C IV 1549, together with the absence of an absorption Balmer jump, indicate that the ionization parameter for the broad line region is a factor …

Membership Of The Rosette Nebula Cluster, Ngc 2244, Laurence A. Marschall, William F. Van Altena, Liang-Tai George Chiu

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Relative proper motions for 287 stars in the region of the young open cluster NGC 2244, located in the Rsette Nebula, have been determined from plates taken with the Yerkes 40-in. and the Allegheny 30-in. refractors. Probabilities of membership based on these proper motions are derived. Because probable members are chosen primarily from kinematic considerations, the sample should show a minimum photometric bias. Differential extinction across the cluster, however, is identified as a complication in the immediate interpretation of the sample in terms of color-magnitude diagrams or luminosity functions.

Physical Conditions In The Accretion Disk Of V603 Aquilae, Gary J. Ferland, D. L. Lambert, M. L. Mccall, G. A. Shields, M. Slovak

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Ultraviolet and optical spectra of the old nova V603 Aql are discussed. The UV-optical continuum is dominated by emission from the accretion disk. Emission lines from ions of H, He, C, N, and 0 are identified. These lines are probably formed in a circumstellar shell with radius comparable to the binary separation, density ~10¹⁰ cm^-3, and a roughly solar chemical composition. This corona is probably heated by radiation emitted by the underlying accretion disk. Photoionization calculations of the structure and emission-line spectrum of the corona are presented, and the effects of this gas on the X-ray continuum …

Boundary Approximations For Implicit Schemes For .One-Dimensional Inviscid Equations Of Gasdynamics, Helen Yee, R. M. Beam, R. F. Warming

United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Publications

The applicability to practical calculations of recent theoretical developments in the stability analysis of difference approximations is examined for initial boundary-value problems of the hyperbolic type. For the numerical experiments the one-dimensional inviscid gasdynamic equations in conservation law form are selected. A class of implicit schemes based on linear multistep methods for ordinary differential equations is chosen and the use of space or space-time extrapolations as implicit or explicit boundary schemes is emphasized. Some numerical examples with various inflow-outflow conditions highlight the commonly discussed issues: explicit vs implicit boundary schemes, and unconditionally stable schemes.

Environmental Impact Of Solar Variability, Richard G. Hodgson

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Civilian Space Policy And Applications, U.S. Office Of Technology Assessment

Space Law Documents

The United States orbited its first satellite in 1958, nearly a quarter century ago. In the intervening years, the United States has made great strides in developing peaceful and practical uses of space technology. However, in spite of the dramatic successes of the space program, among which are the recent flights of the Columbia shuttle orbiter, many informed observers express considerable unease about the future of our civilian efforts in space, particularly in light of increased foreign competition and stringent fiscal restraints.

Because of these uncertainties and also because of emerging new prospects for using the space environment, this assessment …

On The Application And Extension Of Harten's High-Resolution Scheme, Helen C. Yee, R. F. Warming, Amiran Harten

United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Publications

Xost first-order upstream conservative differencing methods can capture shocks quite well for one-dimensional problems. A direct application of these first-order methods to two-dimensional problems does not necessarily produce the same type of accuracy unless the shocks are locally aligned with the mesh. Harten has recently developed a second-order high-resolution explicit method for the numerical computation of weak solutions of one-dimensional hyperbolic conservation laws. The main objectives of this paper are (a) to examine the shock resolution of Harten's method for a two-dimensional shock reflection problem, (b) to study the use of a high-resolution scheme as a post-processor to an approximate …

Classroom Demonstration Of Sunspots, Thomas O. Callaway, Harry D. Downing, Glen T. Clayton

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ci Cygni Since The 1980 Eclipse, R. E. Stencel, Andrew G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Following the 1980 eclipse of the 855 day period symbiotic binary CI Cyg, we were confronted with a data set showing high excitation resonance lines which were largely uneclipsed but brightening on an orbital timescale, and intercombination lines exhibiting pronounced but nontotal eclipses and which were fading on an orbital timescale. Our model invoked a low density dissipating nebula surrounding the hot companion to explain the intercombination lines, and a shock between stellar winds to interpret the resonance lines. Subsequent synoptic observations have revealed continuing changes in the W emission line fluxes, consistent with those described above, except for the …

Observations And Analysis Of The Aquarii Jet, Menas Kafatos, Andrew G. Michalitsianos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Ultraviolet, optical and radio observations of the symbiotic star R Aquarii are discussed in the light of the discovery of a bright radio and optical jet from this star. The star is probably a binary with a period of 44 years. The VLA maps of the jet reveal a protruding structure extending-10 arc sec from the central radio source with a position angle virtually identical to that of the optical jet observed at Lick. We interpret the observations of R Aqr as indicating the existence of an accretion disk around an unseen companion. The hot subdwarf has effective temperature ,(65,000 …

Uv Emission From The M1 Supergiant Tv Gem, Andrew G. Michalitsianos, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Low and high dispersion ultraviolet spectra were obtained of the Ml supergiant TV Gem with IUE. Previous IUE observations of this late type supergiant revealed unexpected W continuum emission, perhaps arising from an early B companion. Low resolution spectra obtained approximately one year apart suggest that the strong Si I11 in-combination perhaps with 0 I at wavelengths % A1300 A varies considerably with time. Large variation the column density is required to explain these changes. Sporadic mass expulsion with mass loss rates dM/dt * 10-5 S y r - l from the M supergiant could lead to a dense circumstellar …

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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 …