Physics Commons^™

Measured Stark Widths Of A 425,94 Nm Ari Spectral Line, Ljiljana Skuljan, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Aleksandar Sreckovic, Stevan Djenize

Articles

No abstract provided.

Locally Optimally Emitting Clouds And The Origin Of Quasar Emission Lines, Jack Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, Kirk Korista, Dima Verner

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The similarity of quasar line spectra has been taken as an indication that the emission line clouds have preferred parameters, suggesting that the environment is subject to a fine-tuning process. We show here that the observed spectrum is a natural consequence of powerful selection effects. We computed a large grid of photoionization models covering the widest possible range of cloud gas density and distance from the central continuum source. For each line only a narrow range of density and distance from the continuum source results in maximum reprocessing efficiency, corresponding to "locally optimally emitting clouds" (LOCs). These parameters depend on …

Broad Ne Viii Λ744 Emission From The Quasar Pg 1148+549, Fred Hamann, Joseph C. Shields, Gary J. Ferland, Kirk T. Korista

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We discuss the probable detection of broad Ne VIII λ774 emission from the z_ɛ = 0.978 quasar PG 1148+549, and we use spectral synthesis calculations to study the physical conditions in the line-forming gas. The theoretical predictions and the measured line wavelength both support Ne VIII λ774 as the most likely identification.

Our calculations show that Ne VIII λ774 forms in hotter and more highly ionized gas than previously recognized in the broad emission line region. If the gas is photoionized by a standard active galactic nucleus continuum, the observed Ne VIII equivalent width, the Ne VIII/O VI flux …

Observation Of Beam-Induced Changes In The Polarization Of Balmer-Α Radiation Emitted Following Beam--Tilted-Foil Transmission, Wang Qi, David D. Allred, Larry V. Knight, Douglas L. Harper, Royal G. Albridge, Norman H. Tolk

Faculty Publications

Measurements of the circular polarization of Balmer-α radiation emitted by excited hydrogen atoms, following the transmission of (20-50)-keV protons through thin, tilted amorphous carbon foils, exhibit markedly unexpected behavior as a function of exposure of the foil to the proton beam. Specifically, the circular polarization changes from an initially well understood tilt-angle dependence to a behavior which, for low tilt angles, gives the opposite handedness of circular polarization from that predicted. In addition, the degree of alignment, indicated by the linear Stokes parameter M/I, is enhanced also as a function of dose. These changes in the tilt-angle dependence of the …

The Geometry And Kinematics Of The Broad-Line Region In Ngc 5548 From Hst And Iue Observations, Ignaz Wanders, Mike R. Goad, Kirk T. Korista, Bradley M. Peterson, Keith Horne, Gary J. Ferland, Anuradha P. Koratkar, Richard W. Pogge, Joseph C. Sheilds

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The spatial and radial velocity distribution of broad-line-emitting gas in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 is examined through the process of reverberation mapping, which is done by detailed comparison of continuum and emission-line variations. Recent spectroscopic monitoring of NGC 5548 with HST and IUE allows us to resolve the "transfer function" (TF) that relates the continuum and emission-line variability. We also examine the radial velocity-resolved TFs, and confirm that predominantly radial motions of the line-emitting clouds can be excluded. We find that a broad-line region comprised of clouds that are orbiting a central source of mass ~10⁸ M …

Aliasing Reduction In Staring Infrared Imagers Utilizing Subpixel Techniques, Joseph C. Gillette, Thomas M. Stadtmiller, Russell C. Hardie

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We introduce and analyze techniques for the reduction of aliased signal energy in a staring infrared imaging system. A standard staring system uses a fixed two-dimensional detector array that corresponds to a fixed spatial sampling frequency determined by the detector pitch or spacing. Aliasing will occur when sampling a scene containing spatial frequencies exceeding half the sampling frequency. This aliasing can significantly degrade the image quality. The aliasing reduction schemes presented here, referred to as microscanning, exploit subpixel shifts between time frames of an image sequence. These multiple images are used to reconstruct a single frame with reduced aliasing. If …

Temperature Fluctuations In Photoionized Nebulae, J. B. Kingdon, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Recombination lines in gaseous nebulae frequently yield parent-ion abundances that are several times larger than abundances derived from forbidden lines. One possible explanation for this discrepancy is the presence of temperature fluctuations. We examine temperature fluctuations in model nebulae by utilizing Peimbert's t² parameter. We have run large grids of models, varying the stellar temperature and the total hydrogen density. We consider two abundance sets: The first uses "typical" planetary nebulae abundances, while the second examines the effect of increasing the metals and grains by a factor of 3. We also consider both a constant density distribution and one …

Trajectory Mapping And Applications To Data From The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, Gary A. Morris, Mark R. Schoeberl, Lynn C. Sparling, Paul A. Newman, Leslie R. Lait, Lee Elson, Joe Waters, Robert A. Suttie, Aidan Roche, Jack Kumer, James M. Russell Iii

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The problem of creating synoptic maps from asynoptically gathered trace gas data has prompted the development of a number of schemes. Most notable among these schemes are the Kalman filter, the Salby-Fourier technique, and constituent reconstruction. This paper explores a new technique called "trajectory mapping." Trajectory mapping creates synoptic maps from asynoptically gathered data by advecting measurements backward or forward in time using analyzed wind fields. A significant portion of this work is devoted to an analysis of errors in synoptic trajectory maps associated with the calculation of individual parcel trajectories. In particular, we have considered (1) calculational errors; (2) …

Trajectory Mapping And Applications To Data From The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, Gary A. Morris, Mark R. Schoeberl, Lynn C. Sparling, Paul A. Newman, Leslie R. Lait, Lee Elson, Joe Waters, Robert A. Suttie, Aidan Roche, Jack Kumer, James M. Russell Iii

Gary A. Morris

The problem of creating synoptic maps from asynoptically gathered trace gas data has prompted the development of a number of schemes. Most notable among these schemes are the Kalman filter, the Salby-Fourier technique, and constituent reconstruction. This paper explores a new technique called "trajectory mapping." Trajectory mapping creates synoptic maps from asynoptically gathered data by advecting measurements backward or forward in time using analyzed wind fields. A significant portion of this work is devoted to an analysis of errors in synoptic trajectory maps associated with the calculation of individual parcel trajectories. In particular, we have considered (1) calculational errors; (2) …

The Hubble Space Telescope Sample Of Radio-Loud Quasars: The LyΑ/HΒ Ratio, Hagai Netzer, M. S. Brotherton, Beverley J. Wills, Mingsheng Han, D. Wills, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, I. W. A. Browne

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We have used the first Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph spectra of our sample of radio- loud quasars, and quasi-simultaneous ground-based spectrophotometry, to investigate the intensity ratio Lyα/Hβ, whose small observed values are one of the outstanding problems of active galactic nuclei research. The present sample of 20 quasars with complete flux and profile data shows the first significant correlations of this ratio with other observed properties. The strongest correlations are with various continuum slope indicators: we find smaller Lyα/Hβ ratios in quasars whose continua rise more steeply into the red. The …

The Hubble Space Telescope Sample Of Radio-Loud Quasars: Ultraviolet Spectra Of The First 31 Quasars, Beverley J. Wills, Keith L. Thompson, Mingsheng Han, H. Netzer, D. Wills, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, I W. A. Browne, M. S. Brotherton

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report the first results from a continuing program to investigate the multifrequency spectrophotometric and other properties of a sample of about 50 radio-loud quasars in the redshift range ˜0.3-1.3. Here we present spectrophotometric data of high signal-to-noise ratio (≳20 in the continuum) of the first 31 radio-loud quasars, over the wavelength range from below Lyα to an observed wavelength of 3250 or 4800 Å, obtained using the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. We have also made quasi-simultaneous observations to extend these spectra beyond the Balmer lines -- either Hβ or Hα -- …

Numerical Calculation Of Axisymmetric Electrostatic Modes For Cold Finite-Length Non-Neutral Plasmas, Johnny K. Jennings, Ross L. Spencer, K. C. Hansen

Faculty Publications

A numerical calculation of mode frequencies for cold, non-neutral plasmas is reported. The numerical method can be applied to any axisymmetric plasma shape in a trap. Here, it is used to study axisymmetric electrostatic modes in a long conducting cylinder. These modes were previously studied by Prasad and O'Neil [Phys. Fluids 26, 665 (1983)] and by Dubin [Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 2076 (1991)]. In contrast to Dubin's calculation, the effects of a nearby cylindrical wall, including its influence on the shape of the plasma equilibrium, are considered. It is found that for plasmas with aspect ratios (length divided by diameter) …

Infrared Emission And Dynamics Of Outlfows In Late-Type Stars, Željko Ivezić, Moshe Elitzur

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The dynamical structure and infrared emission of winds around late-type stars are studied in a self-consistent model that couples the equations of motion and radiative transfer. Thanks to its scaling properties, both the dynamics and IR spectrum of the solution are fully characterized by τ_F, the flux-averaged optical depth of the wind. Five types of dust grains are considered: astronomical silicate, crystalline olivine, graphite, amorphous carbon and SiC, as well as mixtures. Analysis of infrared signatures provides constraints on the grain chemical composition and indications for the simultaneous existence of silicate and carbon grains. The abundances of crystalline …

Collisional Effects In He I: An Observational Analysis, J. B. Kingdon, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Accurate and reliable helium abundances can test modern theories of galactic and primordial nucleosynthesis. Unfortunately, there is some question whether current theory can account for collisional contributions to He I. We present new observations of two planetary nebulae (PNs) in the range λ850-λ9650, which we use to assess the importance of collisonal effects in the He I spectrum. The first object, NGC 7027, is expected to show relatively strong collisional enhancement, while the second, NGC 7026, should display only small effects. We derive new collision-to-recombination correction factors, based on new collision strengths from the 29-state quantal calculation …

Optically Thin Broad-Line Clouds In Active Galactic Nuclei, Joseph C. Shields, Gary J. Ferland, Bradley M. Peterson

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The broad-line region (BLR) in Seyfert galaxy nuclei exhibits correlated variations in continuum and emission-line luminosity that are qualitatively consistent with photoionization of ionization-bounded (optically thick) clouds. However, evidence is growing that a nonnegligible fraction of the BLR cloud population is optically thin to the Lyman continuum and fully ionized in hydrogen. We consider the implications of this nebular component for observed line emission and find that inclusion of thin clouds in photoionization calculations can resolve several outstanding puzzles of Seyfert variability, notably the behavior of the C IV λ1549/Lyα ratio as a function of continuum luminosity.

A …

On The Current Status Of Maser Polarization Theory, Moshe Elitzur

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Despite recent criticism, past conflicts among theoretical studies of maser polarization are by now resolved and clarified. All analytical methods proposed thus far produce the same polarization solutions, solutions that agree with observations. Current numerical studies do not reproduce these solutions. Instead, for any pumping employed, their results are in direct conflict with both analytical theory and observations. These problems reflect the fact that the basic formulation of numerical modeling has yet to incorporate the statistical nature of the radiation field.

Grains In Ionized Nebulae: Spectral Line Diagnostics, J. B. Kingdon, Gary J. Ferland, W. A. Feibelman

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The depletion of condensable elements onto grains in gaseous nebulae can provide evidence that dust is well mixed with the ionized gas. Al and CA are two of the most depleted elements in the general interstellar medium, and it is therefore important to measure their abundances within the ionized region of nebulae. We compute a large grid of photoionization models and identify sets of line ratios which are relatively insensitive to stellar and nebular parameters, and are thus excellent diagnostics for determining relative abundances. Based on the absence of the [Ca II] λλ7291, 7324 doublet and the detection of …

The Origin Of N Iii Λ990 And C Iii Λ977 Emission In Agn Narrow-Line Region Gas, Jason W. Ferguson, Gary J. Ferland, A. K. Pradham

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We discuss implications of Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) detections of C III λ977 and N III λ990 emission from the narrow-line region of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. In their discovery paper Kriss et al. showed that the unexpectedly great strength of these lines implies that the emitting gas must be shock-heated if the lines are collisionally excited. Here we investigate other processes which excite these lines in photoionization equilibrium. Recombination, mainly dielectronic, and continuum fluorescence are strong contributors to the line. The resulting intensities are sensitive to the velocity field of the emitting gas and require …

Comment On 'Simulation Of A Two-Dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard System Using The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method, Alejandro Garcia, F. Baras, M. Malek Mansour

Alejandro Garcia

No abstract provided.

A Consistent Boltzmann Algorithm, Alejandro Garcia, F. Alexander, B. Alder

Alejandro Garcia

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method for the Boltzmann equation is modified by an additional displacement in the advection process and an enhanced collision rate in order to obtain the exact hard sphere equation of state at all densities. This leads to consistent thermodynamic and transport properties in the low density (Boltzmann) regime. At higher densities transport properties are comparable to the predictions of the Enskog model. The algorithm is faster than molecular dynamics at low and moderate densities and readily run on a parallel architecture

Comment On 'Simulation Of A Two-Dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard System Using The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method, Alejandro Garcia, F. Baras, M. Malek Mansour

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Consistent Boltzmann Algorithm, Alejandro Garcia, F. Alexander, B. Alder

Faculty Publications

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method for the Boltzmann equation is modified by an additional displacement in the advection process and an enhanced collision rate in order to obtain the exact hard sphere equation of state at all densities. This leads to consistent thermodynamic and transport properties in the low density (Boltzmann) regime. At higher densities transport properties are comparable to the predictions of the Enskog model. The algorithm is faster than molecular dynamics at low and moderate densities and readily run on a parallel architecture

A Theoretical Study Concerning The Solar Cycle Dependence Of The Nightside Ionosphere Of Venus, Zoltan Dobe, Andrew F. Nagy, Jane L. Fox

Physics Faculty Publications

We modeled the chemical and physical processes taking place in the nightside ionosphere of Venus by solving the one dimensional coupled continuity and momentum equations for 12 ion species [CO₂⁺, O₂⁺, O⁺, H⁺, NO⁺, CO⁺, N₂⁺, N⁺, He⁺, C⁺, O⁺ (²D) and O⁺ (²P)]. We investigated the relative importance of the two major processes responsible for maintaining the nightside plasma densities: atomic ion transport from the dayside and impact ionization due to energetic electron precipitation. …

Density Of States Of A Damped Quantum Oscillator, Andreas Hanke, W. Zwerger

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

We calculate the density of states of a damped quantum-mechanical harmonic oscillator which is described by a Caldeira-Leggett type model with Ohmic dissipation and a Drude-like cutoff. From the exact expression for the associated partition function, we derive the asymptotic behavior of the density of states using Tauberian theorems. An effective algorithm to evaluate the density of states is presented and examples are given. It is pointed out that the calculated density of states is an experimentally accessible quantity.

Exclusive Electron Scattering From Deuterium At High Momentum Transfer, H. J. Bulten, P. L. Anthony, R. G. Arnold, J. Arrington, E. J. Beise, E. Belz, K. Van Bibber, P. E. Bosted, J.F.J. Van Den Brand, M. S. Chapman, K. P. Coulter, F. S. Dietrich, R. Ent, M. Epstein, B. W. Filippone, H. Gao, R.A. Gearhart, D. F. Geesaman, J.-O. Hansen, R. J. Holt, H. E. Jackson, C. E. Jones, C. E. Keppel, E. Kinney, S. E. Kuhn, K. Lee, W. Lorenzon, A. Lung, N.C.R. Makins, D. J. Margaziotis, R.D. Mckeown, R. G. Milner, B. Mueller, J. Napolitano, J. Nelson, T.G. O'Neill, V. Papavassiliou, G. G. Petratos, D. H. Potterveld, S. E. Rock, M. Spengos, Z. M. Szalata, L. H. Tao, J. L. White, B. Zeidman

Physics Faculty Publications

Cross sections are presented for the reaction ²H(e,e′p)n for momentum transfers in the range 1.2 ≤Q²≤ 6.8 (GeV/c)2 and for missing momenta from 0 to 250 MeV/c. The longitudinal-transverse interference structure function has been separated at Q²=1.2(GeV/c)². The observables are compared to calculations performed in nonrelativistic and relativistic frameworks. The data are best described by a fully relativistic calculation.

Evidence For Virtual Compton Scattering From Proton, J.F.J. Van Den Brand, R. Ent, P. L. Anthony, R. G. Arnold, J. Arrington, E. J. Beise, J. E. Belz, P. E. Bosted, H. J. Bulten, M. S. Chapman, K. P. Coulter, F. S. Dietrich, M. Epstein, B. W. Filippone, H. Gao, R. A. Gearhart, D. F. Geesaman, J.-O. Hansen, R. J. Holt, H. E. Jackson, C. E. Jones, C. E. Keppel, E. R. Kinney, S. Kuhn, K. Lee, W. Lorenzon, A. Lung, N.C.R. Makins, D.J. Margaziotis, R.D. Mckeown, R.G. Milner, B. Mueller, J. Napolitano, J. Nelson, T. G. O'Neill, V. Pavavassiliou, G. G. Petratos, D. H. Potterveld, S. E. Rock, M. Spengos, Z. M. Szalata, L. H. Tao, K Van Bibber, D. A. Wasson, J.L. White, B. Zeidman

Physics Faculty Publications

In virtual Compton scattering an electron is scattered off a nucleon such that the nucleon emits a photon. We show that these events can be selected experimentally, and present the first evidence for virtual Compton scattering from the proton in data obtained at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The angular and energy dependence of the data is well described by a calculation that includes the coherent sum of electron and proton radiation.

Precision Measurement Of Relative Dipole Matrix Elements In Atomic Sodium, Rodney P. Meyer

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Relative dipole matrix elements are measured by means of a new spectroscopic technique called polarization interference spectroscopy. It is a two-color two-photon nonresonant process that maps the matrix elements into the energy domain by means of quantum mechanical interference. The technique measures the relative magnitude of the reduced matrix elements, particularly those involving excited states, to accuracies that are an order of magnitude better than previously available. Also, for the first time the relative phase of the reduced matrix elements is measured. The ratio of reduced matrix elements for the transitions 3s ²S_1/2 →3P ²P_3/2 →5s …

Dynamic Phase Steepening In Alfven Waves, Stephen R. Granade

Honors Theses

Our solar system contains more activity and complexity than can be seen through a telescope. One such "invisible" phenomenon is the solar wind, created by a steady stream of particles blasted away from the sun in all directions. The sun's donut-shaped magnetic field lines channel this stream. Particles moving along the field lines perform an intricate helical dance, with ions winding one way and electrons the other.

The solar wind shapes and is shaped by the magnetic fields of the planets and the sun. If left undisturbed by outside influences, the earth's magnetic field, like the sun's, would resemble a …

Waterjet Cutting Of Cross-Linked Glass, Fang Yuan, John A. Johnson, David D. Allred, Robert H. Todd

Faculty Publications

The cutting of cross-linked glasses such as silica and Corning 7059 can be difficult. We conducted an experimental study to determine the feasibility of using a high-speed waterjet to cut thin Corning 7095 glass. Cutting using either pure de-ionized high pressure water at 380 MPa (55 000 psi) or de-ionized water with entrained garnet abrasive was studied. The roughness of the cut surfaces was measured and compared. Photomicrographs were taken of glass examples cut at different traversing rates with pure water and with the abrasive entrained waterjet. Comparative studies of cutting with and without the entrained abrasive material showed that …