Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Raman Spectroscopic Study Of The Formation Of T-Mosi2 From Mo/Si Multilayers, Ming Cai, David D. Allred, A. Reyes-Mena

Faculty Publications

We have used Raman spectroscopy, large- and small-angle x-ray diffraction spectroscopy of sputter-deposited, vacuum-annealed, soft x-ray Mo/Si thin-film multilayers to study the physics of silicide formation. Two sets of multilayer samples with d-spacing 8.4 and 2.0 nm have been studied. Annealing at temperatures above 800 °C causes a gradual formation of amorphous MoSi2 interfaces between the Si and Mo layers. The transition from amorphous to crystalline MoSi2 is abrupt. The experimental results indicate that nucleation is the dominant process for the early stage and crystallization is the dominant process after nucleation is well advanced. In the thicker multilayer, a portion …

Experimental Stark Shift Of Several Nii And Oii Spectral Lines, Mara Scepanovic, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Stevan Djenize, Mihajlo Platisa, Jaroslav Labat

Articles

Stark shift of four NII and seven OII spectral lines have been measured for the first time in the linear low pressure pulsed arc plasma and compared with existing theoretical values.

Comptel Imaging Of The Galactic Disk And The Separation Of Diffuse Emission And Point Sources, H Bloemen, W Hermsen, B Swanenburg, C De Vries, R Diehl, V. Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, A Connors, Mark L. Mcconnell, D Morris, G Stacy, K Bennett, C Winkler

Physics & Astronomy

The first MeV image of the inner Galaxy obtained with the COMPTEL telescope aboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory shows a structured ridge of emisssion along the Galactic equator which probably consists of diffuse radiation and unresolved discrete sources. The intensity distribution of this ridge distinctly differs from the expected distribution for a simple model of the diffuse radiation. Most remarkable are the observed excursions out of the disk, which may hint at the presence of gamma-ray point sources located several degrees away from the mid-plane, but a diffuse origin cannot be excluded. If these are indeed discrete sources, a substantial …

A Protostellar Jet Model For The Water Masers In W49n, Mordecai-Mark Mac Low, Moshe Elitzur, James M. Stone, Arieh Königl

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Observations by Gwinn, Moran, & Reid of the proper motions of water masers in W49N show that they have elongated distribution expanding from a common center. Features with high space velocity only occur far from the center, while low-velocity features occur at all distances. We propose that these observations can be interpreted in terms of a shell of shocked molecular gas that is driven by the expanding cocoon of a high-velocity protostellar jet. We present three-dimensional numerical simulations in support of this interpretation and argue that this source provides a unique oppurtunity for a detailed study of jet-driven cocoons.

Oxygen Abundances In Low Surface Brightness Disk Galaxies, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

The oxygen abundances in the H II regions of a sample of low surface brightness (LSB) disk galaxies are presented. In general, LSB galaxies are found to be metal poor (Z < 1/3Z⊙). Indeed, some LSB galaxies rival the lowest abundance extragalactic objects known, and this sample greatly increases the number of very low metallicity systems known. These low metallicities indicate that LSB galaxies evolve slowly, forming relatively few stars over a Hubble time. The low metallicities of LSB galaxies occur even though many are comparable in size and mass to the prominent spirals which define the Hubble sequence. As well as being low in surface brightness, these galaxies tend to be isolated. This suggests that surface mass density and environment are more relevant to galaxy evolution than gross size. Despite the low surface brightness of the disks, massive (M > 60 M⊙) stars are inferred to be present and no abnormality of the IMF is indicated. Many low-excitation H II regions exist at low metallicity in LSB galaxies, and the ionization parameter is not tightly correlated with metallicity. However, there does seem to be a significant envelope of maximum ionization at a given metallicity.

Observations Of Gamma-Ray Bursts By Comptel, L O. Hanlon, K Bennett, W Collmar, A Connors, R Diehl, R Van Dijk, J Greiner, J W. Den Herder, W Hermsen, R M. Kippen, L Kuiper, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, V. Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, M Varendorff, C Winkler

Physics & Astronomy

During the first year of operation, 22 cosmic gamma-ray bursts were detected within the field of view of the COMPTEL instrument on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Spectra and time histories for the strongest of these bursts have been obtained from both the main instrument (0.75-30 MeV) and the burst modules (0.3-10 MeV). The deconvolved photon spectra for the majority of bursts are fit by a single power law model with spectral index between -1.6 and -2.8. One strong burst, GRB 910814, exhibited significant curvature and could not be fit by a single power law model. A broken power …

Nebular Properties And The Ionizing Radiation Field In The Galactic Center, Joseph C. Shields, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Nebulosity in the central parsec of the Milky Way exhibits a low-ionization spectrum that has led previous analyses of this region to conclude that this material is photoionized by a relatively soft continuum. We have reanalyzed the infrared emission-line spectrum of te Galactic center in order to consider whether the data could actually be explained with photoionization by a relatively hard, yet dilute continuum, and additionally to constrain the properties of the reaiating plasma. We conclude that the composite infrared spectrum does not place strong restrictions on the nature of the ionizing continuum and that much of the ionized gas …

Hot Gas And The Origin Of The Nebular Continuum In Novae, Pedro Saizar, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

A featureless blue continuum (with constant f_ν) is a defining feature of declining classical novae. The fact that f_ν is constant into the infrared, and the absence of a Balmer jump, suggests that this continuum originates in hot tenous gas. The electron temperature and density of the hot gas phase of classical nova QU Vul 1984 are estimated from ground-based optical and IUE ultraviolet observations. This region has a temperature of 10⁵ - 10⁶, and a density in the range of 2 x 10⁴ to 3 x 10⁵cm^-3. …

Optical Variability In The Unusual K5 V Infrared-Excess Star Hd 98800, Gregory W. Henry, Douglas S. Hall

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

The dusty infrared-excess star HD 98800 (K5 V) was observed for several weeks in the spring of 1993 by the Vanderbilt/Tennessee State 0.4 m automatic photoelectric telescope. It was found to be a variable star with an amplitude of 0.07 mag in V and a period of 14.7 days. We show, by comparison with other chromospherically active variable stars and constant stars with good observational histories, that the Rossby number for HD 98800, determined to be 0.30, places it well within the regime of stars whose convective envelopes and rotation rates combine to drive a magnetic dynamo strong enough to …

The Two Variables In The Triple System Hr 6469=V819 Her: One Eclipsing, One Spotted, Walter V. Van Hamme, Douglas S. Hall, Adam W. Hargrove, Gregory W. Henry, Rick Wasson, William S. Barksdale, Sandy Chang, Robert E. Fried, Charles L. Green, Helen C. Lines, Richard D. Lines, Paul Nielsen, Harry D. Powell, Robert C. Reisenweber, Charles W. Rogers, Steve Shervais, Randy Tatum

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

A complete BV light curve, from 14 nights of good data obtained with the Vanderbilt University-Tennessee State University (VU-TSU) automatic telescope, are presented and solved with the Wilson-Devinney program. Third light is evaluated, with the companion star brighter by 0.58m in V and 0.11m in B. The eclipses are partial. Inferred color indices yield F2 V and F8 V for the eclipsing pair and G8 IV-III for the distant companion star. After removing the variability due to eclipses, we study the residual variability of the G8 IV-III star over the ten years 1982 to 1992. Each yearly light curve is …

The Spectroscopic-Speckle Triple System Hr 6469, Colin D. Scarfe, David J. Barlow, Francis C. Fekel, Richard F. Rees, R. W. Lyons, Charles Thomas Bolton, Harold A. Mcalister, William I. Hartkopf

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

HR 6469 consists of an evolved G star and a close pair of stars, believed to be on the main sequence, the brighter of which is an early F star. Shallow eclipses have been detected in the close pair and the components of the wide system have been resolved over most of the orbit by speckle interferometry (McAlister & Hartkopf, Second Catalog of Interferometric Observations of Binary Stars, Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy, Contribution No. 2 (CHARA), 1988). This paper presents radial velocities, obtained at the David Dunlap, McDonald, Kitt Peak and Dominion Astrophysical Observatories, for the G star …

Observations Of Cygnus X-1 Comptel During 1991, Mark L. Mcconnell, D J. Forrest, James M. Ryan, W Collmar, V. Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, R Van Dijk, W Hermsen, K Bennett

Physics & Astronomy

The Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) experiment on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) has observed the Cygnus region on two occasions during the first (sky survey) phase of its mission. These data represent the most sensitive observations to date of Cygnus X-1 in the 0.75-30 MeV range. The observations in 1991 June and August both showed evidence for emission in the 0.75-2 MeV energy range. The flux level was larger by about a factor of 2 during the August observation. The spectral data were analyzed in the context of a Wien spectral model (the high-energy limit of the Sunyaev-Titarchuk Comptonization spectrum). Fits …

On The Theory Of Astronomical Masers In Three Dimensions, Moshe Elitzur

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

In the standard theory of three-dimensional astronomical masers, the radiation field is described as if the source were comprised of a collection of linear masers. To leading order, the standard theory is shown to provide the correct description of three-dimensional masers and its results remain intact, but only within a frequency core whose half-width is χ_sΔν_D, where Δν_D is the Doppler width and χ_s is a dimensionless parameter. For any given geometry, χ_s is ~1θ_sat, where θ_sat is the beaming angle of a maser with that geometry that has …

Time-Series Photometric Spot Modeling. Ii. Fifteen Years Of Photometry Of The Bright Rs Cvn Binary Hr 7275., Klaus G. Strassmeier, Douglas S. Hall, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present a time-dependent spot modeling analysis of 15 consecutive years of V-band photometry of the long-period (Porb = 28.6 days) RS CVn binary HR 7275. This baseline in time is one of the longest, uninterrupted intervals a spotted star has been observed. The spot modeling analysis yields a total of 20 different spots throughout the time span of our observations. The distribution of the observed spot migration rates is consistent with solar-type differential rotation and suggests a lower limit of the differential-rotation coefficient of 0.022 +/-0.004. The observed, maximum lifetime of a single spot (or spot group) is 4.5 …

Space Venture, Edward E. Chipman

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Comptel Measurements Of The Gamma-Ray Burst Grb 930131, James M. Ryan, K Bennett, W Collmar, A Connors, Gerald J. Fishman, J Greiner, L O. Hanlon, W Hermsen, R M. Kippen, C Kouveliotou, L Kuiper, G G. Lichti, John R. Macri, J. Mattox, Mark L. Mcconnell, B Mcnamara, C Meegan, V. Schonfelder, R Vandijk, M Varendorff, W Webber, C Winkler

Physics & Astronomy

On 1993 January 31 at 1857:12 Universal Time (UT), the Imaging Compton Telescope COMPTEL onboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) detected the cosmic gamma-ray burst GRB 930131. COMPTEL's MeV imaging capability was employed to locate the source to better than 2 deg (1 sigma error radius) within 7 hr of the event, initiating a world-wide search for an optical and radio counterpart. The maximum likelihood position of the burst from the COMPTEL data is alpha₂₀₀₀ = 12h 18m, delta₂₀₀₀ = -9 deg 42 min, consistent with independent CGRO-Burst and Transient Source Experiment (CGRO-BATSE) and Energetic Gamma Ray …

Structural Characteristics And Stellar Composition Of Low Surface Brightness Disk Galaxies, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

We present UBVI surface photometry of a sample of low surface brightness (LSB) disk galaxies. LSB disk galaxies are fairly well described as exponential disks with no preferred value for either scale length, central surface brightness, or rotational velocity. Indeed, the distribution of scale lengths is indistinguishable from that of high surface brightness spirals, indicating that dynamically similar galaxies (e.g., those with comparable v2R) exist over a large range in surface density. These LSB galaxies are strikingly blue. The complete lack of correlation between central surface brightness and color rules out any fading scenario. Similarly, the oxygen abundances inferred from …

The Three-Dimensional Structure Of The Infrared Cirrus, John E. Gaustad

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

This project was carried out over a period of four years, beginning 6/15/89 and continuing through 9/15/93. Intermediate results have been reported as poster papers at several meetings of the American Astronomical Society. A brief summary was presented in April 1993 at a symposium on the infrared cirrus. The final results were published in late 1993. The measurements have been deposited in NASA's Astronomical Data Center. Briefly, the results are as follows: Using the IRAS data base, we surveyed the 1808 06-B9.5 stars in the Bright Star Catalog for extended excess emission at 60 micrometers, indicating the presence of heated …

Gravity And Electromagnetism In Noncommutative Geometry, Giovanni Landi, Nguyen Ai Viet, Kameshwar C. Wali

Physics - All Scholarship

We present a unified description of gravity and electromagnetism in the framework of a Z 2 non-commutative differential calculus. It can be considered as a “discrete version” of Kaluza-Klein theory, where the fifth continuous dimension is replaced by two discrete points. We derive an action which coincides with the dimensionally reduced one of the ordinary Kaluza-Klein theory.

Variations In Meteorological Elements During Three Minnesota Partial Eclipses, L. E. Newman, J. E. Ljungkull, D. G. Baker, D. L. Ruschy, J. A. Zandlo

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The University of Minnesota climatological observatory on the St. Paul campus has been in the path of four partial eclipses, ranging from 500/4 to 91 % of totality (the area of the covered sun) since operations began in 1960. Three of the four partial eclipses occurred while the atmosphere at St. Paul was essentially cloud-free. Measurements made during the three partial eclipses include incoming and reflected solar radiation, incoming and outgoing longwave radiation, air and soil temperatures, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction. Of the partial eclipses for which the effects could be measured, only the one of 30 …

An Overview Of Solar Flare Results From Comptel, Mark L. Mcconnell

Space Science Center

The COMPTEL experiment on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) has been operating in orbit since April of 1991. During that time, COMPTEL has observed several large flares, the most notable of which were several X‐class flares which took place in June of 1991. As a solar instrument, COMPTEL has the capability to measure solar flare radiation in two parallel observing modes. In its telescope mode, COMPTEL is capable of measuring both solar flare photons (in the 0.75–30 MeV range) and solar flare neutrons (in the 20–150 MeV range) using the double scatter technique with a field‐of‐view of ∼1 steradian. …

First Results Of The Batse/Comptel/Nmsu Rapid Burst Response Campaign, R M. Kippen, A Connors, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, W Collmar, J Greiner, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, Gerald J. Fishman, C Meegan, C Kouveliotou, B Mcnamara, T Harrison, W Hermsen, L Kuiper, K Bennett, L O. Hanlon, C Winkler

Space Science Center

The Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory regularly observes gamma‐ray bursts which occur inside the instrument’s ∼1 sr field‐of‐view. COMPTEL images bursts in the 0.75–30 MeV energy range with a typical location accuracy of 1–3 degrees, depending on burst strength, position, duration, and spectrum. COMPTEL’s imaging capability has been exploited in order to search for fading gamma‐ray burst counterparts at other wavelengths through the establishment of a BATSE/COMPTEL/NMSU rapid burst response campaign. This campaign utilizes near real‐time identification and preliminary burst location by BATSE, accelerated COMPTEL imaging, and a world‐wide network of observers to search …

Comptel Gamma‐Ray Observations Of The Quasars Cta 102 And 3c 454.3, J J. Blom, H Bloemen, W Hermsen, W Collmar, V Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, Mark L. Mcconnell, G Stacy, K Bennett, C Winkler

Space Science Center

The blazer‐type active galactic nuclei (AGNs) CTA 102 (QSO 2230+114) and 3C 454.3 (QSO 2251+158), located about 7° apart on the sky, were observed by the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory at four epochs in 1992. Both were detected by EGRET and here we present theCOMPTEL observations of the two quasars. These observations clearly indicate that the power‐law spectra measured by EGRET above ∼50 MeV show a flattening at lower MeV energies. A comparison with observations at other wavelengths shows that the power spectra of CTA 102 and 3C 454.3 peak at MeV energies. This behavior appears to be a …

Comptel Detection Of The Variable Radio Source Gt 0236+610, R Vandijk, H Bloemen, W Hermsen, W Collmar, R Diehl, G G. Lichti, V Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, K Bennett, M Much, Mark L. Mcconnell, A Connors

Space Science Center

The highly variable and non‐thermal radio source GT 0236+610 exhibits outbursts with a period of 26.496 days, modulated by a four‐year period. Recent EGRET observations confirmed that this source is the counterpart of the COS‐B source 2CG 135+01.

COMPTEL observed this source during three observations in Phase I. We report here on the detections in each of the observations, the time‐averaged spectrum, and address the question of time variability with respect to the radio phase.

Observations Of The 1991 June 11 Solar Flare With Comptel, G Rank, R Diehl, G G. Lichti, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, B Swanenburg, R Vandijk, D J. Forrest, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, M Loomis, James M. Ryan, K Bennett, C Winkler

Space Science Center

The COMPTEL instrument onboard of the Compton Gamma‐Ray Observatory (CGRO) is sensitive to γ‐rays in the energy range from 0.75 to 30 MeV and to neutrons in the energy range from 10 to 100 MeV.

During the period of unexpectedly high solar activity in June 1991, several flares from active region 6659 were observed by COMPTEL. For the flare on June 11, we have analyzed the COMPTEL telescope data, finding strong 2.223 MeV line emission, that declines with a time constant of 11.8 minutes during the satellite orbit in which the flare occurs. It remains visible for at least 4 …

Tracking And Imaging Gamma Ray Experiment (Tigre) For 1 To 100 Mev Gamma Ray Astronomy, A Alpar, D Bhattacharya, R Buccheri, K Dotson, D J. Forrest, W N. Johnson, G Kanbach, U Kiziloglu, R Kroeger, J Kurfess, M L. Mcconnell, H Ogelman, B O'Neill, Terence J. O'Neill, A Owens, B Pi, B Pierce, James M. Ryan, B Sacco, G Simnett, O T. Tumer, W Wheaton, R S. White, Allen Zych

Space Science Center

A large international collaboration from the high energy astrophysics community has proposed the Tracking and Imaging Gamma Ray Experiment (TIGRE) for future space observations. TIGRE will image and perform energy spectroscopy measurements on celestial sources of gamma rays in the energy range from 1 to 100 MeV. This has been a difficult energy range experimentally for gamma ray astronomy but is vital for the future considering the recent exciting measurements below 1 and above 100 MeV. TIGRE is both a double scatter Compton and gamma ray pair telescope with direct imaging of individual gamma ray events.

Multi‐layers of Si strip …

Comptel’S Solar Flare Catalog, R Suleiman, D J. Forrest, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, R Diehl, G G. Lichti, G Rank, V Schonfelder, A W. Strong, M Varendorff, K Bennett, L O. Hanlon, C Winkler, H Bloemen, W Hermsen, B Swanenburg

Space Science Center

COMPTEL, the imaging gamma‐ray telescope, capable of detecting gamma rays in the range of 0.1–30 MeV, is one of four instruments aboard NASA’s Compton Gamma‐Ray Observatory. The Comptel burst detectors (single Defector Mode) have a field of view of ∼2.5 π sr. These detectors of COMPTEL permit measurements of energy spectra and time histories of solar flare gamma‐ray emission. A search through the Single Detector Mode’s data is being conducted. We summarize the preliminary results of this search.

Comptel Observations Of Gamma‐Ray Flares In October 1991, M Varendorff, D J. Forrest, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, R Suleiman, R Diehl, G G. Lichti, G Rank, V Schonfelder, K Bennett, L O. Hanlon, C Winkler, B Swanenburg

Space Science Center

The COMPTEL experiment on GRO images 0.75–30 MeV celestial gamma‐radiation that falls within its 1 steradian field of view. During observation 12 (primary target Cen A) in October 1991 the sun had been in the fov and several solar flares associated with the active region 6891 had been observed. Time profile and energy spectra had been produced, using COMPTEL’s primary mode of operation (the telescope mode). Additionally the number of counts received in the D2‐single burst detector (the secondary mode of operation) are given. We summarize the preliminary results on all of these flares.

Comptel Upper Limits For Seyfert Galaxies, M Maisack, W Collmar, G G. Lichti, V Schonfelder, H Steinle, H Bloemen, W Hermsen, Mark L. Mcconnell, G Stacy, P Barr, O R. Williams

Space Science Center

The gamma‐ray emission of Seyfert galaxies has fallen far short of pre‐GRO expectations. No single object of this class has been detected by either COMPTEL or EGRET, and OSSE has detected only a fraction of the Seyferts expected. To derive a more stringent upper limit to the emission from these objects in the energy ranges 0.75 to 1 and 1 to 3 MeV, we have summed a large number of COMPTEL observations acquired during Phase 1 of the GRO mission. From a total of 47 observations of 23 individual X‐ray selected Seyfert galaxies, we derive preliminary upper limits of 8×10 …

Neutron And Gamma‐Ray Measurements Of The Solar Flare Of 1991 June 9, James M. Ryan, D J. Forrest, J Lockwood, M Loomis, Mark L. Mcconnell, D Morris, W Webber, K Bennett, L O. Hanlon, C Winkler, H Debrunner, G Rank, V Schonfelder, B Swanenburg

Space Science Center

The COMPTEL Imaging Compton Telescope on‐board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory measured significant neutron and γ‐ray fluxes from the solar flare of 9 June 1991. The γ‐ray flux had an integrated intensity (≳1 MeV) of ∼30 cm⁻², extending in time from 0136 UT to 0143 UT, while the time of energetic neutron emission extended approximately 10 minutes longer, indicating either extended proton acceleration to high energies or trapping and precipitation of energetic protons. The production of neutrons without accompanying γ‐rays in the proper proportion indicates a significant hardening of the precipitating proton spectrum through either the trapping or …