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Beaver, E. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Beaver, E. A..

33 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Progress report on the high resolution spectrograph for the Space Telescope

The instrument design is complete and many components and subsystems have been manufactured and tested. Solar-blind, multichannel, pulse counting detectors for two ultraviolet spectral bands have been developed and satisfactory flight units have been chosen. A large, lightweight graphite-epoxy optical bench, utilizing fingerplate joints with no metallic parts in order to minimize thermal expansion, has been built. Tests of the engineering model torque-motor-driven grating carrousel indicate that this critical system exceeds tight specifications for accurate and repeatable angular positioning. A complement of large, high-frequency gratings and an echelle is being completed in several laboratories. Software resident in a computer on the spacecraft will control the spectrograph with the capability to alter procedures in response to real-time evaluation of the data.

Brandt, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Optical polarization of the Seyfert galaxies Mrk 3, Mrk 231, NGC 3227 and NGC 3516

The paper presents intermediate resolution observations of the emission line and continuum polarization of the Seyfert galaxies Mrk 3, Mrk 231, NGC 3227, and NGC 3516. The polarization shows a strong wavelength dependence with the polarization increasing smoothly into the blue for each galaxy. This wavelength dependence, together with the presence of polarized H(alpha) emission, indicates that the polarization of each galaxy is caused by an asymmetric dust envelope surrounding the nucleus. Observations of the polarization of the /O III/ lambda 5007 emission in Mrk 3 and NGC 3227, and the polarization through the nonstellar Na ID line absorption in Mrk 231 are used to place constraints on the extent of the polarizing clouds in these galaxies. No polarization variability was detected with time-bases ranging from a few weeks to three years.

Thompson, I.↗
NASA NTRS1980

State-of-the-art Space Telescope Digicon performance data

The Digicon has been chosen as the detector for the High Resolution Spectrograph and the Faint Object Spectrograph of the Space Telescope. Both tubes are 512 channel, parallel-output devices and feature CsTe photocathodes on MgF2 faceplates. Using a computer-assisted test facility, the tubes have been characterized with respect to diode array performance, photocathode response (1100-9000 A), and imaging capability. Data are presented on diode dark current and capacitance distributions, pulse height resolution, photocathode quantum efficiency, uniformity and blemishes, dark count rate, distortion, resolution, and crosstalk.

Ginaven, R. O.↗
NASA NTRS1979

High resolution spectrograph for the Space Telescope

The high resolution spectrograph (HRS) for ultraviolet astronomy with the Space Telescope will provide a spectral resolution of approximately 120,000 over a nominal wavelength range of 110-320 nm, together with a spatial resolution of about 0.25 arc seconds. The two detectors will consist of 512-element Digicons with cesium telluride and cesium iodide photocathodes, respectively. Photoelectrons in transit between the photocathodes and the diodes within the Digicons can be deflected in two axes with 12-bit resolution. This feature facilitates a design that emphasizes reliability since (once a hermetic seal is opened in orbit), only two moving parts, a grating carrousel and a shutter, are required for regular operation of the HRS. The instrument will be controlled by a computer in the spacecraft. The scientific objectives of the HRS investigation relate to interstellar matter in our own and nearby galaxies, physical processes of stellar mass loss and mass transfer, chemical abundances, bright quasars and Seyfert galaxy nuclei, and solar system phenomena.

Brandt, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Space Telescope Digicon

The Digicon, chosen by NASA as the detector for the High Resolution Spectrograph (HRS) and the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) is a 512 parallel output channel vacuum photodetector. There are two HRS Digicons with spectral sensitivity ranges from 1050 A to 1800 A and 1150 A to 3000 A respectively, and two FOS Digicons, which have spectral ranges extending to 7000 A. The significant requirements for these devices are 0.01 counts per second background count rate per diode, state-of-the-art Digicon pulse height resolution (typical 15%) and a high degree of imaging precision and stability. The results of a manufacturing and test program to develop the Digicons coupled with extensive prior work has shown that these requirements can be met. The Digicon because of its inherent ruggedness is particularly well suited to space applications.

Alting-Mees, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Feige 7 - A hot, rotating magnetic white dwarf

Results are reported for image-tube-scanner and digicon observations of Feige 7, a faint blue star identified as a probable white dwarf. It is found that this star is a magnetic white dwarf showing a very rich spectrum with Zeeman subcomponents of both hydrogen and neutral helium as well as periodic spectrum and circular-polarization variations. A polarization period of 2.2 hr is computed, and a surface magnetic-field strength of about 18 MG is determined by matching features of the absorption spectrum to Zeeman components. It is suggested that the only reasonable explanation for the periodic variations in circular polarization is an oblique rotator with the spin axis approximately in the plane of the sky and tilted by about 24 deg to the magnetic axis. An effective temperature in the range from 20,000 to 25,000 K is estimated, an absolute magnitude of about 10.5 is derived, and the atmosphere is shown to be helium-dominated. The evolution of Feige 7 is discussed in terms of possible magnetic-field effects on atmospheric composition, rotation velocity (5.5 km/s for a radius of 7000 km), and the origin of white-dwarf magnetic fields.

Liebert, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A spectroscopic study of selected quasars with absorption redshifts greater than emission redshifts

Spectroscopic data are presented for seven quasars having absorption systems whose redshift is greater than that of emission lines. The objects examined include PKS 1229-02, 3C 298, 3C 205, B194, PHL 1222, 0736-06, and PKS 0119-04. The redshift systems of each quasar are described in detail, the empirical distribution of the relative numbers of absorption systems vs. emission-absorption redshift difference is determined, and errors in this distribution due to selection of the sample and to the incompleteness and inhomogeneity of the data are discussed qualitatively. Six groups of possibilities are considered for the origin of absorption systems with redshifts higher than the emission redshifts. It is concluded that two separate mechanisms must be invoked: intervening clouds bound in a cluster of galaxies where the quasar is embedded (for systems with an absolute relative velocity not exceeding about 3000 km/s) and gravitational acceleration of material ejected by the quasar (for systems with a relative velocity of at least 3000 km/s).

Weymann, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The origin of optical polarization in NGC 1068

The polarization of emission lines in the nucleus of NGC 1068 has been measured with a digicon, a single-channel scanner, and interference filters. It is found that the permitted lines of H and probably also He II are polarized at nearly the same position angle and by the same amount as the neighboring continuum. This argues strongly that a common dust scattering mechanism is responsible for all the polarization. The forbidden lines are weakly polarized at a position angle quite different from the continuum, indicating an origin outside the nuclear scattering region. The continuum radiation has been found to be circularly polarized with ellipticity of the order of 5 percent in the red. Such high ellipticity is very unlikely to be of nonthermal origin. We take it as evidence that the nuclear dust is in the form of clouds in an asymmetric skew geometry; the polarization then arises from multiple scattering within these clouds.

Angel, J. R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The redshift of 0938+119

Results are reported for digicon spectrophotometric observations of the radio source 0938+119, which was originally classified as a faint red galaxy. A prism spectrum of the source is presented along with the corresponding sky measurement, and several features of the spectrum are described. It is shown that this source is a QSO with a magnitude of 20.1, a redshift z = 3.19, and a spectrum similar to that of OH 471 or 4C 05.34. The question of whether other faint high-redshift QSOs have been misclassified as galaxies is considered.

Beaver, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The spectrum of OH 471 /0642+44/

Results of image-tube and Digicon spectroscopy of OH 471 (0642+44) are reported. Wavelengths of 89 stronger absorption features in the range 4000-6000 A are given, and a number of absorption redshift systems are suggested. The lack of radiation shortward of 4000 A is attributed to Lyman continuum absorption in the gas giving rise to the various absorption-line systems.

Carswell, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Discovery of a magnetic DA white dwarf

The spectrum of the white dwarf suspect, GD 90, is shown to contain broad Balmer lines with resolved Zeeman structure. All the observed features correspond to the calculated spectrum of hydrogen at 5 plus or minus 0.5 MG. A region of approximately 20% of the observed stellar disk must be subject to a reasonably uniform field of this strength. The sigma components of the Zeeman patterns in H beta and H gamma are found to be circularly polarized, indicating that the field has a component directed along the line of sight. There is evidence for an additional stronger and less homogeneous field, as would be expected if the dominant 5 -MG region were at the equator of a dipolar field.

Angel, J. R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Digital multichannel photometer

System was developed for use in astronomy and other research areas concerned with detection of faint-light images. Photometer system is comparable in performance to good photomultiplier tube array except that digital electronics are used instead of analog.

Beaver, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Digicon photometry of an intergalactic bridge

Surface brightness and color data are derived for two points in the bridge and tail structure of Arp 295. The best observed point has a surface brightness in V of 25.9 magnitudes per square arc second and (B-V) = +1.00 m. A point on the tail is brighter with the same color.

Beaver, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1971

A digital multichannel photometer

Semiconductor diode image tube system as digital multichannel photometer, noting cost, weight and size advantages over photomultiplier tube array with pulse counting electronics

Beaver, E. A.↗