Engineering topics

Davis, D. Scott

Publications and source records attributed to Davis, D. Scott.

5 records

NASA NTRS1986

Airborne infrared investigation of water in the coma of Halley's Comet

An infrared Fourier transform spectrometer on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) was used to obtain high resolution spectra of the intense, solar-pumped infrared fluorescent emission in the (001 to 000) band of H2O near 2.6 microns. Differences between the observed H2O excitation and original expectations are discussed, and KAO water production rates are compared to those derived from International Ultraviolet Explorer observations. Possible future directions for high resolution IR spectroscopy of comets are discussed.

Weaver, Harold A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Velocity-resolved observations of water in Comet Halley

An infrared spectrum of comet Halley was recorded at the Kuiper Airborne Observatory with an instrumental velocity resolution of 1.1 km/sec. A total of 13 emission lines in the 2.65 micron spectral region were assigned to neutral gaseous H2O : 10 in the 001 to 000 band and 3 in the hot 011 to 010 band. The position and widths of these lines are functions of the gas velocity field in the coma. Analysis indicates that the neutral gas outflow is widely dispersed about the nucleus. This spectroscopic picture is consistent with spacecraft images that show multiple jets releasing material into most of the sunfacing hemisphere.

Larson, Harold P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Search for methane in Comet Halley

A search for gaseous neutral CH4 was conducted in the coma of comet Halley on March 20, 1986 using a Fourier transform spectrometer on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. In the field-of-view (24,000 km) the CH4 rotational temperature is equal to the kinetic temperature of the coma molecules due to collisions in most of the region and is frozen in at the outer edge. The spectrum of the nu3 band is due to fluorescence with the R(3) to R(5) lines being most suitable for Earth-based observations. Measured upper (3 delta) limits of 4 times 10 to the minus 19th power W/sqcm for these lines lead to a (7 delta) upper limit of 4 times 10 to the 28th power CH4 molecules per second. This value corresponds to 4% of the water vapor production rate at the time of observation.

Drapatz, S.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Velocity-resolved observations of water in comet Halley

High-resolution observations of H2O in comet Halley are presented. The positions and widths of the H2O emission line profiles are indicative of the coma's velocity field characteristics. Spectral line shape changes are used to infer temporal variations in the kinematic properties of the outflow. The results suggest that H2O is released into the coma by way of multiple jets.

Larson, Harold P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Velocity-resolved observations of water in Comet Halley

High resolution (lambda/delta lambda approx. = 3 x 10 to the 5th power) near-infrared observations of H2O emission from Comet Halley were acquired at the time of maximum post-perihelion geocentric Doppler shift. The observed widths and absolute positions of the H2O line profiles reveal characteristics of the molecular velocity field in the coma. These results support H2O outflow from a Sun-lit hemisphere or the entire nucleus, but not from a single, narrow jet emanating from the nucleus. The measured pre- and post-perihelion outflow velocities were 0.9 + or - 0.2 and 1.4 + or - 0.2 km/s, respectively. Temporal variations in the kinematic properties of the outflow were inferred from changes in the spectral line shapes. These results are consistent with the release of H2O into the coma from multiple jets.

Larson, Harold P.↗