Engineering topics

De Pater, Imke

Publications and source records attributed to De Pater, Imke.

21 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1989

Radio detection of formaldehyde emission from Comet Halley

The J(K-1 K1) = -1(11) -10(10) transition of H2CO was detected in emission at 4829.659 MHz from Comet Halley. The H2CO emission line had a peak intensity of 2.66 + or - 0.78 mJy/beam with a small blueshift of -0.76 + or - 0.40 km/s, which is consistent with the anisotropic outgassing of the nucleus in the solar direction found for other cometary species. Data analysis suggests that cometary H2CO was produced from an extended source in the coma as well as directly from the nucleus and that it was not refrigerated as in interstellar dark nebulae. The derived H2CO production rate of 1.5 x 10 to the 28th molecules/s is obtained which is consistent with observational and theoretical findings.

Snyder, Lewis E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Synchrotron radiation from Neptune - Neptune's magnetic field and electron population

On the basis of radio measurements of Neptune at 20 cm, one can infer the presence of about 0.4 mJy synchrotron radiation. By assuming a dipole-like magnetic field, with the energetic electrons confined to the magnetic equator, Neptune's magnetic dipole moment is estimated. Its electron population should be between that in Uranus' and Jupiter's magnetospheres. If the electrons are injected by the solar wind, local acceleration processes in the magnetosphere are required to energize the particles, because adiabatic diffusion alone is not sufficient.

De Pater, Imke↗

NASA NTRS1988

VLA observations of Uranus at 1.3-20 cm

Observations of Uranus, obtained with resolution 0.5-1.2 arcsec at wavelengths 1.3, 2, 6, and 20 cm using the A and B configurations of the VLA in June-July 1982, October 1983, and February 1984, are reported. The disk-averaged brightness temperatures (DABTs) are determined by model fitting, and the results are presented in extensive graphs and contour maps and characterized in detail. Findings discussed include: (1) an overall spectrum which is relatively flat above 6 cm, (2) 1.3-6-cm brightness which is concentrated nearer to the pole than to the subsolar point, and (3) small changes in DABT from 1982 to 1983/1984 (consistent with an explanation based on a pole-equator temperature gradient).

De Pater, Imke↗