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Hauser, M. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Hauser, M. G..

At least 55 records · Page 3

IRAS images of the galactic center

Some preliminary IRAS results in the form of images at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns of an 8 deg x 15 deg area around the galactic center are presented. These absolute intensity maps have unprecedented sensitivity combined with high angular resolution, wide field coverage, and large wavelength range. They give a broad view of the central galaxy revealing previously unseen details, especially in regions far from the central few arcmin. Well-defined infrared features in the nucleus correspond to the nuclear radio sources Sgr A, B2, C, and D. Extremely faint structures are detected, such as the cold molecular cloud associated with Sgr B2 which has never before been detected at wavelenths shorter than 40 microns.

Gautier, T. N.↗

Unidentified point sources in the IRAS minisurvey

Nine bright, point-like 60 micron sources have been selected from the sample of 8709 sources in the IRAS minisurvey. These sources have no counterparts in a variety of catalogs of nonstellar objects. Four objects have no visible counterparts, while five have faint stellar objects visible in the error ellipse. These sources do not resemble objects previously known to be bright infrared sources.

Houck, J. R.↗

The large scale dust distribution in the inner galaxy

Initial results are presented from a new large-scale survey of the first quadrant of the galactic plane at wavelengths of 160, 260, and 300 microns. The submillimeter wavelength emission, interpreted as thermal radiation by dust grains, reveals an optically thin disk of angular width about 0.09 deg (FWHM) with a mean dust temperature of 23 K and significant variation of the dust mass column density. Comparison of the dust column density with the gas column density inferred from CO survey data shows a striking spatial correlation. The mean luminosity per hydrogen atom is found to be 2.5 x 10 to the -30th W/H, implying a radiant energy density in the vicinity of the dust an order of magnitude larger than in the solar neighborhood. The data favor dust in molecular clouds as the dominant submillimeter radiation source.

Hauser, M. G.↗

A large aperture balloon-borne telescope for a submillimeter wavelength survey of the galactic plane

A balloon-borne, 1.2 meter Cassegrain telescope with a servo-controlled chopping secondary mirror has been developed and used to survey the Galactic Plane at submillimeter wavelengths. The telescope pointing system uses a gyroscope as the primary stabilization reference and makes use of microprocessors for pointing control, on-board data collection, and telemetry formatting. A description of the telescope, multi-channel liquid-helium-cooled focal plane and the aspect and orientation subsystems are presented.

Silverberg, R. F.↗

Space infrared astronomy - Overview of NASA planning

The present status and potential future direction of the NASA space infrared astronomy program is reviewed. Projects and project concepts discussed include the Infrared Astronomy Satellite, Small Infrared Telescope on Spacelab 2, Cosmic Background Explorer, Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility, Space Telescope, large deployable reflector, molecular line survey, and infrared interferometer in space. Needs for continued engineering development in critical technology areas such as detectors, cryogenics, optics, and space structures are indicated.

Hauser, M. G.↗

Large beam observations of the galactic center at 150, 200, and 300 microns

Observations with 10 arcmin resolution of a 2 sq deg portion of the galactic plane around the galactic center at 150, 200, and 300 microns are presented, obtained as part of a galactic plane survey. In the galactic center region the mean dust temperature is about 30 K. Both the temperature and the dust-to-gas mass ratio in the galactic center region are typical of a large portion of the galactic plane. Three main emission peaks, Sgr A, B, and C, are detected; these peaks appear as dust column density enhancements rather than temperature enhancements. The dust responsible for the FIR emission may only be a fraction of the dust responsible for the visual extinction toward the galactic center.

Stier, M. T.↗

1.0 millimeter maps and radial density distributions of Southern H II/molecular cloud complexes

Measurements of the 1.0-mm continuum emission from seven Southern Hemisphere H II region/molecular cloud complexes located in the inner part of the Galaxy near the galactic plane are presented. The sources were mapped based on observations made by a remote-controlled prime focus infrared photometer on the Cerro Tololo 4-m telescope at a resolution of 65 arcsec. The morphologies and physical characteristics of the sources investigated are found to be similar, with dust column densities of 0.006-0.030 g/sq cm, linear extents of 1.5-3 pc, total masses of 20,000-100,000 solar masses and infrared luminosities between 2 and 4 x 10 to the 6th solar luminosities. In all cases, the dense, extended dust envelopes are observed to be singly peaked and centered about one or more compact near-infrared sources, with a radial density distribution around the central peak proportional to the -1.5 power of the radius as in other extended 1.0-mm continuum sources.

Cheung, L. H.↗

1.0 Mm Maps and Radial Density Distributions of Southern Hii/molecular Cloud Complexes

Several 1.0 continuum mapping observations were made of seven southern hemisphere h12/molecular cloud complexes with 65 arcsec resolution. The radial density distribution of the clouds with central luminosity sources was determined observationally. Strong similarities in morphology and general physical conditions were found to exist among all of the southern clouds in the sample.

Cheung, L. H.↗

1.0 mm continuum observations of cool southern clouds

It is noted that high surface brightness 1.0 mm continuum emission has been mapped in nine southern hemisphere H II/molecular cloud complexes: NGC 6334, RCW 38, RCW 57, RCW 122, RCW 117, G333.6-0.2, G351.6-1.3, W 33, and W 33A. All of the sources are in the inner part of the galaxy near the galactic plane. New 1.0 mm continuum mapping results with a resolution of 65 arcsec are presented.

Gezari, D. Y.↗

Infrared receivers for low background astronomy: Incoherent detectors and coherent devices from one micrometer to one millimeter

The status of incoherent detectors and coherent receivers over the infrared wavelength range from one micrometer to one millimeter is described. General principles of infrared receivers are included, and photon detectors, bolometers, coherent receivers, and important supporting technologies are discussed, with emphasis on their suitability for low background astronomical applications. Broad recommendations are presented and specific opportunities are identified for development of improved devices.

Boggess, N. W.↗

A 1.2 meter balloon-borne telescope for a submillimeter wave sky survey

A balloon-borne, 1.2 meter Cassegrain telescope designed for diffraction-limited imagery at 100 microns is being developed for a survey of the Galactic plane at submillimeter wavelengths. The telescope pointing system is servocontrolled using a gyroscope for the primary stabilization reference. Extensive use is made of microprocessors for flight sequencing, pointing control and stabilization, and telemetry formatting. A description of the telescope, helium-cooled detectors, and the orientation subsystems are presented together with a brief discussion of the proposed astronomical observations.

Silverberg, R. F.↗

One-millimeter brightness temperatures of the planets

Results are reported for a bolometric determination of the relative brightness at a wavelength of 1 mm of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The relative measurements are converted to absolute temperatures by using a thermal model for Mars, which was checked by observations of Mars and Jupiter at two different epochs. The mean planetary disk temperatures are found to be 320 + or 16 K for Mercury, 276 + or - 14 K for Venus, 145 + or - 7 K for Saturn, 168 + or - 8 K for Jupiter, 87 + or - 7 K for Uranus, and 96 + or - 10 K for Neptune. These results are compared with previous determinations at other wavelengths, and some aspects of the observations of the individual planets are briefly discussed.

Werner, M. W.↗

1 millimeter continuum observations of extragalactic objects

Continuum observations of 23 extragalactic objects have been made at a wavelength of 1 mm; nine of the 23 have been definitely detected at this wavelength. The sources detected include seven from which the 1-mm emission appears to be nonthermal, and two from which the emission appears to be thermal radiation from dust. Repeated observations of the brightest nonthermal sources permitted a search for 1-mm variations on time scales of one month to three years. BL Lac was observed to vary by more than a factor of 2 in flux, and 3C 84, 3C 120, and 3C 273 showed possible variations; 3C 279 showed no variations greater than + or - 30%. The 1-mm variations of BL Lac appear to be correlated with variations at radio wavelengths. The other sources with nonthermal spectra detected were 3C 111 and M87; the two thermal sources detected were NGC 253 and M82. Comparison of the latter two 1-mm measurements with 2.6-mm CO measurements suggests that the CO line in these galaxies is not heavily saturated.

Elias, J. H.↗

One-millimeter continuum emission studies of four molecular clouds

Maps with 1-arcmin resolution are presented of 1-mm thermal emission from dust grains in the central portions of the molecular clouds associated with four H II regions: W3, M42 (OMC-1), Sgr B2, and W49. The maps cover regions approximately 5 by 5 arcmin in extent. In each source, a sharp peak in the 1-mm surface brightness is seen at the position of a compact H II region and/or one or several luminous near-infrared sources. The radial density distributions in the center of the clouds have been estimated from the observed distribution of 1-mm surface brightness near the peaks. The results indicate that the central density gradients are quite steep. These gradients may have been established in the clouds by the collapse processes which led to the formation of the central luminous objects.

Westbrook, W. E.↗

Observations of 1-millimeter continuum radiation from the DR 21 region

Continuum emission at 1 mm has been mapped with 1-min resolution over a 3-min by 8-min area including the compact H II region DR 21, the maser source W75(S)-OH, and the central portions of the surrounding molecular cloud. Peaks in the 1-mm intensity are observed at the positions of DR 21 and W75(S)-OH, and are roughly coincident with less marked peaks in the intensity of HCN and CO emission. An extended component of 1-mm emission is present as well. The principal source of 1-mm radiation is thought to be thermal emission from dust within the molecular gas. The characteristics of this radiation which make it a promising tool for the study of molecular clouds are briefly discussed.

Werner, M. W.↗