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Morgan, T. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Morgan, T. H..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Spatial distribution of sodium vapor in the atmosphere of Mercury

The present study indicates that the Na content of the Mercury exosphere is influenced by both diurnally and sporadically varying forces; radiation pressure is identified with the former, and solar wind-magnetosphere interactions with the latter. The latitudinal distribution is highly variable on a timescale of less than one day, and significant enhancements are found in Na abundance at one pole. It is suggested that a significant amount of Na recycling through an exosphere-magnetosphere coupling may be responsible for this effect. The magnetosphere provides a mechanism for transport of Na toward the poles, and for subsequent loss in the polar loss cones.

Killen, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Production of sodium vapor from exposed regolith in the inner solar system

The likely supply of sodium to the lunar exosphere by impact vaporization, by charged particle sputtering, and by photon stimulated desorption has been calculated. These were each compared to the supply of sodium needed to maintain the observed sodium exosphere about the Moon. The two processes already known to act on the lunar regolith, impact vaporization and charged particle sputtering, appear to be sufficient to explain the observed column density of sodium in the lunar atmosphere. Photon-stimulated desorption, given the estimates for the yield of sodium due to this process available in the literature, would produce 100 to 1000 times more sodium than is observed. If impact vaporization is the main source of sodium to the atmosphere of Mercury, then sodium photo-ions in the exosphere of Mercury are efficiently recycled to the planet.

Morgan, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Extended sodium exosphere of the moon

Sodium emission has been observed up to 1200 km above the subsolar limb of the moon at third quarter. The intensity of the emission is far in excess of that predicted from the scale height and surface density derived previously from measurements of sodium emission at low altitudes above the lunar surface. This can be explained by assuming that there are both 'hot' and 'cold' components of the lunar sodium exosphere.

Potter, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Discovery of sodium and potassium vapor in the atmosphere of the moon

A ground-based telescopic study of the lunar surface with high resolution spectroscopy has led to the discovery of sodium and potassium vapor 'atmospheres'. The scale height for the sodium atmosphere is 120 + or - 42 km, and for potassium 90 + or - 20 km; these values imply that the effective temperature of the two elements closely approximates that of the lunar surface. The sodium density at the south polar region is similar to that at the subsolar point, indicating widespread distribution of the vapor. The ratio of sodium to potassium densities, at 6 (+ or - 3):1, is close to the lunar surface ratio and suggests that the atmosphere originated in the vaporization of surface minerals.

Potter, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Impact-driven supply of sodium and potassium to the atmosphere of Mercury

The Mercury atmosphere is supplied with sodium atoms from both impacting meteoroids and the impacted regolith; the production of vaporized sodium due to such impact varies with the instantaneous distance of Mercury from the sun, in a way that differs from the distance-dependence of those source-and-sink processes driven by solar radiation. Such impact-driven vaporization will yield the Na/K ratio noted in the Mercury atmosphere only if both the meteoroids and the regolith of the planet are deficient in K relative to other solar system objects sampled, other than comets.

Morgan, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The Mercury atmosphere

Data available on the composition of Mercury's atmosphere are reviewed, and the sources of these atmospheric components are considered. The known gaseous components in Mercury's atmosphere are H, He, O, Na, and K; among other gases likely to be present are H2 and H2O. Probable sources of these components are the solar wind for hydrogen and helium. The alkalis and water are considered to come from the evaporation of meteoroidal material, with a possible contribution to the former by sputtering and photosputtering.

Hunten, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Variation of sodium on Mercury with solar radiation pressure

It has been suggested that nonthermal Na atoms with velocities in excess of 2.1 km/sec in the Mercury atmosphere can be accelerated off the planet by solar radiation pressure; Na abundance may accordingly be expected to decrease with increasing radiation pressure. While this is confirmed by the present measurements, high resolution line profile measurements on Na emission indicate that very little, if any, of the Na is nonthermal, while the bulk is at a temperature approaching that of the planetary surface. Attention is given to explanations for the observed variation.

Potter, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Potassium in the atmosphere of Mercury

Spectral data are reported from a search for potassium in the Mercury atmosphere. The data were collected with instrumentation at Kitt Peak (7699 A) and at McDonald Observatory (7698.98 and 7664.86 A). The equivalent mean widths of the potassium emission lines observed are tabulated, along with the estimated abundances, which are compared with sodium abundances as determined by resonance lines. The average column abundance of potassium is projected to be 1 billion atoms/sq cm, about 1 percent the column abundance of sodium.

Potter, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Preliminary design of an Earth-based debris detection system using current technology and existing installations

Assessment of debris hazard requires the determination of debris down to mm sizes for near-Earth orbits and near-stationary points. It is necessary to obtain reasonable orbits for a statistically significant sample of the debris population. Several ground-based techniques for detection are available. Radar detection was used to obtain information of existing debris population. Another technique is optical detection. The possibilities and application of optical detection with state-of-the-art instrumentation is studied.

Morgan, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Lunar luminescence measurements

Spectra of lunar sites obtained in June 1983 have been analyzed for residual luminescence using the spectral line depth technique. The results or three sites each at three wavelengths are presented. The sites observed were Mare Crisium, Kepler, and Aristarchus. In each case, the value quoted was based not only on the strong Fraunhofer line in the spectral range covered but also on from 11 to 21 weaker lines within 80 A of the strongest feature. These data do not support previous observations. The values given do not indicate a greatly reddened spectrum, and the luminescence spectrum of the mare site is not significantly different from the two young crater sites. These observations cannot be adequately explained by thermal luminescence, theories of direct excitation are also unable to explain the strength of the flux.

Morgan, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Preliminary design of an Earth-based debris detection system using current technology and existing installations

A simple instrument based on present-epoch technology for optical detection of orbital debris is described. The limits of detectability at various altitudes and under different operating conditions for this system are assessed. The kinds of information which can be deduced from this data are examined. Optimal systems for debris detection are discussed. Alternatives and possible improvements from new technologies are also considered.

Morgan, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of silicate reststrahlen bands in lunar infrared spectra

Thermal emission spectra of three lunar sites (Apollo 11, Descartes Formation, and Tycho central peak) are measured in the 8-14 micron spectral range. Transmission and instrument effects are accounted for by forming ratios of the Descartes and Tycho spectra to the Apollo 11 spectrum. The ratio spectra are compared with ratios of published laboratory spectra of returned lunar samples and also with ratio spectra calculated using the Aronson-Emslie (1975) model. The comparisons show pyroxene bands in the Descartes ratio spectrum and plagioclase bands in the Tycho ratio spectrum. The Tycho spectrum is found to be consistent with the existence of fine plagioclase dust (approximately 1 micron) at the rock surface and a higher-than-usual sodium content of the plagioclase.

Potter, A. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Near-infrared spectral imaging Michelson interferometer for astronomical applications

The design and operation of an imaging Michelson interferometer-spectrometer used for near-infrared (0.8 micron to 2.5 microns) spectral imaging are reported. The system employs a rapid scan interferometer modified for stable low resolution (250/cm) performance and a 42 element PbS linear detector array. A microcomputer system is described which provides data acquisition, coadding, and Fourier transformation for near real-time presentation of the spectra of all 42 scene elements. The electronic and mechanical designs are discussed and telescope performance data presented.

Wells, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Balloon-borne ultraviolet stellar spectrograph. I - Instrumentation and observation. II - Highlights of first observational results

A dual star-tracking system and a system including a telescope, an echelle spectrograph, and a SEC vidicon are the chief components of the Balloon-borne Ultraviolet Stellar Spectrograph (BUSS), which has flown four successful missions. The BUSS missions have yielded 81 spectra for 56 stars, recorded with a resolution of 0.1 A in the wavelength range from 2200 to 3400 A. BUSS observations include: profiles of Mg II lines indicating considerable mass flow in early-type supergiants; Mg II features suggesting a cool expanding outer shell above a hotter chromosphere; emission features in Zeta Tau (a shell star) indicating infalling material; and emission features of the Be star Phi Per suggesting mass outflow.

Kondo, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Metastable states and mass loss in Be stars

Three strong asymmetric absorption features with short-wavelength wings extending 350 km/s from their respective line centers at 2061.6, 2068.2, and 2079.0 A appear in high-resolution UV spectral data (0.1 A) for the Be star Phi Per (B2 Ve4) obtained with the Balloon-borne Ultraviolet Stellar Spectrometer (BUSS) on the evening of September 16, 1976. These transitions are not resonance lines and have been identified as transitions of Fe III (UV 48) originating from a metastable state with an excitation of 5.01 eV. The relative populations of the metastable and ground states are independent of the dilution factor, allowing calculation of the mass-outflow rate for a generalized model. Thus, a mass-outflow rate of 5 hundred-billionths of a solar mass per year is obtained. These transitions are observable with IUE and represent an important tool for studying mass outflow in Be and shell stars.

Bruhweiler, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The behavior of the Mg II lines near 2800 A in A, B, and O stars

The equivalent widths of the Mg II resonance doublet and their subordinate lines near 2800 A have been determined in ten stars of spectral types A through O. By combining the current results with previously published results for four F stars, it is found that the total equivalent widths of the Mg II lines follow a pattern and that the maximum in absorption strength occurs in late-A spectral type. Evidence of mass flow has been found in the Algol spectrum together with some other peculiarities. The general behavior of the Mg II lines in stars in this spectral range is also discussed.

Kondo, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Evidence for mass loss in the mid-ultraviolet spectra of Be stars

The spectral region about the Mg II doublet lines near 2800 A of Be and shell stars has been observed. The star Gamma Cas shows narrow components to each resonance doublet line shifted 215 km/s toward shorter wavelengths. The resonance and subordinate lines of Zeta Tau are shifted toward shorter wavelengths by 75 km/s, and the subordinate lines are greatly strengthened. The star Kappa Dra, which is much later in spectral type, shows a comparatively normal doublet spectrum.

Morgan, T. H.↗