Engineering topics

Morris, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Morris, M..

27 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1983

Hydrogen sulfide in a circumstellar envelope

A search for hydrogen sulfide in the cool circumstellar envelopes of 25 stars was made using the 1(10)-1(01) rotational line at 1.8 mm. It was detected in the bipolar nebula/OH maser OH231.8+4.2, an object having a high rate of mass loss. An approximate analysis indicates that 1/60 of the sulfur in this outflowing envelope is in the form of H2S, a fraction which may be similar to that in the atmosphere of the central star. In addition, the shape of the observed line profile is discussed in terms of a possible variation of the outflow velocity with latitude above the system's equatorial plane.

Ukita, N.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The nature of NML Cygnus

Since the discovery of NML Cyg by Neugebauer et al. (1965), its nature has been uncertain because its distance and luminosity are not known. NML Cyg is partially surrounded by an H II region which is heavily obscured by intervening interstellar matter. This H II region has been mapped in the continuum at 21 cm, and it seems clearly associated with the star. In the present investigation it is proposed that the H II region has been created by ionizing radiation from the Cyg OB2 association. The close agreement between the observed structure of the H II region and that predicted by the considered model provides strong evidence that NML Cyg is indeed at the distance of the association, 2 kpc. At this distance it is among the most luminous red stars shown. Because of its high luminosity, NML Cygnus is probably a massive star of perhaps 50 solar masses.

Morris, M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Molecular self-shielding in the outflows from late-type stars

It is proposed that molecules, especially CO and H2, in the circumstellar outflows from late-type stars can be self-shielded from ambient interstellar UV radiation. The theory of self-shielding in spherical, expanding envelopes is developed for the case in which the photodestruction is dominated by absorption in the Doppler cores of the relevant UV lines, and it is shown that this theory can account for the observations of IRC plus 10216. Also considered is the case in which photodestruction takes place in the damping wings of the UV lines as is appropriate for H2. It is found that most of the hydrogen remains molecular, although the amount of atomic hydrogen is not completely negligible.

Morris, M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Model for the circumstellar gas around alpha Orionis

Models are presented to explain the physical conditions in the circumstellar envelope surrounding the red supergiant Alpha Orionis. The models of the CO density and neutral atomic potassium density are calculated for the outer shell to reproduce simultaneously both the radio detection of CO and optical measurements of the amount of scattering by neutral potassium around Alpha Ori. CO and potassium loss rates of 7 x 10 to the 39th/sec and 8 x 10 to the 37th/sec are obtained, which imply a potassium to carbon ratio greater than that of the sun by about a factor of 25. The low carbon abundance may be attributed to extensive CNO processing, and, together with the potassium abundance, indicates a total mass loss rate of 0.000015 solar masses/year. The mass loss, mass and abundance properties of Alpha Ori suggest it to be the progenitor of a Type II supernova such as Cas A.

Jura, M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The abundance and excitation of the carbon chains in interstellar molecular clouds

Emission lines from the carbon chains HC3N, HC5N, HC7N and HC9N were observed at 3 mm, 7 mm, and 1.4 cm in a number of dark clouds, Orion A and IRC(plus)10216. Non-LTE models were constructed to describe excitation and column densities. Component models for the Taurus dark cloud TMC-1 suggested that relative molecular abundances do not vary substantially along the cloud ridge, whereas the H2 density does by a factor of three. Data available for other dark clouds showed that the decrease in abundance with length from one carbon chain to the next is nearly constant, being close to 2.3. The decline in carbon chain abundance with length is steeper in Orion KL than in dark clouds by a factor of approximately four. Abundance ratios derived for the carbon star IRC(plus)10216 are uncertain, due to difficulties in modeling excitation rates in this environment.

Bujarrabal, V.↗

NASA NTRS1980

On the abundance of carbon monoxide in galaxies - A comparison of spiral and Magellanic irregular galaxies

CO emission has been sought in 52 directions toward six irregular, Magellanic-type galaxies, with null results at a typical detection limit of 0.04 K for a line width of 10 km/s. The positions searched correspond to those of bright OB star clusters, H II regions, H I peaks, and dark clouds. In two cases, one-third of the optical galaxy was covered by the observations. CO has been detected at 2.6 mm toward the nucleus of the low-mass SA(s)dm galaxy NGC 7793. The results imply that the mean surface brightness of CO emission in Magellanic irregulars is less than that of the Galaxy and other spirals which have been studied. Two categories of explanations for this are discussed, including (1) those based on a lower heating rate for interstellar clouds in irregulars, and thus a lower CO temperature, and (2) those based on a lower CO abundance.

Elmegreen, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

On C4H versus vibrationally excited CO in IRC + 10216

The identification of the 114,221-MHz line in the spectrum of the evolved carbon star IRC +10216 with a blend of the rotational transition of C4H and the first rotational transition of vibrationally excited CO is investigated. A spectrum of the source was obtained using an 11-m telescope in the range covering the N = 12 to 11 and 11 to 10 spin-doublet rotational transitions of C4H. Two peaks of equal intensity and width are found in each band, suggesting a spin rotation constant of 1.06 for the 12 to 11 doublet and 1.09 for the 11 to 10 doublet, and excluding the possibility that vibrationally excited CO made any contribution to the 12 to 11 doublet. An additional survey of the regions from 103.8 to 107.5 and 113.3 to 117.0 GHz has revealed no new lines stronger than 0.1 K in the spectrum of IRC +10216.

Cummins, S. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Molecular clouds in Orion and Monoceros

A 1.2-m millimeter-wave telescope has been used to survey CO in the constellations of Orion and Monoceros. Many new molecular clouds have been found. The distribution of molecular material shows two striking characteristics: (1) Most of the molecular clouds in this region appear to be connected by continuous extensions and filaments. To judge from continuity in radial velocity, most of these connections appear to be real, and are not merely the result of projection along the line of sight; (2) There are at least two slender filamentary features longer than 10 deg in angular extent. These filaments may connect the molecular clouds lying well out of the Galactic plane to clouds lying in the plane. Their shape and orientation suggest that magnetic fields may play a role in their evolution. The observed velocity gradients may be explained by accelerated gas flow along the filament.

Morris, M.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Searching for extraterrestrial civilizations

Three interrelated assumptions are critically examined in an attempt to outline a productive strategy for a search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Questions concerning the feasibility of interstellar travel are investigated. It is concluded that the probability of interstellar travel is high enough that, given a modest number of advanced civilizations, at least one of them will engage in interstellar voyages and colonize the galaxy. Assuming, however, that technological civilizations are rare the galaxy would be essentially unpopulated. Attention is given to the present lack of contact with extraterrestrial beings and frequencies for interstellar beacons.

Kuiper, T. B. H.↗