Engineering topics

Noyes, R. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Noyes, R. W..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1994

Imaging spectroscopy of the solar CO lines at 4.67 microns

We analyze spatially and temporally resolved spectra of the fundamental vibration-rotation transitions of carbon monoxide (CO) in the solar spectrum at 4.67 micrometers. Our observations imply that, in the quiet Sun, spatial variations in CO intensity are largely dynamical in nature, reinforcing the suggestion that dynamical effects play a key role in the formation of the dark CO cores. Time sequences of resolved spectra exhibit mainly 3 minute power in line-core intensity but mainly a 5 minute period in Doppler shift. The weak 7-6 R68 line shows normal Evershed flow in the penumbra of a sunspot; we find evidence for the onset of inverse Evershed flow in the strong 3-2 R14 line. Spectra at the limb indicate that 3-2 R14 emission extends approximately 360 km beyond the continuum limb.

Uitenbroek, Han↗

NASA NTRS1991

Formation of the infrared emission lines of Mg I in the solar atmosphere

A non-LTE radiative transfer investigation of the emission lines is conducted at 7 and 12 microns using a realistic atomic model for neutral magnesium. An average quiet sun atmospheric model is used to calculate emission-line profiles that resemble the observed ones, i.e., broad absorption troughs with narrow central emission, and significant limb brightening. The charge exchange rates are found to be significant, but the effects of high-n coupling between Mg and Mg(+) together with radiative low-n transitions are of greater importance. It is confirmed that the emission cores are formed no higher than the temperature minimum region, and that the emission is caused by non-LTE effects rather than by the chromospheric temperature rise. It is inferred from the model calculations that the line core is sensitive to magnetic fields located almost 400 km above those measured in ordinary magnetograms; the gas pressure decreases 20-fold between these two heights.

Chang, E. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The extreme ultraviolet spectrum of sunspot plumes. I - Observations

A complete extreme ultraviolet spectrum of a sunspot plume by the Skylab S-055 spectroheliometer is presented, and the relevant observational details are discussed. Identifications and intensities are given for emission lines and continua in the 303-1343 A range. The emission from lines found between 100,000 and a million K are enhanced by up to a factor of 40 compared with quiet and active region spectra. The emission measure curve for the mean spectrum shows a high double peak at log T = 5.7 and 6.0, reflecting the very inhomogeneous spatial structure of the sunspot plumes. The extremely high signal to noise of the spectrum is used to investigate the electron density and ionization stage of the gas based on line ratio techniques. A model of line emission from a gas cooling by radiation alone at constant density is presented, and the observations are compared with various semiempirical and theoretical models.

Noyes, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A study of the dependence of Mg II emission on the rotational periods of main-sequence stars

International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite measurements of the Mg II chromospheric emission from a sample of late-type dwarfs with known rotational periods are presented. The ratio of chromospheric to photospheric luminosity for the late-G and K type stars in this sample can be fitted within the probable errors by a single function of rotational period. The chromospheric emission of early-G and F dwarfs appears to depend upon rotation in a qualitatively different way, which suggests that the rapid variation of convective zone properties in this spectral range affects the dissipation of energy in the chromosphere. Mg II h and k emission correlates fairly well with Ca II emission. However, the data sample is not large enough at present to show conclusively that Mg II emission exhibits precisely the same dependence on rotation and spectral type as the Ca II H and K line fluxes.

Hartmann, L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Combined ultraviolet studies of astronomical sources

Ultraviolet spectra of non-radiataive shock waves grain destruction and elemental abundances in interstellar shocks, carbon abundance in M33 and M31 from supernova remnants, determination of the mass function in the large Magellanic cloud, UV spectra of white dwarf pulsars, stellar flares, availability of the double quasar Q 0957 + 56' AB, spectra of late-F dwarfs and their relation to rotation, dynamics of hot gas surrounding hybrid stars, high resolution study of epsilon coronae Austriual, active regions on solar-type dwarfs as a function of rotation rate and age, coordinated chromospheric synoptic observations of selected late-type stars, the two-component atmosphere of Lambda Andromedae, and activity in Hyades giants are discussed.

Dupree, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Combined ultraviolet studies of astronomical sources

Ultraviolet studies of astronomical sources are discussed. Some studies utilized IVE data. Non-radiative shock at the edge of the Cygnses Loop, stellar flares, local interestellar medium, hot galaxies, stellar mass ejection, contact binaries, double quasars, and stellar chromosphere and coronae are discussed.

Dupree, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Analysis of extreme-ultraviolet spectroheliograms of solar prominences

The optical depth at the head of the Lyman continuum, tau sub H, was determined at several positions in three hedgerow prominences using spectroheliograms of C III 977 A, LC 896 A, and O IV 554 A, observed with the Harvard experiment on Skylab. It is found that tau sub H varies over a wide range at positions even in a single prominence. At the central part of the prominences where the opacity is largest, tau sub H reaches a maximum value of 30 to 50 for the three prominences. In general, tau sub H decreases with height in the prominences. Most positions near the outer boundary of the prominences are optically thin in the LC (tau sub H less than 1). The determination of tau sub H for P23 is consistent with the data of the Mg X spectroheliograms

Kanno, M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Semiempirical models of chromospheric flare regions

Homogeneous plane-parallel semiempirical flare model atmospheres which reproduce observations in lines and continua of H I, Si I, C I, Ca II, and Mg II have a thin transition zone at the top of the enhanced chromosphere, indicating a significant amount of heating from the zone to the temperature minimum level. The minimum temperature is located deeper and is higher than in the quiet-sun and active-region models. The results do not agree with the particle-heated theoretical models, and it is suggested that the models of Brown (1973) and Henoux and Nakagawa (1977, 1978) do not include an essential term for heat conduction in their energy balance equations. It is concluded that substantial Ly-alpha radiative heating occurs in the upper chromosphere resulting from the conductive energy flux in the transition zone where the Ly-alpha line cools the gas.

Machado, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Measurements of coronal kinetic temperatures from 1.5 to 3 solar radii

A rocket-borne Lyman-alpha coronagraph has been used to make the first measurements of the spectral line profile of resonantly scattered hydrogen Lyman-alpha coronal radiation between 1.5 and 3 solar radii. These data provide, for the first time, direct measurements of coronal temperatures above 1.5 solar radii. Data were obtained in a coronal hole, quiet region, and streamer. The widths of the profiles from the quiet region decrease with height and correspond to a steady decrease in hydrogen kinetic temperature, with increasing radius, from about 2.5 million K at r = 2 solar radii to about 1 million K at r = 9 solar radii. In the coronal hole the measured line widths indicate a kinetic temperature of 1.8 million K at r = 2.5 solar radii.

Kohl, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Overview on the study of the solar cycle from space

Recent insights into the workings of the solar system are reviewed as factors to be considered when formulating key questions to be answered during a large scale program to study the solar cycle. The main objectives of the Solar Cycle and Dynamics Mission are to determine the causes (physical origins and mechanisms) of the solar cycle and the effects of these mechanisms on the heliosphere, the vast region that includes the corona, interplanetary medium, and the terrestrial environment. The mission should be able to obtain synoptic data on solar variability associated with the cycle, and over at least a fraction of a single 11-year cycle.

Noyes, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The Balmer 9 and Balmer 11 lines of He II in the sun

The Balmer 9 and 11 lines of He II at 959 A and 942 A in solar spectra are identified. These lines are produced mainly by recombination following photoionization of He II by coronal XUV radiation. From analysis of the line intensities, the theoretical model of Avrett et al. (1976), is confirmed where it was found that an appreciable amount of He (2+) is present at temperatures of 1 - 2 x 10 to the 4th K and that the anomalously strong He II 304 line is produced primarily by collisional excitation. The suggestion of Kohl (1977) that the photoionization-recombination process is more important in active regions than in the quiet sun is confirmed, and we find that the 304-A line is produced largely by recombination in solar flares.

Raymond, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Lyman continuum observations of solar flares

A study is made of Lyman continuum observations of solar flares, using data obtained by the EUV spectroheliometer on the Apollo Telescope Mount. It is found that there are two main types of flare regions: an overall 'mean' flare coincident with the H-alpha flare region, and transient Lyman continuum kernels which can be identified with the H-alpha and X-ray kernels observed by other authors. It is found that the ground level hydrogen population in flares is closer to LTE than in the quiet sun and active regions, and that the level of Lyman continuum formation is lowered in the atmosphere from a mass column density .000005 g/sq cm in the quiet sun to .0003 g/sq cm in the mean flare, and to .001 g/sq cm in kernels. From these results the amount of chromospheric material 'evaporated' into the high temperature region is derived, which is found to be approximately 10 to the 15th g, in agreement with observations of X-ray emission measures.

Machado, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The characteristics of impulsive solar EUV bursts

This paper examines a number of high-time-resolution intensity-time profiles of EUV impulsive bursts as observed by the EUV spectroheliometer carried aboard the Skylab Apollo Telescope Mount. These bursts are found to be synchronous (to within the instrumental time resolution of 5.5 s) in all wavelengths observed, corresponding to emissions from temperatures ranging from upper-chromospheric to coronal. The distribution with temperature of a suitably defined emission-measure parameter is also examined as a function of time throughout the bursts, and a marked similarity in the shape of this distribution, both between different events and throughout the time history of any particular event, is noted. The significance of these observations for physical processes associated with EUV bursts is briefly discussed.

Emslie, A. G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Mass and energy flow in the solar chromosphere and corona

The work reviews some investigations into the mass and energy flow in the solar chromosphere and corona; the objective of these investigations is the development of a physical model that will not only account for the physical conditions in the outer atmosphere of the sun, but can also be applied to the study of the outer atmospheres of other stars. Particular attention is given to mass and energy flow in regions with weak and strong magnetic fields, to observational evidence for wave heating and systematic mass flows, and to heating mechanisms. Consideration is given throughout to mechanisms of energy input and energy loss.

Withbroe, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Out-of-ecliptic studies of coronal holes and their relation to the solar wind

The advantages of observing coronal holes of the sun above the solar ecliptic plane by a solar probe are discussed. Also discussed are the size of coronal holes, their temperature, and magnetic fields associated with the holes. The role of coronal holes in contributing to the solar wind is examined. Data and observations on coronal holes from Skylab and OSO are treated. It is concluded that an out-of-the-ecliptic solar probe mission would greatly add to the understanding of coronal holes (at high latitudes) thus adding a new perspective to the observation of these phenomena. (Photographs of the sun taken by Skylab are shown).

Noyes, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Extreme-ultraviolet transients observed at the solar pole

Extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) observations of two polar transient features ('macrospicules') are described. These features appear to be caused by jets of chromospheric material that shoot upward to a height of 35,000 km above the limb and then fall back into the chromosphere, reaching terminal velocities of about 140 km/s. On the basis of a model developed from the EUV measurements, it is found that the energy required to produce each event is about 3 by 10 to the 26th power ergs, about two orders of magnitude more than that required to produce an ordinary spicule. This indicates that macrospicules may be an important factor in the energy balance of the chromosphere and corona.

Withbroe, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Initial results from the EUV spectroheliometer on ATM

The Harvard College Observatory photoelectric spectroheliometer on the Apollo Telescope Mount operated correctly in orbit from May 29, 1973 to February 7, 1974. During this period, many thousands of spatial and spectral scans at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths were recorded during observations of a variety of solar features. The construction and modes of operation of the instrument are outlined, and the principal scientific results from a preliminary analysis of the data are described.

Reeves, E. M.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A high-resolution map of the W3 region at far-infrared wavelengths

The area in the vicinity of the H II region W3 is mapped at an effective wavelength of 69 microns with high angular resolution (1 min) using the 102-cm balloon-borne telescope. The main continuum source, W3, shows a partially resolved complex structure with a FWHM size of 1.8 min. The radio sources W3(OH) and G133.8 + 1.4 are also observed as well as three faint sources not associated with known radio emission.

Fazio, G. G.↗