Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Russell, R. W.

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

At least 55 records · Page 3

The infrared spectrum of the carbon star Y Canum Venaticorum between 1.2 and 30 microns

The paper deals with spectrophotometric observations covering the essentially complete wavelength interval between 1.2 and 30.0 microns. The observations confirm the identification of the C3 band at 5.2 microns. They show that if SiC2 is present, the SiC1 absorption band at 5.7 microns would be obscured by C3 at a 1% spectral resolution. Silicon carbide emission at 11.5 microns exists simultaneously with C3 absorption at 5.2 microns, requiring a contribution of both species to the violet opacity of Y CVn.

Goebel, J. H.↗

Infrared molecular absorption features

Spectra of infrared sources associated with molecular clouds have shown absorption features at wavelengths of 6.0 and 6.8 microns. It is suggested that the 6.0 micron feature can be identified with the stretching vibration of C = 0 and the 6.8 micron feature with the bending vibrations of CH2 and CH3. The amount of carbon in the form of hydrocarbon molecules may be comparable to the amount in CO. This abundance of hydrocarbons is probably too large to be consistent with radio observations if the molecules are gaseous, but large abundances of hydrocarbons on the surfaces of grains may explain the infrared features, and yet be unobservable in the radio.

Willner, S. P.↗

Infrared spectra of IC 418 and NGC 6572

Spectrophotometric observations from 2 to 4 and 8 to 13 microns of NGC 6572 and from 4 to 13 microns of IC 418 are reported. Also reported are observations of the size of IC 418 in the optical and at 1.65 and 2.2 microns. Both planetary nebulae emit more radiation than expected from recombination at wavelengths longer than -4 microns; this radiation is attributed to heated dust. The spectra show a plateau from 10.5 to 13 microns, and this peak is tentatively attributed to emission from large silicon carbide particles. Fine-structure emission lines are also discussed; the presence of (forbidden Ar III) but not (forbidden Ne II) in NGC 6572 suggests that ions having the same ionization potential can nevertheless have different fractional abundances.

Willner, S. P.↗

Unidentified infrared spectral features

It is noted that the infrared spectra between 2 and 13 microns of a variety of objects have become available in the past few years. Attention is given to the fact that these spectra have shown many objects to have up to six emission features that are still unidentified. It is reported that other objects show absorptions due to ice, carbon monoxide, silicates, and two unidentified features. Discussion covers the observational characteristics of the unidentified features together with possible identifications.

Willner, S. P.↗

The 4-8 micron spectrum of the infrared source W33 A

The spectrum of the highly obscured infrared source W33 A from 4.5 to 8 microns is measured in order to investigate the intervening cold, dense interstellar material. Spectrophotometry at a relative spectral resolution of about 0.015 by an airborne filter-wheel infrared spectrometer reveals strong absorption features at 4.61, 5.99 and 6.78 microns. The absorption at 4.61 microns is attributed primarily to the fundamental vibration-rotation band of CO at a column density (at least 10 to the 19th/sq cm) which is 10% of the carbon inferred from silicate abundances. The strengths and line widths of the absorption agt 5.99 and 6.78 microns are interpreted as evidence of absorption in the resonance bands of carbonyl, carbon-carbon double, methyl and methylene bonds of hydrocarbons associated with interstellar dust.

Soifer, B. T.↗

The 4 to 8 micron spectrum of the galactic center

Observations of the complex Sgr A W(N) with a 28-arcsec beam and 1.5% spectral resolution are reported. Neither unidentified absorption features at 6.0 and 6.8 microns nor emission features at 6.2 and 7.7 microns were detected. The absence of the absorption features demonstrates that they are not characteristic of general interstellar extinction. The absence of emission features suggests that there is considerable distance between the ionized gas and the molecular clouds. The absence of 6.2- and 7.7-micron emission features also suggests that a feature previously seen at 3.3-3.4 microns is an absorption at 3.4 microns, and this absorption is apparently characteristic of interstellar extinction. The strength of the forbidden Ar II emission indicates an overabundance of argon. CO absorption seen at 4.67 microns indicates that saturation effects are not large, and there is evidently a large velocity dispersion in the line of sight to the infrared sources.

Willner, S. P.↗

Spectrophotometry of compact H II regions from 4 to 8 microns

Spectrophotometric observations from 4 to 8 microns of the compact H II regions W51-IRS 2 and K3-50 are reported. Two broad absorption features at approximately 6.0 and 6.8 microns are observed in the spectra of W51-IRS 2, and the 6.0-micron feature is seen in K3-50. These features may be due to absorption by silicate grains. A more speculative identification is absorption by hydrocarbon molecules. The continuum flux from 2 to 13 microns is broader than emission from a single-temperature blackbody; this suggests a distribution of dust temperatures within the H II regions. Failure to detect hydrogen Pfund-alpha in W51-IRS 2 indicates significant 7.5-micron extinction. Upper limits are placed on the abundance of Ar(+).

Puetter, R. C.↗

Infrared spectra of HM Sagittae and V1016 Cygni

Spectrophotometry of HM Sge from 2 to 13 microns is presented along with 2 to 4-micron spectrophotometry of V1016 Cyg. From 2.5 to 8 microns, the spectrum of HM Sge can be represented by a 950-K blackbody, and a strong silicate emission feature is seen from 8 to 13 microns. Both HM Sge and V1016 Cyg show evidence of CO absorption at 2.3 microns. It is suggested that the infrared radiation from these objects arises from a combination of emission by optically thin dust and by the reddened photosphere of a cool star.

Puetter, R. C.↗

The infrared source associated with Sh 2-149

Observations at optical and infrared wavelengths of the bright infrared point source in the direction of Sh 2-149 are used to determine a spectral type (M1) and luminosity class (Ib-II) for the object. These observations contradict the suggestion of Bergeat et al. (1975) that the object is a highly reddened O star. The estimated visual extinction (approximately 5-7 magnitudes) and luminosity class derived from the present observations are used to estimate the distance (about 1-3 kpc) to the infrared source.

Russell, R. W.↗

Spectrophotometry of OH 26.5+0.6 from 2 to 40 microns

Airborne and ground-based observations show that OH 26.5+0.6 has strong 10 micrometers and weak 18 micrometers silicate absorptions superposed on an overall energy distribution much like a blackbody. The flux level, color temperature, and depth of the 10 micrometers absorption have varied during two years of observations. A model of the source as a late-type variable star that has ejected an optically thick dust shell is suggested; the mass-loss rate implied is greater than about 0.00001 solar masses per year. The fact that significant flux from the source is observed between 4 and 7 micrometers is evidence that oxygen-rich dust has significant opacity in that wavelength range.

Forrest, W. J.↗

Observations of the unidentified 3.3 micron emission feature in nebulae

Spectrophotometric observations from 2.1 to 4.1 microns of a variety of objects exhibiting the 3.3-micron emission feature (first detected in NGC 7027) are reported. The characteristics of the feature, the various environments in which it is found, and possible emission mechanisms are discussed in light of all the available observations of the feature to date. A resonance feature in solids is the most probable emission mechanism; however, no satisfactory identification has yet been made on the basis of infrared spectroscopy of terrestrial materials.

Russell, R. W.↗

Observations of Jupiter and Saturn at 5-8 micron

Moderate-resolution spectrophotometry (about 0.015) has shown the effects of known atmospheric constituents (NH3, CH4, C2H6) on the 5-8 micron spectrum of Jupiter. Broadband observations of Saturn at 6.5 micron are also reported.

Russell, R. W.↗

2-4 micron spectrophotometric observations of compact H II regions

Spectrophotometric observations from 2 to 4 microns of the compact H II regions W51-IRS 2, K3-50, and NGC 7538 are reported. Spectral features observed include hydrogen recombination lines and an absorption attributed to interstellar ice. Extinctions to the various sources are derived based on the observed hydrogen lines and radio fluxes. Thermal dust emission is found to dominate free-free and bound-free emission for wavelengths not less than 2 microns. The ice absorption is analyzed and compared with the extinction and 10 microns silicate absorption. A 3.3 micron emission feature (potentially due to the same material as in NGC 7027) was observed.

Soifer, B. T.↗

Infrared observations of ices and silicates in molecular clouds

Spectrophotometric observations from 2 to 4 microns and from 8 to 13 microns of several infrared sources associated with molecular clouds are reported. Narrow absorption features at 3.08 microns, attributed to interstellar ices, appear in all sources with a molecular cloud in the intervening line of sight. All sources showing ice absorptions also show broad absorption features, attributed to cold silicates, from 8 to 13 microns. The observed ice absorption profiles are all quite similar; however, they do not fit in detail Mie theory predictions of extinction for pure H2O or NH3 ices. The ratio of ice-to-silicate optical depths is found to vary, with most sources showing a ratio in the range 0.1-0.4. The ratio of visual extinction to ice absorption is found to increase rapidly from inside to outside the molecular cloud in NGC 2024.

Merrill, K. M.↗