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Simpson, J. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Simpson, J. P..

At least 19 records
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NASA NTRS2005

What's Going on Around BN

The Becklin-Neugebauer object, discovered in observations made by Eric Becklin as a graduate student, is the brightest mid-infrared source outside the solar system, and a beacon in the nearest region of massive star formation. Using NICMOS on HST, we have obtained near infrared photometric, spectroscopic, and polarimetric images of the region immediately around BN. These images, with resolutions < -0.2", reveal remarkable morphologies, shock details, new young stellar objects, faint stars with variable intensities, and outflow features. We will summarize these results and inferences regarding the shock properties, illuminating sources of the nebulosity, and IRc sources near BN.

Erickson, Edwin↗
NASA NTRS2002

Performance of the SBRC 190, a cryogenic multiplexer for photoconductor arrays

The SBRC 190 cryogenic readouts were developed for use with far-infrared arrays of Ge:Sb and Ge:Ga photoconductor detectors. The SBRC 190 provides an AC-coupled CTIA (capacitance transimpedance amplifier) unit cell for each detector and multiplexes up to 32 detectors. This paper presents our test results characterizing and optimizing the performance of these novel devices. We will discuss their basic behavior in addition to describing the trade-offs inherent in different sampling strategies.

Dotson, Jessie L.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Midcourse Space Experiment Spectra of the Orion Nebula and the Implications for Abundances in the Interstellar Medium

Spectra of the Orion Nebula were obtained with the Midcourse Space Experiment Spirit 3 interferometer from 370 to 2000 cm(exp -1) with 2 cm(exp -1) resolution in a 6' x 9' field of view (FOV) in 1996 November. Lines were detected of [S III] 534.4 cm(exp -1), [Ne III] 642.9 cm(exp -1), [Ne II] 780.4 cm(exp -1), [S IV] 951.4 cm(exp -1), [Ar III] 1112.2 cm(exp -1), [Ar II] 1431.6 cm(exp -1), H (7-6) 808.3 cm(exp -1), H (8-6) 1332.9 cm(exp -1), H (6-5) 1340.5 cm(exp -1), H2(S1) 587.0 cm(exp -1), H2(S2) 814.4 cm(exp -1), H2(S3) 1034.7 cm(exp -1), H2(S4) 1246.1 cm(exp -1), and H2(S5) 1447.3 cm(exp -1). The following abundances were determined from these lines: Ne/H = 9.9 +/- 1.1 x 10(exp -5), S/H = 8.1 +/- 1.1 x 10(exp -6), and Ar/H = 2.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(exp -6). These abundances are all less than solar and confirm that the Sun is overabundant in heavy elements without the need for correction for the composition of interstellar dust. The low sulfur abundance compared with solar is an indication that a significant amount of the sulfur in Orion is in dust grains. The FOV-averaged molecular hydrogen column density is approximately 1.6 x 10(exp 20) cm(exp -2) for an excitation temperature of approximately 670 K and an extinction correction corresponding to an optical depth of 1.5 at 9.7 micrometers. The unidentified infrared emission features at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3, and 12.7 micrometers, attributable to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were also detected. A prominent, broad silicate feature centered near 18 micrometer and additional weak features were detected and are discussed.

Simpson, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1998

The Mid-Infrared Spectrum of the Galactic Center: A Starburst Nucleus

Using the Michelson interferometer on the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX), we have taken spectra of many positions in the central 25 min of the Galactic Center (GC) with a 6 min x 9 min FOV. The spectral coverage was 380 to 1700/ cm (6 to 26 microns) and the resolution was approx. 21/cm. The spectra exhibit strong UIR/PAH features at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6 and 11.3 microns, in addition to the ionic lines of (Ne II), at 12.8 microns, (S III) 18.7 microns, and (Ar II) 6.98 microns. There are deep silicate absorption features at 10 and 18 microns and a cold continuum increasing at the longest wavelengths. Additional weak features are present in the spectra. We discuss the variation in the extinction at 10 microns as a function of location in the GC. Compared to the MSX spectrum of the Orion nebula, smoothed to the same resolution and multiplied by the estimated GC extinction, the GC spectra have similar PAH features, but the Orion Nebula also has strong lines of (He III) 15.6 microns, (S IV) 10.5 microns, and (Ar III) 8.99 microns and its 25 microns continuum is stronger (colder). Thus, the GC exhibits the mid-IR spectrum of a low excitation H II region and a nearby molecular cloud with a surface photodissociation region (PDR). This is in excellent agreement with the canonical model of a starburst nucleus in which the hot stars and molecular clouds are randomly distributed. The outer surfaces of the clouds are photodissociated and ionized by the photons from the stars located outside the clouds. The PAH molecules are transiently heated by the stellar photons. Since the exciting stars are located well outside the clouds, the radiation field is dilute compared to a newly-formed blister H II region like Orion; this dilute radiation field causes the relatively low excitation of the ionic lines.

Simpson, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Particle sightings by the infrared telescope on Spacelab 2

Part of the objective of the cooled infrared telescope on Spacelab 2 was to determine the particle environment around the Space Shuttle. The telescope scanned the sky in six wavelength bands ranging from 2 to 100 microns with high time resolution. Dust particles could be identified from their particular signature in the data stream. Particle data from about 4 h early in the mission were analyzed in terms of size, color temperature, velocity, and time. The 1100 particles that were seen were slow moving and ranged in color temperature from 190 to 350 K with a few much hotter. The minimum detectable diameter is between 5 and 13 microns, depending on temperature. The size distribution resembles sample distributions collected at a Shuttle preparation facility. Although particle detection rates varied widely with time, no specific events were identified to be associated with particle production. It was not possible to determine the particle composition, although it was probably not ice.

Simpson, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Modeling the Orion nebula as an axisymmetric blister

The ionized gas in the Orion nebula is examined by means of axisymmetric modeling that is based on observational data from the ionized, neutral, and molecular regions. Nonsymmetrical features are omitted, radial dependence from the Trapezium is assumed, and azimuthal symmetry in the plane of the sky is used. Stellar properties and abundances of certain elements are described, and these data are used to compare the present axisymmetric-blister model to a previous spherical model. Strong singly-ionized emission that are visible near the Trapezium are found to originate in the ionization-bounded region in the dense Trapezium zone. The model can be more tightly constrained by adding near-IR data on noncentral zones for (Ar II), (AR III), (Ne II), and (S IV). The quadrant with the 'bar' creates an nonsymmetry that influences the observational data, and the model can therefore be improved with the additional data.

Rubin, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Axisymmetric model of the ionized gas in the Orion Nebula

New ionization and thermal equilibrium models for the ionized gas in the Orion Nebula with an axisymmetric two-dimensional 'blister' geometry/density distribution are presented. The HII region is represented more realistically than in previous models, while the physical detail of the microphysics and radiative transfer of the earlier spherical modeling is maintained. The predicted surface brightnesses are compared with observations for a large set of lines at different positions to determine the best-fitting physical parameters. The model explains the strong singly ionized line emission along the lines of sight near the Trapezium.

Rubin, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Far-Infrared Line and Continuum Observations of G0.095 + 0.012 and the E2 Thermal Radio Filament Near the Galactic Center

Measurements of far-infrared lines and continuum from GO.095 + 0.012 and the E2 thermal 'arched' radio filament near the Galactic center are well explained by numerous embedded stars with T(sub eff) approximately 35,000 K. The structure of the filament and the apparent absence of hotter stars are qualitatively difficult to reconcile with this idea.

Erickson, Edwin F.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Far-infrared lines from G45.13 + 0.14 A and K3-50 A - Density fluctuations in compact H II regions

Properties of two compact H II regions, K3-50 A and G45.13 + 0.14 A, were investigated by measuring FIR fluxes from forbidden O III 51.8 and 88.4 micron lines, forbidden N III 57.3 micron line, forbidden S III 33.5 micron line, and forbidden Ne III 36.0 micron line of these regions, using a cooled grating spectrometer on NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory. For both H II regions, the ratio of the two FIR O(2+) lines indicates an electron density of about 1000/cu cm, which for K3-50 A is a factor of 10 to 100 lower than the density determined from optical line observations of the lower excitation species S(+) and N(+) and than the peak rms density deduced from radio continuum measurements by Turner and Matthews (1984). Detailed spherically symmetric models of the two sources were constructed using all available measurements.

Colgan, Sean W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Far-Infrared Lines from G45.13 + 0.14 and K 3-50 A: Density Fluctuations in Compact H 2 Regions

The far-infrared lines of (O III) 51.8 and 88.4 microns, (N III) 57.3 microns, (S III) 33.5 microns, and (Ne III) 36.0 microns have been measured in the compact H II regions G45.13+0.14 A and K3-50 A. These measurements were made with the facility cooled grating spectrometer on flights of NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory. For both sources, the ratio of the two O(++) lines indicates an electron density N(sub e) approx. 10(exp 3)cm(sup -3). For K3-50 A, this is a factor of 10 to a hundred times lower than the density determined from near-infrared and optical line observations of lower excitation species and from radio measurements of the peak continuum emission. A comparison with other far-infrared measurements for both sources shows that the lower excitation, higher critical density S(++) lines originate from higher density material than do the O(++) lines. Detailed, spherically symmetric models for both sources are presented. These models require clumping, different abundances than the Orion Nebula, and an enhancement in the standard Kurucz stellar atmospheres at energies E greater than 41 eV to obtain reasonable agreement with the measurements. The average nitrogen-to-oxygen abundance ratio for these two H II regions is N/O approx. 0.2, in agreement with other far-infrared studies at Galactic radii greater than or equal to 6 kpc.

Colgan, Sean W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Ice and minerals on Callisto - A reassessment of the reflectance spectra

The results of a comparison of laboratory spectral reflectance measurements of particulate mixtures of both hydrated silicates and palagonite with water ice, on the one hand, with two previously unpublished reflectance spectra of Callisto, yield direct support for the hypothesis that the measured reflectance of Callisto includes a substantial nonice component. Hapke's (1981) equations are used in a theoretical model for thorough analysis of telescopic data; a comparison of the calculation results thus obtained with measured reflectance data for Callisto indicate that three-component, ice/magnetite/serpentine mixtures are a better match for telescopic data than two-component ice mixtures.

Roush, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

IRAS low-resolution spectral observations of H II regions

Abundances of neon and sulfur for 95 H II regions whose spectra were measured by the IRAS Low Resolution Spectrometer (LRS) are determined; and theoretical implications of the neon ionization level and the sulfur-to-neon abundance ratio are discussed. The abundances show a distinct gradient of Ne/H with respect to Galactocentric radius RG, and a smaller gradient for S/H. The neon ionization is high only for sources with both low neon abundance and high luminosity. It is concluded that, due to the fact that the luminosities observed are so high compared to those predicted for the zero-age main sequence star, the most luminous H II regions are probably excited by several stars or a cluster of stars. The observed ionization of neon shows that the effective temperatures of the exciting stars cannot be more than 40,000 K, with an alternative explanation that 04 and 03 stars have Lyman continuum spectra cooler than the 45,000 - 50,000 K effective temperatures that are found for their visible and UV spectra.

Simpson, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Determination of N/O from far-infrared line observations of Galactic H II regions

Measurements of the 52- and 88-micron forbidden O III line ratios and the 57-micron forbidden N III line ratio for six H II regions have been obtained with the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory. The derived N/O ratio for most Galactic regions (of about 0.2-0.3) is greater than that obtained by optical studies, and it exceeds the solar value. Although enhancement of N/O at a galactocentric distance of about 6 kpc may be possible, no evidence is found for an overall linear gradient in N/O with galactocentric distance, suggesting that N-14 is predominantly produced by primary rather than secondary nucleosynthesis.

Rubin, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Overview of measurements from the infrared telescope on Spacelab 2

A small helium cooled IR telescope flown on Spacelab-2 in July/August 1985 was used to make infrared measurements between 2 microns and 120 microns. New data were obtained on the structure of the Galaxy at 2 microns and 7 microns showing it to be much broader at these wavelengths than at longer wavelengths. The IR emission due to contamination from the Shuttle was found to be greater than anticipated, indicating the induced environment to be much higher than the planned limits. Aspects of superfluid helium management in zero-G and of a cryogenically cooled telescope design were also tested.

Koch, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The ionization structure of the Orion Nebula - Infrared line observations and models

Observations of the forbidden O III 52 and 88 microns lines and the forbidden N III 57 microns line have been made at six positions and the forbidden Ne III 36 microns line at four positions in the Orion Nebula to probe its ionization structure. The wavelength of the forbidden Ne III line was measured to be 36.009-36.017 microns. Electron densities and abundance ratios of N(++)/O(++) have been calculated and compared to other radio and optical observations. Detailed one-component and two-component (bar plus halo) spherical models were calculated for exciting stars with effective temperatures of 37,000-40,000 K and log g = 4.0 and 4.5. Both the new IR observations and the visible line measurements of oxygen and nitrogen require Teff of no more than 37,000 K. However, the doubly ionized neon requires a model with Teff of at least 39,000 K, which is more consistent with that inferred from the radio flux or spectral type. These differences in Teff are not due to effects of dust on the stellar radiation field but are probably due to inaccuracies in the assumed stellar spectrum. Neon and nitrogen are approximately solar, but oxygen is half-solar in abundance. From the IR O(++) lines, it is concluded that the ionization bar results from an increase in column depth rather than from a local density enhancement.

Simpson, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The ionization structure of the Orion nebula: Infrared line observations and models

Observations of the (O III) 52 and 88 micron lines and the (N III) 57 micron line have been made at 6 positions and the (Ne III) 36 micron line at 4 positions in the Orion Nebula to probe its ionization structure. The measurements, made with a -40" diameter beam, were spaced every 45" in a line south from and including the Trapezium. The wavelength of the (Ne III) line was measured to be 36.013 + or - 0.004 micron. Electron densities and abundance ratios of N(++)/O(++) have been calculated and compared to other radio and optical observations. Detailed one component and two component (bar plus halo) spherical models were calculated for exciting stars with effective temperatures of 37 to 40,000K and log g = 4.0 and 4.5. Both the new infrared observations and the visible line measurements of oxygen and nitrogen require T sub eff approx less than 37,000K. However, the double ionized neon requires a model with T sub eff more than or equal to 39,000K, which is more consistent with that inferred from the radio flux or spectral type. These differences in T sub eff are not due to effects of dust on the stellar radiation field, but are probably due to inaccuracies in the assumed stellar spectrum. The observed N(++)/O(++) ratio is almost twice the N(+)/O(+) ratio. The best fit models give N/H = 8.4 x 10 to the -5 power, O/H = 4.0 x 10 to the -4 power, and Ne/H = 1.3 x 10 to the -4 power. Thus neon and nitrogen are approximately solar, but oxygen is half solar in abundance. From the infrared O(++) lines it is concluded that the ionization bar results from an increase in column depth rather than from a local density enhancement.

Simpson, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The infrared emission bands. I - Correlation studies and the dependence on C/O ratio

Airborne measurements obtained for the unidentified IR (UIR) 5-8 micron emission bands of eight planetaries, eight locations in five reflection nebulae, and seven locations in four H II regions (including the Orion Bar), are presently compared with existing and new ground-based observations of the 3.3, 8.7, and 11.3 micron bands. The good correlations found between the strengths of all pairs of bands lead to the conclusion that all seven UIR features form a 'generic spectrum', although there are significant variations in the relative strengths of the features among the sources. The fraction of total far-IR luminosity radiated by a planetary in the strongest UIR feature at 7.7 microns is strongly correlated with the nebular C/O ratio, strongly suggesting that hydrocarbons are the carriers of these features.

Cohen, M.↗