Engineering topics

Simpson, J. P.

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

34 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1985

An FIR cooled grating spectrometer for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

The design and performance of a liquid-He-cooled spectrometer being developed for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) to study FIR lines originating in the interstellar medium are discussed. Currently, the spectrometer contains six Ge:Ga photoconductor detectors mounted in integrating cavities and cooled to about 3 K; the collimator focal plane has space for 39 such detectors. The instrument achieves a maximum resolving power of 6000 by means of a 45-cm long echelle grating and is optically capable of operating in the spectral range 25-300 microns. A laboratory spectrum of water vapor, an atmospheric water absorption feature measured from the KAO with Mars as a source, and the forbidden O(2+) emission from W51-IRS1 are shown.

Erickson, E. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The Unidentified Emission Features: a Study of the Orion Bar and Planetary Nebulae

The unidentified emission features which are a group of broad emission bands found between 3.3 and 11.3 micro m in many objects which emit UV radiation and are associated with dust were studied. The features emit a substantial fraction of the energy in this wavelength range, and must therefore be an important constituent of the material around these objects. A two phase approach to the problem to better define the factors affecting the features was undertaken. The number of objects with good spectra between 3 and 13 micro m to look for correlations of the features with each other and with chemical and physical conditions were expanded and several positions in a single region, the Orion Bar, where the chemical composition was homogeneous, but the physical conditions varied are examined.

Bregman, J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Photoionization Structure of the Orion Nebula

The O III lines at 52 and 88 micro m and the N III line at 57 micro m were observed at 6 positions in the Orion Nebulae to probe the ionization structure of the nebula. The six positions form a line or cut south from and including the Trapezium. Electron densities and abundance ratios of N(++) were calculated and compared together with radio and optical observations. The predictions that the effects of heavy capacity in the ionized gas can cause the N(++) zone to extend appreciably beyond the O(++) zone are confirmed.

Simpson, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A Far Infrared Echelle Spectrometer for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

A liquid-helium-cooled grating spectrometer (CGS) is being developed as a facility instrument for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), primarily to study for infrared lines originating in the interstellar medium. A maximum resolving power of approximately 6000 is achieved by means of a 45 cm long Echelle grating and is optically capable of operating in the spectral range from 25 to 300 microns. An array of detectors is used to simultaneously measure a line and the adjacent continuum from astronomical sources. Currently six detectors allow measurements in the 30 to 120 micron spectral band. The instrument, its operation, and its performance are described.

Erickson, E. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Models of four highly obscured compact H II regions

Models are constructed for three stars in order to determine their properties and elemental abundances through comparisons of model predictions and observations. By comparing predicted line fluxes with those observed, it is noted that oxygen is apparently enhanced by a factor of 2 in W3A, and of 4 in G75.84 + 0.40A and G29.9 - 0.0. The first two cases are based on the premise that the O(++)-emitting regions are as clumped as those of S(++). The H II regions all need more than one main sequence star or one unusually large star to provide the observed radio luminosity.

Simpson, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Mars - Far-infrared spectra and thermal-emission models

Spectra of Mars from 100 to 360 kaysers were obtained during three different observation periods from NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory. Also, a new thermal model was constructed for the surface of Mars, and synthetic spectra were computed from the models to compare with the observations. The models include the effects of a dusty atmosphere which absorbs, scatters, and reradiates energy. The synthetic spectra show significant effects on disk-averaged brightness temperatures, as well as absorption features due to silicate dust. The spectra of Mars, which are ratios of Mars to the moon, do not fit the synthetic spectra unless the surface emissivities of Mars and the moon have different dependencies on wavelength. A possible explanation for this behavior is a difference in soil particle-size distributions between Mars and the moon, with Mars being depleted in large particles compared to the moon. Small particles are consistent with clay minerals which have been suggested elsewhere as constituents of the Martian surface.

Simpson, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The mean Jovian temperature structure derived from spectral observations from 105 to 630 cm kaysers

Far infrared observations of the thermal emission of Jupiter are used to determine the temperature at 1 bar. High-altitude observations of the whole-disk brightness temperature of Jupiter in the range of 100 to 347 kaysers were inverted to obtain a P-T profile between 1.5 and 0.06 atm, assuming as opacity sources the H2 collisionally induced continuum and the rotation inversion bands of ammonia. The P-T profile derived from the spectrum reproduces the main features of the observed spectrum, with a slightly improved fit if the effects of ammonia haze opacity or NH3 supersaturation in the saturated region are taken into account. The Jovian temperature is found to be 160 + or - 7 K at 1 bar, and 105 + or - 3 K at the inversion level at 0.15 bar. The 1-bar temperature is shown to be consistent with Jovian interior models which match the observed gravitational moment.

Goorvitch, D.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Determination of the Telluric Water Vapor Absorption Correction for Astronomical Data Obtained from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

The amount of telluric water vapor along the line of sight of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory telescope as obtained concommitantly on 23 flights is compared with the NASA-Ames Michelson interferometer and with the NOAA-Boulder radiometer. A strong correlation between the two determinations exists, and a method for computing the atmospheric transmission for a given radiometer reading is established.

Erickson, E. F.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Far infrared spectrophotometry of Jupiter and Saturn

Infrared spectral measurements of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were obtained from 100 to 470 kaysers and, by taking Mars as a calibration source, brightness temperatures of Jupiter and Saturn were determined with approximately 5 kayser resolution. Internal luminosities were determined from the data and are reported to be approximately 8 times 10 to the minus tenth power of the sun's luminosity for Jupiter and approximately 3.6 times 10 to the minus tenth power of the sun's luminosity for Saturn. Comparison of data with spectra predicted by models suggests the need for an opacity source in addition to gaseous hydrogen and ammonia to help explain Jupiter's observed spectrum in the vicinity of 250 kaysers.

Erickson, E. F.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Space Shuttle's orbital environment

Variations with the solar cycle of chemical composition, density and temperature of the orbital environment of the Space Shuttle are reviewed; micrometeoroid fluxes, ionizing radiation, photon fluxes and cosmic ray bombardment to which the Shuttle will be subjected are also mentioned. In addition, gases arising from offgassing and outgassing of contaminants (at about 300 K) from the Shuttle are considered, and particulates ejected during rocket firings or from the leakage of pressurized vessels (i.e., the cabin) are taken into account.

Witteborn, F. C.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The far-infrared spectrum of the core of Sagittarius B2

A Michelson interferometer aboard NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory has been used to measure the spectrum of Sgr B2 from 40 to 200 kaysers with 5-kayser resolution in a 1.4-arcmin beam. The measured spectrum is smooth and featureless with a broad maximum at about 85 kaysers. The data can be fitted analytically with a model corresponding to thermal emission by a uniform sla of dust filling the beam, with an average temperature of approximately 32 K, an optical depth at 100 microns of about 1.6, and a spectral index of the dust emissivity about 1.5. The absence of features implies either that the source is optically thick or that the emission spectrum of the individual grains is smooth in the passband. The possible physical significance of this model is discussed.

Erickson, E. F.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Effect of the Shuttle contaminant environment on a sensitive infrared telescope

A sensitive IR telescope on the Space Shuttle Orbiter will be limited in its performance by fluctuations in the IR radiation from the natural environment and the contaminant atmosphere. Models of the Orbiter's contaminant atmosphere were used to predict its spectral radiance from 3 to 300 microns. At 350 km, statistical fluctuations in the radiation from a water vapor column, and a noise equivalent power were measured. This noise is somewhat smaller than the expected contribution from zodiacal light from 5 to 30 microns. The column density of all IR emitting molecules can be kept low only if restrictions on rocket firings and liquid vents are maintained. The relatively low frequency of particle sightings from Skylab, coupled with improvements in Orbiter venting techniques, indicate that sightings of particles 2 microns and larger in radius will not seriously hamper telescope performance provided that liquid vents and rocket firings are properly restricted.

Simpson, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Spectrum of the Kleinmann-Low nebula from 29 to 125 micrometers

The infrared spectrum of the Kleinmann-Low nebula in M42 has been measured from 80 to 350 kaysers (approximately 29 to 125 microns) with a Michelson interferometer aboard the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory. The frequency spectrum peaks at about 185 kaysers. A simple model of the emission implies that the temperature is in the range 70-95 K and that the optical depth is at least 0.2 at the peak frequency. A possible absorption is seen at about 176 kaysers. Thermal emission by dust at a temperature of 71 K, with the absorption cross section proportional to frequency, provides a good fit to the data. Other thermal-emission models can also fit the spectrum. The data are compared with previous broad-band measurements. Upper limits are placed on expected line emission from the surrounding H II region at the position of the nebula.

Erickson, E. F.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Infrared emission from the atmosphere above 200 km

The infrared radiation over the range from 4 to 1000 microns from atoms and molecules in the earth's atmosphere, between 200 and 400 km, was calculated. Only zenith lines of sight were considered. The excitation of the atoms and molecules is due to collisions with other molecules and to absorption of radiation from the earth and sun. In some cases, the abundances of the molecules had to be estimated. The most important lines are the forbidden lines from atomic oxygen at 63.1 and 147 micron, and the vibration-rotation band of nitric oxide at 5.3 micron. These lines can have intensities as high as a few times 0.001 ergs/sq cm/sec/steradian at 200 km altitude. In addition, the vibration-rotation bands of NO(+) at 4.3 micron and CO at 4.7 micron and the pure rotation lines of NO and NO(+) could be detected by infrared telescopes in space.

Simpson, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Infrared forbidden lines in H II regions and planetary nebulae

Emissivity coefficients are calculated as functions of electron density and temperature for the IR forbidden lines between 2 and 300 microns of the elements and ionization stages most abundant in H II regions and planetary nebulae. The effect of self-absorption is investigated, and a method is presented for estimating when self-absorption may be important. The IR line spectrum of the Orion Nebula is predicted using the emissivity coefficients, and ionic abundances are derived for the Ar III, S IV, and Ne II forbidden lines in a number of planetary nebulae. The sulfur abundance and sulfur/oxygen ratio are discussed for H II regions and planetary nebulae. The average sulfur/oxygen ratio is found to be about 0.05 for gaseous nebulae.

Simpson, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A radiometer for monitoring column densities of infrared-active molecules

A cryogenically cooled radiometer capable of accurately measuring the infrared background from 3.5 to 100 microns and the column density of water vapor for the low values specified for the space shuttle orbiter is described. The infrared spectral characteristics of the contaminant atmosphere are considered as well as the spectral characteristics of the natural IR background. The measurement technique is described in detail.

Witteborn, F. C.↗