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Soifer, B. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Soifer, B. T..

At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Visual and infrared observations of the distant Comets P/Stephan-Oterma /1980g/, Panther /1980u/, and Bowell /1980b/

The paper reports combined visual imagery and spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, and broadband infrared photometry of comets P/Stephan-Oterma (1980g), Bowell (1980b), and Panther (1980u) at intermediate heliocentric distances. The visual data indicate the existence of solid grains in extended halos around the nuclei of the three comets. Broadband near-infrared and thermal infrared measurements of Comet Panther suggest the presence of 2-4-micron-radius particles in the coma which most likely contain molecules incorporating the N-H bond, but which are more complex and less volatile than NH3. Such molecules can be produced in the grains by cosmic-ray reprocessing. Near infrared spectral features identical to those seen in comet Panther similary suggest the presence of a molecule incorporating the N-H bond in comet Bowell.

Jewitt, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Infrared, optical, and ultraviolet observations of hydrogen line emission from Seyfert galaxies

Nearly simultaneous observations are reported of P-alpha, H-alpha, and H-beta emission from 18 Seyfert galaxies and of Ly-alpha from eight of these galaxies. In many cases, P-alpha is stronger relative to the Balmer lines than is predicted by recombination calculations; reddening appears to be required. Dispersion in the P-alpha/H-alpha/H-beta ratios orthogonal to the reddening track indicates that high densities or optical depths also affect the line flux ratios. Several galaxies, notably NGC 1275, have very low P-alpha/H-alpha ratios. High densities, large optical depths, and reddening probably all contribute to the low observed Ly-alpha/H-beta ratios.

Lacy, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Infrared/optical energy distributions of high redshifted quasars

Measurements at 1.2, 1.6 and 2.2 microns were combined with visual spectrophotometry of 21 quasars having redshifts z or = 2.66. The primary result is that the rest frame visual/ultraviolet continua of the high redshift quasars are well described by a sum of a power law continuum with slope of approximately -0.4 and a 3000 A bump. The rest frame visual/ultraviolet continua of these quasars are quite similar to that of 3C273, the archetype of low redshift quasars. There does not appear to be any visual/ultraviolet properties distinguishing high redshift quasars selected via visual or radio techniques.

Soifer, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Infrared properties of serendipitous X-ray quasars

Near infrared measurements were obtained of 30 quasars originally found serendipitously as X-ray sources in fields of other objects. The observations show that the infrared characteristics of these quasars do not differ significantly from those of quasars selected by other criteria. Because this X-ray selected sample is subject to different selection biases than previous radio and optical surveys, this conclusion is useful in validating previous inferences regarding the infrared colors of 'typical' quasars.

Neugebauer, G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

4-8 micron spectrophotometry of OH 0739-14

Spectrophotometry of the dust-embedded late-type star OH 0739-14 shows an absorption feature at 6.0 microns characteristic of H2O ice at temperatures significantly lower than 150 K, confirming the identification of H2O ice in the circumstellar shell in this source. The differences in the infrared spectra of HO 0739-14 and embedded molecular cloud sources are attributed to the different cloud lifetimes and temperature regimes in which the molecules are formed. A lower limit to the mass loss rate of 0.0001 solar mass per year is derived, based on the column density of ice and the size and the expansion velocity of the circumstellar cloud.

Soifer, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Abundances of argon, sulfur, and neon in six galactic H II regions from infrared forbidden lines

Airborne measurements of the Ar II (6.99 micron) and S III (18.71 micron) forbidden lines for six compact H II regions are presented, as well as ground-based 2-4 micron and 8-13 micron spectroscopy if not already published. From these data and radio data, lower limits to the elemental abundances of Ar, Ne, and S are deduced. G29.9-0.0, at 5 kpc from the galactic center, is overabundant in all these elements. The other five regions (at distances 6-13 kpc from the center) mainly appear to be consistent with standard abundances, with the exception of G75.84 + 0.4 at 10 kpc from the galactic center, which is overabundant in S. However, preliminary results on G12.8-0.2 at 6 kpc from the galactic center suggest a possible underabundance. A large statistical sample of H II regions is required in order to determine if there is a radial gradient in the heavy element abundances of the Galaxy.

Herter, T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Compact radio source 1413 + 135 is a far-IR extragalactic object

The radio source 1413 + 135 is shown to be one of the strongest known emitters of millimeter radiation. The energy distribution of this object, measured between meter and X-ray wavelengths, reveals that most of the power emitted by this object comes out at millimeter and far-IR wavelengths. If the emission at 1 mm is due to incoherent synchrotron radiation, then the source must be very compact, with a size around 25 micron arc sec, and contain a magnetic field larger than 10 G. The steep spectral index in the near-IR is attributed to a high-energy cutoff in the distribution of synchrotron emitting electrons at a Lorentz factor of approximately 300.

Beichman, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Extremely red compact radio sources - The empty field objects

Radiation of 10 microns has been detected from 1413+135, one of the very red objects discovered by Rieke, Lebofsky, and Kinman (1979) at near-infrared wavelengths. The spectrum of this object flattens at wavelengths longer than 2.2 microns. Upper limits are also given for the 10-micron emission from 2255+14, 0026+34, and 0406+121. Photometry between 1.25 and 2.2 microns confirms the variability of 1413+135, 2255+41, and 0406+121. Five percent resolution spectra of 1413+135 and 0406+121 between 1.5 and 2.4 microns show no emission or absorption lines. The spectral data rule out the possibility that 1413+135 is a quasar with normal line strengths and a redshift less than 1.3 and greater than 4. The lack of features of the 1.5-2.4-micron spectra, the rapid variability, and the overall shape of the radio, infrared, and X-ray energy distributions are consistent with a BL Lac nature for these objects.

Beichman, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Infrared spectrophotometry of three Seyfert galaxies and 3C 273

Spectrophotometry in the range 2.1-4.0 microns is presented for the Seyfert galaxies NGC 1068, NGC 4151 and Mrk 231 and the quasar 3C 273, together with broadband and narrowband observations of the Seyfert galaxies in the range 8-13 microns. The spectra of NGC 1068 and NGC 4151 are found to contain a significant component due to starlight, especially at shorter wavelengths. The nonstellar component in NGC 1068 is observed to fall off rapidly at wavelengths shorter than 4 microns, consistent with the interpretation of the excess beyond 5 microns as thermal reradiation by dust. Observations confirm the variability of NGC 4151, and indicate the presence of two components of the flux other than starlight: a nonthermal variable component predominant at shorter wavelengths and a constant, probably thermal component at wavelengths greater than 3 microns. Mrk 231 and 3C 273 exhibit no discernable stellar component and were not observed to vary by more than 10%. Evidence is obtained for a broad minimum in the 8 to 13 micron spectrum of Mrk 231, as well as possible structure between rest wavelengths of 2.8 and 2.9 microns, and the spectrum is not a power law. The spectrum of 3C 273 is consistent with a power law from 1.2 to 10 microns, with small but significant deviations.

Cutri, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The diameter and albedo of 1943 Anteros

The results of broadband visual and infrared photometry of the Apollo-Amor asteroid 1943 Anteros during its 1980 apparition are reported. By means of a radiometric model, a diameter of 2.3 + or - 0.2 km and a visual geometric albedo of 0.13 + or - 0.03 is calculated. The albedo and reflectance spectrum of Anteros imply that it is a type S asteroid. Thus, Anteros may have a silicate surface similar to other Apollo-Amor asteroids as well as some stony-iron meteorites.

Veeder, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Infrared Astronomy

Several observational programs in infrared astronomy are described and significant findings are briefly discussed. The near infrared work concentrates largely on the use of the 5 m Hale telescope in spectroscopic and photometric studies of extragalactic sources. Observations of the P alpha line profile in a low redshift quasar, X-ray bursters, reflection nebula, and cataclysmic variables are included. Millimeter continuum observations of dust emission from quasars and galactic molecular clouds are also discussed. Finally, improvements to instrumentation are reported.

Neugebauer, G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Near-infrared spectrophotometry of the satellites and rings of Uranus

New spectrophotometry from 1.5 to 2.5 microns is reported for the Uranian satellites Titania, Oberon, and Umbriel. A spectrum of the rings of Uranus from 2.0 to 2.4 microns is also reported. No evidence is found for frost covering the surface of the ring material, consistent with the low albedo of the rings previously reported by Nicholson and Jones (1980). The surfaces of the satellites are found to be covered by dirty water frost. Assuming albedos of the frost and gray components covering the Uranian satellites to be the same as the light and dark faces of Iapetus, radii are derived that are roughly twice those inferred from the assumption of a visual albedo of 0.5.

Soifer, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Observations of Saturn in the 5- to 8-micron spectral region

A spectrum of Saturn obtained from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory exhibits an emission peak at 6.8 microns attributed to ethane, but is otherwise dominated by absorption from 5.3 to 7.2 microns. While the large absorption in this spectral region is consistent with the presence of ammonia gas or ammonia ice, or both, such an explanation is inconsistent with the lack of a major absorption near 3.0 microns.

Witteborn, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Infrared and optical observations of the hydrogen lines in quasars

Infrared and optical spectrophotometric observations of the hydrogen lines in a sample of 16 quasars are discussed. The addition of these observations to previously published observations of hydrogen lines in quasars brings to 12 the number of quasars for which the P-alpha/H-alpha/H-beta line ratios have been measured and to nine the number of quasars for which the L-alpha/H-alpha line ratio has been measured. It is noted that the P-alpha/H-alpha ratios in low-redshift quasars are distributed around the case B value with a tendency toward values lower than that predicted by case B. The H-alpha/H-beta values in these same quasars are for the most part greater than the case B value. The tendency in the P-alpha/H-alpha/H-beta ratios is for the P-alpha/H-alpha ratio to decrease as the H-alpha/H-beta ratio increases. The decrease of the P-alpha/H-alpha ratio with increasing H-alpha/H-beta ratio is the most significant correlation obtained from the present data that any valid model of the line-emitting regions must explain. The low values of the L-alpha/H-alpha in comparison with the case B value are confirmed for a large sample of high-redshift quasars. L-alpha is seemingly destroyed rather than H-alpha being enhanced. It is concluded that reddening external to the emission-line regions cannot satisfactorily explain all the observed hydrogen line ratios.

Soifer, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

One millimeter continuum observations of high redshift quasars

Upper limits to the one-millimeter continuum flux densities of the high redshift quasars B2 1225 + 31, Ton 490, and PHL 957 are presented. The upper limit to the power observed from these quasars at 1 mm is, on the average, one half of the observed power in the continuum at L-alpha. These observations are used to constrain the temperature of a hypothetical dust shell which reddens the quasar line and continuum emission by an extinction optical depth sufficient to account for the anomalously low L-alpha/H-alpha emission line ratio observed in each of these quasars. For the quasars studied, dust shell temperatures between 25 K and 50 to 95 K are prohibited by the present data. A dust shell at a temperature within this span reradiating all the power absorbed from the quasar ultraviolet continuum would produce a one-millimeter flux density greater than the measured upper limit. The average radius of the model dust shell cannot be between 70 kpc and 1 Mpc.

Ennis, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The infrared properties of active extragalactic nuclei

The observed infrared properties of the general classes of active extragalactic nuclei are reviewed with the purpose of relating the observations to the mechanisms responsible for the emission processes. Those observations which define the energy distributions and emission line ratios of broad groups of objects are summarized, including infrared, optical, and radio energy distributions, H-K colors, and line ratios for Seyfert galaxies, quasars, and BL Lac objects. The nature of the mechanisms responsible for the observed infrared continuum emission is discussed, the main candidates being thermal emission by dust in the nuclei and incoherent synchrotron emission. It is concluded that the former mechanism is the most likely one.

Soifer, B. T.↗