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Spangler, S. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Spangler, S. R..

35 records · Page 2
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NASA NTRS1984

Small-scale variations in the galactic magnetic field - The rotation measure structure function and birefringence in interstellar scintillations

The structure function of rotation measures of extragalactic sources and birefringence in interstellar scintillations are used to investigate variations in the interstellar magnetic field on length scales of about 0.01-100 pc and 10 to the 11th cm, respectively. Model structure functions are derived for the case of a power-law power spectrum of irregularities in the quantity (n(e)B), and an estimate for the structure function is computed for several regions of the sky using data on extragalactic sources. The results indicate an outer angular scale for rotation measure (RM) variations of not less than about 5 deg (a linear scale of about 9-90 pc at a distance of 0.1-1 kpc). There is also evidence for RM variations on angular scales as small as 1 arcmin, but it cannot be determined whether these are intrinsic to the source or caused by the interstellar medium. The effect of a random, Faraday-active medium on the diffraction of radio waves is derived, and an upper limit to the variations in n(e)B on a length scale of 10 to the 11th cm is obtained from available observations.

Simonetti, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Determination of the properties of magnetic turbulence in radio sources

The transport of polarized synchrotron radiation in a source possessing a highly irregular magnetic field, as proposed by Laing has been considered. The transport equation has been solved in a special case, relating the observable correlation functions in the Stokes parameters Q and U to the correlation functions of magnetic field and plasma density in the source. A rough application of the results to observations of the radio galaxy 3C 166 indicates that the turbulent scale length may be a few percent of the lobe size.

Spangler, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The correlation of X-ray emission with strong millimeter activity in extragalactic sources

A sample of 25 strong extragalactic millimeter sources have been observed at about 1 keV with the Imaging Proportional Counter on the Einstein X-Ray Observatory and at 90 GHz with the NRAO 11 m telescope. A strong correlation between the millimeter and X-ray flux densities is found. This result is consistent with a synchronous self-Compton model in which the X-ray emission arises from the Compton scattering of millimeter radio photons off the relativistic electrons which created them.

Owen, F. N.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The very flat radio spectrum of 0735 plus 178 - A cosmic conspiracy

Multifrequency interferometric and total flux density measurements of the radiation from 0735 plus 178 are discussed. It is shown that it is far more likely that the very flat radio spectrum of this source results from a superposition of incoherent synchrotron radiation from four distinct, homogeneous components, each with a peaked spectrum, than from radiation from a single inhomogeneous component.

Cotton, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Broad-band flux density variations of the extragalactic radio source 1611+343

A flux density outburst at low radio frequencies (less than about 1 GHz) has been observed in the extragalactic radio source 1611+343 (= DA 406). Observations in the period from June 1976 to September 1978 were made with several telescopes covering the frequency range from 0.325 to 15.5 GHz. The outburst appears to have been simultaneous at all observed frequencies and had a steep spectrum above 0.400 GHz. Some physical implications of these observations are discussed.

Cotton, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A search for centimetric wavelength emission from UV Ceti stars

Simultaneous radio and optical observations were obtained on three UV Cet flare stars: YZ CMi, AD Leo, and Wolf 424. The total simultaneous monitoring time was 33.9 hours during which time 41 optical flares were detected. Two enhancements were detected at 1420 MHz in close temporal association with optical flares, but are of uncertain validity. The results presented indicate that 1420 MHz emission during a typical stellar flare is less than 0.10 Jy.

Moffett, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Search for microarcsecond structure in low-frequency variable radio sources

A search for interstellar scintillation (ISS) of low-frequency variable radio sources is reported. Observations of 28 confirmed or suspected low-frequency variables, 21 nonvariable sources, and two pulsars were made at 408 MHz. As expected, the pulsars showed ISS, but scintillation was not detected in any other source. A typical upper limit to the rms modulation due to ISS is 150 mJy, giving lower limits to the apparent angular diameter of about 10 to the -6th arcsec. The possibilities that a true point source is broadened to an apparent angular diameter greater than or roughly equal to 10 to the -6th arcsec by scattering local to the source or in a general intergalactic medium are discussed.

Armstrong, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The 1975.9 Jovian decimetric spectrum

The Arecibo radio telescope measured the Jovian decimetric radio flux at four frequencies - 318, 430, 1415, and 2380 - on December 5 and 6, 1975. Observed flux values were obtained by comparison with the radio sources 3C18 and 3C459. The flux values were further corrected by the beaming of the Jovian emission about the xenomagnetic equator for the antenna-emission polarization angle and for the antenna-source resolution at 1415 and 2380 MHz.

Shawhan, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A search for slowly varying radio continuum emission from UV Ceti stars

The paper presents results of a search conducted at the Arecibo Observatory for variable 430-MHz emission from the active flare stars EQ Peg, YZ CMi, and AD Leo. No statistically significant evidence for slowly varying emission is found to a level of 0.05 Jy for AD Leo, 0.018-0.021 Jy for YZ CMi, and 0.009-0.018 Jy for EQ Peg. Upper limits of about 10 trillion K are determined for the brightness temperature of active radio regions on these stars at the time of the observations.

Spangler, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Simultaneous radio and optical observations of UV Ceti-type flare stars

The UV Ceti-type stars, YZ Canis Minoris, AD Leonis, and Wolf 424 AB, were monitored for 57.8 hours from January 15 to February 22, 1974, using the 1000-foot (305-m) radio telescope at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and the 91-cm or 76-cm reflector at McDonald Observatory. Radio observations were made at frequencies of 430, 318, and 196 MHz, and optical monitoring was done in the Johnson U or B band, the Stromgren u band, or white light. During the period of simultaneous observations, 62 optical flares were detected. A total of 13 RF flares were independently identified, of which 10 reached maximum flux within 10 min of the peak time of an optical flare. Using times of optical-flare events as reference data, an additional 15 cases of radio enhancements associated with optical flares are identified. The most probable delay interval between the optical-flare maximum and 318-MHz radio peak was found to be 0 to 5 min, with the optical flare occurring first. Aside from this statistical delay of peak occurrence and a general tendency for radio and optical flares to be associated, no systematic correlations of optical and radio amplitudes or morphology were found. The possible consequences of the radio emission's being due to a coherent process are discussed.

Spangler, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A search for X-rays from UV Ceti flare stars

A search of MIT/OSO-7 data was made for evidence of X-ray emission from flares of UV Ceti flare stars. Observations from McDonald Observatory were used to identify the times of optical flares. The only instance of coincident coverage occurred on 1974 January 21 UT at 03:43:26 GMT for delta m(u)=0.86 flare of YZ CMi. No radio coverage of this particular event was obtained. Upper limits (3 sigma) of 0.8, 1.0, and 0.7 photons/sq cm-sec on the observed X-ray flux were set for the energy ranges greater than or approximately equal to 15, greater than or approximately equal to 3, and 1-10 keV, respectively.

Crannell, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A search for X rays from UV Ceti flare stars

A search of the MIT/OSO-7 data has been made for evidence of X-ray emission from flares of UV Ceti flare stars. Observations from McDonald Observatory have been used to identify the times of optical flares. The only instance of coincident coverage occurred on 1974, January 21, UT at 03:43:26 GMT for a flare of YZ CMi with a u magnitude increment of 0.86. No radio coverage of this particular event was obtained. Upper limits (3 sigma) of 0.8, 1.0, and 0.7 photons/sq cm sec on the observed X-ray flux have been set for the energy ranges greater than 15, greater than 3, and 1-10 keV, respectively.

Crannell, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Four-Stokes-parameter radiofrequency polarimetry of a flare from AD Leonis

Observations of the four Stokes parameters of a 430-MHz flare from the UV Ceti-type star AD Leo are presented. The maximum amplitude of the event was 0.52 flux units, and the durations at one-half and one-tenth maximum were 12 and 40 sec, respectively. The degree of circular polarization at maximum intensity was approximately 56% and was later observed to be as high as 92%. Linear polarization was also observed at a level of about 21% at flare maximum which allowed an upper limit of 440 radians/sq m to be placed on the rotation measure.

Spangler, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Four Stokes parameter radio frequency polarimetry of a flare from AD Leonis

Observations of the four Stokes parameters of a 430 MHz flare from the UV Ceti-type star AD Leonis are presented. The maximum amplitude of the event was 0.52 flux units and the durations at one-half and one-tenth maximum were 12 and 40 seconds, respectively. The degree of circular polarization at maximum intensity was approximately 56 percent and was later observed to be as high as 92 percent. Linear polarization was also observed at a level of about 21 percent at flare maximum which allowed an upper limit of 440 radians - sq m to be placed on the rotation measure.

Spangler, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Short-duration radio flares of UV Ceti stars

The UV Ceti-type stars YZ Canis Minoris, AD Leonis, Wolf 424, and V371 Orionis were monitored with the Arecibo radio telescope at meter wavelengths. A total of 26 flares were recorded on YZ CMi, AD Leo, and Wolf 424. The observed flares had shorter durations and smaller amplitudes than those previously reported in the literature. Rates of radio-flare detection are similar to those found optically.

Spangler, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Short-duration solar microwave bursts and associated soft X-ray emission

Two hundred and fifty-nine short-duration microwave (15.4 GHz) bursts which occurred during the period of January 1968 to March 1970 were correlated with possible soft X-ray (2-12 A) flares occurring simultaneously. Sixty-six percent of the microwave bursts which were observed during periods of soft X-ray data coverage had associated soft X-ray flares. A study of an index of impulsiveness of the microwave flares failed to show a separation of the events into subclasses which could be attributed to distinctly different physical mechanisms. A weak (0.43) correlation was found between the intensities of the microwave and X-ray flares. A very weak (0.15) and statistically questionable correlation was found between the total energy released in these two energy ranges. Two models for the electron acceleration mechanism are discussed.

Spangler, S. R.↗