Engineering topics

Stobie, R. S.

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

4 records

NASA NTRS1993

Two new hot white dwarfs in a region of exceptionally low hi density

We report the discovery of two hot white dwarfs which have the lowest line-of-sight neutral hydrogen column densities yet measured. The stars were found independently by the ROSAT EUV, Montreal-Cambridge-Tololo, and Edinburgh-Cape surveys. Follow-up observations made using the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer reveal strong continua shortward of the 912A Lyman limit from which we deduce that the neutral hydrogen column densities are 1.3 x 10(exp 17) and 2.0 x 10(exp 17) atoms/sq cm.

Barstow, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

EC 19314 - 5915 - A bright, eclipsing cataclysmic variable from the Edinburgh-Cape Blue Object Survey

A deeply eclipsing cataclysmic variable, with an orbital period of 4.75 hr, has been discovered in the southern Edinburgh-Cape Blue Object Survey. The star, EC 19314 - 5915, lies close to the positional constraints of a previously unidentified HEAO-1 hard X-ray source, 1H1930 - 5989. Its optical spectrum is unusual in that it shows, apart from the emission lines characteristic of a novalike, or dwarf nova cataclysmic variable (Balmer, He I and He II), metallic absorption lines typical of a late-G star. The individual time-resolved spectra, with the tertiary absorption lines removed, show absorption reversals in the Balmer emission lines, increasing in strength for the higher series. The Balmer emission radial velocities are therefore severely distorted in comparison to the He II 4686-A emission and He I 4471-A absorption radial velocity curves. An independent distance estimate of about 600 pc is derived for EC19314 - 5915, from the spectroscopic parallax of the third star.

Buckley, D. A. H.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Why use a microdensitometer other than a PDS?

The motivations for constructing a special purpose built microdensitometer are explored. The salient points of some of the microdensitometers are described and the advantages and disadvantages of the system in comparison to a PDS machine are outlined. The principal gain is in speed though at the expense of loss in dynamic range. The effects on the astronomical results are demonstrated. The astronomical results already obtained with these machines and from ongoing projects are described. It is shown that there is a large class of important astronomical problems which can be tackled by these machines but which are not feasibile on the PDS because of the speed of the machine.

Stobie, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Quantitative results of stellar evolution and pulsation theories.

The discrepancy between the masses of Cepheid variables deduced from evolution theory and pulsation theory is examined. The effect of input physics on evolutionary tracks is first discussed; in particular, changes in the opacity are considered. The sensitivity of pulsation masses to opacity changes and to the ascribed values of luminosity and effective temperature are then analyzed. The Cepheid mass discrepancy is discussed in the light of the results already obtained. Other astronomical evidence, including the mass-luminosity relation for main sequence stars, the solar neutrino flux, and cluster ages are also considered in an attempt to determine the most likely source of error in the event that substantial mass loss has not occurred.

Fricke, K.↗