Trade Studies in Multi/Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Final Report
This report is concerned with Earth-observing systems, operating in the solar reflected spectrum, and from Low Earth Orbit.
trade studies solar reflected spectrum Low Earth O↗
Engineering topics
Vaughan, A. H.
Publications and source records attributed to Vaughan, A. H..
Compact Doppler Magnetograph
Here we present a design for a high-performance, compact, low-cost flight instrument that measures velocity and magnetic fields on the photospere. This instrument is called the Compact Doppler Magnetograph, or CDM, and is based on the magneto-optical filter invented by A. Cacciani.
Doppler↗
Lens Design Using Group Indices of Refraction
An approach to lens design is described in which the ratio of the group velocity to the speed of light (the group index) in glass is used, in conjunction with the more familiar phase index of refraction, to control certain chromatic properties of a system of thin lenses in contact. The first-order design of thin-lens systems is illustrated by examples incorporating the methods described.
optical glass interferometry ultrashort pulses↗
Stellar activity cycles
The variety of stellar chromospheric and coronal activity provides a framework for understanding solar and stellar magnetic activity. It is pointed out that the recognition of an 11-yr periodicity within the record of sunspot numbers is a relatively recent discovery of just over a century ago. The solar activity cycle is examined, taking into account the sunspot cycle, and solar dynamo models. Time-averaged stellar chromospheric activity levels are considered along with long-term activity fluctuations of cool stars. Attention is given to the direct measurement of stellar magnetic fields, solar luminosity variations, the RS Canum Venaticorum and BY Draconis variables, continuum variations in lower main sequence stars, chromospheric variations in lower main sequence stars, and chromospheric variations in evolved stars.
Baliunas, S. L.↗
The magnetic activity of sunlike stars
The solar magnetic field, when carried into interplanetary space by the solar wind, creates changes in the earth's magnetosphere and variations in the galactic cosmic ray particle flux incident on the earth's upper atmosphere. Observational data accumulated over several centuries have indicated that the solar magnetism exists and varies in a globally organized pattern that is coupled to the sun's rotation. Wilson (1966, 1981) has demonstrated that analogs of solar activity exist and can be studied in many other dwarf stars, so that knowledge of the precise rates of rotation of stars under investigation can increase understanding of the origins of solar activity in particular and stellar activity in general.
Vaughan, A. H.↗
Short time-scale variability of chromospheric Ca II in late-type stars
The short time-scale variability of singly ionized calcium chromospheric emission has been investigated in a few late-type stars. Emission-line variations with time scales of a few minutes to hours are seen in Alpha Tau (K5 III), Lambda And (G8 III-IV), and Epsilon Eri (K2 V). The existence of substantial chromospheric flux changes (10 to the 30th to 10 to the 32nd ergs) over short periods of time suggests that the calcium emission arises from a few small, coherent regions. Frequencies present in the data are discussed in the context of acoustic wave predictions and estimated acoustic cutoff frequencies for giants and dwarfs.
Baliunas, S. L.↗
A survey of chromospheric Ca II H and K emission in field stars of the solar neighborhood
Fluxes in 1 A bands at the centers of the H and K lines are being measured in main-sequence F-G-K-M stars in the northern half of the Woolley et al. (1970) 'Catalog of stars within twenty-five parsecs of the sun', in a survey not yet completed. Results for 486 stars are presented in the form of flux-color diagrams and discussed in light of evidence that chromospheric activity declines with age in main-sequence stars. Support is noted for the reality of the Sirius moving group. The relative numbers of more-active (Hyades-like) and less-active (solar-like) F-G stars are tolerably in agreement with a nearly constant rate of formation, but there exists an apparent deficiency in the number of F-G stars exhibiting intermediate activity. The possibility that the gap is an accidental characteristic of the sample will be investigated by extending the survey to southern declinations and greater distances.
Vaughan, A. H.↗
Flux measurements of CA II H and K emission
A four-channel photon-counting spectrophotometer (designated HKP-2) is described which is designed for measuring stellar chromospheric calcium emission. The HKP-2 is calibrated, and its performance and accuracy evaluated, by observing 63 of Wilson's (1968) program stars on the same nights with both the HKP-2 and a coude scanner designated HKP-1. The results of the observations are discussed in terms of the calibration of mean H-K flux indices, variations in individual stellar fluxes, the flux ratio for H and K, and the instrument color index. It is shown that the HKP-2 provides satisfactory performance in the measurement of stellar chromospheric emission in a manner closely analogous to the method of Wilson and that a single observation yields a color index as well as flux indices for H and K that can be calibrated and transferred unambiguously to Wilson's system of measurement.
Vaughan, A. H.↗