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At least 199 records · Page 11

On the distribution of interstellar gas in the galactic halo

New and existing observations of 21-cm emission lines toward 10 distant, high-latitude OB stars are combined with existing observations of interstellar Lyman-alpha absorption lines, in order to determine the ratio, N21/N-alpha, of the two different column densities of H I. This ratio, which is related to the fraction of the cool, neutral gas in the halo that lies beyond each star, decreases smoothly to about unity with increasing distance from the galactic plane. The column density of neutral gas beyond about 1 kpc can be as much as one-third of the total above the plane, but only relatively small amounts of such gas lie more than 2 kpc from the plane. The distances to, and the possible birthplaces of, these Population I stars in the halo are discussed.

Hobbs, L. M.↗

Lunar dark-haloed impact craters - Origin and implications for early mare volcanism

Spectral, thermal, radar, and photogeologic data were used to determine the composition and origin of lunar dark-haloed craters. Analyses of reflectance spectra (near-infrared) of dark-haloed craters on light plains indicate that in every instance these craters exposed mare basalts which had previously been covered by varying thicknesses of highlands debris. In the Schiller-Schickard region a relatively thick highlands unit was emplaced as a result of the Orientale impact event. The results of recent remote sensing photogeologic and lunar samples studies indicate that mare volcanism was a significant process during much of the pre-Imbrian epoch and may have been initiated as early as 4.2-4.3 Ga. The very early volcanic episodes contributed materials to the lunar surface which were later incorporated into the upper portion of the highlands crust by subsequent impact mixing. On the basis of the data it is concluded that current models of the extent and duration of mare volcanisms, as well as those involving the composition of thermal evolution of the lunar interior will have to be revised.

Bell, J. F.↗

Evidence for a dynamical halo around the edge-on galaxy NGC 4631

Radio continuum observations at five frequencies between 327 MHz and 10.7 GHz of the edge on galaxy NGC 4631 confirm the prediction concerning the frequency dependence of the halo extent and the spatial variations of the radio spectral indices in the dynamical halo model made by Lerche and Schlickeiser. The measurements are presented, and a detailed comparison with theoretical predictions is made.

Lerche, I.↗

Experiment Pamir-4: Analysis of superfamily with halo of electromagnetic nature detected in deep XEC

The family Pb2-11 was detected in the multilayer lead XEC with total thickness of 100 c.u. exposed at the Pamirs. Each lead layer was 1 cm thick, the first registering layer being located under 2 cm of Pb(= 4 c.u.). The family comprised a narrow group of gamma-rays which near the maximum of cascade development (= 14 c.u.) produced a dark spot of optical density D approx. .4 over area S = 25 sq.mm. The narrow group of gamma-rays was traced up to 14th layer corresponding to 30 c.u. Deeper in the chamber, for the space of 70 c.u. no hadron cascade was observed. Thus, the pure electromagnetic halo could be assumed. Preliminary results of the analysis of the family Pb2-11 was presented. The methods of estimation of energy of primary particle and height of nuclear interaction responsible for the observed halo are considered in more detail.

Zatsepin, G. T.↗

Extremely high energy hadron and gamma-ray families(3). Core structure of the halo of superfamily

The study of the core structure seen in the halo of Mini-Andromeda 3(M.A.3), which was observed in the Chacaltaya emulsion chamber, is presented. On the assumption that lateral distribution of darkness of the core is exponential type, i.e., D=D0exp(-R/r0), subtraction of D from halo darkness is performed until the cores are gone. The same quantity on cores obtained by this way are summarized. The analysis is preliminary and is going to be developed.

Yamashita, S.↗

An unsuccessful search for very extended halos around NGC 1300 and M61

The results of a search for H and K absorption in the halos of the two spiral galaxies projected against background QSOs are presented. The search was carried out using the blue-sensitive spectrograph attached to the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT). Despite good sensitivity (S/N of about 20) and high spectral resolution (1 A), no H and K absorption was found. Schematic illustrations of the nuclear and halo spectra of M61 and NGC 1300 are provided.

Bothun, G. D.↗

Thermal-vacuum testing and in-situ optical alignment measurements of the HALOE telescope/sun sensor assembly

Design features, test data and projected performance levels of the telescope/sun sensor assembly for the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) on board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite are described. HALOE will gather data on stratospheric chemical species with an IR telescope pointed through the atmosphere at the sun during occultation periods. The pointing accuracy will need to be 1 arcmin elevation and 1.6 arcmin azimuthal. Adjustments of the gimbaled instrument are guided by a sun sensor and its associated electronics. The components were subjected to thermal-vacuum, optical boresight stability tests and the data generated were compared with a finite element model of the telescope and sun sensor. The tests consisted of exposure to various thermal gradients while the telescope and sun sensor alignments were tracked by optical deflectometry. The thermal behavior was compared with predictions made with a finite difference model. Alignments were within tolerable ranges and the thermal behavior model was concluded valid for predicting the thermal behavior of orbiting instruments.

Foss, R. A.↗

RR Lyrae stars and the distant Galactic halo - Distribution, chemical composition, kinematics, and dynamics

Published observational data on 29 outer-Galactic-halo RR Lyr stars (Saha, 1984, and Saha and Oke, 1984) and from other surveys are analyzed to characterize the mass distribution, chemical composition, kinematics, and dynamics of the outer Galaxy (up to galactocentric radius R = 40 kpc). The results are presented in graphs and tables and discussed. Findings reported include a rapid fall-off of RR Lyr density at R = 25 kpc, Fe/H varying from -1.0 to -2.2 (with two stars at -0.5), no net Fe/H gradient in the far halo, and Galactic mass (from dynamical computations) about 3 x 10 to the 11th solar mass within R = 25 kpc.

Saha, A.↗

Ultraviolet absorption by highly ionized halo gas near the Galactic center

Initial results are presented for a program to survey highly ionized gas in the Milky Way disk and halo. High-resolution IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) far-UV spectra were obtained for 12 stars at galactocentric distances less than 6 kpc. The stars are 0.7-2.2 kpc away from the plane. Most of the spectra contain exceedingly strong and broad interstellar absorption lines of weakly and highly ionized atoms. In addition to the normally strong lines of Si IV and C IV, strong interstellar NV lines have been detected in the spectra of eight stars. The detection of NV absorption (amounting to more than 10 times the predicted NV) provides an important new constraint on models for the origin of Galactic halo gas. A Galactic fountain operating in the presence of known UV and EUV radiation might explain the observations.

Savage, B. D.↗

X-ray inverse Compton emission from the radio halo of M87

M87 has been observed in the 0.2-4 KeV X-ray band using the High Resolution Imager on the Einstein Observatory, and at 1.452 GHz using the Very Large Array. The radio map showed that the halo contained prominent asymmetries to the east and southwest. The X-ray map indicated similar asymmetries, but they were imbedded in the diffuse hot gas that surrounds the core out to a radius of several arcminutes. The hot X-ray emitting gas was assumed to be spherically symmetric and could, therefore, be subtracted from the image. The resultant image was asymmetric with major lobes to the east and southwest that coincide approximately with the asymmetries in the radio halo. The data indicates that inverse Compton emission is a plausible model for the X-rays coming from the asymmetric component.

Wood, P. A. D.↗

Optical spectroscopy of the filamentary halo that surrounds HD 148937 and NGC 6164-65

Optical spectra have been obtained for the recently-discovered faint filamentary halo that surrounds both the extremely young star HD 148937 and the peculiar S-shaped nebula NGC 6164-65. This halo, interpreted to be a wind-generated interstellar bubble, has a spectrum which appears to result from both shock-wave heating and photoionization.

Fairall, A. P.↗

Search for ultraviolet emission lines from a hot gaseous halo in the edge-on galaxy NGC 4244

Short and long wavelength IUE spectra of the halo region in the edge-on galaxy NGC 4244 are analyzed in order to identify evidence of line emission at the level of 0.000001 ergs per cu cm sr/s. Features are found at 1245 A and 1402 A, having peaks four times greater than the rms intensity fluctuations of nearby spectra. The spectral features are identified with semi-forbidden N V, semi-forbidden S IV at 1240 A, and Si IV and semi-forbidden O IV multiplets at 1400 A, respectively. The appearance of high-peak features and the lack of astrophysically important lines in the sample are evidence of a gas near T = 10 exp 5.2 and emission measure (EM) equal to about 0.000001 pc. However, the case for the existence of such a gas is weakened due to the existence of two other similarly sized features with no identifiable astrophysical origin and the extremely faint nature of the candidate features. The assumed upper limit for the line intensities in NGC 4244 leads to the conclusion that at T less than 100,000 K any emitting gas is either highly clumped or has a p/k value of less than 1000 per cu cm K. It is suggested that if the observed low level features in the short wavelength spectrum are real, the temperature and emission measures allow for a single component gas in the halo of NGC 4244, and are in agreement with those derived by Paresce et al. (1983).

Deharveng, J.-M.↗

Massive black holes in galactic halos?

In the present attempt to resolve the problems posed by the composition of dark halos and the heating of stellar disks, under the assumption that galaxy halos are composed of massive black holes, it is noted that the black holes must have masses of the order of one million solar masses. The heating mechanism proposed yields predictions for the dependence of the velocity dispersion on time, and for the shape of the velocity ellipsoid, which are in good agreement with observations. Attention is given to the constraints set by dynamical friction causing black holes to spiral to the Galactic center, by the possible presence of dark matter in dwarf spheroidal galaxies, and by the accretion of interstellar gas by the black holes that produce luminous objects in the Galaxy.

Lacey, C. G.↗

Blazars with arcminute-scale radio halos

About 10-arcsec resolution 20-cm wavelength maps are presented for three nearby BL Lac objects: Mkn 180, whose halo has a linear size of 85 kpc, 2155-304, with a halo about 375 kpc across, and 1727 + 502, whose one-sided diffuse emission extends to a distance of about 145 kpc from its radio core. Little evidence is found for strong radio variability in the cores of the three blazars; these and other results obtained are consistent with the assertion that the three objects should be classified as normal low luminosity double radio galaxies with optically dull nuclei, if seen from other directions.

Ulvestad, J. S.↗

HALOE science investigation

The Halogen Occulation Experiment (HALOE) gas response test simulations were completed using the HALOE spectroscopic instrument model. A new series of programs were written for routine repetitive runs of the spectroscopic model to make it more user friendly for certain studies. Some of the limitations of the model were eased for atmospheric studies. Atmospheric signal profiles were calculated for inclusion in the electronic model programs. Analysis of additional spectral bands of CO2 in the 3 micron region was continued. A program of measurement of the air broadened halfwidths of spectral lines in the nu (sub 3) fundamental band of CH4 was started and over 40 lines measured.

Benner, D. C.↗

Milky Way halo gas kinematics

Measurements of high resolution, short wavelength absorption data taken by IUE toward high latitude O and B stars are presented in a discussion of the large scale kinematic properties of Milky Way Halo gas. An analysis of these data demonstrates that: (1) the obsrved absorption widths (FWHM) of Si II are very large, ranging up to 150 Km/s for the most distant halo star; this is much larger than is generally appreciated from optical data; (2) the absorption is observed to be systematically negative in radial velocity, indicating that cool material is, on the whole, flowing toward the disk of the galaxy; (3) there is some evidence for asymmetry between the northern and southern galactic hemispheres, in accordance with the HI 21 cm data toward the galactic poles; (4) low column density gas with highly negative radial LSR velocity (V less than -70 km/s) can be found toward stars beyond 1-3 kpc in the northern galactic hemisphere in all four quadrants of galactic longitude; and (5) only the profiles toward stars in the direction of known high velocity HI features show a clear two component structure.

Danly, L.↗

HALOE test and evaluation software

Computer programming, system development and analysis efforts during this contract were carried out in support of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) at NASA/Langley. Support in the major areas of data acquisition and monitoring, data reduction and system development are described along with a brief explanation of the HALOE project. Documented listings of major software are located in the appendix.

Edmonds, W.↗

X-rays from the radio halo of M87

The Einstein Observatory and the VLA were used to scan the radio halo of the galaxy M87 to detect the presence, if any, of inverse Compton X-ray (ICX) emissions. The scans revealed a coincidence of an asymmetrical X-ray structure with a luminosity near 4 x 10 to the 41st ergs/sec and dominant symmetrical emission from the hot interstellar gas. The emission can be attributed to ICX if the magnetic field of the proposed halo varies between 3-8 times below equipartition levels of 2-5 micro-gauss, which would imply that the confinement is produced by an outside medium. The necessary characteristics of the confining mechanism are discussed.

Feigelson, E. D.↗