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At least 199 records · Page 11

Spectrophotometry of beta Lyrae

Two hundred and fourteen scans over the wavelength region 1100 A to 1800 A with 10 A resolution were obtained by OAO spacecraft for the eclipsing binary Beta Lyrae between JD 2440889.5 and JD 2440904.5. Preliminary results indicate that: (1) The intensity at primary minimum is almost exactly one-half that at maximum and that the primary eclipse is less deep than that in the visual or longer ultraviolet wavelengths; (2) except for the 1100 to 1200 A region, the depth of the primary eclipse appears independent of wavelength; (3) the energy distribution at secondary minimum is similar to that at primary; (4) the two most prominent emission lines match well both with Si IV and C IV emission observed in gamma Vel and imply an exciting source of high temperature; (5) the emission lines do not show variation with phase.

Houck, T. E.↗

Spatial distribution of polarization over the disks of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon

The method of photographic subtraction, which superposes positive and negative photographs taken with the analyzer rotated through 90 deg, is used to analyze polarization photographs of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon. For Venus, near 90 deg phase angle, variation in polarization in ultraviolet light appears to correspond generally with the position of the cloud markings. The northern hemisphere of Saturn shows higher polarization in blue light than does the rest of the planet. The polarization of the moon is shown to deviate significantly from Umov's law for reciprocity of polarization and reflectivity in certain regions.

Fountain, J. W.↗

Six-color photometry of Iapetus, Titan, Rhea, Dione and Tethys

Six-color photometric observations made during Saturn's 1972/73 opposition enable us to separate the solar phase and orbital phase contributions to the observed light variations of Iapetus, Titan, Rhea, Dione and Tethys. Titan shows no orbital variations, but has phase coefficients which range from negligible values in the infrared to 0.014 mag/deg in the ultraviolet. Rhea has a bright leading side, a light curve amplitude of about 0.2 mag, and surprisingly large phase coefficients. Combined with other available information, the observations suggest a very porous, texturally complex surface layer. Dione has a leading side which is a few tenths of a magnitude brighter than the trailing side, but the light curve amplitude has little wavelength dependence and the phase coefficients are significantly smaller than those of Rhea, suggesting a less intricate surface texture. The leading side of Tethys is probably a few tenths of a magnitude brighter than the trailing side. Our Iapetus observations generally supplement the earlier work by Millis.

Noland, M.↗

The X-ray emitting galaxy Cen-A

OSO-8 X-ray observations of Cen-A in 1975 and 1976 are reported. The source spectrum is well fit in both years by a power law of number index 1.62 and absorption due to 1.3 x 10 to the 23rd power at/sq cm. The total flux varied by a factor 2 between 1975 and 1976. In 1976 there were approximately 40% flux variations on a time scale of days. The 6.4 keV Fe fluorescent line and the 7.1 keV absorption edge were measured implying Fe/H approximately equals .000016. Simultaneous radio measurements show variation in phase with X-ray variability. Models considering radio, milimeter, IR and X-ray data show that all the data can be accounted for by a model in which the X-rays are due to a synchrotron self-Compton source embedded in a cold H(2) cloud.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗

Io's sodium emission profiles - Variations due to Io's phase and magnetic latitude

We present recent measurements of high-resolution sodium D2 emission line profiles of Io's atmosphere and cloud. The high-velocity skirts of these profiles are strongest when Io is on the magnetic equator where protons and heavy ions, which sputter atoms from Io's surface, are concentrated. The skirts are most prominent on the long-wavelength side of the line when Io is west of Jupiter, and they are most prominent on the short-wavelength side of the line when Io is east of Jupiter. Our observations also indicate that there is a shift in the emission peak with respect to Io which is correlated with Io's orbital phase angle.

Trafton, L.↗

The X-ray emitting galaxy Centaurus A

OSO-8 X-ray observations of Cen A in 1975 and 1976 are reported. The source spectrum can be well fitted in both years by a power law of number index 1.66 and absorption due to 1.3 by 10 to the 23rd power atoms/sq cm. The total flux varied by a factor of 2 between 1975 and 1976. In 1976 there were flux variations of approximately 40% on a time scale of days. Measurements of the 6.4-keV Fe fluorescent line and the 7.1-keV absorption edge imply Fe/H of approximately 0.000016. Simultaneous radio measurements show variation in phase with X-ray variability. Consideration of radio, millimeter, infrared, and X-ray data shows that all the data can be accounted for by a model in which the X-rays are due to a synchrotron self-Compton source embedded in a cold H2 cloud.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗

HEAO-1 observations of AM Herculis between 0.1 and 3 keV

Results are reported for HEAO A2 scanning observations of AM Her in the energy range from 0.1 to 3 keV. A light curve of AM Her is plotted, a typical flux of 8 x 10 to the -10th erg/sq cm-sec in the 0.15-0.5-keV range at X-ray maximum is estimated, and no pronounced spectral variation with phase is detected. It is found that both a 0.025-keV blackbody spectrum and an exponential spectrum with an energy-dependent Gaunt factor provide an acceptable fit to the data. It is concluded that the spectrum of the radiation from the plasma at the surface of the strongly magnetic and relatively massive white dwarf in AM Her consists of three components: (1) a high-temperature (about 100 million to 1 billion K) component produced by electron-ion bremsstrahlung in the hot postshock plasma; (2) a blackbody component of about 100,000 to 1 million K produced by the heated surface of the white dwarf; and (3) a still softer component produced by optically thick electron cyclotron emission in the postshock region.

Tuohy, I. R.↗

On the relationship between secular brightness changes of Titan and solar variability

Titan's geometric albedo varied noticeably from 1972 to 1978, in phase with variations in solar activity (Lockwood and Thompson, 1979). A series of radiative transfer and aerosol formation calculations were made to demonstrate the feasibility of the following scenario for these secular brightness changes. Solar activity changes, especially in the UV output of the sun, result in alterations to the mass production rate of aerosols in Titan's atmosphere, which lead to modifications of their microphysical properties. The latter, in turn, cause the albedo to vary. Current estimates of the change in the solar UV radiation below the dissociation limit of methane imply alterations to the mean radius of the aerosols over an 11-yr solar cycle that are consistent in sign and magnitude with those required to explain the observed secular brightness changes.

Pollack, J. B.↗

The effects of scattering geometry on the spectrophotometric properties of powdered material

The characteristics of reflectance spectra are being used as a basis in investigations to infer the composition of planetary surfaces. However, the reflectance spectra of powdered materials depend not only on the composition of these materials, but also on other variables. A description is presented of the results of an exploratory series of measurements designed to investigate the importance of scattering geometry as a variable in determining the shapes of spectral reflectance curves, taking into account half a dozen materials of planetary interest. It is noted that the considered results are consistent with those reported by Adams and Felice (1967), especially the results on the variation with phase angle of the Red/Blue color ratio for various silicate materials. The measurements demonstrate in detail that scattering geometry does affect the shapes of spectral reflectance curve. In some cases this effect is quite significant.

Gradie, J.↗

Comparison of phase and amplitude structures of Pc 5 pulsations in the morning and afternoon sectors

North American IMS magnetometer network data are used in comparisons of the spatial phase and amplitude structures of the morning and afternoon Pc 5 pulsations, using cross spectral analysis of phase and amplitude readings between different stations. The spatial phase structures are found to be very similar in the morning and afternoon sectors for each of the three components. Amplitudes are larger in the magnetic north than in the magnetic east components for both sectors. Latitudinal amplitude and phase difference variations between the magnetic north and east components exhibit dissimilarities in the morning and afternoon sectors. These results suggest that compressional mode magnetic field oscillations are not observable on the ground in this time sector. The pulsations in both time sectors are instead seen as caused by transverse mode magnetospheric field oscillations.

Saka, O.↗

Time-resolved spectrophotometry of the emission lines in the galactic X-ray source H2252-035

The galactic X-ray source H2252-035 has been the object of a concentrated observational effort, since Griffiths et al. (1980) have identified it with a cataclysmic variable-like spectrum. Since the observed 859 s periodicity corresponds to the beat frequency between the X-ray and orbital periods, it has been interpreted as related to a reprocessing of the X-ray flux into optical emission in some region of the system which is rotating with the orbital period and heated by beamed X-ray emission from the compact star. In connection with the present investigation, H2252-035 has been observed with a 120 inch (3 m) telescope and image dissector scanner on 1980 September 9/10 and on 1981 September 20/21. At a time resolution of approximately 2 minutes, four bright emission lines showed short time-scale flickering and a pronounced orbital period variation in phase with the continuum modulation. A two-component model for the line emission region is proposed.

Clarke, J. T.↗

Changes in the ultraviolet spectrum of EG Andromedae

Ultraviolet observations of EG Andromedae, a symbiotic star, are reported which clearly show pronounced eclipse-like effects on the high-temperature far-UV continuum. Continuum and emission-line variations with phase are reported and related to synoptic hydrogen alpha data. System parameters are characterized.

Stencel, R. E.↗

Thermal tides in the atmosphere of Venus - Comparison of model results with observations

A linearized primitive equation model adapted to Venusian conditions was used to study thermal tidal anomalies in the Venus atmosphere exposed by Venus Orbiter IR sensors. The model received as input the IR data, mean zonal wind and solar input as functions of height and latitude, and the global mean static stability and Newtonian cooling and Rayleigh friction in relation to altitude. Basic state and forcing functions were defined for Venus, and the model generated brightness temperatures which could be compared with the IR data. The good correlations obtained suggest that the model accurately accounts for the low variation of phase with altitude and stronger semidiurnal oscillation features than diurnal oscillations. The model is concluded as a useful tool for assessing the role of thermal tides in maintaining Venus super rotation.

Pechmann, J. B.↗

Geometric effects of global lateral heterogeneity on long-period surface wave propagation

The present investigation has the objective to document examples of anomalous long-period surface wave amplitude behavior and to provide a preliminary appraisal of the effects of global lateral heterogeneity on surface wave propagation from a ray theory perspective. Attention is given to remarkable long-period surface wave anomalies described in literature, an equidistance azimuthal plot centered on the Iranian source region, Rayleigh wave and Love wave spectra for the 256-s period arrivals for the Tabas earthquake, constrained moment tensor and fault model inversion solutions ofr Iranian earthquakes, aspects of surface wave ray tracing, and a table of Rayleigh wave amplitude anomalies for Iranian earthquakes. Surface wave ray-tracing calculations for models of global phase velocity variations proposed by Nakanishi and Anderson (1984) are found to show that large-amplitude anomalies will be observed for Love and Rayleigh waves with periods of 100-250 s.

Lay, T.↗

Ultraviolet spectra of the N-type carbon star TX Piscium

Nine IUE low resolution spectra of TX Psc, one of the brightest N-type carbon stars, were analyzed. The integrated flux of the Mg II (UV 1) line (blend of h and k) varies by a factor of 7, and the flux of other lines varies similarly and in phase. No variations greater than a factor of 2 occur in the continuous flux. Synthetic spectra from a model chromosphere show surprisingly good agreement with the IUE observations. The enormous influence of the wings of the Mg I resonance line is noted, suggesting it may be a major part of the well-known violet and ultraviolet opacity in cool carbon stars.

Johnson, Hollis R.↗

Polarization aberrations in optical systems

This paper examines the polarization aberrations in optical systems of isotropic radially symmetric weak polarizers in the paraxial approximation. Optical systems which fit this description are composed of uncoated and coated lenses and mirrors. Polarization aberrations are variations in phase, amplitude, and polarization state of the electromagnetic field across the exit pupil. Some are dependent on the incident polarization state and some are not. Expressions through fourth order for phase, amplitude, linear polarization, and linear retardance aberrations are derived in terms of the chief and marginal ray angles of incidence and Taylor series expansion coefficients of the Fresnel equations for reflection and transmission at interfaces.

Mcguire, James P., Jr.↗

Particle distributions in a two-dimensional reconnection field geometry

In order to understand space phase density variations near the magnetopause and in the geomagnetic tail, particle trajectories in a two-dimensional steady state reconnection field geometry are studied by tracing particles from a spacecraft position back in time. The distribution function at the spacecraft is calculated using Liouville's theorem and known distribution functions in the source regions. It is found, in particular, that multiple ion beams in the plasma sheet boundary layer are a natural consequence of reconnection. In the center of the central plasma sheet, the omnidirectional flux of keV ions should be at a minimum. The depth of this minimum is very large near the neutral point but decreases as the distance from the neutral point increases.

Gurran, D. B.↗