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At least 253 records · Page 14
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NASA NTRS1972

Properties of nearby interstellar hydrogen deduced from Lyman-alpha sky background measurements

For a sufficiently rapid relative motion of the solar system and the nearby interstellar gas, neutral atoms may be expected to penetrate the heliosphere before becoming ionized. Recent satellite measurements of the Lyman alpha emission above the geocorona indicate such an interstellar wind of neutral hydrogen emerging from the direction of Sagittarius and reaching to within a few astronomical units of the sun. A detailed model of the scattering of solar Lyman alpha from the spatial distribution of neutral hydrogen in interplanetary space is presented. This asymmetric distribution is established by solar wind and solar ultraviolet ionization processes along the trajectories of the incoming hydrogen atoms. The values of the interstellar density, the relative velocity, and the gas temperature are adjusted to agree with the Lyman alpha measurements. The results may be interpreted in terms of two models, the cold model and the hot model of the interstellar gas, depending on whether galactic Lyman alpha emission is present at its maximum allowable value or negligibly small.

Thomas, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Interstellar grains.

Questions of interstellar extinction are discussed together with the spatial distribution of dust, the scattering of light by grains, diffuse interstellar absorption lines, and questions of interstellar polarization. Theoretical extinction curves are considered, giving attention to ice grains, graphite grains, polycyclic hydrocarbons, silicate grains, core-mantle grains, mixtures of grains, and the total amount of dust. Aspects of grain temperature and grain potential are examined along with processes on grain surfaces, the scattering of X rays by interstellar grains, the origin and destruction of grains, and the dust in the HII regions.

Aannestad, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Resonance scattering from interstellar and interplanetary helium.

The intensity and spatial distribution of the diffuse 584 A glow due to resonance scattering of solar He I, 584 A line radiation by neutral interstellar and interplanetary helium is derived. Two sources of neutral helium are considered: the local interstellar medium interacting with the solar system and dust deionization of the He(++) component of the solar wind. Which of these two sources will dominate the radiation field at 1 AU is dependent upon a number of parameters which have not yet been determined. Results are presented as a function of the width of the solar line, and the temperature and speed of approach of the interstellar medium. The calculated intensities for the most extreme cases vary from approximately .000001 Rayleighs to almost 100 Rayleighs. The relevance of these results to the study of the interplanetary and interstellar medium is discussed.

Paresce, F.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Nonequilibrium distributions of molecular states in interstellar space

Current knowledge on the components of interstellar space and on interstellar dust clouds (which contain most of the molecules existing in interstellar space) is reviewed. The discovery of molecules by absorption of a microwave continuum or by emission from their own excited state is discussed in historical order, and the interpretation of their spectra is examined. The observed microwave resonances of interstellar molecules are tabulated. Another table shows the approximate column densities of molecules found in the directions of the Orion nebula and of Sagittarius. The various types of nonequilibrium encountered are demonstrated by examples.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The interstellar depletion mystery, or where have all those atoms gone

The observed depletion of intermediate-weight elements O, C, and N from the interstellar medium is shown to be significantly greater than can be accounted for by accretion on interstellar dust. A number of possible explanations are presented, ranging from the existence in interstellar space of many 'snowballs' intermediate in size between dust grains and comets to the existence of many far more complicated interstellar molecules than have been detected.

Greenberg, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Further evidence for an interstellar source of nighttime He I 584 A radiation

The intensity of He I, 584 A radiation in the night sky was measured from a sounding rocket at altitudes between 160 and 217 km. The results obtained confirm previous measurements of this radiation. The observed intensity and spatial variations can be entirely accounted for by resonance scattering of solar 584 A radiation from interstellar helium. The best fit to the observations in this case is obtained with an interstellar helium model in which the bulk velocity of the gas is 5 km/sec, the temperature is 10,000 K, and the helium number density is 0.032 per cu cm. Even if a geocoronal scattering component is present, the data can be used to set a lower limit to the temperature of the local interstellar medium of 1,500 (plus or minus 500) K, assuming a normal interstellar helium abundance.

Paresce, F.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Photochemistry of interstellar molecules

The role of photochemistry in determining the lifetime of interstellar molecules is considered. The probability of photodecomposition depends on three factors, including the absorption cross section, the quantum yield or probability of dissociation following photon absorption, and the interstellar radiation field. A more detailed discussion of the photochemistry of five molecules is presented, giving attention to carbonyl sulfide, methyl acetylene, nitric oxide, acetylene, and benzene. Lifetimes of interstellar molecules in unobscured regions are in the range from 5 to 100 years. It is concluded that polyatomic molecules can exist only in dense clouds which protect them from the full interstellar radiation field.

Stief, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Termination of the solar wind in the hot, partially ionized interstellar medium

Theoretical foundations for understanding the problem of the termination of the solar wind are reexamined in the light of most recent findings concerning the states of the solar wind and the local interstellar medium. The investigation suggests that a simple extention of Parker's (1961) analytical model provides a useful approximate description of the combined solar wind, interstellar wind plasma flowfield under conditions presently thought to occur. A linear perturbation solution exhibiting both the effects of photoionization and charge exchange is obtained for the supersonic solar wind. A numerical algorithm is described for computing moments of the non-equilibrium hydrogen distribution function and associated source terms for the MHD equations. Computed using the algorithm in conjunction with the extended Parker solution to approximate the plasma flowfield, profiles of hydrogen number density are given in the solar wind along the upstream and downstream axes of flow with respect to the direction of the interstellar wind. Predictions of solar Lyman-alpha backscatter intensities to be observed at 1 a.u. have been computed, in turn, from a set of such hydrogen number density profiles varied over assumed conditions of the interstellar wind.

Lombard, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A study of birefringence in the interstellar medium in the direction of the Crab Nebula

The interstellar medium may be regarded as a weak wave plate, the linear birefringence arising from the aligned grains which produce interstellar linear polarization. Using the Crab Nebula as a background source of linearly polarized light we have investigated this birefringence by measurements of circular polarization. The circular component is found to vary with the intrinsic linear polarization in a sinusoidal fashion characteristic of a wave plate with the orientation expected from independent measurements of the interstellar linear polarization in the same direction. Measurements of the wavelength dependence, together with the sense and magnitude of the circular polarization are interpreted as evidence for the dielectric nature of the interstellar grain materials. These observations provide a firm basis for a similar interpretation of the circular polarization of reddened stars. The observations of the stars can then be used to study the grain composition and the structure of the magnetic field in many directions in the Galaxy.

Martin, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Diffuse interstellar band formation in dense clouds

Data are presented which show that the strengths of the diffuse interstellar bands at 4430, 5780, and 5797 A tend to be deficient with respect to color excess in the lines of sight to stars lying behind dense interstellar clouds. In addition, diffuse-band data for ten stars in the well-studied rho Ophiuchi cloud complex are presented, and systematic variations of band strengths with optical depth are discussed. It is found that the band strength per grain in the line of sight apparently decreases with increasing grain size, taking the ratio of total-to-selective absorption and the wavelength of maximum polarization as indicators of the latter. It is concluded that diffuse-band formation probably takes place most efficiently in the outer regions of interstellar clouds. This may be consistent with a diffuse-band origin in small grains which are coated by mantles in cloud interiors; or in some molecule or molecules which are most abundant in the outer portions of interstellar clouds.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

On the flux and the energy spectrum of interstellar ions in the solar system

The flux density of ions created by ionization of interstellar neutral particles in the solar system and picked up by the solar wind is calculated as a function of the neutral particles. For atomic hydrogen the flux density is estimated to exceed 10,000/sq cm/sec over the distance range from a few to nearly 100 AU. The velocity space distribution of the interstellar ions is calculated under the assumption of no significant energy diffusion but with inclusion of adiabatic effects as well as a possible strong pitch angle diffusion. The energy spectrum is highly nonthermal and much broader than that of the solar wind ions; interstellar protons are easily distinguishable from solar wind protons by their location in velocity space. If charge exchange is an important contributor to the ionization of hydrogen, the observed local intensity of interstellar protons should exhibit time variations correlated with the density changes of the solar wind stream structure.

Vasyliunas, V. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Hydrogen molecules in interstellar space

The most important results obtained from Copernicus satellite observations of ultraviolet H2 absorption features are summarized. The properties of the hydrogen molecule are described along with the radiative processes in which it can be involved. Techniques and equipment used in observing H2 absorption features from space are reviewed. The results are discussed in terms of the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form, rotational excitation of H2, physical conditions within interstellar gas clouds, and approaching clouds characterized by high excitation and negative radial velocity. It is shown that: (1) an appreciable fraction of the hydrogen in denser and thicker clouds is molecular, (2) at least some of the interstellar clouds are far from pressure equilibrium, (3) the approaching clouds are apparently dense thick sheets moving toward the sun as viewed in the local standard of rest, (4) these clouds are probably shock waves produced in the interstellar gas by old supernova remnants or expanding H II regions, and (5) the abundances relative to H of such elements as O, Mg, Si, and Cl in these clouds are nearly equal to the solar values, which is in contrast to the depletions observed in many other interstellar clouds.

Spitzer, L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Observations of interstellar titanium toward 47 stars

Results are presented from photoelectric scans of the interstellar 3384-A line of Ti II obtained at a resolution of 3.7 km/s for 47 stars. Although the depletion of titanium from the interstellar gas is large and highly variable, its ratio to the depletion of interstellar calcium is relatively constant; titanium is less depleted than calcium by a factor of about four. A method for determining approximate electron densities from the Ca II and Ti II column densities is applied to 51 interstellar clouds.

Stokes, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

High-velocity interstellar clouds

Interstellar absorption line studies have revealed that rapidly moving clouds within one kiloparsec of the sun have considerably less depletion of heavy elements than in the low-velocity diffuse clouds, and their density is somewhat greater and their thickness smaller. Evaporation of interstellar grains, resulting from grain-grain collisions in interstellar shocks, may provide a possible explanation for the observations. Some problems involved in this mechanism are discussed, particularly the likely dominant importance of the interstellar magnetic field in confining the grains within the shocked layer and in accelerating them through the associated electric field, thus offsetting the frictional force of the gas.

Spitzer, L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The local interstellar helium density

During the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, an extreme-ultraviolet telescope observed the region of the sky from which the interstellar medium approaches the sun. The instrument had a tin filter whose bandpass included the 584-A line of neutral helium. The observations set an upper bound for the number density of neutral helium in the local interstellar medium of 0.004 + or - 0.0022 per cu cm, which is significantly lower than previously reported. The stated error is dominated by the present uncertainty in the solar 584-A flux, which is taken to be approximately 200 million photons/sq cm per sec at earth's orbit. The result is not consistent with previous resonant-scattering Ly-alpha observations of interstellar hydrogen passing through the solar system, which generally yield a hydrogen number density of about 0.1 per cu cm, unless interstellar helium is locally depleted below its cosmic abundance. The result is consistent with cosmic abundances if the much lower average hydrogen densities inferred from recent column-density measurements to nearby hot stars are in fact representative of the immediate solar neighborhood.

Freeman, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Interstellar clouds and molecular hydrogen

Data obtained from the Copernicus Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, launched in 1972 and still obtaining information, are used in a discussion of the interstellar medium. The Copernicus instruments have facilitated direct estimates for the density and temperature of individual interstellar clouds, and improved the ability to determine where along the line of sight a cloud lies with respect to background stars. The physical characteristics of hydrogen molecules are considered, with attention to the formation and destruction of interstellar hydrogen. The differences between 'thin' clouds, in which molecular hydrogen is optically thin, and 'thick' clouds are examined. Several features of the interstellar medium are described.

Jura, M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Isotopic abundances in interstellar clouds

Results of microwave measurements in dense interstellar clouds are discussed which pertain to determinations of relative isotopic abundances. Difficulties in deriving relative abundances from observations of the relative intensities of isotopic lines are examined, and measures available for coping with these complications are outlined. Results are presented concerning the relative abundances of C-13, O-17, O-18, N-15, Si-30, S-33, S-34, and D in a variety of interstellar clouds; the consistency of these results is evaluated. It is concluded that: (1) the relative abundances of C-13 and O-17 in interstellar clouds are generally higher than those in the solar system; (2) the abundances of N-15 and D are lower than the solar-system values; (3) the O-18 abundance is possibly higher than in the solar system; and (4) there are substantial variations in the isotopic abundances between different large interstellar clouds, with some of these variations not dependent on distance from the galactic center alone.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Energetic secondary electrons and the nonthermal galactic radio background - A probe of the magnetic field in interstellar clouds

A previous analysis of the manifestations of charged-pion-decay secondary electrons in interstellar cloud material is extended to include those contributions to the Galactic radio and soft gamma-ray backgrounds that are directly attributable to energetic secondaries. The equilibrium distribution of secondary electrons in dense interstellar clouds is calculated, synchrotron emissivity from isolated interstellar clouds is examined, and it is shown how the value of the magnetic field in these clouds may be determined by observing the radio emission in their directions. The contribution that such clouds make to the integrated radio background is evaluated, and the Galactic distribution of bremsstrahlung gamma rays that arise from interactions of secondary electrons with thermal material in dense clouds is computed. The results indicate that a magnetic field of no more than 80 microgauss is characteristic of dense clouds and that the integrated synchrotron radiation from secondary electrons in interstellar clouds will contribute a significant fraction of the nonthermal brightness along the Galactic equator even if the mean cloud field is as low as 35 microgauss.

Marscher, A. P.↗