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At least 307 records · Page 17

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NASA NTRS1994

Two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of wind-compressed disks around rapidly rotating B stars

We use a two-dimensional piecewise parabolic method (PPM) code to simulate numerically the hydrodynamics of a radiation-driven stellar wind from a rapidly rotating Be star. The results generally confirm predictions of the semianalytic 'wind-compressed disk' model recently proposed by Bjorkman and Cassinelli to explain the circumstellar disks inferred observationally to exist around such rapidly rotating stars. However, this numerical simulation is able to incorporate several important effects not accounted for in the simple model, including a dynamical treatment of the outward radiative driving and gas pressure, as well as a rotationally distorted, oblate stellar surface. This enables us to model quantitatively the compressed wind and shock that forms the equatorial disk. The simulation results thus do differ in several important details from the simple method, showing, for example, an inner disk inflow not possible in the heuristic approach of assuming a fixed outward velocity law. There is also no evidence for the predicted detachment of the disk that arises in the fixed outflow picture. The peak equatorward velocity in the dynamical models is furthermore about a factor of 2 smaller than the lytically predicted value of approximately 50% of the stellar equatorial rotation speed. As a result, the dynamical disks are somewhat weaker than predicted, with a wider opening angle, lower disk/pole density ratio, and smaller shock velocity jump. The principal cause of these latter differences appears to be an artificially strong equatorward drift of the subsonic outflow in the original analytic model. Much better agreement with the dynamical results can be obtained, however, from a slightly modified, analytic wind-compression model with a more detailed specification of the fixed wind outflow and a lower boundary set to the sonic radius along a rotationally oblate stellar surface. Hence, despite these detailed differences, the general predicted effect of disk formation by wind compression toward the equator is substantially confirmed.

Owocki, Stanley P.↗

NASA NTRS1995

The dim inner accretion disk of the quiescent black hole A0620-00

We observed the X-ray nova A0620-00 with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Faint object Spectrograph 16 yr after its 1975 outburst. We present a single spectrum (1250-4750 A), which is approximately an average over a full 7.8 hr orbital cycle of the source. The continuum can be fitted approximately by a blackbody model with T = 9000 K and a small projected source area, which is approximately 1 % of the expected area of the accretion disk. AS0620-00 is faint in the far-UV band; its luminosity is comparable to the luminosity of the quiescent dwarf-nova accretion disk (i.e., excluding the white dwarf). By analogy with dwarf novae, the optical luminosity of the disk (M(sub nu) approximately = 7) and the orbital period of A0620-00 imply that the rate of mass transfer onto the outer disk in M(sub d) approximately 10(exp -10) solar mass/yr. We also observed A0620-00 with the ROSAT PSPC X-ray detector for 3 x 10(exp 4) s and detected a faint source (5 sigma) at the location of the X-ray nova. For an assumed blackbody spectrum the source temperature and luminosity are approximately 0.16 keV and 6 x 10(exp 30) ergs/s, respectively (d = 1 kpc). This luminosity implies that the rate of mass transfer into the black hole is extraordinarily small: M(sub BH) less than 5 x 10(exp -15) solar mass/yr. The much larger mass transfer rate onto the outer disk, and the UV/X-ray faintness of the inner disk confirm key predictions of the disk instability model for the nova outburst of A0620-00 published by Huang and Wheeler and by Mineshige and Wheeler.

Mcclintock, Jeffrey E.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Studies of Disks Around the Sun and Other Stars

We are conducting research designed to enhance our understanding of the evolution and detectability of comet clouds and disks. This area holds promise for also improving our understanding of outer solar system formation, the bombardment history of the planets, the transport of volatiles and organics from the outer solar system to the inner planets, and to the ultimate fate of comet clouds around the Sun and other stars. According to 'standard' theory, both the Kuiper Disk and the Oort Cloud are (at least in part) natural products of the planetary accumulation stage of solar system formation. One expects such assemblages to be a common attribute of other solar systems. Therefore, searches for comet disks and clouds orbiting other stars offer a new method for inferring the presence of planetary systems. This two-element program consists modeling collisions in the Kuiper Disk and the dust disks around other stars. The modeling effort focuses on moving from our simple, first-generation, Kuiper disk collision rate model, to a time-dependent, second-generation model that incorporates physical collisions, velocity evolution, dynamical erosion, and various dust transport mechanisms. This second generation model will be used to study the evolution of surface mass density and the object-size spectrum in the disk. The observational effort focuses on obtaining submm/mm-wave flux density measurements of 25-30 IR excess stars in order to better constrain the masses, spatial extents and structure of their dust ensembles.

Stern, S. Alan↗

NASA NTRS1993

On Magnetic Dynamos in Thin Accretion Disks around Compact and Young Stars

A variety of geometrically thin accretion disks commonly associated with such astronomical objects as X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables, and protostars are likely to be seats of MHD dynamo actions. Thin disk geometry and the particular physical environment make accretion disk dynamos different from stellar, planetary, or even galactic dynamos. We discuss those particular features of disk dynamos with emphasis on the difference between protoplanetary disk dynamos and those associated with compact stars. We then describe normal mode solutions for thin disk dynamos and discuss implications for the dynamical behavior of dynamo-magnetized accretion disks.

Stepinski, T. F.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Probabilistic Analysis of Aircraft Gas Turbine Disk Life and Reliability

Two series of low cycle fatigue (LCF) test data for two groups of different aircraft gas turbine engine compressor disk geometries were reanalyzed and compared using Weibull statistics. Both groups of disks were manufactured from titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy. A NASA Glenn Research Center developed probabilistic computer code Probable Cause was used to predict disk life and reliability. A material-life factor A was determined for titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy based upon fatigue disk data and successfully applied to predict the life of the disks as a function of speed. A comparison was made with the currently used life prediction method based upon crack growth rate. Applying an endurance limit to the computer code did not significantly affect the predicted lives under engine operating conditions. Failure location prediction correlates with those experimentally observed in the LCF tests. A reasonable correlation was obtained between the predicted disk lives using the Probable Cause code and a modified crack growth method for life prediction. Both methods slightly overpredict life for one disk group and significantly under predict it for the other.

Melis, Matthew E.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Hiding the Disk and Network Latency of Out-of-Core Visualization

This paper describes an algorithm that improves the performance of application-controlled demand paging for out-of-core visualization by hiding the latency of reading data from both local disks or disks on remote servers. The performance improvements come from better overlapping the computation with the page reading process, and by performing multiple page reads in parallel. The paper includes measurements that show that the new multithreaded paging algorithm decreases the time needed to compute visualizations by one third when using one processor and reading data from local disk. The time needed when using one processor and reading data from remote disk decreased by two thirds. Visualization runs using data from remote disk actually ran faster than ones using data from local disk because the remote runs were able to make use of the remote server's high performance disk array.

Ellsworth, David↗

NASA NTRS2001

High Resolution 4.7 Micron Keck/NIRSPEC Spectra of Protostars: Ices and Infalling Gas in the Disk of L1489 IRS - 1

We explore the infrared M band (4.7 micron) spectrum of the class I protostar L1489 IRS in the Taurus Molecular Cloud. This is the highest resolution wide coverage spectrum at this wavelength of a low mass protostar observed to date (R =25,000; (Delta)v =12 km s(exp -1). A large number of narrow absorption lines of gas phase (12)CO, (13)CO, and C(sup 18)O are detected, as well as a prominent band of solid (12)CO. The gas phase (12)CO lines have red shifted absorption wings (up to 100 km s(exp -1)), which likely originate from warm disk material falling toward the central object. Both the isotopes and the extent of the (12)CO line wings are successfully fitted with a contracting disk model of this evolutionary transitional object. This shows that the inward motions seen in millimeter wave emission lines continue to within approx. 0.1 AU from the star. The amount of high velocity infalling gas is however overestimated by this model, suggesting that only part of the disk is infalling, e.g. a hot surface layer or hot gas in magnetic field tubes. The colder parts of the disk are traced by the prominent CO ice band. The band profile results from CO in 'polar' ices (CO mixed with H2O), and CO in 'apolar' ices. At the high spectral resolution, the 'apolar' component is, for the first time, resolved into two distinct components, likely due to pure CO and CO mixed with CO2, O2 and/or N2. The ices have probably experienced thermal processing in the upper disk layer traced by our pencil absorption beam: much of the volatile 'apolar' ices has evaporated, the depletion factor of CO onto grains is remarkably low (approx. 7%), and the CO2 traced in the CO band profile was possibly formed energetically. This study shows that high spectral resolution 4.7 micron observations provide important and unique information on the dynamics and structure of protostellar disks and the origin and evolution of ices in these disks.

Boogert, A. C. A.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Disk Dispersal Around Young Stars

We review the evidence pertaining to the lifetimes of planet-forming disks and discuss possible disk dispersal mechanisms: 1) viscous accretion of material onto the central source, 2) close stellar encounters, 3) stellar winds, and 4) by ultraviolet radiation. We focus on 3) and 4) and describe the quasi-steady state appearance and the overall evolution of disks under the influence of winds and radiation from the central star and of radiation from external OB stars. Viscous accretion likely dominates disk dispersal in the, inner disk (r approx. less than A 10 AU), while photoevaporation is the principal process of disk dispersal outside of r approximately greater than 10 AU. Disk dispersed timescales are compared and discussed in relation to theoretical estimates for planet formation timescales. Photoevaporation may explain the large differences in the hydrogen content of the giant planets in the solar system. The commonly held belief that our early sun's stellar wind dispersed the solar nebula is called into question.

Hollenbach, David↗

NASA NTRS2003

High Resolution Imaging of Circumstellar Disks at Millimeter Wavelengths

Our program uses the techniques of millimeter interferometry to make high resolution observations of dust continuum emission to study the structure of protoplanetary disks and debris disks around nearby stars. Observations of dust emission at these wavelengths are advantageous because the dust emission is generally optically thin and directly proportional to mass, and contrast with stellar photospheres is not a problem. We are using of several observational facilities, including (1) the Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatories, (2) the Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) of the Institut de RadioAstronomie Millimetrique, and (3) the Submillimeter Array (SMA), now under construction by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Academia Sinica (Taiwan). In the past year, we have accomplished the following (more details below): (1) We continued work on our 'low resolution' VLA survey of disks in Herbig Ae star and binary systems, primarily to identify candidates for higher resolution follow-up. We have submitted a paper for publication on the detailed analysis of the structure of the disk around CQ Tauri; (2) We completed analysis of our PdBI observations of the debris disk around Vega, and we presented these results at (1) the 199th AAS meeting in Washington, DC, and (2) a symposium in memory of Fred Gillett on Debris Disks and the Formation of Planets, in Tucson, AZ; (3) We continue commissioning observations with the SMA, which include the first ever interferometric images in the 850 micron wavelength band, in preparation for eventually imaging debris disks.

Wilner, David J.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Heat Treatment Devices and Method of Operation Thereof to Produce Dual Microstructure Superalloys Disks

A heat treatment assembly and heat treatment methods are disclosed for producing different microstructures in the bore and rim portions of nickel-based superalloy disks, particu- larly suited for gas turbine applications. The heat treatment assembly is capable of being removed from the furnace and disassembled to allow rapid fan or oil quenching of the disk. For solutioning heat treatments of the disk, temperatures higher than that of this solvus temperature of the disk are used to produce coarse grains in the rim of each disk so as to give maximum creep and dwell crack resistance at the rim service temperature. At the same time, solution temperature lower than the solvus temperature of the disk are provided to produce fine grain in the bore of the disk so as to give maximum strength and low cycle fatigue resistance.

John Gayda↗

NASA NTRS2004

The Evolution of the Accretion Disk Around 4U 1820-30 During a Superburst

Accretion from a disk onto a collapsed, relativistic star - a neutron star or black hole - is the mechanism widely believed to be responsible for the emission from compact X-ray binaries. Because of the extreme spatial resolution required, it is not yet possible to directly observe the evolution or dynamics of the inner parts of the accretion disk where general relativistic effects are dominant. Here, we use the bright X-ray emission from a superburst on the surface of the neutron star 4U 1820-30 as a spotlight to illuminate the disk surface. The X-rays cause iron atoms in the disk t o fluoresce, allowing a determination of the ionization state, covering factor and inner radius of the disk over the course of the burst. The time-resolved spectral fitting shows that the inner region of the disk is disrupted by the burst, possibly being heated into a thicker, more tenuous flow, before recovering its previous form in approximately 1000 s. This marks the first instance that the evolution of the inner regions of an accretion disk has been observed in real-time.

Ballantyne, D. R.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Photoevaporating Disks Around Young Stars

Ultraviolet radiation from the central star or from a nearby massive star heats the surfaces of protoplanetary disks and causes the outer, less gravitationally bound part of the disks, to photoevaporate into interstellar space. Photoevaporation is likely the most important dispersal mechanism for the outer regions of disks. We focus in this talk on disks around low-mass stars like the Sun rather than high-mass stars, which we have treated previously. Stars often form in clusters and the ultraviolet flux from the most luminous star in the cluster can have a dramatic effect on the disk orbiting a nearby low-mass star. We apply our theoretical models to the evaporating protoplanetary disks (or "proplyds") in the Trapezium cluster in Orion, to the formation of gas giant planets like Jupiter around Sun-like stars in the Galaxy, and to the formation of Kuiper belts around low mass stars. We discuss recent models of the effects of the radiation from the central low mass star including both the predicted infrared spectra from the heated disks as well as preliminary results on the photoevaporation rates.

Hollenbach, David↗

NASA NTRS1996

The IRS 1 circumstellar disk, and the origin of the jet and CO outflow in B5

We report the discovery of the inner edge of the high velocity CO outflow associated with the bipolar jet originating from IRS 1 in Barnard 5 and the first ever resolution of its circumstellar disk in the 2.6 mm dust continuum and C18O. From high spatial resolution observations made with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array we are able to locate the origin of the outflow to within approximately 500 AU on either side of IRS 1 and apparently at the edge of, or possibly within, its circumstellar disk. The orientation of the continuum disk is perpendicular to the highly collimated jet outflow recently seen in optical emission at much farther distances. The disk has been detected in C18O giving a disk mass approximately 0.16 M (solar). Our HCO+ and HCN maps indicate significant chemical differentiation in the circumstellar region on small scales with HCO+ tracing an extended disk of material. The 12CO interferometer maps of the outflow show two conelike features originating at IRS 1, the blue one fanning open to the northeast and the red one to the southwest. The vertices of the cones are on either side of the circumstellar disk and have a projected opening angle of about 90 degrees. The intrinsic opening angle is in the range of 60 degrees-90 degrees which leads to significant interaction between outflow and infall.

NASA Center JPL↗

NASA NTRS2003

Experiments on the Flow of a Thin Liquid Film Over a Horizontal Stationary and Rotating Disk Surface

Experiments on characterization of thin liquid films flowing over stationary and rotating disk surfaces are described. The thin liquid film was created by introducing deionized water from a flow collar at the center of an aluminum disk with a known initial film thickness and uniform radial velocity. Radial film thickness distribution was measured using a non-intrusive laser light interface reflection technique that enabled the measurement of the instantaneous film thickness over a finite segment of the disk. Experiments were performed for a range of flow rates between 3.01pm and 15.01pm, corresponding to Reynolds numbers based on the liquid inlet gap height and velocity between 238 and 1,188. The angular speed of the disk was varied from 0 rpm to 300 rpm. When the disk was stationary, a circular hydraulic jump was present in the liquid film. The liquid-film thickness in the subcritical region (down-stream of the hydraulic jump) was an order of magnitude greater than that in the supercritical region (upstream of the hydraulic jump) which was of the order of 0.3 mm. As the Reynolds number increased, the hydraulic jump migrated toward the edge of the disk. In the case of rotation, the liquid-film thickness exhibited a maximum on the disk surface. The liquid-film inertia and friction influenced the inner region where the film thickness progressively increased. The outer region where the film thickness decreased was primarily affected by the centrifugal forces. A flow visualization study of the thin film was also performed to determine the characteristics of the waves on the free surface. At high rotational speeds, spiral waves were observed on the liquid film. It was also determined that the angle of the waves which form on the liquid surface was a function of the ratio of local radial to tangential velocity.

Ozar, B.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Disks in Transition in the Taurus Population: Spitzer IRS Spectra of GM Aurigae and DM Tauri

We presented Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) observations of two objects of the Taurus population that show unambiguous signs of clea,ring in their inner disks. In one of the objects, DM Tau, the outer disk is truncated at 3 AU; this object is akin to another recently reported in Taurus, CoKu Tau/4, in that the inner disk region is free of small dust. Unlike CoKu Tau/4, however, this star is still accreting, so optically thin gas should still remain in the inner disk region. The other object, GM Aur, also accreting, has about 0.02 lunar masses of small dust in the inner disk region within about 5 AU, consistent with previous reports. However, the IRS spectrum clearly shows that the optically thick outer disk has an inner truncation at a much larger radius than previously suggested, of order 24 AU. These observations provide strong evidence for the presence of gaps in protoplanetary disks.

Calvet, N.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Gas in Debris Disks: Clues to the Late Stages of Planet Formation

The basic character of debris disks was established soon after their discovery in the mid-80's. These disks around nearby main sequence stars are composed of material produced by collisions and/or evaporation of extrasolar asteroids and comets. Debris disks appear to be largely composed of dust, though little is known about its typical composition. Nonetheless, at least some debris disks have detectable gas, which has very different characteristics from the gas in younger protoplanetary disks. The gas component has resisted observation, but appears to hold important clues to the composition of extrasolar planetesimals during the late-stages of planetary system formation and the formation of terrestrial planet atmospheres. In this talk, I will explain our current understanding of the place of debris disks in the planet formation process and describe what is known about the gas component. Finally, I will outline upcoming opportunities for sensitive new studies of gas in debris disks.

Roberg, A.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Crack-Detection Experiments on Simulated Turbine Engine Disks in NASA Glenn Research Center's Rotordynamics Laboratory

The development of new health-monitoring techniques requires the use of theoretical and experimental tools to allow new concepts to be demonstrated and validated prior to use on more complicated and expensive engine hardware. In order to meet this need, significant upgrades were made to NASA Glenn Research Center s Rotordynamics Laboratory and a series of tests were conducted on simulated turbine engine disks as a means of demonstrating potential crack-detection techniques. The Rotordynamics Laboratory consists of a high-precision spin rig that can rotate subscale engine disks at speeds up to 12,000 rpm. The crack-detection experiment involved introducing a notch on a subscale engine disk and measuring its vibration response using externally mounted blade-tip-clearance sensors as the disk was operated at speeds up to 12 000 rpm. Testing was accomplished on both a clean baseline disk and a disk with an artificial crack: a 50.8-mm- (2-in.-) long introduced notch. The disk s vibration responses were compared and evaluated against theoretical models to investigate how successful the technique was in detecting cracks. This paper presents the capabilities of the Rotordynamics Laboratory, the baseline theory and experimental setup for the crack-detection experiments, and the associated results from the latest test campaign.

Woike, Mark R.↗

NASA NTRS2012

The 0.5 micrometer-2.2 micrometer Scattered Light Spectrum of the Disk Around TW Hya

We present a 0.5-2.2micron scattered light spectrum of the circumstellar disk around TW Hya from a combination of spatially resolved HST STIS spectroscopy and NICMOS coronagraphic images of the disk. \Ve investigate the morphology at the disk at distances> 40 AU over this wide range of wavelengths. We measure the surface brightness, azimuthal symmetry, and spectral character of the disk as a function of radius. We find that the scattering efficiency of the dust is largely neutral to blue over the observed wavelengths. We find a good fit to the data over a wide range of distances from the star if we use a model disk with a partial gap of 30% depth at 80 AU and with steep disk truncation exterior to 100 AU. If the gap is caused by a planetary companion in the process of accreting disk gas, it must be less than 20 Solar mass.

Debes, John H.↗