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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Brackett-alpha line profiles of young stellar objects

Profiles of the Br-alpha line of H I at a velocity resolution of 45 km/s are presented for the compact imbedded infrared objects BN, S106/IRS 3, GLS 490, GL 961, GL 989, Mon. R2/IRS 2, and for the visible objects LkH-alpha 101, T Tau, and R Mon. A proportionality obtained between Br-alpha luminosity and bolometric luminosity is shown to extend over three orders of magnitude, supporting the idea that the physical conditions and gas motions in the circumstellar envelopes of stellar objects are closely related over a wide range of luminosities. The Br-alpha line strengths are compared to radio continuum flux densities in the context of stellar wind models. Momentum deposition rates deduced from Br-alpha or radio continuum fluxes are consistent with those available in the radiation fields, which appear capable of driving the ionized gas outflows in the vicinity of the core sources. The results of a comparison of the H-alpha and Br-alpha profiles for T Tau are discussed.

Persson, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Stellar evolution at high mass with convective core overshooting

The transition from stellar evolution models with no convective core overshooting (CCO) at all to models in which homogeneous mixing due to CCO reaches far beyond the formal convective core boundary is systematically explored. Overshooting is parameterized in terms of the ratio d/H(p), where d is the distance of convective overshoot beyond the formal convective core boundary and H(p) is the local pressure scale height. It is concluded that CCO in very massive main sequence stars produces a great expansion of the stellar envelope if d/H(p) is large but not excessively large. CCO does not entirely suppress convective instability above the overshoot zone in the envelopes of main sequence stars more massive than about 15 solar masses. A general comparison of theoretically constructed isochrones for young stars with observed main sequence turnups indicates that the observed turnups are longer, brighter, and cooler at the tip than those expected on thfe basis of standard evolutionary theory.

Stothers, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Mass outflows from young stellar objects

The process of mass loss from young stellar objects is examined in a review of recent observational investigations and theoretical models. Consideration is given to the interaction of the stellar wind with surrounding molecular clouds, the high degree of collimation seen in some embedded objects, alignment of outflows from stars embedded in the same cloud complex, initially isotropic and intrinsically anisotropic models of mass outflow, and the kinds of observations needed to determine the actual mechanisms involved.

Strom, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The initial mass function and global rates of mass, momentum, and energy input to the interstellar medium via stellar winds

Published observational data are compiled and analyzed, using theoretical stellar-evolution models to determine the global rates of mass, momentum, and energy injected into the interstellar medium (ISM) by stellar winds. Expressions derived include psi = 0.00054 x (M to the -1.03) stars formed/sq kpc yr log M (where M is the initial mass function in solar mass units) and mass-loss = (2 x 10 to the -13th) x (L to the 1.25) solar mass/yr (with L in solar luminosity units). It is found that the wind/supernova injection of energy into the ISM and the mass loss from stars of 5 solar mass or more are approximately balanced by the dissipation of energy by cloud-cloud collisions and the formation of stars, respectively.

Van Buren, D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Young stellar objects and their circumstellar dust - An overview

The basic observational classes of young stellar objects are briefly reviewed and some of the theoretical and observational problems in premain sequence stellar evolution are discussed. The evidence which indicates that the infrared excesses in recently formed stars are primarily due to thermal emission from circumstellar dust is summarized. Various indirect lines of evidence on the spatial distribution of the circumstellar dust are examined, and it is concluded that the concentration of the dust in a large disk structure is the most viable model at this time.

Rydgren, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cosmic-ray acceleration at stellar wind terminal shocks

Steady-state spherically symmetric analytic solutions of the cosmic-ray transport equations, applicable to the problem of acceleration of cosmic rays at the terminal shock to a stellar wind, are studied. The spectra, graidents, and flow patterns of particles modulated and accelerated by the stellar wind and shock are investigated by means of monoenergetic-source solutions at finite radius, as well as solutions with monoenergetic and power-law galactic spectra. On the basis of calculations given, early-type stars could supply a significant fraction of the 3 x 10 to the 40th ergs/sec required by galactic cosmic rays.

Webb, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Stellar activity in synchronized binaries. I - Dependence on rotation

A large sample of late-type binaries with orbital periods from 1 to 100 days has been examined for relationships between stellar activity and rotation period (assumed - with a few exceptions - to be synchronized with the stellar orbital period). Most of the systems are in the RS Canum Venaticorum class of close binaries; none are contact binaries. The activity diagnostics were observed with the IUE and the Einstein Observatory and range from the mid-chromosphere to the corona. There is a dependence of activity on rotation in the synchronized binaries; surface flux is the preferable measure of activity and is best when steps are taken to remove variations in activity filling factors.

Basri, G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Optical astronomical interferometry - Requirements on stellar Michelson interferometry and heterodyne interferometry for high-resolution imaging

The requirements for optical path compensation on space-based (no atmospheric-induced disturbance) heterodyne interferometers and generalized Michelson stellar interferometers are developed. It is demonstrated that heterodyne interferometers require optical path compensation to well within the coherence length dictated by its bandwidth, while Michelson stellar interferometers require compensation to a fraction of their utilized wavelength.

Silverglate, P. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Stellar and galactic jets - Theoretical issues

Theoretical issues pertaining to the modelling of jets in young stellar objects and in active galactic nuclei are reviewed. The strong morphological similarities between these two types of sources are emphasized, and observational constraints on the basic physical mechanisms that may be responsible for the jet phenomenon are outlined. Particular attention is given to the 'momentum-discharge problem' in molecular-cloud outflows and to its possible resolution in terms of a centrifugally driven magnetohydrodynamic wind from an accretion disk. In addition, various propagation effects are discussed, and the relevance to stellar jets of the de Laval collimation mechanism and of the accelerated-clump model for emission knots is assessed. The review concludes with a brief list of potentially useful observational tests.

Konigl, A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Jets, mass outflows and disks associated with young stellar objects

Over the past 3 years, a series was obtained of the CCD images of regions surrounding young stellar objects (YSO's) located in a variety of environments with the goal of providing a census of the properties of mass outflows associated these objects. A catalog describing the optical morphology and kinematics of 38 mass outflows associated with young stellar objects (YSOs) was completed. The direct detection was reported of disks surrounding HL Tau and LI551/IRS 5 -- both sources of optical jets and large-scale mass outflows. In each case, the disk dimensions are on the order of several hundred astronomical units and the disk dust masses approximately 10 to the -7th power solar masses. A program aimed at indirect detection of circumstellar disks associated with YSOs was started. The technique involves comparison of an observed bolometric luminosity (L(bol)) with an independent measure of the true luminosity (L(spec)) of a YSO which derives from the observed strengths of surface-gravity-sensitive spectral features.

Strom, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spectral evolution of young stellar objects

An evolutionary sequence, from protostars to pre-main-sequence stars, is suggested for the classification of young stellar objects. This sequence is derived by comparing the predictions of the theoretical models of Adams and Shu with the morphological classification scheme of Lada and Wilking. We first define the spectral index in the near- and mid-infrared, n is identical to d log(nu F sub nu)/d log nu, and then interpret the class of sources with negative spectral indices as protostars. The inferred mass infall rates for these objects are generally consistent with the measured gas temperatures of approx. 35 K in Ophiuchus, and of approx. 10 K in Taurus. Fitting the data requires us to adopt cloud rotation rates in Ophiuchus which are typically an order of magnitude greater than in Taurus, and we speculate on the mechanistic origin for this difference. Next, we consider a subclass of T Tauri stars with near- and mid-infrared excesses and positive or zero spectral indices. We find that the objects with the steeper indices can be understood as the post-infall products from the collapse of rotating cloud cores, where the infrared excesses arise from the simple reprocessing of visible stellar photons in optically thick but spatially thin disks. The sources with flatter spectra may require massive accretion disks. Given the existence of protostars and naked star/disk systems, there is a natural interpretation of another subclass of T Tauri stars, those with two peaks in their emergent spectral energy distributions. These are readily explained as intermediate cases in which dust envelopes still surround the stars and disks. Finally, we find that the theory can be extended to explain the spectral energy distribution of FU Orionis, a famous outburst source. Our model suggests that FU Orionis has a disk, but it offers no discrimination between the competing ideas that the outburst took place on the star or in the disk.

Adams, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A Fabry-Perot interferometer for accurate measurement of temporal changes in stellar Doppler shift

The scrambling of incident light by an optical filter, and the stability obtainable through wavelength calibration by means of a tilt-tunable Fabry-Perot etalon, allow the accurate observation of Doppler shift changes in stellar absorption lines. Distinct, widely spaced monochromatic images of the entrance aperture are formed in the focal plane of the camera through a sampling of about 350 points on the profile of the stellar spectrum by successive orders of interferometric transmission through the etalon. Changes in Doppler shift modify the relative intensities of these images, in proportion to the slope of the spectral profile at each point sampled.

Mcmillan, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Mass outflows associated with young stellar objects

Properties of optical and molecular outflows associated with young stellar objects are discussed with emphasis placed on new results concerning outflow energetics, collimating structures, and the relationship between the outflow properties and the magnetic field geometry characterizing the host molecular clouds. Particular consideration is given to the IRAS observations of YSO mass outflows, which reveal extended far-IR emission associated with high-velocity molecular gas and in which a number of disk-like structures associated with YSO outflow sources were resolved. The disk axes appeared to lie along the direction of molecular outflows or stellar jets. The mass outflows showed a remarkable tendency to align along the direction of the magnetic fields which thread their host molecular clouds, suggesting that the cloud magnetic field must play an important role in determining the flattening (and perhaps the rotation) of protostellar structures.

Strom, Stephen E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Highly ionized stellar winds in Be stars - The evidence for aspect dependence

The paper presents the results of an ultraviolet survey of stellar winds in 62 Be and 43 normal B stars covering spectral types B0.5-B5 and luminosity classes V-III. Excess wind absorption in Be stars over that detected in normal B stars is found in C IV and Si IV, confirming results of previous surveys. The stars showing excess wind absorption also show one or more shortward-shifted discrete absorption components, suggesting that much of the excess wind absorption is in the form of discrete absorption components. Evidence is presented that the high-velocity and highly ionized stellar wind observed in some Be stars is a function of latitude.

Grady, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Spectral synthesis in the ultraviolet. I - Far-ultraviolet stellar library

A library of mean stellar energy distributions for use in population synthesis of the ultraviolet spectra of active star-forming galaxies is derived from the ultraviolet spectrophotometry in the IUE Spectral Atlas. The spectra extend from 1230 to 1930 A with a resolution of 6 A. The library contains eight main-sequence groups from O3 to A7 V, four giant groups from O5 to B9 III, and three supergiant groups from O9 to A0 I. Several continuum and spectral line indices are computed, and their usefulness as temperature and luminosity discriminants is discussed. The advantages of analyzing composite stellar populations in the far-ultraviolet, where cool starlight is strongly suppressed, are examined.

Fanelli, Michael N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Atmospheric phase measurements with the Mark III stellar interferometer

The effect of atmospheric turbulence on the measurements of stellar positions performed by the Mt. Wilson phase-coherent stellar Mark III interferometer was investigated, both for the case of a simple Kolmogorov spatial spectrum and for the case of a model incorporating a finite outer scale. Measurements of phase difference at a 12-m base line obtained with the Mark III interferometer agreed well with the predictions of a Kolmogorov spatial spectrum over the frequency range 0.001-100 Hz. From these measurements, the outer scale of turbulence for propagation through the entire atmosphere was estimated to be greater than 2 km.

Colavita, M. Mark↗
NASA NTRS1987

Cosmic ray-modified stellar winds. I - Solution topologies and singularities

In the present two-fluid hydrodynamical model for stellar wind flow modification due to its interaction with Galactic cosmic rays, these rays are coupled to the stellar wind by either hydromagnetic wave scattering or background flow irregularity propagation. The background flow is modified by the cosmic rays via their pressure gradient. The system of equations used possesses a line of singularities in (r, u, P sub c)-space, or a two-dimensional hypersurface of singularities in (r, u, P sub c, dP sub c/dr)-space, where r, u, and P sub c are respectively the radial distance from the star, the radial wind flow speed, and the cosmic ray pressure. The singular points may be nodes, foci, or saddle points.

Ko, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

LkH-alpha 101 - The stellar wind, the surrounding nebula, and an associated radio star cluster

Radio observations of LkH-alpha 101 have been taken to determine the characteristics of the stellar wind from the central star as well as to image the surrounding nebulosity. They also revealed the presence of a high concentration of weak compact radio sources in the neighborhood of LkH-alpha 101, four of which have optical stellar counterparts. Spectra of three of the stars indicate two T Tauri stars and a highly obscured B star.

Becker, Robert H.↗