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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection Observed at STEREO-A, Mars, Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Saturn,and New Horizons En Route to Pluto: Comparison of Its Forbush Decreases at 1.4, 3.1, and 9.9 AU

We discuss observations of the journey throughout the Solar System of a large interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) that was ejected at the Sun on 14 October 2014. The ICME hit Mars on 17 October, as observed by the Mars Express, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN Mission (MAVEN), Mars Odyssey, and Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) missions, 44 h before the encounter of the planet with the Siding-Spring comet, for which the space weather context is provided. It reached comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which was perfectly aligned with the Sun and Mars at 3.1 AU, as observed by Rosetta on 22 October. The ICME was also detected by STEREO-A on 16 October at 1 AU, and by Cassini in the solar wind around Saturn on the 12 November at 9.9 AU. Fortuitously, the New Horizons spacecraft was also aligned with the direction of the ICME at 31.6 AU. We investigate whether this ICME has a nonambiguous signature at New Horizons. A potential detection of this ICME by Voyager 2 at 110-111 AU is also discussed. The multispacecraft observations allow the derivation of certain properties of the ICME, such as its large angular extension of at least 116deg, its speed as a function of distance, and its magnetic field structure at four locations from 1 to 10 AU. Observations of the speed data allow two different solar wind propagation models to be validated. Finally, we compare the Forbush decreases (transient decreases followed by gradual recoveries in the galactic cosmic ray intensity) due to the passage of this ICME at Mars, comet 67P, and Saturn.

Witasse, O.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Evidence from Galactic Cosmic Rays That the Sun Has Likely Entered A Secular Minimum in Solar Activity

Since the beginning of the space age, the Sun has been in a multi-cycle period of elevated activity (secular maximum). This secular maximum is the longest in the last 9300 years. Since the end of solar cycle 21 (SC21), however, the Sun has shown a decline in over-all activity, which has remarkably increased the fluxes of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). Here, we investigate the correlation between the modulation of GCRs, the heliospheric magnetic field, and solar wind speed for the last 24 solar cycles to find trends that can potentially be used to predict future solar activity. Specifically, we develop a tool for predicting future magnetic field intensity, based on the hysteresis in the GCR variation, during the last phases of the current cycle. This method estimates that SC25 will be as weak as or weaker than SC24. This would mean that the Sun has likely entered a secular minimum, which, according to historical records, should last for another two cycles (SC2527and SC26).

Solar cycles↗
NASA NTRS1980

Nature of the fossil evidence - Moon and meteorites

The nature of the fossil evidence to be found in extraterrestrial materials concerning the history of solar activity is reviewed. The various types of lunar rocks and meteorites containing evidence of exposure to solar radiations are distinguished, including igneous rocks, breccias, glassy agglutinates, single mineral crystals, carbonaceous meteorites, and the Antarctic meteorites, some of which fell to earth as much as a million years ago. The characteristic effects of energetic particles from space in materials are then examined, including ion implantation and surface radiation damage to a depth of several hundred A by the solar wind, radioactivity, electron trapping and track production induced by solar flares to depths from millimeters to centimeters, and spallation due to galactic cosmic rays at depths from centimeters to meters. Complications in the interpretation of radiation exposure histories represented by dynamic surface processes, the nonsolar origin of some trapped elements, and difficulties in determining the duration and epoch of surface exposure of individual crystals are also noted.

Walker, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A meeting with the universe: Science discoveries from the space program

A general history of space exploration is presented. The solar system is discussed. The Sun-Earth relationship is considered, including magnetic fields, solar wind, the magnetosphere, and the Sun-weather relationship. The universe beyond the solar system is discussed. Topics include stellar and galactic evolution, quasars and intergalactic space. The effects of weightlessness and ionizing radiation on human beings are considered. The possibility of extraterrestrial life is discussed. Lunar and planetary exploration, solar-terrestrial physics, astrophysics, biomedical research and exobiology are reviewed. Numerons color illustrations are included.

French, B. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Implosive accretion and outbursts of active galactic nuclei

A model and simulation code have been developed for time-dependent axisymmetric disk accretion onto a compact object including for the first time the influence of an ordered magnetic field. The accretion rate and radiative luminosity of the disk are naturally coupled to the rate of outflow of energy and angular momentum in magnetically driven (+/- z) winds. The magnetic field of the wind is treated in a phenomenological way suggested by self-consistent wind solutions. The radial accretion speed u(r, t) of the disk matter is shown to be the sum of the usual viscous contribution and a magnetic contribution proportional to r(exp 3/2)(B(sub p exp 2))/sigma, where B(sub p)(r,t) is the poloidal field threading the disk and sigma(r,t) is the disk's surface mass density. An enhancement or variation in B(sub p) at a large radial distance leads to the formation of a soliton-like structure in the disk density, temperature, and B-field which propagates implosively inward. The implosion gives a burst in the power output in winds or jets and a simultaneous burst in the disk radiation. The model is pertinent to the formation of discrete fast-moving components in jets observed by very long baseline interferometry. These components appear to originate at times of optical outbursts of the active galactic nucleus.

Lovelace, R. V. E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

On the nature of emission-line clouds of quasars and active galactic nuclei

It is proposed that the clouds responsible for the emission lines in AGN and QSOs are stratified and not uniform in density. Specifically, it is suggested that they are winds from evolved stars, in particular red giants. This assumption appears to solve, in straightforward fashion, several problems concerning the origin, dynamics, and response of these clouds to changes in the continuum luminosity, while preserving the most successful feature of the current two-phase equilibrium photoionization models.

Kazanas, Demosthenes↗
NASA NTRS1984

Ultraviolet high-resolution spectroscopy of the X-ray binary Sk 160/SMC X-1

High-resolution IUE spectra of Sk 160, the optical counterpart of the X-ray source SMC X-1, show substantial variations with orbital phase of the resonance P Cygni profiles. These variations are ascribed to the changing ionization state in the stellar wind caused by the X-rays emitted by the companion, as suggested by Hatchett and McCray and first established for the galactic X-ray binary Vela X-1. Furthermore, the profile observed during X-ray eclipse differs significantly from profiles of similar stars in the absence of X-ray ionization.

Hammerschlag-Hensberge, G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cosmic rays 10Be biennal data and their relationship to aurorae and sunspots

The galactic cosmic ray (C.R.) variations which should give information on three dimensional aspects of the heliospheric magnetic fields and on the solar wind, which modulate their influx into the Solar System were studied. In order to decode the information from the C.R. series it is necessary to know the mechanisms through which the modulation is produced. It it clear that a balance of effects with sources at different heliospheric latitudes results in the modulated C.R. intensity. It is found that the modulation of 10Be in polar ice may be due to at least two main contributions: (1) negative and in phase with the Solar flare activity modulating the cosmic ray flux in Forbush-type decreases, and (2) positive in phase with the appearance of large wind streams situated at both polar coronal holes. It is found that the high heliolatitude activity is related to a stable periodicity of 11.1y whereas the low heliolatitude activity contributes to the wondering of the solar cycles.

Attolini, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Compton-heated winds and coronae above accretion disks. II - Instability and oscillations

The stability and evolution of windy accretion disks is investigated in detail. The basic disk evolution equations are briefly recapitulated, and an idealized analytic treatment of the wind and viscosity is used to show that steady disk flow is indeed unstable for sufficiently large ratio of the mass loss rate in the wind to the central accretion rate. Numerical solutions for a more realistic and appropriate expression for the mass loss rate and the standard ad hoc alpha model prescription for the viscosity are presented. The application of these results to real systems with Compton-heated winds is discussed, and a general formula for the oscillation period is given. The prediction is compared with observed periodic behavior of Galactic X-ray sources and AGNs.

Shields, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Preliminary analyses of WL experiment No. 701, space environment effects on operating fiber optic systems

A brief overview of the analyses performed to date on WL Experiment-701 is presented. Four active digital fiber optic links were directly exposed to the space environment for a period of 2114 days. The links were situated aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) with the cabled, single fiber windings atop an experimental tray containing instrumentation for exercising the experiment in orbit. Despite the unplanned and prolonged exposure to trapped and galactic radiation, wide temperature extremes, atomic oxygen interactions, and micro-meteorite and debris impacts, in most instances the optical data links performed well within the experimental limits. Analysis of the recorded orbital data clearly indicates that fiber optic applications in space will meet with success. Ongoing tests and analysis of the experiment at the Phillips Laboratory's Optoelectronics Laboratory will expand this premise, and establish the first known and extensive database of active fiber optic link performance during prolonged space exposure. WL Exp-701 was designed as a feasibility demonstration for fiber optic technology in space applications, and to study the performance of operating fiber systems exposed to space environmental factors such as galactic radiation, and wide temperature cycling. WL Exp-701 is widely acknowledged as a benchmark accomplishment that clearly demonstrates, for the first time, that fiber optic technology can be successfully used in a variety of space applications.

E W Taylor↗
NASA NTRS2020

Resolving the Soft X-Ray Ultrafast Outflow in PDS 456

Past X-ray observations of the nearby luminous quasar PDS 456 (at z = 0.184) have revealed a wide-angle accretion disk wind with an outflow velocity of ∼−0.25c, as observed through observations of its blueshifted iron K-shell absorption line profile. Here we present three new XMM-Newton observations of PDS 456: one in 2018 September where the quasar was bright and featureless and two in 2019 September, 22 days apart, occurring when the quasar was five times fainter and where strong blueshifted lines from the wind were present. During the second 2019 September observation, three broad (σ = 3000 km s(exp -1)) absorption lines were resolved in the high-resolution Reflection Grating Spectrometer spectrum that are identified with blueshifted O VIII Lyα, Ne IX Heα, and Ne X Lyα. The outflow velocity of this soft X-ray absorber was found to be v/c = -0.258 ± 0.003, fully consistent with an iron K absorber with v/c = -0.261 ± 0.007. The ionization parameter and column density of the soft X-ray component (log ξ = 3.4, N(sub H) = 2 × 10(exp 21) cm(exp -2)) outflow was lower by about 2 orders of magnitude when compared to the high-ionization wind at iron K (log ξ = 5, N(sub H) = 7 × 10(exp 23) cm(exp -2). Substantial variability was seen in the soft X-ray absorber between the 2019 observations, declining from N(sub H) = 10(exp 23) to 10(exp 21) cm(exp -2) over 20 days, while the iron K component was remarkably stable. We conclude that the soft X-ray wind may originate from an inhomogeneous wind streamline passing across the line of sight that, due to its lower ionization, is located further from the black hole, on parsec scales, than the innermost disk wind

Active galactic nuclei↗
NASA NTRS1983

The effect of the solar field reversal on the modulation of galactic cosmic rays

There is now a growing awareness that solar cycle related changes in the large-scale structure of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) may play an important role in the modulation of galactic cosmic rays. To date, attention focussed on two aspects of the magnetic field structure: large scale compression regions produced by fast solar wind streams and solar flares, both of which are known to vary in intensity and number over the solar cycle, and the variable warp of the heliospheric current sheet. It is suggested that another feature of the solar cycle is worthy of consideration: the field reversal itself. If the Sun reverses its polarity by simply overturning the heliospheric current sheet (northern fields migrating southward and vice-versa) then there may well be an effect on cosmic ray intensity. However, such a simple picture of solar reversal seems improbable. Observations of the solar corona suggest the existence of not one but several current sheets in the heliosphere at solar maximum. The results of a simple calculation to demonstrate that the variation in cosmic ray intensities that will result can be as large as is actually observed over the solar cycle are given.

Thomas, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The polar heliospheric magnetic field

We describe the large-scale magnetic field morphology in the heliosheath. A simple argument, which depends only on the interstellar wind flowing nearly in the solar equatorial plane, shows that polar heliospheric magnetic fieldlines never approach the heliopause and therefore are accessible to galactic cosmic rays only through perpendicular diffusion. The same argument implies reconnection, at fine scales, on the nose of the heliopause, between the interplanetary magnetic field and the magnetic field in the local interstellar medium. Galactic cosmic rays therefore have direct access across the heliopause to fieldlines connected to equatorial regions of the inner solar system.

Suess, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS2004

The Magnetic Field in the Outer Heliosphere

One of the great achievements of Parker was the prediction that the solar magnetic field would be drawn into Archimedian spirals as it is carried away from the Sun by the solar wind. This prediction has been amply confirmed by many in situ measurements in the intervening four decades. But, Parker made his prediction for a solar wind that expands into infinite space while we now know that the local interstellar medium (LISM) is far from empty and, in fact, confines the solar wind to a finite volume, known as the heliosphere, that extends to approximately 100 AU in the upstream direction (the solar system is moving through the LISM). Voyagers 1/2, presently at -80 AU, are approaching the upstream boundaries of the heliosphere and returning data on the properties of the magnetic field. This is important for understanding how galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) reach the Earth. Voyagers show that the IMF at 10-80 AU behaves much as Parker predicted - with two important exceptions. This is not surprising since the field is essentially passively advected by the solar wind out to 80 AU. But, new models say that nearer the heliosphere boundaries the field plays a major role in the solar wind-LISM interaction. However, of the many physical ingredients that constitute the outer heliosphere, the magnetic field poses some of the most interesting and difficult numerical modeling problems. Presently, only a few results have been published and much remains to be done. Here I will summarize the expected and measured behavior of the magnetic field at 80 AU. Then I will describe modeling predictions beyond 80 AU: magnetic "tornadoes", polarity envelopes, the Axford-Cranfill effect, inner and outer magnetic walls and more. I will also list what I believe to be important new modeling objectives. Finally, I will speculate on what is happening with the magnetic field near the nose of the heliosphere. My conclusion is that models of GCR modulation rarely incorporate even crudely realistic magnetic fields so it is a wonder that they are as successful as they are and no surprise that there are still important discrepancies between GCR modulation observations and the models.

Suess, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Unification of X-ray Winds in Seyfert Galaxies: From Ultra-fast Outflows to Warm Absorbers

The existence of ionized X-ray absorbing layers of gas along the line of sight to the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies is a well established observational fact. This material is systematically outflowing and shows a large range in parameters. However, its actual nature and dynamics are still not clear. In order to gain insights into these important issues we performed a literature search for papers reporting the parameters of the soft X-ray warm absorbers (WAs) in 35 type 1 Seyferts and compared their properties to those of the ultra-fast outflows (UFOs) detected in the same sample. The fraction of sources with WAs is >60 per cent, consistent with previous studies. The fraction of sources with UFOs is >34 per cent, >67 per cent of which also show WAs. The large dynamic range obtained when considering all the absorbers together, spanning several orders of magnitude in ionization, column, velocity and distance allows us, for the first time, to investigate general relations among them. In particular, we find significant correlations indicating that the closer the absorber is to the central black hole, the higher the ionization, column, outflow velocity and consequently the mechanical power. In all the cases, the absorbers continuously populate the whole parameter space, with the WAs and the UFOs lying always at the two ends of the distribution. These evidence strongly suggest that these absorbers, often considered of different types, could actually represent parts of a single large-scale stratified outflow observed at different locations from the black hole. The UFOs are likely launched from the inner accretion disc and the WAs at larger distances, such as the outer disc and/or torus. We argue that the observed parameters and correlations are, to date, consistent with both radiation pressure through Compton scattering and magnetohydrodynamic processes contributing to the outflow acceleration, the latter playing a major role. Most of the absorbers, especially the UFOs, show a sufficiently high mechanical power (at least approx 0.5 per cent of the bolometric luminosity) to provide a significant contribution to active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback and thus to the evolution of the host galaxy. In this regard, we find possible evidence for the interaction of the AGN wind with the surrounding environment on large scales.

Unification↗
NASA NTRS2021

HaloSat Observations of Heliospheric Solar Wind Charge eXchange

X-ray emission from solar wind charge exchange (SWCX) produced in interplanetary space contaminates every astrophysical observation, regardless of the line-of-sight. Unfortunately, the primary SWCX emission lines also happen to be important diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas. Models of SWCX emission are limited by two main uncertainties: the local solar wind fluxes along the line-of-sight, and the charge exchange cross sections. The He cone, a localized density enhancement of helium neutrals, is the only heliospheric SWCX emission feature that is small enough and bright enough to be observationally isolated from the X-ray background and the broader SWCX emission. HaloSat, an X-ray CubeSat mission, has recently completed two series of specialized observations, near and far from the ecliptic plane, during two Earth transits of the He cone. These observations were used to test the predictions of a SWCX emission model against the emission observed at low ecliptic latitudes, where the solar wind data are monitored, and at high ecliptic latitudes, where the solar wind data are extrapolated. The measured SWCX emission for the set of observations near the ecliptic plane were consistent with the line intensities predicted by the model, but were underpredicted for the set of observations at high ecliptic latitude near the south ecliptic pole. Additionally, high temperature Galactic Halo emission components are reported for both spectral sets.

Solar Wind↗
NASA NTRS1993

Numerical modeling of the interstellar medium in galactic disks

We have been developing detailed hydrodynamic models of the global interstellar medium in the hope of understanding the mass and volume occupied by various phases, as well as their structure and kinematics. In our model, the gas is modeled by one fluid while representative Pop 1 stars are modeled by a second fluid. The two fluids are coupled in that the gas forms into stars at a rate given by a Schmidt law while stellar mass loss returns matter into the gas phase (on a time scale of 100 Myr). Also, the stars heat the gas through stellar winds and the gas cools through optically thin radiation. The time behavior of these two fluids is studied in two spatial dimensions with the Eulerian finite difference numerical hydrodynamic code Zen. The two spatial dimensions are along the plane of a disk (x, total length of 2 kpc) and perpendicular to the disk (z, total height of +/- 15 kpc) and a galactic gravitational field in the z direction, typical of that at the solar circle, is imposed upon the simulation; self-gravity and rotation are absent. For the boundary conditions, outflow is permitted at the top and bottom of the grid (z = +/- 15 kpc) while periodic boundary conditions are imposed upon left and right sides of the grid. As initial conditions, we assumed a gaseous distribution like that seen for the H1 by earlier researchers, although the results are insensitive to the initial conditions. We have run simulations in which the heating due to stars, parameterized as a stellar wind velocity, a, is varied from low (a = 150 km/s), to intermediate (a = 300 km/s), to high (a = 600 km/s). Since the intermediate case is roughly equivalent to the Galactic energy injection rate from supernovae, this summary will concentrate on results from this simulation.

Rosen, A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays: Contemporary observations and theories

The flux of galactic cosmic rays inside the solar system is modulated by the action of the complex magnetic fields carried from the Sun by the solar wind. This is apparent from the recurrent decrease of about 20% in the intensity of relativistic cosmic rays during sunspot maximum compared to sunspot minimum, from transient decreases due to solar flares and many other more subtle effects observed by ground stations for the last 50 years. Spacecraft observations of the spatial and temporal variations of cosmic ray flux during the last ten years have shown that the solar wind and cosmic-ray modulation extend to at least 30 astronomical units in the ecliptic plane. Present best guesses are that it goes out to 100 or 200 AU, perhaps less over the poles. Theories describing the mechanism of solar modulation are outlined and the importance of having a firm understanding of this mechanism to the study of other astrophysical phenomena is discussed.

Forman, M. A.↗