Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “galactic dynamics”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

The active CGCG 077-102 NED02 galaxy within the Abell 2063 galaxy cluster

Context.Within the framework of investigating the link between the central super massive black holes in the cores of galaxies and the galaxies themselves, we detected a variable X-ray source in the center of CGCG 077-102 NED02, which is a member of the CGCG 077-102 galaxy pair within the Abell 2063 cluster of galaxies. Aims.Our goal is to combine X-ray and optical data to demonstrate that this object harbors an active super massive black hole in its core, and to relate this to the dynamical status of the galaxy pair within the Abell 2063 cluster. Methods.We usedChandraandXMM-Newtonarchival data to derive the X-ray spectral shape and variability. We also obtained optical spectroscopy to detect the expected emission lines that are typically found in active galactic nuclei. Finally, we used public ZTF imaging data to investigate the optical variability. Results.There is no evidence of multiple X-ray sources or extended components within CGCG 077-102 NED02. Single X-ray spectral models fit the source well. We detect significant, nonrandom inter-observation 0.5–10 keV X-ray flux variabilities, for observations separated by ∼4 days for short-term variations and by up to ∼700 days for long-term variations. Optical spectroscopy points toward a passive galaxy for CGCG 077-102 NED01 and a Seyfert for CGCG 077-102 NED02. The classification of CGCG 077-102 NED02 is also consistent with its X-ray luminosity of over 10 42 erg s −1 . We do not detect short-term variability in the optical ZTF light curves. However, we find a significant long-term stochastic variability in theg-band that can be well described by the damped random walk model with a best-fit characteristic damping timescale ofτ DRW = 30 −12 +28 days. Finally, the CGCG 077-102 galaxy pair is deeply embedded within the Abell 2063 potential, with a long enough history within this massive structure to have been affected by the influence of this cluster for a long time. Conclusions.Our observations point toward a moderately massive black hole in the center of CGCG 077-102 NED02 of ∼10 6 M ⊙ . As compared to another similar pair in the literature, CGCG 077-102 NED02 is not heavily obscured, perhaps because of the surrounding intracluster medium ram-pressure stripping.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Stability of Radiatively Cooling Jets I. Linear Analysis

The results of a spatial stability analysis of a two-dimensional slab jet, in which optically thin radiative cooling is dynamically important, are presented. We study both magnetized and unmagnetized jets at external Mach numbers of 5 and 20. We model the cooling rate by using two different cooling curves: one appropriate to interstellar gas, and the other to photoionized gas of reduced metallicity. Thus, our results will be applicable to both protostellar (Herbig-Haro) jets and optical jets from active galactic nuclei. We present analytical solutions to the dispersion relations in useful limits and solve the dispersion relations numerically over a broad range of perturbation frequencies. We find that the growth rates and wavelengths of the unstable Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) modes are significantly different from the adiabatic limit, and that the form of the cooling function strongly affects the results. In particular, if the cooling curve is a steep function of temperature in the neighborhood of the equilibrium state, then the growth of K-H modes is reduced relative to the adiabatic jet. On the other hand, if the cooling curve is a shallow function of temperature, then the growth of K-H modes can be enhanced relative to the adiabatic jet by the increase in cooling relative to heating in overdense regions. Inclusion of a dynamically important magnetic field does not strongly modify the important differences between an adiabatic jet and a cooling jet, provided the jet is highly supermagnetosonic and not magnetic pressure-dominated. In the latter case, the unstable modes behave more like the transmagnetosonic magnetic pressure-dominated adiabatic limit. We also plot fluid displacement surfaces associated with the various waves in a cooling jet in order to predict the structures that might arise in the nonlinear regime. This analysis predicts that low-frequency surface waves and the lowest order body modes will be the most effective at producing observable features in the jet.

Hardee, Philip E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

A search for stellar structures around nine outer halo globular clusters in the Milky Way

We use deep imaging from the Dark Energy Camera to explore the peripheral regions of nine globular clusters in the outer halo of the Milky Way. Apart from Whiting 1 and NGC 7492, which are projected against the Sagittarius stream, we see no evidence for adjacent stellar populations to indicate any of these clusters is associated with coherent tidal debris from a destroyed host dwarf. We also find no evidence for tidal tails around any of the clusters in our sample; however, both NGC 1904 and 6981 appear to possess outer envelopes. Here, motivated by a slew of recent Gaia -based discoveries, we compile a sample of clusters with robust detections of extra-tidal structure, and search for correlations with orbital properties. While we observe that clusters with tidal tails are typically on moderately or very eccentric orbits that are highly inclined to the Galactic plane and often retrograde, these are neither necessary nor sufficient conditions for the formation of extra-tidal structure. That many objects with tidal tails appear to be accreted leads us to speculate that this lack of consistency may stem from the inhomogeneous dynamical history of the Milky Way globular cluster system. Finally, we note that clusters with prominent stellar envelopes detected in ground-based imaging (such as NGC 1851 and 7089) are now all known from Gaia to possess long tidal tails – experimental confirmation that the presence of an extended envelope is indicative of tidal erosion.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1994

Properties and evolution of the central stellar cluster

The implications of recent near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy of the Galactic center stellar cluster are discussed. The central parsec appears to be powered by a cluster of hot, massive stars of which the IRS 16 complex is the central core. In the 1 to 2 micrometer band, the brightest members of this cluster are 10 to 15 HeI/HI emission line stars that can be characterized as approximately 20000 K, helium rich, very luminous supergiants. The He-I/H-I stars can account for a major fraction of the total and Lyman continuum luminosity of the central parsec, but hotter, earlier type stars are probably required in addition to account for the He-continuum. The brightest cool stars in the central parsec are red supergiants, and asymptotic giant branch stars. Two scenarios for the evolution of the central stellar core are presented: one involves a small star formation burst years ago that was the result of substantial prior gas influx into the core. In this scenario the Galactic center is presently in a short-lived, post-main sequence 'wind phase'. The second scenario involves the buildup of massive stars by sequential merging of lower mass stars. The intense mass loss from the hot stars probably affects strongly the gas dynamics in the central 0.1 pc and may prevent gas to accelerate onto the possible central hole.

Genzel, R.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Echo Mapping of Active Galactic Nuclei

Echo mapping makes use of the intrinsic variability of the continuum source in active galactic nuclei to map out the distribution and kinematics of line-emitting gas from its light travel time-delayed response to continuum changes. Echo mapping experiments have yielded sizes for the broad line-emitting region in about three dozen AGNs. The dynamics of the line-emitting gas seem to be dominated by the gravity of the central black hole, enabling measurement of the black-hole masses in AGNs. We discuss requirements for future echo-mapping experiments that will yield the high quality velocity-delay maps of the broad-line region that are needed to determine its physical nature.

Peterson, B. M.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Understanding Structure in Line-Driven Stellar Winds Using Ultraviolet Spectropolarimetry in the Time Domain

The most massive stars are thought to lose a significant fraction of their mass in a steady wind during the main-sequence and blue supergiant phases. This in turn sets the stage for their further evolution and eventual supernova, and preconditions the surrounding medium for all following events, with consequences for ISM energization, chemical enrichment, and dust formation. Understanding these processes requires accurate observational constraints on the mass-loss rates of the most luminous stars, which can also be used to test theories of stellar wind driving. In the past, mass-loss rates have been characterized via collisional emission processes such as optical Hα and free-free radio emission, but these so-called “density squared” diagnostics require correction in the presence of widespread clumping. Recent observational and theoretical evidence points to the likelihood of a ubiquitously high level of such clumping in hot-star winds, but quantifying its effects requires a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of radiatively driven winds and their stochastic instabilities. Furthermore, large-scale structures initiating in surface anisotropies and propagating throughout the wind can also affect wind driving and alter mass-loss diagnostics. Time series spectroscopy of high resonance-line opacity in the UV, capable of high resolution and high signal-to-noise, are required to better understand these complex dynamics, and more accurately determine mass-loss rates. The proposed Polstar mission (Scowen et al. 2022, this volume) provides the necessary resolution at the Sobolev (∼10 km s −1 ) or sound-speed (∼20 km s −1 ) scale, for over three dozen bright galactic massive stars with signal-to noise an order of magnitude above that of the celebrated MEGA campaign (Massa et al. 1995) of the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), via continuous observations that track propagating structures through the winds in real time. Supporting geometric constraints are provided by the polarimetric capabilities present in all the datasets of such a mission.

Polstar – NASA MIDEX↗
NASA NTRS1994

An assessment of image reconstruction from balloon-borne and the IRAS data

Angular resolution and structural information from the far-infrared mapping of astronomical sources (Galactic star forming regions, spiral galaxies, etc.) made using the TIFR 1 m balloon-borne telescope and the IRAS have been compared. The effective wavelengths of the TIFR two-band photometer are 58 and 150 microns. From IRAS, the survey COADD data, additional observations (AO's) made with the survey detectors with different Macros (DPS, DSD, DPM), as well as the chopped photometric channel (CPC) data have been considered here. The observed signals have been processed using different deconvolution strategies, either based on a maximum entropy method (MEM) developed at TIFR or the HiRes package developed at IPAC. Relative merits of each of these, under different conditions of signal to noise ratio, are highlighted. The following sources have been selected for illustration: Carina complex, W31 region, IRAS 10361-5830 (all Galactic), M101 and M81 (extragalactic). The main conclusions are: far-infrared maps from MEM deconvolution of balloon-borne data have the best angular resolution; MEM deconvolution of IRAS AO's gives resolution comparable to HiRes but with less amount of computation, though the dynamic range in MEM maps is less than in HiRes maps.

Ghosh, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Direct Measurement of the Supernova Rate in Starburst Galaxies

Supernovae play a key role in the dynamics, structure, and chemical evolution of galaxies. The massive stars that end their lives as supernovae live for short times. Many are still associated with dusty star formation regions when they explode, making them difficult to observe at visible wavelengths. In active star forming regions (galactic nuclei and starburst regions), dust extintion is especially severe. Thus, determining the supernova rate in the active star forming regions of galaxies, where the supernova rate can be one or two orders of magnitude higher than the average, has proven to be difficult. From observations of SN1987A, we know that the [NiII] 6.63 micron emission line was the strongest line in the infrared spectrum for a period of a year and a half after the explosion. Since dust extintion is much less at 6.63 pm than at visible wavelengths (A(sub 6.63)/A(sub V) = 0.025), the NiII line can be used as a sensitive probe for the detection of recent supernovae. We have observed a sample of starburst galaxies at 6.63 micron using ISOCAM to search for the NiII emission line characteristic of recent supernovae. We did not detect any NiII line emission brighter than a 5sigma limit of 5 mJy. We can set upper limits to the supernova rate in our sample, scaled to the rate in M82, of less than 0.3 per year at the 90% confidence level using Bayesian methods. Assuming that a supernova would have a NiII with the same luminosity as observed in SN1987A, we find less than 0.09 and 0.15 per year at the 50% and 67% confidence levels. These rates are somewhat less if a more normal type II supernovae has a NiII line luminosity greater than the line in SN1987A.

Bregman, Jesse D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Cosmic ray-induced soft errors in static MOS memory cells

Previous analytical models were extended to predict cosmic ray-induced soft error rates in static MOS memory devices. The effect is due to ionization and can be introduced by high energy, heavy ion components of the galactic environment. The results indicate that the sensitivity of memory cells is directly related to the density of the particular MOS technology which determines the node capacitance values. Hence, CMOS is less sensitive than e.g., PMOS. In addition, static MOS memory cells are less sensitive than dynamic ones due to differences in the mechanisms of storing bits. The flip-flop of a static cell is inherently stable against cosmic ray-induced bit flips. Predicted error rates on a CMOS RAM and a PMOS shift register are in general agreement with previous spacecraft flight data.

Sivo, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Herschel/PACS Photometry of Transiting-Planet Host Stars with Candidate Warm Debris Disks

Dust in debris disks is produced by colliding or evaporating planetesimals, which are remnants of the planet formation process. Warm dust disks, known by their emission at less than or equal to 24 micrometer, are rare (4% of FGK main sequence stars) and especially interesting because they trace material in the region likely to host terrestrial planets, where the dust has a very short dynamical lifetime. Statistical analyses of the source counts of excesses as found with the mid-IR Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) suggest that warm-dust candidates found for the Kepler transiting-planet host-star candidates can be explained by extragalactic or galactic background emission aligned by chance with the target stars. These statistical analyses do not exclude the possibility that a given WISE excess could be due to a transient dust population associated with the target. Here we report Herschel/PACS 100 and 160 micron follow-up observations of a sample of Kepler and non-Kepler transiting-planet candidates' host stars, with candidate WISE warm debris disks, aimed at detecting a possible cold debris disk in any one of them. No clear detections were found in any one of the objects at either wavelength. Our upper limits confirm that most objects in the sample do not have a massive debris disk like that in beta Pic. We also show that the planet-hosting star WASP-33 does not have a debris disk comparable to the one around eta Crv. Although the data cannot be used to rule out rare warm disks around the Kepler planet-hosting candidates, the lack of detections and the characteristics of neighboring emission found at far-IR wavelengths support an earlier result suggesting that most of the WISE-selected IR excesses around Kepler candidate host stars are likely due to either chance alignment with background IR-bright galaxies and/or to interstellar emission.

Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Impact of bar resonances in the velocity–space distribution of the solar neighbourhood stars in a self-consistent N -body Galactic disc simulation

ABSTRACT The velocity–space distribution of the solar neighbourhood stars shows complex substructures. Most of the previous studies use static potentials to investigate their origins. Instead we use a self-consistent N-body model of the Milky Way, whose potential is asymmetric and evolves with time. In this paper, we quantitatively evaluate the similarities of the velocity–space distributions in the N-body model and that of the solar neighbourhood, using Kullback–Leibler divergence (KLD). The KLD analysis shows the time evolution and spatial variation of the velocity–space distribution. The KLD fluctuates with time, which indicates the velocity–space distribution at a fixed position is not always similar to that of the solar neighbourhood. Some positions show velocity–space distributions with small KLDs (high similarities) more frequently than others. One of them locates at $(R,\phi)=(8.2\,\,\rm{\mathrm{kpc}}, 30^\circ)$, where R and ϕ are the distance from the galactic centre and the angle with respect to the bar’s major axis, respectively. The detection frequency is higher in the inter-arm regions than in the arm regions. In the velocity maps with small KLDs, we identify the velocity–space substructures, which consist of particles trapped in bar resonances. The bar resonances have significant impact on the stellar velocity–space distribution even though the galactic potential is not static.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cometary dynamics

Modern theories of cometary dynamics are described. Attention is given to Oort's hypothesis that the Solar System is surrounded by a spherically symmetrical cloud of about 10 to the 11th to 10 to the 12th comets extending out to interstellar distances. Dynamical modelling and statistical analyses of cometary motion have confirmed the ability of the Oort hypothesis to explain the observed distribution of energies for the long-period cometary orbits. Some of the sources cometary motion perturbations are discussed, including: random passing stars; interstellar clouds; and the galactic gravitational field. Perturbations in cometary motion in the planetary region are attributed to the gravitational fields of the major planets and nongravitational forces resulting from jetting of volatiles on the surfaces of cometary nuclei. Observational evidence for the existence of a massive inner Oort cloud extending from just beyond the orbit of Neptune to 10,000 AU is presented.

Weissman, P. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

How pristine are cometary nuclei?

The claim that comets are the best obtainable source of original solar nebula material is assessed. To fully interpret the cosmochemical record contained in the comet nuclei, modifications since their formation in the primordial solar nebula, 4.5 Gyr ago must be considered. Possible processes include: comminution and collisions during formation; heating by short-lived radionuclides; accretion of interstellar gases; erosion by interstellar dust; polymerization by galactic cosmic rays; and heating and thermal evolution when the comets return to the planetary region. Consideration of these processes has important implications for where and how a sample is obtained on the cometary nucleus, and how it is preserved during the return to Earth. The possible dynamical history of short-period comets is discussed.

Weissman, Paul R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The nuclear superbubble of NGC 3079

We have used the Hawaii Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer (HIFI) at the CFH 3.6 m telescope to map H-alpha + (N II) lambda-lambda 6548, 6583 emission-line profiles across the entire edge-on, nearby SBc galaxy NGC 3079, with resolution 70 km/s and subarcsecond sampling. Blue and red long-slit spectra were obtained with the Double Spectrograph on the Palomar 5 meter telescope to provide additional emission-line diagnostics. A spectacular, line emitting bubble of diameter 13 sec (approximately 1.1 kpc) is observed immediately east of the nucleus. Its unusual gaseous excitation (e.g., (N II) lambda(6583)/H-alpha greater than 1) suggests that shocks are important. Extremely violent gas motions that range over 2000 km/s are detected across the bubble and diametrically opposite on the west side of the nucleus. Nonrotational motions are also found in the inner galaxy disk. The superbubble of NGC 3079 is the most powerful example known of a wind-blown bubble, and an excellent laboratory to study wind dynamics. The dimensions and energies of the bubble imply that is likely to be in the blowout phase and partially ruptured. The predicted rate of kinetic energy output from the central starburst appears sufficient to power most of this outflow. It is possible that a central active galactic nucleus also contributes to the outflow.

Veilleux, S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Direct Measurement of the Supernova Rate in Starburst Galaxies

Supernovae play a key role in the dynamics, structure, and chemical evolution of galaxies. The massive stars that end their lives as supernovae live for short enough times that many are still associated with dusty star formation regions when they explode, making them difficult to observe at visible wavelengths. In active star forming regions (galactic nuclei and starburst regions), dust extinction is especially severe. Thus, determining the supernova rate in active star forming regions of galaxies, where the supernova rate can be one or two orders of magnitude higher than the average, has proven to be difficult. From observations of SN1987A, we know that the [NiII] 6.63 micrometer emission line was the strongest line in the infrared spectrum for a period of a year and half after th explosion. Since dust extinction is much less at 6.63 micrometers than at visible wavelengths (A(sub 6.63)/A(sub V) = 0.025), the [NiII] line can be used as a sensitive probe for the detection of recent supernovae. We have observed a sample of starburst galaxies at 6.63 micrometers using ISOCAM to search for the [NiII] emission line characteristic of recent supernovae. We did not detect any [NiII] line emission brighter than a 5-sigma limit of 5 mJy. We can set upper limits to the supernova rate in our sample, scaled ot the rate in M82, of less than 0.3 per year at the 90% confidence level using Bayesian methods. Assuming that a supernova would have a [NiII] line with the same luminosity as observed in SN1987A, we find less than 0.09 and 0.15 per year at the 50% and 67% confidence levels. These rates are somewhat less if a more normal type II supernovae has a [NiII] line luminosity greater than the line in SN1987A.

Bregman, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1996

The X-ray emission of galaxies

Results from several satellite observations are used to discuss the discrete emission component of galaxies, including bright binary sources, supernova and supernova remnants. Through X-ray observations, direct evidence of the chemical and dynamical interactions between galaxies and the surrounding medium can be obtained. Although the X-ray emission represents only a small fraction of the bolometric emission of a normal galaxy, it allows the study of the system's component to be performed. The results on low luminosity active galactic nuclei are also discussed.

Fabbiano, G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

X ray timing observations and gravitational physics

Photon-rich x ray observations on bright compact galactic sources will make it possible to detect many fast processes that may occur in these systems on millisecond and submillisecond timescales. Many of these processes are of direct relevance to gravitational physics because they arise in regions of strong gravity near neutron stars and black holes where the dynamical timescales for compact objects of stellar mass are milliseconds. To date, such observations have been limited by the detector area and telemetry rates available. However, instruments such as the proposed X ray Large Array (XLA) would achieve collecting areas of about 100 sq m. This instrument has been described elsewhere (Wood and Michelson 1988) and was the subject of a recent prephase A feasibility study at Marshall Space Flight Center. Observations with an XLA class instrument will directly impact five primary areas of astrophysics research: the attempt to detect gravitational radiation, the study of black holes, the physics of mass accretion onto compact objects, the structure of neutron stars and nuclear matter, and the characterization of dark matter in the universe. Those observations are discussed that are most directly relevant to gravitational physics: the search for millisecond x ray pulsars that are potential sources of continuous gravitational radiation; and the use of x ray timing observations to probe the physical conditions in extreme relativistic regions of space near black holes, both stellar-sized and supermassive.

Michelson, Peter F.↗