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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.

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At least 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Thickening of axisymmetric accretion disks and flows

A study is made to determine whether or not hot plasma flowing from the inner edge of an accretion disk around a black hole can thicken out of the disk plane with the onset of a Pringle-Rees thermal instability. The instability is caused by the density thinning caused by the sharp increase in radial infall velocity near the radius of the marginally stable circular orbit, or by abrupt variations in viscosity or Lightman-Eardly secular instabilities. An estimate of the thickening timescale is given. Various physically realistic situations involving radial steady-state flow and where significant disk thickening can occur in the region of the radius of the marginally stable circular orbit are identified. It is noted that its evolution into a large spherical cloud would require large velocities of the viscosity parameter and the amount of energy dissipated in the unstable region.

Stoeger, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

New observations of ultraviolet variability in Wolf-Rayet stars

Observations of ultraviolet variability in Wolf-Rayet stars have been made with the ANS satellite Ultraviolet Photometer Experiment. Significant variations are detected in several of the observed stars, the timescale of the variability ranging from a few minutes to several months.

Burton, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Simultaneous X-ray and optical observations of the flaring X-ray source, Aquila A-1

During the summer of 1978 the recurrent transient X-ray source, Aquila X-1, underwent its first major outburst in two years. The results of extensive observations at X-ray and optical wavelengths throughout this event, which lasted for approximately two months are presented. The peak X-ray luminosity was approximately 1.3 times that of the Crab and exhibited spectral dependent flickering on timescales approximately 5 minutes. The observations are interpreted in terms of a standard accretion disk model withparticular emphasis on the similarities to Sco X-1 and other dward X-ray systems, although the transient nature of the system remains unexplained. It was found that Aquila X-1 can be described adequately by the semi-detached Roche lobe model and yields a mass ratio of less than or approximate to 3.5.

Bowyer, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

X-ray variability observed with HEAO A-1

Results from the HEAO A-1 instrument which observed X-ray source variability over a wide range of accessible timescales are surveyed. The objects observed include quasars, BL Lacertae, and active galactic nuclei. A high sensitivity search for X-ray pulsars, known black hole candidates, period fluctuation in binary pulsars, and X-ray and gamma ray bursts are among the topics covered.

Friedman, H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Soft X-ray observations of degenerate dwarfs and cataclysmic variables

Observations in outburst of two dwarf novae, SS Cyg and U Gem, reveal soft, pulsed X-ray emission greatly enhanced over the emission present during the quiescent periods. In order to characterize the nature of the X-ray pulsations a random phase analysis was carried out, which indicated the phase of SS Cyg behaved like a random variable with zero mean and an r.m.s. value that increased with the square root of the time. Attention is also given to the properties of the detected dwarf novae during optical quiescences, to isolated white dwarfs, and to optical observations of AM Her. It is concluded that the dwarf novae, which occur in binary systems, appear to be controlled by the varying accretion of matter generated by the main sequence companion, and that the X-ray emission during outburst appears to consist of two separate components: a periodically varying (on about a 10 s timescale) soft component, together with a more slowly randomly varying hard component.

Garmire, G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Sudden disappearance of anisotropies in the September 23, 1978 solar flare

Shortly after the onset of the particle event associated with the September 23, 1978 solar flare the University of Chicago instrument on the ISEE-3 spacecraft was measuring large anisotropies in the flux of protons with energies between 32 and 150 MeV. Several hours after the onset, the anisotropy nearly disappeared on a timescale of minutes. We present the time history of the anisotropy in this event and discuss it in terms of available information on the solar and interplanetary conditions at that time.

Evenson, P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Indirect methods for measuring variations of the solar constant

The difference between the methods that measure delta S, and those that measure variations in the solar luminosity, delta L, is discussed. It is shown that the past practice of simply relating delta S to delta L by geometrical arguments is not valid because of anisotropy of the solar radiation. It is concluded that direct techniques prove the existence of short term variability that is fully explainable in terms of the passage of active regions (spots and faculae) on the face of the Sun. The obervations of changes in the solar diameter support the existence of structurally induced variations of the solar luminosity on timescales of tens of years, which are significant in the understanding of climatic variations.

Sofia, S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ultraviolet and X-ray observations of the BL Lac object PKS 05 8-322

Spectrophotometric observations of the BL Lac object PKS 0548-322 were made with ultraviolet and X-ray instruments on the IUE and HEAO-2 satellites. Two observations in each spectral region, one set of which was obtained simultaneously are presented. A power law of energy index approximately 1.0 gives a good description of the data from ultraviolet through X-ray frequencies. This source is reported to be variable on short timescales (Gilmore 1980); the implications of the spectral properties and apparent variability are discussed in light of a relativistic jet model. Findings support the jet picture of BL Lac objects.

Urry, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Short term UV line profile variation in 59 Cyg

The International ultraviolet Explorer high dispersion spectra of 59 Cyg obtained as part of the long term monitoring program have shown that noticeable variation can occur in C 5 and N 5 on timescales 3 hours t24 to 28 hours. In order to begin to resolve whether these changes occur continuously or sporadically, 48 hours were devoted to monitoring this star in January 1982. The January spectra show no short term variation, which may be consistent with sporadic rather than continuous variation.

Grady, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Multi-spacecraft observations of heliographic latitude-longitude structure in the solar wind

The heliographic latitude-longitude structure of high speed solar winds observed prior to the maximum of sunspot cycle 20 is investigated by multi-spacecraft comparisons. It is shown that differences in solar wind structures are due to two different kinds of spatial structures. One structure is found to be consistent with the simultaneous existence of a single, broad stream at latitudes above 7 deg N and a series of narrow streams at lower latitudes, while the other is consistent with the existence of a latitudinally sloping stream boundary near the solar equator. For latitude separations less than 3.5 deg, cross-correlations of Explorer-Mariner velocities show only previously reported systematic increases in velocity with latitude, and for latitude separations from 3.5 to 6.2 deg, differences in high speed streams shift in longitude and/or amplitude are also identified on a timescale of one solar rotation.

Rhodes, E. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An interacting loop model for solar flare bursts

A schematic model is presented which attempts to explain the quasi-periodic behavior (on a timescale of less than or approximately equal to 10 s) frequency observed in solar hard X-ray bursts. It is shown how, as a result of the strong heating produced during a solar flare burst, the local gas pressure can transiently attain very large values in regions corresponding to the upper preflare chromosphere. The effectiveness of the surrounding magnetic field at confining this high pressure plasma is therefore reduced and the flaring loop becomes free to expand laterally. In so doing it may drive magnetic field lines into neighboring, non-flaring, loops in the same active region, causing magnetic reconnection to take place and triggering another flare burst. The features of this interacting loop model are found to be in good agreement with the energetics and time structure of flare-associated solar hard X-ray bursts.

Emslie, A. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Quick matching technique to study the relationship between solar radius and luminosity variations

A simple matching technique is developed which makes it possible to compute the response of the solar envelope to perturbations which occur within the solar convective region in timescales of importance to climate. The technique is applied to perturbation of the convective efficiency (alpha-mechanism) and of the nongas component of the pressure in different regions of the convection zone (beta-mechanism). The results indicate that whereas either perturbation affects the solar luminosity, the alpha-mechanism has almost no effect on the solar outer radius, regardless of the affected region. The beta-mechanism, however, produces radius changes which may be large if the location of perturbation is deep enough.

Sofia, S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Meridional circulation in optically thick accretion disks

Thermal imbalances in stars due to rotation are known to drive mass motions in the meridional plane. A preliminary analytic investigation has been made of a similar effect in optically thick accretion disks using conventional thin-disk approximations. It is found that estimated circulation times can be as short as thermal timescales, resulting in rapid transport of heat and angular momentum. This indicates that the simple approximations commonly used are incomplete with regard to detailed, two-dimensional disk structure.

Cabot, W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A 2 component X-ray spectrum from SMC X-1

Both HEAO-1 A2 and Einstein SSS observations of SMC X-1 are presented. An unpulsed soft component is found with a blackbody temperature of 0.16 keV and an area for the emission region of 10 to the 15th power sq cm to 10 to the 17th power sq cm. The hard X-ray component is pulsed; the phase averaged spectrum is a power law with alpha approximately 0.5 keV up to 17 keV above which it steepens. The SSS sets an upper limit of 4 x 10 to the 21st power H cm/2 to any absorption and is consistent with that expected from the wind of SK160. Absorption dips with a timescale of several hundred seconds are seen immediately following an eclipse exit and are probably caused by inhomogeneities in the wind of SK160.

Marshall, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of magnetic fields on solar-type stars

Magnetic-field observations were carried out for 29 G and K main-sequence stars. The area covering-factors of magnetic regions tends to be greater in the K dwarfs than in the G dwarfs. However, no spectral-type dependence is found for the field strengths, contrary to predictions that pressure equilibrium with the ambient photospheric gas pressure would determine the surface field strengths. Coronal soft X-ray fluxes from the G and K dwarfs correlate well with the fraction of the stellar surface covered by magnetic regions. The dependence of coronal soft X-ray fluxes on photospheric field strengths is consistent with Stein's predicted generation-rates for Alfven waves. These dependences are inconsistent with the one dynamo model for which a specific prediction is offered. Finally, time variability of magnetic fields is seen on the two active stars that have been extensively monitored. Significant changes in magnetic fields are seen to occur on timescales as short as one day.

Marcy, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A two-component X-ray spectrum from SMC X-1

HEAO 1 A-2 and Einstein Solid State Spectrometer (SSS) observations of SMC X-1 are presented. An unpulsed soft component is found with a blackbody temperature of 0.16 keV and an area for the emission region of 10 to the 15th to 10 to the 17th sq cm. The hard X-ray component is pulsed; the phase-averaged spectrum is a power law with alpha of about 0.5 up to 17 keV, above which it steepens. The SSS sets an upper limit of less than 4 x 10 to the 21st H/sq cm to any absorption, and is consistent with that expected from the wind of Sk 160. Absorption dips with a timescale of several hundred seconds are seen immediately following an eclipse exit, and are probably caused by inhomogeneities in the wind of Sk 160.

Marshall, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Very recent IUE observations of 2 BL Lacertae orbits

Spectroscopic observations of two BL Lacertae objects consisting of 2 spectra of 1218+304 and 12 spectra of MrK 421 are presented. Data were generated by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and HEAO 1. The former BL object was never before observed with IUE, possibly because it is very faint, but the fact that it is an X-ray source, and a highly variable one, makes it particularly interesting. MrK 421 was observed many times before with IUE as part of a continuing monitoring program. The present observations indicate an intensity decrease of approximately 25% on a timescale of one month, with little or no associated spectral change. With one exception, the spectra of these two BL objects show no discrete features, and the continua are well fit by the power law models. The one exception is a long exposure of MrK 421 which showed a broad emission feature near 1580 A. The validity of this feature is not yet established.

Urry, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Acceleration of runaway electrons and Joule heating in solar flares

The electric field acceleration of electrons out of a thermal plasma and the simultaneous Joule heating of the plasma are studied. Acceleration and heating timescales are derived and compared, and upper limits are obtained on the acceleration volume and the rate at which electrons can be accelerated. These upper limits, determined by the maximum magnetic field strength observed in flaring regions, place stringent restrictions upon the acceleration process. The role of the plasma resistivity in these processes is examined, and possible sources of anomalous resistivity are summarized. The implications of these results for the microwave and hard X-ray emission from solar flares are examined.

Holman, G. D.↗