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At least 487 records · Page 27

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NASA NTRS1989

A map-based determination of the nature of Beta Delphini

The Beta Delphini binary system presents a stringent test of the theory of stellar evolution. Improved parallax and component masses are found for its giant (F5 III and F5 IV) stars. A study of the evolutionary status of the system indicates it to be 1.9 Gyr (1.9 billion years) old and to have a metallicity of approximately 1.5 times that of the Sun. The perturbation due to the 26.6 yr orbital motion is clearly shown in this 2.2 yr study and allows the most precise determination of the relative masses of the component stars to date. The next few months present an unusual opportunity for orbital study as the system passes through periastron. Two of the reference stars are found to have distances of less than 100 parsecs.

Gatewood, George↗

NASA NTRS1989

The chromosphere of Beta Cassiopeiae

High-resolution, long-wavelength IUE observations and ground-based photometry of the Delta Scuti star Beta Cas is reported. The ground-based observations were used together with previous results of Antonello et al. (1986) to ensure that the IUE observations were correctly phased relative to the photometric variation. Fluxes for the emission core of the Mg II k 2796-A line were obtained from the UV spectra over several cycles in 1986 and 1987. It is found that there is an increase in the emission during part of the cycle, but it occurs near minimum light in contrast to another Delta Scuti star, Rho Pup, and the classical Cepheids (where it occurs near maximum light). The mean level of chromospheric activity is comparable to other early F dwarfs.

Teays, Terry J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Approximate formulation of redistribution in the Ly-alpha, Ly-beta, H-alpha system

Simple approximate formulas are given for the coupled redistribution of Ly-alpha, Ly-beta, and H-alpha, by using well-defined approximations to an essentially exact formulation. These formulas incorporate all the essential physics including Raman scattering, lower state radiative decay, and correlated terms representing emission during a collision which must be retained in order that the emission coefficients are properly behaved in the line wings. Approximate expressions for the appropriate line broadening parameters are collected. Finally, practical expressions for the source functions are given. These are formulated through newly introduced nonimpact redistribution functions, which are shown to be reasonably approximated by existing (ordinary and generalized) redistribution functions.

Cooper, J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The effect of random Alfven waves on the propagation of hydromagnetic waves in a finite-beta plasma

Using first-order smoothing theory, Fourier analysis and perturbation methods, the evolution equation of the wave spectrum as well as the nonlinear forces generated by random Alfven waves in a finite-beta plasma with phenomenological Landau-damping effects are obtained. The effect of microscale random Alfven waves on the propagation of large-scale hydromagnetic waves is also investigated by solving the mean-field equations. It is shown that parallel-propagating random Alfven waves are modulationally stable and that obliquely propagating random Alfven waves can be modulationally unstable when the energy of random waves is converted to slow magnetoacoustic waves that can be Landau-damped, providing a dissipation mechanism for the Alfven waves.

Hamabata, Hiromitsu↗

NASA NTRS1990

A search for Beta Pictoris analogs

The results are presented of the survey of known shell stars detected by the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) at sufficient bandpasses to permit evaluation of the nature of the infrared excess, and having archival International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) high dispersion spectra suitable for identifying stars with infalling circumstellar plasma. Detection of infall in shell stars with infrared signatures of circumstellar dust is described. One star which shows infalling plasma, but apparently no circumstellar dust is described. The implications for the understanding of Beta Pictoris and similar systems are discussed.

Cheng, Kwang-Ping↗

NASA NTRS1990

Fast magnetization of a high-to-low-beta plasma beam

The magnetization of a high-beta (plasma energy density/magnetic-field energy density) hydrogen-plasma beam injected into a vacuum transverse magnetic field is studied experimentally. Nominal parameters were Ti = 1 eV, Te = 5 eV, n = 3 x 10 to the 13th/cu cm or less, v(i) = 7 x 10 to the 6th cm/sec or less, t(pulse) less than 70 microsec, and Bz = 300 G or less. Plasma characteristics were measured for a wide beam and a downstream distance, x = 300 rho(i) or less, where x is the downstream distance and rho(i) is the ion gyroradius. A brief initial state of diamagnetic propagation is observed, followed by magnetized propagation accompanied by beam compression transverse to B with as much as a factor of 4 increase in density and a slight drift of the beam in the ion Lorentz force direction.

Song, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Spectroscopic parallaxes of MAP region stars from UBVRI, DDO, and uvbyH-beta photometry

This paper presents the results of spectral type and luminosity classification of reference stars in the Allegheny Observatory MAP parallax program, using broadband and intermediate-band photometry. In addition to the use of UBVRI and DDO photometric systems, the uvbyH-beta photometric system was included for classification of blue (B - V less than 0.6) reference stars. The stellar classifications made from the photometry are used to determine spectroscopic parallaxes. The spectroscopic parallaxes are used in turn to adjust the relative parallaxes measured with the MAP to absolute parallaxes. A new method for dereddening stars using more than one photometric system is presented. In the process of dereddening, visual extinctions, spectral types, and luminosity classes are determined, as well as a measure of the goodness of fit. The measure of goodness of fit quantifies confidence in the stellar classifications. It is found that the spectral types are reliable to within 2.5 spectral subclasses.

Persinger, Tim↗

NASA NTRS1990

Pressure-driven sound turbulence in a high-beta plasma

LF turbulence is investigated experimentally in a 2-m-long 1-m-diameter magnetized electron fluid with beta(e) = about 0.5 and unmagnetized ions, generated in a double-pulsed linear dc discharge under a uniform external magnetic field of 15 G. The results of measurements with Langmuir probes, electric probes, and a directional particle analyzer are presented in graphs and characterized in detail. It is shown that the strong cross-field sound turbulence observed near the lower hybrid frequency is caused by the electron pressure gradient rather than E x B drift, with (1) temperature-gradient wave refraction as the dominant saturation mechanism, (2) wave-enhanced ion mass flow, and (3) only negligible ion-tail formation. The relevance of the present findings for studies of magnetic shock propagation is indicated.

Stenzel, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1990

beta-adrenergic effects on carbohydrate metabolism in the unweighted rat soleus muscle

The effect of unweighting on the response of the soleus-muscle carbohydrate metabolism to a beta-adrenergic agonist (isoproterenol) was investigated in rats that were subjected to three days of tail-cast suspension. It was found that isoproterenol promoted glycogen degradation in soleus from suspended rats to a higher degree than in weighted soleus from control rats, and had no effect in unweighted digitorum longus. However, isoproterenol did not have a greater inhibitory effect on the net uptake of tritium-labeled 2-deoxy-glucose by the unweighted soleus and that isoproterenol inhibited hexose phosphorylation less in the unweighted than in the control muscle.

Kirby, Christopher R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Detection of silicates in the Beta Pictoris disk

A broad 10-micron emission feature has been detected within 3 arcsec of the star Beta Pic which is known to have a circumstellar, possibly protoplanetary, disk. The observations were made using four narrow-band filters in the MSFC bolometer array at the IRTF. The emission feature closely resembles silicate features observed in Comets Halley and Kohoutek and in a variety of Galactic sources. The feature is strong, with the total flux density emitted by dust at 10.3 microns being at least twice the estimated continuum at that wavelength, and must be emitted by particles with characteristic radii less than 10 microns.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

H-beta photometry of V1010 Ophiuchi

An analysis is presented of previously unpublished intermediate and narrow band H-beta light curves of the short period eclipsing binary V1010 Oph. The temperature of the primary is determined directly by comparing the UV continuum with Kurucz model atmospheres and solve the broadband lightcurve using the Wilson-Devinney program. The present solution has the primary filling its Roche lobe while the secondary is detached from its lobe. An asymmetry in the light curve in which first quadrature (0.25 P) is brighter than the second quadrature (0.75 P) may be the result of local heating of the inner surface of the secondary by mass transfer from the primary. The present semidetached solution indicates that the system is probably evolved.

Corcoran, M. F.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Theoretical study of the NO beta system

A theoretical determination of the transition moment functions (TMFs) for the beta system of NO is presented. High levels of correlation treatment are required to show the changing degree of Rydberg character in the B2II with decreasing r values. The state-averaged complete-active-space self-consistent-field multireference configuration-interaction method is used for the determination. Previous lifetime measurements made with laser-induced fluorescence, varying between 2 and 0.85 microns, are discussed in terms of the calculated lifetimes for v-prime values 0-6, which vary from 2.12-1.17 microns. When larger r values are used for the transition moment function, the calculated lifetimes correlate with experimental lifetimes. The Einstein coefficients agree with experimental results, although limitations in the calibration of the spectrometer can account for systematic differences. The correlation with earlier experimental results suggests that radiative lifetimes are in the range of 1-2 microns.

Langhoff, Stephen R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The interstellar tunnel of neutral-free gas toward Beta Canis Majoris

Using high-resolution sodium absorption observations of early-type stars to determine the distribution of neutral interstellar gas in the direction of the star Beta CMa, the contours of a large feature in the local interstellar medium, some 50 pc in diameter and 300 pc long, that appears to be virtually free of neutral gas have been mapped. This rarefied 'interstellar tunnel' is an extension of a region of very low gas density surrounding the sun called the Local Bubble, which may well have been formed by the interaction of expanding interstellar cavities produced by multiple supernova events. This large region of unusually low gas density will be a prime area for study in the soft X-ray and EUV spectral regions.

Welsh, Barry Y.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Reaction of beta-phase Ni-Al alloys with CrB2

Reaction of Ni-Al alloys within the beta-NiAl phase with CrB2 was studied at 1473 K as a function of Al concentration in the alloy. Reaction of 49-50 at. pct Al alloys with CrB2 occurred by interdiffusion of Ni into CrB2 and Cr into the alloy without forming a new product phase. On the other hand, a new product phase, rich in Ni and B, formed by the reaction of alloys having Al concentrations 48 at. pct or lower with CrB2. The reaction product was observed both at the CrB2/alloy interface and along the alloy grain boundaries.

Misra, Ajay K.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Can a disk model explain Beta Lyrae?

The Beta Lyrae eclipsing binary system is interpreted in terms of a model where the primary, i.e., spectroscopically observable, B star transfers matter to a 'canonical' accretion disk surrounding a 'gainer' which may be a rather ordinary B0.5 V star. Disk models are calculated using the TLUSDISK program. Most of the optical radiation from the secondary object is found to come from the disk rim, provided that the rate of mass transfer is not much lower than about 0.0001 solar mass per year. The rather high disk rim then introduces severe constraints on the orbital inclination; these constraints are discussed in detail. It is concluded that the disk plays an essentially passive role, and the observable radiation from its face is insignificant. A model in which most ultraviolet radiation would be coming from the face of the disk is found unacceptable both because of these constraints and because it would require an unrealistically small radius for the accreting star. It is proposed that the bulk of the ultraviolet radiation comes from a small unocculted segment of the gainer.

Hubeny, Ivan↗

NASA NTRS1992

Thermophilic Beta-Glycosidase

Report describes identification of thermophilic Beta-glycosidase enzyme from isolate of Sulfolobus solfataricus, sulfur-metabolizing archaebacteria growing aerobically and heterotrophically to relatively high cell yields. Enzyme useful in enzymatic conversion of cellulose to D-glucose and important in recycling of biomass. Used for removal of lactose from milk products. Offers promise as model substance for elucidation of basic principles of structural stabilization of proteins.

Grogan, Dennis W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The cyclic oxidation resistance at 1200 C of beta-NiAl, FeAl, and CoAl alloys with selected third element additions

The intermetallic compounds Beta-NiAl, FeAl, and CoAl were tested in cyclic oxidation with selected third element alloy additions. Tests in static air for 200 1-hr cycles at 1200 C indicated by specific weight change/time data and x-ray diffraction analysis that the 5 at percent alloy additions did not significantly improve the oxidation resistance over the alumina forming baseline alloys without the additions. Many of the alloy additions were actually deleterious. Ta and Nb were the only alloy additions that actually altered the nature of the oxide(s) formed and still maintained the oxidation resistance of the protective alumina scale.

Barrett, C. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Lubricant evaluation of the alpha and beta joints, phase 2

A research study was conducted to evaluate dry film lubrication of long life space components such as the alpha and beta joints of the Space Station. The problem addressed in the report pertains to the longevity of sputtered MoS2 or ion plated lead films in a rolling contact environment. A special technique was devised for the experiments, which incorporated a coated ball cyclically loaded against a flat plate. At fixed intervals the surface of the coating was photographed at 100X magnification. By computer scanning the photographs, the rate of coating loss was determined. Experimental variables include load and surface finish of the plate. A theory was developed to analyze the state of stress between ball and flat. The stress condition in the ball apparatus was related to the state of stress under rolling contact conditions. Based on the experiments life appeared to decrease with increasing load and increasing surface roughness. An ion plated lead film gave better life than a sputtered MoS2 film. However, by keeping the interfacial shear stress at a low level, adequate coating life was achieved for either coating. For the lead film, the critical stress was about 0.19 GPa (28 ksi). The study dealt only with mechanical wear. Before a coating is selected for a critical space application, other factors such as reaction with atomic oxygen must also be considered.

Kannel, J. W.↗