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At least 487 records · Page 27

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NASA NTRS1989

Spectrophotometry near the atmospheric cutoff of the strongest Bowen resonance fluorescence lines of O III in two planetary nebulae

Spectrophotometric results are presented for the stronger, well-resolved Bowen O III resonance fluorescence emission lines in the planetary nebulae 7027 and NGC 7662 down to and including the intrinsically strong line at 3133 A. These data are combined with results from the IUE atlas of spectra and similar results for the longer wavelength lines by Likkel and Aller (1986) to give the first full coverage of the Bowen lines. Good agreement is found with fluorescence theory for the primary cascade lines, except for the Likkel and Aller results. The efficiency of conversion of the exciting He II Ly-alpha into O III lines is determined, and values comparable to other planetary nebulae are found.

O'Dell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Young stars of low mass in the Gum nebula

Observations are presented for four recently formed stars in the vicinity of the Gum nebula which are heavily obscured by surrounding dust and are associated with small reflection nebulae. HH46 is the only currently active star of the sample, and it is found to have a spectral type in the range of late G-early K, with superimposed emission lines of H-alpha, Ca II, Fe I, Fe II, and weak He I at near zero velocities. It is suggested that the observed scenario of low-mass stars in an older massive star environment may be analogous to the circumstances surrounding the birth of the sun.

Graham, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

TeV radiation from the Crab nebula and other matters

The detection of the Crab Nebula via the Cherenkov imaging technique places TeV astronomy on a secure observational footing. The motivation for TeV observations, a discussion of the atmospheric Cherenkov technique, the experimental details of the Crab Nebula detection, and its scientific implications are presented. The present dilemma of VHE/UHE astronomy is that the Crab appears to be the only source whose showers match theoretical expectations. The situation will be clarified as improved ground-based detectors come on-line with sensitivities matching those of the GRO (Gamma Ray Observatory) instruments.

Lamb, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The ionization structure of planetary nebulae 10: NGC 2392

Spectrophotometric observations of emission-line intensities over the spectral range 1400 to 7200 A were made in six positions in the planetary nebula NGC 2392. Standard equations used to correct for the existence of elements in other than the optically observable ionization stages give consistent results for the different positions that are in excellent agreement with abundances calculated using ultraviolet lines, and there is no evidence for any abundance gradient in the nebula. The logarithmic abundances agree well with determinations by Aller and Keyes.

Barker, Timothy↗

NASA NTRS1989

The peculiar planetary nebula in M22

The source discovered by the IRAS satellite near the center of the globular cluster M22, IRAS 18333-2357, has been studied using the IUE satellite and a ground-based optical telescope. The northern component of the close pair of stars is not a member of the cluster. The southern component is a hot star with T(eff) of about 50,000 K illuminating a small planetary nebula and is a member of M22. Both the planetary nebula and its central star are extremely hydrogen deficient. The luminosity of the central star is in good agreement with that expected on theoretical grounds and with the observed luminosity of the tip of the red giant branch.

Cohen, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1989

He 2-104 - A link between symbiotic stars and planetary nebulae?

Ultraviolet, optical and infrared observations of He 2-104 are presented, and estimates for some of the physical properties of the nebular shell are made. It is argued that He 2-104 is in transition between the D-type symbiotic star and bipolar planetary nebula phases and, as such, represents a link between subclasses of these two types of objects. The model includes a binary system with a Mira variable and a hot, evolved star. Previous mass loss has resulted in the formation of a disk of gas and dust around the whole system, while the hot star has an accretion disk which produces the observed highly ionized emission line spectrum. Emission lines from cooler, lower density gas is also observed to come from the nebula. In addition, matter is flowing out of the system in a direction perpendicular to the disk with a high velocity and is impacting upon the previously-ejected red giant wind and/or the ambient interstellar medium.

Lutz, Julie H.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Shell nebulae around luminous evolved stars

Shell nebulae around luminous Population I Wolf-Rayet, Of, and P-Cygni stars are astrophysically interesting since they are indicators of pre-supernova mass loss and how such massive stars prepare their surrounding interstellar medium prior to explosion. Some twenty-odd such nebulae are known, for which detailed study of their morphological and spectroscopic characteristics have only begun in this decade. In this paper, some of these characteristics are reviewed in general, and new observations are reported. Emphasis has been placed on several 'prototype 'objects (NGC 7635, NGC 2359, NGC 6888, and the Eta Carinae condensations) to illustrate the varied massive-star mass-loss, the physics of their winds and shell ejecta, and related nucleosynthesis effects in the compositions of the winds and shells.

Dufour, Reginald J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Wolf-Rayet nebulae - Chemical enrichment and effective temperatures of the exciting stars

Extensive new spectrophotometric observations of five Wolf-Rayet nebulas are analyzed by means of models photoionized by plane-parallel and also WR atmosphere models. Abundance ratios O/H and Ne, S, Cl, and Ar relative to O are close to solar. N/H is enriched relative to solar and variable over the faces of the nebulas. He/H varies from one to three times solar. The O(+)/O - S(+)/S(2+) diagram is used in estimating T(eff) for the exciting stars. It indicates that S 308, NGC 3199, NGC 6888, and NGC 2359 are ionized by hot stars. RCW 58, RCW 104, MR 26, and MR 100 have such low-excitation spectra that their stellar T(eff) and nebular He/H cannot be reliably determined.

Rosa, Michael R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Polarization in the Lagoon nebula

A V-band polarimetric survey of stars associated with the Lagoon nebula was conducted. The data were combined with existing photometric and spectroscopic observations in order to investigate the alignment of magnetic field lines with identifiable symmetry axes and to evaluate the nature of dust in the immediate vicinity. Although stars are not in general highly polarized, electric vectors align with the minor axis of the Lagoon nebula, perpendicular to the major axis of the spatial distribution of massive stars. The observations indicate that the collapse of the molecular cloud progenitor was inhibited along directions perpendicular to magnetic field lines. Considering the low polarization efficiency and the high ratio of total to selective extinction, smaller grains of intranebular dust appear to have been destroyed.

Mccall, Marshall L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Continuous infrared emission of proto- and young-planetary nebulae

Evolutionary sequences of planetary nebulae (PNe) were calculated beginning from the moment of shell ejection to its dissipation and IR spectra of the outgoing radiation were obtained for different stages of the evolution. To solve the coupled hydrodynamical and radiation transfer problem a computer code was used in which gas and dust are treated as two separate hydrodynamical components. The models, which are calculated for two grain materials (graphite and silicate) have a size distribution of particles based on that found for the interstellar medium. In the computations, the recent optical properties of graphite and astronomical silicate grains tabulated by Draine (1987) were employed. It was assumed that silicate of graphite grains exist below some critical temperature equal to 1300 or to 1700 K, respectively. Infrared model spectra are compared with the IR radiation emitted by some proto- and some young-planetary nebulae. The observed IR continua can be quite well matched with our models with grains having a reasonable size range.

Szczerba, Ryszard↗

NASA NTRS1991

Numerical two-dimensional calculations of the formation of the solar nebula

Numerical two dimensional calculations of the formation of the solar nebula are presented. The following subject areas are covered: (1) observational constraints of the properties of the initial solar nebula; (2) the physical problem; (3) review if two dimensional calculations of the formation phase; (4) recent models with hydrodynamics and radiative transport; and (5) further evolution of the system.

Bodenheimer, Peter H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Three-dimensional evolution of early solar nebula

The progress is reported toward the goal of a complete theory of solar nebula formation, with an emphasis on three spatial dimension models of solar nebular formation and evolution. The following subject areas are covered: (1) initial conditions for protostellar collapse; (2) single versus binary star formation; (3) angular momentum transport mechanisms; (4) three dimensional solar nebula models; and (5) implications for planetary formation.

Boss, Alan P.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Photoionization modeling of Magellanic Cloud planetary nebulae. I

The results of self-consistent photoionization modeling of 38 Magellanic Cloud PNe are presented and used to construct an H-R diagram for the central stars and to obtain both the nebular chemical abundances and the physical parameters of the nebulae. T(eff)s derived from nebular excitation analysis are in agreement with temperatures derived by the classical Zanstra method. There is a linear correlation between log T(eff) and the excitation class. The majority of the central stars in the sample with optically thick nebulae have masses between 0.55 and 0.7 solar mass and are observed during their hydrogen-burning excursion toward high temperatures. Optically thin objects are found scattered throughout the H-R diagram, but tend to have a somewhat smaller mean mass. Type I PN are found to have high core masses and to lie on the descending branch of the evolutionary tracks. The nebular mass of the optically thick objects is closely related to the nebular radius, and PN with nebular masses over one solar are observed.

Dopita, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The ionization structure of planetary nebulae. X - NGC 2392

Barker, Timothy↗

NASA NTRS1991

The carbon-rich proto-planetary nebula IRAS 22272 + 5435

Ground-based photometry and spectroscopy is presented for IRAS 22272 + 5435, a 9th mag star with a large infrared excess. The flux distribution is 'double-peaked', with a visible and near-infrared component due to the reddened photosphere and a far-infrared component presumably due to a detached dust shell. About equal amounts of energy are detected from each. The spectrum is that of a peculiar G supergiant, Gp Ia. In addition, strong molecular bands of C3 and C2 are observed. The flux distribution is modeled and, together with published molecular-line radio observations, allows the determination of basic parameters of the central star and the dust shell. The source has the characteristics one would expect of a proto-planetary nebula, an object in transition from the asymptotic giant branch to the planetary nebula phase.

Hrivnak, Bruce J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Velocity structure of the ring nebula around supernova 1987A

A series of high-resolution spectra of the pc-sized nebula around SN1987A are presented. The hollow, 1.7 arcsec-wide nebula has the velocity field of a ring expanding at 10.3 km/s, not that of a limb-brightened spheroid. Fainter nebulosity within 3 arcsec is expanding slightly faster, as indicated by redshifted emission from behind the SN. The geometry of the emission can be used to infer structure, provided that light travel time and recombination delays are accounted for. The analysis sets an upper limit to the velocity of the wind from the progenitor during its red supergiant (RGS) phase, and implies an RSG lifetime of less than 400,000 yr and an interval of about 20,000 yr between the end of the RSG phase and the SN explosion.

Crotts, Arlin P.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Ring nebulae around Wolf-Rayet stars in M33

Results of a systematic search for H II ring nebulae surrounding Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in M33 are presented. Eleven objects are found to be good candidates, while eight others are classified as possible WR ring nebulae. The WR rings in M33 are larger on average than their Galactic counterparts, but the H-alpha luminosity of most of them is comparable to the bright Galactic wind-blown bubbles. The rings are associated with WC as well as with WN stars.

Drissen, Laurent↗

NASA NTRS1990

Nebular properties of proto-planetary nebulae

Recent ground-based observations of cool IRAS sources have led to the discovery of many candidates for protoplanetary nebulae (PPN). These objects have cool dust shells and molecular envelopes reminiscent of the circumstellar envelopes of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Observations of PPN confirm that the circumstellar envelope ejected during the AGB phase dominates the infrared continuum of post-AGB objects. It is suggested that an infrared sequence can be traced throughout the evolutionary phases from AGB to planetary nebulae.

Kwok, Sun↗