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At least 487 records · Page 27

Rapid X-ray variability in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 6814

In contrast with the Tennant et al (1981) sample of over 30 active galactic nuclei, HEAO 1 A-2 high time resolution X-ray observations of the X-ray emitting Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 6814 show strong X-ray variability on time scales of less than 3 hr. On a time scale of 90 min, the mean flux varied by a factor of about 2.5, and a characteristic time for variability of 100 + 60 or - 25 sec is obtained by autocorrelation analysis. There is no indication of spectral variability with an upper limit on a change in the power law spectral index of less than about 0.37, for a factor 2 change in intensity. The constraints of such rapid variability on a range of X-ray source mechanisms is discussed.

Tennant, A. F.↗

Rapid fluctuations of random nature in auroral optical emissions

Rapid intensity fluctuations in the optical emission, N2/+/ (4278 A), H-beta (4861 A), and OI (5577 A) have been observed with rocket-borne photometers during a passage through a homogeneous auroral arc. The measurements indicate that relatively weak (2-5%) intensity fluctuations of random nature, with dominant frequencies in the 2-20 Hz range, do exist in the optical emissions of quiet-form auroras. These variations have well-defined averaged spectral characteristics and apparently differ from the strong quasi-periodic type of variations seen during pulsing auroras. It is argued that the observed fluctuations, which are usually composed of weak short-lived microbursts, reflect the temporal and spatial microstructure which apparently exists always within auroral arcs.

Haldoupis, C. I.↗

Adiabatic charged particle motion in rapidly rotating magnetospheres

Some aspects of adiabatic drift theory are investigated in the regime where the E x B drift velocity is comparable with or larger than the gyro velocity. Particles undergo five drifts in addition to the E x B gradient, and line curvature drifts have three more terms in the parallel equation of motion. The case of the rapidly rotating rigid magnetic field configuration is found to be an exception due to the corotating particle with a nearly periodic motion. The guiding center drift velocity and parallel differential equation of motion are obtained, and the drift velocity in the rotating frame is found to consist of the expected field gradient and line curvature drift, plus centrifugal and coriolis force induced drifts. It is shown that the second invariant is conserved in the rotating frame by the four drifts, so that a particle slowly drifts around on its drift shell and returns to its original field line. Thus, there is no long term energy change, and any energy change is periodic on the bounce and drift time scale.

Northrop, T. G.↗

Onset of rapid mass loss in cool giant stars - Magnetic field effects

The possibility that closed magnetic field loops exist in steady state in stellar atmospheres in the HR diagram is examined. A model derived by Pneuman (1968) for helmet streamers in the solar corona is applied using a semi-empirical technique, to find that long-lived closed loops exist only below a certain boundary in the HR diagram. The region below this boundary is occupied by stars which are known to have hot coronae and slow mass loss. It is suggested that rapid mass loss sets in when closed field loops can no longer exist in steady state in the atmosphere.

Mullan, D. J.↗

Origin of rapidly solidified metal-troilite grains in chondrites and iron meteorites

Quantitative evidence is adduced by cooling rate calculations for the impact melting, on the surface of a parent body, of troilite and metallic Fe, Ni inclusions found on 12 ordinary chondrites rather than their formation at depth from an internally derived melt. In the case of the Shaw and Rose City breccias of unmelted and melted material, their melted metal need not have cooled through 1000 C within a few meters of the surface. Shock-melted, fine-grained, irregular intergrowths of metal and troilite form in situ in many irons and some chondrites by rapid solidification at cooling rates greater than 100,000 C/sec, so that their kamacite and taenite compositions may result from annealing of metallic glass or very fine quench products at about 250 C.

Scott, E. R. D.↗

Observations of the rapid oscillations of EM Cygni

High-speed two-color photometric observations have been made of the dwarf nova EM Cyg and rapid coherent oscillations with periods between 14.6 and 16.5 sec have been found. The minimum period is less than the period of a Keplerian orbit at the surface of a carbon white dwarf. The color temperature of the oscillating component is much higher than that of the constant component of the luminosity. These results suggest that the source of the oscillations is the white dwarf or the inner part of the accretion disk.

Stiening, R. F.↗

A rapid blade-to-blade solution for use in turbomachinery design

A rapid technique for solving the blade-to-blade turbomachinery flow problem was developed. Approximate governing flow equations, which include the effects of compressibility, radius change, rotation, and variable stream sheet thickness are solved using a panel method. The development and solution of these equations are described. Sample calculations are presented to illustrate the method's capabilities and accuracy.

Mcfarland, E. R.↗

Human respiration at rest in rapid compression and at high pressures and gas densities

The ventilation (V), end-tidal PCO2 (PACO2), and CO2 elimination rate were determined in men at rest breathing CO2-free gas over the pressure range 1-50 ATA and the gas density range 0.4-25 g/l, during slow and rapid compressions, at stable elevated ambient pressures and during slow decompressions. Progressive increase in pulmonary gas flow resistance due to elevation of ambient pressure and inspired gas density to the He-O2 equivalent of 5000 feet of seawater was found to produce a complex pattern of change in PACO2. It was found that as both ambient pressure and pulmonary gas flow resistance were progressively raised, PACO2 at first increased, went through a maximum, and then declined towards values near the 1 ATA level. It is concluded that this pattern of PACO2 change results from the interaction on ventilation of the increase in pulmonary resistance due to the elevation of gas density with the increase in respiratory drive postulated as due to generalized central nervous system excitation associated with exposure to high hydrostatic pressure. It is suggested that a similar interaction exists between increased gas flow resistance and the increase in respiratory drive related to nitrogen partial pressure and the resulting narcosis.

Gelfand, R.↗

An instrument for rapidly measuring plasma distribution functions with high resolution

An instrument which can rapidly measure plasma particle distribution functions has been developed based upon recent innovations in electrostatic analyzer design and position sensitive particle detection. The new analyzer uses a quadrispherical geometry, but has a completely uniform 360 deg fan-shaped field of view. The polar angular distribution of entering particles is spatially imaged onto a position sensitive detector at the annular exit aperture after a deflection through 90 deg. Several methods of position sensitive detection have been successfully used in conjunction with this analyzer. The simplest is individual channel multipliers spaced around the annular exit. Microchannel plate electron multipliers permit greater position resolution to be obtained, and a detector using microchannel plates followed by a resistive anode image converter obtains angular resolution of about one degree, i.e., 360 individual angle pixels. Instruments of this type were flown on a sounding rocket in early 1982 and will be included on the Giotto comet mission and the AMPTE ion release module (IRM).

Carlson, C. W.↗

On the large-scale dynamics of rapidly rotating convection zones

The fact that the values of the eight basic waves present in turbulent flows in the presence of rotation prohibit a tilt of eddy towards the axis of rotation is incorporated into a formalism for rapidly rotating convection zones. Equations for turbulent velocities are defined in a rotating coordinate system, assuming that gravity and grad delta T act in a radial direction. An expression is derived for the lifetime of a basic wave and then for the average velocity vector. A real convective eddy is formulated and the wave vectors are calculated. The velocity amplitude and the stress tensor amplitude are integrated over the eddy domain. Applied to the solar convective zone, it is found that the convective cells are aligned along the axis of rotation at the poles and at the equator, a model that conflicts with nonrotating mixng length theory predictions.

Durney, B. R.↗

Rapid solidification of metallic particulates

In order to maximize the heat transfer coefficient the most important variable in rapid solidification is the powder particle size. The finer the particle size, the higher the solidification rate. Efforts to decrease the particle size diameter offer the greatest payoff in attained quench rate. The velocity of the liquid droplet in the atmosphere is the second most important variable. Unfortunately the choices of gas atmospheres are sharply limited both because of conductivity and cost. Nitrogen and argon stand out as the preferred gases, nitrogen where reactions are unimportant and argon where reaction with nitrogen may be important. In gas atomization, helium offers up to an order of magnitude increase in solidification rate over argon and nitrogen. By contrast, atomization in vacuum drops the quench rate several orders of magnitude. Previously announced in STAR as N82-26433

Grant, N. J.↗

Rapid purification of fluorescent enzymes by ultrafiltration

In order to expedite the preparation of fluorescently tagged enzymes for histo/cytochemistry, a previously developed method employing gel column purification was compared with a more rapid modern technique using the Millipore Immersible CX-ultrafilter. Microscopic evaluation of the resulting conjugates showed comparable products. Much time and effort is saved using the new technique.

Benjaminson, M. A.↗

Bright, rapid, highly polarized radio spikes from the M dwarf AD Leonis

A rapid sequence of highly polarized spikes was observed during the gradual rise of a longer lasting event in an Arecibo Observatory study of a radio burst at 1400 MHz from the main sequence radio star AD Leo. The maximum flux density of the spikes was 130 mJy, and they had rise times of less than about 200 msec. The rise times provide an upper limit to the linear size of the emitter of 6 billion cm, and an area of less than 0.03 of the star's surface area is inferred, for a spike brightness temperature of more than about 10 to the 13th K. The high brightness temperatures and high degrees of circular polarization are explained in terms of electron-cyclotron maser emission at the second harmonic of the gyrofrequency, in longitudinal magnetic fields of about 250 G.

Lang, K. R.↗

Rapid purification of fluorescent enzymes by ultrafiltration

In order to expedite the preparation of fluorescently tagged enzymes for histo-cyctochemistry, a previously developed method employing gel column purification was compared with a more rapid modern technique using the Millipore Immersible CX-ultrafilter. Microscopic evaluation of the resulting conjugates showed comparable products. Much time and effort is saved using the new technique.

Benjaminson, M. A.↗

Rapid Freezing-Point Measurement

Technique developed for rapid determination of freezing-point temperature of fuels. Technique determines freezing point in under 10 minutes and is suitable for use in design of portable device.

Mathiprakasam, B.↗

Rapid X-Ray Variability of Active Galaxies

Active galactic nuclei are luminous sources of X-rays. The thesis that the X-rays are generated within 10 gravitational radii from the central object is tested. A very sensitive search for rapid ( 1 day) X-ray variability from active galaxies was made.

Tennant, A. F., Jr.↗

Experimental results for the rapid determination of the freezing point of fuels

Two methods for the rapid determination of the freezing point of fuels were investigated: an optical method, which detected the change in light transmission from the disappearance of solid particles in the melted fuel; and a differential thermal analysis (DTA) method, which sensed the latent heat of fusion. A laboratory apparatus was fabricated to test the two methods. Cooling was done by thermoelectric modules using an ice-water bath as a heat sink. The DTA method was later modified to eliminate the reference fuel. The data from the sample were digitized and a point of inflection, which corresponds to the ASTM D-2386 freezing point (final melting point), was identified from the derivative. The apparatus was modifified to cool the fuel to -60 C and controls were added for maintaining constant cooling rate, rewarming rate, and hold time at minimum temperature. A parametric series of tests were run for twelve fuels with freezing points from -10 C to -50 C, varying cooling rate, rewarming rate, and hold time. Based on the results, an optimum test procedure was established. The results showed good agreement with ASTM D-2386 freezing point and differential scanning calorimetry results.

Mathiprakasam, B.↗

Models of Rapid Solidification

Laser annealing studies provide much information on various consequences of rapid solidification, including the trapping of impurities in the crystal, the generation of vacancies and twins, and on the fundamental limits to the speed of the crystal-melt interface. Some results obtained by molecular dynamics methods of the solidification of a Lennard-Jones liquid are reviewed. An indication of the relationship of interface speed to undercooling for certain materials can be derived from this model. Ising model simulations of impurity trapping in silicon are compared with some of the laser annealing results. The consequences of interface segregation and atomic strain are discussed.

Gilmer, G. H.↗