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NASA NTRS1993

Aerosols scattering and near-infrared observations of the Martian surface

The presence of a scattered contribution in the atmosphere of Mars is a major problem for spectroscopic observations of the surface in the infrared since the main mineralogical absorptions have a typical depth of 1% and could be easily masked or subdued by atmospheric scattering. An estimate of the aerosol contribution between 0.77 and 2.6 microns was previously derived above Tharsis from ISM imaging spectroscopic data acquired from the Phobos 2 spacecraft in 1989. It is used here to investigate the effect of the scattering on the criteria that allow the mineralogical characterization of the surface.

Erard, S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evidence for ultramafic lavas on Syrtis Major

Pyroxene compositions from ISM data compared with pyroxene compositions of Apollo 12 pigeonite basalt, Shergotite meteorite, and pyroxenitic komatiite show that the Syrtis Major volcanic materials are consistent with pyroxenitic komatiite. Pyroxenitic komatiite is significant for the earth because it contains a large amount of MgO, implying generation under unique circumstances compared to typical basaltic compositions.

Reyes, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Wavelength calibration techniques and subtle surface and atmospheric absorption features in the Mariner 6, 7 IRS reflectance data

1994 marks the 25th anniversary of the Mariner 6 and 7 flyby missions to Mars. Despite its age, the Mariner 6,7 Infrared Spectrometer (IRS) data are a unique set of measurements that can provide important information about the Martian surface, atmospheric, and atmospheric aerosol composition. For certain mid-IR wavelengths, the IRS spectra are the only such spacecraft data obtained for Mars. At other wavelengths, IRS measured surface regions different from those measured by Mariner 9 or Phobos 2 and under different dust opacity conditions. We are interested in examining the IRS reflectance data in the 1.8 to 3.0 micron region because there are numerous diagnostic absorption features at these wavelengths that could be indicative of hydrated silicate minerals or of carbonate- or sulfate-bearing minerals. Groundbased telescopic data and recent Phobos ISM measurements have provided controversial and somewhat contradictory evidence for the existence of mineralogic absorption features at these wavelengths. Our goal is to determine whether any such features can be seen in the IRS data and to use their presence or absence to re-assess the quality and interpretations of previous telescopic and spacecraft measurements.

Bell, James F., III↗
NASA NTRS1995

ASCA solid state imaging spectrometer observations of O stars

We report ASCA Solid State Imaging Spectrometer (SIS) x-ray observations of the O stars delta Ori and lambda Ori. The energy resolution of the SIS allows us to resolve features in the O star x-ray spectra which are not apparent in spectra obtained by x-ray spectrometers with lower energy resolution. SIS spectra from both stars show evidence of line emission, suggesting the thermal nature of the x-ray source. However, the observed line strengths are different for the two stars. The observed stellar x-ray spectra are not well described by isothermal models although absorbed thermal emission models with two or more temperatures can provide an adequate fit to the data. For both stars we present evidence of absorbing columns significantly larger than the known ISM columns, indicative of absorption by a circumstellar medium, presumably the stellar winds. In addition, the lambda Ori spectrum shows the presence of emission at energies greater than 3 keV which is not seen in the delta Ori spectrum.

Corcoran, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Photoevaporation of disks around massive stars and application to ultracompact H II regions

Young massive stars produce sufficient Lyman continuum photon luminosity Phi(sub i) to significantly affect the structure and evolution of the accretion disks surrounding them. A nearly static, ionized, isothermal 10(exp 4) K atmosphere forms above the neutral disk for disk radii r less than r(sub g) = 10(exp 15) M(sub 1) cm, where M(sub *) = 10 solar mass M(sub 1) is the stellar mass. For r approximately greater than r(sub g) the diffuse field created by hydrogen recombinations to the ground state in the photoionized gas above the disk produces a steady evaporation at the surface of the disk, and this H II gas flows freely out to the ISM (the 'disk wind'). The detailed structure depends on the mass-loss rate dot-M(sub w) of the fast, approximately greater than 1000 km/sec, stellar wind from the massive star. A critical mass-loss rate dot-M(sub cr) is defined such that the ram pressure of the stellar wind equals the thermal pressure of the H II atmosphere at r(sub g). In the weak stellar wind solution, dot-M(sub w) less than dot-M(sub cr), the diffuse photons from the atmosphere above r(sub g) produce a photoevaporative mass-loss rate from the disk at r approximately greater than r(sub g) of order 1 x 10(exp -5)(Phi(sub 49))(exp 1/2)(M(sub 1))(exp 1/2) solar mass/year, where Phi(sub i) = 10(exp 49) Phi(sub 49)/sec. The resulting slow (10 to 50 km/sec) ionized outflow, which persists for approximately greater than 10(exp 5) year for disk masses M(sub d) approximately 0.3 M(sub *), may explain the observational characteri stics of unresolved, ultracompact H II regions. In the strong stellar wind solution, dot-M(sub w) greater than dot-M(sub cr), the ram pressure of the stellar wind blows down the atmosphere for r less than r(sub g) and allows the stellar photons to penetrate to greater radii and smaller heights. A slow, ionized outflow produced mainly by diffuse photons is again created for r less than r(sub g); however, it is now dominated by the flow at r(sub w)(greater than r(sub g)), the radius at which the stellar wind ram pressure equals the thermal pressure in the evaporating flow. The mass-loss rate from the disk is of order 6 x 10(exp -5)dot-M(sub w-6) v(sub w8)(Phi (sub 49))(exp -1/2) solar mass/year, where dot-M(sub w-6) = M(sub w)/10(exp -6) solar mass/year and v(sub w8) = v(sub w)/1000 km/sec is the stellar wind velocity. The resulting outflow, which also persists for approximately greater than 10(exp 5) year may explain many of the more extended (r approximately greater than 10(exp 16) cm) ultracompact H II regions. Both the weak-wind and the strong-wind models depend entirely on stellar parameters Phi(sub i), M(sub *), dot-M(sub w)) and are independent of disk parameters as long as an extended r much greater than (r(sub g)), neutral disk exists. We compare both weak-wind and strong-wind model results to the observed radio free-free spectra and luminosities of ultracompact H II regions and to the interesting source MWC 349.

Hollenbach, David↗
NASA NTRS1994

Dynamics and X-ray emission of a galactic superwind interacting with disk and halo gas

There is a general agreement that the conspicuous extranuclear X-ray, optical-line, and radio-contiuum emission of starbursts is associated with powerful galactic superwinds blowing from their centers. However, despite the significant advances in observational studies of superwinds, there is no consensus on the nature of the emitting material and even on the emission mechanisms themselves. This is to a great extent a consequence of a poor understanding of dynamical processes in the starburst superwind regions. To address this issue, we have conducted two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of galactic superwinds. While previous similar studies have used a single (disk) component to represent the ISM of the starburst galaxy, we analyze the interaction of the wind with a two-component disk-halo ambient interstellar medium and argue that this two-component representation is crucial for adequate modeling of starbursts. The emphasis of this study is on the geometry and structure of the wind region and the X-ray emission arising in the wind material and the shocked gas in the disk and the halo of the galaxy. The simulation results have shown that a clear-cut bipolar wind can easily develop under a range of very different conditions. On the other hand, a complex 'filamentary' structure associated with the entrained dense disk material is found to arise within the hot bubble blown out by the wind. The flow pattern within the bubble is dominated equally by the central biconic outflow and a system of whirling motions r elated to the origin and development of the 'filaments'. The filament parameters make them a good candidate for optical-emission-line filamentary gas observed in starburst halos. We find that the history of mass and energy deposition in the starburst region of the galaxy is crucial for wind dynamics. A 'mild' early wind, which arises as a result of the cumulative effect of stellar winds from massive stars, produces a bipolar vertical cavity in the disk and halo gas without strongly affecting the gaseous disk, thus creating conditions for virtually free vertical escape of the hot gas at the later, much more violent supernova-dominated phases of the starburst. We calculate the luminosity, mass, and effective temperature of the X-ray emitting gas in the 'soft' (0.1 to 0.7 keV, 0.7 to 2.2 keV, and 0.1 to 2.2 keV) and 'hard' (1.6 to 8.3 keV) energy bands and estimate the contribution of different gaseous components to the X-ray flux in these bands. Analysis of these parameters enables us to make conclusions regarding the nature of the X-ray-emitting material. We have inferred that the bulk of the soft thermal X-ray emission from starbursts arises in the wind-shocked material of the disk and halo gas rather than in the wind material itself. This enables us to predict that the integrated soft X-ray spectra of starbursts need not show an overabundance of heavy elements which are believed to be produced copiously in the centers of starbursts. Unlike soft X-ray emission, the hard component of thermal X-ray emission is found to originate in the wind material ejected from the starburst region. However, the derived ratio of hard-to-soft X-ray luminosities is too small compared to that observed in starbursts. We conclude therefore that the observed hard X-ray emission of starbursts is probably not associated with the thermal emission of hot wind or ambient shocked gas. Typical temperatures of the bulk of the soft X-ray-emitting material in our very different models have been found to agree well with the ones estimated on the basis of the ROSAT data for the soft component of X-ray emission of nearby starbursts. We predict that temperatures of the extranuclear soft X-ray-emitting gas in starburst galaxies with heavy element abundances near solar should be close to T(sub Xs = 2 to 5 x 10(exp 6)K.

Suchkov, Anatoly A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Spatially resolved optical and near-infrared spectroscopy of the low-metallicity galaxy UGC 4483

UGC 4483 is a dwarf irregular galaxy in the M81 group. Narrow-band imaging has revealed an H II region in UGC 4483 with an H alpha flux approximately = 1 x 10 (exp - 13) ergs/sq cm/s. Optical and near-infrared spectroscopy of this H ll region yields He, N, O, Ne, and S abundances for the interstellar matter (ISM) in this galaxy. The spectra were acquired with several different telescope/instrument combinations in order to assess the quality of the derived uncertainties. With oxygen abundance of 3.3 x 10 (exp -5) (12 + log (O/H) = 7.5), this galaxy is similar to GR 8 and among the most metal poor dwarf irregulars known to date. However, the H II region in UGC 4483 has high excitation and higher surface brightness than GR 8, allowing very accurate abundance estimates. The N/O ratio is 3%, in good agreement with other low-metallicity dwarf galaxies. The S/O abundance ratio in UGC 4483 is close to the solar ratio, consistent with results for I Zw 18 and other low-metallicity dwarf irregulars. A He/H abundance of 0.079 +/- 0.002 is derived from observations of the lambda 6678 He ll emission line. A comparison of observations obtained with different telescopes and with the same telescope on different nights supports our relatively small estimated uncertainty in this measurement. We determine that the neutral helium fraction is insignificant through both direct observations of the He(+)/H(+) ratio across the nebula and through photoionization modeling. This results in a helium mass fraction of 0.239 +/- 0.006, consistent with the most recent theoretical and observational determinations of the primordial helium abundance. We also discuss remaining systematic uncertainties in the calculation of the primordial helium abundance

Skillman, Evan D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Gas kinematics and ionization along the extended sight line to HD 116852

We present Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph intermediate observations of the interstellar medium toward HD 116852, a low halo star at a distance of 4.8 kpc (z = -1.3 kpc) in the direction l = 304. deg 9, b = 16.deg 1. The small science aperture observations have signal-to-noise ratios ranging from 30 to 90 and resolutions of 11 to 18 km/s (FWHM). We confirm the optical MK classification of this star through an analysis of its ultraviolet photosperic and stellar wind profiles. We detect interstellar lines of Al III, Si IV, C IV, and N V together with lines of C I, C I*, C I**, Si II, Ge II, P II, and Ni II. We convert the Mg II, P II, S II, Al III, Si IV, C IV, and N V profiles into measure of apparent column density as a function of LSR velocity. Gas scale height, velocity dispersion, and differential Galactic rotation effects govern the profile shapes. A simple computer model of the expected sight line column density profiles for the low and high ion species indicates that the gas velocity dispersions and scale heights increase as the ionization level of the gas increases. We find scale heigts H greater than or = 1 kpc for the high ions, which are comparable to the z-distance of the star, whereas we find H approximatley = 0.6 to 0.7 kpc for A1 III and H approximatley 0.1 kpc for P II and Ge II. An enhancement in the Al II profile near -15 km/s accounts for approximately 25% of the A1 III column along the sight line and probably arises within gas located approximately 500 pc below the Sagittarius-Carina spiral arm link. Portions of the broad underlying A1 III distribution are associated with the higher ionization lines, perhaps in conductive interfaces. The presence of N V and the column density ratios of Si IV, C IV, and N V favor the interpretation that much of the high ion absorption is produced by collisional ionization in gas with T = 1-3 x 10(exp 5) K. An enhancement near -35 km/s in both the Si IV and C IV profiles may be due to an outflow from the Norma spiral arm at a z-distance of about -1 kpc. The smooth decrease of the N(C IV)/N(Si IV) ratio at negative velocities may be due to an ISM ionization structure for hot gas that changes distance from the Galactic plane or to a two phase gas distribution in which the relative contribution from each phase changes with distance from the Galactic plane.

Sembach, Kenneth R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

The Arthur Holly Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Compton) is the second in NASA's series of great Observatories. Launched on 1991 April 5, Compton represents a dramatic increase in capability over previous gamma-ray missions. The spacecraft and scientific instruments are all in good health, and many significant discoveries have already been made. We describe the capabilities of the four scientific instruments, and the observing program of the first 2 years of the mission. Examples of early discoveries by Compton are enumerated, including the discovery that gamma-ray bursts are isotropic but spatially inhomogeneous in their distribution; the discovery of a new class of high-energy extragalacatic gamma-ray sources, the gamma-ray AGNs; the discovery of emission from SN 1987A in the nuclear line of Co-57; and the mapping of emission from Al-26 in the interstellar medium (ISM) near the Galactic center. Future observations will include deep surveys of selected regions of the sky, long-tem studies of individual objects, correlative studies of objects at gamma-ray and other energies, a Galactic plane survey at intermediate gamma-ray energies, and improved statistics on gamma-ray bursts to search for small anisotropies. After completion of the all-sky survey, a Guest Investigator program is in progress with guest observers' time share increasing from 30% upward for the late mission phases.

Gehrels, N.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Composition and radiative properties of grains in molecular clouds and accretion disks

We define a model of the compositon and abundances of grains and gases in molecular cloud cores and accretion disks around young stars by employing a wide range of astronomical data and theory, the composition of primitive bodies in the solar system, and solar elemental abundances. In the coldest portions of these objects, we propose that the major grain species include olivine (Fe, Mg, 2SiO4), orthopyroxene (Fe, Mg, SiO3), volatile and refractory organics, water ice, troilite (FeS), and metallic iron. This compositional model differs from almost all previous models of the interstellar medium (ISM) by having organics as the major condensed C species, rather than graphite; by including troilite as a major grain species; and by specifying the mineralogical composition of the condensed silicates. Using a combination of laboratory measurements of optical constants and asymptotic theory, we derive values of the real and imaginary indices of refraction of these grain species over a wavelength range that runs from the vacuum ultraviolet (UV) to the radio domain. The above information on grain properties is used to estimate the Rosseland mean opacity of the grains and their monochromatic opacity.

Pollack, James B.↗
NASA NTRS1994

ASCA solid state imaging spectrometer observations of O stars

We report ASCA Solid State Imaging Spectrometer (SIS) X-ray observations of the O stars delta Ori and lambda Ori. The energy resolution of the SIS allows us to resolve features in the O star X-ray spectra which are not apparent in spectra obtained by X-ray spectrometers with lower energy resolution. SIS spectra from both stars show evidence of line emission, suggesting the thermal nature of the X-ray source. However, the observed line strengths are different for the two stars. The observed stellar X-ray spectra are not well described by isothermal models although absorbed thermal emission models with two or more temperatures can provide an adequate fit to the data. For both stars we present evidence of absorbing columns significantly larger than the known Interstellar Medium (ISM) columns, indicative of absorption by a circumstellar medium, presumably the stellar winds. In addition, the lambda Ori spectrum shows the presence of emission at energies greater than 3 keV which is not seen in the delta Ori spectrum.

Corcoran, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1995

EUVE spectroscopy of epsilon Canis Majoris (B2 II) from 70 to 730 A

We present spectra of the brightest stellar source of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation longward of 400 A, the B2 II star, epsilon CMa. These data were taken with the three spectrometers aboard the NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite (EUVE) during the first cycle of pointed observations. We report on our initial studies of the continuum and line spectrum of the stellar photosphere in the 320 to 730 A region, and on the wind emission lines observed in the 170-375 A region. This is the first EUV spectrum of an early-type star, and thus makes epsilon CMa the most comprehensively observed B star from the X-ray to infrared regimes. The radiation in both the H Lyman continuum and He I continuum (shortward of 504 A) are found to be significantly greater than predicted by both Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE model atmospheres. Since epsilon CMa also exhibits a mid-infrared excess, this points to the outer layers being warmer than the models indicate. The anomalously large Lyman continuum flux, combined with the very low column density measured in the direction toward this star implies that it is the dominant source of hydrogen ionization of the local interstellar medium in the immediate vicinity of the sun. All of the lines predicted to be strong from model atmospheres are present and several wind absorption features are also identified. We have detected emission lines from highly ionized iron that are consistent with the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observations if a multi-temperature emission model is used, and the assumption is made that there is significant absorption beyond that of the neutral phase of the ISM. The spectrum shows strong O III 374 A line emission produced by the Bowen flourescence mechanism, which has not previously been observed in the spectra of hot stars.

Cassinelli, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Molecular clouds in the extreme outer galaxy

We present observation of 11 molecular clouds with kinematic Galactocentric distances of 18-28 kpc. The most distant is approximately 10 kpc farther from the Galactic center than any previously known and apparently lies beyond the edge of the optical disk. All are associated with much larger H I concentrations, with typical offsets of approximately 40 pc from the H I peaks. CO observations with the CfA 1.2 m and National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) 12 m telescopes indicate typical sizes of 20-40 pc, velocity widths of 1-3 km/s, and kinetic temperatures of 10-25 K. They apparently have lower CO luminosities than clouds near the solar circle with similar properties. Some may have associated infrared sources, but owing to the great distances of the clouds, the only general conclusion that can be made about star formation is that stars earlier than B1 are absent. The apparent scarcity of clouds like these indicates that their contribution to the mass of the ISM beyond R = 18 kpc is not significant.

Digel, S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

ROSAT PSPC observations of two X-ray-faint early-type galaxies: NGC 4365 and NGC 4382

We present the results of ROSAT Positive Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observations of the two early-type galaxies NGC 4365 and NGC 4382. These galaxies are among those observed with Einstein to have the lowest X-ray to optical flux ratios of early-type galaxies. The PSCP data show that for radii r greater than 50 arcsec the radial distributions of the X-ray surface brightness are consistent with the optical distributions of King (1978). We also find that these galaxies have X-ray spectra significantly different from those observed in X-ray-bright ellipticals, with a relative excess of counts detected in the softest spectral channels. This confirms earlier Einstein results. The characteristics of the ROSAT PSPC do not allow us to discriminate between possible spectral models. If we adopt a two-component thermal model on the grounds of physical plausibility, we find that the spectral data can be fitted with a very soft optically thin component, with kT approximately 0.2 keV, and a hard component with kT greater than (1.0-1.5) keV. The hard component has a luminosity consistent with that expected from the integrated emission of a population of low mass-X-ray binaries in these galaxies; the nature of the very soft component is more speculative. Candidates include the coronal emission of late-type stars, supersoft X-ray sources, RS CVn, and perhaps a hot Interstellar Medium (ISM). Alternatively, the spectal data may be fitted with a 0.6-1 keV bremsstrahlung spectrum (expontential plus Gaunt), and may suggest the presence of a totally new population of X-ray sources.

Fabbiano, G.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Hot shocked gas along the jets of NGC 4258 (M106)

The ROSAT High Resolution Interferometer (HRI) and Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) detectors have been used to study the soft X-ray emission of the nearby SABbc galaxy NGC 4258 (M106). The helically twisted, nuclear jets, previously detected in radio continuum and visual emission-line studies, are found to dominate the X-ray images. After correcting pointing errors of up to +/- 7 sec in our HRI observation, we find that the southeast jet is spatially unresolved transversely along much of its 2.5 min (5 kpc) length. The northwest jet is more diffuse, and the extensive radio 'plateaus' also emit X-rays. The energy spectrum of the jets from the PSPC exposure is noisy but is best fitted as a Raymond-Smith plasma with kT = 0.3 keV, log N(sub H) approximately = 20.0/sq cm, and luminosity 1.6 x 10(exp 40) ergs/s between 0.1 and 2.4 keV. Gas at this temperature can arise from planar shocks of 500 km/s and may have been entrained as the jets scrape along the molecular clous that are known to be adjacent to the jets. The range of radial velocities from our published visual emission-line spectra of the jet are consistent with such a shock speed. We estimate that the mass of hot gas in the jets is 6 x 10(exp 4) (1/cc/n(sub e)) solar mass, with n(sub e) the average electron density. The inferred pressure of hot gas in the southeast jet may be similar to the radio equipartition pressure and to the ambient pressure of the interstellar medium (ISM). The X-ray spectral fit is poor above 0.7 keV and requires an additional hard component that peaks near the nucleus.

Cecil, G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Star-forming galaxy models: Blending star formation into TREESPH

We have incorporated star-formation algorithms into a hybrid N-body/smoothed particle hydrodynamics code (TREESPH) in order to describe the star forming properties of disk galaxies over timescales of a few billion years. The models employ a Schmidt law of index n approximately 1.5 to calculate star-formation rates, and explicitly include the energy and metallicity feedback into the Interstellar Medium (ISM). Modeling the newly formed stellar population is achieved through the use of hybrid SPH/young star particles which gradually convert from gaseous to collisionless particles, avoiding the computational difficulties involved in creating new particles. The models are shown to reproduce well the star-forming properties of disk galaxies, such as the morphology, rate of star formation, and evolution of the global star-formation rate and disk gas content. As an example of the technique, we model an encounter between a disk galaxy and a small companion which gives rise to a ring galaxy reminiscent of the Cartwheel (AM 0035-35). The primary galaxy in this encounter experiences two phases of star forming activity: an initial period during the expansion of the ring, and a delayed phase as shocked material in the ring falls back into the central regions.

Mihos, J. Christopher↗
NASA NTRS1994

Near-infrared absorption spectroscopy of interstellar hydrocarbon grains

We present new 3600 - 2700/cm (2.8 - 3.7 micrometer) spectra of objects whose extinction is dominated by dust in the diffuse interstellar medium. The observations presented here augment an ongoing study of the organic component of the diffuse interstellar medium. These spectra contain a broad feature centered near 3300/cm (3.0 micrometers) and/or a feature with a more complex profile near 2950/cm (3.4 micrometers), the latter of which is attributed to saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons in interstellar grains and is the primary interest of this paper. As in our earlier work, the similarity of the absorption bands near 2950/cm (3.4 micrometers) along different lines of sight and the correlation of these features with interstellar extinction reveal that the carrier of this band lies in the dust in the diffuse interstellar medium (DISM). At least 2.5% of the cosmic carbon in the local interstellar medium and 4% toward the Galactic center is tied up in the carrier of the 2950/cm (3.4 micrometer) band. The spectral structure of the diffuse dust hydrocarbon C-H stretch absorption features is reasonably similar to UV photolyzed laboratory ice residues and is quite similar to the carbonaceous component of the Murchison meteorite. The similarity between the DISM and the meteoritic spectrum suggests that some of the interstellar material originally incorporated into the solar nebula may have survived relatively untouched in primitive solar system bodies. Comparisons of the DISM spectrum to hydrogenated amorphous carbon and quenched carbonaceous composite are also presented. The A(sub V)/tau ratio for the 2950/cm (3.4 micrometer) feature is lower toward the Galactic center than toward sources in the local solar neighborhood (approximately 150 for the Galactic center sources vs. approximately 250 for the local ISM sources). A similar trend has been observed previously for silicates in the diffuse medium by Roche & Aitken, suggesting that (1) the silicate and carbonaceous materials in the DISM may be physically correlated and (2) there is either dust compositional variation in the galaxy or galactic variation in the grain population density distribution. We also note a possible absorption feature near 3050/cm (3.28 micrometers), a wavelength position that is characteristic of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Pendleton, Y. J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Far-ultravoilet and optical spectrscopy of the detached white dwarf-M binary RE J1629+780

We present optical and far-ultraviolet observations, including IUE high- and low-dispersion spectroscopy, of the (DA2+dM4-5) close binary, RE J1629+780, a very bright ROSAT EUV source. The optical data reveal emission reversals in the cores of the Balmer lines, which vary in strength but reveal no evidence of wavelength shifts reflecting orbital motion, suggesting that the red dwarf and the white dwarf are widely separated. Thus it is unlikely that irradiation plays a dominant role in the activity of the red dwarf. One dramatic increase in the intensity of the H-beta emission strength in the course of one hour indicates that the observed intensity variations are most likely related to flare activity on the red dwarf. Our analysis of Balmer and Lyman alpha features yield T(sub eff) = 42,500 +/- 1300 K and log g = 7.6 +/- 0.3 for the DA2 white dwarf, which is consistent with the overall 900 to 3200 A energy distribution derived from Voyager and IUE low-dispersion spectra. Our analysis of three IUE echelle spectra reveal numerous lines of interstellar origin. Using a total of 13 interstellar matter (ISM) features we find a mean radial velocity of -13.57 +/- 1.66 km/s for the interstellar features. However, we found no evidence of trace metal absorbers levitated or accreted in the white-dwarf photosphere nor any evidence of circumstellar or wind features. We estimate a lower limit hydrogen layer mass of 2.1 x 10(exp -15) solar mass for a stratified atmosphere based upon the nondetection of He II (1640). Tighter constraints on the helium abundance and the hydrogen layer mass, from EUV and X-ray data, are presented for both homogeneous and stratified atmospheric configurations.

Sion, Edward M.↗