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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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NASA NTRS1980

Supercritical time-dependent accretion onto compact objects. I - Neutron stars

The time-dependent flow resulting from spherically symmetric, supercritical accretion onto a nonmagnetic neutron star is computed for accretion rates between 3 and 30. In addition, the fully time-dependent self-consistent set of coupled radiation-hydrodynamic equations governing such flow has been solved. Effects that have not previously been treated are taken into account, including separate energy equations for ions and electrons allowing for nonequilibrium, variable Eddington factors in the radiation transfer to account for anisotropy of the radiation field due to highly spherically extended envelopes, and convection of ions, electrons and photons in the accretion envelope. It is found that supercritical flow, for material falling from a radius of less than 10 to the 10th cm, is characterized by stable accretion with no evidence of stellar wind outflow at any phase of the evolution.

Klein, R. I.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Simultaneous ultraviolet, optical, and X-ray observations of the X-ray source Vela X-1 /HD 77581/

UV spectra (obtained by the IUE) of HD 77581, associated with the binary X-ray source Vela X-1, show a spectrum typical of an early B-type supergiant. However, the P Cygni profiles of strong resonance lines show substantial variations with orbital phase. These variations can be ascribed to the changing ionization state in the stellar wind caused by the X-ray emitting companion. X-ray and spectroscopic and photometric optical observations, simultaneous with the IUE observations, indicate behavior consistent with previous epochs.

Dupree, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Binary model of Circinus X-1. I - Eccentricity from combined X-ray and radio observations

A binary star model is used to account for the 16.59-d flaring behavior of the X-ray emission from Circinus X-1. The orbital eccentricity of 0.8 + or - 0.1 is derived from the X-ray light curve by assuming that the sharp X-ray cut-off every 16.59-d is a result of bound-free absorption in the primary star's stellar wind. The shape of the light curve has changed over the last eight years, and this is interpreted as due to orbital precession of the binary system. Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the flare from Circinus X-1 on February 1-5, 1978 are reported. These are accounted for within the framework of the model. The radio observations at 5 GHz are used independently to derive a high value of the orbital eccentricity (e = 0.7).

Murdin, P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Highly-ionized species in the interstellar medium

Interstellar absorption lines have been observed toward 25 stars with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite. Results are presented for observations of interstellar lines of C III, C IV, N V, Si III, and Si IV. Strong lines of Si IV or C IV are seen toward 11 stars. The strengths of these lines are inconsistent with their formation in the same hot gas responsible for the interstellar O IV lines observed with the Copernicus ultraviolet spectrometer. Comparison with simple models of the ionization structures of H II regions around hot stars suggests that the observed column densities of Si III, Si IV, and C IV are in harmony with those expected in normal photoionized nebulae. The line of sight to HD 93250, and O3 V star near Eta Carinae, passes through highly ionized gas that shows features spanning 250 km/s in radial velocity. Stellar wind velocities are presented for 21 of the stars observed in this survey of interstellar absorption lines.

Black, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Outlook for ultraviolet astronomy

A brief overview of galactic and extragalactic research is given with emphasis on the problems of temperature determination, chemical abundance determination, and the question about the energy sources for the high temperature regions. Stellar astronomy, stellar winds, and the interstellar medium are among the topics covered.

Boehm-Vitense, E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

IUE observations and interpretation of the symbiotic star RW Hya

The IUE observations of the high excitation symbiotic star RW Hya (gM2 + pec) are discussed. Analysis of the intense UV continuum observed between 1100 A to 2000 A suggests this star is a binary system in which the secondary is identified as a hot subdwarf with T sub eff being approximately 100,000 K. A distance to the system of 1000 pc is deduced. The UV spectrum consists of mainly semiforbidden and allowed transition lines of which the CIV (1548 A, 1550 A) emission lines are particularly strong, and UV continuum at both shorter and longer wavelengths. Strong forbidden lines seem to be absent suggesting the presence of a nebula of high densities. Tidal interaction between the red giant primary and the hot subdwarf is suggested as a likely means to form the observed nebula. RW Hya is suggested as a possible source of soft X-ray emission from material accreting onto the surface of the hot subdwarf. Detection of such emission with HEAO-B would give information if this accretion is taking place via Roche lobe overlow or via capture from a stellar wind emitted by the primary. A general discussion of elemental and ionic abundances in the nebula is also presented.

Kafatos, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Superbubbles

Individual massive stars with M sub bol -6 have huge stellar winds that create interstellar bubbles. Stars with masses greater than 8 solar mass are considered supernova progenitors. These massive stars are numerous in OB associations where few supernova remnants are detected. Model calculations describing the evolution of an association show: that large, hot cavities are formed by pushing the ambient gas into neutral shells; that the shell radii change with galactocentric radius; that only thirty percent of the interstellar medium is in the form of supercavities; and that a consequence is that only a small fraction of supernovae form supernova remnants.

Gull, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Problems and programming for analysis of IUE high resolution data for variability

Observations of variability in stellar winds provide an important probe of their dynamics. It is crucial however to know that any variability seen in a data set can be clearly attributed to the star and not to instrumental or data processing effects. In the course of analysis of IUE high resolution data of alpha Cam and other O, B and Wolf-Rayet stars several effects were found which cause spurious variability or spurious spectral features in our data. Programming was developed to partially compensate for these effects using the Interactive Data language (IDL) on the LASP PDP 11/34. Use of an interactive language such as IDL is particularly suited to analysis of variability data as it permits use of efficient programs coupled with the judgement of the scientist at each stage of processing.

Grady, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The ultraviolet spectrum and flux of HD 152667 /= X-ray source 1653-40/

IUE data are presented on the massive binary system HD 152667 (spectral type BO I), covering many phases of the 8 day orbit. Low-dispersion data are used to drive T(eff), E(B-V), and the UV light curve. The secondary object is much fainter than the primary at all wavelengths. The stellar wind shows complex multiple components and appears to be unique. A weak, variable distortion of the wind may be present near superior conjunction of the primary. Weak lines show the primary orbital motion, with minor distortions. The interstellar absorption spectrum shows high temperature species most probably arising in the H II region produced by the star. No clear evidence is found regarding the nature of the secondary object. Discrepancies in published ephemerides of the system are clarified.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The evolution of supernova remnants in different galactic environments and its effects on supernova statistics

It is shown that only a small fraction of the many supernovae in the Galaxy produces observable supernova remnants; this fraction, which is found to depend weakly on the lower mass limit of the SN progenitors, and more strongly on the specific characteristics of the associated interstellar medium, decreases from about 15% near the galactic center to 10% at R(gal) of about 10 kpc and drops nearly to zero for R(gal) greater than 15 kpc. Whether an SNR is detectable is determined by the density of the ambient interstellar medium in which it is embedded; it is found that SNRs are detectable only above some critical density (about 0.1 per cu cm). The presence of large low-density superbubble cavities around stellar associations due to the combined effects of stellar winds and supernova shells strongly suggests that a large portion of the detectable SNRs must have runaway stars as their progenitors.

Kafatos, M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Ultraviolet, X-ray, and infrared observations of HDE 226868 equals Cygnus X-1

During April, May, and July of 1978, HDE 226868, the optical counterpart of Cygnus X-1, was repeatedly observed in the ultraviolet with the IUE satellite. Some X-ray and infrared observations have been made during the same period. The general shape of the spectrum is that expected from a late O supergiant. Strong absorption features are apparent in the ultraviolet, some of which have been identified. The equivalent widths of the most prominent lines appear to be modulated with the orbital phase. This modulation is discussed in terms of the ionization contours calculated by Hatchett and McCray, for a binary X-ray source in the stellar wind of the companion.

Treves, A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The detection of X-ray variability in O stars

Seven O stars known to have strong, and sometimes variable, stellar winds have been observed repeatedly with the Imaging Proportional Counter on the Einstein Observatory, in a program designed to determine whether the X-ray fluxes from these stars are variable. In three cases, definite changes were seen, either on a time scale of a year (Iota Ori and Delta Ori) or five days (15 Mon). In two of these cases, the X-ray spectrum was harder when the overall flux was higher, indicating that some of the fluctuations may take place in a hot (approximately 10 to the 7th K) emitting region at the bottom of the winds.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Anomalous extinction in the planetary nebula Abell 30

The stellar continuous energy distribution from 8000 to 1250 A in Abell 30 is quite peculiar. The observed flux can be understood if a hot central star (approximately 200,000 K) is immersed in an absorbing dust cloud which has anomalous absorption with its peak near 2470 A. The dust nebula is a strong infrared source, maintained by conversion of the stellar UV flux. The internal reddening is E(B - V) = 0.30 mag and reaches 2.5 mag at 2470 A; it is best matched not by graphite but by laboratory observations of carbon smoke. Intense P Cygni lines show that a strong stellar wind exists. The central star may be an O subdwarf, approaching more nearly a helium-carbon degenerate DO.

Greenstein, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

HR 4511 - A probable Cepheid with a supergiant-like hot companion

IUE observations have shown HR 4511 to have an early B-type companion with a strong stellar wind. Fitting the energy distribution of the system from far-UV to middle-IR yields a difference of about 3.2 mag at the V passband. Since HR 4511 is in the small cluster Stock 14 and has M(V) = -7.8, M(V) for the secondary is about -4.6, which is only slightly more luminous than the known BO.5 III and B1 stars at the turnoff point. This implies an inconsistency between the deduced luminosity of the secondary and the nature of its UV spectrum, which mimics stars of considerably greater luminosity. It is suggested that the secondary may have been observed in a brief stage between core and shell H burning.

Parsons, S. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Continuing changes in the peculiar nebulous object PV Cephei

Changes in the nebular structure, optical spectrum and stellar brightness of the faint star PV Cephei and the nebulosity associated with it are discussed. Iris photometry of the starlike object at the tip of the fan-shaped nebula reveals irregular variability of approximately 4 magnitudes in the red. Stellar spectra in the region 4300-6750 A taken from December 1976 to April 1980 are similar to the richest emission line spectra of T Tauri stars, while nebular spectra indicate a lack of spherical symmetry. Observations obtained in the infrared reveal a source offset by a few arcsec from the apex of the fan, which is identified with the illuminating star. Radial velocities of CO emission indicate that PV Cep is at the same distance as NGC 7023, and independent estimates lead to an estimated value of 500 pc. Such a distance corresponds to a bolometric luminosity approximately 100 times that of the sun. It is suggested that PV Cep is a T Tauri star that has recently broken through its circumstellar cocoon at a time when highly erratic variability and a strong stellar wind characterize the star.

Cohen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Contact binary stars

Densities, corrected primary colors, minimum periods, inferred masses, luminosities, and specific angular momenta are computed from data on 37 W Ursae Majoris systems. A-type systems, having lower densities and angular momenta than the W-type systems, are shown to be evolved, and a new class of contact binary is identified, the OO Aquilae systems, whose members have evolved into contact. Evolutionary grids based on the contact condition agree with observation, except in that the evolved A-type systems have lost more angular momentum than predicted by gravitational radiation alone. This is accounted for by stellar wind magnetic braking, which is shown to be effective on a shorter time scale and to be important in other kinds of binaries containing a cool, tidally coupled component.

Mochnacki, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The ultraviolet spectrum of the O-type subdwarf HD 49798

The O-type subdwarf (O6p) single-lined spectroscopic binary HD 49798, with an orbital period of 1.5477 d, has been observed by the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite, to aid in analyses of O type photospheres. Four high resolution (0.1A) spectra are found in the far-ultraviolet region, and two high resolution (0.2A) spectra are found in the mid-ultraviolet region. Numerous absorption lines are identified in the spectra of the star, most of which are attributable to Fe V lines at wavelengths of 1270 to 1500 A. Fe IV lines are also identified at wavelengths of 1500 to 1860 A. The strong Fe V features are found to have no corresponding analogs in the Kurucz and Peytremann (1975) list, and the total line blanketing for stars of spectral type O6 to B0 is discovered to be underestimated by at least a factor of four. In addition, mass loss from the subdwarf observed in the N V resonance doublet at wavelengths of 1238 A and 1242 A is discussed, indicating the existence of a hot stellar wind.

Bruhweiler, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Are we beginning to understand T Tauri stars

An international meeting of astronomers in April 1981 in Portugal to discuss recent data on T Tauri stars is described. It is pointed out that T Tauri stars all vary irregularly in brightness, occur in intimate association with dusty molecular clouds, and exhibit bright optical emission lines, principally of hydrogen, helium, and iron. Stars with masses roughly 0.2 to three times the sun's and with ages from 100,000 to 1,000,000 years are typical of the T Tauri regime. It is thought that the often rich emission-line spectra seen at visible wavelengths indicate the presence of a stellar chromosphere, where the temperature rises steeply from the usual cool photospheric values around 4,000 to 5,000 K. Even though a recent extensive survey of T Tauri stars has been completed, no clear role for rotation in producing radio emission or stellar winds has yet emerged.

Cohen, M.↗