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At least 541 records · Page 30

Absence of J/pi/, T = 0/+/, 1 level excitations in residual nuclei from /pi /+ or -/,2N/ reactions

Gamma-ray spectra taken in prompt coincidence with incident 180-MeV pi/+/, 220-MeV pi/-/ and 0-MeV pi/-/ on the self-conjugate targets C-12 and S-32 reveal that the cross sections/yields are equal to or near zero for production of the J/pi/,T = 0/+/, 1 levels of the odd Z, odd N nuclei resulting from np removal. It is thought that the 0-MeV pi/-/ results can be explained by selection rules governing one-step quasi-free interactions but that the delta(1232) region results cannot. This indicates that there may be additional restrictions upon the pion absorption mechanism.

Stronach, C. E.↗

The Propagation of Solar Energetic Particles in Magnetic Channels

The existence of interplanetary flow systems produced by the entrainment of interplanetary transients, consisting of flare produced shocks, high speed solar wind streams and coronal mass ejection, has been established. This entrainment process produces enhanced regions of the interplanetary magnetic field that should be connected back to the solar corona. These compressed regions can provide a preferred magnetic channel for the propagation of solar cosmic rays. The characteristics of these events appear to be different from those previously reported by the NASA/University of New Hampshire team and the University of Chicago in their study of a large number of events in the region beyond 1 AU. These new events have a very flat energy spectra (with gamma = approx. 1.5) that frequently extend to energies above 100 MeV and have a significant enhancement of MeV electrons.

Mcdonald, F. B.↗

Emulsion chamber observations and interpretation (HE 3)

Experimental results from Emulsion Chamber (EC) experiments at mountain altitudes or at higher levels using flying carriers are examined. The physical interest in this field is concentrated on the strong interaction at the very high energy region exceeding the accelerator energy, also on the primary cosmic ray intensity and its chemical composition. Those experiments which observed cosmic ray secondaries gave information on high energy interaction characteristics through the analyses of secondary spectra, gamma-hadron families and C-jets (direct observation of the particle production occuring at the carbon target). Problems of scaling violation in fragmentation region, interaction cross section, transverse momentum of produced secondaries, and some peculiar features of exotic events are discussed.

Shibata, M.↗

Fe II emission line profiles in spectra of high luminosity non-coronal stars

The results of a program to study the winds of noncoronal late-type giant and supergiant stars with IUE are presented. The primary data for this study are profiles, fluxes, and velocities of the Fe II emission lines which occur throughout the 2200 to 3230 A region of the IUE long wavelength spectrographs. The apparent dependence of the Fe II profiles on stellar luminosity (surface gravity) and intrinsic line strength is discussed. The discovery of significant changes in the Fe II profiles in spectra of Gamma Crucis (M3 III), during the period 1978 to 1985, that suggest a substantial change in its outer atmosphere is noted.

Carpenter, Kenneth G.↗

Fe II emission line profiles in the ultraviolet spectrum of cool, luminous stars

The differences between the outer atmospheres of the coronal and noncoronal cool stars and the importance of massive stellar winds to the latter group are summarized. The utility of Fe II as a probe of such winds is indicated and a brief review of previous observations of Fe II in these stars is given. The early results of a current IUE program to study the chromospheres and winds of the noncoronal, late-type stars are presented, including evidence of a strong dependence of the mid-UV Fe II profiles on stellar luminosity. In addition, the dependence of the Fe II profiles on intrinsic line strength in spectra of Alpha Ori and the discovery of a variation of the Fe II profiles with time in spectra of Gamma Cru are discussed.

Carpenter, Kenneth G.↗

Gamma-ray spectroscopic tests for the anisotropy of accelerated particles in solar flares

The profiles of 0.429 and 0.478 MeV gamma-ray lines from Be-7 and Li-7 (produced by interactions of flare-accelerated alpha particles with ambient He in the solar atmosphere) and of the 4.438 MeV line from C-12 (produced by inelastic scattering of C-12 by accelerated protons) depend on the angular distribution of the interacting accelerated particles. The line profiles resulting from various assumed accelerated-particle angular distributions are calculated and it is shown that it will be possible to distinguish among them using observations of gamma-ray spectra from solar flares obtained with high resolution detectors.

Murphy, R. J.↗

Annihilation physics of exotic galactic dark matter particles

Various theoretical arguments make exotic heavy neutral weakly interacting fermions, particularly those predicted by supersymmetry theory, attractive candidates for making up the large amount of unseen gravitating mass in galactic halos. Such particles can annihilate with each other, producing secondary particles of cosmic-ray energies, among which are antiprotons, positrons, neutrinos, and gamma-rays. Spectra and fluxes of these annihilation products can be calculated, partly by making use of positron electron collider data and quantum chromodynamic models of particle production derived therefrom. These spectra may provide detectable signatures of exotic particle remnants of the big bang.

Stecker, F. W.↗

The interstellar D1 line at high resolution

Observations at a resolving power or a velocity resolution are reported of the interstellar D(sub 1) line of Na I in the spectra of gamma Cas, delta Ori, epsilon Ori, pi Sco, delta Cyg, and alpha Cyg. An echelle grating was used in a double-pass configuration with a CCD detector in the coude spectrograph of the 2.7 m reflector at McDonald Observatory. At least 42 kinematically distinct clouds are detected along the light paths to the five more distant stars, in addition to a single cloud seen toward delta Cyg. The absorption lines arising in 13 of the clouds are sufficiently narrow and unblended to reveal clearly resolved hyperfine structure components split by 1.05 km/s. An additional 13 clouds apparently show comparably narrow, but more strongly blended, lines. For each individual cloud, upper limits T(sub max) and (v sub t)(sub max) on the temperature and the turbulent velocity, respectively, are derived by fitting the observed lines with theoretical absorption profiles.

Hobbs, L. M.↗

The interstellar D1 line at high resolution

Observations at a resolving power or a velocity resolution are reported of the interstellar D(sub 1) line of Na I in the spectra of Gamma Cas, Delta Ori, Epsilon Ori, Pi Sco, Delta Cyg, and Alpha Cyg. An echelle grating was used in a double-pass configuration with a CCD detector in the coude spectrograph of the 2.7 m reflector at McDonald Observatory. At least 42 kinematically distinct clouds are detected along the light paths to the five more distant stars, in addition to a single cloud seen toward Delta Cyg. The absorption lines arising in 13 of the clouds are sufficiently narrow and unblended to reveal clearly resolved hyperfine structure components split by 1.05 km/s. An additional 13 clouds apparently show comparably narrow, but more strongly blended, lines. For each individual cloud, upper limits T(sub max) and (v sub t) (sub max) on the temperature and the turbulent velocity, respectively, are derived by fitting the observing lines with theoretical absorption profiles.

Hobbs, L. M.↗

Positron annihilation in the interstellar medium

Positronium formation and annihilation are studied in a model for the interstellar medium consisting of cold cloud cores, warm partially ionized cloud envelopes, and hot intercloud gas. The gamma-ray spectra resulting from positron annihilation in these components of the interstellar medium are calculated. The spectra from the individual components are then combined, using two limiting assumptions for the propagation of the positrons, namely, that the positrons propagate freely throughout the interstellar medium, and that the positrons are excluded from the cold cloud cores. In the first case, the bulk of the positrons annihilate in the cloud cores and the annihilation line exhibits broad wings resulting from the annihilation of positronium formed by charge exchange in flight. In the second case, the positrons annihilate mainly in the warm envelopes, and the line wings are suppressed.

Guessoum, Nidhal↗

Flare gamma ray continuum emission from neutral pion decay

We investigate, in detail, the production of solar flare gamma ray emission above 100 MeV via the interaction of high energy protons with the ambient solar atmosphere. We restrict our considerations to the broadband gamma ray spectrum resulting from the decay of neutral pions produced in p-H reactions. Thick-target calculations are performed to determine the photon fluences. However, proton transport is not considered. Inferences about the form of the proton spectrum at 10-100 MeV have already been drawn from de-excitation gamma ray lines. Our aim is to constrain the proton spectrum at higher energies. Thus, the injected proton spectrum is assumed to have the form of a Bessel Function, characteristics of stochastic energy at higher energies. The detailed shape of the gamma ray spectra around 100 MeV is found to have a strong dependence on the spectral index of the power law and on the turnover energy (from Bessel function to power law). As would be expected, the harder the photon spectrum the wider the 100 MeV feature. The photon spectra are to be compared with observations and used to place limits upon the number of particles accelerated and to constrain acceleration models.

Alexander, David↗

Analysis, review, and documentation of the activation data from LDEF material

Samples removed from Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF-1) are being studied at various laboratories to determine the specific activity(pCi/kg) produced in orbit by exposure to protons and neutrons in near-Earth orbit. These activities are being corrected for efficiency, self-attenuation, and background. The activities and associated gamma-ray spectra are being collected, analyzed, documented and reviewed by faculty and graduate students at Eastern Kentucky University. The currently available activation results have been tabulated and reviewed in this report. Approximately 500 spectra have been accumulated for future archival and analysis. The effect of the changing satellite orbit on the activation is reported herein and was calculated using more recent estimates of the flux of Van Allen belt protons.

Laird, C. E.↗

Proceedings of Lunar and Planetary Science, Volume 22; Conference, Houston, TX, Mar. 18-22, 1991

Various papers on lunar and planetary science are presented. Individual topics addressed include: analysis of Phobos Mission Gamma ray spectra from Mars, comparison of volcanic and modified landforms from Tharsis Montes on Mars, polygenetic origin of Hrad Vallis region of Mars, new evidence of lacustrine basins on Mars, flood surge through the Lunae Planum Outflow Complex on Mars, interpretation of canyon materials and flood sources on Kasei Valles on Mars, geochemistry of Manson Impact structure rocks, micrometer-sized glass spheres in Apollo 16 soil 61181, isotopic abundances in Pesyanoe of solar-type xenon, mineralogy of 12 large 'chondritic' interplanetary dust particles. Also discussed are: trace elements in chondritic stratospheric particles, evolution of isotopic signatures in lunar regolith nitrogen, pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the moon, origin of picritic green glass magmas by polybaric fractional fusion, origin of yellow glasses associated with Apollo 15 KREEP basalt fragments, trace elements in 59 mostly highland moon rocks, mineralization on the moon, relation between diogenite cumulates and eucrite magmas.

Ryder, Graham↗

Neutron stars and black holes

The radiation of neutron stars is powered by accretion, rotation, or internal heat; accreting black holes are thought to be the central engines of AGNs and of a handful of binary X-ray sources in the Galaxy. The evolution of a neutron star depends on the coupling between the rotating neutron and proton fluids in the interior, and between these fluids and the crust; it also depends on the magnetic and thermal properties of the star. Significant progress has been made in recent years in the understanding of radial and disk accretion by black holes. Radiation from pair plasmas may make an important contribution to the X- and gamma-ray spectra of AGNs and black holes in binary systems.

Lamb, F. K.↗

Study of activation data of metal samples from LDEF-1 and Spacelab-2

Gamma-ray spectra obtained from samples flown aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility have been analyzed to obtain the nuclear species produced in this material by the interaction of this material with protons and neutrons in this material by the interaction of this material with protons and neutrons encountered in its 69 month orbital flight as well as to quantify the specific activity (pCi/kg) of these nuclear species. This quantification requires accurate corrections of efficiency, self-attenuation, and background. Plans have been developed for archival of the spectra in a form readily accessible to the scientific, engineering and technical community engaged in space research and application. Work has been initiated in the process of estimating the flux of activating particles encountered by material at various locations of the spacecraft.

Laird, C. E.↗

Status of LDEF activation measurements and archive

We review the status of induced radioactivity measurements for the LDEF spacecraft which includes studies of the nuclide, target, directional and depth dependences of the activation. Analysis of the data has focused on extraction of the specific activities for many materials to develop a global picture of the low Earth orbital environment to which the LDEF was subjected. Preliminary comparisons of data in a previous review showed that it was possible to make meaningful intercomparisons between results obtained at different facilities. Generally these comparisons were good and gave results to within 10-20 percent, although some analysis remains. These results clearly provide constraints for recent calculations being performed of the radiation environment of the LDEF. We are not anticipating a period of production of final activation results. An archive is being prepared jointly between NASA/Marshall and Eastern Kentucky University which will include gamma ray spectra and other intermediate results.

Harmon, B. Alan↗

Gamma-ray lines from the Orion complex

We show that the 4.44 and 6.13 MeV line emission observed with the Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) from Orion is consistent with gamma-ray spectra consisting of a mixture of narrow and broad lines or spectra containing only broad lines. We employed several accelerated particle compositions and showed that the current COMPTEL data in the 3-7 MeV region alone cannot distinguish between the various possibilities. However, the COMPTEL upper limits in the 1-3 MeV band favor a composition similar to that of the winds of Wolf-Rayet stars of spectral type WC. The power dissipated by the accelerated particles at Orion is about 4 x 10(exp 38) ergs/s. These particles are not expected to produce significant amounts of Al-26.

Ramaty, Reuven↗