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At least 631 records · Page 35

An IRAS survey of the Taurus-Auriga molecular cloud

IRAS data are used to search for young premain-sequence stars not previously associated with molecular cloud cores in the Taurus-Auriga region. NIR photometry and optical spectroscopy suggest that many of the objects are young stars. The sample includes six new embedded sources with luminosities comparable to that of the average T Tauri star, suggesting that surveys for premain-sequence stars in the cloud are essentially complete for luminosities greater than 0.5 solar luminosities. A disagreement is found between accretion rates derived from the duration of the embedded phase and those derived from the bolometric luminosity. It is found that this disagreement may be reconciled if a star accretes most of its mass in a time that is short compared to the duration of the embedded phase or if the ages of T Tauri stars have been underestimated.

Kenyon, Scott J.↗

Distant asteroids and Chiron

Knowledge of the physical properties of distant asteroids (a greater than 3.3 AU) has grown dramatically over the past five years, due to systematic compositional and lighcurve studies. Most of these objects have red, dark surfaces, and their spectra show a reddening in spectral slope with heliocentric distance, implying a change in surface composition. Trojans for which near-opposition phase curve information is available appear to show little or no opposition effect, unlike any other dark solar system objects. The lightcurve amplitudes of Trojan and Hilda asteroids imply significantly more elongated shapes for these groups than for main-belt asteroids of comparable size. These recent observations are reviewed in the context of their implications for the formationan and subsequent evolution of the distant asteroids, and their interrelations with the main belt, Chiron, and comets.

French, Linda M.↗

Asteroids - The big picture

An attempt is made to construct a simple model of the evolution of the asteroid belt from the data available about the individual asteroids. Data on the meaning of taxonomic types, the stratigraphy of the asteroid belt, the compositional meaning of Tholen space, collisional and dynamical history, and asteroid shapes are reviewed. Two main paradoxes concerning asteroids, called the ordinary chondrite mystery and the olivine problems, are briefly described. Finally, the tentative model is presented, showing how it takes into account condensation locations, heating, collisional evolution, and delivery of asteroids to earth.

Bell, Jeffrey F.↗

Chromospheres of metal-deficient field giants

Observations of the 2800-A Mg II line have been obtained with IUE for a sample of 10 metal-deficient field giant stars to search for chromospheric emission and signatures of mass loss, as well as to establish the level of chromospheric radiative energy losses from these stars. Mg II emission is probably present in all stars. High-resolution spectra of three of the brightest giants show asymmetric Mg II profiles which indicate a differentially expanding atmosphere, signaling the presence of outward mass motions. Surprisingly, the stellar surface fluxes in the Mg II lines are commensurate with the values found for disk giant stars (population I) of similar color. In spite of substantially depleted Mg abundances in the target stars (by factors of 10-100 relative to the solar abundance), the radiative losses implied by the Mg II fluxes, and possibly the chromospheric heating mechanism, appear to be reasonably independent of metallicity and age.

Dupree, A. K.↗

The nu-process

As the core of a massive star collapses to form a neutron star, the flux of neutrinos in the overlying shells of heavy elements becomes so great that, despite the small cross section, substantial nuclear transmutation is induced. Neutrinos excite heavy elements and even helium to particle unbound levels. The evaporation of a single neutron or proton, and the back reaction of these nucleons on other species present, significantly alters the outcome of traditional nucleosynthesis calculations leading to a new process: nu-nucleosynthesis. Modifications to traditional hydrostatic and explosive varieties of helium, carbon, neon, oxygen, and silicon burning are considered. The results show that a large number of rare isotopes, including many of the odd-Z nuclei from boron through copper, owe much of their present abundance in nature to this process.

Woosley, S. E.↗

Comet nuclei and Trojan asteroids - A new link and a possible mechanism for comet splittings

Relatively elongated shapes, implied by recent evidence of a greater incidence of high amplitude lightcurves for comet nuclei and Trojan asteroids than for similarly scaled main belt asteroids, are suggested to have evolved among comet nuclei and Trojans due to volatile loss. It is further suggested that such an evolutionary course may account for observed comet splitting; rotational splitting may specifically occur as a result of evolution in the direction of an elongated shape through sublimation. Supporting these hypotheses, the few m/sec separation velocities projected for rotationally splitting elongated nuclei are precisely in the observed range.

Hartmann, William K.↗

Chromospheres of two red giants in NGC 6752

Two red giant stars, A31 and A59, in the globular cluster NGC 6752 exhibit Mg II (2800 A) emission with surface fluxes comparable to those observed among metal-deficient halo field giants, and among low-activity Population I giants. Optical echelle spectra of these cluster giants reveal emission in the core of the Ca II K (3933.7 A) line, and in the wing of the H-alpha (6562.8 A) profile. Asymmetries exist both in the emission profiles and the line cores. These observations demonstrate unequivocally the existence of chromospheres among old halo population giants, and the presence of mass outflow in their atmospheres. Maintenance of a relatively constant level of chromospheric activity on the red giant branch contrasts with the decay of magnetic dynamo activity exhibited by dwarf stars and younger giants. A purely hydrodynamic phenomenon may be responsible for heating the outer atmospheres of these stars, enhancing chromospheric emission, thus extending the atmospheres and facilitating mass loss.

Dupree, A. K.↗

Early focus development effort, ultrasonic inspection of fixed housing metal-to-adhesive bondline

An ultrasonic technique was developed for the fixed housing metal-to-adhesive bondline that will support the Flight 15 time frame and subsequent motors. The technique has the capability to detect a 1.0 inch diameter unbond with a 90 percent probability of detection (POD) at a 95 percent confidence level. The technique and support equipment will perform within the working envelope dictated by a stacked motor configuration.

Hartmann, John K.↗

Design and fabrication of a long-life Stirling cycle cooler for space application. Phase 3: Prototype model

A second-generation, Stirling-cycle cryocooler (cryogenic refrigerator) for space applications, with a cooling capacity of 5 watts at 65 K, was recently completed. The refrigerator, called the Prototype Model, was designed with a goal of 5 year life with no degradation in cooling performance. The free displacer and free piston of the refrigerator are driven directly by moving-magnet linear motors with the moving elements supported by active magnetic bearings. The use of clearance seals and the absence of outgassing material in the working volume of the refrigerator enable long-life operation with no deterioration in performance. Fiber-optic sensors detect the radial position of the shafts and provide a control signal for the magnetic bearings. The frequency, phase, stroke, and offset of the compressor and expander are controlled by signals from precision linear position sensors (LVDTs). The vibration generated by the compressor and expander is cancelled by an active counter balance which also uses a moving-magnet linear motor and magnetic bearings. The driving signal for the counter balance is derived from the compressor and expander position sensors which have wide bandwidth for suppression of harmonic vibrations. The efficiency of the three active members, which operate in a resonant mode, is enhanced by a magnetic spring in the expander and by gas springs in the compressor and counterbalance. The cooling was achieved with a total motor input power of 139 watts. The magnetic-bearing stiffness was significantly increased from the first-generation cooler to accommodate shuttle launch vibrations.

Keung, C.↗

Pre-encounter observations of 951 Gaspra

Photometry and colorimetry of 951 Gaspra were obtained on nine nights during the 1990 opposition. A composite lightcurve constructed using data from eight of those nights yielded a synodic rotational period of 7.04346 +/- 0.00006 hours, a mean absolute V magnitude of 11.8026 +/- 0.0025, and a slope parameter of 0.285 +/- 0.005. The apparent discrepancy can be easily resolved by realizing that their determination is based primarily on data obtained after opposition. Different phase functions pre- and post-opposition are a natural consequence of a changing aspect during an opposition. If the sub-Earth latitude on Gaspra is at a less equatorial aspect after opposition than it was before opposition, then we would expect to see a shallower phase function (corresponding to a larger numerical value of the slope parameter). Adding weight to this hypothesis is the last observation of the opposition, made in May after Gaspra had passed post opposition quadrature, which is displaced toward brighter absolute magnitudes relative to the rest of our data, indicating an even more poleward sub-Earth latitude than earlier in the opposition. Because the orbits of Earth and Gaspra are nearly coplanar, a substantial change in sub-Earth latitude during the opposition would not have been possible unless the obliquity of the asteroid's rotational axis is not small.

Tholen, D. J.↗

Review of boundary layer transition flight data on the Space Shuttle Orbiter

Both thermocouple data and flight-derived axial force coefficients have been used to determine the freestream flight conditions at which boundary-layer transition occurs on the windward surface of the Space Shuttle Orbiter during reentry. Boundary-layer-edge local flow conditions corresponding to transition at thermocouple locations on the Orbiter windward centerline have also been computed. Tables of the freestream conditions and the local flow conditions at transition are included. Transition occurred over a freestream Mach number range of 6.6 to 17.9 and Reynolds number range of (2.3-9.6) x 10 to the 6th. The roughness state of the Orbiter vehicles is also discussed and correlated to the occurrence of transition. Using the distributed roughness transition correlation of Bertin et al. (1982), a flight-derived roughness height of 0.061 inches was obtained. An average flight-derived roughness height of 0.103 inches for a discrete roughness element in the nose region was obtained using the correlation of Van Driest and Blumer (1968).

Bouslog, S. A.↗

The dynamics of the stratospheric polar vortex and its relation to springtime ozone depletions

Recent aircraft observations have determined the structure of polar vortices during winter and their relationship to polar ozone depletions, based on high dynamical isolation and the extremely low temperatures required for stratospheric cloud formation. The aircraft data reveal large gradients of potential vorticity and concentrations of conservative trace species at the transition from high-latitude to polar air, implying that the inward mixing of heat and constituents is strongly inhibited, and that the perturbed polar stratospheric chemistry associated with the ozone hole is isolated from the rest of the stratosphere until the vortex breaks up in late spring. It is therefore the overall polar vortex which limits the annual polar ozone depletions' maximum area-coverage.

Schoeberl, Mark R.↗

Fuzzy correlations of gamma-ray bursts

The origin of gamma-ray bursts is not known, both in the sense of the nature of the source emitting the radiation and literally, the position of the burst on the sky. Lacking unambiguously identified counterparts in any wavelength band studied to date, statistical approaches are required to determine the burster distance scale. Angular correlation analysis is one of the most powerful tools in this regard. However, poor detector resolution gives large localization errors, effectively beam smearing the positions. The resulting fuzzy angular correlation function is investigated and the generic isotropization that smearing induces on any intrinsic clustering is discussed. In particular, the extent to which gamma-ray burst observations by the BATSE detector aboard the Gamma-Ray Observatory might recover an intrinsic source correlation is investigated.

Hartmann, Dieter H.↗

On the net radiative effectiveness of clouds

The net effect of clouds on the top-of-the-atmosphere energy fluxes was investigated by measuring the relative magnitudes of the effects of clouds on outgoing longwave radiation and on reflected solar radiation. The ratio between these two effects, expressed in terms of the cloud factor angle which measures the departure of the net radiative effect of clouds from a neutral effect, was estimated in two independent ways, using data from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment. Both estimates of the cloud radiative effectiveness indicate that the global average net radiative effect of today's clouds is cooling, with the decrease in the absorbed solar radiation being greater than the decrease in the outgoing longwave radiation.

Hartmann, Dennis L.↗

Three basaltic earth-approaching asteroids and the source of the basaltic meteorites

Diameters of 1.2, 1.0, and 3.4 km are respectively derived for the earth-approaching asteroids 1983 RD, 1980 PA, and 1985 DO2, whose spectra are virtually identical to that of the basaltic-surfaced large asteroid, Vesta. While probably not fragments of Vesta, the three asteroids may be fragments of one or more Vesta-like parent bodies; it is suggested that they may be fragments of the source body or bodies of the HED meteorites. While these asteroids' regoliths have significant insulating properties, they differ from that of the moon in that lunar-like glasses and agglutinates are largely absent. It is noted that asteroids of this kind may have impacted the earth without leaving the chemical signatures associated with the K-T boundary event.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗

X-ray echoes from gamma-ray bursts

The identification of an echo of reflected radiation in time histories of gamma-ray burst spectra can provide important information about the existence of binary companions or accretion disks in gamma-ray burst systems. Because of the nature of Compton scattering, the spectrum of the echo will be attenuated at gamma-ray energies compared with the spectrum of the primary burst emission. The expected temporal and spectral signatures of the echo and a search for such echoes are described, and implications for gamma-ray burst models are discussed.

Dermer, Charles D.↗

Alpha Ori - Evidence for pulsation

The study deals with a periodic modulation of the UV continuum and Mg II emission-line fluxes shown by the bright cool supergiant Alpha Orionis; this pulsation is identified with the supergiant's atmosphere. UV brightness is shown to occur near the time of maximum outflow velocity of the photosphere, while local minima in the UV continuum occur near the time of maximum infall velocity. Visible and UV observations of Alpha Ori since the beginning of the monitoring program with IUE are discussed.

Dupree, A. K.↗