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The acquisition of short wavelength spectra of Beta Cephei variable stars from the International Ultraviolet Explorer is reported. A total of 122 images of 10 variable stars and 3 comparison stars were obtained. All of the images were observed in the high dispersion mode through a small aperture. The development of image processing methods is also briefly discussed.
Spectral scans of the Mg II k line in Beta Per were obtained with Copernicus during two primary eclipses. A brief description of observation in a short frame mode is given. The observed data are compared with computed line profiles based on the eclipse geometry of spherical stars. It is shown that a nonuniform circumstellar envelope, or cloud, probably is present. In one scan, a red-shifted line of P Cygni-type profile appeared, indicating the occurrence of an unusual event in the close binary system.
It is shown that the opaque disk model for the Beta Lyrae secondary applies not only to B, V light curves, but also to the far ultraviolet, if allowance is made for the domination of the secondary's radiation by emission lines in the UV. The model also gives the correct phase and form of rotational eclipse disturbance (Rossiter effect), which is viewed here as a strong discriminator between opaque disk and semitransparent disk models.
A focused laser Doppler velocimeter system was developed for the measurement of atmospheric backscatter (beta) from aerosols at infrared wavelengths. The system was flight tested at several different locations and the results of these tests are summarized.
A semiempirical modeling of stellar chromospheres is extended to late-type supergiants, where computations match high-resolution, absolute-flux profiles of the Ca II K and Mg II h and k lines. IUE UV spectra of Epsilon Gem and Alpha Ori show no evidence of emission lines formed at temperatures greater than 10,000 K, leading to the computation of chromospheric models extending to 10 to the -6th g/sq cm at temperatures that rise to 6500 K for the former star and 7000 K for the latter. By contrast, the C II-IV, Si IV, and He II and N V strong emission lines of Beta Dra lead to a tentative chromospheric model extension to 16,000 K at 0.012 dynes/sq cm. It is pointed out that the Ca II and Mg II line analyses presented, which assume hydrostatic equilibrium with only thermal and turbulent components to the pressure, imply nearly plane-parallel chromospheres even in the case of Alpha Ori.
The variation of the electronic transition moment with internuclear separation has been calculated for the beta and delta systems of NO. Theoretical band intensities for the fundamental and first two overtones have also been calculated for the ground state. The results are based on the self-consistent-field plus configuration-interaction technique, and they are compared with the existing experimental data. Theoretical potential-energy curves and the spectroscopic constants for the X-squared Pi, B-squared Pi, and C-squared Pi electronic states of NO are also reported.
An ultraviolet spectral atlas is presented for the B8 Ia star Beta Orionis, which has been scanned from 999 to 1561 A by the Princeton spectrometer aboard the Copernicus satellite. From 999 to 1420 A the observations have a nominal resolution of 0.05 A. At the longer wavelengths the resolution is 0.1 A. The atlas is presented in graphs. Lines identified in the spectrum are also listed.
Preliminary experimental results are presented of an investigation of the possible role of preferential radiolysis by electrons emitted in the beta decay of radionuclides, a parity-nonconserving process, in the universal causation of the optical activity of biological compounds. Experiments were designed to measure the asymmetry in the production of triplet positronium upon the bombardment of an amino acid powder target by a collimated beam of positrons as positron helicity or target chirality is reversed. No asymmetry down to a level of 0.0007 is found in experiments on the D and L forms of cystine and tryptophan, indicating an asymmetry in positronium formation cross section of less than 0.01, while an asymmetry of 0.0031 is found for leucine, corresponding to a formation cross section asymmetry of about 0.04
Beta flight test data analysis, LDV signal processing analysis and simulation, data processing code, and CESTIM, signal processing code are presented.
An attempt is made to understand the role of latent heat release in the development of baroclinic waves by developing the analytical theory of two-level, quasi-geostrophic baroclinic waves proposed by Phillips (1954) without beta effect, for the case of an atmosphere initially saturated with water vapor and subject to pseudo-adiabatic lifting and dry adiabatic subsistence. The saturated atmosphere condition precludes consideration of conditional convective instability. A consideration of disturbances at each level which depends only on the zonal coordinates and time results in a set of differential equations which is linear in all respects except for the latent heating term in the thermodynamic energy equation. A fundamental nonlinearity is present in this model which is due to heating via the release of latent heat when vertical motion is upward.
A beta-plane model of the stratosphere is used to investigate the planetary-wave amplitude vacillations first reported by Holton and Mass (1976). This model differs from theirs in allowing more horizontal modes. For low surface wave amplitudes, a new class of solutions is found which exhibits a stationary, partially reflecting critical line at steady state. The critical line equilibrates at lower altitudes as the wave forcing is increased. Vacillating solutions occur when the steady state critical line occurs near the lower boundary. The maximum wave amplitude and the maximum steady-state wave amplitude found in the model are in the ratio of 2:1, in good agreement with theoretical predictions. The maximum wave amplitude never exceeds 2200 gpm which is quite close to the saturation limit predicted by Schoeberl (1982). An analysis of the statistics of slowly and rapidly vacillating flows shows that both the wave and zonal mean variances are important in determining the time mean, zonal mean dynamics of the upper stratosphere.
The spectrum of Beta Lyrae from about 1975 to 3010 A taken with the Balloon-borne ultraviolet Stellar Spectrograph experiment in May 1976 at phase 0.61 P is analyzed. Results show the presence of N II semi-forbidden emission and provide evidence for about the same location, in the outer envelope of the system, of the layers responsible for the resonance Mg II doublet emissions and for the "narrow" H-alpha emission. In addition, three sets of absorption lines, P Cygni profiles of Fe III and broad Beals Type III emissions of Mg II, are found to be present.
In plants, gravity stimulates differential growth in the upper and lower halves of horizontally oriented organs. Auxin regulation of cell wall loosening and elongation is the basis for most models of this phenomenon. Auxin treatment of pea stem tissue rapidly increases the activity of Golgi-localized Beta-1,4-glucan synthase, an enzyme involved in biosynthesis of wall xyloglucan which apparently constitutes the substrate for the wall loosening process. The primary objective is to determine if auxin induces de novo formation of Golgi glucan synthase and increases the level of this glucan synthase mRNA. This shall be accomplished by (a) preparation of a monoclonal antibody to the synthase, (b) isolation, and characterization of the glucan synthase, and (c) examination for cross reactivity between the antibody and translation products of auxin induced mRNAs in pea tissue. The antibody will also be used to localize the glucan synthase in upper and lower halves of pea stem tissue before, during and after the response to gravity.
The atmospheric backscatter coefficient, beta, measured with an airborne CO Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) system operating in a continuous wave, focussed model is discussed. The Single Particle Mode (SPM) algorithm, was developed from concept through analysis of an extensive amount of data obtained with the system on board a NASA aircraft. The SPM algorithm is intended to be employed in situations where one particle at a time appears in the sensitive volume of the LDV. In addition to giving the backscatter coefficient, the SPM algorithm also produces as intermediate results the aerosol density and the aerosol backscatter cross section distribution. A second method, which measures only the atmospheric backscatter coefficient, is called the Volume Mode (VM) and was simultaneously employed. The results of these two methods differed by slightly less than an order of magnitude. The measurement uncertainties or other errors in the results of the two methods are examined.
A high-resolution (approximately 2 km) image of Beta Regio, Venus, obtained with the Arecibo radar system, reveals additional details of its structure which seem to confirm past suggestions that this region consists of a rift system and associated volcanism. Numerous long linear features approximately parallel to the north-south trending trough discovered by the Pioneer-Venus Orbiter are interpreted as being indicative of extensive faulting and the detail for the radar reflectivity anomaly coincident with Theia Mons suggests that it is a major volcano situated on what would be the western bounding fault of the rift system.
An experiment conducted on beta-sialon in atmospheric pressure, using a temperature of 2000 C and 4 MPa nitrogen atmosphere, is described. Thermal decomposition was inhibited by the increase of the nitrogen gas pressure.
Kinetic energy of the near storm environment was analyzed by meso beta scale data. It was found that horizontal winds in the 400 to 150 mb layer strengthen rapidly north of the developing convection. Peak values then decrease such that the maximum disappears 6 h later. Southeast of the storms, wind speeds above 300 mb decrease nearly 50% during the 3 h period of most intense thunderstorm activity. When the convection dissipates, wind patterns return to prestorm conditions. The mesoscale storm environment of AVE-SESAME 5 is characterized by large values of cross contour generation of kinetic energy, transfers of energy to nonresolvable scales of motion, and horizontal flux divergence. These processes are maximized within the upper troposphere and are greatest during times of strongest convection. It is shown that patterns agree with observed weather features. The southeast area of the network is examined to determine causes for vertical wind variations.
The effects of small changes in the concentration of an oxygen content densification aid on the room temperature microhardness of hot isostatically pressed and sintered beta-Si3N4 ceramics are studied. The compositions studied were Si3N4 containing 7 wt. pct BeSiN2, a fixed nonoxide densification aid, and 1.9-3.7 wt. pct oxygen as a second, variable densification aid. A proportional relationship between high density and high oxygen content, regardless of heat treatment type, is noted.