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At least 685 records · Page 38
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NASA NTRS1987

Evidence for methane and ammonia in the coma of comet P/Halley

Methane and ammonia abundances in the coma of Halley are derived from Giotto ion mass spectrometer data using an Eulerian model of chemical and physical processes inside the contact surface to simulate Giotto high-intensity spectrometer ion mass spectral data for mass-to-charge ratios (m/q) from 15 to 19. The ratio m/q = 19/18 as a function of distance from the nucleus is not reproduced by a model for a pure water coma. It is necessary to include the presence of NH3, and uniquely NH3, in coma gases in order to explain the data. A ratio of production rates Q(NH3)/Q(H2O) = 0.01 = 0.02 results in model values approximating the Giotto data. Methane is identified as the most probable source of the distinct peak at m/q = 15. The observations are fit best with Q(CH4)/Q(Q2O) = 0.02. The chemical composition of the comet nucleus implied by these production rate ratios is unlike that of the outer planets. On the other hand, there are also significant differences from observations of gas phase interstellar material.

Allen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Water vapor in the Orion Molecular Cloud

Infrared observations of interstellar gas-phase H2O in the spectrum of the BN object in Orion are reported. There are absorptions (S/N = 2-5) at the positions of four of the strong lines in the 000-001 nu3 vibration-rotation band. With an estimated excitation temperature of 150 K, the column density of gaseous H2O toward BN in the OMC-1 cloud is (2 + or - 1) x 10 to the 17th/sq cm. The intensities of the lines imply an ortho/para ratio of 1 + or - 0.5 indicating recent sublimation of H2O from low-temperature grains. The results give gas-phase abundance ratios of H2O/CO roughly 0.03 + or - 0.02 and HDO/H2O = 0.001-0.0001 toward BN. The velocities of the H2O absorptions agree with those of the ridge source and CO outflow, but the position along the line of sight is not well constrained. The gas/solid ratio is H2O(gas)/H20(ice) = 0.05 or less. Less than 1 percent of the oxygen is in H2O gas (assuming total cosmic abundance). Most of the H2O in the line of sight to BN, and by inference in quiescent regions of molecular clouds generally, is frozen on grains.

Knacke, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Molecular line emission models of Herbig-Haro objects. II - HCO(+) emission

We present time-dependent models of the chemistry and temperature of interstellar molecular gas clumps that are exposed to the radiation from propagating stellar-jet shocks. The X-ray, EUV, and FUV radiation from the shock initiates ion chemistry and also heats the gas in the clumps. Using representative parameters, we show that, on the shock transit time between the clumps, the abundances of the ionized molecular species that are produced in the clumps can exceed the values determined from steady state models by several orders of magnitude. Collisional excitation by the heated gas can lead to measurable line emission from several ionized species; as in previous investigations of X-ray-irradiated molecular gas, we find that electron impacts contribute significantly to this process. We apply these results to the interpretation of the HCO(+) line emission that has already been detected in several Herbig-Haro objects. We demonstrate that this picture provides a natural explanation of the fact that the line intensity typically peaks ahead of the associated shock, as well as of the reported low line-center velocities and narrow line widths. We tabulate several diagnostic line intensities of HCO(+) and other molecular species that may be used to infer the physical conditions in the emitting gas.

Wolfire, Mark G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Engineering Ulysses extended mission

The Ulysses Mission is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The mission is unique, enabling exploration of the heliosphere within a few astronomical units of the Sun over a full range of heliographic latitudes adding a third dimension to our understanding of the Solar System. The advanced scientific instrumentation on Ulysses continually measures the properties of the heliospheric magnetic field, the solar wind, solar radio bursts and plasma waves, galactic cosmic rays, energetic particles, solar X-rays, and interstellar neutral gas. By the end of 1995, the spacecraft will have completed measurements at heliographic latitudes up to 80 degrees over a single orbit of the Sun. The properties of the heliosphere are solar cycle dependent, and Ulysses' first orbit of the Sun will have taken place around a solar minimum. In order to characterize the heliosphere over a full (11 year) solar cycle, it is desirable to continue measurements over a second orbit of the Sun, a new Odyssey that will extend through 2001. Since the spacecraft was only designed for a five-year mission, a number of technical challenges have been surmounted in order to demonstrate the engineering feasibility of this unparalleled scientific opportunity. This paper describes the changes that were necessary to the Ulysses mission engineering and mission operations in order to ensure continual, effective payload operation throughout 1996-2001.

Standley, Shaun↗
NASA NTRS1995

A critical analysis of interstellar Zn and Cr as galactic abundance benchmarks for quasar absorbers

We present interstellar gas-phase abundances of zinc and chromium in the Milky Way for comparison with the abundances of these elements in damped Ly-alpha systems at redshifts near z approximately 2. We make use of both IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) and GHRS (Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph) archival information in deriving the Milky Way values and find that the average difference in (Zn/H) and (Cr/Zn) between the Milky Way and damped Ly-alpha systems at large N(H1) is about 0.9 dex. The Zn/H values we find for the Milky Way are approximately -0.2 to -0.7 dex below solar and are due in large part to depletion of Zn onto dust grains. The amount of this gas-phase depletion is variable and depends upon the H1 column density and molecular fraction of the gas. Milky Way sight lines having low molecular fractions have values of (Zn/H) within approximately 0.2 dex of the solar value. Combined with larger values of (Cr/Zn) found for the damped Ly-alpha systems, this result confirms that measures of (Zn/H) should accurately reflect the lower gas-phase abundances of Zn found in these systems.

Sembach, Kenneth R.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Studies of Interstellar Pickup Ions in the Solar Wind

The work under this grant involves studies of the interaction of interstellar pickup ions with the solar wind, with the goal of a comprehensive model of the particle distributions and wave intensities to be expected throughout the heliosphere, as well as the interactions of those distributions with the solar wind termination shock. In the past year, we have completed a number of projects, including observations and modeling of the effects of a large scattering mean free path on the pickup He(+) seen at AMPTE, an analytical model of anisotropic pickup tons in a steady radial magnetic field, and a derivation of a reduced solar wind Mach number due to increased estimates on the inflowing hydrogen density allowing for a weak termination shock. In the next year, we plan to investigate in more detail the correspondence between our models of anisotropic pickup ions and the data on spectra, variations, and proton-He(+) correlation provided by AMPTE, Ulysses, and our instrument on SOHO. We will model the time-dependent pickup ion density resulting from finite periods of radial magnetic field. We will also incorporate the effects of a large mean free path into our analysis of the He(+) focusing cone, leading to more accurate parameter values for the interstellar helium gas. This progress report also includes a discussion of our Space Physics Educational Outreach activities in the past year and plans for the next year.

Isenberg, Philip A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Modeling of the EUV and X-Ray Emission Spectra Induced by the Solar Winds Ions in the Heliosphere

We have carried out investigation of the EUV and X-ray emission spectra induced in interaction between the Solar Wind (SW) and interstellar neutral gas. The spectra of most important SW ions have been computed for the charge-exchange mechanism of X-ray emission using new accurate spectroscopic data from recent laboratory measurements and theoretical calculations. Total spectra have been constructed as a sum of spectra induced in the charge-exchange collisions by individual O(exp q+), C(exp q+), N(exp q+), Ne(exp q+), Mg (exp q+) and Fe(exp q+) ions. Calculations have been performed for X-ray emission from the heliospheric hydrogen and helium gas. X-ray maps of the heliosphere have been computed. The power density of X-ray sources in the heliospheric ecliptic plane is shown for the H gas and for the He gas. Distances from the Sun (0,0) are given in AU. The helium cone is clear seen in the X-ray map of the charge-exchange emission induced by the solar wind. X-ray emission spectra detected by the Chandra X-ray telescope from the "dark" side of Moon has been identified as a X-ray background emission induced by the solar wind from the geocorona. Spectra and intensities of this charge-exchange X-rays have been compared with the heliospheric component of the X-ray background. Observations and modeling of the SW spectra induced from the geocorona indicate a strong presence of emission lines of highly charged oxygen ions. Anisotropy in distribution of heliospheric X-rays has been predicted and calculated for the regions of the fast and slow solar winds.

Kharchenko, Vasili↗
NASA NTRS2011

Generalized Jeans' Escape of Pick-Up Ions in Quasi-Linear Relaxation

Jeans escape is a well-validated formulation of upper atmospheric escape that we have generalized to estimate plasma escape from ionospheres. It involves the computation of the parts of particle velocity space that are unbound by the gravitational potential at the exobase, followed by a calculation of the flux carried by such unbound particles as they escape from the potential well. To generalize this approach for ions, we superposed an electrostatic ambipolar potential and a centrifugal potential, for motions across and along a divergent magnetic field. We then considered how the presence of superthermal electrons, produced by precipitating auroral primary electrons, controls the ambipolar potential. We also showed that the centrifugal potential plays a small role in controlling the mass escape flux from the terrestrial ionosphere. We then applied the transverse ion velocity distribution produced when ions, picked up by supersonic (i.e., auroral) ionospheric convection, relax via quasi-linear diffusion, as estimated for cometary comas [1]. The results provide a theoretical basis for observed ion escape response to electromagnetic and kinetic energy sources. They also suggest that super-sonic but sub-Alfvenic flow, with ion pick-up, is a unique and important regime of ion-neutral coupling, in which plasma wave-particle interactions are driven by ion-neutral collisions at densities for which the collision frequency falls near or below the gyro-frequency. As another possible illustration of this process, the heliopause ribbon discovered by the IBEX mission involves interactions between the solar wind ions and the interstellar neutral gas, in a regime that may be analogous [2].

Moore, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Discovery of a Fast Iron Low-ionization Outflow in the Early Evolution of the Nearby Tidal Disruption Event AT 2019qiz

We report the results of ultraviolet (UV) and optical photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the tidal disruption event (TDE) AT 2019qiz. Our follow-up observations started <10 days after the source began to brighten in the optical and lasted for a period of six months. Our late-time host-dominated spectrum indicates that the host galaxy likely harbors a weak active galactic nucleus. The initial Hubble Space Telescope (HST) spectrum of AT 2019qiz exhibits an iron and low-ionization broad absorption line (FeLoBAL) system that is seen for the first time in a TDE. This spectrum also bears a striking resemblance to that of Gaia16apd, a superluminous supernova. Our observations provide insights into the outflow properties in TDEs and show evidence for a connection between TDEs and engine-powered supernovae at early phases, as originally suggested by Metzger & Stone (2016). In a time frame of 50 days, the UV spectra of AT 2019qiz started to resemble those of previous TDEs with only high-ionization BALs. The change in UV spectral signatures is accompanied by a decrease in the outflow velocity, which began at 15,000 km/s and decelerated to ~ 10,000 km/s. A similar evolution in the Ha emission-line width further supports the speculation that the broad Balmer emission lines are formed in TDE outflows. In addition, we detect narrow absorption features on top of the FeLoBAL signatures in the early HST UV spectrum of AT 2019qiz. The measured H I column density corresponds to a Lyman-limit system, whereas the metal absorption lines (such as N V, C IV, Fe II, and Mg II) are likely probing the circumnuclear gas and interstellar medium in the host galaxy.

Tiara Hung↗
NASA NTRS1975

The depletion of interstellar elements and the interaction between gas and dust in space

Observational data obtained by the Copernicus satellite and ground-based facilities are discussed which show that the depletion of interstellar elements apparently varies with cloud density in the way to be expected if the depletions were due to accretion of gas atoms or ions onto grains. It is shown that the depletion-by-accretion mechanism is supported by a good correlation between depletions and first ionization potentials of the elements (except for lithium, sodium, and potassium) and that this mechanism offers an alternative to the grain-condensation hypothesis in which most of the interstellar medium is required to have been processed through stellar nebulae. It is noted that if the grains do not normally carry positive charges, ion-grain encounters are the most important interactions between gas and dust and may be significant in determining ionization equilibrium, especially if there is a large population of very small grains.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2015

THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM AND FEEDBACK IN THE PROGENITORS OF THE COMPACT PASSIVE GALAXIES AT z ∼ 2

Quenched galaxies at z > 2 are nearly all very compact relative to z ∼ 0, suggesting a physical connection between high stellar density and efficient, rapid cessation of star-formation. We present rest-frame UV spectra of Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) at z ∼ 3 selected to be candidate progenitors of the quenched galaxies at z ∼ 2 based on their compact rest-frame-optical sizes and high Σ{sub SFR}. We compare their UV properties to those of more extended LBGs of similar mass and star-formation rate (non-candidates). We find that candidate progenitors have faster bulk interstellar medium (ISM) gas velocities and higher equivalent widths of interstellar absorption lines, implying larger velocity spread among absorbing clouds. Candidates deviate from the relationship between equivalent widths of Lyα and interstellar absorption lines in that their Lyα emission remains strong despite high interstellar absorption, possibly indicating that the neutral H I fraction is patchy, such that Lyα photons can escape. We detect stronger C IV P-Cygni features (emission and absorption) and He II emission in candidates, indicative of larger populations of metal-rich Wolf-Rayet stars compared to non-candidates. The faster bulk motions, broader spread of gas velocity, and Lyα properties of candidates are consistent with their ISM being subject to more energetic feedback than non-candidates. Together with their larger metallicity (implying more evolved star-formation activity) this leads us to propose, if speculatively, that they are likely to quench sooner than non-candidates, supporting the validity of selection criteria used to identify them as progenitors of z ∼ 2 passive galaxies. We propose that massive, compact galaxies undergo more rapid growth of their stellar mass content, perhaps because the gas accretion mechanisms are different, and quench sooner than normally sized LBGs at these (early) epochs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1991

First results from the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph - Element abundances as a function of velocity in the neutral gas toward Xi Persei

Observations of ultraviolet interstellar absorption lines toward Xi Persei obtained with the echelle mode of the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) aboard the HST at a resolution of 3.5 km/s are presented. The data for O I, C II, Mg II, S II, Fe II, Si II, Mn II, and Zn II are converted into representations of apparent column density per unit velocity, Na(v), over the velocity range from -30 to +40 km/s. The profiles for ions that are the dominant state of ionization in neutral clouds permit a study of the variation of element abundance with velocity caused by changes in the gas phase depletion in the different absorbing regions situated toward Xi Per. In the denser portions of the diffuse clouds, heavy element depletions are very large. However, in absorbing components near -5 and +25 km/s, the depletions are less severe, with a nearly solar gas phase abundance ratio being found for the gas in the +25 km/s component. The measurements confirm that the GHRS is well suited for diagnostic spectroscopy of interstellar gas.

Savage, Blair D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Interstellar reddening and gamma-ray emission as tracers of interstellar matter

It is shown that the gas to dust ratio in our galaxy is almost constant, even in regions of very different densities. The detailed comparison of the latitude distribution of the gamma-ray intensity with reddening data shows that in the solar vicinity the latter gives the best estimate of the total amount of interstellar gas. This conclusion is used to compute the nearby contributions to the gamma-rays longitude distribution observed by SAS II. Some implications for the large scale structure of the galaxy are examined.

Puget, J. L.↗
DOE OSTI2013

CAN INTERSTELLAR PROPENE (CH{sub 3}CHCH{sub 2}) BE FORMED VIA GAS-PHASE REACTIONS?

Propene (CH{sub 3}CHCH{sub 2}), detected in the cold core TMC-1, is a surprisingly saturated (H-rich) species for observation in such regions. In a recently proposed gas-phase formation mechanism, interstellar propene is produced from its protonated precursor C{sub 3}H{sup +}{sub 7} (CH{sub 3}CHCH{sup +}{sub 3}) via a dissociative recombination process. The precursor ion C{sub 3}H{sup +}{sub 7} is itself produced via two consecutive radiative association reactions involving H{sub 2} starting from the isomer of C{sub 3}H{sup +}{sub 3} with a linear carbon backbone (CH{sub 2}CCH{sup +}). Initial calculations showed that the radiative association reactions are efficient enough to allow the production of an abundance of propene equal to that observed. However, a combination of experiments and more refined quantum chemical ab initio calculations reported here does not corroborate the initial result. Indeed, from both of these approaches, we have learned that the radiative association reactions leading to protonated propene do not occur efficiently at interstellar temperatures due to activation energy barriers. The result is that propene cannot be produced efficiently by the suggested gas-phase synthetic route. It is still difficult to say, however, that no suitable gas-phase syntheses for propene can occur in cold cores such as TMC-1.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1987

A detailed investigation of proposed gas-phase syntheses of ammonia in dense interstellar clouds

The initial reactions of the Herbst and Klemperer (1973) and the Dalgarno (1974) schemes (I and II, respectively) for the gas-phase synthesis of ammonia in dense interstellar clouds were investigated. The rate of the slightly endothermic reaction between N(+) and H2 to yield NH(+) and H (scheme I) under interstellar conditions was reinvestigated under thermal and nonthermal conditions based on laboratory data. It was found that the relative importance of this reaction in synthesizing ammonia is determined by how the laboratory data at low temperature are interpreted. On the other hand, the exothermic reaction between N and H3(+) to form NH2(+) + H (scheme II) was calculated to possess significant activation energy and, therefore, to have a negligible rate coefficient under interstellar conditions. Consequently, this reaction cannot take place appreciably in interstellar clouds.

Herbst, Eric↗
NASA NTRS1995

The neutral atomic phases of the interstellar medium

We calculate the thermal equilibrium gas temperature of the diffuse interstellar medium. Our method incorporates a new photoelectric heating rate from small grains and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that accounts for a size distribution of particles extending from 100 to 3 A radius. We also include a detailed treatment of the ionization rates and heating due to the soft X-ray background and due to cosmic rays. Phase diagrams (thermal pressure P versus hydrogen density n) are presented for gas that is illuminated by local interstellar far-ultraviolet (FUV) and X-ray radiation fields. A stable two-phase medium is produced with thermal pressure in the range P/k approximately = to 10(exp 3-4) K/cc. We demonstrate that photoelectric heating from PAHs dominates in the warm neutral phase (WNM) and cold neutral phase (CNM). If the C II (158 micrometers cooling per hydrogen nucleus in the solar neighborhood represents an average value for the Galaxy, we predict L(sub CII) approximately = to 7 x 10(exp 7) solar luminosities from the CNM in the Galaxy, comparable to that observed by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE). We discuss the dependence of the results on absorbing column density, gas phase abundances, dust abundances and metallicity, FUV field, and the X-ray radiation field. These results will be useful in modeling the multiphase structure of high-velocity clouds in the halo, the interstellar matter (ISM) at other galactocentric radii, and the ISM in external galaxies and galactic nuclei.

Wolfire, M. G.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Multiple generations of grain aggregation in different environments preceded solar system body formation

The solar system formed from interstellar dust and gas in a molecular cloud. Astronomical observations show that typical interstellar dust consists of amorphous (a-) silicate and organic carbon. Bona fide physical samples for laboratory studies would yield unprecedented insight about solar system formation, but they were largely destroyed. The most likely repositories of surviving presolar dust are the least altered extraterrestrial materials, interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) with probable cometary origins. Cometary IDPs contain abundant submicron a-silicate grains called GEMS (glass with embedded metal and sulfides), believed to be carbon-free. Some have detectable isotopically anomalous a-silicate components from other stars, proving they are preserved dust inherited from the interstellar medium. However, it is debated whether the majority of GEMS predate the solar system or formed in the solar nebula by condensation of high-temperature (>1,300 K) gas. Here, we map IDP compositions with single nanometer-scale resolution and find that GEMS contain organic carbon. Mapping reveals two generations of grain aggregation, the key process in growth from dust grains to planetesimals, mediated by carbon. GEMS grains, some with a-silicate subgrains mantled by organic carbon, comprise the earliest generation of aggregates. These aggregates (and other grains) are encapsulated in lower-density organic carbon matrix, indicating a second generation of aggregation. Since this organic carbon thermally decomposes above ~450 K, GEMS cannot have accreted in the hot solar nebula, and formed, instead, in the cold presolar molecular cloud and/or outer protoplanetary disk. We suggest that GEMS are consistent with surviving interstellar dust, condensed in situ, and cycled through multiple molecular clouds.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF HYDROGEN ADSORBING TO AMORPHOUS WATER ICE: DEFINING ADSORPTION IN CLASSICAL MOLECULAR DYNAMICS

Gas–grain and gas–phase reactions dominate the formation of molecules in the interstellar medium (ISM). Gas–grain reactions require a substrate (e.g., a dust or ice grain) on which the reaction is able to occur. The formation of molecular hydrogen (H{sub 2}) in the ISM is the prototypical example of a gas–grain reaction. In these reactions, an atom of hydrogen will strike a surface, stick to it, and diffuse across it. When it encounters another adsorbed hydrogen atom, the two can react to form molecular hydrogen and then be ejected from the surface by the energy released in the reaction. We perform in-depth classical molecular dynamics simulations of hydrogen atoms interacting with an amorphous water-ice surface. This study focuses on the first step in the formation process; the sticking of the hydrogen atom to the substrate. We find that careful attention must be paid in dealing with the ambiguities in defining a sticking event. The technical definition of a sticking event will affect the computed sticking probabilities and coefficients. Here, using our new definition of a sticking event, we report sticking probabilities and sticking coefficients for nine different incident kinetic energies of hydrogen atoms [5–400 K] across seven different temperatures of dust grains [10–70 K]. We find that probabilities and coefficients vary both as a function of grain temperature and incident kinetic energy over the range of 0.99–0.22.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗