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At least 703 records · Page 39

Cepheids in Magellanic Cloud star clusters - Fundamental and overtone pulsators in NGC 2157

CCD survey data are employed to examine Cepheids in young Magellanic Cloud star clusters. The properties of three Cepheids observed in NGC 2157 are described. It is detected that the two short-period (3 days) Cepheids have photometric properties that correspond to overtone pulsators and the long-period (7.7 days) Cepheid pulses in the fundamental mode. The pulsational masses for the three Cepheids are calculated to be about 5 solar masses. This mass value does not correlate with the average pulsational mass for Cepheids of 3.0 + or - 0.4 solar masses. The potential cause of this deviation in evolutionary/pulsational mass is investigated.

Mateo, Mario↗

Fundamentals of chemistry modeling applicable to a vectorized particle simulation

This paper describes the fundamentals of extending the vectorized particle simulation method derived by Baganoff and McDonald (1990), McDonald and Baganoff (1988), and McDonald (1989) for modeling chemically reacting flows. Details of reaction mechanics per reaction are presented, with particular attention given to the quantum nature of the vibrational mode. The models of reactive flows developed here were verified through a simulation of a superheated diatomic gas relaxing thermochemically to equilibrium in a reservoir.

Haas, Brian L.↗

Infrared laser absorption spectroscopy of the nu4 (sigma u) fundamental and associated nu11(pi u) hot band of C7 - Evidence for alternating rigidity in linear carbon clusters

The first characterization of the bending potential of the C7 cluster is reported via the observation of the v = 1(1) and v = 2 deg levels of the nu11 (pi u) bend as hot bands associated with the nu4 (sigma u) antisymmetric stretch fundamental. The lower state hot band rotational constants are measured to be 1004.4(1.3) and 1123.6(9.0) MHz, constituting a 9.3 and 22 percent increase over the ground state rotational constant, 918.89 (41) MHz. These large increases are strong quartic and sextic centrifugal distortion constants determined for the ground and nu 4 = 1 states are found to be anomalously large and negative, evidencing strong perturbations between stretching and bending modes.

Heath, J. R.↗

Fundamental considerations in adhesion, friction and wear for ceramic-metal contacts

Fundamental studies of friction, wear and adhesion of ceramics in contact with metals are evaluated. It is shown that friction and adhesion are strongly dependent on the ductility of the metals. The surface energy, friction, adhesion and hardness of a metal are related to its Young's modulus and shear modulus, which have a marked dependence on the electron configuration of the metal. Generally, the greater the sheer modulus, the less metal transfer there is to the ceramic.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Fundamental parameters of brightest cluster galaxies

Photometry and spectroscopy of a sample of the brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) are presented, and the relationships between scale length, surface brightness, velocity dispersion, and line strength are determined and compared with the relations determined for lower luminosity ellipticals (LLEs). It is found that the relation between log r(e), log sigma, and mean surface brightness reported by Dressler et al. for LLEs also describes the relation for BCGs fairly well. Fundamental plane solutions for BCGs are derived which can be used as distance indicators with a predicted error of about 21 percent per galaxy. Only a weak correlation is found between the Na D 5893 line strength and velocity dispersion for BCGs, in contrast to the significant correlation between these quantities reported for LLEs. It is found that the mean mass-to-light ratio for BCGs is a factor of about two greater than for the LLEs in the Virgo and Coma sample of Dressler et al.

Oegerle, William R.↗

CO fundamental lines - Indicators for inhomogeneous atmospheres in cool stars

Carbon monoxide fundamental lines near 4.7 microns are employed to probe the thermal structure of the atmospheres of cool stars. A new non-LTE radiation transfer code is used to analyze high-resolution infrared CO line spectra and derive observation-based stellar atmosphere models. The main results are: (1) the CO-based models developed here deviate strongly from previously published models based on UV/visible observations; (2) varying degrees of agreement between the CO empirical models and predictions based on theoretical radiative-equilibrium atmosphere models are found; and (3) the parameter used to quantify this agreement is anticorrelated with the magnitude of chromospheric activity in the observed stars. These results suggest thermally bifurcated upper atmospheres as the standard case for cool stars.

Wiedemann, Guenter↗

Herman-Wallis factors in the C2H2nu5 infrared fundamental near 14 microns

The presence of acetylene has been confirmed for some time in the atmospheres of the outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Saturn's satellite Titan. For these atmospheres, the determination of C2H2 abundances using its strong nu5 fundamental requires laboratory line position and intensity measurements. The 1-m Fourier transform spectrometer at McMath solar telescope of Kitt Peak National Observatory was used to measure C2H2 at an unapodized spectral resolution of 0.0025/cm. Synthetic spectra are generated by convolving a Voigt line shape with an instrument function and varying intensity parameters by means of a nonlinear least squares technique. Intensities of 37 nu5 lines spanning P18 through R20 were measured using 0.123 torr of gas in a 1-cm cell. A Herman-Wallis intensity correction parameter of 1.3(4) x 10 to the -3rd has been derived using a least squares linear fit.

Maguire, William C.↗

Limitations on squeezing and formation of the superposition of two macroscopically distinguishable states at fundamental frequency in the process of second harmonic generation

The results of numerical simulations of quantum state evolution in the process of second harmonic generation (SHG) are discussed. It is shown that at a particular moment of time in the fundamental mode initially coherent state turns into a superposition of two macroscopically distinguished states. The question of whether this superposition exhibits quantum interference is analyzed.

Nikitin, S. P.↗

Fundamental and practical limitations of FUV/EUV photon-counting image detectors

In EUV and FUV space-astronomy applications, the best contemporary detector designs are based on the use of microchannel plates due to their ability to deliver photon-counting performance with high efficiency. The major unresolved issue is the choice of position-readout system for the individual photoevents. Electrical event-readout systems are divided into two classes: the discrete wire anodes that perform coordinate digitization by wire-group selection, and the continuous centroid-position encoders for which coordinates are digitized in the associated electronics. The centroid-position encoder techniques are discussed in terms of how they overcome the four chief limitations of the discrete-wire readouts - their limited format size, their flat focal surface, their fundamental hex-channel vs squared-pixel moire pattern, and their image undersampling. With these limitations overcome, microchannel based image systems can deliver the performance demanded by the forthcoming generation of applications in space astronomy.

Lampton, M.↗

The rationale for fundamental research in space biology - Introduction and background

An overview is presented of the concept and development of SSF and the unique opportunities offered by SSF to take advantage of the greater space, the increased power, and especially the long duration of the station for a cascade of innovative experiments in fundamental science. It is emphasized that this space environment will provide new dimensions for approaching some of the most challenging problems still facing modern biology.

Halstead, T. W.↗

A fundamental theorem for the model reduction of nonlinear systems

A simple, but fundamental, theorem is given on the extent to which a nonlinear system model can have its order reduced. Essentially, the result is that the order, or the dimension of the state space representation, cannot be reduced to, or below, the dimension of the system's attractor. Several examples are given to illustrate this point. The result is especially applicable to higher order systems such as the infinite dimensional systems arising from the modeling of distributed parameter systems.

Mossayebi, Faramarz↗

Detection of fundamental and harmonic type III radio emission and the associated Langmuir waves at the source region

Type III radio emission generated in the vicinity of the Ulysses spacecraft has been detected at both the fundamental and harmonic of the local plasma frequency. The observations represent the first clear evidence of locally generated type III radio emission. This local emission shows no evidence of frequency drift, exhibits a relatively short rise time, is less intense than the observed remotely generated radio emission, and is temporally correlated with observed in situ Langmuir waves. The observations were made with the unified radio astronomy and wave (URAP) experiment on the Ulysses spacecraft between 1990 November 4 and 1991 April 30, as it traveled from 1 to 3 AU from the sun. During this time period many thousands of bursts were observed. However, only three examples of local emission and associated Langmuir waves were identified. This supports previous suggestions that type III radio emission is generated in localized regions of the interplanetary medium, rather than uniformly along the extent of the electron exciter beam.

Reiner, M. J.↗

A Fundamental Study of Smoldering Combustion in Microgravity

A research program is being conducted to study smoldering combustion in microgravity. The program's final objective is to design and conduct smolder experiments in a space based laboratory, which will complement normal gravity ones, and that will help to: increase the current fundamental understanding of smoldering; predict smolder behavior in a space-based installation; and prevent and control smolder originated, ground or space based, fires.

Fernandez-Pello, Carlos↗

Line-width temperature dependence of selected R-branch transitions in the nu-3 fundamental of (N-14)2O-16 between 135 and 295 K

Tunable diode laser spectroscopy has been used to measure the temperature dependence of N2 foreign gas broadening coefficients for eight R-branch transitions in the nu-3 fundamental of (N-14)2O-16 at 135, 176, 210, and 295 K. The exponent n of the relation for quadrupole-quadrupole collisional interactions is found to range from 0.66 to 0.71, in approximate agreement with the theoretically predicted value of 0.75.

Loewenstein, Max↗

Evidence for a fundamental period of the sun and its relation to the 154 day complex of periodicities

We have analyzed the longitude distributions of major flares observed in the 1955-1991 interval, referring them to coordinate systems rotating about axes tilted with respect to the rotation axis of the solar envelope. We find that the longitude distribution exhibits the largest modulation in the coordinate system with the following parameters: rotation period, 25.50 days; tilt angle of the rotation axis, 40 deg; tilt direction, toward the position of the earth on December 4 in its orbit around the sun. We interpret this as being due to an obliquely rotating structure (or a wave pattern rotating about an oblique axis) which has two exciters. We identify the period of 25.50 days as the fundamental period of the hypothetical 'clock' proposed by Bai and Sturrock (1991). The periods of the subharmonics are 51.0, 76.5, 102.0, 127.5, and 153.0 days, in agreement with periodicities found from analysis of flare occurrence times.

Bai, T.↗

Fundamental flame velocities of pure hydrocarbons II : alkadienes

Data are presented for the fundamental flame velocities of 10 pure alkadienes that have isolated, conjugated, or cumulative double-bond systems. On the basis of this limited amount of data and the flame velocities previously reported, it is concluded that unsaturation changes the flame velocity in the order alkanes ? alkenes ? alkadienes with isolated double bonds ?= alkadienes with conjugated double bonds ? alkadienes with cumulative double bonds ?= alkynes. There were no significant differences in the flame velocities of cis and trans 1,3-pentadiene. The alkadienes 1,2-pentadiene and 2,3-pentadiene, with different positions of the cumulative double bond in the straight chain, have similar flame velocities. Methyl substitution in a hydrocarbon reduces the flame velocity; the extent of the reduction increases with the degree of unsaturation of the hydrocarbon.

Levine, Oscar↗

The rationale for fundamental research in space biology: Introduction and background

With the construction of Space Station Freedom, NASA will have available a new platform for experiments in space that promises many advantages over those already flown. Biologists are poised to take advantage of the greater space, the increased power, and especially the long duration of the station for a cascade of innovative experiments in fundamental science that are long overdue. The unique space environment will provide new dimensions for approaching some of the most challenging problems still facing modern biology. Solutions to basic questions about living systems, which may now be grown through many generations in space, will not only explain abnormalities already observed there, but will add to our understanding of how life functions on Earth. Much will be learned about evolution that has built us the way we are, but also about what it has in store for the Earth's species in the future. NASA must not lose this opportunity to contribute to the welfare of the peoples of the Earth while at the same time create knowledge that will enable human exploration of space in the decades ahead.

Halstead, Thora W.↗