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At least 73 records · Page 4

Synthetic spectra of C2 in comets

With the key result of Krishna Swamy and O'Dell (1977), a complete fluorescence equilibrium calculation has been used to predict the detailed Swan-band spectrum in comets. A rotational Boltzmann temperature of approximately 3000 K and small changes in published molecular constants lead to a theoretical spectrum in excellent agreement with that observed. The Fox-Herzberg bands are predicted to be quite weak compared with previously observed ultraviolet features in cometary spectra. The Ballik-Ramsay bands should be observable in the near-infrared.

Ahearn, M. F.↗

Absolute measurements of the electronic transition moments of seven band systems of the C2 molecule

Electronic transition moments of seven C2 singlet and triplet band systems in the 0.2-1.2 micron spectral region were measured. The measurements were made in emission behind incident shock waves in C2H2-argon mixtures. Narrow bandpass radiometers were used to obtain absolute measurements of shock-excited C2 radiation from which absolute electronic transition moments are derived by a synthetic spectrum analysis. New results are reported for the Ballik-Ramsay, Phillips, Swan, Deslandres-d'Azambuja, Fox-Herzberg, Mulliken, and Freymark systems.

Cooper, D. M.↗

Statistical equilibrium in cometary C2. II - Swan/Phillips band ratios

Statistical equilibrium calculations have been made for both the triplet and ground state singlets for C2 in comets, using the exchange rate as a free parameter. The predictions of the results are consistent with optical observations and may be tested definitively by accurate observations of the Phillips and Swan band ratios. Comparison with the one reported observation indicates compatibility with a low exchange rate and resonance fluorescence statistical equilibrium.

Swamy, K. S. K.↗

The detection of the 5577.3 A forbidden line of O I in comets

The spectral synthesis of C2 Swan band sequence Delta V = -1 indicates the intensity of the forbidden green oxygen line of 5577.3 A to be about 3 to 5 percent of the 6300 A line. Therefore, it appears that the green line should be observable in high-resolution spectra of a bright comet. Festou and Feldman suggest red/green greater than or equal to 10 means a water parent origin.

Krishna Swamy, K. S.↗

C2 imagery of the inner coma of Comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock

May 10, 1983 observations of the comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock are analyzed to determine the spatial molecular abundance of C2 in the inner coma, via the Delta-v = +1 Swan band sequence near 4690 A. The observations indicate a deficiency of C2 emission across a projected diameter of about 2000 km that is centered on the peak of continuum emission. Comet imagery indicates a sunward-pointing coma that suggests an outburst of subsurface volatile ices through a nonvolatile surface crust, as predicted for periodic comets. These results are discussed in the framework of instrumental and observational constraints.

Oliversen, R. J.↗

Spectroscopic observations of cool degenerate star candidates

Spectroscopic observations are reported for 23 Luyten Half-Second degenerate star candidates and for 13 Luyten-Palomar common proper-motion pairs containing possible degenerate star components. Twenty-five degenerate stars are identified, 20 of which lack previous spectroscopy. Most of these stars are cool - Luyten color class g or later. One star, LP 77-57, shows broad continuum depressions similar to those in LHS 1126, which Liebert and Dahn attributed to pressure-shifted C2. A second degenerate star, LHS 290, exhibits apparent strong Swan bands which are blueshifted about 75 A. Further observations, including polarimetry and photometry, are required to appraise the spectroscopic peculiarities of these stars. Finally, five cool, sharp-lined DA white dwarfs have been observed to detect lines of metals and to determine line strengths. None of these DAs show signs of Mg b or the G band, and four show no evidence of Ca II K. The attempt to detect Ca MI in the fifth star, G199-71, was inconclusive.

Hintzen, P.↗

High precision low resolution spectrophotometry of Comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley

Optical window (300 to 1000 nm) observations were made of Comet Halley during 12 to 14 Mar. 1986 by a scanning spectrometer. The results provide accurate spectrophotometric measurements of the principal molecular bands from the 308 nm OH through the 918 nm CN emissions. The observations can be used to tie space derived ultraviolet and groundbased infrared observations to the optical observations and to one another. Additional observations were made of comet Giacobini-Zinner on 30 September 1985 of the same OH band and the 388 nm band of CN. The Swan band sequence ratios are used to test the best models of C2, with different ratios favoring different models, calling into question the assumptions of these very complete models.

Odell, C. R.↗

The spectral development of Comet P/Halley from August 1985 to June 1986

Spectra of comet Halley were obtained every month from 1985 Aug. to 1986 June, from 5200 to 10,400 A at a spectral resolution of 12 A. Spatial extent is 200" along the slit. A variety of spatially resolved spectra with the slit along the tail and perpendicular to the tail were recorded. Emission species observed are C2, CN, NH2, H2O(+), (OI) and NaI. The 2-0 C2 Phillips band is detected at 8750 A, and from its intensity ratio of 1/9 to the 0-1 Swan band a preliminary C2 singlet to triplet intercombination probability of less than 10 to the minus 7th power is derived. Sodium emission is observed stongly only in 1986 Mar. data.

Fink, Uwe↗

Statistical equilibrium in cometary C2. IV - A 10 level model including singlet-triplet transitions

Resonance fluorescence theory was used to calculate the population distribution in the energy states of the C2 molecule in comets. Ten electronic states, each with 14 vibrational states, were used in the calculations. These new calculations differ from earlier work in terms of additional electronic levels and the role of singlet-triplet transitions between the b and X levels. Since transition moments are not known, calculations are made of observable flux ratios for an array of possible values. Comparison with existing observations indicates that the a-X transition is very important, and there is marginal indication that the b-X transition is present. Swan band sequence flux ratios at large heliocentric distance are needed, as are accurate Mulliken/Swan and Phillips/Ballik-Ramsay (1963) observations.

Krishna Swamy, K. S.↗

Spectrophotometry of comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley

Optical window spectrophotometry was performed on comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley over the interval 300-1000 nm. Band and band-sequence fluxes were obtained for the brightest features of OH, CN, NH, and C2, special care having been given to determinations of extinction, instrumental sensitivities, and corrections for Fraunhofer lines. C2 Swan band-sequence flux ratios were determined with unprecedented accuracy and compared with the predictions of the detailed equilibrium models of Krishna Swamy et al. (1977, 1979, 1981, and 1987). It is found that these band sequences do not agree with the predictions, which calls into question the assumptions made in deriving the model, namely resonance fluorescence statistical equilibrium. Suggestions are made as to how to resolve this discrepancy.

Tegler, Stephen C.↗

C2 in Comet Halley - Evidence for its being third generation and resolution of the vibrational population discrepancy

Long-split spectrophotometric observations of Comet Halley on five nights at heliocentric distances of 0.90-2.21 AU are used to determine the surface brightness distribution of the coma in the strongest C2 Swan bands and the scattered light continuum. It is found that the C2 must be the product of the decay of two precursors. A clear-cut determination of the variation of the C2 band sequence flux ratios with heliocentric distance is obtained.

O'Dell, C. R.↗

Fluorescent vibration-rotation excitation of cometary C2

The statistical equilibrium equations that determine the population densities of the energy levels in cometary C2 molecules due to fluorescent excitation are examined in detail. The adopted model and molecular parameters are discussed, and a theoretical estimate is made of the two intercombination transition moments. From the theoretical population densities in the various rotational levels, flux ratios and synthetic emission profiles are calculated as functions of the a 3Pi(u) - X 1Sigma(g)+ and the c 3Sigma(u)+ - X 3Sigma(g)+ intercombination transition moments. The influence of each of these two transitions separately on the vibrational and rotational excitation temperatures is investigated. The observed emission spectra of the (0,0) Swan band in Comet Halley are presented and compared to the synthetic profiles.

Gredel, Roland↗

Laboratory studies of photodissociation processes relevant to the formation of cometary radicals

The strength of the C2(d 3 Pi g yields a 3 Pi u) Swan band emission in the spectra of cometary comae identifies this species as a prominent constituent of the coma gas. It was previously suggested that the formation of cometary C2 proceeds via the secondary photolysis of the C2H radical. The detection of C2H in the interstellar medium and the recent analysis of the radial variation in C2(delta V=O) surface brightness of Comet Halley support the postulate that C2 is a third-generation molecule. Measurement of the C2 and C2H translational energy distributions produced from the multiphoton dissociation (MPD) of acetylene at 193 nm are identified . Time-resolved FTIR emission studies of the nascent C2H radical formed in the C2H2 yields C2H + H reaction verify that this species is produced both vibrationally and electronically excited. A survey of the internal energy distributions of the C2 fragments produced from the MPD of acetylene using a high intensity ArF laser is currently in progress in the laboratory. Recent experiments have focused on the measurement of rotational energy distribution for the C2(A 1 Pi u, a 3 Pi u) fragments. The C2(a 3 Pi u) detection capability is currently being improved by performing this experiment in a molecular beam, thus allowing for discrimination between initial emission and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Although the experiments performed to date provide considerable evidence in support of C2H yields C2 + H reaction, there is an important distinction to be made when comparing the laboratory conditions to those typically found in comets. The C2H radicals generated in the laboratory experiments are formed vibrationally and/or electronically excited. Any rotationally/vibrationally excited C2H present in cometary comae will quickly undergo radiative relaxation in the infrared to their lowest rotational and vibrational state. Experiments are currently under way to confirm the cometary formation of C2 via the VUV dissociation of cold C2H.

Urdahl, R. S.↗

Three very cool degenerate stars in Luyten common proper motion binaries - Implications for the age of the galactic disk

During the course of a spectroscopic study of Luyten common proper motion (CPM) stars, spectrophotometric observations have been obtained of three binaries containing degenerate stars with estimated absolute magnitudes M(V) of about 16. Each of the three pairs consists of a yellow degenerate star primary and a DC 13 + secondary 1.4-2.3 mag fainter. One of the primary stars is spectral class DC 7, another is a sharp-lined DA 8, and the third shows peculiar broad absorption features which we interpret as pressure-shifted C2 Swan bands. The LP 701 - 69/70 system has survived for over 8 billion years without disruption by passing stars, despite its 1500 a.u. orbital major axis. The three cool degenerate companions nearly double the available sample of stars at the low-luminosity terminus of the white dwarf cooling sequence. These findings appear consistent with the conclusion that degenerate stars in the old disk population have not had time to evolve to a luminosity fainter than M(V) about 16.2.

Hintzen, Paul↗

Time resolved spectra in the infrared absorption and emission from shock heated hydrocarbons

The wavelength range of a previously constructed multichannel fast recording spectrometer was extended to the mid-infrared. With the initial configuration, light intensities were recorded simultaneously with a silicon-diode array simultaneously at 20 adjacent wavelengths, each with a 20-micron time resolution. For studies in the infrared, the silicon diodes were replaced by a 20-element PbSe array of similar dimensions, cooled by a three-stage thermoelectric device. It is proposed that infrared emissions could be due to shock-heated low molecular-weight hydrocarbons. The full Swan band system appeared in time-integrated emission spectra from shock-heated C2H2; no soot was generated. At low resolution, the profiles on the high-frequency side of the black body maximum show no distinctive features. These could be fitted to Planck curves, with temperatures that declined with time from an initial high that was intermediate between T5 (no conversion) and T5(eq).

Bauer, S. H.↗

The SOHO space satellite - UV instrumentation

The UV and EUV instruments designed for the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) are described, and their characteristics are presented. The SOHO instruments include the SUMER telescope for measuring line profiles and images in the wavelength range 500-1600 A, with a 1.5-arcsec resolution; the Coronal Diagnostics Spectrometer for measuring line ratios and images in the range 170-800 A, with a 2 arcsec resolution; a EUV imaging telescope for producing narrow band pass images in the spectral lines at 171 A, 195 A, 195 A, 284 A, and 304 A, with a 3-arcsec resolution; a UV coronagraph spectrometer for measuring line profiles and images of EUV lines from about 500 A to about 1200 A, with a several arcsec rosolution; and the SWAN, a lens with hydrogen absorption cell for measuring Ly-alpha profiles in the far corona and heliosphere.

Poland, Arthur I.↗

Sungrazing comet observations associated with SOHO

The possibilities of SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) related observations of sungrazing comets are discussed. Cometary science was previously identified as a secondary goal of two SOHO instruments (LASCO (Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph) and SWAN (Solar Wind Anisotropy)), and it is believed that valuable contributions to this field may be possible by these and other SOHO instruments. It is demonstrated that observations of sungrazing comets should represent only infrequent intrusions to the basic science goals of the SOHO instruments. In fact, the primary contribution of SOHO instruments may be the discovery of sungrazing (and other) comets during nominal Sun pointed operations, and the subsequent rapid notification of ground based observers concerning these targets of opportunity.

St.cyr, O. Chris↗

Scheduling: A guide for program managers

The following topics are discussed concerning scheduling: (1) milestone scheduling; (2) network scheduling; (3) program evaluation and review technique; (4) critical path method; (5) developing a network; (6) converting an ugly duckling to a swan; (7) network scheduling problem; (8) (9) network scheduling when resources are limited; (10) multi-program considerations; (11) influence on program performance; (12) line-of-balance technique; (13) time management; (14) recapitulization; and (15) analysis.

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