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NASA NTRS1975

Photometric detection of extrasolar planets using L.S.T.-type telescopes

Detection of planets similar to the earth and Jupiter that might be circling nearby stars is possible with the large space telescope (LST), or modifications of this instrument. The use of the moon as an occulter to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and the expected photon fluxes from hypothetical planetary companions to alpha Centauri A and B, tau Ceti, and epsilon Eridani are discussed. Because Barnard's Star is a red dwarf of visual apparent magnitude 9.5, photometric detection of its hypothetical Jupiter-like companion would be difficult using the LST-occulter system described in this paper.

Fennelly, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The 1979 X-ray outburst of Cen X-4

X-ray observations of the first major outburst (since its initial discovery in 1969) of the "classical" transient X-ray source Cen X-4 were obtained with the Ariel 5 All-Sky Monitor. The flare light curve exhibits a double-peaked maximum at a level of approximately 4 times the Crab nebula, and its duration and characteristic decay time scale are the shortest yet observed from the class of "soft" X-ray transients. A total X-ray output of approximately 3 x 10 to the 43rd power ergs, a factor of approximately 20 less than that of the 1969 outburst is estimated. In addition, evidence is found for a regular modulation of the flux during the decline phase at a period of 8.2 plus or minus 0.2 hours. The existing data are consistent with a source model involving episodic mass exchange from a late-type dwarf onto a neutron star comparison in a relatively close binary system.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The 1979 X-ray outburst of Centaurus X-4

X-ray observations of the first major outburst of the classical transient X-ray source Centaurus X-4 since its discovery in 1969 are presented. The observations were obtained in May, 1979, with the all-sky monitor on board Ariel 5. The flare light curve is shown to exhibit many of the characteristics of other transients, including a double-peaked maximum, as well as significant, apparently random, variations and a lower peak flux and shorter duration than the 1969 event. Application of a standard epoch-folding technique to data corrected for linear decay trends indicates a possible source modulation at 0.3415 days (8.2 hours). Comparison of the results with previous other data on Cen X-4 and the characteristics of the soft X-ray transients allows a total X-ray output of approximately 3 x 10 to the 43rd ergs to be estimated, and reveals the duration and decay time of the 1979 Cen X-4 outburst to be the shortest yet observed from soft X-ray transients. The observations are explained in terms of episodic mass exchange from a late-type dwarf onto a neutron star companion in a relatively close binary system.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Photospheric flow and stellar winds

The effect of the photospheric outflow on the expansion of the strongly bound coronas of dwarf main-sequence stars is examined. The extended temperatures of the strongly bound coronas cause the stars to expand and form tenuous stellar winds, with a slight mean upward motion of the gas in the photosphere to replenish the mass loss through the coronal expansion. A formal solution of the time-dependent hydrodynamic equations illustrates the effects of the photospheric velocity at large distances, and the effect of blocking the upward flow in the photosphere is calculated using the sun as an example. Results indicate that the expansion of a strongly bound corona is insensitive over historical time scales to the small outflow of gas in the photosphere.

Parker, E. N.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Evidence for chromospheres and coronae in stars - Recent observations, some unanswered theoretical questions, and a speculative scenario

The paper discusses recent UV and X-ray evidence for the existence of solar-type chromospheres, transition regions and coronae in stars other than the sun. The stellar spectral types associated with emission lines indicative of chromospheres and transition regions and X-ray fluxes indicative of coronae are examined, and the possibility of chromospheres and transition regions existing in stars hotter or cooler than the late-type stars is considered. The stellar parameters determining the properties of stellar chromospheres, transition regions and coronae are discussed, including varying magnetic fields, stellar rotation and convection zone parameters. A speculative scenario for the source of chromospheres, transition regions and coronae in O, B and A stars, late-type dwarfs, and G-M giants and supergiants is then presented which is based on the predominant role of magnetic fields in the nonradiative heating of outer atmospheres.

Linsky, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Voyager absolute far-ultraviolet spectrophotometry of hot stars

Voyager observations in the 912-1200 A spectral region are used to indirectly intercompare absolute stellar spectrophotometry from previous experiments. Measurements of hot stars obtained by the Voyager 1 and 2 ultraviolet spectrometers show considerably higher 912-1200 A continuum fluxes than the recent observations of Brune et al. (1979) and Carruthers et al. (1981). The intercomparisons show all observations in basic agreement near 1200 A. The Carruthers et al. flux measurements are preferred down to 1050 A at which point the Voyager and Brune et al. values are respectively 60% higher and 60% lower. Below 1050 A the diasgreement among the observations becomes very large and the fluxes predicted by model atmospheres have been adopted. The pure hydrogen line-blanketed model atmosphere calculations of Wesemael et al. 1980) in comparison with Voyager observations of HZ 43 are used to adjust the Voyager calibration below 1050 A. This adjusted Voyager calibration, which is in good agreement with current model atmosphere fluxes for both early-type stars and DA white dwarfs, will be used for Voyager astronomical observations.

Holberg, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

On the origin of the 6.1-ms pulsar

A quantitative model is presented to account for the observed features of the binary pulsar PSR1953+53. A lower giant branch star is suggested to have evolved on a nuclear time scale while orbiting a neutron star, with mass transfer to the neutron star commencing when the giant attained its Roche lobe. A radius-core mass relationship was used to examined the processes that occurred after the hydrogen atmosphere was drained off to the neutron star. Tidal dissipation has circularized the orbit of the companion during mass transfer, while the orbit expanded. Accretion torques caused spin-up of the neutron star, which had a magnetic moment of no more than 3 x 10 to the 27th G/cu cm. The drained star became a degenerate dwarf with very faint luminosity, which accounts for no visual companion having been observed to date.

Joss, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Recent work on bipolar nebulae

The results of recent studies of bipolar nebulae (BPN) using nebular-polarization mapping, spectropolarimetry, near-IR spectroscopy, far-IR photometry, and radio-maser and continuum observations are surveyed. The characteristics of several BPN of different evolutionary types are discussed and illustrated with spectra, model drawings, and maps. As shown in a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of 19 BPN, this morphological class includes pre-main-sequence stars, red giants in transition to ordinary planetary nebulae, pre-white-dwarfs, a dust-shrouded carbon star, and a visual binary with a type-O primary. VLA 6-cm observations of the latter object, MWC 349, reveal a morphology similar to the optical structure of the Red Rectangle illuminated by HD 44179: it is suggested that equatorial dusty tori may occur commonly at different phases of stellar evolution, and hence that BPN may be relatively abundant, although short-lived, phenomena.

Cohen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Observational Basis for Velocity Fields in Stellar Atmospheres, Workshop, Trieste, Italy, August-September 1982, Proceedings

Solar and stellar winds and mass-loss phenomena are discussed in reviews of recent observations and current theory. Topics examined include mass loss from the sun, the O-type stars, Wolf-Rayet stars, the Parker theory, B stars, T Tauri stars, Balmer line emission from Be stars, novae, symbiotic stars, planetary nebulae, and dwarf novae. Graphs, tables, diagrams, sample spectra, and extensive discussion on each contribution are provided.

Stalio, R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Optical Emission Line Studies and the Warm, Ionized Component of the Local Interstellar Medium

Observations of diffuse, galactic H alpha, N2 lambda 6583, and S2 6716 emission lines provide evidence for a warm (10,000K), primarily ionized component of the interstellar medium distribution throughout the galactic disk. This component of the interstellar gas has an electron density approximately equals 0.1-0.2/cu cm and occupies about 10 to 30% of the interstellar volume. Interstellar H alpha emission near the galactic poles, the dispersion measure of a nearby pulsar, and observations of interstellar gas flowing into the solar system indicate that this ionized component is an important constituent of the interstellar medium in the solar neighborhood. The intensity of the H alpha background at high galactic latitudes implies that this component is maintained by an average hydrogen ionization rate in the vicinity of the Sun of (2-4) x 100,000 s(-1) per square cm of galactic disk. The emission measure is 1.3 to 2.3 cm (-6) pc toward the galactic poles. The sources of this ionization were not identified but may include escaping Lyman continuum radiation from planetary nebulae, hot white dwarfs, and early type stars.

Reynolds, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Combined ultraviolet studies of astronomical sources

Ultraviolet studies of various astronomical entities are reported. Among the specific phenomena examined were supernova remnants, dwarf novae, red giant stars, stellar winds, binary stars, and galaxies.

Dupree, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Missing matter in the vicinity of the sun

The Poisson and Vlasov equations are solved numerically for realistic Galaxy models which include multiple disk components, a Population II spheroid, and an unseen massive halo. The total amount of matter in the vicinity of the sun is determined by comparing the observed distributions of tracer stars, samples of F dwarfs, and K giants with the predictions of the Galaxy models. Results are obtained for a number of different assumed distributions of the unseen disk mass. For all the observed samples, typical models imply that about half of the mass in the solar vicinity must be in the form of unobserved matter. The volume density of unobserved material near the sun is about 0.1 solar mass/cu pc; the corresponding column density is about 30 solar mass/sq pc. This so far unseen material must be in a disk with an exponential scale height of less than 0.7 kpc.

Bahcall, John N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Energetic particle acceleration in spherically symmetric accretion flows and shocks

Steady state, spherically symmetric solutions of the cosmic-ray transport equation describing the acceleration of energetic particles in galactic accretion flows onto neutron stars, black holes, white dwarfs, and protostars are studied. The results indicate that astrophysical accretion flows can be partitioned into distinct classes depending upon whether the accretion rate lies above or below a critical value of a few times 10 to the -7th stellar masses/yr. When the particle transport is convection-dominated, both classes of accretion flows exhibit a spectral index appropriate for first-order Fermi acceleration at a plane shock in the absence of losses. As the particle transport becomes diffusion-dominated, both classes show a break and precipitous falloff in the particle spectrum due to the escape of these particles from the accretion flow. The precise nature of the spectrum depends on the relationship between the particle momentum and the spatial diffusion coefficient.

Webb, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer mission - Instrumentation and science goals

NASA's Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) will carry out an all-sky survey from 80 to 800A in four bandpasses. It is expected that many types of sources will be detected, including white dwarfs and late type stars. A deep survey will also be carried out along the ecliptic which will have a limiting sensitivity a factor of 10 better than the all-sky survey in the bandpass from 80 to 300A. The payload includes a spectrometer to observe the brigher sources found in the surveys with a spectral resolution of 1 to 2A.

Bowyer, Stuart↗
NASA NTRS1988

The nature of S Andromedae (SN 1885A)

The spectral data on S Andromedae, or SN 1885A, which indicate that it was a type I supernova, are reexamined, and it is concluded that SN 1885A belongs to a supernova class distinct from types SN Ia and SN Ib. The light curve had a rapid rise to maximum, a rapid postmaximum decline, and a large magnitude difference between maximum and 150 days postmaximum, compared to other type I events. SN 1885A was probably a low-mass explosion, ejecting 0.1-0.3 solar mass of matter mostly in the form of Ni-56. This suggests that it left behind a compact remnant, either a neutron star or a white dwarf.

Chevalier, Roger A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The U.S. survey for faint blue objects

A spectrophotometric study of the blue and UV-excess starlike objects in the U.S. survey (Usher, 1981) has been conducted. Observations were obtained with a resolution of about 20 A over the 3500-7000-A wavelength range. Considered within the sample are 42 DA white dwarfs, 4 DB/DO white dwarfs, 13 subdwarf B stars, 12 subdwarf O stars, and 13 horizontal branch stars. The sample is analyzed using numerical convolution photometry.

Mitchell, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The stellar radiation field and the ionization of H and He in the local interstellar medium

Detailed photoionization calculations for the local interstellar medium (LISM) are presented based on constraints imposed by H I column density estimates derived from IUE and Copernicus data toward nearby B stars and hot white dwarfs. It is found that the nearby hot white dwarfs dominate the stellar contributions to the EUV radiation field. Considering stellar contribution to the EUV background alone, the resulting lower limits to the hydrogen and helium fractional ionization in the local diffuse cloud, at the sun, are 0.091 and 0.089, respectively. This result is insensitive to the absorbing geometry of the local cloud. The comparable ionizations of H and He near the sun are due to the lack of absorption from photospheric helium in the hot DA white dwarfs, to the difference in optical depths at wavelengths shortward of the H I and He I ionization edges, and to the fact that the hydrogen ionization controls the electron number density. The derived H and He ionization limits have important implications for the interpretation of the He I and H I backscattering results, for which uncertainties in charge-exchange interactions occurring in or near the heliopause reflect additional significant uncertainties in determining the ionization in the LISM.

Bruhweiler, Frederick C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The eclipsing AM Herculis variable H1907 + 690

The discovery is reported of an eclipsing cataclysmic variable that exhibits up to 10 percent circular polarization at optical wavelengths, securing its classification as an AM Herculis type binary. The object, H1907 + 609, was located with the guidance of X-ray positions from the HEAO 1 survey. Optical CCD photometry exhibits deep eclipses, from which is derived a precise orbital period of 1.743750 hr. The eclipse duration suggests an inclination angle about 80 deg for a main-sequence secondary star. The optical flux has been persistently faint during observations spanning 1987-1990, while the X-ray measurements suggest long-term X-ray variability. The polarization and photometric light curves can be interpreted with a geometric model in which most of the accretion is directed toward a single magnetic pole, with an accretion spot displaced about 17 deg in longitude from the projection of the secondary star on the white dwarf surface.

Remillard, R. A.↗