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At least 811 records · Page 45
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NASA NTRS1976

Gas absorption cell photometer for rocket observations of local interstellar helium

A photometer sensitive in the 584-A line of He I, incorporating a helium-gas absorption cell, has been developed. The helium is confined at a pressure of 0.2 torr between thin-metal-foil broad-band ultraviolet filters. The cell contains sufficient helium to absorb 584-A radiation scattered from atmospheric helium. The ratio of fluxes seen with the cell full and empty provides a valuable datum for fitting models of the local interstellar medium, which is independent of solar 584-A flux, interstellar helium density, and photometer sensitivity.-

Freeman, J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Components in interstellar molecular hydrogen

Results are reported for precise spectrophotometric measurements of the profiles of selected Lyman absorption lines produced by hydrogen molecules in various rotational levels along the line of sight to 13 stars which have shown some evidence for an increase in line width with increasing rotational quantum number (J). The line profiles were measured by multiple scans with the Copernicus satellite telescope. Based on analysis of the radial velocities, derivations of the column densities, and line-profile fitting, the following conclusions are made: (1) the increase in interstellar H2 line width with increasing J results from the presence of the most shortward component, which is relatively weak at low J but becomes more important at higher J; (2) the relative column densities found for the different J levels in each component may be fitted by a theoretical model in which rotational excitation is due to absorption of UV photons followed by radiative quadrupole spontaneous transitions or collisionally induced downward transitions between different J levels; (3) the atomic hydrogen density is between 300 and 1000 per cu cm in the most shortward component for each of three stars; (4) the approaching gas which produces each shortward component must be in the form of thin sheets; and (5) the sheets are the compressed gas behind a shock front moving through the interstellar medium.

Spitzer, L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Enhanced effects of starlight on the interstellar medium

The photodesorption of molecules and atoms from the surfaces of interstellar grains can be an important source of heating for the interstellar medium and the origin of instabilities which may separate grains and gas. For low densities, the force exerted on the grains is proportional to the gas density and independent of the radiation intensity; for high densities, it is proportional to the radiative flux and independent of the gas density. This force may act differently on grains of different sizes. The photoelectric effect may also be an efficient mechanism for the separation of gas and dust in diffuse clouds.

Gerola, H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Indirect observation of unobservable interstellar molecules

It is suggested that the abundances of neutral non-polar interstellar molecules unobservable by radio astronomy can be systematically determined by radio observation of the protonated ions. As an example, observed N2H(+) column densities are analyzed to infer molecular nitrogen abundances in dense interstellar clouds. The chemistries and expected densities of the protonated ions of O2, C2, CO2, C2H2 and CH4 are then discussed. Microwave transition frequencies fo HCO2(+) and C2H3(+) are estimated, and a preliminary astronomical search for HCO2(+) is described.

Herbst, E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen in interstellar space. III - The lines of sight to Zeta Puppis and Gamma Cassiopeiae

An extensive set of measurements of the ratio of deuterium to hydrogen in the interstellar medium has been undertaken. The general observing program is described along with the data reduction techniques used to separate the complex deuterium and hydrogen profiles, and the results of the measurements for two stars, Zeta Pup and Gamma Cas. For Gamma Cas, log N(D)/N(H) is found to be approximately -4.8, in agreement with previous measurements. For Zeta Pup, a complicated structure of absorbing clouds in the interstellar medium is inferred. The best value of log N(D)/N(H) is about -4.6 for each of two components. One component is probably more complex than can be demonstrated directly at the resolution employed, and log N(D)N(H) could be -4.0 or larger in this component.

Vidal-Madjar, A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Gamma-ray lines from interstellar grains

The letter points out the existence of a hitherto unknown component of gamma-ray line emission: very narrow (FWHM less than 5 keV) lines from interstellar grains. The prime candidate for detection is the line at 6.129 MeV from O-16, but other very narrow lines could also be detected at 0.847, 1.369, 1.634, 1.779, and 2.313 MeV from Fe-56, Mg-24, Ne-20, Si-28, and N-14. Measurements of this line emission can provide information on the composition, size, and spatial distribution of interstellar grains.

Lingenfelter, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Isotopic abundance of CO in interstellar clouds

The fractional abundances of the isotopic species of carbon monoxide in interstellar clouds are calculated on a basis of gas-phase ion-molecule reactions. The (C-13)O/(C-12)O ratio varies significantly with extinction of the ultraviolet radiation field, and in the outer regions of dark dense clouds (C-13)O may be enhanced by a factor of 10. The observational interpretation of the CO to H2 or interstellar-reddening relation and the isotopic abundances of carbon are complicated by these effects.

Langer, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Far-ultraviolet studies. II - Galactic-latitude dependence of the 1530 A interstellar radiation field

A 0.62-sq cm Geiger counter, sensitive between 1425 and 1640 A, was used to map the far-ultraviolet brightness of about half the sky, providing an experimental measurement of the far-ultraviolet interstellar radiation field. At 1530 A, the energy density is approximately 7.4 by 10 to the -17th power erg/cu cm per A. Comparison with integrations of star catalogs calibrated to the ultraviolet shows, as expected, that the bulk of the radiation comes directly from B- and A-type stars. The galactic-latitude dependence of the radiation is analyzed in an unsuccessful attempt to set limits on the absorbing and scattering properties of the interstellar grains in the far-ultraviolet. Excess radiation observed at the galactic pole is probably residual airglow from above the rocket altitude.

Henry, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Indirect observation of unobservable interstellar molecules

It is suggested that the abundances of neutral nonpolar interstellar molecules unobservable by radio astronomy can be systematically determined by radio observation of the protonated ions. As an example, observed N2H(+) column densities are analyzed to infer molecular nitrogen abundances in dense interstellar clouds. The chemistries and expected densities of the protonated ions of O2, C2, CO2, C2H2, and CH4 are then discussed. Microwave transition frequencies for HCO2(+) and C2H3(+) are estimated, and a preliminary astronomical search for HCO2(+) is described.

Herbst, E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Graphite grain surface reactions in interstellar and protostellar environments

Surface reactions on warm (at least 60 K) graphite grains between lattice C atoms and impinging H and O atoms within or in the vicinity of H II regions can provide a prolific source of H2CO and other interstellar molecules. It is proposed that similar reactions in the primitive solar nebula led to the formation of the organic molecules found in carbonaceous chondrites. From this and related evidence, it is argued that most of the solid material in the solar system may have originated as interstellar grains.

Barlow, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Copernicus studies of interstellar material in the Perseus II complex. III - The line of sight to Zeta Persei

Ultraviolet spectrophotometric data obtained with Copernicus are used to analyze the distribution, composition, density, temperature, and kinematics of the interstellar material along the line of sight to Zeta Persei. The far-UV extinction curve for the star is evaluated along with the kinematics of the interstellar gas, observations of atomic and molecular hydrogen, curves of growth for neutral and ionized species, atomic abundances and depletions, ionization equilibria, and observations of CO and OH lines. The results show that there are apparently three clouds along the line of sight to Zeta Persei: a main cloud at approximately +13 km/s which contains most of the material and forms all the neutral and molecular lines as well as most of the ionic lines, a second component at +22 km/s which must contribute to the strong UV lines of most ions, and a third component at roughly +2 km/s which gives rise to a strong Si III line at 1206 A. It is also found that the UV extinction curve has a somewhat steep far-UV rise, indicating the presence of a substantial number of small grains, and that about 30% of the hydrogen nuclei over the entire line of sight are in molecular form.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Candidate interstellar molecules formed from ion-molecule reactions of NO

Molecular orbital calculations using the MINDO/3 method were performed on a series of small molecules to explore reactions of NO which could lead to formation of interstellar molecules. Specifically, equilibrium geometries, isomeric energies, heats of reactions, and reaction pathways were calculated for plausible ion-molecule reactions involving NO and NO(+). The results of these calculations suggest that HNO(+) and HON(+) could be present in observable abundance in interstellar clouds. These species can be formed by the reaction of NO with H3(+) but not by NO(+) with H2. Moreover, they are stable to dissociation and do not react with H2 to re-form NO or to form isomers of HNOH(+).

Loew, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Coronal gas in the Galaxy. I - A new survey of interstellar O VI

Ultraviolet spectra of 40 O- and B-type stars have been intensively scanned in the vicinity of the O VI transitions at 1032 and 1038 A with the Copernicus satellite. This survey of the high-temperature (log T about 5.5) phase of interstellar gas is an extension of the earlier observations of interstellar O VI by Jenkins and Meloy (1974), bringing the total coverage up to 72 stars. Except for a few distant stars, the overall quality of the present data surpasses that of the earlier work. Plots of absorption optical depths versus radial velocity are presented for both transitions in each star. Total column densities (or their upper limits), velocity centroids, and velocity widths have been extracted from the profiles and tabulated, with the results of Jenkins and Meloy (1974) included. Qualitatively, the highly variable O VI densities and velocities seem to exhibit no systematic patterns or regional trends; there is no recognizable correlation in the behavior of coronal gas with pronounced features of galactic structure.

Jenkins, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Intermediate-velocity gas in the local interstellar medium

Scans of interstellar ultraviolet absorption lines of N I, N II, and Si III for 17 stars are combined with previously published data for 30 stars. The extremal velocities at which detectable absorption occurs are tabulated, and it is shown that these are correlated for the three species. The data suggest that intermediate-velocity gas (20 to 60 km/s), best known from Na I and Ca II absorption, contains both neutral and ionized hydrogen. Features characteristic of intermediate-velocity isothermal shocks (greater than 60 km/s) are conspicuously rare. The intermediate-velocity gas may be in the form of clouds containing both H I and H II regions or of radiative shocks propagating in the interstellar medium; in the latter case the gas should be detectable in H-alpha emission.

Cowie, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Infrared observations of the galactic center. IV - The interstellar extinction

Infrared observations of the compact sources and background in the galactic center are used to derive the 1.25-12.5-micron interstellar extinction law. The depth of the interstellar 10-micron silicate absorption feature is derived from observations of the M supergiant IRS 7. The ratio of visual to silicate extinction is found to be 8 + or - 3. From the colors of individual sources and the background, it is concluded that there are no more than 6 mag of visual extinction within the central 3 pc of the galactic center.

Becklin, E. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Interstellar titanium

High-dispersion photoelectric scans of the interstellar 3384-A line of Ti II have been obtained for 68 stars. Column densities of Ti II are derived for the various individual kinematic components in the scans. These column densities, and those integrated over all components in the respective directions, are compared with corresponding results for Na I, Ca II, K I, H I, and H2. The column densities of titanium and hydrogen show directly that the depletion of titanium from the interstellar gas is large and variable. The abundance of titanium in the gas also varies strongly relative to the Na, K, and the grains responsible for reddening. In contrast, the titanium/calcium column-density ratio is relatively constant at about 4 times its solar value. Lower depletions are found in four out of five cases of absorption in the intercloud medium and toward each of two stars at high galactic z-distances. The column densities of Ca II and Ti II are used to estimate the electron densities in individual kinematic components. These electron densities are uncorrelated with the depletions of titanium, indicating that depletion is not a simple or unique function of local density.

Stokes, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Consequences of a past encounter of the earth with an interstellar cloud

In its motion through the Galaxy the sun may have suffered a number of encounters with dense interstellar clouds for which the number density of molecular hydrogen is in excess of 1000 per cu cm. Several authors have shown that this is sufficient density to stop the solar wind inside earth's orbit. Earth's atmosphere would be subjected to an interstellar H2 flux of more than 7 billion per sq cm/sec for periods of the order of 100,000 years. Simple scaling arguments are used to examine several consequences for earth's atmosphere: (1) the ionospheric F region would largely disappear; (2) the water-vapor content of the middle atmosphere would be greatly enhanced, reducing the mesospheric ozone concentrations and thereby lowering the average temperature and altitude of the mesopause; (3) as a result of (2), widespread mesospheric ice clouds would occur, increasing the planetary albedo; and (4) the resultant radiative cooling at the surface may have been sufficient to 'trigger' an ice age.

Mckay, C. P.↗