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At least 847 records · Page 47

Motions near the galactic center and the '3-kpc arm.'

As a first approximation, the motions of the neutral hydrogen in the region between 1 and 5 kpc from the galactic center are found to be well represented in the Tb(l, V) diagram by a disk in differential rotation, and no evidence is found for a general field of expanding motions. Consequently, a rotation curve for this region has been derived from the observations. The new curve indicates a more uniform distribution of mass in the inner region of the Galaxy than many previous models. In a second approximation, a set of parameters is derived for an elliptical dispersion ring that represents not only the 3-kpc arm but also the + 70 km/sec expanding arm in the Tb(l, V) diagram.

Simonson, S. C., III↗

Investigation of gamma rays from the galactic center

Data from Argentine balloon flights made to investigate gamma ray emission from the galactic center are summarized. Data are also summarized from a Palestine, Texas balloon flight to measure gamma rays from NP 0532 and Crab Nebulae.

Helmken, H. F.↗

The 'rolling motion' phenomenon in galactic spiral arms

The 'rolling motion' in the spiral arms in the outer parts of the Galaxy are interpreted as only apparent motions caused by the combined effect of the bending of the galactic plane and the differential rotation. Theoretical contour maps (latitude vs velocity) are plotted in a number of directions on both sides of the Galaxy for direct comparison with observations. The velocity and density fields used in the calculations are based on a linear analysis of the three-dimensional gas motions in response to the spiral density-wave potential studied by Lin, Shu, and Yuan and by Vandervoort (1970). It is found that the combined effect under consideration is sufficient to cause an apparent rolling motion in a spiral arm.

Yuan, C.↗

The galactic space frequency of close binary systems

An investigation of the galactic space frequency of close binary systems and other stars with high angular momentum is made on the basis of several criteria for the binary nature of a star. Within an accessible range of 3 kpc around the sun, which includes parts of three spiral arms, there occurs no significant variation (to within a factor of about 2) in the space frequencies of B-type radial-velocity variables, M-type supergiants with blue companions, and Be stars. Implications of this result for the problems of the origin of close binary systems, the distribution of angular momentum in the Galaxy, and the relative numbers of blue and red supergiants are discussed.

Stothers, R.↗

On the nature of the nonthermal radio emission from the galactic center

Some recent observations of the galactic center appear at first sight to have made the character of the radio source Sgr A unclear. The flatness of the usually quoted spectrum, the lack of any measured polarization, the presence of hydrogen recombination lines, and the radio-infrared luminosity ratio are all consistent with Sgr A being a rather hot H II region. It is shown here, however, that when flux measurements between 80 MHz and 91000 MHz are all included and the multiple nature of the source is accounted for, the spectral index exceeds 0.4 - much too steep to be bremsstrahlung. There is, therefore, no question that Sgr A is a nonthermal source. It is further argued on the basis of a comparison of appearance, energetics and the recent results which no longer put Sgr A exactly at the center of the galaxy that Sgr A could be a supernova remnant rather than a miniature of active extragalactic radio sources.

Jones, T. W.↗

Galactic heavy cosmic rays with 5 less than E less than 130 MeV/nucleon

With stacks of Lexan and cellulose triacetate exposed outside the lunar modules on Apollo 16 and 17, a study was made of the spectra and composition of low-energy particles in interplanetary space. For the period from Apr. 16 to 23, 1972 (Apollo 16), measurements were made of the spectra of the elements 6 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 28 at energies 40 less than or equal to E less than or equal to 150 MeV/nucleon. For the period from Dec. 11 to 13, 1972 (Apollo 17), a study was made of CNO, NeMgSi, and elements with Z greater than 16 at energies 5 less than or equal to E less than or equal to 40 MeV/nucleon. Using the abundance of charges 17 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 25 relative to iron as a tracer, it is found that the bulk of the heavy particles in interplanetary space at E greater than 10 MeV/nucleon are of galactic rather than solar origin. The relative abundances of the various charge groups are independent of energy from about 2 GeV/nucleon down to about 30 MeV/nucleon.

Price, P. B.↗

Abundances relative to carbon of the elements silicon to nickel in the galactic cosmic radiation

Discussion of the abundances relative to carbon of the elements from silicon to nickel in the galactic cosmic radiation as measured by cosmic ray telescopes on the IMP-5 and IMP-7 satellites, in energy ranges between 40 and 450 MeV/nucleon depending on the species. The IMP-7 measurements are still to be considered only preliminary and do not yet fully exploit the resolution capabilities of that instrument. Calculations of the abundances to be expected in this charge range if the cosmic radiation traverses 6 g/sq cm of material after acceleration are presented, and the consequences which follow both for propagation models and for the chemical composition of the sources of the cosmic radiation are discussed.

Cartwright, B.↗

The modulation of low energy galactic cosmic rays

It has been clearly established by several different experiments that following the last solar maximum (about 1969), there was a significant phase lag or hysteresis effect between changes in the low rigidity galactic cosmic rays and the high rigidity components. It was possible to explain this in terms of the diffusion-convection-modulation theory by varying either the diffusion coefficient or the size of the modulation region as a function of time. During the ensuing recovery phase of the solar modulated spectra, at the mid point toward the minimum of the solar activity, new striking features have been observed, and these new observations are discussed.

Van Hollebeke, M. A. I.↗

Hard X-ray observations of the region from the galactic center to Centaurus

A balloon flight from Parana, Argentina, was conducted to observe emissions from discrete or extended sources in the southern sky. The sources observed include GX 304-1, Nor X-2, GX 340+0, GX 354-5, a possibly composite source near the galactic center, and the nova-like source (2U1543-47) in the Lupus-Norma region which has been reported previously only in satellite observations. Data concerning the possibility of line emission near 0.5 MeV from different regions of the southern sky are also presented.

Guo, D. D.↗

A high-resolution map of the galactic-center region

A 2-cm wavelength map of the region in the vicinity of the galactic center is presented that represents an improvement in resolution by a factor of 2.7 over Hollinger's (1965) map and an improvement in sensitivity and coverage over the Downes, Maxwell, and Meeks (1965) map. The improved map reveals the great complexity of this region and the existence of a large number of densely clustered discrete sources and many new hitherto unresolved features.

Kapitzky, J. E.↗

Helium abundance at the galactic center

We suggest that the low abundance of ionized helium in H II regions at the galactic center can be explained by selective absorption of helium-ionizing photons by dust within the ionized gas. This model requires an extrapolation to 500 A of the rapid increase of the extinction measured between 1500 A and 1000 A with the Copernicus satellite, and it assumes that the dust absorbs most of the Lyman continuum.

Jura, M.↗

Survey of the galactic background radiation at 3.93 and 6.55 MHz

A survey of the galactic background radiation at 3.93 and 6.55 MHz is presented for the region between declinations of -60 and +60 deg. The observations were obtained with the 229-m traveling-wave V-antenna on the Radio Astronomy Explorer-1 satellite with an angular resolution of the order of one steradian. The results are consistent with the findings of high-resolution ground-based surveys at low frequencies and provide a first step in extending such observations over the whole sky.

Alexander, J. K.↗

Galactic X-ray sources

Data on galactic X-ray sources from rocket and balloon experiments and the UHURU satellite are reported. The outline emphasizes general discrete source models and begins with some a priori considerations about X-ray emission mechanisms and their applicability, after which contemporary data are interpreted according to these models. Topics covered include the production of X-rays by various mechanisms, source regimes, observational parameters, stellar distributions, individual stars, flare stars, supernovae and pulsars, the Crab nebula, old and young remnants, binary systems, and others.

Holt, S. S.↗

Multicolour far infrared photometry of galactic H2 regions

Results are presented of far infrared photometric measurements of H2 regions in the galactic plane between longitudes 350 and 40 degrees. The results are combined from balloon flights in 1972 and 1973 carried out in cooperation with CNES in the south of France.

Olthof, H.↗

Energy spectrum of galactic electrons in the energy range 2 x 10 to the 10 power - 2 x 10 to the 11th power eV

New experimental data on the energy spectrum of galactic electrons up to the energies approximately 2 x 10 to the 11th power eV were obtained in the summer of 1967 by a scintillation telescope lifted to the stratosphere at 32 km. The geometrical factor of the telescope was 1200 sq cm steradians, i.e., three times as great as the geometrical factor of previously employed installations. The results confirm previous measurements.

Zatsepin, V. I.↗

SAS-2 observations of gamma rays from the galactic plane

Preliminary data are given for the SAS-2 high energy galactic gamma ray observation. These data include both latitude and longitude distributions. The longitude distribution shows a high density region. The latitude distributions toward the center and the anti-center are markedly different, the former showing a two-component structure of half-widths of approximately 3 and 6 deg. The energy spectrum in the range 35 to 200 MeV is hard, consistent with cosmic ray interactions with interstellar matter, including neutral pions decay and emission from energetic electron interactions. The data is consistent with an interpretation in terms of the confinement of the cosmic rays in the spiral arms.

Thompson, D. J.↗

Monte Carlo analysis of the solar-wind modulation of galactic C-N-O at solar maximum

A previous (Moss and Giuli, 1971) Monte Carlo analysis of the solar-wind modulation of galactic cosmic-ray rigidity spectra is extended to include particles in the C-N-O group. A solar cavity 'radius' of 7 AU is found to be consistent with observations of the C-N-O component at solar maximum. The variation in modulation between solar maximum and solar minimum may be explained solely by variation of the solar cavity size, with no change in the scattering mean free path.

Moss, T. A.↗

Sources of excitation of the interstellar gas and galactic structure

The excitation of the interstellar gas is discussed in the light of recent evidence from gamma-ray, molecular, and 21-cm line observations. Previous studies of the excitation of the interstellar gas have not taken into account the substantial density contrast that exists between spiral arms and interarm regions. We examine the role played by the galactic distribution of three sources of excitation (supernovae, OB stars, and ultraviolet stars) in determining the physical state of the interstellar gas in arm and interarm regions.

Cowan, J. J.↗