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At least 919 records · Page 51
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NASA NTRS1978

Luminosity and carbon enhancement in N-type carbon stars

Recent observational data indicate the likelihood of a relation between luminosity and carbon enhancement in N-type irregularly variable carbon stars in the sense that the more luminous carbon stars appear to have smaller enhancements of carbon. No relation appears between carbon enhancement and red colors. The observational data are the luminosities of Peery (1975), the colors and CN band indices of Baumert (1972), the CO indices of Fay and Ridgway (1976), and the C2 indices of Gow (1977).

Johnson, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Condensation-nuclei (Aitken Particle) measurement system used in NASA global atmospheric sampling program

The condensation-nuclei (Aitken particle) measuring system used in the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program is described. Included in the paper is a description of the condensation-nuclei monitor sensor, the pressurization system, and the Pollack-counter calibration system used to support the CN measurement. The monitor has a measurement range to 1000 CN/cm cubed and a noise level equivalent to 5 CN/cm cubed at flight altitudes between 6 and 13 km.

Nyland, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Nonequilibrium chemistry in shocked molecular clouds

The gas-phase chemistry is studied behind a 10-km/s shock propagating into a dense molecular cloud. The principal conclusions are that: the concentrations of certain molecules (CO, NH3, HCN, N2) are unperturbed by the shock; other molecules (H2CO, CN, HCO(+)) are greatly decreased in abundance; and substantial amounts of H2O, HCO, and CH4 are produced. Approximately 1 million yr (independent of the density) must elapse after shock passage before chemical equilibrium is attained.

Iglesias, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The interstellar material in front of Chi Ophiuchi. I - Optical observations

Optical observations of the interstellar material in front of Chi Oph are discussed. The main interstellar cloud is made up of several regions with velocities between -6 and -12 km/s (heliocentric). Both CH and CH(+) are found within this feature, but with central velocities which differ by 2 km/s. Another cloud, with a velocity of -26 km/s, contains relatively strong Ca(+) lines. It has a ratio between Ca(+) and Na(0) column densities that is appropriate for 'high-velocity' clouds. Calcium, iron, and sodium column densities are used to estimate an average electron density for the line of sight, as well as for each cloud. The abundances of CH and CH(+), and the absence of CN, are analyzed in terms of current theories about their origin.

Frisch, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Meridional circulation and CNO anomalies in red giant stars

The possibility is investigated that meridional circulation driven by internal rotation might lead to the mixing of CNO-processed material from the vicinity of the hydrogen shell into the envelope of a red giant star. This theory of meridional mixing is found to be generally consistent with available data and to be capable of explaining a number of observational results without invoking a radical departure from the standard physics of stellar interiors. It is suggested that meridional circulation must be a normal characteristic of a rotating star and that meridional mixing provides a reasonable framework for understanding many of the CNO anomalies exhibited by weak-G-band and CN-strong stars as well as the low C-12/C-13 ratios measured among field red giants.

Sweigart, A. V.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Optical spectrophotometry of comet Tempel 2 far from the sun

With the advent of mission planning for spacecraft encounters with comets in the 1980s, the lack of basic data on cometary nuclei has become quite apparent and a real problem. More effort is needed on all comets, with special attention given to probable space flight targets such as Tempel 2. The paper presents medium-spectral-resolution spectrophotometry of P/Tempel 2, made at heliocentric distances of 2.66 and 3.02 AU on two dates in 1978. It is shown that optical spectrophotometry of comet Tempel 2 near 3 AU heliocentric distance places strict limits on its activity, the modeled CN production rate having an upper limit of 6 times 10 to the 21st molecules per sec. The observations of P/Tempel 2 are compatible with a bare nucleus of 1.6 km radius (geometric albedo = 0.15) and somewhat redder than the sun.

Spinrad, H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Theoretical studies of the HeCN/+/ and NeCN/+/ molecular ions

Self-consistent field calculations are presented for HeCN(+) using several basis sets; calculations for HeH(+) with the same basis sets are given for comparison. These predict that HeCN(+) is stable with a He-CN(+) dissociation energy between 1.5 and 2.0 eV. The binding is found to be mainly electrostatic in nature. Rotation and hyperfine spectral constants are predicted. Similar calculations indicate that the isocyanide HeCN(+) is not stable. Preliminary calculations on NeCN(+) indicate that it is as stable as HeCN(+). The possibility of observing noble gas molecular ions in laboratory experiments and in interstellar space is discussed.

Wilson, S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Vaporization in comets - The icy grain halo of Comet West

The variation with heliocentric distance of the production rates of various species in Comet West (1975n = 1976 VI) is explained with a cometary model consisting of a CO2 dominated nucleus plus a halo of icy grains of H2O or clathrate hydrate. It is concluded that the parents of CN and C3 are released primarily from the nucleus but that the parent of C2 is released primarily from the halo of icy grains.

Ahearn, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A model of comet comae. II - Effects of solar photodissociative ionization

Improvements to a computer model of coma photochemistry are described. These include an expansion of the chemical reactions network and new rate constants that have been measured only recently. Photolytic reactions of additional molecules are incorporated, and photolytic branching ratios are treated in far greater detail than previously. A total of 25 photodissociative ionization (PDI) reactions are now considered (as compared to only 3 PDI reactions previously). Solar PDI of the mother molecule CO2 is shown to compete effectively with photoionization of CO in the production of observed CO(+). The CO(+) density peak predicted by the improved model, for CO2 or CO mother molecules, is deep in the inner coma, in better agreement with observation than the old CO2 model. However, neither CO2 nor CO mother molecule calculations reproduce the CO(+)/H2O(+) ratio observed in comet Kohoutek. PDI products of CO2, CO, CH4, and NH3 mother molecules fuel a complex chemistry scheme, producing inner coma abundances of CN, C2, and C3 much greater than previously calculated.

Huebner, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Photometry, spectrophotometry and polarimetry of comet P/Encke during fall of 1979

Broadband S-20, B and V magnitudes of P/Encke were obtained with the digital area photometer, using an Image Dissector Scanner (IDS) detector on the 2.7 m telescope at McDonald Observatory during August 1979. The notation V(S-20) is used for S-20 magnitudes transformed to V magnitudes. The variation in the V(S20) magnitudes (26, 5 minute integrations) on the best photometric night (21 August) was small and random indicating either a lack of rotational albedo variations or, more likely, a masking of the nucleus by the outburst activity. A spectrum covering the region from 3630 to 4900 A at a resolution of 5 A was obtained on 27 August with the IDS spectrograph. The spectrum was featureless, showing no emission at the CN or CO+ wavelengths.

Barker, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Performance storage, safety and disposal of Li/SO2 cells

Cell performance characteristics after storage at room temperature and 71 C as well as some cell failure modes are evaluated. The performance of cells at low temperatures (-30 C) even into voltage reversal is also considered. The correlation of Li/SO2 coulombic ratio with generated free cyanide (CN-) in forced discharged D cells is also included.

Dimasi, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A photometric investigation of Comet P/Encke

A photometric investigation of Comet P/Encke was undertaken using the 2.2 m telescope and the 0.6 m telescope. The two primary scientific objectives were: (1) measurement of the production rates of OH, CN, C3, and C2 as a function of heliocentric distance; and (2) determination of the comet's rotational period by searching for periodic brightness variations in the inner coma. Synoptic observation in the Canary Islands; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Mauna Kea were planned for the study of the comet's rotation.

Millis, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Spectroscopy of Comet P/Encke in 1980 - 1981

Digital spectroscopic scans of P/Comets Encke, Stephan-Oterma, and Gunn were obtained with a sky-subtraction scanner system. Quantiative fluxes for the cometary emission bands of CN, C3, C2, NH2, and the 'D OI red auroral line are presented for P/Encke. The most straight-forward and model-independent line flux to interpret is the lambda lambda 6300, 6364 forbidden oxygen doublet. After an NH2 blending correction, the oxygen production rate may be directly measured from the Lick small-aperture fluxes. The oxygen production rates increased rapidly with decreasing heliocentric distance for both P/Encke and P/Stephan-Oterma. A rough power-law exponent in r with n = approximately -2.5 describes the change in oxygen production for P/Encke. Compared to the water production rates inferred from IUE satellite spectra showing the lambda 3080 OH band, these oxygen production rates are consistently lower by a factor of 11. This implies a common origin for the two species; H2O is the likely sole OI ID parent.

Spinrad, H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Spectroscopy of faint asteroids, satellites, and comets

Nineteen asteroids with orbital elements comparable to those of short-period comets and the outer Jovian satellites J6 Himalia and J7 Elara have been observed with the 228-cm telescope and image-tube spectrograph of Steward Observatory. No activity indicating cometary outgassing was detected. If comets are being perturbed into asteroidal orbits, then this lack of activity can be explained by an apparently short transition time between active and extinct phase. In addition, spectra of the faint comets Sanguin 1977p, Chernykh 1977l, Arend-Rigaux 1950 VII, West 1978a, and van Biesbroeck 1954 IV were obtained, showing CN(0,0) and in some cases C2(1,0) and C3 emission. Comet Arend-Rigaux was active again in the fall of 1977 and Comet West showed on May 31, 1978 a weak tail at a distance from the sun of 6.0 AU.

Degewij, J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Theoretical profiles for the 1-0 S/1/ H2 line in carbon stars

The spectra of carbon stars have been synthesized from the models of Querci, Querci, and Tsuji and Querci and Querci in the region of the 1-0 S(1) vibration-rotation quadrupole line of H2. The line is shown to be sufficiently strong to be seen against the numerous lines of the CN red system for models with effective temperatures less than about 2700 K. The usefulness of the line as a diagnostic of the atmosphere is discussed, and a comparison with the measured spectra of UU Aur and S Cep is made. It is concluded that the outer atmospheric layers of carbon stars are significantly warmer than the models predict. An additional opacity source in the outer layers is required.

Goorvitch, D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Abundance correlations among comets

Results of narrowband filter photometry are presented for comets 1977g, 1978b, 1978f, 1978j, 1979c, and 1979i. There appears to be a remarkable homogeneity among comets with regard to the relative production rates for those species which are readily measured, specifically C2, CN, C3, and OH. Most comets appear to show identical relative abundances, except for a rather well-defined variation with heliocentric distance. Molecular production rates appear to be unrelated to either the emission-to-continuum (gas-to-dust) ratio or the dynamical age of the comet. The correlation with visual magnitudes is excellent, though the slope is not what could be intuitively expected.

Ahearn, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An outburst of comet Tempel-2 observed spectrophotometrically

Periodic comet Tempel-2, first discovered in 1873, is a possible target of a spacecraft flyby in the 1980s. Accurate physical measurements of this comet have only recently been attempted. Few spectrophotometric data exist for any faint comet, but such data are presented for Tempel-2 at a heliocentric distance of 2.97 AU. The data were obtained during an outburst in which the comet exhibited heightened CN and C3 emission over a quiescent phase. Comet flares of such magnitude are exceptional and are particularly surprising for a periodic comet at such a large heliocentric distance.

Johnson, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Identification of new infrared bands in a carbon-rich Mira variable

Complete 0.75-13 micron spectrometry of a carbon-rich, Mira-class variable star is presented for the first time. It is noted that although the near-infrared is dominated by photospheric absorption bands of the CN red system, the infrared becomes progressively dominated by the bands of the polyatomic molecules HCN and C2H2. Since the band at 3.1 microns is known to be due to HCN and C2H2, it is possible to associate bands at 1.04, 1.53, 1.85, 2.5, 2.7, 3.56, 3.85, 4.8, and 7.1 microns with HCN and C2H2. The spectrum suggests that radiative transfer in the carbon Mira class cannot be discussed quantitatively without the inclusion of HCN and C2H2 opacity. On the basis of the carbon star models of Querci and Querci (1974), it is deduced that the abundance ratio of HCN to C2H2 can be used to indicate whether 3-alpha-processed or CNO-processed material is in the outer atmosphere. An 11.3 micron SiC dust-emission feature is present, although it differs significantly from the 11.7 micron SiC feature in Y CVn. A featureless emission is present from 4 to 13 microns and can be ascribed to optically thin graphite grains having a temperature of 450 K.

Goebel, J. H.↗