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At least 973 records · Page 54
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NASA NTRS1980

Differential Very Long Baseline Interferometry (delta VLBI) spacecraft tracking system demonstration. Part 2: Data acquisition and processing

A set of experiments in the use of Differential Very Long Baseline Interferometry (delta VLBI) for spacecraft navigation were completed. Data using both Voyager spacecraft and a single quasar were acquired during the Jupiter encounter time period. The data were processed and analyzed to assess the navigation accuracy of delta VLBI. The data reduction and techniques for assessing data quality and consistency are discussed.

Christensen, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Precursor active galaxies and the cosmic X-ray background

It is argued that the cosmic X-ray background (CXB) is not dominated by sources that are usual active galaxies or quasars. A comparable number of objects, young galaxies at z approximately 4 containing massive black holes surrounded by hot optically thin accretion disks, constitute the precursor active galaxies (PAG) postulated here for producing the thermal type spectrum required for the CXB. An evolutionary track for such PAG objects is described which would lead to the active galaxies observed as individual nonthermal sources. Unresolved emission from active galaxies at z 1 could then readily account for most of the nonthermal background observed in the gamma ray band.

Boldt, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

IUE observations of Fe 2 galaxies

Repeated observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxies I Zw 1 and II Zw 136, which have very strong Fe II emission lines in the optical region, were made at low resolution with the IUE Satellite. The ultraviolet spectra are very similar: both are variable and show broad emission features of Fe II (especially the UV multiplets 1, 33, 60, 62, and 63) as well as the emission lines usually strong in Seyferts and quasars. The data strongly support the hypothesis that the optical Fe II emission lines are primarily due to collisional excitation and that resonance fluorescence makes only a minor contribution to the excitation of these lines.

Penston, M. V.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Study of the fluctuations in the cosmic X-ray background

The emerging picture indicates that neither the total cosmic X-ray background (CXB) flux nor the fluctuations are completely dominated by any single class of sources. Quasars clearly contribute a substantial fraction of the total flux while galaxy cluster X-ray sources and galactic nuclear activity also make nonnegligible contributions. It appears that from the large angular scale CXB galaxy correlations that no class of relatively low liminosity X-ray sources associated with galaxies can play a major role in supplying the total flux. The origin of the fluctuations looks more complex. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the NGP-SGP difference and some other features of the CXB map are associated with the local anisotropy in the galactic distribution (the local supercluster). It also appears reasonable to some suppose that at least some large angular structures in the CXB are due to emission from hot galactic halo gs.

Turner, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

X-ray spectral constraints on the broad-line cloud geometry of NGC 4151

X-ray spectral data from NGC 4151 taken with the Einstein Solid-State Spectrometer (SSS) and the HEAO 1 A-2 experiment cannot be simply reconciled with absorption from a uniform column of cold gas. The SSS data can, however, be explained in terms of a clumped absorber with approximately 10% uncovered fraction and factor-of-two overabundances in Z equal to or greater than 14 elements relative to solar oxygen. It is shown that these and previously reported spectral and variability data can be quantitatively reconciled with absorption arising in the cold clouds responsible for the broad optical line emission if the cloud dimensions are small compared to the central source size. It is suggested that the lack of significant X-ray absorption observed from much higher luminosity Seyferts and quasars is a natural consequence of the proposed picture for NGC 4151.

Holt, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

X-ray astronomical spectroscopy

The elementary spectral signatures of fundamental physical processes that might be operable in galactic and extragalactic X-ray sources are reviewed. Some of the instrument limitations of experimental techniques used in X-ray astronomical spectroscopy are described. X-ray spectroscopic measurements are examined for various types of X-ray-emitting objects, including degenerate and nondegenerate stellar systems, supernova remnants, clusters of galaxies, active galactic nuclei, and quasars.

Holt, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Dust-to-gas ratio in the outer regions of spiral galaxies

Some spiral galaxies are surrounded by extended clouds of neutral hydrogen; if dust is associated with this gas, the dust should appear as a faint extended reflection nebula illuminated by the light from the entire galaxy. It is suggested that observations of the surface brightness of the outer regions of M83 and M101 could be worthwhile, since these two galaxies are bright and have extended surrounding gas clouds. Such studies would be of interest with regard to the possible presence of faint extended halos of stars around galaxies, the extent of the metallicity gradients in galaxies, and the value of the dust-to-gas ratio in quasar absorption-line systems.

Jura, M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Einstein observations of active galaxies

X-ray observations of Cen A (NGC 5128) and seven other X-ray emitting active galaxies are discussed which were made with the imaging proportional counter and the high-resolution imager aboard the Einstein Observatory. In addition to Cen A, the sources observed were the N-type galaxy 3C 120, the quasars OX 169 and 3C 273, and four Class 1 Seyfert galaxies, viz., Mkn 509, Mkn 79, NGC 6814, and NGC 4151. For Cen A, it is found that the X-ray data are dominated by a central point source of about 2 cts/sec, that X-ray elongations (possibly associated with the inner radio lobes) extend in the NE and SW directions, and that an X-ray jet exists which is aligned with the optical jet. The results for the other sources are used to derive emitting-region sizes and black-hole masses for models based on an accreting central black hole.

Tananbaum, H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei

Characteristics of the X-ray spectra of seven Seyfert 1 galaxies, five BL Lac objects, and three quasars are discussed. It is found that all the Seyfert 1 spectra can be fitted to a single power law with an energy index of 0.6 to 0.7, that there is no obvious correlation between spectral index and luminosity, and that variability appears to be inversely correlated with luminosity. It is suggested that the spectra of all the BL Lac sources can be synthesized from two power-law forms, viz., a very hard component with an index of approximately 0.2 and a much softer component with an index of about 2. The extent to which the measured spectrum of the diffuse X-ray background is consistent with the spectra of candidate populations of discrete sources is examined.

Holt, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Optical identification of serendipitous Einstein sources - 19 X-ray-selected active galactic nuclei

The identification of counterparts to 19 serendipitous Einstein Observatory X-ray sources at high galactic latitude is reported. The counterparts are identified as previously uncataloged active galactic nuclei (AGNs) - quasars or Seyfert galaxies - with redshifts varying from z = 0.036 through z = 1.40. The success rate, that is, the fraction of X-ray sources that are identified as AGNs, is approximately 50%, an order of magnitude larger than for traditional ultraviolet surveys. It is expected that this method will produce a large number of X-ray-selected AGNs for statistical studies. For the 19 AGNs in this sample, which is free from the radio selection effects that have complicated previous studies, the X-ray-to-optical-flux slope is found to be 1.30 + or - 0.05.

Chanan, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Radiation force on a relativistic plasma and the Eddington limit

Calculations of the radiation force due to Thomson scattering on a relativistic plasma are presented and discussed in relation to certain astronomical objects which operate within a few orders of magnitude of their Eddington luminosity. The radiation force on a hot isotropic plasma is shown to exceed that on a cold plasma by a factor depending on the electron Lorentz factor, which can be substantial in a relativistic plasma. In such a plasma, radiative bulk acceleration is found to occur through the anisotropic loss of internal energy during the Thomson scattering, resulting in an effect termed a Compton rocket. The Compton rocket is shown to be a relevant acceleration mechanism in situations where a relativistic electron plasma lies in the vicinity of a luminous source operating near the classical Eddington limit, including compact galactic X-ray sources and objects associated with active galactic nuclei (quasars, blazars, and Seyfert nuclei).

Odell, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

SC 2059-247 - An unusual radio/X-ray source in a distant cluster of galaxies

The X-ray, optical and radio properties of a high redshift, Bautz-Morgan type I cluster of galaxies, namely SC 2059-247, are examined. This cluster is optically dominated by a cD galaxy with a powerful flat-spectrum radio source coincident with the possibly stellar nucleus. Two possible interpretations are suggested for the apparently soft X-ray spectrum of the extremely luminous cluster. Either the intracluster gas is much cooler in high-redshift clusters because they are less relaxed, or the X-ray and radio emissions from SC 2059-247 are the result of a nonthermal QSO/BL Lac type object in the nucleus of the cD. If the latter, it would be the first time that an X-ray source similar to a quasar or BL Lac object has been discovered in a previously identified galaxy.

White, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Infrared spectrophotometry of three Seyfert galaxies and 3C 273

Spectrophotometry in the range 2.1-4.0 microns is presented for the Seyfert galaxies NGC 1068, NGC 4151 and Mrk 231 and the quasar 3C 273, together with broadband and narrowband observations of the Seyfert galaxies in the range 8-13 microns. The spectra of NGC 1068 and NGC 4151 are found to contain a significant component due to starlight, especially at shorter wavelengths. The nonstellar component in NGC 1068 is observed to fall off rapidly at wavelengths shorter than 4 microns, consistent with the interpretation of the excess beyond 5 microns as thermal reradiation by dust. Observations confirm the variability of NGC 4151, and indicate the presence of two components of the flux other than starlight: a nonthermal variable component predominant at shorter wavelengths and a constant, probably thermal component at wavelengths greater than 3 microns. Mrk 231 and 3C 273 exhibit no discernable stellar component and were not observed to vary by more than 10%. Evidence is obtained for a broad minimum in the 8 to 13 micron spectrum of Mrk 231, as well as possible structure between rest wavelengths of 2.8 and 2.9 microns, and the spectrum is not a power law. The spectrum of 3C 273 is consistent with a power law from 1.2 to 10 microns, with small but significant deviations.

Cutri, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

X-ray heating and ionization of broad-line emission regions in QSOs and active galaxies

The absorption of X-rays deep within the broad-line emitting clouds in quasars and the nuclei of active galaxies produces extensive zones of warm (about 10,000 K), partially ionized gas. Because Lyman-alpha photons are trapped in these regions, the X-ray energy is efficiently channeled into Balmer lines collisionally excited from the n = 2 level. These H I regions and the H II regions created by UV photons illuminating the surfaces of the clouds gives rise to integrated Lyman-alpha/H-alpha lines emission ratios between 1 and 2. Enhanced Mg II line emission from the H I regions gives rise to integrated Mg II/H-alpha ratios near 0.5. The O I line at 8446 A is efficiently pumped by trapped H-alpha photons; and an intensity ratio of I(8446 A)/I(H-alpha) of approximately equal to and not greater than 0.1 is calculated for the X-ray heated zone.

Weisheit, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Studies in astronomical time series analysis. I - Modeling random processes in the time domain

Several random process models in the time domain are defined and discussed. Attention is given to the moving average model, the autoregressive model, and relationships between and combinations of these models. Consideration is then given to methods for investigating pulse structure, procedures of model construction, computational methods, and numerical experiments. A FORTRAN algorithm of time series analysis has been developed which is relatively stable numerically. Results of test cases are given to study the effect of adding noise and of different distributions for the pulse amplitudes. A preliminary analysis of the light curve of the quasar 3C 272 is considered as an example.

Scargle, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The Johns Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope for Shuttle astronomy

The Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) is a 90-cm f/2 prime focus telescope and spectrometer with a photon-counting microchannel plate detector designed to obtain moderate resolution (wavelength interval, approximately 4 A) spectrophotometry of faint (visual magnitude, less than approximately 17) objects in the far-ultraviolet spectral region (approximately 900-1700 A). The HUT will be mounted on the Spacelab Instrument Pointing System and will be operated by a Payload Specialist using a field acquisition TV system to assist in locating targets. The initial flight of the HUT, expected in 1984 or 1985, will be devoted primarily to the study of quasars and active galactic nuclei, emphasizing the 900-1200 A spectral region which is inaccessible with other existing or currently planned orbiting instruments.

Davidson, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Observationally determined silicon II oscillator strengths

Si II oscillator strengths for eight resonance lines from the ground state have been determined using a curve-of-growth analysis of interstellar data from the Copernicus and International Ultraviolet Explorer satellites. The oscillator strengths for 1526 A and 1808 A increase by factors of 3.0 and 1.5, respectively, from previously tabulated values; those for 989 A and 1020 A decrease by factors of 0.55 and 0.60, respectively. These new values result in better silicon abundances for interstellar clouds and resolve a long-standing puzzle in the interpretation of quasar absorption line data.

Shull, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

de Sitter's model and luminosity - Distance in cosmology

The behavior of luminosity-distance with redshift is analyzed within the framework of homogeneous zero-pressure relativistic cosmology. de Sitter's model is shown to have the most redshift sensitive luminosity-distance function of all cosmologies which have q sub 0 not less than -1. Quasar data which suggest a cut-off in absolute luminosity are reanalyzed and the cut-off disappears if either de Sitter's model or the assumption L(L-alpha) = 3 L(H-beta) is used.

Barnes, R. C.↗