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NASA NTRS1982

Comparison of winds in the Small Magellanic Cloud and galactic early-type stars

IUE low-resolution spectra of 11 OB stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud reveal considerably lower wind velocities than corresponding galactic stars. The reduced effectiveness of radiative acceleration due to lower abundances of heavy elements in the SMC is believed to be responsible for this effect. The absorption strengths of the SMC P Cygni profiles are somewhat weaker in Si IV and much weaker in C IV. Crude estimates of relative mass-loss rates suggest that the observed differences may be dominated by the differing relative abundances of Si and C, although a lower degree of wind ionization or lower mass-loss rates for the SMC stars cannot be ruled out.

Bruhweiler, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

X-ray imaging observations of active galactic nuclei and quasars

After discussing the X-ray properties of active galactic nuclei and quasars which have been ascertained by means of Einstein Observatory imaging observations, the observation of X-ray jets coincident with the optical and radio jets in 3C 273 and M87 is considered. The sensitivity of the Einstein Observatory makes possible the search for variability in Seyfert galaxies on time scales shorter than one day. It is noted that if such short time scale variability occurs in all Seyferts, X-ray emission lines due to Compton smearing are unlikely, as is borne out by observations. It appears that integrated emission from quasars makes up a large fraction of the X-ray background in the 1-3 keV band, with the observational consequence that the average value of many quasar spectra should be the same as the background spectrum.

Henry, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Infrared spectra of galactic center sources

Absorption due to CO and emission from atomic hydrogen and neutral helium observed in high resolution 2-micron spectra of five compact sources in the central parsec of the galaxy furnish information concerning the condition, distribution and kinematics of red giant stars and ionized gas in the galactic core. It is found that all three red giant sources observed are blueshifted, and that there are no detectable absorptions in the continuum of the central source IRS 16.

Wollman, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Discovery of three far-red objects in CCD images of the galactic center

Observations of the galactic center with a CCD camera in the far-red (9030-9270 A) have revealed three previously unknown objects which are designated FRS 1, FRS 2, and FRS 3. The three objects have magnitudes of 18.7, 19.5, and 19.7, respectively, and lie within 10 arcsec of the direction of Sgr A West, corresponding to a distance of about 1/2 pc at 10 kpc. FRS 1 lies within the extended 2.2-micron infrared source IRS 16, which may coincide with the dynamical center of the Galaxy. Two interpretations of these far-red objects which have been considered are that (1) they are compact clusters of giant stars, earlier than M0 or (2) they are extremely compact H II regions observed in the forbidden emission of doubly ionized sulfur. Observational tests of these two hypotheses are suggested.

Ricker, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A study of the diffuse galactic gamma radiation

Assuming cosmic rays pervade the Galaxy, they necessarily produced high energy gamma-rays as they interact with the instellar matter and photons. The cosmic ray nucleon interactions five rise to gamma rays primarily through the decay of pi mesons, giving a unique spectrum with a maximum at approximately 68 MeV. Cosmic ray electrons produce gamma rays through bremsstrahlung, but with a markedly different energy spectral shape, one which decreases monotonically with energy. Cosmic ray electrons also interact with the interstellar starlight, optical and infrared photons, and the blackbody radiation through the Compton process. A model of galactic gamma ray production is discussed, and the predicted spatial distribution and energy spectra are presented. Considering the uncertainty in the point source contributions, the agreement between the theoretical predictions and the gamma ray data seems quite reasonable.

Fichtel, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Studies of the ionization states of solar and galactic cosmic ray heavy nuclei

Enhancement of abundances of heavy nuclei (e.g., Mg, Si, and Fe) at low energies relative to solar photospheric abundances and anomalously high abundances of iron relative to oxygen nuclei at low energies were recently discovered in solar energetic particles studied at low energy. These phenomena are not understood at present. The proposed experiment is designed to study the recently discovered anomalous component of low energy galactic cosmic ray ions of C, N, O, Ne, and Ca to Fe of energy 5- to 10-million electron volts per atomic mass unit in regard to their ionization states, composition, and intensity, and to study the ionization states of heavy elements from oxygen to iron in energetic solar particles emitted during flare events. The same detector system will serve for both studies, with the second objective being given priority if there are any solar particle events during the mission.

Biswas, S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A far-infrared study of N/O abundance ratio in galactic H 2 regions

Far-infrared lines of N++ and O++ in several galactic H II regions were measured in an effort to probe the abundance ratio N/O. New measurements are presented for W32 (630.8-0.0), Orion A, and G75.84+0.4. The combination of (N III) 57.3 millimicrons and (O III) 88.4 and 51.8 millimicrons yields measurements of N++/O++ that are largely insensitive to electron temperature, density uncertainties, and to clumping of the ionized gas, due to the similarity of the critical densities for these transitions. In the observed nebulae, N++/O++ should be indicative of N/O, a ratio that is of special importance in nucleosynthesis theory. Measurements are compared with previous measurements of M17 and W51. For nebulae in the solar circle, N++/O++ is greater than the N/O values derived from optical studies of N+/O+ in low ionization zones of the same nebulae. We find that N++/O++ in W43 is significantly higher than for the other H II regions in the sample. Since W43 is located at R = 5 kpc, which is the smallest galactocentric distance in our sample, our data appear consistent with the presence of a negative abundance gradient d(N/O)dR.

Lester, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

On the distribution of interstellar gas in the galactic halo

New and existing observations of 21-cm emission lines toward 10 distant, high-latitude OB stars are combined with existing observations of interstellar Lyman-alpha absorption lines, in order to determine the ratio, N21/N-alpha, of the two different column densities of H I. This ratio, which is related to the fraction of the cool, neutral gas in the halo that lies beyond each star, decreases smoothly to about unity with increasing distance from the galactic plane. The column density of neutral gas beyond about 1 kpc can be as much as one-third of the total above the plane, but only relatively small amounts of such gas lie more than 2 kpc from the plane. The distances to, and the possible birthplaces of, these Population I stars in the halo are discussed.

Hobbs, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The cosmological evolution and luminosity function of X-ray selected active galactic nuclei

The cosmological evolution and the X-ray luminosity function of X-ray selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are derived and discussed. The sample used consists of 31 AGNs extracted from a fully identified sample of X-ray sources from the Einstein Observatory Medium Sensitivity Survey and is therefore exclusively defined by its X-ray properties. The distribution in space is found to be strongly nonuniform. The amount of cosmological evolution required by the X-ray data is derived in the framework of pure luminosity evolution and is found to be smaller than the amount determined from optically selected samples. The X-ray luminosity function is derived. It can be satisfactorily represented by a single power law only over a limited range of absolute luminosities. Evidence that the luminosity function flattens at low luminosity or steepens at high luminosity, or both, is presented and discussed.

Maccacaro, T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Time-resolved spectrophotometry of the emission lines in the galactic X-ray source H2252-035

The galactic X-ray source H2252-035 has been the object of a concentrated observational effort, since Griffiths et al. (1980) have identified it with a cataclysmic variable-like spectrum. Since the observed 859 s periodicity corresponds to the beat frequency between the X-ray and orbital periods, it has been interpreted as related to a reprocessing of the X-ray flux into optical emission in some region of the system which is rotating with the orbital period and heated by beamed X-ray emission from the compact star. In connection with the present investigation, H2252-035 has been observed with a 120 inch (3 m) telescope and image dissector scanner on 1980 September 9/10 and on 1981 September 20/21. At a time resolution of approximately 2 minutes, four bright emission lines showed short time-scale flickering and a pronounced orbital period variation in phase with the continuum modulation. A two-component model for the line emission region is proposed.

Clarke, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Einstein Observatory results on active galactic nuclei

The results of Einstein Observatory surveys of active galactic nuclei (AGN) are reviewed. The ubiquity of X-ray emission from AGNs was confirmed. The relations between X-ray and optical luminosities, between X-ray and radio properties, and between X-ray and optical-UV line emission found by the surveys are summarized and briefly discussed. The possible causes of observed X-ray emission from jets in Cen-A, 3C273, and M87 are considered. The active nucleus discovered in the optically 'dull' galaxy NGC 4156 is covered, and a model for NGC 4151 based on detailed spectral studies is briefly discussed. This model establishes the global symmetry of the AGN clouds, their approximate sizes, and their ionization state. Difficulties encountered in attempting to explain the cosmic X-ray background in terms of AGN contributions are addressed.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The elemental and isotopic composition of galactic cosmic ray nuclei

A directly accessible sample of matter which originates outside the solar system is provided by galactic cosmic rays. The present investigation is primarily concerned with progress related to questions raised regarding the similarity or difference between solar system matter and matter coming from outside the solar system. The investigation takes into account U.S. contributions to this topic over the period from 1979 to 1982. The cosmic ray (CR) abundances of all the elements from H to Ni (atomic number Z=1 to 28) have now been measured. Cosmic ray source (CRS) and solar system (SS) elemental compositions are listed in a table, and the ratio of CRS to SS abundance for 21 elements is shown in a graph. There is now clear evidence from CR isotope studies that the nucleosynthesis of CRS material has differed from that of SS material.

Mewaldt, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Changes in interstellar atomic abundances from the galactic plane to the halo

A few, specially selected interstellar absorption lines were measured in the high resolution, far ultraviolet spectra of 200 O and B type stars observed by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). For lines of sight extending beyond about 500 pc from the galactic plane, the abundance of singly ionized iron atoms increases relative to singly ionized sulfur. However, the relative abundances of singly ionized sulfur, silicon and aluminum do not seem to change appreciably. An explanation for the apparent increase of iron is the partial sputtering of material off the surfaces of dust grains by interstellar shocks. Another possibility might be that the ejecta from type I supernovae enrich the low density medium in the halo with iron. Previously announced in STAR as N82-33310

Jenkins, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A large aperture balloon-borne telescope for a submillimeter wavelength survey of the galactic plane

A balloon-borne, 1.2 meter Cassegrain telescope with a servo-controlled chopping secondary mirror has been developed and used to survey the Galactic Plane at submillimeter wavelengths. The telescope pointing system uses a gyroscope as the primary stabilization reference and makes use of microprocessors for pointing control, on-board data collection, and telemetry formatting. A description of the telescope, multi-channel liquid-helium-cooled focal plane and the aspect and orientation subsystems are presented.

Silverberg, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of gamma-ray line emission from the galactic center region

Balloon and HEAO-3 spacecraft instrumentation measurements of the .51 MeV gamma ray line arising from positron-electron annihilation near the galactic center are examined. The first balloon flights were made in 1970, and satellite data was collected in 1979. Subsequent spacecraft gamma ray spectroscopy of the region in the spring of 1980 revealed that the emission had undergone a factor of three decrease. The mean flux had displayed a value of within .19 of 1.04/1000 before the decrease was observed. The source has a luminosity of 10 to the 37th ergs/sec and an annihilation rate of 10 to the 43rd/sec. The emission region would stay within a temperature range of 100,000 K and have a diameter of 10 to the 18 cm, a mass less than 1 billion solar masses, and feature annihilations at least 10 to the 14 cm outward from the source. Further balloon flights are planned to verify the variability.

Jacobson, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of the galactic center with the GSFC low-energy gamma-ray spectrometer - Preliminary results

The results of measurements made of the gamma ray emission originating from the galactic center are reviewed. The data were gathered with balloon borne gamma ray spectrometers, with the scans centering on 511 keV. Minimum Chi-sq fits were calculated for the recorded emissions, assuming a constant source modulated by the detector response and superimposed on a constant background. A time history of the 511 keV line intensity demonstrated variability in the feature, whereas the continuum spectrum showed a high correlation with previous measurements. An excess in the continuum just below the 511 keV line was taken as an indication of positronium formation.

Paciesas, W. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

On the origin of the positron annihilation radiation from the direction of the galactic center

Physical constraints on the possible configuration of the positron annihilation region observed at the galactic center with gamma ray instrumentation focused on 511 keV emission are discussed. The line width is less than 2.5 keV, implying that the positrons annihilate in a gas that features some ionization. The line width also limits velocities to less than 700 km/sec, while the line center indicated a bulk velocity along the line of sight of between -90 to 200 km/sec. Data from emissions less than 511 keV suggest a production of 511 keV photons/positron ratio of 0.65 to account for the continuum emission detected. The annihilation region requires a temperature of at least 50,000 K and an ionization fraction of at least 10 percent, a density near 100,000 H/cu cm, and a diameter less than 10 to the 18th cm. Relativitistic considerations support pair production around an accreting black hole or the collision of collimated photon beams as possible sources of the emissions.

Lingenfelter, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A far-infrared study of the N/O abundance ratio in galactic H II regions

New measurements are presented for W43 (G30.8-0.0), Orion A, and G75.84+0.4, which are located at widely varying distances from the galactic center. The combination of the forbidden N III 57.3 microns and forbidden O III 88.4 and 51.8 microns yields measurements of N(++)/O(++) that are for the most part insensitive to electron temperature and density uncertainties and to clumping of the ionized gas. This is due to the similarity of the critical densities for these transitions. It is contended that for the observed nebulae, N(++)/O(++) should be indicative of N/O, a ratio that is of signal importance in nucleosynthesis theory. The measurements are compared with previous measurements of M17 and W51, which lie at intermediate galactocentric distances. For nebulae in the solar circle, it is found that N(++)/O(++) is greater than the N/O values derived from optical studies of N(+)/O(+) in low-ionization zones of the same nebulae. Possible sources of this discrepancy are considered. It is found that N(++)/O(++) in W43 is significantly higher than for the other H II regions in the sample. Since W43 is located at R = 5 kpc, which is the smallest galactocentric distance in the sample, the data are seen as consistent with the presence of a negative abundance gradient d(N/O)/dR.

Lester, D. F.↗