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At least 109 records · Page 6

X-ray topographic observations of magnetic domains in Czochralski-grown nickel single crystals in anomalous transmission geometry

The anomalous transmission effect has been observed in nickel single crystals grown by the Czochralski technique. Sample crystals prepared for X-ray topography are 1.5 to 2.5 cm in diameter and thicker than 0.4 mm; the product of the ordinary linear absorption coefficient and thickness ranges from 17 to 45 for Cu K-alpha radiation. Topographs taken with an asymmetric-crystal-topographic (ACT) camera have revealed extremely straight line images and rectangular arrangements of short line-segment images, along with the images of crystal imperfections. The line images change their arrangement upon application of magnetic fields. These images are attributed to magnetic domains in the interior of crystals. The formation of domain walls near the crystal surface is also observed and distinguished clearly from magnetic domains in the bulk with the use of the ACT camera.

Kuriyama, M.↗

Pyroxene-spinel intergrowths in lunar and terrestrial pyroxenes

The paper describes the oriented intergrowth of spinel and pyroxene in a pigeonite from Luna 20, an augite from Apollo 16 anorthosite 67075, and an orthopyroxene from a spinel lherzolite nodule from the San Quintin volcanic field, Mexico. Using Mo K alpha radiation, photographs were taken of small, hand-picked single-crystals. A mechanism of exsolution is suggested in which the oxygen framework remains intact and spinel nuclei are formed by the migration of cations from interstitial sites and tetrahedral sites in the original non-stoichiometric pyroxene.

Okamura, F. P.↗

An atlas of soft X-ray images of the solar corona from Skylab

An atlas is presented which contains daily full-sun photographs of the soft X-ray solar corona taken in two filters with an X-ray telescope on the Apollo telescope mount of Skylab for the period from May 29 to November 27, 1973. The passband of the first filter covers the wavelength regions from 2 to 32 A and 44 to 54 A; the second filter covers the region from 2 to 17 A. Characteristics of the instrument, the wavelength response, and sensitivity are described along with the total data base, of which the atlas represents only 1%. Comparisons are made with observations of the white-light corona, photospheric magnetic field, H-alpha radiation from the chromosphere, and 284-A Fe XV emission from the corona. A complete bibliography of scientific papers that have used the data base and a bibliography of catalogs and atlases containing related data for the same observational period are provided.

Zombeck, M. V.↗

Lyman alpha initiated winds in late-type stars

The IUE survey of late-type stars revealed a sharp division in the HR diagram between stars with solar type spectra (chromosphere and transition region lines) and those with non-solar type spectra (only chromosphere lines). Models of both hot coronae and cool wind flows were calculated using stellar model chromospheres as starting points for stellar wind calculations in order to investigate the possibility of having a supersonic transition locus in the HR diagram dividing hot coronae from cool winds. From these models, it is concluded that the Lyman alpha flux may play an important role in determining the location of a stellar wind critical point. The interaction of Lyman alpha radiation pressure with Alfven waves in producing strong, low temperature stellar winds in the star Arcturus is examined.

Haisch, B. M.↗

Lyman alpha initiated winds in late-type stars

One of the first major results of the IUE survey of late-type stars was the discovery of a sharp division in the HR diagram between stars with solar type spectra (chromosphere and transition region lines) and those with non-solar type spectra (only chromosphere lines). This result is especially interesting in view of observational evidence for mass loss from G and K giants and super-giants discussed recently by both Reimers and Stencel. In the present paper models of both hot coronae and cool wind flows are calculated using stellar model chromospheres as starting points for stellar wind calculations in order to investigate the possibility of having a 'supersonic transition locus' in the HR diagram dividing hot coronae from cool winds. It is concluded from these models that the Lyman-alpha flux may play an important role in determining the location of a stellar wind critical point. The interaction of Lyman-alpha radiation pressure with Alfven waves in producing strong, low temperature stellar winds in the star Arcturus is investigated.

Haisch, B. M.↗

The preflare state

The accumulation, storage and irreversible release of the free energy necessary for a solar flare are discussed on the basis of data obtained from the Apollo Telescope Mount on Skylab and other pertinent sources. Skylab and OSO 7 observations of possible flare precursors and flare evolution are presented, and the evolution of the flare of Sept. 5, 1973, the most completely observed flare of the Skylab program, is described in detail, with account given to magnetic structures and H alpha radiation. Theories of the preflare state are then reviewed, with attention given to the force-free fields and coronal arcades, thermal and magnetic structures and the MHD stability of coronal loops.

Van Hoven, G.↗

High-resolution observation of the Venus dayglow spectrum 1250-1430 angstroms

The spectrum of the dayglow of Venus between 1250 and 1430 A was measured in high resolution with the International Ultraviolet Explorer. Seven exposures which were made with the short wavelength camera in the high dispersion mode using the large aperture were combined to give a total exposure time of 309 min. The atomic oxygen lines at 1302.2, 1304.9, 1306.0, and 1355.6 A are present. In addition, the (14,3) and (14,4) bands of the carbon monoxide fourth positive system at 1317 and 1354 A respectively are identified. These bands are compared with synthetic spectra, showing the excitation mechanism to be fluorescent scattering of solar Lyman alpha radiation.

Lane, A. L.↗

Cross section for Ly-alpha emission by electron impact on methane

Utilizing Lyman-alpha emission cross sections for H2 as secondary standards, absolute values of Lyman-alpha emission cross sections for CH4 have been obtained for electron impact energies varying from threshold to 100 eV. A crossed electron beam-molecular beam geometry was employed and the Lyman-alpha radiation was detected at 90 deg and 45 deg with respect to the incident electron beam by a solar blind photomultiplier in tandem with an oxygen filter. The results are compared with previous measurements. Appreciable differences among the various experimental data are found.

Orient, O. J.↗

Photodissociation processes in the OH molecule

The potential energy curves of several excited states of OH of 2Sigma(+), 2Sigma(-), 2Pi, and 2Delta symmetries, and the transition moments connecting the excited states with the ground state and with each other, are calculated using two previously published theoretical models. The importance of the excited states in photodissociation is explored. Direct photodissociation by absorption into repulsive electronic states, as well as the contribution of absorption into bound electronic states, are discussed. Because they may participate in the photodissociation processes, several quartet states and one of the sextet spin multiplicity are investigated. The mechanism by which bound states can be dissociated are considered and estimates of the dissociation efficiencies of the mechanisms are made. Absorption into the bound 3 2Pi state may be an important dissociation channel. It is shown that OH is dissociated by the absorption of Lyman alpha radiation, a channel of particular significance in shocked interstellar gas and in cometary atmospheres.

Van Dishoeck, E. F.↗

Observations of the Ultraviolet Spectra of Helium (DB) White Dwarfs and a Study of the Ultraviolet Spectra of White Dwarfs Containing Carbon

Strong ultraviolet carbon lines were detected in the spectrum of the southern DC white dwarf BPM 11668. Observations of a number of hotter DB white dwarfs with IUE show no evidence of carbon features. Two additional DA white dwarfs were observed that have the strong unidentified absorption near 1400 A which now seems to be identified with another lower temperature feature as satellite lines to Lyman alpha radiation.

Wegner, G. A.↗

Neutral Atmosphere Properties Determining D-region Electron Densities

The increasing discoveries of various manifestations of meteorological control of the D region ionization and the growth of techniques for its measurement provide a challenge to meteorologists to test their insight into middle atmosphere processes with the physical interpretation of D layer phenomena. Models for ion production due to photoionization of minor atmospheric nitric oxide by quasi-monochromatic solar Lyman-alpha radiation are presented. A ground based measuring technique using low frequency radio reflection heights is briefly described and an approach to the interpretation of data acquired by this method is discussed. It is shown that D region electron density variations can provide an efficient diagnostic tool for the detection of perturbations of the circulation state of the middle atmosphere.

Taubenheim, J.↗

The zonal distribution of hydrogen in the Jovian atmosphere

The Lyman-alpha intensities measured by Voyagers 1 and 2 and by the IUE are used as the bases of deductions for the distribution of atomic hydrogen in the Jovian atmosphere, under the assumption that the sources of the dayside Lyman alpha include resonance scattering of solar Lyman alpha, resonance scattering of the interplanetary Lyman-alpha radiation, and direct excitation by charged particles. The daytime equation of radiative transfer is solved to determine the longitudinal distribution of freely scattering atomic hydrogen that would account for the observed flux. This solution indicates that if the hydrogen bulge is due to localized heating and a consequent increase in scale height, the perturbed region temperature must be about 100 K warmer than that in the normal region. The H distribution derived from the dayside solution is used with the nightside flux to estimate the longitude variation of particle precipitation on the nightside.

Killen, R. M.↗

Results from the X-ray polychromator on SMM

Observations of the soft X-ray emitting plasma by means of the X-Ray Polychromator (XRP) on the Solar Maximum Mission satellite are described. The scientific advances achieved by use of the XRP are in the areas of: (1) flare morphology, (2) spectroscopy and plasma diagnostics, (3) chromospheric evaporation and the physics of flare loops, (4) studies of the microwave emission mechanisms of active regions, (5) the fluorescent excitation of Fe II K-alpha radiation, (6) measurement of variations of calcium abundance for X-ray plasmas, and (7) soft X-ray observations of spray transients. The findings in each of these areas are discussed.

Culhane, J. L.↗

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley before perihelion: Preliminary observations with dynamics Explorer 1

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley has been observed in resonantly scattered solar Lyman-alpha radiation during the period 1-29 January 1986 as the comet approached perihelion. These observations were obtained with the imaging photometer for vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 1. For the initial analysis of observations available in 17 orbits distributed throughout the period, least-squares fits are computed for the observed exponential decrease in brightness with radial distance from the nucleus. Brightness at the nucleus increased from approx. 3 to 17 kR during the observing period. Preliminary analysis yields water production rates of approx. 3.6 x 10 to the 29th power and 1.9 x 10 to the 30th power molecules/sec on 1 and 29 January, respectively.

Craven, J. D.↗

Analysis of coronal H I Lyman-alpha measurements in a polar region of the sun observed in 1979

Measurements of the intensities and spectral line profiles of resonantly scattered hydrogen Ly-alpha radiation have been used to determine hydrogen kinetic temperatures and electron densities between r = 1.5 and 2.2 solar radii in a polar region of the corona observed in 1979 near solar maximum. The mean temperature, 1.8 x 10 to the 6th K, in this region is significantly higher, by about 60 percent, than that obtained in a similar region observed in a 1980 rocket flight. The densities in these two polar regions are similar and are a factor of about 4 larger than in polar coronal holes observed at solar minimum. The flow velocities in both regions are most likely subsonic for r less than about 4 solar radii. The results reported here support the hypothesis that polar coronal holes observed at different times during the solar cycle can have different temperatures, densities, and possibly flow velocities.

Withbroe, G. L.↗

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley before perihelion Preliminary observations with Dynamics Explorer 1

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley has been observed in resonantly scattered solar Lyman-alpha radiation during the period 4-29 January 1986 as the comet approached perihelion. These observations were obtained with the imaging photometer for vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 4. For the initial analysis of observations available in 17 orbits distributed throughout the period, least-squares fits are computed for the observed exponential decrease in brightness with radial distance from the nucleus. Brightness at the nucleus increased from approx. 3 to 17 kR during the observing period. Preliminary analysis yields water production rates of approx. 3.6 x 10 to the 29th power and 1.9 x 10 to the 30th power molecules/sec on 1 and 29 January, respectively.

Craven, J. D.↗

Analysis of IUE observations of hydrogen in comets

The large body of hydrogen Lyman-alpha observations of cometary comae obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite has gone generally unanalyzed because of two main modeling complications. First, the inner comae of many bright (gas productive) comets are often optically thick to solar Lyman-alpha radiation. Second, even in the case of a small comet (low gas production) the large IUE aperture is quite small as compared with the immense size of the hydrogen coma, so an accurate model which properly accounts for the spatial distribution of the coma is required to invert the inferred brightnesses to column densities and finally to H atom production rates. Our Monte Carlo particle trajectory model (MPTM), which for the first time provides the realistic full phase space distribution of H atoms throughout the coma was used as the basis for the analysis of IUE observations of the inner coma. The MCPTM includes the effects of the vectorial ejection of the H atoms upon dissociation of their parent species (H2O and OH) and of their partial collisional thermalization. Both of these effects are crucial to characterize the velocity distribution of the H atoms. A new spherical radiative transfer calculation based on our MCPTM was developed to analyze IUE observations of optically thick H comae. The models were applied to observations of comets P/Giacobini-Zinner and P/Halley.

Combi, Michael R.↗

Detection of a proton beam during the impulsive phase of a stellar flare

A transient event consistent with the predicted temporal and spectral signatures of an energetic proton beam was detected in the impulsive phase of a small flare on the red dwarf star AU Microscopii. It consisted of a prominent increase in the flux in the red wing of Lyman-alpha near 1223 A, simultaneously with the peak of a flare observed in the 1206 A transition region line of Si III. The probability that the red wing event was a chance fluctuation is one chance in 2.5 x 10 exp 4. This observation represents a confirmation of the prediction by Orrall and Zirker (1976) in which downstreaming protons accelerated during the impulsive phase of a flare charge exchange with ambient neutral hydrogen and emit Lyman-alpha radiation from 1 to 15 A redward of line center.

Woodgate, Bruce E.↗