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At least 109 records · Page 6

Is there a maser in the silicon monoxide ground state

Observations are reported of weak emission from the ground vibrational state of SiO in the Orion molecular cloud. It is shown that this emission has a rather smooth low-intensity profile extending over a large velocity range and is present at velocities where maser emissions from the first and second vibrational states are absent. Based on this difference, the present emission is interpreted as thermal emission in the ground state in regions where there is insufficient excitation to produce the vibrationally excited masers. Possible origins are considered for the Orion SiO maser, and it is noted that only VY CMa shows a profile that could be interpreted as ground-state maser emission.

Buhl, D.↗

New silicon monoxide masers

Seven Mira variable stars with silicon monoxide maser emission have been found. All are later than M4 and heavily reddened. Two were observed near maximum light. One, Y Cas, seems to bear out the correlation of 43-GHz SiO maser luminosity and mean spectral type at maximum light. RT Aql, however, falls about 1 mag below the expected brightness. A catalog of SiO maser stars is given.

Dickinson, D. F.↗

Spectral studies of SiCl4 + N2O + Ar and SiH4 + Ar mixtures in a shock tube in 160-550 nm range

Gases containing SiO, SiO2, SiH, and Si2 were produced in the reflected-shock region of a shock tube by heating SiCl4 + N2O + Ar and SiH4 + Ar mixtures with shock waves. Spectral absorption characteristics were measured in the 160-550 nm wavelength range and in the 2800-3600 K temperature range and compared to calculated values. The sums of the squares of electronic transition moments at equilibrium separation were derived. It was found that absorption by SiO2 and other known bands of SiO, SiH, and Si2 were too weak to be measured. The cross section of absorption by a continuum, believed due to SiH, varied from 2.5 x 10 to the -17th sq cm at 280 nm to 1.6 x 10 to the -18th sq cm at 440 nm.

Park, C.↗

Properties of various silicon oxide phases in thin films

Layers of SiO2 with reproducible properties can be manufactured relatively easily today. In the case of SiO and Si2O3 layers, it is necessary to carefully check all of the manufacturing parameters for producing layers with reproducible properties. The properties of the layers in the case of SiO2 do conform to expectations. In the case of Si2O3 and SiO, they can be understood at least qualitatively. Additional interesting models are available for a quantitative understanding.

Ritter, E.↗

Some new results on shock chemistry in IC 443

New observations have been made of CO, CO-13, SiO, SO, H2CO, HCO(+), N2H(+), CS, OCS, HCN, and OH in the shocked clouds of IC 443. It is found that at position IC 443 B, (1) the shocked CO is optically thin; (2) the HCO(+)/CO abundance ratio is 4-9 x 10 to the -4 th, representing a tenfold enhancement over that of normal interstellar clouds; (3) there is no enhancement of SO or SIO, as occurs in Orion KL; and (4) there is optically thin preshock OH, confirming a hundredfold enhancement of the OH/CO ratio in the shock.

Denoyer, L. K.↗

Interstellar silicon sulfide

Silicon sulfide has been observed in Sgr B2 at 108.92 GHz and 90.77 GHz and in Orion A at 108.92 GHz. The column density is 1-2 x 10 to the 13th/sq cm in both sources. SiS was not seen in two other molecular clouds where SiO has been detected; nor was it seen in a variety of late-type stars with varying C/O ratios. It appears that SiS is significantly less abundant than SiO in the interstellar medium and probably at least somewhat less abundant in oxygen-rich late-type variable stars.

Dickinson, D. F.↗

Laboratory measurements of amorphous silicate smokes and the infrared spectra of oxygen-rich stars

The infrared spectra of smokes condensed from SiO-H2 and Mg-SiO-H2 vapors and of smoke samples annealed for various times at 1000 K and 1250 K are presented. The spectra of these materials show features in the 8-25 micron interval in addition to the well-known bands near 10 and 20 microns. It is suggested that these features may correspond to weak structures that can be seen in the infrared spectra of oxygen-rich stars. Observations are needed to determine the reality and characteristics of such weak features.

Nuth, J. A.↗

Thermodynamics of silicon nitridation - Effect of hydrogen

Equilibrium compositions for the nitridization of Si were calculated to detect the effectiveness of H2 in removal of the oxide film and in increasing the concentration of SiO and reducing the proportions of O2. Gibbs free energy for the formation of SiN2O was computed above 1685 K, and at lower temperatures. The thermodynamic properties of SiN2O2 were then considered from 1000-3000 K, taking into account the known thermodynamic data for 39 molecular combinations of the Si, Ni, and O. The gases formed were assumed ideal mixtures with pure phase condensed species. The mole fractions were obtained for a system of SiO2 with each Si particle covered with a thin layer of SiO2 before nitridation, and a system in which the nitriding atmosphere had access to the Si. The presence of H2 was determined to enhance the removal of NiO2 in the first system, decrease the partial pressure of O2, increase the partial pressures of SiO, Si, H2O, NH3, and SiH4, while its effects were negligible in the Si system.

Shaw, N. J.↗

Diode laser heterodyne observations of silicon monoxide in sunspots - A test of three sunspot models

Absorption features from the 8 micron SiO fundamental (upsilon = 1-0) and hot bands (upsilon = 2-1) have been observed in sunspots at sub-Doppler resolution using a ground-based tunable diode laser heterodyne spectrometer. The observed line widths suggest an upper limit of 0.5 km/s for the microturbulent velocity in sunspot umbrae. Since the silicon monoxide abundance is very sensitive to sunspot temperature, the measured equivalent widths permit an unambiguous determination of the temperature-pressure relation in the upper layers of the umbral atmosphere. In the region of SiO line formation (log P sub g = 3.0-4.5), the results support the sunspot model suggested by Stellmacher and Wiehr (1970).

Glenar, D. A.↗

Hydrous alteration of amorphous silicate smokes - First results

Results of the initial studies of the hydrous alteration of amorphous Mg-SiO smokes indicate that, although these materials readily adsorb water, the silicate structure is much more stable at 360 K than expected. Drastic changes in the relative absorption strengths of the 10- and 20-micron 'silicate' features that appear quite rapidly at 750 K were observed; these observations might have important implications for the interpretation of cometary dust spectra. Observations of the development of 3.4-3.5 micron features possibly due to hydrocarbons in the spectra of processed Mg-SiO smokes have raised the exciting possibility that these amorphous condensates could act as Fischer-Tropsch type catalysts to produce hydrocarbons in the primitive solar nebula.

Nuth, J. A.↗

A kinetic study of hydrous alteration of amorphous MgSiO smokes - Implications for cometary particles and chondrite matrix

Measurements of the rate of hydrous alteration of amorphous Mg-SiO smokes are reported as a function of temperature, as inferred by observing changes in the infrared spectra of these materials. It is shown that under the conditions reported for the nucleus of Comet Halley, based on measurements made by the Vega and Giotto missions, amorphous, anhydrous Mg-SiO smokes would become hydrated within several weeks in the dusty regolith observed on the surface. However, if such grains were released in 'jets' or from loose ice fragments, then previously amorphous grains would retain their anhydrous nature. Similarly, brief periods of aqueous activity on meteorite parent bodies would convert amorphous, fine-grained material to hydrated phyllosilicates much more rapidly than coarse mineral grains. A kinetic model might therefore be developed to explain the observed textural relationships in the matrices of carbonaceous chondrites such as Mokoia, where amorphous phyllosilicates are intimately associated with coarse anhydrous grains.

Nelson, Robert↗

Fast molecular shocks. II - Emission from fast dissociative shocks

The line radiations emitted in the cooling gas behind a fast dissociative shock are studied. The intensities emitted in high rotational transitions of the neutral molecules CO, SiO, HCN, CN, NO, and SO are estimated, as well as in rovibrational transitions of the molecular ions HeH(+) and OH(+) in radio recombination lines of atomic hydrogen and in fine-structure transitions of C, C(+), O, and Si(+). The predictions are compared with the observed intensities of line emission from the Orion-KL region. For Orion-KL the observations do not exclude, but probably do not require, the presence of a fast dissociative shock. Emission from SiO in high-J rotational states and from vibrationally excited OH(+), HeH(+), HeH(+), and SO(+) may be detectable from dissociative shocks under suitable conditions of preshock density and shock velocity; such emission may prove to be a useful diagnostic probe of fast shock activity.

Neufeld, David A.↗

Modifications to the relationship between the magnetic field and weak Zeeman features in the spectra of astrophysical masers

Numerical solutions are presented for the equations of radiative transfer for astrophysical masers in a magnetic field to describe the observed weak circular polarization of H2O and SiO masers. Previously unrecognized intensity-dependent effects are found to produce circular polarization which resembles that of the usual Zeeman effect. Astrophysical H2O, SiO, and perhaps other masers are likely to be radiatively saturated with rates for stimulated emission that are within 1-2 orders of magnitude of the Zeeman frequency. Under these conditions, the circular polarization found here tends to be larger (but can be smaller) and may be of opposite sign from that given by the standard treatment for polarized Zeeman spectra.

Nedoluha, Gerald E.↗

Evolution of optical coatings in earth orbit

High-resolution medium-energy backscattering analyses have been performed on SiO and SiO2 optical coatings that were exposed to the space environment aboard the NASA long-duration experiment module flight. The data show an increase in areal density of 1 percent (resolved at the 10 sigma level) in the SiO film as a result of this exposure. It appears that this effect has been produced by the incorporation of atomic oxygen from the ambient environment. Data on the SiO2 film are less compelling but are consistent with some loss of material from the surface. These analyses set a new standard for profiling film thicknesses by ion backscattering.

Mendelhall, Marcus H.↗

Four space application material coatings on the long-duration exposure flight (LDEF)

Four material coatings of different thickness were flown on the LDEF to determine their ability to perform in the harsh space environment. The coatings, located in the ram direction of the spacecraft, were exposed for 10 months to the low-Earth orbit (LEO) environment experienced by the LDEF at an orbit of 260 nautical miles. They consisted of indium oxide (In2O3), silicon oxide (SiO(x)), clear RTV silicone, and silicone with silicate-treated zinc oxide (ZnO). These coatings were flown to assess their behavior when exposed to atomic oxygen and to confirm their good radiative properties, stability, electrical conductivity, and resistance to UV exposure. The flown samples were checked and compared with the reference unflown samples using high-magnification optical inspection, ESCA analysis, weight changes and dimensional changes. These comparisons indicated the following: The 1000 A SiO(x) coating eroded uniformly, with minor changes in its radiative properties. The 100 A of In2O3 coating eroded completely down to the Kapton backing, with resultant losses of reflectance. The RTV-615 showed erosion, with carbon (C) content losses, while the Si remained constant, with a doubling of the oxygen (O) concentration. The RTV-615 silicone with K2SiO3-treated ZnO changed from flat to glossy white in appearance. It lost C, was etched, and increased its O content. The upper layers showed no remaining Zn or K. Losses of reflectance occurred within certain wavelength bands. It was not possible to evaluate the experimental oxygen reaction rate using the calculated atomic oxygen fluence of 2.6 x 10(exp 20) atoms/cm(exp 2) for the exposure of these coatings during the flight. The bakeout of the coatings was not carried out prior to the flight. Hence, the coating weight and dimensional losses included losses by outgassing products.

Scialdone, John J.↗

Molecular abundances in the Sagittarius A molecular cloud

We have obtained column densities for HCO(+), HCO, HCS(+), C3H2, HC5N, SiO, OCS, HCOOH, CH3CH2OH, and CH3CCH toward Sgr A. The fractional abundance of SiO relative to molecular hydrogen in Sgr A is comparable to that for the Orion plateau, about 10 exp-7 to 10 exp -8, which may be a typical value for hot clouds. The abundances of HCO, CH3CH2OH, and CH3CCH all appear to be enhanced relative to other molecular clouds such as Sgr B2.

Minh, Y. C.↗

Chemical Reactions in the Processing of Mosi2 + Carbon Compacts

Hot-pressing of MoSi2 powders with carbon at high temperatures reduces the siliceous grain boundary phase in the resultant compact. The chemical reactions in this process were examined using the Knudsen cell technique. A 2.3 wt pct oxygen MoSi2 powder and a 0.59 wt pct oxygen MoSi2 powder, both with additions of 2 wt pct carbon, were examined. The reduction of the siliceous grain boundary phase was examined at 1350 K and the resultant P(SiO)/P(CO) ratios interpreted in terms of the SiO(g) and CO(g) isobars on the Si-C-O predominance diagram. The MoSi2 + carbon mixtures were then heated at the hot-pressing temperature of 2100 K. Large weight losses were observed and could be correlated with the formation of a low-melting eutectic and the formation and vaporization of SiC.

Jacobson, Nathan S.↗