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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Star formation around active galactic nuclei

Active galactic nuclei (Seyfert nuclei and their relatives) and intense star formation can both deliver substantial amounts of energy to the vicinity of a galactic nucleus. Many luminous nuclei have energetics dominated by one of these mechanisms, but detailed observations show that some have a mixture. Seeing both phenomena at once raises several interesting questions: (1) Is this a general property of some kinds of nuclei? How many AGNs have surround starbursts, and vice versa? (2) As in 1, how many undiscovered AGNs or starbursts are hidden by a more luminous instance of the other? (3) Does one cause the other, and by what means, or do both reflect common influences such as potential well shape or level of gas flow? (4) Can surrounding star formation tell us anything about the central active nuclei, such as lifetimes, kinetic energy output, or mechanical disturbance of the ISM? These are important points in the understanding of activity and star formation in galactic nuclei. Unfortunately, the observational ways of addressing them are as yet not well formulated. Some preliminary studies are reported, aimed at clarifying the issues involved in study of the relationships between stellar and nonstellar excitement in galactic nuclei.

Keel, William C.↗

An application of the MPP to the interactive manipulation of stereo images of digital terrain models

Massively Parallel Processor algorithms were developed for the interactive manipulation of flat shaded digital terrain models defined over grids. The emphasis is on real time manipulation of stereo images. Standard graphics transformations are applied to a 128 x 128 grid of elevations followed by shading and a perspective projection to produce the right eye image. The surface is then rendered using a simple painter's algorithm for hidden surface removal. The left eye image is produced by rotating the surface 6 degs about the viewer's y axis followed by a perspective projection and rendering of the image as described above. The left and right eye images are then presented on a graphics device using standard stereo technology. Performance evaluations and comparisons are presented.

Pol, Sanjay↗

Cometary grain scattering versus wavelength, or 'What color is comet dust'?

Optical and near-infrared observations of comets are combined in a systematic study of the wavelength dependence of the scattering from cometary grains. The normalized rate of change of the reflectivity of cometary grains with respect to the wavelength of observations decreases as the wavelength increases. The observed wavelength dependence of the reflectivity gradient is consistent with an origin by scattering from micron-sized or larger, slightly absorbing spheres. The optically important comet grains are about an order of magnitude larger than the optically important interstellar grains. This size difference is a probable result of grain growth in the cloud from which the comets condensed. Grain properties differ so widely among the comets that any phase angle or heliocentric distance dependences of the continuum color are hidden.

Jewitt, David↗

Computer-generated imagery for 4-D meteorological data

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center is developing animated stereo display terminals for use with McIDAS (Man-computer Interactive Data Access System). This paper describes image-generation techniques which have been developed to take maximum advantage of these terminals, integrating large quantities of four-dimensional meteorological data from balloon and satellite soundings, satellite images, Doppler and volumetric radar, and conventional surface observations. The images have been designed to use perspective, shading, hidden-surface removal, and transparency to augment the animation and stereo-display geometry. They create an illusion of a moving three-dimensional model of the atmosphere. This paper describes the design of these images and a number of rules of thumb for generating four-dimensional meteorological displays.

Hibbard, William L.↗

Chaotic nature of the spin-glass phase

The microscopic structure of the ordered phase of spin glasses is investigated theoretically in the framework of the T = 0 fixed-point model (McMillan, 1984; Fisher and Huse, 1986; and Bray and Moore, 1986). The sensitivity of the ground state to changes in the interaction strengths at T = 0 is explored, and it is found that for sufficiently large length scales the ground state is unstable against arbitrarily weak perturbations to the bonds. Explicit results are derived for d = 1, and the implications for d = 2 and d = 3 are considered in detail. It is concluded that there is no hidden order pattern for spin glasses at all T less than T(C), the ordered-phase spin correlations being chaotic functions of spin separation at fixed temperature or of temperature (for a given pair of spins) at scale lengths L greater than (T delta T) exp -1/zeta, where zeta = d(s)/2 - y, d(s) is the interfacial fractal dimension, and -y is the thermal eigenvalue at T = 0.

Bray, A. J.↗

The X-ray spectrum of NGC 1068

The first X-ray spectrum of a classical Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 1068, measured by the Einstein Observatory, is presented. The small soft X-ray luminosity of about 9 x 10 to the 41st ergs/s, the lack of variability, and the Compton temperature of less than 10 to the 6th K are all consistent with the model of Antonucci and Miller (1985); these authors have suggested that NGC 1068 contains a hidden Seyfert 1 nucleus seen indirectly through the electron scattering. However, the steep spectral slope (alpha = 2.0 + or - 0.3) distinguishes the NGC 1068 from the vast majority of Seyfert 1 galaxies.

Monier, R.↗

Locating Residual Wax In Coolant Channels

Neutron inspection finds deposits and defects invisible to x rays. Neutron radiography detects many low-density materials even when surrounded by larger quantities of denser materials. Materials with similar properties and densities often appear quite different when viewed by neutron radiography. Technique gives comprehensive view of hidden channels.

Guthrie, Douglas M.↗

Sizing Dye-Penetrant Indications Of Defects

Sizes of cracks and holes viewed through borescope measured. Reference chart makes it possible to estimate sizes of borescope-observed defects on inner walls of tubes or otherwise hidden. Used both for round defects like pits or pores and for elongated ones like cracks.

Molina, Orlando G.↗

LONGLIB Graphics-Library Program

LONGLIB computer program is set of subroutines designed for plotting vectors of cathode-ray tubes, plotting machines, and dot-matrix and laser printers. Contains extensive set of routines to enable viewport clipping, extended character sets, graphic input shading, polar plots, and three-dimensional plotting with or without removal of hidden lines. Written in FORTRAN 77.

Long, David G.↗

CODAC (Cockpit Oriented Display of Aircraft Configurations) version 1.4 user's guide

The Cockpit Oriented Display of Aircraft Configurations (CODAC) package is an interactive FORTRAN 77 graphics program which produces high quality publication grade hidden line images of three dimensional wireframe objects. The term, Cockpit Oriented, is used because CODAC rotates objects relative to the changing aircraft axis system (rather than about a fixed global axis system) and uses the more familiar directions of yaw, roll, and pitch. In addition, CODAC accepts geometry data in a variety of formats (LaWGS, Craidon, Hess, and FVS data check), and automatically selects the appropriate panel driver. Finally, CODAC makes full use of the Precision Visuals' DI-3000 metafile option, allowing users to save, edit, and print images for group presentations or research publications.

Bingel, Bradford D.↗

Aqueous alteration in S-N-C meteorites and implications for weathering products on Mars

Is shergottite, nakhlite, and chassignite (SNC) meteorites are rocks propelled to earth by large meteoroid impacts on Mars, then it is possible to deduce much about Martian igneous petrology and geochemistry. Because SNCs are igneous rocks, however, it was not obvious that they could reveal much about sedimentary and soil petrology and low-temperature geochemistry of Mars. It is important, though, that at least four of eight SNCs carry evidence for low-temperature, extraterrestrial weathering product phases. Evidence is reviewed for Martian weathering and alteration products in SNCs and possible inferences for volatile/regolith interactions, regolith mineralogy, and sinks for the putative hidden volatiles on Mars are outlined.

Gooding, J. L.↗

The reionization of unshocked ejecta in SN 1006

The validity of carbon-deflagration models white dwarf models for type Ia supernovae is investigated by examining whether most of the iron in the center of SN 1006 exists in forms other than Fe II, such as iron grains or other ionic stages of iron, as the models require. The possible ways in which iron can be hidden in SN 1006 are reviewed, and an argument on observational grounds is made against any appreciable fraction of iron in grains or Fe I. Various mechanisms for ionizing unshocked iron beyond Fe II are discussed; the most probable mechanism for ionizing the iron appears to be photoionization by UV and X-ray emission from reverse-shocked ejecta. A detailed model for this reverse-shcok photoionization mechanism is described.

Hamilton, Andrew J. S.↗

Large impact basins and the mega-impact origin for the crustal dichotomy on Mars

The hypothesis that the crustal dichotomy on Mars is due to a single giant (mega) impact early in Martian history is tested by determining the number of 'missing' basins, the difference between the observed number of large impact basins on Mars and the number expected from a 1/D-squared distribution. If the Borealis Basin was the largest member of a 1/D-squared impact population, a large number of 'missing' basins is expected which is too large to be hidden by the younger surface units. If Chryse is the largest member of a 1/D-squared impact population, the more modest number of 'missing' basins could be confined to areas of Mars that have been resurfaced or reworked by subsequent geologic processes.

Frey, Herbert↗

X-ray heated winds in Seyfert galaxies

Recent observational work has shown that Type 2 Seyfert galaxies contain Type 1 nuclei. These are hidden from direct view by obscuring material of toroidal geometry, but are revealed by scattering off asymmetrically distributed warm electrons which gives the light net polarization. Warm, ionized gas of the right temperature and optical depth to match the observations is exactly what would be expected due to evaporation of material from the inner edge of the obscuring torus by the nuclear UV and X-ray continuum. In addition to revealing the nucleus by scattering, this warm gas also produces strong X-ray Fe K features.

Krolik, Julian H.↗

Hinged, Magnetic Holder For Radiographic Film

Hinged holder equipped with magnets enables positive, accurate, and repeatable placement and orientation of radiographic film at hidden and otherwise inaccessible location. Made from simple, readily available parts. Film and holder inserted in end of duct and pulled along by magnets on outside. Holder removed by reversing sequence of motions.

Pierce, Darryl E.↗

Utilities for master source code distribution: MAX and Friends

MAX is a program for the manipulation of FORTRAN master source code (MSC). This is a technique by which one maintains one and only one master copy of a FORTRAN program under a program developing system, which for MAX is assumed to be VAX/VMS. The master copy is not intended to be directly compiled. Instead it must be pre-processed by MAX to produce compilable instances. These instances may correspond to different code versions (for example, double precision versus single precision), different machines (for example, IBM, CDC, Cray) or different operating systems (i.e., VAX/VMS versus VAX/UNIX). The advantage os using a master source is more pronounced in complex application programs that are developed and maintained over many years and are to be transported and executed on several computer environments. The version lag problem that plagues many such programs is avoided by this approach. MAX is complemented by several auxiliary programs that perform nonessential functions. The ensemble is collectively known as MAX and Friends. All of these programs, including MAX, are executed as foreign VAX/VMS commands and can easily be hidden in customized VMS command procedures.

Felippa, Carlos A.↗

Some design constraints required for the assembly of software components: The incorporation of atomic abstract types into generically structured abstract types

It is nearly axiomatic, that to take the greatest advantage of the useful features available in a development system, and to avoid the negative interactions of those features, requires the exercise of a design methodology which constrains their use. A major design support feature of the Ada language is abstraction: for data, functions processes, resources, and system elements in general. Atomic abstract types can be created in packages defining those private types and all of the overloaded operators, functions, and hidden data required for their use in an application. Generically structured abstract types can be created in generic packages defining those structured private types, as buildups from the user-defined data types which are input as parameters. A study is made of the design constraints required for software incorporating either atomic or generically structured abstract types, if the integration of software components based on them is to be subsequently performed. The impact of these techniques on the reusability of software and the creation of project-specific software support environments is also discussed.

Johnson, Charles S.↗