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At least 1,243 records · Page 69
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NASA NTRS1984

Galactic heavy-ion shielding using electrostatic fields

The shielding of spacecraft against galactic heavy ions, particularly high-energy Fe(56) nuclei, by electrostatic fields is analyzed for an arrangement of spherical concentric shells. Vacuum breakdown considerations are found to limit the minimum radii of the spheres to over 100 m. This limitation makes it impractical to use the fields for shielding small spacecraft. The voltages necessary to repel these Fe(56) nuclei exceed present electrostatic generating capabilities by over 2 orders of magnitude and render the concept useless as an alternative to traditional bulk-material shielding methods.

Townsend, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays. V - Time-dependent modulation

A numerical technique is introduced for the solution of the time-dependent equation for the solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays, in which transport in heliographic latitude is ignored. We illustrate this method with a model for the solar cycle variation in cosmic ray intensity. The variation is assumed to result from changes in the number of enhanced cosmic ray scattering regions, which are produced by flare-generated shock waves in the solar wind. The model can account for the observed solar cycle variation in intensity at different energies as well as the observed spatial gradients. This model also provides a natural explanation for the cosmic ray hysteresis effect.

Perko, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A thermal interpretation of the X-ray spectra of quasars, active galactic nuclei, and Cygnus X-1

It is shown that spherically accreting black hole models emitting bremsstrahlung radiation provide an excellent fit to the observed X-ray spectrum of typical active galactic nuclei, as well as of 3C 273 and Cygnus X-1. The spectral slope remains approximately constant under changes of luminosity, as required by observations. Only one parameter, T(max), is needed for the fit.

Meszaros, P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

IRAS images of the galactic center

Some preliminary IRAS results in the form of images at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns of an 8 deg x 15 deg area around the galactic center are presented. These absolute intensity maps have unprecedented sensitivity combined with high angular resolution, wide field coverage, and large wavelength range. They give a broad view of the central galaxy revealing previously unseen details, especially in regions far from the central few arcmin. Well-defined infrared features in the nucleus correspond to the nuclear radio sources Sgr A, B2, C, and D. Extremely faint structures are detected, such as the cold molecular cloud associated with Sgr B2 which has never before been detected at wavelenths shorter than 40 microns.

Gautier, T. N.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Gamma-rays from active galactic nuclei

Gamma-ray observations of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are reviewed and the best candidate mechanisms for gamma ray production in AGNs are examined. Both nonthermal and thermal mechanisms are considered. Hot accretion disks around massive black holes in the centers of AGNs could provide the required thermal electrons, pions, and relativistic lectrons and positrons to explain both the X-ray and gamma emission.

Kafatos, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The path-length distribution for galactic cosmic-ray propagation - An energy-dependent depletion of short path lengths

It is shown that at low energies, the depletion of short path lengths in the interstellar cosmic-ray path-length distribution is a function of energy, decreasing in magnitude with increasing energy. The analysis leading to this conclusion is based on the comparison of compiled data for the B/C and sub-Fe/Fe ratios at 0.08-50 GeV per nucleon, with the results of detailed galactic propagation and solar modulation calculations, which include experimental values for the important nuclear cross sections. This energy dependence of the depletion resolves some of the conflicts between previous reports on the question of short path lengths and may be explained by models including a matter distribution around discrete sources or, possibly, by models invoking waves generated by particle-magnetic field interactions in the Galaxy.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

X-ray spectra and time variability of active galactic nuclei

X ray measurements taken with the HEAO-1 and -2 satellites are examined for clues to the source of emissions from active galactic nuclei (AGN). The data covered the energy range 2-100 keV and 0.5-4.5 keV and encompassed quasars, BL Lac objects, Seyfert I galaxies and broadline radio galaxies. The broadline spectra were best fit with a power law with a slope of about 0.68. The continua displayed roughly equivalent energy at all wavelengths except for radio bands. Spectral variability was detected in the BL Lac objects, which may emit optical, UV and soft X ray radiation from optically thin synchrotron emission with a hard X ray tail from inverse Compton scattering. No strong variability was evidenced with other AGN, suggesting that the emitting regions are below the Eddington luminosity and thus exhibit stable flow characteristics.

Mushotzky, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Soft X-ray active galactic nuclei

The discovery of 10 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) based upon optical observations of Einstein Observatory X-ray sources is reported. The new objects are optically similar to AGNs that have been identified by others with this technique. One notable exception, the quasar E1821 + 643, is associated with a previously unidentified X-ray source detected with both the low-energy and high-energy surveys of the HEAO 1 A-2 experiment. It is thus one of a small number of AGNs which were more intense in soft X-rays than in hard X-rays during 1977-1978. X-rays were also detected from two other quasars, known previously at other wavelengths.

Marshall, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A far-infrared survey of the galactic center

The region within + or - 1.5 deg of the galactic center has been surveyed at a resolution of 1 arcmin between 40 and 250 microns. Forty-seven FIR sources were detected in the field, 38 of them spatially coincident with prominent radio-emitting regions. The 27 sources associated with H II regions have luminosities ranging from 500,000 to ten million solar luminosities, average infrared excesses of 16, and average dust-to-gas ratios of 0.002. They are located in a narrow band centered on Sgr A. Each FIR source appears to be powered by small numbers of early type O stars. The initial luminosity functions for these sources is best fitted by an exponential form with an e-folding luminosity of 2.3 million solar luminosities. The extended thermal emission of the region is consistent with a population of 30,000-50,000 ZAMS stars embedded in an ISM with a Lyman-continuum optical depth of 1-1.5.

Odenwald, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Spectral components at visual and infrared wavelengths in active galactic nuclei

Aperture-dependent infrared photometry of active galactic nuclei are presented which illustrate the importance of eliminating starlight of the galaxy in order to obtain the intrinsic spectral distribution of the active nuclei. Separate components of emission are required to explain the infrared emission with a spectral index of alpha approx = 2 and the typical visual-ultraviolet continuum with alpha approx = 0.3 (where F(nu) varies as nu(sup-alpha). Present evidence does not allow unique determination of the appropriate mechanisms, but the characteristics of each are discussed.

Stein, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Dark Cloud and Globule Distribution for Galactic Longitudes 230 to 360 Degrees

A catalogue of dark nebulae and globules was compiled from a study of the ESO-B and SRC-J sky atlas for galactic longitudes 230 deg 1 360 deg. This catalogue closes the great southern gap open since the work of Lynds (1962). Listed were 489 dark nebulae and 311 globules. The catalogue contains positions, sizes, opacities, and the van den Bergh classification on the filamentary morphology of dark clouds. Statistics are presented concerning the northern and southern distributions and sizes of the nebulae.

Feitzinger, J. V.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A T-matrix theory of galactic heavy-ion fragmentation

The theory of galactic heavy ion fragmentation is furthered by incorporating a T matrix approach into the description of the three step process of abrasion, ablation, and final state interations. The connection between this T matrix and the interaction potential is derived. For resonant states, the substitution of complex energies for real energies in the transition rate is formerly justified for up to third order processes. The previously developed abrasion-ablation fragmentation theory is rederived from first principles and is shown to result from time ordering, classical probability, and zero width resonance approximations. Improvements in the accuracy of the total fragmentation cross sections require an alternative to the latter two approximations. A Lorentz invariant differential abrasion-ablation cross section is derived which explicitly includes the previously derived abrasion total cross sections. It is demonstrated that spectral and angular distributions can be obtained from the general Lorentz invariant form.

Norbury, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei

The advantages of X-ray astronomy for studying active galactic nuclei (AGN) are discussed. If the X-ray emission from AGN arises from a region close to the central energy source X-ray observations may provide the best constraints on the central engine. The shape of the X-ray continuum gives information about the mechanism for photon generation; X-ray time variability data can constrain the size and mass of the continuum source; and X-ray occultation data gives constraints on the relative sizes of the continuum source and the intervening absorbing material. Since a fair fraction of the total energy of an AGN is emitted at X-ray wavelengths, direct measurement of the amount and spectral form of this radiation is important for modeling of the optically emitting clouds.

Mushotzky, R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Shock acceleration in active galactic nuclei and quasars

A model of spherical accretion on a massive black hole as the energy source for active galactic nuclei and quasars is considered. According to the model, the kinetic energy of the infalling material is randomized by a collisionless shock around the black hole. Relativistic protons are produced with high efficiency via first order Fermi shock acceleration and, because their kinetic energy is much larger than the gravitational potential energy, do not fall into the black hole. The model can produce relativistic particles with flat spectra needed to account for the radiation from these sources, including their broad band spectral characteristics. Since all electrons are secondaries resulting from proton-proton collisions throughout the volume of the source, this model avoids the Compton catastrophe problem.

Kazanas, D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei

It is often held that the X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) arises from a region close to the central energy source. Thus X-ray observations may provide the best constraints on the central engine. In particular, the shape of the X-ray continuum gives information about the mechanism for photon generation, X-ray time variability data can constrain the size and mass of the continuum source, and X-ray occultation data give constraints on the relative sizes of the continuum source and the intervening absorbing material (often assumed to be the broad line clouds). In addition, since a fair fraction of the total energy of an AGN is emitted at X-ray wavelengths, direct measurement of the amount and spectral form of this radiation is important for modeling of the optically emitting clouds.

Mushotzky, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Consequences of hot gas in the broad line region of active galactic nuclei

Models for hot gas in the broad line region of active galactic nuclei are discussed. The results of the two phase equilibrium models for confinement of broad line clouds by Compton heated gas are used to show that high luminosity quasars are expected to show Fe XXVI L alpha line absorption which will be observed with spectrometers such as those planned for the future X-ray spectroscopy experiments. Two phase equilibrium models also predict that the gas in the broad line clouds and the confining medium may be Compton thick. It is shown that the combined effects of Comptonization and photoabsorption can suppress both the broad emission lines and X-rays in the Einstein and HEAO-1 energy bands. The observed properties of such Compton thick active galaxies are expected to be similar to those of Seyfert 2 nuclei. The implications for polarization and variability are also discussed.

Kallman, T.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Galactic gamma-ray sources, SNOBs, and giant H2 regions

Progress towards understanding the nature of the COS-B galactic gamma-ray sources was made by two recent developments. The developments are: (1) the existence of extensive wide-latitude CO surveys, from the Northern Hemisphere, and from the Southern Hemisphere which give more precise information on molecular cloud population of the Perseus, Sagittarius, and Carina spiral arms; (2) the study of the time variability of gamma-ray sources in gamma-rays but also at other wavelengths, leading to the discovery of four new variable sources in addition to the already known Crab and Vela pulsars. Three classes of gamma-ray sources are found; invariable sources, active sources, and passive sources.

Montmerle, T.↗