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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Methanol in dark clouds

The first observation of methanol in cold dark clouds TMC 1, L 134 N, and B 335 is reported. In all three clouds, the relative abundance of methanol was found to be in the range of 10 to the -9th (i.e., almost an order of magnitude more abundant than acetaldehyde), with no observable variation between the clouds. Methanol emission showed a complex velocity structure; in TMC 1, clear indications of non-LTE were observed. Dimethyl ether was searched for in L 134 N; the upper limit of the column density of dimethyl ether in L 134 N was estimated to be 4 x 10 to the 12th/sq cm, assuming 5 K rotation temperature and LTE. This limit makes the abundance ratio (CH3)2O/CH3OH not higher than 1/5, indicating that dimethyl ether is not overabundant in this dark cloud.

Friberg, P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium effects in stratospheric HF by collisional energy transfer from electronically excited O2 and implications for infrared remote sensing

A possible nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) effect involving stratospheric HF arising from the direct photochemical excitation of vibrationally excited HF by collisional energy transfer from electronically excited O2 is presented. Although this non-LTE effect is smaller that one associated with the direct solar excitation of both HF(nv = 1) and HF(nv = 2), calculations show that inclusion of the mechanism into retrieval algorithms is necessary if correct daytime upper stratosphere HF profiles are to be inferred in future IR thermal emission measurements.

Kaye, Jack A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Energy balance in the solar transition region. I - Hydrostatic thermal models with ambipolar diffusion

The energy balance in the lower transition region is analyzed by constructing theoretical models which satisfy the energy balance constraint. The energy balance is achieved by balancing the radiative losses and the energy flowing downward from the corona. This energy flow is mainly in two forms: conductive heat flow and hydrogen ionization energy flow due to ambipolar diffusion. Hydrostatic equilibrium is assumed, and, in a first calculation, local mechanical heating and Joule heating are ignored. In a second model, some mechanical heating compatible with chromospheric energy-balance calculations is introduced. The models are computed for a partial non-LTE approach in which radiation departs strongly from LTE but particles depart from Maxwellian distributions only to first order. The results, which apply to cases where the magnetic field is either absent, or uniform and vertical, are compared with the observed Lyman lines and continuum from the average quiet sun. The approximate agreement suggests that this type of model can roughly explain the observed intensities in a physically meaningful way, assuming only a few free parameters specified as chromospheric boundary conditions.

Fontenla, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Calculation of infrared limb emission by ozone in the terrestrial middle atmosphere. I - Source functions. II - Emission calculations

The departure from LTE in the vibration-rotation bands of ozone in the middle atmosphere is analyzed using two statistical equilibrium models: the energy gap model and the simplified single model. The diurnal variations in the fundamental band source functions nu(1) and nu(3) is determined by the diurnal change in the rate of ozone photolysis by the solar radiation. Source functions are presented for the vibration-rotation bands of ozone that emit in the 9-11-micron spectral interval, over an altitude range of 1-110 km. Results are also reported of the evaluation of the radiative transfer equation incorporating these source functions and energy level populations. Using the results of the two statistical equilibrium models, calculations are carried out of the spectrally integrated limb radiance for the limb viewing geometry for daytime conditions. Results indicate that the interpretation of the measurements of spectrally integrated limb radiance from ozone will be greatly complicated by the breakdown of LTE in the vibration-rotational bands of ozone.

Mlynczak, Martin G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

CO fundamental bands in late-type stars. II - Spectrum simulations for F-K stars

The procedure of Ayres and Wiedemann (1989) was applied to a range of stellar-atmosphere models to study the CO Delta-v = 1 spectrum and to establish its use as a remote sensor of thermal conditions in late-type stars. Spectra were computed to examine the sensitivity of the CO Delta-v = 1 to fundamental stellar parameters and to assess the errors introduced into the spectrum intepretation by uncertain input parameters and non-LTE effects. Results of the sensitivity study demonstrate that CO fundamental spectra are useful probes for the temperature structure of the outer layers of cool stellar atmospheres, but that their value is limited by the uncertainties introduced by non-LTE effects. However, in stars with surface gravities of log g of about 1.5 and greater, the values of these uncertainties are reasonably small.

Wiedemann, Guenter↗
NASA NTRS1991

Formation of the infrared emission lines of Mg I in the solar atmosphere

A non-LTE radiative transfer investigation of the emission lines is conducted at 7 and 12 microns using a realistic atomic model for neutral magnesium. An average quiet sun atmospheric model is used to calculate emission-line profiles that resemble the observed ones, i.e., broad absorption troughs with narrow central emission, and significant limb brightening. The charge exchange rates are found to be significant, but the effects of high-n coupling between Mg and Mg(+) together with radiative low-n transitions are of greater importance. It is confirmed that the emission cores are formed no higher than the temperature minimum region, and that the emission is caused by non-LTE effects rather than by the chromospheric temperature rise. It is inferred from the model calculations that the line core is sensitive to magnetic fields located almost 400 km above those measured in ordinary magnetograms; the gas pressure decreases 20-fold between these two heights.

Chang, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium processes in ozone - Implications for the energy budget of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

The conversion of chemical potential energy and infrared radiative energy to kinetic energy by non-LTE processes involving ozone is a potentially significant source of heat in the terrestrial upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Heating rates are calculated and compared using two different statistical equilibrium models previously applied in the analysis of measurements of limb emission from ozone. The calculated heating depends strongly on the assumed distribution and relaxation of energy in the quasi-nascent ozone molecule. Finally, in the absence of a detailed data base of rate coefficients it may be possible to estimate the heating rate due to non-LTE processes in ozone from appropriate satellite measurements of the ozone concentration and of the infrared emission from ozone in the 9-12 micron spectral interval.

Milynczak, Martin G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Rapid computation of the radiative absorption rate in the nu3 mode of mesospheric and lower thermospheric ozone

An algorithm has been developed to calculate rapidly and accurately the rate at which the ozone nu3 fundamental band absorbs IR radiation in the terrestrial upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Accurate knowledge of this rate is essential for studies of non-LTE processes in ozone and for estimating ozone concentrations from measurements of non-LTE IR emission from the middle atmosphere. In the algorithm, the 1252 ozone nu3 fundamental lines that govern radiative absorption are divided into 13 groups according to line strength. The absorption rate due to a single line representative of the mean line strength of each group is then calculated. The total absorption rate is obtained by multiplying the absorption rate for each mean line by the total number of lines within each group and adding the resultant products for all 13 groups.

Mlynczak, Martin G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Photospheric velocity gradients in B1 supergiants

We present IUE spectra for a set of B1 supergiants. These data clearly demonstrate that the Si III 1300A multiplet (lower level 6.6 ev above ground) becomes progressively more asymmetric with increasing luminosity or, equivalently, mass loss. In the most luminous supergiants, the cores of the 1300A multiplets become displaced by up to -150 km/s relative to nearby, weaker lines. In addition, systematic velocity shifts and asymmetries are also present in the strong Si III singlets 1312A and 1417A in the more luminous stars. The obvious implication of these observations is that the outer photospheres of B supergiants are affected by radial expansion, and this may account for why even non-LTE line analyses of these stars require large micro-turbulent velocity fields, and why line blanketed LTE models underestimate their overall UV line blanketing.

Massa, D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Middle and upper atmosphere pressure-temperature profiles and the abundances of CO2 and CO in the upper atmosphere from ATMOS/Spacelab 3 observations

An improved method for retrieving pressure-temperature profiles is described and is used to retrieve profiles of the kinetic-temperature and atmospheric-pressure profiles between 20 and 116 km altitudes and the CO2 and CO volume-mixing ratios between 70 and 116 km, using the IR occultation spectra recorded by the Spacelab 3 atmospheric trace molecular spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer between April 29 and May 6, 1985. Profiles are derived for six ATMOS occultations. The CO2 and CO volume-mixing profiles are compared with previous observations and model predictions. Evidence is found for vibrational non-LTE by analyzing the lines of the (nu-2 + nu-3 - nu-2) (C-12)(O-16) band. Results are used for deriving (C-12)(O-16) (010) vibrational temperatures, which are compared with the retrieved kinetic temperatures and the predictions of non-LTE effects by recent models.

Rinsland, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1995

EUVE spectroscopy of epsilon Canis Majoris (B2 II) from 70 to 730 A

We present spectra of the brightest stellar source of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation longward of 400 A, the B2 II star, epsilon CMa. These data were taken with the three spectrometers aboard the NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite (EUVE) during the first cycle of pointed observations. We report on our initial studies of the continuum and line spectrum of the stellar photosphere in the 320 to 730 A region, and on the wind emission lines observed in the 170-375 A region. This is the first EUV spectrum of an early-type star, and thus makes epsilon CMa the most comprehensively observed B star from the X-ray to infrared regimes. The radiation in both the H Lyman continuum and He I continuum (shortward of 504 A) are found to be significantly greater than predicted by both Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE model atmospheres. Since epsilon CMa also exhibits a mid-infrared excess, this points to the outer layers being warmer than the models indicate. The anomalously large Lyman continuum flux, combined with the very low column density measured in the direction toward this star implies that it is the dominant source of hydrogen ionization of the local interstellar medium in the immediate vicinity of the sun. All of the lines predicted to be strong from model atmospheres are present and several wind absorption features are also identified. We have detected emission lines from highly ionized iron that are consistent with the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observations if a multi-temperature emission model is used, and the assumption is made that there is significant absorption beyond that of the neutral phase of the ISM. The spectrum shows strong O III 374 A line emission produced by the Bowen flourescence mechanism, which has not previously been observed in the spectra of hot stars.

Cassinelli, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Analysis of the early spectra and light curve of SN 1987A

Numerical modeling of supernova spectra, light curves, and hydrodynamics requires physical inputs, numerical techniques, approximations, and assumptions which must be thoroughly understood in order to study the details of supernova explosions. Here, we discuss some of these in the context of the early evolution of supernova 1987A. Gray radiation-hydrodynamics is used to calculate the bolometric light curve and the hydrodynamic evolution of the supernova. Synthetic spectra are then obtained for the resulting density and velocity structure. The spectrum calculations are performed using a special-relativistic treatment of the radiative transfer equation in the comoving frame, line blanketing by about 10(exp 5) spectral lines, and departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) for H I, He I, Mg II, and Ca II. We find that we are able to simultaneously fit the early light curve and spectra reasonably well, using a progenitor model from Arnett (1991a), without fine-tuning the free parameters. Temperature structures and radiative equilibrium, non-LTE effects, homologous expansion, and mean opacities are discussed.

Hauschildt, Peter H.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Stellar oxygen abundances. 4: Systematic effects on oxygen abundances derived from the 6300 A (O I) and 7774 A O I lines

We consider potential systematic effects on oxygen abundances derived from the 6300 A (OI) line and the 7774 A OI triplet. Our solar intensity spectra of the 7774 A triplet confirm previous results which indicate a discrepancy between the observed equivalent widths of Altrock (1968) and the values predicted by Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) and recent NLTE models. However, this disagreement (at low micron(s)) does not seem to affect the solar O abundance as derived from flux spectra. We derive O abundances for a selection of relatively metal-rich F and G dwarfs from both the 6300 A (OI) line and 7774 A OI triplet and detail the various uncertainties which enter into the analyses. Minimizing possible systematic effects to the extent possible, we find for T(sub eff) approximately less than 6200-6300 K no systematic difference between the 6300 and 7774 A abundances. For T(sub eff) approximately greater than 6200-6300 K, however 7774 A abundances are substantially larger than the 6300 A abundances. This agreement in O abundances from the two features at cooler T(sub eff) conflicts with that of others and we suggest that the discrepancy may be due to the different model atmospheres utilized. If recently proposed, hotter T(sub eff) values for metal-poor dwarfs are correct, then there appears to be no discrepancy between the 6300 A abundances of metal-poor giants are correct, then there appears to be no discrepancy between the 6300 A abundances of metal-poor giants or dwarfs and the 7774 A abundances for dwarfs. This would seem to rule out substantial LTE departures or atmospheric inhomogeneity effects skewing metal-poor O abundances from the 7774 A triplet (for cooler stars having low metallicity anyway). Given the repeated inability of authors to reproduce each others' O abundances from the 6300 A (OI) line and the uncertainties in the solar equivalent width, we question the usual assumption that the 6300 A (OI) line and the uncertainties in the solar equivalent width, we question the usual assumption that the 6300 A (OI) abundances are more reliable than those from the permitted triplet.

King, Jeremy R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

On the vertical thermal structure of Io's atmosphere

A radiative-thermal conduction model for the vertical thermal structure of Io's atmosphere is developed with solar heating by SO2 absorption in UV and near-IR bands and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) cooling by SO2 nu(sub 1), nu(sub 2), nu(sub 3), vibrational bands and rotational lines. The model predicts the existence of a mesopause in Io's atmosphere when the surface pressure exceeds approximately 10 nbar. The radiative time constant for establishing a mesosphere/mesopause on Io is only approximately 20 min, whereas the thermospheric radiative time constant is about 1 hr. These time constants are significantly shorter than the diurnal time scale and competitive with dynamic time scales. In the thermosphere when solar UV heating dominates, the asymptotic thermospheric temperature is approximately 270 K, only 140 K greater than the surface temperature because at high altiudes non-LTE cooling by SO2 rotation lines exceeds cooling in the nu(sub 2) virbrational band. Solar-heating-only modles are incapable of generating warm enough atmospheres to satisfy the observational inferences from UV and especially millimeter-wave meausrements. Joule heating driven by the penetration of Jupiter's corotational electric field into Io's conducting ionosphere is demonstrated to be the dominant heating mechanism in the subnanobar regions of Io's atmosphere with tempertures ranging from 150 to 1000 K as a function of decreasing pressure from 1 to 0.1 nbar, The asymoptotic thermospheric temperature can attain a value as high as 1800 K.

Strobel, Darrell F.↗
NASA NTRS1995

High Modulus and High T(sub g) Thermally Stable Polymers from p-Ethynyl-Terminated Rigid-Rod Monomers

Novel p-ethynyl-substituted rigid rod monomers were studied by pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA), IsothermoGravimetric Analysis (IGA), and TGA-IR. These monomers, 4,4'-bis(((4-ethynylphenyl)carbonyl)oxy)biphenyl, designated 1, 1,5-bis-(((4-ethynylphenyl)carbonyl)oxy)naphthalene, designated 2, and bis(4-ethynylphenyl)pyromellitimide, designated 3, were polymerized in the solid state. Thermal polymerization in N2 or air produced highly cross-linked resins with polymerization exotherms centered between 212 and 276 C. The (delta)H's of polymerization of these resins in air were found to be double those in N2. When monomers 1 and 2 were heated in air from 23 to 750 C at 10 C/min, the main decomposition product was carbon dioxide, evolving at a maximum rate between 500 and 600 C; water was also detected as a decomposition product. Void-free neat resin moldings, designated lp to 3p, were made by compression molding the monomers and then heating them. The resulting polymers were highly cross-linked, and their glass transition temperatures (T(sub g)) were much higher than their polymerization temperatures. Using ThermoMechanical Analysis (TMA), we found that polymers lp to 3p had T(sub g)'s of 422, 329, and 380 C, respectively. The thermal and thermooxidative stabilities improved when lp to 3p were postcured in N2 (the postcured polymers were designated 1pp to 3pp). The Linear Thermal Expansions (LTE) for lp and 3p were 1% between 23 and 420 C. Using rheological analysis, we could not clearly detect the T(sub g)'s of lp to 3p because their moduli dropped only slightly between 23 and 490 C and the changes in tan beta were very low. Because of high cross-link density, their moduli changed little as the resins went from a glassy to a rubbery state. Their shear storage moduli in air ranged from 0.82 (3p, 3pp) to 1.6 GPa (lpp) at 23 C, from 0.16 (2p) to 0.7GPa(lpp) at 380 C, and from 0.18(lpp)to 0.6GPa(2p) at 490 C. Finally, these novel-p-ethynyl polymers exhibited an excellent combination of high T(sub g), low LTE, and high thermooxidative stability. Most notably, 3pp lost only 3% of its initial weight when it was aged for 500 h at 288 C in air.

Melissaris, Anastasios P.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Multiwavelength Modeling of Nova Atmospheres

We have analyzed the early optically thick ultraviolet spectra of Nova OS And 1986 using a grid of spherically symmetric, non-LTE, line-blanketed, expanding model atmospheres and synthetic spectra with the following set of parameters: 5,000 less than or equal to T(sub model) less than or equal to 60,000K, solar abundances, (rho)(alpha) r(sup -3), v(sub max) = 2000 km/s, L = 6 x 10(exp 4) solar luminosity, and a statistical or microturbulent velocity of 50 km/s. We used the synthetic spectra to estimate the model parameters corresponding to the observed IUE spectra. The fits to the observations were then iteratively improved by changing the parameters of the model atmospheres, in particular T(sub model) and the abundances, to arrive at the best fits to the optically thick pseudo-continuum and the features found in the IUE spectra. The IUE spectra show two different optically thick subphases. The earliest spectra, taken a few days after maximum optical light, show a pseudo-continuum created by overlapping absorption lines. The later observations, taken approximately 3 weeks after maximum light, show the simultaneous presence of allowed, semi-forbidden, and forbidden lines in the observed spectra. Analysis of these phases indicate that OS And 86 had solar metallicities except for Mg which showed evidence of being underabundant by as much as a factor of 10. We determine a distance of 5.1 kpc to OS And 86 and derive a peak bolometric luminosity of approximately 5 x 10(exp 4) solar luminosity. The computed nova parameters provide insights into the physics of the early outburst and explain the spectra seen by IUE. Lastly, we find evidence in the later observations for large non-LTE effects of Fe II which, when included, lead to much better agreement with the observations.

Hauschildt, P. H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Boron Abundances in A and B-type Stars

Boron abundances in A- and B-type stars may be a successful way to track evolutionary effects in these hot stars. The light elements - Li, Be, and B - are tracers of exposure to temperatures more moderate than those in which the H-burning CN-cycle operates. Thus, any exposure of surface stellar layers to deeper layers will affect these light element abundances. Li and Be are used in this role in investigations of evolutionary processes in cool stars, but are not observable in hotter stars. An investigation of boron, however, is possible through the B II 1362 A resonance line. We have gathered high resolution spectra from the IUE database of A- and B-type stars near 10 solar mass for which nitrogen abundances have been determined. The B II 1362 A line is blended throughout; the temperature range of this program, requiring spectrum syntheses to recover the boron abundances. For no star could we synthesize the 1362 A region using the meteoritic/solar boron abundance of log e (B) = 2.88; a lower boron abundance was necessary which may reflect evolutionary effects (e.g., mass loss or mixing near the main-sequence), the natal composition of the star forming regions, or a systematic error in the analyses (e.g., non-LTE effects). Regardless of the initial boron abundance, and despite the possibility of non-LTE effects, it seems clear that boron is severely depleted in some stars. It may be that the nitrogen and boron abundances are anticorrelated, as would be expected from mixing between the H-burning and outer stellar layers. If, as we suspect, a residue of boron is present in the A-type supergiants, we may exclude a scenario in which mixing occurs continuously between the surface and the deep layers operating the CN-cycle. Further exploitation of the B II 1362 A line as an indicator of the evolutionary status of A- and B-type stars will require a larger stellar sample to be observed with higher signal-to-noise as attainable with the Hubble Space Telescope.

Lambert, David L.↗
NASA NTRS2001

FUSE Observations of Galactic and LMC Novae in Outburst

This document is a collection of five abstracts from papers written on the 'FUSE Observations of Galactic and LMC Novae in Outburst'. The titles are the following: (1) Analyzing FUSE Observations of Galactic and LMC Novae; (2) Detailed NLTE Model Atmospheres for Novae during Outburst: Modeling Optical and Ultraviolet Observations for Nova LMC 1988; (3) Numerical Solution of the Expanding Stellar Atmosphere Problem; (4) A Non-LTE Line-Blanketed Expanding Atmosphere Model for A-supergiant Alpha Cygni; and (5) Non-LTE Model Atmosphere Analysis of the Early Ultraviolet Spectra of Nova Andromedae 1986. A list of journal publications is also included.

Huschildt, P. H.↗