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At least 127 records · Page 7

Heat capacity and thermal relaxation of bulk helium very near the lambda point

In October 1992 a low temperature experiment was flown on the Space Shuttle in low Earth orbit. The objective of the mission was to measure the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of helium very close to the lambda point with the smearing effect of gravity removed. We report preliminary results from the experiment, and compare them with related measurements performed on the ground. The sample was s sphere of helium 3.5 cm in diameter contained within a copper calorimeter of vey high thermal conductivity. The calorimeter was attached to a pair of high resolution paramagnetic salt thermometers with noise levels in the 10(exp -10) K range and suspended from a high stability thermal isolation system. During the mission we found that the resolution of the thermometers was degraded somewhat due to the impact of charged particles. This effect limited the useful resolution of the measurements to about two nanokelvins from the lambda point. The results reported here are limited to about ten nanokelvins from the transition.

Lipa, John A.↗

Superconducting Effects in Optimization of Magnetic Penetration Thermometers for X-ray Microcalorimeters

Like MMCs, MPTs enable high energy microcalorimeters with zero bias power dissipation and potential resolution < 1 eV. MPTs can provide d(phi)/dT as large as 1000 (Phi)(sub 0)/K, with no excess noise, thereby reducing the importance of SQUID noise. Long coherence length in a Type-I superconducting MoAu film offers multiple advantages for efficient flux expulsion in MPT. Region of steepest d(phi)/dT is the Meissner effect in the small device; flux is expelled/penetrates to minimize free energy. Steepness of transition can be engineered with choice of film thickness and coil pitch relative to lambda(sub eff)(0), ratio of T/T(sub c), and bias circuit inductance.

Stevenson, T. R.↗

Simple model for lambda-doublet propensities in bimolecular reactions

A simple geometric model is presented to account for lambda-doublet propensities in bimolecular reactions A + BC - AB + C. It applies to reactions in which AB is formed in a pi state, and in which the unpaired molecular orbital responsible for lambda-doubling arises from breaking the B-C bond. The lambda-doublet population ratio is predicted to be 2:1 provided that: (1) the motion of A in the transition state determines the plane of rotation of AB; (2) the unpaired pi orbital lying initially along the B-C bond may be resolved into a projection onto the AB plane of rotation and a projection perpendicular to this plane; (3) there is no preferred geometry for dissociation of ABC. The 2:1 lambda-doublet ratio is the 'unconstrained dynamics prior' lambda-doublet distribution for such reactions.

Bronikowski, Michael J.↗

The anomalous C 4 intensity ratio in symbiotic stars

The C IV lambda lambda 1548.2,1550.8 resonance doublet in a symbiotic stars was shown to exhibit anomalous line intensity ratios in which I (lambda 1548.2)/I(lambda 1550.8) less than 1, or less than the optically-thick limit of unity. The R Aquarii-central HII region and RX Puppis exhibit this phenomena. The I(lambda 1548.2)/I(lambda 1550.8) ratio in RX Puppis is found to vary inversely with the total C IV line intensity, and with the FES-visual light, as the object declined over a 5 yr period following a brightening in UV and optical emission which peaked in 1982. This doublet intensity behavior could be explained by a wind which has a narrow velocity range of 600 approx. less than sup v wind approx. less than 1000 km/sec, or by the pumping of the Fe II (mul. 45.01) transition a sup 4 F sub 9/2 - y sup 4 H(o) sub 11/2 by C IV lambda 1548.2, which effectively scatters C IV photons into the Fe II spectrum in these objects.

Michalitsianos, A. G.↗

Laboratory detection of the C5H radical

The new linear molecule reported by Cernicharo et al. (1986) has been found in the same laboratory discharge in which C3H is observed, establishing conclusively that the molecule is C5H in its 2Pi ground state. Six rotational transitions in the 2Pi(1/2) ladder and four in the 2Pi(3/2), each split by lambda doubling, were observed. The twenty millimeter-wave lines were simultaneously fit by a standard Hamiltonian with five free parameters: the fine-structure constant, the rotational constant, the centrifugal distortion constant, and two lambda-doubling constants.

Gottlieb, C. A.↗

Ultraviolet observations of the structure and dynamics of an active region at the limb

The structure and dynamics of active region NOAA 7260 at the limb have been studied using ultraviolet spectra and spectroheliograms obtained during the eighth rocket flight of the Naval Research Laboratory's High Resolution Telescope an Spectrograph (HRTS). The instrument configuration included a narrow-bandpass spectroheliograph to observe the Sun in the lines of C IV lambda 550 and a tandem-Wadsworth mount spectrograph to record the profiles of chromospheric transition region and coronal lines in the 1850-2670 A region. The combination of high spatial resolution and high spectral purity C IV slit jaw images with ultraviolet emission-line spectra corresponding allows examination of a variety of active region phenomena. A time series of spectroheliograms shows large-scale loop systems composed of fine-scale threads with some extending up to 100 Mm above the limb. The proper motion of several supersonic features, including a surge were measured. The accelerated plasmas appear in several different geometries and environments. Spectrograph exposures were taken with the slit positioned at a range of altitudes above the limb and provide a direct comparison between coronal, transition region and chromospheric emission line profiles. The spectral profiles of chromospheric and transition region emission lines show line-of-sight velocities up to 70 km/s. These lower temperature, emission-line spectra show small-scale spatial and velocity variations which are correlated with the threadlike structures seen in C IV. Coronal lines of Fe XII show much lower velocities and no fine structure.

Korendyke, C. M.↗

Transient Three-Dimensional Side Load Analysis of a Film Cooled Nozzle

Transient three-dimensional numerical investigations on the side load physics for an engine encompassing a film cooled nozzle extension and a regeneratively cooled thrust chamber, were performed. The objectives of this study are to identify the three-dimensional side load physics and to compute the associated aerodynamic side load using an anchored computational methodology. The computational methodology is based on an unstructured-grid, pressure-based computational fluid dynamics formulation, and a transient inlet history based on an engine system simulation. Ultimately, the computational results will be provided to the nozzle designers for estimating of effect of the peak side load on the nozzle structure. Computations simulating engine startup at ambient pressures corresponding to sea level and three high altitudes were performed. In addition, computations for both engine startup and shutdown transients were also performed for a stub nozzle, operating at sea level. For engine with the full nozzle extension, computational result shows starting up at sea level, the peak side load occurs when the lambda shock steps into the turbine exhaust flow, while the side load caused by the transition from free-shock separation to restricted-shock separation comes at second; and the side loads decreasing rapidly and progressively as the ambient pressure decreases. For the stub nozzle operating at sea level, the computed side loads during both startup and shutdown becomes very small due to the much reduced flow area.

Wang, Ten-See↗

The observation and interpretation of the profile of C IV lambda-1548 emitted from a quiet region of the sun

The average properties of the quiet chromospheric network as seen in the transition region line of C IV at 1548 A have been investigated. Line profile data for the study were taken with the OSO 8 High Resolution Ultraviolet Spectrometer, which has moderate angular resolution, high spectral resolution, and good relative photometric accuracy. The profiles, when classified and averaged according to their intensities, were found to be symmetric and Gaussian in shape at all intensity levels. A marginally significant increase in line width with line intensity was detected but the average relative redshift in the network that has been a feature of other OSO 8 studies was not found. The network-to-cell contrast ratio was of the order of 13:1 with the extreme extending to 50.1. The measured average width of 0.22 A (FWHM) is in good agreement with earlier work. Finally, a theoretical interpretation is presented, based on both the line width measurement and consideration of the profile symmetry properties. It is concluded that acoustic waves alone cannot supply enough energy to balance the radiative and conductive losses from the corona. The data are, however, consistent with heating by Alfven waves.

Bruner, E. C., Jr.↗

A possible misaligned orbit for the young planet AU Mic c

ABSTRACT The AU Microscopii planetary system is only 24 Myr old, and its geometry may provide clues about the early dynamical history of planetary systems. Here, we present the first measurement of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect for the warm sub-Neptune AU Mic c, using two transits observed simultaneously with the European Southern Observatory's (ESO's) Very Large Telescope (VLT)/Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO), CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS), and Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS). After correcting for flares and for the magnetic activity of the host star, and accounting for transit-timing variations, we find the sky-projected spin–orbit angle of planet c to be in the range $\lambda _{\mathrm{c}}=67.8_{-49.0}^{+31.7}$ degrees (1$\sigma$). We examine the possibility that planet c is misaligned with respect to the orbit of the inner planet b ($\lambda _{\mathrm{b}}=-2.96_{-10.30}^{+10.44}$), and the equatorial plane of the host star, and discuss scenarios that could explain both this and the planet’s high density, including secular interactions with other bodies in the system or a giant impact. We note that a significantly misaligned orbit for planet c is in some degree of tension with the dynamical stability of the system, and with the fact that we see both planets in transit, though these arguments alone do not preclude such an orbit. Further observations would be highly desirable to constrain the spin–orbit angle of planet c more precisely.

Yu, H. (ORCID:0000000209716078)↗

Chromospheres and coronae in binary systems

Recent observations and spectral analysis of chromospheres and coronae are discussed for various types of binary systems containing cool stars. These include the W UMa-type systems, the RS CVn variables, and selected widely separated binary systems such as VV Cephei and the giant stars in the Hyades cluster. In many cases evidence for extreme examples of solar activity are found. Radiative losses in ultraviolet resonance lines can be at least one or two orders of magnitude larger than those found in the quiet sun. In lambda And, a RS CVn type system, there is evidence for inhomogeneous structure in the chromosphere and transition region. Rotation appears to be a determinant in the energy losses of these atmospheres although not the only one.

Dupree, A. K.↗

Absorption Reveals and Hydrogen Addition Explains New Interstellar Aldehydes: Propenal and Propanal

New interstellar molecules propenal (CH2CHCHO) and propanal (CH3CH2CHO) have been detected largely in absorption toward the star-forming region Sagittarius B2(N) by means of rotational transitions observed with the 100-m Green Bank Telescope (GBT) operating in the range of 18 GHz (lambda approximately 1.7 cm) to 26 GHz (lambda approximately 1.2 cm). The GBT was also used to observe the previously reported interstellar aldehyde propynal (HC2CHO) in Sagittarius B2(N) which is known for large molecules believed to form on interstellar grains. The presence of these three interstellar aldehydes toward Sagittarius B2(N) strongly suggests that simple hydrogen addition on interstellar grains accounts for successively larger molecular species: from propynal to propenal and from propenal to propanal. Energy sources within Sagittarius B2(N) likely permit the hydrogen addition reactions on grain surfaces to proceed. This work demonstrates that successive hydrogen addition is probably an important chemistry route in the formation of a number of complex interstellar molecules. We also searched for but did not detect the three-carbon sugar glyceraldehyde (CH2OHCHOHCHO).

Hollis, J. M.↗

Thermal Conductivity of Liquid He-4 near the Superfluid Transition in Restricted Geometries

We present measurements of the thermal conductivity near the superfluid transition of He-4 in confined geometries. The confinements we have studied include: cylindrical geometries with radii L=.5 and 1.0 microns, and parallel plates with 5 micron spacing. For L=1.0 microns, measurements at six pressures were conducted, whereas only SVP measurements have been done for other geometries. For the 1-D confinement in cylinders, the data are consistent with a universal scaling for all pressures at and above T(sub lambda). There are indications of breakdown of scaling and universality below T(sub lambda). For the 2-D confinement between parallel plates, the preliminary results indicate that the thermal conductivity is finite at the bulk superfluid transition temperature. Further analyses are needed to compare the 2-D results with those in bulk and 1-D confinement.

Liu, Yuanming↗

Non-LTE CO, revisited

A more extensive and detailed non-LTE simulation of the Delta v = 1 bands of CO than attempted previously is reported. The equations of statistical equilibrium are formulated for a model molecule containing 10 bound vibrational levels, each split into 121 rotational substates and connected by more than 1000 radiative transitions. Solutions are obtained for self-consistent populations and radiation fields by iterative application of the 'Lambda-operator' to an initial LTE distribution. The formalism is used to illustrate models of the sun and Arcturus. For the sun, negligible departures from LTE are found in either a theoretical radiative-equilibrium photosphere with outwardly falling temperatures in its highest layers or in a semiempirical hot chromosphere that reproduces the spatially averaged emission cores of Ca II H and K. The simulations demonstrate that the puzzling 'cool cores' of the CO Delta V = 1 bands observed in limb spectra of the sun and in flux spectra of Arcturus cannot be explained simply by non-LTE scattering effects.

Ayres, Thomas R.↗

Investigation of Transitional Shock-Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions Using Direct Numerical Simulations

Interaction of a transitional boundary layer with a normal-shock is investigated using unstructured tetrahedral meshes under the numerical framework of the space-time conservation element, solution element (CESE) method. The computations mimic recent experimental efforts at the University of Tennessee Space Institute, where a Mach 2.0 flow interacts with a tall cylinder attached to a flat plate. The location of the cylinder with respect to the flat plate leading edge determines if the incoming boundary layer is laminar, transitional or fully turbulent. Four representative flow conditions exemplifying laminar and transitional boundary layers are analyzed by direct numerical simulations. Similar to what was observed in the experiments for the case of transitional interaction, the computations reveal an intermittent upstream influence (UI) shock that repeatedly travels upstream from the lambda-foot toward the leading edge before vanishing. Through detailed unsteady flow analysis obtained using Fourier analysis and dynamic mode decomposition techniques, the presence of disturbances with similar frequencies as those measured in experiments were identified in the flow along with locations that appear to influence the dynamics of the flow.

Venkatachari, Balaji Shankar↗

A Lambda 1400 spectrophotometric census of the Orion belt region

Low dispersion IUE spectrophotometry were used to generate a pair of photometric indices which measure the strength of the broad continuum absorption feature at 1400 A, likely an autoionizing transition of Si II. Calibration of the indices as identifiers of silicon overabundance is based on measurements of 25 IUE spectral standards and a sample of O8-A0 IV-V stars, 18 of them silicon stars. The correlations of delta alpha 1400 with delta alpha 5200 and delta (VI-G) support the association of the lambda 5200 feature with silicon. Using this technique, a magnitude limited survey of 28 B-stars in sub-groups b1, b2 and b3 of the Orion OB1 association was conducted. Two previously unrecognized candidate (perhaps weakly overabundant) silicon stars, HD 37187 and BD - 0 deg 984 are identified.

Brown, Douglas N.↗

Development of Fast, Background-Limited Transition-Edge Sensors for the Background-Limited Infrared/Sub-Millimetre Spectrograph (BLISS) for SPICA

We report experimental progress toward demonstrating background-limited arrays of membrane-isolated transition-edge sensors (TESs) for the Background Limited Infrared/Sub-mm Spectrograph (BLISS). BLISS is a space-borne instrument with grating spectrometers for wavelengths lambda = 35-435 microns and with R = lambda/(delta)lambda approx. 500. The goals for BLISS TESs are: noise equivalent power (NEP) = 5x10(exp -20) W/Hz(1/2) and response time t<30ms. We expect background-limited performance from bilayers TESs with T(sub c)=65mK and G=15fW/K. However, such TESs cannot be operated at 50mK unless stray power on the devices, or dark power PD, is less than 200aW. We describe criteria for measuring P? that requires accurate knowledge of TC. Ultimately, we fabricated superconducting thermistors from Ir (T(sub c) > or = 135mK) and Mo/Cu proximitized bilayers, where T(sub c) is the thermistor transition temperature. We measured the Ir TES arrays in our 50mK adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator test system, which can measure up to eight 1x32 arrays simultaneously using a time-division multiplexer, as well as our single-pixel test system which can measure down to 15mK. In our previous Ir array measurements our best reported performance was NEP=2.5x10(exp -19) W/Hz(1/2) and tapprox.5ms for straight-beam TESs. In fact, we expected NEPapprox.1.5x10(exp -19)W/Hz(1/2) for meander beam TESs, but did not achieve this previously due to 1/f noise. Here, we detail improvements toward measuring the expected NEP and demonstrate NEP=(1.3+0.2)x10(exp -19)W/Hz(1/2) in our single-pixel test system and NEP=(1.6+0.3)x10(exp -19)W/Hz(1/2) in our array test system.

transition-edge sensors↗