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NASA NTRS1988

Active galactic nuclei. II - The acceleration of relativistic particles in a cluster of accreting black holes

An accreting cluster of black holes in an active galactic nucleus is a natural site for a system of shock structures with a hierarchy of sizes, corresponding to the distribution of masses in the cluster. Accreted gas containing some magnetic fields and supersonically falling onto the core forms shocks on the outside of each hole and these shocks are capable of accelerating relativistic particles. The energies reached in a single shock are size rather than acceleration time limited and are proportional to the mass of the hole with a proportionality constant being a function of the position of the hole within a cluster and the model of the cluster and the shock formation. These energies are adequate to explain the observed properties of synchrotron and inverse-Compton radiation from these objects. The resulting energy spectrum of particles in the cluster in 'zeroth' approximation has the form of a doubly broken power law with indices of two and three on both extremes of the energy domain respectively, bridged by an index of about 2.5.

Pacholczyk, A. G.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Evolution of inclined galactic gas disks. I - A cloud-fluid approach

In this paper, numerical models are developed to follow the time-dependent behavior of inclined gas disks in nonspherical galaxies. Differential equations are developed which describe the time rate of change of the orbits of mass elements composing a thin, smoothly warping and twisting gas disk. These equations include multiple moments due to the nonsphericity of the galactic mass distribution, Coriolis effects arising from determination of orbits in a reference frame which tumbles with the surface figure of the galaxy, and viscous forces arising from cloud-cloud collisions. A cloud-fluid approach is used in determining the viscous forces. Physical arguments are used to determine the maximum permissible local value of the coefficient of kinematic viscosity. For small initial inclinations, analytic expressions are obtained for the inclination as a function of time and for the settling time, and the features of the solution are discussed.

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The origin of broad emission line clouds in active galactic nuclei

Numerous arguments suggest that the broad emission lines characteristic of many types of active galactic nuclei are formed in comparatively cool clouds embedded in a much hotter medium of roughly equal pressure. Here it is shown that a cycle exists in which cooler condensations form within the hot medium via a finite-amplitude thermal instability, drop to temperatures characteristic of photoionization equilibrium, are destroyed by hydrodynamic processes, and then return their material to the hot medium. Clouds of characteristic pressure about 10 to the 14th K/cu cm and thickness about 10 to the 23rd/sq cm are produced by this mechanism, in agreement with the pressure and thickness inferred from photoionization model analysis of observed emission-line ratios. Only a fraction of the hot medium's mass must encounter a finite-amplitude perturbation in order to produce the observed mass in clouds.

Krolik, Julian H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Emission-line diagnostics for the existence of thermal accretion disks in active galactic nuclei

The use of the relative strengths of optical and UV emission lines to infer information about the EUV continuum shape is demonstrated. The FeII/H-beta line ratio is strongly dependent on spectral shape, making it a good indicator of the UV spectrum. It is shown how the gravitational influence of a massive black hole may be seen in the nature of gas streaming motions and the orbits of gas clouds in the region where the black hole potential is comparable to the stellar galactic potential.

Krolik, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Quasi-periodic oscillations in the bright Galactic bulge X-ray source GX 340 + 0

Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) have been detected in the X-ray flux of the bright Galactic bulge X-ray source GX 340+0. The QPO, the associated red noise, and their relation to the spectral state of the source are described. The QPO behavior is found to be similar to that seen in Cyg X-2 and GX 5-1.

Van Paradijs, J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Determination of N/O from far-infrared line observations of Galactic H II regions

Measurements of the 52- and 88-micron forbidden O III line ratios and the 57-micron forbidden N III line ratio for six H II regions have been obtained with the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory. The derived N/O ratio for most Galactic regions (of about 0.2-0.3) is greater than that obtained by optical studies, and it exceeds the solar value. Although enhancement of N/O at a galactocentric distance of about 6 kpc may be possible, no evidence is found for an overall linear gradient in N/O with galactocentric distance, suggesting that N-14 is predominantly produced by primary rather than secondary nucleosynthesis.

Rubin, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Moment constraints on physical models for quasi-periodic oscillations from Galactic X-ray sources

Shot-noise models provide a useful mathematical representation for some physical models for the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) recently observed from several bright Galactic bulge and burst X-ray sources. Expressions are calculated for the first three moments for several versions of QPO shot-noise models that have appeared in the literature. It is shown that measurement of the third moment, together with measurement of the mean intensity and the power spectrum, can provide model-dependent constraints on important parameters of QPO shot-noise models, including the fraction of the X-ray intensity in shots and the shot rate. Under certain condtitions, a complete solution for all the shot-model parameters is possible.

Elsner, R. F.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Compact radio sources in the galactic plane

The preliminary results of a search for infrared counterparts to compact continuum radio sources found within 0.5 deg of the Galactic plane are presented. Out of 75 positions searched, nine very red sources, each with a probability of less than 0.01 of being a random field star, were found. Most of the nine sources are characterized by deep silicate absorption features at 10 microns and a red energy distribution that continues to rise beyond 25 microns. Six of the sources are best explained as late O or early B stars exciting a compact H II region. The radio emission is close to that expected for the rate of emission of ionizing photons for a normal main-sequence star. Although these H II regions are compact, they are not sufficiently dusty in the immediate environment of the star to significantly reduce the ionizing flux. Three of the sources show considerably more emission than expected for a main-sequence star, indicating they are either hotter than a main-sequence star with the same luminosity or the radio emision is nonthermal and coming from a more exotic object.

Jones, Terry Jay↗

NASA NTRS1987

Tasmanian low frequency Galactic background surveys

The results of LF (2-20-MHz) radio-astronomy observations obtained in Tasmania during solar-minimum winters since 1956 are briefly summarized. The low ionospheric f0F2 values (near 1 MHz) occurring in Tasmania in these periods are noted; the 2000-ft-diameter Llanherne array used for Galactic mapping at 2-20 MHz is described; the techniques employed are discussed; and sample maps are shown.

Cane, H. V.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A 1.6 MHz survey of the galactic background radio emission

Observations of the galactic radio emission at 1.6 MHz have been made during the current solar activity minimum using a radio telescope with a beamwidth of 25 deg. The radiation intensity was mapped for six declinations between -12 and -72 degrees and from 1000 to 0500 hours R.A.

Ellis, G. R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

New limit on the low-energy antiproton/proton ratio in the Galactic cosmic radiation

Results are presented from a balloon-borne apparatus searching for low-energy antiprotons in the Galactic cosmic rays. For energies less than 640 MeV at the top of the atmosphere, no cosmic-ray antiprotons were observed. This yields an upper limit to the antiproton/proton ratio of 0.000046 at the 85-percent confidence level.

Ahlen, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A very high resolution study of emission line widths in Galactic and extragalactic H II regions

Very high spectral resolution spectroscopy was performed using the 5007-A forbidden O III line on two Galactic H II regions (NGC 6611 and NGC 7000) and three giant extragalactic H II regions (NGC 588, NGC 604, and IC 133) in M33. Use of the thermally narrow forbidden O III line also aided in the determination of the broadening due to mass motion, although the results are in agreement with the average values obtained in earlier studies primarily done with H-alpha. Evidence is confirmed and found for multiple velocity components in each of the extragalactic systems.

O'Dell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

X-ray induced stellar mass loss near active galactic nuclei

The effects of UV and X-ray radiation on stars in active galactic nuclei (AGN) are critically evaluated. Mass loss rates in X-ray-induced winds are evaluated for realistic red giant models, and the effects of the ablation of stellar envelopes by radiation pressure are considered. The importance of X-ray-induced mass loss in the standard quasar model is evaluated and whether it can provide a source of accretion fuel or emission-line clouds is discussed. It is concluded that thermal winds driven by X-ray heating are a minor total supply of mass to AGN, but that thermal plus line-driven winds and stellar ablation may increase the mass loss and improve the chances for supplying a fraction of the necessary mass supply to the central object. It is speculated that when steady winds are inefficient, complex time-dependent processes due to X-ray energy injection deep into a stellar atmosphere could still release significant mass from stars.

Voit, G. Mark↗

NASA NTRS1988

A benchmark for galactic cosmic-ray transport codes

A nontrivial analytic benchmark solution for galactic cosmic ray transport is presented for use in transport code validation. Computational accuracy for a previously-developed cosmic ray transport code is established to within one percent by comparison with this exact benchmark. Hence, solution accuracy for the transport problem is mainly limited by inaccuracies in the input spectra, input interaction databases, and the use of a straight ahead/velocity-conserving approximation.

Wilson, John W.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Benchmark solutions for the galactic ion transport equations: Energy and spatially dependent problems

Nontrivial benchmark solutions are developed for the galactic ion transport (GIT) equations in the straight-ahead approximation. These equations are used to predict potential radiation hazards in the upper atmosphere and in space. Two levels of difficulty are considered: (1) energy independent, and (2) spatially independent. The analysis emphasizes analytical methods never before applied to the GIT equations. Most of the representations derived have been numerically implemented and compared to more approximate calculations. Accurate ion fluxes are obtained (3 to 5 digits) for nontrivial sources. For monoenergetic beams, both accurate doses and fluxes are found. The benchmarks presented are useful in assessing the accuracy of transport algorithms designed to accommodate more complex radiation protection problems. In addition, these solutions can provide fast and accurate assessments of relatively simple shield configurations.

Ganapol, Barry D.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Rate for annihilation of galactic dark matter into two photons

A calculation of the cross section for neutralino-neutralino annihilation into two photons is performed and applied to dark matter in the galactic halo to find the counting rate in a large gamma ray detector such as EGRET (Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope) or ASTROGAM. Combining constraints from particle accelerators with the requirement that the neutralinos make up the dark matter, it is found that rates of over a few dozen events per year are unlikely. The assumptions that go into these conclusions are listed. Other particle dark matter candidates which could give larger and perhaps observable signals are suggested.

Giudice, Gian F.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Toward a descriptive model of galactic cosmic rays in the heliosphere

Researchers review the elements that enter into phenomenological models of the composition, energy spectra, and the spatial and temporal variations of galactic cosmic rays, including the so-called anomalous cosmic ray component. Starting from an existing model, designed to describe the behavior of cosmic rays in the near-Earth environment, researchers suggest possible updates and improvements to this model, and then propose a quantitative approach for extending such a model into other regions of the heliosphere.

Mewaldt, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Elemental composition and energy spectra of galactic cosmic rays

A brief review is presented of the major features of the elemental composition and energy spectra of galactic cosmic rays. The requirements for phenomenological models of cosmic ray composition and energy spectra are discussed, and possible improvements to an existing model are suggested.

Mewaldt, R. A.↗