SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “INTERSTELLAR GAS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2012

ENERGY RELAXATION OF HELIUM ATOMS IN ASTROPHYSICAL GASES

We report accurate parameters describing energy relaxation of He atoms in atomic gases, important for astrophysics and atmospheric science. Collisional energy exchange between helium atoms and atomic constituents of the interstellar gas, heliosphere, and upper planetary atmosphere has been investigated. Energy transfer rates, number of collisions required for thermalization, energy distributions of recoil atoms, and other major parameters of energy relaxation for fast He atoms in thermal H, He, and O gases have been computed in a broad interval of energies from 10 meV to 10 keV. This energy interval is important for astrophysical applications involving the energy deposition of energetic atoms and ions into atmospheres of planets and exoplanets, atmospheric evolution, and analysis of non-equilibrium processes in the interstellar gas and heliosphere. Angular- and energy-dependent cross sections, required for an accurate description of the momentum-energy transfer, are obtained using ab initio interaction potentials and quantum mechanical calculations for scattering processes. Calculation methods used include partial wave analysis for collisional energies below 2 keV and the eikonal approximation at energies higher than 100 eV, keeping a significant energy region of overlap, 0.1-2 keV, between these two methods for their mutual verification. The partial wave method and the eikonal approximation excellently match results obtained with each other as well as experimental data, providing reliable cross sections in the astrophysically important interval of energies from 10 meV to 10 keV. Analytical formulae, interpolating obtained energy- and angular-dependent cross sections, are presented to simplify potential applications of the reported database. Thermalization of fast He atoms in the interstellar gas and energy relaxation of hot He and O atoms in the upper atmosphere of Mars are considered as illustrative examples of potential applications of the new database.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1978

Coronal gas in the Galaxy. II - A statistical analysis of O VI absorptions

This paper deals with general inferences about the low-density phase of interstellar gas having temperatures well above 200,000 K (the 'coronal gas') which can be drawn from O VI absorption data for 72 stars. Attention is given to the behavior of radial velocities, possible evidence for circumstellar O VI, the space distribution of the O VI gas, crowding of normal interstellar gas, and temperature distributions for the coronal gas. A model is adopted in which the coronal gas is contained within randomly distributed and nonoverlapping parcels, each with a size, pressure, and internal temperature distribution that do not vary markedly from one unit to the next. It is shown that the one-dimensional velocity dispersion for O VI regions (26 km/s) is substantially higher than the value for ordinary interstellar clouds (6.4 km/s).

Jenkins, E. B.↗

DOE OSTI2017

Interstellar Gas-phase Element Depletions in the Small Magellanic Cloud: A Guide to Correcting for Dust in QSO Absorption Line Systems

We present data on the gas-phase abundances for 9 different elements in the interstellar medium of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), based on the strengths of ultraviolet absorption features over relevant velocities in the spectra of 18 stars within the SMC. From this information and the total abundances defined by the element fractions in young stars in the SMC, we construct a general interpretation on how these elements condense into solid form onto dust grains. As a group, the elements Si, S, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Zn exhibit depletion sequences similar to those in the local part of our Galaxy defined by Jenkins. The elements Mg and Ti deplete less rapidly in the SMC than in the Milky Way, and Mn depletes more rapidly. We speculate that these differences might be explained by the different chemical affinities to different existing grain substrates. For instance, there is evidence that the mass fractions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the SMC are significantly lower than those in the Milky Way. We propose that the depletion sequences that we observed for the SMC may provide a better model for interpreting the element abundances in low-metallicity Damped Lyman Alpha (DLA) and sub-DLA absorption systems that are recorded in the spectra of distant quasars and gamma-ray burst afterglows.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1987

The relative amounts of stars and interstellar matter in the local Milky Way

This paper considers the balance between star formation and mass loss from evolved stars in the region within 1 kpc of the sun. There is considerably more mass in stars than in the interstellar medium, and more material is being incorporated into new stars than is being returned by evolved stars. In the simplest interpretation of the data, it appears that unless there is some infall of new interstellar gas, the era of substantial star formation out of interstellar gas will be over in a few (perhaps 3) billion years.

Jura, M.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy

The galactic model of cosmic ray confinement is assumed in an in-depth theoretical investigation of cosmic ray propagation in the Galaxy, with consideration also given to the interpretation of observed data. The necessary data concerning the interstellar medium are summarized in order to form a basis for the theoretical formulation of the propagation of cosmic rays, which are assumed to be in a state of equilibrium and homogeneously distributed in the residence volume. The interaction of cosmic rays with the attenuated gases, weak magnetic fields, and radiation fields of the interstellar medium is examined. Many of these interactions lead to the production of radiations ranging the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The possible roles played by cosmic rays in some aspects of galactic dynamics such as the hydrostatic equilibrium of interstellar gas, gravitational instability and formation of clouds, and heating of interstellar gas, are also studied.

Daniel, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Pioneer 10 at Silver Au Describes Sun's atmosphere

Almost 4 billion kilometers from the Sun, Pioneer 10's findings paint a detailed picture of the solar atmosphere. The heliosphere is now believed to be a huge magnetic bubble created by the solar wind and gets its tear-shape from streamlining due to the motion of the solar system through the interstellar gas. The skin of the bubble, the region between stellar and interstellar gas, is believed to lie between 50 and 100 AU from the Sun. The solar wind drags the Sun's magnetic field with it. The bubble, probably extends far beyond Pluto, and is believed to breathe, expanding and contracting like a giant cosmic lung with each 11 year cycle. The most recent findings show that as storms on the Sun build up toward maximum solar activity, they send out shock waves throughout the bubble which cause ripples. This long lived solar storm turbulence accelerates low energy cosmic ray particles coming in from the galaxy, deflecting them out of the solar system, and shielding the planets. As distance from the Sun increases, more and more cosmic ray particles penetrate the heliosphere.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2014

Constraints on dark matter annihilations from diffuse gamma-ray emission in the Galaxy

Recent advances in γ-ray cosmic ray, infrared and radio astronomy have allowed us to develop a significantly better understanding of the galactic medium properties in the last few years. In this work using the DRAGON code, that numerically solves the CR propagation equation and calculating γ-ray emissivities in a 2-dimensional grid enclosing the Galaxy, we study in a self consistent manner models for the galactic diffuse γ-ray emission. Our models are cross-checked to both the available CR and γ-ray data. We address the extend to which dark matter annihilations in the Galaxy can contribute to the diffuse γ-ray flux towards different directions on the sky. Moreover we discuss the impact that astrophysical uncertainties of non DM nature, have on the derived γ-ray limits. Such uncertainties are related to the diffusion properties on the Galaxy, the interstellar gas and the interstellar radiation field energy densities. Light ∼ 10 GeV dark matter annihilating dominantly to hadrons is more strongly constrained by γ-ray observations towards the inner parts of the Galaxy and influenced the most by assumptions of the gas distribution; while TeV scale DM annihilating dominantly to leptons has its tightest constraints from observations towards the galactic center avoiding the galactic disk plane, with the main astrophysical uncertainty being the radiation field energy density. In addition, we present a method of deriving constraints on the dark matter distribution profile from the diffuse γ-ray spectra. These results critically depend on the assumed mass of the dark matter particles and the type of its end annihilation products.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1987

Supershells and propagating star formation

Stellar winds and repeated supernovae from an OB association will create a cavity of coronal gas in the interstellar medium, with radius greater than 100 pc, surrounded by a dense, expanding shell of cool interstellar gas. If the association has a typical initial mass function, its supernovae explosions will inject energy into the supershell at a nearly constant rate for about 50 Myr. The supershell loses its interior pressure and enters the snowplow phase when radiative cooling becomes important or when the shell bursts through the gas disk of a galaxy, typically after a few times 10 Myr and with a radius of 100-300 pc. At approximately the same time, the supershell becomes gravitationally unstable, forming giant molecular clouds which are sites for new star formation. There is widespread evidence for supershells in the Galaxy and other spiral and irregular galaxies from 21-cm emission-line surveys, optical emission-line surveys, and studies of supernova remnants. The gravitational instability of the supershells provides a physical mechanism for induced star formation and may account for bursts of star formation, especially in irregular galaxies.

Mccray, Richard↗

NASA NTRS2000

Star Formation in the Galaxy and the Fluctuating UV Radiation Field

We examine the formation of massive stars in the Galaxy, the resultant fluctuating UV radiation field, and the effect of this Field on the star-forming interstellar medium. Following previous researchers such as Habing (1968), we calculate the average interstellar radiation field at the Solar Circle of the Galaxy. However, our new calculations follow more closely the time dependence of the field at any point. We show that there is a significant difference between the mean field and the median field, and that there are substantial fluctuations of the field (on timescales of order 100 million years) at a given point. Far Ultraviolet Radiation (FUV, photon energies of 6 eV - 13.6 eV) has been recognized as the main source of heating of the neutral interstellar gas. Given the pressure of the interstellar medium (ISM) the FUV field determines whether the thermal balance of the neutral gas results in cold (T approximately 50 - 100 K) clouds (CNM), warm (T about 10,000 K) (WNM), for a combination of the two (the two phase ISM) We present results for the time history of the FUV field for points in the local ISM of the Milky Way Galaxy. The presence of this fluctuating heating rate converts CNM to WNM and vice versa. We show how to calculate the average fractions of the gas in the CNM and WNM when the interstellar gas is subject to this fluctuating FUV field. The knowledge of how these fractions depend on the gas properties (i.e. mean density and composition) and on the FUV-sources (i.e. the star formation rate, or the IMF, or the size distribution of associations) is a basic step in building any detailed model of the large scale behavior of the ISM and the mutual relation between the ISM and the SFR.

Hollenbach, David↗

NASA NTRS1974

Are BL Lac-type objects nearby black holes

It is pointed out that isolated black holes accreting interstellar gas can account for the characteristic properties of the Lacertids. Emission spectra for various interstellar gas densities and black hole masses are compared with the data plotted by Strittmatter et al. (1972) for the BL Lac-type objects. Rough estimates indicate that there may indeed be a finite number of stellar-mass black holes close to the earth as required by the theory. If it is determined that the BL Lac-type objects lie outside of the galactic disk a black hole accretion model may still apply if certain conditions are satisfied.

Shapiro, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Constraints on the galactic distribution of cosmic rays from the COS-B gamma-ray data

The diffuse component of the galactic high energy gamma rays results mainly from the interaction of CR nuclei and electrons with the nuclei of the interstellar gas. An additional contribution is obtained from the interaction of CR electrons with the interstellar photons through the inverse-Compton (IC) process. Gamma ray astronomy therefore offers an excellent means to study the distribution of CR particles throughout the Galaxy, but it is essential to know the distribution of the target interstellar gas particles, the major constituents being atomic and molecular hydrogen. Large scale millimeter wave surveys of the CO molecule covering more than half of the Milky Way, obtained with the Columbia 1.2 m telescopes, are currently available and are used to trace the H2; the COS-B observations have sufficient resolution and sensitivity to constrain the relation between the integrated CO line intensity and the molecular hydrogen column density.

Bloemen, J. B. G. M.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Gamma rays, cosmic rays, and galactic structure

Observations of cosmic and gamma radiation by SAS-2 satellite are summarized and analyzed to determine processes responsible for producing observed galactic radiation. In addition to the production of gamma rays in discrete galactic objects such as pulsars, there are three main mechanisms by which high-energy (greater than 100 MeV) radiation is produced by high-energy interactions involving cosmic rays in interstellar space. These processes, which produce what may be called diffuse galactic gamma-rays, are: (1) the decay of pi mesons produced by interactions of cosmic ray nucleons with interstellar gas nuclei; (2) the bremsstrahlung radiation produced by cosmic ray electrons interacting in the Coulomb fields of nuclei of interstellar gas atoms; and (3) Compton interactions between cosmic ray electrons and low-energy photons in interstellar space.

Stecker, F. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Optical Emission Line Studies and the Warm, Ionized Component of the Local Interstellar Medium

Observations of diffuse, galactic H alpha, N2 lambda 6583, and S2 6716 emission lines provide evidence for a warm (10,000K), primarily ionized component of the interstellar medium distribution throughout the galactic disk. This component of the interstellar gas has an electron density approximately equals 0.1-0.2/cu cm and occupies about 10 to 30% of the interstellar volume. Interstellar H alpha emission near the galactic poles, the dispersion measure of a nearby pulsar, and observations of interstellar gas flowing into the solar system indicate that this ionized component is an important constituent of the interstellar medium in the solar neighborhood. The intensity of the H alpha background at high galactic latitudes implies that this component is maintained by an average hydrogen ionization rate in the vicinity of the Sun of (2-4) x 100,000 s(-1) per square cm of galactic disk. The emission measure is 1.3 to 2.3 cm (-6) pc toward the galactic poles. The sources of this ionization were not identified but may include escaping Lyman continuum radiation from planetary nebulae, hot white dwarfs, and early type stars.

Reynolds, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The ratio of molecular to atomic gas in infrared luminous galaxies

In infrared luminous galaxies the ratio of the CO(1 - 0) to H I integrated fluxes increases with the far-infrared excess, f(fir)/f(b). All infrared active galaxies with f(fir)/f(b) greater than 2 have molecular to atomic gas mass fractions greater than 0.5. Among the galaxies with the higher infrared excesses there are systems with strikingly small atomic mass fractions, where less than 15 percent of the total mass of interstellar gas is in atomic form. The optical morphology of luminous infrared galaxies indicates that the majority, if not all, of these objects are interacting systems. These observations suggest that the overall mass fraction of molecular to atomic gas, and the infrared luminosities per nucleon of interstellar gas are enhanced during galaxy-galaxy interactions.

Mirabel, I. F.↗

NASA NTRS1996

GHRS Observations of the LISM

The GHRS has obtained high-resolution spectra of interstellar gas toward 19 nearby stars. These excellent data show that the Sun is located inside the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) with other warm clouds nearby. I will summarize the physical properties of these clouds and the three-dimensional structure of this warm interstellar gas. There is now clear evidence that the Sun and other late-type stars are surrounded by hydrogen walls in the upwind direction. The D/H ratio probably has a constant value in the LIC, (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(exp -5), consistent with the measured values for all LIC lines of sight.

Linsky, Jeffrey L.↗

DOE OSTI2015

EVALUATING THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE LOCAL INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM: USING NEW DATA TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN MULTIPLE DISCRETE CLOUDS AND A CONTINUOUS MEDIUM

Ultraviolet and optical spectra of interstellar gas along the lines of sight to nearby stars have been interpreted by Redfield and Linsky and previous studies as a set of discrete warm, partially ionized clouds each with a different flow vector, temperature, and metal depletion. Recently, Gry and Jenkins proposed a fundamentally different model consisting of a single cloud with nonrigid flows filling space out to 9 pc from the Sun that they propose better describes the local ISM. Here we test these fundamentally different morphological models against the spatially unbiased Malamut et al. spectroscopic data set, and find that the multiple cloud morphology model provides a better fit to both the new and old data sets. The detection of three or more velocity components along the lines of sight to many nearby stars, the presence of nearby scattering screens, the observed thin elongated structures of warm interstellar gas, and the likely presence of strong interstellar magnetic fields also support the multiple cloud model. The detection and identification of intercloud gas and the measurement of neutral hydrogen density in clouds beyond the Local Interstellar Cloud could provide future morphological tests.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1978

Coronal gas in the Galaxy. I - A new survey of interstellar O VI

Ultraviolet spectra of 40 O- and B-type stars have been intensively scanned in the vicinity of the O VI transitions at 1032 and 1038 A with the Copernicus satellite. This survey of the high-temperature (log T about 5.5) phase of interstellar gas is an extension of the earlier observations of interstellar O VI by Jenkins and Meloy (1974), bringing the total coverage up to 72 stars. Except for a few distant stars, the overall quality of the present data surpasses that of the earlier work. Plots of absorption optical depths versus radial velocity are presented for both transitions in each star. Total column densities (or their upper limits), velocity centroids, and velocity widths have been extracted from the profiles and tabulated, with the results of Jenkins and Meloy (1974) included. Qualitatively, the highly variable O VI densities and velocities seem to exhibit no systematic patterns or regional trends; there is no recognizable correlation in the behavior of coronal gas with pronounced features of galactic structure.

Jenkins, E. B.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The spectral energy distribution of NGC 1275

An analysis of absolute spectral energy distributions of interstellar gas for a galaxy (NGC 1275) is presented. Infrared spectra data shows heavy reddening. It is proposed that the interstellar gas may be ionized by shock waves or by nonthermal or stellar radiation. It is suggested, that high velocity, emission-line knots are H2 regions in a Perseus cluster galaxy or intergalactic gas cloud seen in projection against NGC 1275.

Shields, G. A.↗