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At least 145 records · Page 8

Observations of the longitudinal magnetic field in the transition region and photosphere of a sunspot

The Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter on the Solar Maximum Mission spacraft has observed for the first time the longitudinal component of the magnetic field by means of the Zeeman effect in the transition region above a sunspot. The data presented here were obtained on three days in one sunspot, have spatial resolutions of 10 arcsec and 3 arcsec, and yield maximum field strengths greater than 1000 G above the umbrae in the spot. The method of analysis, including a line-width calibration feature used during some of the observations, is described in some detail in an appendix; the line width is required for the determination of the longitudinal magnetic field from the observed circular polarization. The transition region data for one day are compared with photospheric magnetograms from the Marshall Space Flight Center. Vertical gradients of the magnetic field are compared from the two sets of data; the maximum gradients of 0.41 to 0.62 G/km occur above the umbra and agree with or are smaller than values observed previously in the photosphere and low chromosphere.

Henze, W., Jr.↗

FUMES. II. Ly α Reconstructions of Young, Active M Dwarfs

The H I Ly α (1215.67 Å) emission line dominates the far-UV spectra of M dwarf stars, but strong absorption from neutral hydrogen in the interstellar medium makes observing Ly α challenging even for the closest stars. As part of the Far-Ultraviolet M-dwarf Evolution Survey, the Hubble Space Telescope has observed 10 early-to-mid M dwarfs with ages ranging from ∼24 Myr to several Gyr in order to evaluate how the incident UV radiation evolves through the lifetime of exoplanetary systems. We reconstruct the intrinsic Ly α profiles from STIS G140L and E140M spectra, and achieve reconstructed fluxes with 1σ uncertainties ranging from 5% to a factor of two for the low-resolution spectra (G140L) and 3%–20% for the high-resolution spectra (E140M). We observe broad, 500–1000 km s −1 wings of the Ly α line profile, and analyze how the line width depends on stellar properties. We find that stellar effective temperature and surface gravity are the dominant factors influencing the line width with little impact from the star's magnetic activity level, and that the surface flux density of the Ly α wings may be used to estimate the chromospheric electron density. The Ly α reconstructions on the G140L spectra are the first attempted on λ/Δλ ∼ 1000 data. We find that the reconstruction precision is not correlated with the signal-to-noise ratio of the observation—rather, it depends on the intrinsic broadness of the stellar Ly α line. Young, low-gravity stars have the broadest lines and therefore provide more information at low spectral resolution to the fit to break degeneracies among model parameters.

Allison Youngblood↗

Brillouin-scattering measurements of the acoustic absorption coefficient in liquid CS2

High-resolution Brillouin spectra were recorded for light scattered at small angles from liquid CS2. The use of a single-mode He-Ne laser, locked in frequency to a Fabry-Perot interferometer, permitted measurements of line widths of the order of 10 MHz for frequencies in the range 300-1000 MHz. These measurements extend previous Brillouin line-width measurements at higher frequencies into the region where relaxation effects are dominant and connect the optical measurements with lower-frequency acoustical data.

Coakley, R. W.↗

High resolution Lyman alpha observations of comet Kohoutek /1973f/ near perihelion

The hydrogen Lyman-alpha emission line of comet Kohoutek (1973f) was observed and resolved by the high-dispersion Skylab/ATM S082B spectrograph shortly after the comet's perihelion passage (29-31 December 1973). The Lyman-alpha line width was determined from three different exposures of the comet nuclear region. A simplified analysis of the optical thickness effects showed that this line width is consistent with the established hydrogen outflow velocity of 8 to 10 km/sec.

Keller, H. U.↗

Effective photodissociation cross sections for molecular oxygen and nitric oxide in the Schumann-Runge bands

Accurate calculations of the atmospheric opacity and the photodissociation rate of molecular oxygen in the Schumann-Runge bands (175-205) are necessary for modeling chemistry in the terrestrial upper atmosphere. The present investigation is concerned with a single simple parameterization of effective cross sections which can be used to calculate both O2 opacity and dissociation rates. Use is made of a zenith angle dependent factor which accounts for variations shown in detailed calculations. The conducted analysis is based on the results of Frederick and Hudson (1980). Attention is given to molecular oxygen effective cross sections and nitric oxide effective cross sections. It is found that the depth of the atmosphere to which solar radiation in the 175-200 nm spectral region penetrates is a sensitive function of the rotational line widths in the Schumann-Runge bands. The oscillator strength for each band measures the cross section integrated over the band while the line width determine how the absorption is distributed in wavenumber.

Allen, M.↗

Plume and interplume regions and solar wind acceleration in polar coronal holes between 1.5 and 3.5 R

The observations of the polar coronal hole regions, obtained with the ultraviolet coronagraph spectrometer (UVCS) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), are reported on. The O VI 1032 line profiles were found to be narrower within plumes. The difference in the line width increased with the distance from the center of the sun. The analysis of the O VI 1032, H I Lyman alpha 1216 line profiles, and the O VI 1032, 1037 doublet intensity ratio is summarized. The analysis showed that the O VI line width is enhanced in interplume regions, and increases with altitude both in plume and interplume regions. The H I Lyman alpha profiles are wider in the interplume regions. From the doublet intensity ratio data, it is shown that during the minimum of the solar cycle, the acceleration of the solar wind in polar regions reaches approximately 300 km/s at 3.5 solar radii.

Giordano, S.↗

Theory of Photoluminescence Spectral Line Shapes of Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Single-molecule photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) reveals the nature of exciton–phonon interactions in NCs. Understanding the homogeneous spectral line shapes and their temperature dependence remains an open problem. Here, we develop an atomistic model to describe the PL spectrum of NCs, accounting for excitonic effects, phonon dispersion relations, and exciton–phonon couplings. We validate our model using single-NC measurements on CdSe/CdS NCs from T = 4 to 290 K, and we find that the slightly asymmetric main peak at low temperatures is comprised of a narrow zero-phonon line (ZPL) and acoustic phonon sidebands. Furthermore, we identify the specific phonon modes that give rise to the optical phonon sidebands. At temperatures above 200 K, the spectral line width shows a stronger dependence upon the temperature, which we demonstrate to be correlated with higher order exciton–phonon couplings. We also identify the line width dependence upon reorganization energy, NC core sizes, and shell thicknesses.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Interferometric observations of three giant molecular clouds in M31

One field in the northern spiral arm of M31 has been mapped at 11 x 6 arcsec resolution with the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Array. Three giant molecular clouds are detected in this field. The properties of the clouds, such as diameter, line width, and mass, are very similar to those of giant molecular clouds in the Galaxy and in M33, and are consistent with the size-line-width relation obtained for molecular clouds in those galaxies. The largest cloud has a mass of 7 x 10 exp 5 solar masses, 40 percent larger than the most massive cloud seen in a much larger survey of molecular clouds in M33. Thus, despite a low molecular gas surface density, the molecular interstellar medium of M31 appears capable of organizing itself into quite massive molecular clouds.

Wilson, Christine D.↗

Spectrophotometry of Seyfert 2 galaxies and narrow-line radio galaxies

Results are reported for a spectrophotometric survey of several Seyfert 2 galaxies, intermediate Seyferts, and narrow-line radio galaxies. The emission-line spectra of the galaxies are analyzed, emphasizing line intensities, reddening, temperatures, densities, line strength correlations, line widths, and redshift differences. The continuous spectra are examined, and possible ionization sources are considered. It is found that: (1) there are no distinguishing differences between the spectra of Seyfert 2 galaxies and narrow-line radio galaxies; (2) the emission spectra are rich in lines from a wide range of ionization levels; (3) the continuum is starlight diluted by an underlying continuous spectrum; (4) the line widths of both classes of galaxies have the same distribution; (5) there appear to be regions of high and low ionization in the Seyfert 2 and narrow-line radio galaxies; (6) photoionization seems quite likely as the energy input to the gas; and (7) all the galaxies show a UV excess in their spectra.

Koski, A. T.↗

SAD5 Stereo Correlation Line-Striping in an FPGA

High precision SAD5 stereo computations can be performed in an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) at much higher speeds than possible in a conventional CPU (central processing unit), but this uses large amounts of FPGA resources that scale with image size. Of the two key resources in an FPGA, Slices and BRAM (block RAM), Slices scale linearly in the new algorithm with image size, and BRAM scales quadratically with image size. An approach was developed to trade latency for BRAM by sub-windowing the image vertically into overlapping strips and stitching the outputs together to create a single continuous disparity output. In stereo, the general rule of thumb is that the disparity search range must be 1/10 the image size. In the new algorithm, BRAM usage scales linearly with disparity search range and scales again linearly with line width. So a doubling of image size, say from 640 to 1,280, would in the previous design be an effective 4 of BRAM usage: 2 for line width, 2 again for disparity search range. The minimum strip size is twice the search range, and will produce an output strip width equal to the disparity search range. So assuming a disparity search range of 1/10 image width, 10 sequential runs of the minimum strip size would produce a full output image. This approach allowed the innovators to fit 1280 960 wide SAD5 stereo disparity in less than 80 BRAM, 52k Slices on a Virtex 5LX330T, 25% and 24% of resources, respectively. Using a 100-MHz clock, this build would perform stereo at 39 Hz. Of particular interest to JPL is that there is a flight qualified version of the Virtex 5: this could produce stereo results even for very large image sizes at 3 orders of magnitude faster than could be computed on the PowerPC 750 flight computer. The work covered in the report allows the stereo algorithm to run on much larger images than before, and using much less BRAM. This opens up choices for a smaller flight FPGA (which saves power and space), or for other algorithms in addition to SAD5 to be run on the same FPGA.

Villalpando, Carlos Y.↗

A Coordinated X-Ray and Optical Campaign of the Nearest Massive Eclipsing Binary, Delta Orionis Aa. II. X-Ray Variability

We present time-resolved and phase-resolved variability studies of an extensive X-ray high-resolution spectral data set of the delta Ori Aa binary system. The four observations, obtained with Chandra ACIS (Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer) HETGS (High Energy Transmission Grating), have a total exposure time approximately equal to 479 kiloseconds and provide nearly complete binary phase coverage. Variability of the total X-ray flux in the range of 5-25 angstroms is confirmed, with a maximum amplitude of about plus or minus15 percent within a single approximately equal to125 kiloseconds observation. Periods of 4.76 and 2.04 days are found in the total X-ray flux, as well as an apparent overall increase in the flux level throughout the nine-day observational campaign. Using 40 kiloseconds contiguous spectra derived from the original observations, we investigate the variability of emission line parameters and ratios. Several emission lines are shown to be variable, including S (sub XV), Si (sub XIII), and Ne (sub IX). For the first time, variations of the X-ray emission line widths as a function of the binary phase are found in a binary system, with the smallest widths at phi = 0.0 when the secondary delta Ori Aa2 is at the inferior conjunction. Using 3D hydrodynamic modeling of the interacting winds, we relate the emission line width variability to the presence of a wind cavity created by a wind-wind collision, which is effectively void of embedded wind shocks and is carved out of the X-ray-producing primary wind, thus producing phase-locked X-ray variability.

X-ray flux↗

Chandra X-ray Grating Spectrometry of Eta Carinae near X-ray Minimum: I. Variability of the Sulfur and Silicon Emission Lines

We report on variations in important X-ray emission lines in a series of Chandra grating spectra of the supermassive colliding wind binary star eta Car, including key phases around the X-ray minimum/periastron passage in 2003.5. The X-rays arise from the collision of the slow, dense wind of eta Car with the fast, low-density wind of an otherwise hidden companion star. The X-ray emission lines provide the only direct measure of the flow dynamics of the companion's wind along the wind-wind collision zone. We concentrate here on the silicon and sulfur lines, which are the strongest and best resolved lines in the X-ray spectra. Most of the line profiles can be adequately fit with symmetric Gaussians with little significant skewness. Both the silicon and sulfur lines show significant velocity shifts and correlated increases in line widths through the observations. The R = forbidden-to-intercombination ratio from the Si XIII and S XV triplets is near or above the low-density limit in all observations, suggesting that the line-forming region is > 1.6 stellar radii from the companion star, and that the emitting plasma may be in a non-equilibrium state. We show that simple geometrical models cannot simultaneously fit both the observed centroid variations and changes in line width as a function of phase. We show that the observed profiles can be fitted with synthetic profiles with a reasonable model of the emissivity along the wind-wind collision boundary. We use this analysis to help constrain the line formation region as a function of orbital phase, and the orbital geometry. Subject headings: X-rays: stars -stars: early-type-stars: individual (q Car)

Henley, D. B.↗

The FU Orionis outburst as a thermal accretion event: Observational constraints for protostellar disk models

The results of the time-dependent disk models developed in Bell & Lin are compared with observed properties of FU Orionis variables. Specific models are fit to the light curves of Fu Ori, V1515 Cyg, and V1057 Cyg. The slow risetime of V1515 Cyg can be matched by a self-regulated outburst model. The rapid risetimes of FU Ori and V1057 Cyg can be fitted with the application of modest perturbations to the disk surface density. Model disks display spectral features characteristic of observed objects. The color evolution of V1057 Cyg is naturally explained if mass flux drops in the inner disk (r less than 1/4 AU) while remaining steady in the outer disk. The decrease in optical line width (rotational velocity) observed during the decay of V1057 Cyg may be accounted for by an outward-propagating ionization front. We predict that before final decay to the quiescent phase, short-wavelength line widths (lambda less than 1.5 microns) will again increase. It is suggested that FU Orionis outbursts primarily occur to systems during the embedded phase with ages less than several times 10(exp 5) yr.

Bell, K. R.↗

A Comprehensive Search for Gamma-Ray Lines in the First Year of Data from the INTEGRAL Spectrometer

Gamma-ray lines are produced in nature by a variety of different physical processes. They can be valuable astrophysical diagnostics providing information the may be unobtainable by other means. We have carried out an extensive search for gamma-ray lines in the first year of public data from the Spectrometer (SPI) on the INTEGRAL mission. INTEGRAL has spent a large fraction of its observing time in the Galactic Plane with particular concentration in the Galactic Center (GC) region (approximately 3 Msec in the first year). Hence the most sensitive search regions are in the Galactic Plane and Center. The phase space of the search spans the energy range 20-8000 keV, and line widths from 0-1000 keV (FWHM) and includes both diffuse and point-like emission. We have searched for variable emission on time scales down to approximately 1000 sec. Diffuse emission has been searched for on a range of different spatial scales from approximately 20 degrees (the approximate field-of-view of the spectrometer) up to the entire Galactic Plane. Our search procedures were verified by the recovery of the known gamma-ray lines at 511 keV and 1809 keV at the appropriate intensities and significances. We find no evidence for any previously unknown gamma-ray lines. The upper limits range from a few x10(exp -5) per square centimeter per second to a few x10(exp -3) per square centimeter per second depending on line width, energy and exposure. Comparison is made between our results and various prior predictions of astrophysical lines

Teegarden, B. J.↗

Ambiguities in the identification of giant molecular cloud complexes from longitude-velocity diagrams

Techniques which use longitude-velocity diagrams to identify molecular cloud complexes in the disk of the Galaxy are investigated by means of model Galactic disks generated from N-body cloud-particle simulations. A procedure similar to the method used to reduce the low-level emission in Galactic l-v diagrams is employed to isolate complexes of emission in the model l-v diagram (LVCs) from the 'background'clouds. The LVCs produced in this manner yield a size-line-width relationship with a slope of 0.58 and a mass spectrum with a slope of 1.55, consistent with Galactic observations. It is demonstrated that associations identified as LVCs are often chance superpositions of clouds spread out along the line of sight in the disk of the model system. This indicates that the l-v diagram cannot be used to unambiguously determine the location of molecular cloud complexes in the model Galactic disk. The modeling results also indicate that the existence of a size-line-width relationship is not a reliable indicator of the physical nature of cloud complexes, in particular, whether the complexes are gravitationally bound objects.

Adler, David S.↗

Analysis of the 0.511 MeV radiation at the OSO-7 satellite

Observations of the 0.511 MeV positron annihilation, gamma ray on the OSO-7 satellite are presented. Variables which affect the counting rate are discussed. An upper limit flux of .0076 photons/sq cm/sec is obtained for the quiet sun and a positive solar flux of .063(+ or - .0002) photons/sq cm/sec is obtained for the 3B flare of 4 August 1972. The width of this annihilation line gives an upper limit temperature for the annihilation region of approximately 6 million K. An analysis of the line width and position also shows that the contribution to the line from positronium annihilation is less than 100% at the 99% confidence level. An upper limit is also found for an isotropic cosmic flux.

Dunphy, P. P.↗

Interstellar cloud shapes - A minimum-hypothesis account involving a purely gravitational effect

The effect produced by the anisotropic gravitational field on the shape of a nonspherical, self-gravitating interstellar cloud is examined. The projected axial ratios observed for molecular clouds can be accounted for if clouds are not generally in a state of strict dynamical equilibrium. For clouds having spectral line widths dominated by supersonic turbulent motions, this purely gravitational effect predicts a mean true axial ratio q about 0.3 for both oblate and prolate cloud geometries. Clouds having p less than about 0.3 are likely to be prolate and quite elongated. The observational data on molecular cloud cores, which have essentially thermal line widths, can be fitted equally well to either oblate or prolate spheroids having q between 0.1 and 0.4 with q about 0.2 providing the best match: highly elongated cores are again more likely to be prolate. While other processes certainly operate throughout the Galaxy to influence cloud shape, it appears plausible that at least some clouds may be shaped principally by their anisotropic gravitational field.

Fleck, Robert C., Jr.↗

A Coordinated X-Ray and Optical Campaign of the Nearby Massive Binary Sigma Orionis Aa: X-Ray Variability - II

We present time-resolved and phase-resolved variability studies of an extensive X-ray high-resolution gratings spectral dataset of the Sigma Ori Aa binary system. The four observations, obtained with Chandra ACIS HETGS, have a total exposure time of approximately 479 kiloseconds and provide nearly complete binary phase coverage. Variability of the total X-ray flux in the range 5-25 angstroms is confirmed, with maximum amplitude of about plus or minus 15 percent within a single approximately 125 kiloseconds observation. Periods of 4.76 days and 2.04 days are found in the total X-ray flux, as well as an apparent overall increase in flux level throughout the 9-day observational campaign. Using 40 kiloseconds contiguous spectra derived from the original observations, we investigate variability of emission line parameters and ratios. Several emission lines are shown to be variable, including S XV, Si XIII, and Ne IX. For the first time, variations of the X-ray emission line widths as a function of the binary phase are found in a binary system, with the smallest widths at phi equals 0.0 when the secondary Aa2 is at inferior conjunction. We use the results of an SPH radiative transfer code model, customized for this project, to relate the presence of a low density cavity in the primary stellar wind embedded shock that is associated with the secondary star to the emission line width variability.

binaries: closeaEuro"binaries: eclipsingaEuro"star↗