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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.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Flow dynamics and bending of wide-angle tailed radio sources

The dynamics of tailed radio sources (WATs) is studied on the basis of VLA observations of 11 wide-angle WATs at 6 and 20 cm. These new images, in conjunction with optical and X-ray data, are used to describe the unifying characteristics of this class. WATs are found in centers of clusters without cooling cores, associated with galaxies of low space velocity. They are large sources, extending at least 50 kpc from the cluster center, and they have radio power close to the Fanaroff-Riley I/II break. The surface brightness and spectral distributions are used to model the flow fields and bending dynamics of the sources. Two limiting models are employed: the adiabatic model, in which no in situ energization takes place, and the kinetic model, in which all of the radio luminosity comes from in situ energization. It is found that the sources cannot be bent by the slow galaxy motion in the kinetic model. The sources can be bent by the ram pressure of a slowly moving central galaxy in the adiabatic model.

O'Donoghue, Aileen A.↗
NASA NTRS1998

A Radio-Jet-Galaxy Interaction in 3C441

Multi-wavelength imaging and spectroscopy of the zeta = 0.708 radio galaxy 3C441 and a red aligned optical/infrared component are used to show that the most striking aspect of the radio-optical "alignment effect" in this object is due to the interaction of the radio jet with a companion galaxy in the same group or cluster. The stellar population of the red aligned continuum component is predominately old, but with a small post-starburst population superposed, and it is surrounded by a low surface- brightness halo, possibly a face-on spiral disc. The [OIII]500.7/[OII]372.7 emission line ratio changes dramatically from one side of the component to the other, with the low-ionisation material apparently having passed through the bow shock of the radio source and been compressed. A simple model for the interaction is used to explain the velocity shifts in the emission line gas, and to predict that the ISM of the interacting galaxy is likely to escape once the radio source bow shock has passed though. We also discuss another, much fainter, aligned component, and the sub-arcsecond scale alignment of the radio source host galaxy. Finally we comment on the implications of our explanation of 3C441 for theories of the alignment effect.

Lacy, Mark↗
DOE OSTI2026

The DECam MAGIC Survey: Uncovering the Tidal Tails of the Crater II Dwarf Galaxy

Crater II (CraII), a large and low-density dwarf spheroidal galaxy, has unusual observed properties that are difficult to reproduce in cold dark matter simulations. Ongoing tidal disruption may help explain the discrepancies, as evidenced by the recent discovery of tidal tails. Here we present metallicity-sensitive narrowband photometry of the Ca II H and K lines from the Dark Energy Camera, covering 128 deg$^{2}$ across the center and identified tidal tails of CraII as part of the Mapping the Ancient Galaxy in CaHK survey. Our combined photometric metallicity, color–magnitude, proper motion, and parallax selections identify 162 CraII candidates. Of these, 37 candidates are located in the tidal tails, which extend at least 7° (∼95 kpc) from the center of CraII, suggesting it has lost ≳25% of its initial stellar mass. We confirm low contamination rates with dedicated control fields and highlight the extremely low surface brightness stellar features that can be uncovered with CaHK data, as faint as ∼36 mag arcsec$^{−2}$. We also make the first detection of a metallicity gradient (−0.34 ± 0.17 dex deg$^{−1}$) in the center of the galaxy and infer a stream width of w ∼ 0.°8, roughly 50% larger than the CraII half-light radius. The detection of candidates in the most distant CraII pointings from its center implies that the tidal tails extend beyond our footprint. We compare the CraII stream to N-body models with “cored” and “cuspy” dark matter halo progenitors, determining that CraII’s density profile is still ambiguous and warrants further modeling.

Atzberger, Kaia R. [Virginia U., Astron. Dept.] (O↗
NASA NTRS1994

Deep HST imaging of distant weak radio and field galaxies

We present deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide-Field Camera (WFC) V- and I-band images of three distant weak radio galaxies with z = 0.311-2.390 and seven field galaxies with z = 0.131-0.58. The images were deconvolved with both the Lucy and multiresolution CLEAN methods, which yield a restoring Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of less than or equal to 0.2 sec, (nearly) preserve photons and signal-to-noise ratio at low spatial frequencies, and produce consistent light profiles down to our 2 sigma surface brightness sensitivity limit of V approximately 27.2 and I approximately 25.9 mag/sq arcsec. Multi-component image modeling was used to provide deconvolution-independent estimates of structural parameters for symmetric galaxies. We present 12-band (m(sub 2750) UBVRIgriJHK) photometry for a subset of the galaxies and bootstrap the unknown FOC/48 zero point at 2750 A in three independent ways (yielding m(sub 2750) = 21.34 +/- 0.09 mag for 1.0 e(-)/s). Two radio galaxies with z = 0.311 and 0.528, as well as one field galaxy with z = 0.58, have the colors and spectra of early-type galaxies, and a(exp 1/4)-like light profiles in the HST images. The two at z greater than 0.5 have little or no color gradients in V - I and are likely giant ellipticals, while the z = 0.311 radio galaxy has a dim exponential disk and is likely an S0. Six of the seven field galaxies have light profiles that indicate (small) inner bulges following a(exp 1/4) laws and outer exponential disks, both with little or no color gradients. These are (early-type) spiral galaxies with z = 0.131-0.528. About half have faint companions or bars. One shows lumpy structure, possibly a merger. The compact narrow-line galaxy 53W002 at z = 2.390 has less than or = 30% +/- 10% of its HST V and I flux in the central kiloparsec (due to its weak Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN)). Most of its light (V approximately equal to 23.3) occurs in a symmetric envelope with a regular a(exp 1/4)-like profile of effective radius a approximately equal to 1.1 sec (approximately equal to 12 kpc for H(sub 0) = 50, q(sub 0) = 0.1. Its (HST) V - I color varies at most from approximately 0.3 mag at a approximately equal to 0.2 sec to approximately 1.2 mag at a approximately greater than 0.4 sec, and possibly to approximately greater than 2.2 mag at a approximately greater than 1.2 sec. Together with its I - K color (approximately equal to 2.5 mag for a approximately greater than 1.0 sec-2.0 sec), this is consistent with an aging stellar population approximately 0.3-0.5 Gyr old in the galaxy center (a approx. less than 2 kpc radius), and possibly approximately 0.5-1.0 Gyr old at a approximately greater than 10 kpc radius. While its outer part may thus have started to collapse at z = 2.5-4, its inner part still is aligned with its redshifted Ly(alpha) cloud and its radio axis, possibly caused by star formation associated with the radio jet, or by reflection from its AGN cone.

Windhorst, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The local metallicity-surface brightness relationship in galactic disks

We present the results of a first attempt to employ multiaperture masks to obtain spectrophotometry of H II regions in nearby galaxies. A total of 97 H II regions in six southern spiral galaxies were observed using a combination of multiaperture masks and conventional long-slit spectrophotometry. The oxygen abundances derived from the multiaperture mask observations using the empirical abundance diagnostic R(sub 23) are shown to be consistent with those from long-slit spectra and generally show better reproducibility and object definition. Although the number of objects that can be observed simultaneously with this particular system is still quite limited compared with either imaging spectrophotometry or fiber-fed spectrographs, the spectral resolution offered and high throughput in the blue help make multiaperture spectrophotometry a competitive technique for increasing the sampling of H II regions in both radial distance and luminosity. There is still no clear trend of abundance gradient with either the galaxy's luminosity or its Hubble type, although the extrapolated central abundance does appear to correlate with galaxy luminosity/mass. In order to avoid difficulty in choosing an appropriate normalizing radius, we instead plot the oxygen abundance against the underlying I-band surface brightness at the radial distance of the H II region and confirm the existence of a local metallicity-surface brightness reltaionship within the disks of spiral galaxies. Although the simple closed-boc model of galaxy evolution predicts almost the right form of this relationship, a more realistic multizone model employing expnentially decreasing gas infall provides a more satisfactory fit to the observational data, provided the expected enriched gas return from dying low-mass stars shedding their envelopes at late epochs is properly taken into account. This same model, with a star formation law based upon self-regulating star formation in a three-dimensional disk (Dopita & Ryder 1994), is equally capable of accounting for the observed relationship between recent massive star formation and stellar surface brightness (Ryder & Dopita 1994).

Ryder, Stuart D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

A UNIONS view of the brightest central galaxies of candidate fossil groups

The formation process of fossil groups (FGs) is still under debate, and, because of their relative rarity, large samples of such objects are still missing. The aim of the present paper is to increase the sample of known FGs, to analyse the properties of their brightest group galaxies (BGGs), and to compare them with a control sample of non-FG BGGs. We extracted a sample of 87 FG and 100 non-FG candidates from a large spectroscopic catalogue of haloes and galaxies. For all the objects with data available in UNIONS (initially the Canada France Imaging Survey, CFIS) in the u and r bands, and/or in an extra r-band processed to preserve all low-surface-brightness features (rLSB), we performed a 2D photometric fit of the BGG with GALFIT with one or two Sérsic components. We also analysed how the subtraction of the intracluster light (ICL) contribution modifies the BGG properties. From the SDSS spectra available for the BGGs of 65 FGs and 82 non-FGs, we extracted the properties of their stellar populations with Firefly. To complement our study, and in order to provide a detailed illustration of the possible origin of emission lines in the FG BGGs, involving the presence or absence of an AGN, we investigated the origin of the emission lines in a nearby FG that is dominated by the NGC 4104 galaxy. Morphologically, a single Sérsic profile can fit most objects in the u band, while two Sérsics are needed in the r and rLSB bands, both for FGs and non-FGs. Non-FG BGGs cover a larger range of Sérsic index n. FG BGGs follow the Kormendy relation (mean surface brightness versus effective radius) previously derived for almost 1000 brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), while the majority of non-FGs BGGs are located below this relation, with fainter mean surface brightnesses. This suggests that FG BGGs have evolved similarly to BCGs, and non-FG BGGs have evolved differently from both FG BGGs and BCGs. All the above properties can be strongly modified by the subtraction of the ICL contribution. Based on spectral fitting, the stellar populations of FG and non-FG BGGs do not differ significantly. FG and non-FG BGGs differ from one another in terms of their morphological properties and Kormendy relation, suggesting they have had different formation histories. However, it is not possible to trace differences in their stellar populations or in their large-scale distributions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1980

SAS 3 and related observations of Abell 2029

X-ray and radio observations of the cluster of galaxies show that the central cD galaxy dominates the emissions. Resolution of the X-ray source shows that its extent is significantly greater than that of the profile of surface brightness of the cD galaxy. Dressler's model of most of the cluster mass with very high M/L(v) is similarly extended. The optically dark mass may provide low-energy X-ray emission of the coronae of 5 x 10 to the 16th stars with very high M/L(v), but in the 2-10 keV range the data are consistent with current theoretical predictions for hot intracluster gas.

Johnson, H. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Far-infrared observations of Sagittarius A - The luminosity and dust density in the central parsec of the Galaxy

Far-infrared observations of the central 4 arcmin of the Galaxy with 30-arcsec resolution made simultaneously at 30 microns, 50 microns, and 100 microns are presented. The 30-micron radiation peaks strongly at the position of the galactic center, as determined from the 2-micron surface brightness and the density of ionized gas. The 50- and 100-micron emission is much more extended along the plane and shows two emission lobes, one on either side of the 30-micron peak. At the position of the galactic center itself there is a local minimum in the 100-micron surface brightness. It is concluded that the dust density decreases inward over the central few parsecs of the Galaxy and that the dust density in the central parsec is so low that optical and ultraviolet radiation freely traverses this region. The total luminosity of the sources heating the dust which radiates the far-infrared emission from the central few parsecs is deduced to be between 1 x 10 to the 7th and 3 x 10 to the 7th solar luminosities.

Becklin, E. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

X-ray emission from M87 - A pressure confined cooling atmosphere surrounding a low mass galaxy

A conventional model for the mass of the galaxy M87 (500-billion solar masses) is used to show that a radiative cooling flow agrees well with spectroscopically derived mass flow rates (10 solar masses per year) and surface brightness profiles of X-ray emission around the galaxy. A temperature of 100-million K, and a density of a few x 10 to the -4th/cu cm are obtained without the use of a massive halo. The atmosphere contains 1-trillion solar masses of gas, with a temperature profile increasing outward and gas acting as a reservoir for the flow. The present models indicate that thermal conductivity in M87 is less than 0.002 of its classical value, and does not significantly affect properties of the surrounding gas.

Binney, J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The structure and evolution of X-ray clusters of galaxies

Einstein Observatory observations of the structures of nearby X-ray clusters of galaxies are discussed in relation to dynamic cluster evolution. Examples of Virgo-type clusters, in which cool and hot gas associated with cluster members are presented and variations in surface brightness profile and the location of the cluster center are used to classify the observed clusters. The types of clusters observed are interpreted in terms of dynamic cluster evolution, with Virgo-type clusters with broad, highly clumped emission and low velocity dispersion representing early evolutionary stages, clusters containing a cD galaxy formed as the cluster evolves, and clusters with dominant galaxies and Coma-type clusters representing an equilibrium stage. X-ray emission from poor clusters of galaxies is also considered, and similarities between the presumably collisionally formed cD galaxies in rich and poor clusters are noted. Finally, observations of distant clusters are discussed, and it is noted that their analysis will lead to a better determination of the evolutionary sequence.

Jones, C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The X-ray features of a single-lobed radio galaxy in Abell 754

New radio, optical and X-ray observations of a galaxy with one-sided radio structure located 2.2 Mpc from the center of Abell 754 are reported. From the optical spectra, the cluster membership of the galaxy is confirmed and it is noted that no emission lines are found. An X-ray source with Lx of approximately 2 x 10 to the 43rd erg/s (0.5-3.0 keV) is located in the nucleus (diameter, less than 4 kpc). There is also a weak X-ray extension to the southeast. The central radio source has a luminosity of about 10 to the 41st ergs/s with a diameter of less than 1.5 kpc. A straight radio feature of low surface brightness (a 'jet' or 'tail') extends 170 kpc to the southeast, ending in a diffuse lobe which is oriented in PA of about 45 deg. Consideration is given to pressure balance between the various radio components and the cluster gas, and also to four processes for the origin of the nuclear X-ray emission. Alternative interpretations of the data are given for a classical tailed radio galaxy and for a truly one-sided radio source.

Harris, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Hubble Space Telescope imaging of a radio-quiet galaxy at redshift z = 3.4

We have observed with the Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) a radio-quiet Ly alpha-emitting galaxy at redshift z = 3.428 (G2 below). The images probe the rest-frame UV light around 1250 A with an angular resolution of approx. = 0.1 sec, corresponding to 1.4 h(exp -1, sub 50) kpc at redshift z = 3.4 (in this Letter we use q(sub 0) = 0 and H(sub 0) = 50 h(exp -1, sub 50) km/s/Mpc). The light profile of the central approx. 10h(exp -1, sub 50) kpc region is well fitted by an r(exp 1/4) law with r(sub e) approx. = 1.3 h(exp -1, sub 50) kpc, suggesting a dynamically relaxed state. The outer regions are characterized by the presence of substructures, such as an elongated formation and low surface brightness nebulosities. The isophotal analysis shows no evidence of an active galactic nuclei (AGN)-like unresolved source in the center. The structural properties of G2 are consistent with a dynamically hot stellar system observed during an early phase of star formation, very likely the progenitor of an elliptical or the bulge of a spiral galaxy.

Giavalisco, Mauro↗
NASA NTRS1981

The Ophiuchus cluster - A bright X-ray cluster of galaxies at low galactic latitude

The discovery of an extended X-ray source identified with a cluster of galaxies at low galactic latitude is reported. The source, designated the Ophiuchus cluster, was detected near 4U 1708-23 with the HEAO 1 Scanning Modulation Collimator, and identified with the cluster on the basis of extended X-ray size and positional coincidence on the ESO/SRC (J) plate of the region. An X-ray flux density in the region 2-10 keV of approximately 25 microJ was measured, along with an X-ray luminosity of 1.6 x 10 to the 45th ergs/sec and an X-ray core radius of approximately 4 arcmin (0.2 Mpc) for an assumed isothermal sphere surface brightness distribution. The X-ray spectrum in the range 2-10 keV obtained with the HEAO 1 A-2 instrument is well fit by a thermal bremsstrahlung model with kT = 8 keV and a 6.7-keV iron line of equivalent width 450 eV. The steep-spectrum radio source MSH 17-203 also appears to be associated with the cluster, which is the closest and brightest representative of the class of X-ray clusters with a dominant central galaxy.

Johnston, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Limits on coronal material in normal galaxies

Measurements of the X-ray surface brightness of a face on disk galaxy M101, have previously been used to place upper limits on the power radiated by a hot corona. Such analysis contrains the effective density of the disk; either it must be so low that the remnants drive a fast hot wind (low radiated power) or so high that the remnant temperature at overlap is low (low X-ray power). These X-ray measurements are here used to constrain the properties of the population of supernova remnants evolving in the disk. This adds a further constraint since young remnants evolving in higher density radiate more of their energy in X-rays, whether or not they eventually overlap to generate a hot corona. The strength of this second limit depends strongly on the density history of the remnants and on the assumed supernova rate. For evaporative evolution the analysis rules out McKee and Ostriker ISM model in particular and evaporative evolution in general unless the supernova rate is at least several times lower than current expectations. For standard Sedov evolutions, the density limit marginally admits evolution in 0.2 cu m, a popular alternative to the McKee and Ostriker model.

Mccammon, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Limits on supernova rates and interstellar densities from X-ray observations of M101

Measurements of the X-ray surface brightness of a face-on disk galaxy M101 have previously been used to place upper limits on the power radiated by a hot corona. Such analysis constrains the effective density of the disk; either it must be so low that the remnants drive a fast hot wind (low radiated power), or so high that the remnant temperature at overlap is low (low X-ray power). These X-ray measurements are here used to constrain the properties of the population of supernova remnants evolving in the disk. This adds a further constraint since young remnants evolving in higher density radiate more of their energy in X-rays, whether or not they eventually overlap to generate a hot corona. The strength of this second limit depends strongly on the density history of the remnants (e.g., evaporative vs. nonevaporative evolution) and on the assumed supernova rate. For evaporative evolution the analysis rules out the McKee (1977) and Ostriker (1977) interstellar medium model in particular and evaporative evolution in general unless the supernova rate is at least several times lower than current expectations. For standard Sedov evolutions, the density limit marginally admits 0.2/cu cm, a popular alternative to the McKee and Ostriker model.

Cox, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS2012

The XMM-Newton Survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud

Context. Although numerous archival XMM-Newton observations existed towards the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) before 2009, only a fraction of the whole galaxy had been covered. Aims. Between May 2009 and March 2010, we carried out an XMM-Newton survey of the SMC, to ensure a complete coverage of both its bar and wing. Thirty-three observations of 30 different fields with a total exposure of about one Ms filled the previously missing parts. Methods. We systematically processed all available SMC data from the European Photon Imaging Camera. After rejecting observations with very high background, we included 53 archival and the 33 survey observations. We produced images in five different energy bands. We applied astrometric boresight corrections using secure identifications of X-ray sources and combined all the images to produce a mosaic covering the main body of the SMC. Results. We present an overview of the XMM-Newton observations, describe their analysis, and summarize our first results, which will be presented in detail in follow-up papers. Here, we mainly focus on extended X-ray sources, such as supernova remnants (SNRs) and clusters of galaxies, that are seen in our X-ray images. Conclusions. Our XMM-Newton survey represents the deepest complete survey of the SMC in the 0.15−12.0 keV X-ray band. We propose three new SNRs that have low surface brightnesses of a few 10−14 erg cm−2 s−1 arcmin−2 and large extents. In addition, several known remnants appear larger than previously measured at either X-rays or other wavelengths extending the size distribution of SMC SNRs to larger values.

global↗
NASA NTRS1989

Low-temperature transonic cooling flows in galaxy clusters

Calculations are presented which demonstrate that cooling flow models with large sonic radii may be consistent with observed cluster gas properties. It is found that plausible cluster parameters and cooling flow mass accretion rates can produce sonic radii of 10-20 kpc for sonic point temperatures of 1-3 x 10 to the 6th K. The numerical calculations match these cooling flows to hydrostatic atmosphere solutions for the cluster gas beyond the cooling flow region. The cooling flows produce no appreciable 'holes' in the surface brightness toward the cluster center, and the model can be made to match the observed X-ray surface brightness of three clusters in which cooling flows had been believed to be absent. It is suggested that clusters with low velocity dispersion may be the natural location for such 'cool' cooling flows, and fits of these models to the X-ray surface brightness profiles for three clusters are presented.

Sulkanen, Martin E.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Comparing Galaxy Morphology at Ultraviolet and Optical Wavelengths

We have undertaken an imaging survey of 34 nearby galaxies in far-ultraviolet (FUV, - 1500A) and optical (UBVRI) passbands to characterize galaxy morphology as a function of wavelength. This sample, which includes a range of classical Hubble types from elliptical to irregular with emphasis on spirals at low inclination angle, provides a valuable database for comparison with images of high-z galaxies whose FUV light is redshifted into the optical and, near-infrared bands. Ultraviolet data are from the UIT Astro-2 mission. We present images and surface brightness profiles for each galaxy, and we discuss the wavelength-dependence of morphology for different Hubble types in the context of understanding high-z objects. In general, the dominance of young stars in the FUV produces the patchy appearance of a morphological type later than that inferred from optical images. Prominent rings and circumnuclear star formation regions are clearly evident in FUV images of spirals, while bulges, bars, and old, red stellar disks are faint to invisible at these short wavelengths. However, the magnitude of the change in apparent morphology ranges from dramatic in early-type spirals with prominent optical bulges to slight in late-type spirals and irregulars, in which young stars dominate both the UV and optical emission. Starburst galaxies with centrally concentrated, symmetric bursts display an apparent "E/SO" structure in the FUV, while starbursts associated with rings or mergers produce a peculiar morphology. We briefly discuss the inadequacy of the optically-defined Hubble sequence to describe FUV galaxy images and estimate morphological k-corrections, and we suggest some directions for future research with this dataset.

Stecher, Theodore↗