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NASA NTRS1993

Investigations on the 1.7 micron residual absorption feature in the vegetation reflection spectrum

The detection and interpretation of the weak absorption features associated with the biochemical components of vegetation is of great potential interest to a variety of applications ranging from classification to global change studies. This recent subject is also challenging because the spectral signature of the biochemicals is only detectable as a small distortion of the infrared spectrum which is mainly governed by water. Furthermore, the interpretation is complicated by complexity of the molecules (lignin, cellulose, starch, proteins) which contain a large number of different and common chemical bonds. In this paper, we present investigations on the absorption feature centered at 1.7 micron; these were conducted both on AVIRIS data and laboratory reflectance spectra of leaves.

Verdebout, J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Determination of the in-flight spectral calibration of AVIRIS using atmospheric absorption features

Spectral calibration of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) as data are acquired in flight is essential to quantitative analysis of the measured upwelling spectral radiance. In each spectrum measured by AVIRIS in flight, there are numerous atmospheric gas absorption bands that drive this requirement for accurate spectral calibration. If the surface and atmospheric properties are measured independently, these atmospheric absorption bands may be used to deduce the in-flight spectral calibration of an imaging spectrometer. Both the surface and atmospheric characteristics were measured for a calibration target during an in-flight calibration experiment held at Lunar Lake, Nevada on April 5, 1994. This paper uses upwelling spectral radiance predicted for the calibration target with the MODTRAN radiative transfer code to validate the spectral calibration of AVIRIS in flight.

Green, Robert O.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Ultraviolet interstellar absorption lines in the LMC: Searching for hidden SNRs

Strong x-ray emission detected in Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) superbubbles has been explained as the result of interior supernova remnants (SNRs) hitting the dense superbubble shell. Such SNRs cannot be found using conventional criteria. We thus investigate the possibility of using the interstellar absorption properties in the ultraviolet (UV) as a diagnostic of hidden SNR shocks. The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) archives provide the database for this pilot study. They contain high-dispersion spectra of several stars in x-ray bright superbubbles. To distinguish the effects of SNR shocks from those of local stellar winds and a global hot halo around the LMC, we included control objects in different environments. We find that almost all interstellar absorption properties can be explained by the interstellar environment associated with the objects. Summarizing the two most important results of this study: (1) a large velocity shift between the high-ionization species (C IV and Si IV) and the low-ionization species (S II, Si II, and C II*) is a diagnostic of hidden SNR shocks; however, the absence of a velocity shift does not preclude the existence of SNR shocks; (2) there is no evidence that the LMC is uniformly surrounded by hot gas; hot gas is preferentially found associated with large interstellar structures like superbubbles and supergiant shells, which may extend to large distances from the plane.

Chu, You-Hua↗
NASA NTRS1994

An IUE survey of interstellar H I Ly alpha absorption. 2: Interpretations

We present an analysis of interstellar neutral hydrogen column densities obtained from archival Ly alpha absorption line data toward the complete sample of B2 and hotter stars observed at high spectral resolution with the IUE satellite. The full sample includes 554 stars and more than doubles the number of lines of sight previously observed. Many of the B2 and B1.5 stars exhibit contamination from stellar Ly alpha absorption, and were excluded from the subsequent analysis. The final working sample includes 393 stars. We present statistical averages for a number of quantities derived for the sample. The stars range in distance from 0.12 to 11 kpc with an average distance of 2.1 kpc. Values for average sight-line density range from 0.017 to 8.62 atoms cm(exp -3), with an overall average of 0.23 atoms cm(exp -3). Neutral hydrogen and dust are well correlated, with N(H I)/E(B - V) = 4.93 x 10(exp 21) cm(exp -2) mag(exp -1), and N(H I)/E(Bump) = 2.17 x 10(exp 21) cm(exp -2) mag(exp -1). There is an increase in the H I to dust ratios for the densest sight lines. Evidently, the H I to dust ratios in dense clouds are higher than in the lower density medium between the clouds and in interarm directions. The effect is probably an indication of dust modification in the dense clouds. The H I to dust ratios are approx. 17% smaller for the sight lines to O stars compared to the ratios found toward B stars. We have identified sight lines with anomalously large and small values of N(H I)/E(B - V) and H(H I)/E(Bump). Some of these sight lines are well-known examples of peculiar extinction (i.e., HD 147933 and HD 37061 (NU Ori)). Others are less well known and may provide important new examples of regions with highly modified dust. The number of stars with anomalously low H I to dust ratios is disproportionately larger than the number of stars with anomalously high H I to dust ratios. The distribution of the gas away form the Galactic plane for the sample of objects is complex. For the subset of 375 stars whose lines of sight have a statistically low probablility of intersecting a large cloud, the distribution may be roughly approximated by an exponential density distribution, with a midplane density of 0.366 atoms cm(exp -3), a scale height of 195 pc, and a random logarithmic scattering parameter sigma (sub p) of 0.159 dex. For the same sample of stars, interstellar dust is found to be confined closer to the plane than the H I, with (E(B - V)/r)(sub 0) = 0.257 mag kpc(exp -1), scale height h = 152 pc, and sigma(sub p) = 0.263 dex. The dust distribution is more inhomogeneous than the gas distribution. The observed distribution of H I away from the Galactic plane can also be fitted with a two-component exponential model including the effects of patchiness. Unfortunately, the foreground contamination produced by the cloudy and more confined component of H I makes it difficult to estimate the scale height of the extended component without invoking an independent estimate of its midplane density. Assuming n(sub 2)(0) = 0.16 cm(exp -3) from the Copernicus satellite H I/H(sub 2) survey, we obtain n(sub 1)(0) = 0.247 cm(exp -3), h(sub 1) = 73 PC, and h(sub 2) + 357 pc.

Diplas, Athanassios↗
NASA NTRS1994

Evidence for X-ray flux and spectral modulation by absorption in NGC 6814. 1: The nature of the most rapid variability

The Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 6814 was observed using the Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite Ginga in 1990 April and October. The rapid variability characteristically associated with this source was reconfirmed. Specifically, three dips were found in the April observation in which the flux dropped to nearly zero in approximately 300 s. The doubling timescale was approximately 50 s. A similar but separated drop and rise in flux was observed in the October data, different in that the flux did not decrease completely to zero. A detailed analysis of the data around the structures of most rapid variability found spectral variability and lags in flux between different energy bands. Lags were on the order of a few to tens of seconds for the April data, and on the order of tens to a couple of hundred seconds for the October data. The sense of the lags was such that during flux decreases the hard flux lagged, while during flux increases the soft flux lagged. Associated significant apparent hardening of the spectrum at low flux was observed in the April data. Apparent hardening of the spectrum also occurred in the October flux decrease, to a photon index of GAMMA = 0.85; however, the spectrum softened at lowest flux to the index of the predecrease level, GAMMA = 1.54. In the April dips, the line flux was found to decrease significantly. A marginal decrease in line flux was also observed in the October data. The variability of the line flux reconfirmed the result of Kunieda et al. (1990), who found that the line production region must be within approximately 300 light-seconds from the source. To explain the observational results, a variable-absorption model was proposed, in which the column density was assumed to vary as a function of time. Other physical processes, including intrinsic spectral changes and warm absorber models, which could account for the fastest variability, could be ruled out by the results of the data analysis. A primary constraint found for geometrical models is that the material which is doing the absorption must have relatively low ionization (xi less than 100). This result leads to severe constraints on a general orbiting cloud model, requiring high densities (n approximately 10(exp 16)/cu cm) and sheetlike geometry.

Leighly, Karen↗
NASA NTRS1994

Mg II absorption in a sample of 56 steep-spectrum quasars

We present an analysis of the statistical properties of Mg II absorbers found in the spectra of 56 intrinsically faint, steep-spectrum radio quasars. We observe for the first time a significant excess of associated Mg II absorbers over the number expected from cosmologically distributed absorbers. This result is in contrast to previous Mg II surveys in which the QSOs were optically selected. This distinction is similar to the result for associated C IV absorbers, in which intrinsically faint, steep-spectrum quasars show excess associated absorption and intrinsically bright QSOs (both radio-loud and radio-quiet) do not show an excess. From our spectra a statistically complete list of absorption lines is derived, and we find 29 Mg II absorbers, 18 of which have not been previously reported. We also determine several characteristics of the quasar emission lines in our spectra. The Mg II absorber distribution as a function of redshift and equivalent width is calculated both for our sample alone and from our sample combined with spectra from other surveys. For the redshift distribution n(z) = n(1 + z)(exp gamma), we obtain, using the combined sample, the values gamma = 1.11 +/- 0.46 for W(min) = 0.6 A and gamma = 2.47 +/- 0.68 for W(min) = 1.0 A. We find that the distribution fo strong absorbers is inconsistent with no evolution at a confindence level between 2.2 and 2.9 sigma, depending on the deceleration parameter q(sub 0). The deviation from no evolution is similar to what had been previously reported.

Aldcroft, Thomas L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

An IUE survey of interstellar H I Ly alpha absorption. 1: Column densities

We measure Galactic interstellar neutral hydrogen column densities by analyzing archival interstellar Ly alpha absorption line data toward 554 B2 and hotter stars observed at high resolution with the IUE satellite. This study more than doubles the number of lines of sight with measures of N(H I) based on Ly alpha. We have included the scattered light background correction algorithm of Bianchi and Bohlin in our data reduction. We use the correlation between the Balmer discontinuity (c sub 1) index and the stellar Ly alpha absorption in order to assess the effects of stellar Ly alpha contamination. Approximately 40% of the B stars with measured (c sub 1) index, exhibit serious stellar Ly alpha contamination. One table contains the derived values of the interstellar N(H I) for 393 stars with at most small amounts of stellar contamination. Another lists the observed values of total N(H I) for 161 stars with suspected stellar Ly alpha contamination and/or uncertain stellar parameters.

Diplas, Athanassios↗
NASA NTRS1995

The soft gamma-ray spectrum of A0535+26: Detection of an absorption feature at 110 keV by OSSE

We present soft gamma-ray observations by the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) of the transient X-ray binary pulsar A0535+26. The observations were made 1994 February 8-17, immediately prior to the peak of a giant outburst. The phase averaged spectrum is complex and cannot be described by a single-component model. We find that structure in the spectrum above 100 keV can best be modeled by an absorption feature near 110 keV, which we interepret as the signature of cyclotron resonant scattering. Because of OSSE's 45 keV threshold, we are unable to make a definitive statement on the presence of a 55 keV absorption line; however, we can conclude that if this line does exist, it must have a smaller optical depth than the line at 110 keV. A first harmonic (=fundamental) cyclotron resonance at 110 keV corresponds to a magnetic field strength at the surface of the neutron star of approximately 1 x 10(exp 13) G (approximately 5 x 10(exp 12) G if the first harmonic is at 55 keV).

Grove, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Ly(alpha) emission and absorption features in the spectra of galaxies

The combined effects of interstellar dust absorption and of scattering by hydrogen atoms may give rise to a Ly(alpha) spectral feature of negative equivalent width, as has been observed in several star-forming galaxies. By considering the transfer of Ly(alpha) line radiation and of neighboring stellar continuum radiation within a dusty galaxy, we find that dust absorption has three effects: (1) it reduces the apparent ultraviolet continuum luminosity at all wavelengths; (2) it preferentially decreases the apparent Ly(alpha) line luminosity from H II regions; and (3) it creates an 'attenuation feature' in the continuum spectrum -- centered at the Ly(alpha) rest frequency -- which occurs because the attenuation of the stellar continuum radiation increases as the Ly(alpha) rest frequency is approached, due to the effects of scattering by hydrogen atoms. For plausible values of the galactic dust content and of the disk thickness, these effects can lead to a negative net Ly(alpha) equivalent width, even for galaxies in which the unattenuated spectrum would show a strong Ly(alpha) emission line.

Chen, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

An iron absorption model of gamma-ray burst spectra

Most gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) exhibit deficits of X-rays below approximately 200 keV. Here we consider a spectral model in which the burst source is shielded by an optically thick layer of circumburster material (CBM) rich in iron-group elements whose photoelectric absorption opacity exceeds the Thomson opacity below approximately 120 keV. For power-law distributions of absorption depths along the lines of sight the absorbed spectrum can indeed mimic the typial GRB spectrum. This model predicts that (a) the spectrum should evolve monotonically from hard to soft during each energy release, which is observed in most bursts, especially in fast rise exponential decay bursts; (b) Fe spectral features near 7 keV may be present in some bursts; and (c) the ratio of burst distances to the CBM and to Earth should be approximately 10(exp -11) if the spectral evolution is purely due to Fe stripping by the photons.

Liang, Edison P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The role of radiative acceleration in outflows from broad absorption line QSOs. 1: Comparison with O star winds

We investigate the role of radiation pressure in accelerating the broad absorption line (BAL) outflows in QSOs by comparing their properties with those of radiatively driven O star winds. We find that, owing to their lower column densities and higher velocity spreads, BAL outflows have only a few tens of strong resonance lines that are dynamically important, as compared with 10(exp 3) - 10(exp 4) lines in O star winds. We show that the combined radiative force (the 'force multiplier') declines more rapidly as a function of column density for BAL outflows than for O star winds. This is mainly attributed to the absence of lines from excited states in the BAL region. The absorbing gas in BAL outflows must have a small filling factor in order for radiative acceleration to be important dynamically. This allows the absorbing material to remain at a high enough density to maintain the ion species necessary for efficient radiative acceleration as well (as those responsible for the observed absorption), without the average flow density becoming so large that the absorbing matter cannot be accelerated by an increment larger than its own sound speed. The latter condition is necessary if the outflow is to tap a large portion of the incident photon momentum. Once a small filling factor is assumed, radiative acceleration can be more efficient in BAL outflows than in O stars. We show that terminal velocities of a few times 10(exp 4) km/sec can be expected, provided that the absorbing matter does not have to drag with it a much heavier substrate.

Arav, Nahum↗
NASA NTRS1995

The proximity profile of intergalactic He II resonance absorption toward high-redshift QSOs

The Gunn-Peterson effect predicts that an absorption trough should be associated with any resonance line arising in the intergalactic medium (IGM), extending blueward of the line in the QSO's rest frame. We show that such an absorption trough will not generally have a sharp edge at the QSO's redshift but should develop gradually toward shorter wavelengths. This proximity profile of the Gunn-Peterson trough arises because diffuse intergalactic gas in the vicinity of the QSO is more highly ionized than the general IGM. We consider the case of a uniform IGM in approximate photoionization equilibrium with a metagalactic UV background and investigate the proximity profile of He II lambda 304, which might be observable in QSOs with Z(sub Q) approximately 3. Assuming the QSO continuum extends beyond the He II ionization edge, the proximity profile has a characteristic width of delta z(sub p) = delta lambda/304 is approximately 0.1 f is the QSO Lyman limit luminosity in units of 10(exp 31) ergs/s/Hz averaged over the past approximately 10(exp 7) yr, omega(sub I) is the IGM density near (is less than or equal to 10 Mpc) the QSO, omega(sub b) is the normalized baryon density predicted by standard big band necleosynthesis, and f is a factor of order unity which depends weakly on several other factors. Application of this result to the reported detection of the He II Gunn-Peterson effect in Q0302-003 (Jakobsen et al. 1994) suggests that omega(sub I) is approximately equal to omega(sub b), some three orders of magnitude larger than the minimum density that may be inferred from application of the ordinary Gunn-Peterson effect to this QSO. Future observations of the He II proximity profile at higher resolution and signal-to-noise ratio in serveral ASOs should provide the means to measure the IGM density accurately.

Zheng, Wei↗
NASA NTRS1995

Ozone absorption spectroscopy in search of low-lying electronic states

A spectrometer capable of detecting ozone absorption features 9 orders of magnitude weaker than the Hartley band has been employed to investigate the molecule's near-infrared absorption spectrum. At this sensitivity a wealth of information on the low-lying electronically excited states often believed to play a role in atmospheric chemistry is available in the form of vibrational and rotational structure. We have analyzed these spectra using a combination of digital filtering and isotope substitution and find evidence for three electronically excited states below 1.5 eV. The lowest of these states is metastable, bound by approximately 0.1 eV and probably the (3)A2 rather than the (3)B2 state. Its adiabatic electronic energy is 1.24 +/- 0.01 eV, slightly above the dissociation energy of the ground state. Two higher states, at 1.29 +/- 0.03 and 1.48 +/- 0.03 eV are identified as the (3)B2 and the (3)B1, respectively. Combined with other recent theoretical and experimental data on the low-lying electronic states of ozone, these results imply that these are, in fact, the lowest three excited states; that is, there are no electronically excited states of ozone lying below the energy of O(3P) + O2((3)Sigma(-), v = 0). Some of the implications for atmospheric chemistry are considered.

Anderson, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

New narrow infrared absorption features in the spectrum of Io between 3600 and 3100 cm (2.8-3.2 micrometers)

We report the discovery of a series of infrared absorption bands between 3600 and 3100/cm (2.8-3.2 micrometers) in the spectrum of Io. Individual narrow bands are detected at 3553, 3514.5, 3438, 3423, 3411.5, and 3401/cm (2.815, 2.845, 2.909, 2.921, 2.931, and 2.940 micrometers, respectively). The positions and relative strengths of these bands, and the difference of their absolute strengths between the leading and trailing faces of Io, indicate that they are due to SO2. The band at 3438/cm (2.909 micrometers) could potentially have a contribution from an additional molecular species. The existence of these bands in the spectrum of Io indicates that a substantial fraction of the SO2 on Io must reside in transparent ices having relatively large crystal sizes. The decrease in the continuum observed at the high frequency ends of the spectra is probably due to the low frequency side of the recently detected, strong 3590/cm (2.79 micrometer) feature. This band is likely due to the combination of a moderately strong SO2 band and an additional absorption from another molecular species, perhaps H2O isolated in SO2 at low concentrations. A broad (FWHM approximately = 40-60/cm), weak band is seen near 3160/cm (3.16 micrometers) and is consistent with the presence of small quantities of H2O isolated in SO2-rich ices. There is no evidence in the spectra for the presence of H2O vapor on Io. Thus, the spectra presented here neither provide unequivocal evidence for the presence of H2O on Io nor preclude it at the low concentrations suggested by past studies.

Sandford, Scott A.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Measuring stellar kinematics in galaxies with the near-infrared (2-0) (12) CO absorption bandhead

The shape and strength of the near-infrared (2-0) (12)CO absorption bandhead provide astronomers with a unique tool for measuring stellar kinematics in galaxies with strong dust obscuration. However, the asymmetric shape of the bandhead introduces complexities when extracting the kinematics from an observed spectrum. This paper discusses the benefits, drawbacks, and observational constraints associated with using this bandhead to measure kinematics in galaxies, focusing on applications in high spectral-resolution data. Additionally, we discuss techniques found useful for extracting the kinematics from the absorption feature, and outline our success with two different methods.

Gaffney, Niall I.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Far-ultraviolet absorption spectra of quasars: How to find missing hot gas and metals

We show that some high-redshift QSO absorption systems that reveal only the H I Lyman series lines at wavelengths visible from the ground maybe a new class of ultra-high-ionization metal line systems, with metal lines in the far-UV region which is now being explored with satellites. At high temperatures or in intense radiation fields metal systems will not show the usual C IV absorption, and O VI will become the most prominent metal absorber. At still higher ionization, O IV also becomes weak and the strongest metal lines are from Ne VIII, Mg X and Si XII, which have doublets in the rangs 500-800 A. Hence very high ionization metal systems will not show metal lines in existing spectra. Recent X-ray observations show that galaxy halos contain hot gas, so we predict that far-UV spectra of QSOs will also show this gas.

Verner, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Ultraviolet spectra of quenched carbonaceous composite derivatives: Comparison to the '217 nanometer' interstellar absorption feature

QCCs (quenched carbonaceous composite) are amorphus carbonaceous material formed from a hydrocarbon plasma. We present the UV-visible spectra of 'filmy QCC; (obtained outside of the beam ejected from the hydrocarbon plasma) and 'dark QCC' (obtained very near to the beam) for comparison to the stellar extinction curve. When filmy QCC is heated to 500-700 C (thermally altered), the wavelength of the absorption maximum increases form 204 nm to 220-222 nm. The dark QCC has an absorption maximum at 217-222 nm. In addition, the thermally altered filmy QCC has a slope change at about 500 nm which resmbles that in the interstellar extinction curve. The resemblance of the extinction curve of the QCCs to that of the interstellar medium suggests that QCC derivatives may be representative of the type of interstellar material that produces the 217 nm interstellar medium feature. The peak extinction of the dark QCC is higher than the average interstellar extinction curve while that of the thermally altered filmy QCC is lower, so that a mixture of dark and thermally altered filmy QCC can match the peak extinction observed in the interstellar medium. It is shown from electron micrographs that most of the thermally altered flimy QCC is in the form of small grainy structure less than 4 nm in diameter. This shows that the structure unit causing the 217-222 nm feature in QCC is very small.

Sakata, Akira↗
NASA NTRS1995

A Faraday rotation search for magnetic fields in quasar damped Ly alpha absorption systems

We present the results of a Faraday rotation survey of 61 radio-bright QSOs conducted at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Very Large Array (VLA). The Galactic contribution to the Faraday rotation is estimated and subtracted to determine the extragalactic rotation measure (RRM) for each source. Eleven of these QSOs are known to exhibit damped Ly alpha absorption. The rate of incidence of significant Faraday rotation of these 11 sources is compared to the remaining 50 and is found to be higher at the 99.8% confidence level. However, as this is based upon only two detections of Faraday rotation in the damped Ly alpha sample, the result is only tentative. If the two detections in the damped Ly alpha sample are dug to the absorbing systems, then the inferred rotation measure induced by these systems is roughly 250 rad/sq m. The two detections were for the two lowest redshift absorbers in the sample. We find that a rotation measure of 250 rad/sq m would have gone undetected for any other absorber in the damped Ly alpha sample due to the 1/(1 + 2) squared dilution of the observed RRM with redshift. Thus the data are consistent with, but do not prove, the hypothesis that Faraday rotation is a generic property of damped Ly alpha absorbers. We do not confirm the suggestion that the amplitude of RRMs increases with redshift. Rather, the data are consistent with no redshift evolution. We find that the uncertainty in the estimation of the Galactic rotation measure (GRM) is a more serious problem than previously realized for extra-galactic Faraday rotation studies of QSO absorbers. A careful analysis of current methods for estimating GRM indicate that it can be determined to an accuracy of about 15 - 20 rad/sq m. Previous studies underestimated this uncertainty by more than a factor of 2. Due to this uncertainty, rotation measures such as we suspect are associated with damped Ly alpha absorption systems can only be detected at redshifts less than z approximately equal 1.

Oren, Abraham L.↗