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NASA NTRS1983

A survey of ultraviolet interstellar absorption lines

A telescope-spectrometer on the Copernicus spacecraft made possible the measurement of many ultraviolet absorption lines produced by the interstellar gas. The present survey provides data on ultraviolet absorption lines in the spectra of 88 early-type stars. The stars observed are divided into four classes, including reddened stars, unreddened bright stars, moderately reddened bright stars, and unreddened and moderately reddened faint stars. Data are presented for equivalent width, W, radial velocity V, and rms line width, D, taking into account some 10 to 20 lines of N I, O I, Si II, P II, S II, Cl I, Cl II, Mn II, Fe II, Ni II, Cu II, and H2. The data are based on multiple scans for each line. Attention is given to details of observations, the data reduction procedure, and the computation of equivalent width, mean velocity, and velocity dispersion.

Bohlin, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A laboratory study of the infrared spectra of interstellar ices

The 3 micron 'ice' band observed in absorption and polarization and other absorption features in interstellar infrared spectra are studied in the laboratory in low temperature (10-130 K) solid mixtures of H2O and other molecules. General empirical rules are derived which relate the shape and relative intensity of the H2O infrared absorptions to thermal history, degree of H2O dilution and hydrogen bonding capacity of the dilutant. Observations of specific features anticipated in low noise medium resolution spectra will yield potentially valuable information on the degree of H2O dilution, the nature of the dilutant and the thermal history of the absorbing solid mixture. Under well defined conditions the peak of the hitherto unobserved librational '12 micron' H2O absorption is shifted to outside the current infrared observation window beyond 13.5 microns.

Hagen, W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Peculiar ultraviolet interstellar extinction

In connection with investigations of the physical characteristics of interstellar dust, a study of objects with peculiar extinction might provide new insights about the composition, size distribution, formation, and destruction of the particulate matter. Meyer and Savage (1981) have found that the dust toward many stars exhibits peculiar UV extinction. The present investigation is concerned with International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectrophotometric measurements for a sample of stars judged by Meyer and Savage to have highly anomalous UV extinction as inferred from the broad-band Astronomical Netherlands Satellite (ANS) data. The reported IUE measurements provide the opportunity to determine if the ANS photometry measurements of Meyer and Savage are anomalous because of peculiar extinction.

Massa, D.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Interstellar carbon in meteorites

The Murchison and Allende chondrites contain up to 5 parts per million carbon that is enriched in carbon-13 by up to +1100 per mil (the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-13 is approximately 42, compared to 88 to 93 for terrestrial carbon). This 'heavy' carbon is associated with neon-22 and with anomalous krypton and xenon showing the signature of the s-process (neutron capture on a slow time scale). It apparently represents interstellar grains ejected from late-type stars. A second anomalous xenon component ('CCFXe') is associated with a distinctive, light carbon (depleted in carbon-13 by 38 per mil), which, however, falls within the terrestrial range and hence may be of either local or exotic origin.

Swart, P. K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Interstellar C2 molecules in a Taurus dark cloud

Five relatively strong interstellar absorption lines of C2 in the (2-0) Phillips band near 8670 A have been detected toward the heavily reddened, late B star HD 29647, which lies behind a substantial part of one of the darkest regions of the nearest molecular cloud complex, the dark clouds of Taurus. Stringent upper limits on the C2 absorption toward two lightly reddened stars, Nu Cyg and Omicron And, are also reported. The observations yield a column density of about 9 x 10 to the 13th/sq cm, comparable to those of widely distributed molecules like CH and H2CO. Theoretical treatment of the data yields a kinetic temperature of 14 K and a mean density of less than about 1000/cu cm. A narrow, anomalously strong, stellar Mn II line yields a projected rotational velocity of less than about 7 km/s and is explained by previous identifications of the star as Hg-Mn peculiar.

Hobbs, L. M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The interplanetary hydrogen and helium glow and the inferred interstellar gas properties

Observations of the interplanetary hydrogen and helium glow have been obtained by a number of spacecraft and rocket experiments during the past fifteen years. Important results have been established on the temperature, density, velocity, spatial dependence, and hydrogen to helium ratio. However, only four spacecraft launched to date are investigating the outer solar system and of these four the Pioneer 10 spacecraft is the farthest out at 28 A.U. Observations from this spacecraft at great distances have permitted an improved analysis of the effects which are only evident at large distances from the Sun. Perhaps the most significant result in this regard is the clear evidence of the importance of multiple scattering of solar Ly-alpha; an effect which has not been observed in earlier work. Ignoring this effect can lead to a gross overestimate of the local galactic glow. Current best estimates of the galactic glow and the local interstellar wind parameters obtained by the Pioneer 10 photometer at great distances are presented, in addition to complementary experimental observations of particular interest.

Judge, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The composition of interstellar grain mantles

The molecular composition of interstellar grain mantles was calculated employing gas phase and grain surface reactions. The calculated mixtures consist mainly of H2O, H2CO, N2, CO, O2, CO2, H2O2, NH3, and their deuterated counterparts in varying ratios. The exact compositions depend strongly on the physical conditions in the gas phase. The calculated mixtures were compared to the observations by using laboratory spectra of grain mantle analogs. The two agree reasonably except for the strength of the 6.8 micron band.

Tielens, Alexander G. G. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Pioneer 10 and Voyager observations of the interstellar medium in scattered emission of the He584 A and H Lya 1216 A lines

The combination of Pioneer photometric and Voyager spectrometric observations of EUV interstellar-interplanetary emissions in the region beyond 5 A was applied to a determination of atomic hydrogen and helium densities. These density estimates obtained from direct measurement of scattered radiation depend on absolute calibration of the instruments in the same way as other earlier determinations based on the same method. However, the spacecraft data were combined with daily full sun averages of the H Lyman 1216 A line obtained by the Solar Mesospheric Explorer satellite to obtain a measure of atomic hydrogen density independent of instrument absolute calibration. The method depends on observations of long and short term temporal variability of the solar line over a one year period, and the fact that the ISM is optically thick. The density estimates from preliminary work on these observations are H = 0.12 cu cm and H = .016 cu cm, giving a density ratio close to the cosmic abundance value in contrast to some earlier results indicating a depletion of atomic hydrogen. Estimates were obtained of galactic background emissions in the signals of both spacecraft.

Shemansky, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Heating of the interstellar medium by the solar wind

The heating of inflowing interstellar gas by the solar wind is calculated. The experimental differential cross sections have been used for calculating electron-H(He) and proton-H(He) elastic scattering rate coefficients. The solar wind is assumed to be a two-component (protons and electrons), steady, spherically symmetric stream moving radially outward, with the inflowing gas following Keplerian trajectories. The spatial distributions of effective temperature increase within interplanetary space have been obtained.

Kunc, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Evidence for X-ray scattering by interstellar dust

X ray images of distant point sources obtained with the Einstein Observatory have been examined for the presence of halos produced by X-ray scattering from interstellar dust. Evidence for detection of dust halos has been obtained by comparing the apparent surface brightness in images of four low-latitude galactic center sources with the surface brightness predicted from the telescope point response function and the simultaneously measured source spectra. This evidence is considerably strengthened by the same comparison using images of two sources at higher galactic latitude, where the column density of dust is expected to be far lower. Simple assumptions indicate the observed scattering halos are consistent with production by the population of dust grains inferred from optical extinction measurements.

Catura, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Shock processing of interstellar grains

Theoretical and observational evidence is presented that shock processing of interstellar dust grains by supernova blast waves affects both heavy element depletions and ultraviolet extinction curves. By coupling a realistic model of grain sizes and populations with a radiative shock code, significant grain destruction at velocities as low as 40 km/s is demonstrated. Nonthermal sputtering and grain-grain collisions destroy relatively more large grains than small, and more silicates than graphite. Consequently, both the 2175 A extinction 'bump' and the far-ultraviolet normalized extinction are increased in strength. Ultraviolet extinction studies with the International Ultraviolet Explorer of nine stars near three supernova remnants (the Monoceros Loop, Shajn 147, and Vela) exhibit strong 2175 A bumps and normal or high far-ultraviolet extinction. Diffuse bands, if they are created by small grains, should show little correlation with such activity.

Seab, C. G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The detection of interstellar methylcyanoacetylene

A new interstellar molecule, methylcyanoacetylene (CH3C3N), has been detected in the molecular cloud TMC-1. The J = 8 to 7, J = 7 to 6, J = 6 to 5, and J = 5 to 4 transitions have been observed. For the first three of these, both the K = 0 and K = 1 components are present, while for J = 5 to 4, only the K = 0 line has been detected. The observed frequencies were calculated by assuming a value of radial velocity V(LSR) = 5.8 km/s for TMC-1, typical of other molecules in the cloud. All observed frequencies are within 10 kHz of the calculated frequencies, which are based on the 1982 laboratory constants of Moises et al. (1982), so the identification is secure. The lines are broadened by hyperfine splitting, and the J = 5 to 4, K = 0 transition shows incipient resolution into three hyperfine components. The rotational temperature determined from these observations is quite low, with T(rot) in the range from 2.7 to 4 K. The total column density is approximately 5 x 10 to the 12th per sq cm.

Broten, N. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

XUV observations of Capella and the local interstellar medium

The present study is concerned with the first observations of Capella in the wavelength region from 170 A to 450 A. The essential feature of the obtained data is related to the absence of a significant signal at 304 A despite a two sigma sensitivity of 0.6 photons per (sq cm sec) at earth. An investigation shows that the expected Capella 304 A flux at lies in the range from 1.4 to 2.7 photons per (sq cm sec). It is concluded that the failure to detect 304 A flux from Capella is probably the result of intervening absorption. The acquired data are useful in setting a lower limit on the total helium column density, N(He), required to absorb the 304 A flux as a function of the temperature of the local interstellar medium.

Bobroff, N.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Calculations concerning the HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio in dense interstellar clouds

Calculations have been performed to determine the rate coefficients of several reactions involved in both the formation and depletion of interstellar HCO(+) and HOC(+). The abundance of HOC(+) deduced from these calculations is consistent with the tentative identification of HOC(+) in Sgr B2 by Woods et al. (1983). The large HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio observed by Woods et al. is due at least in part to a more rapid formation rate for HCO(+) and probably due as well to a more rapid depletion rate for HOC(+).

Defrees, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The formation of stellar systems from interstellar molecular clouds

The observational and theoretical study of regions of continuing star formation promises greater insight into the physical conditions and events associated with the formation of the solar system, and elucidates the role played by star formation in the evolutionary cycle which seems to dominate interstellar material's processing by successive generations of stars in the spiral galaxies. Novel astronomical methods incorporated by the new facilities scheduled for development in the 1980s may yield substantial advancements in star formation process theory; most significant among these efforts will be the identification and examination of the elusive protostellar collapse phase of both star and planetary system formation.

Gehrz, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Abundance of interstellar aluminum

New observations of Al II 1670 A, the only line of the dominant ionization stage of interstellar aluminum detected to date, are presented. Observations of ionized silicon are used to define an empirical curve of growth from which aluminum depletions can be derived. The depletion ranges from a factor of 10 in alpha Vir, with E(B-V) of about 0.04, to a factor of 1000 in omicron Per. The depletion is similar to that of iron, but a factor of 2-10 lower than that for silicon in the same stars. The observations of near-UV lines using the Copernicus V1 tubes with removal of a high cosmic-ray-induced fluorescent background are described.

Barker, E. S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The chemistry of phosphorus in dense interstellar clouds

Laboratory experiments show that the ion-molecule chemistry of phosphorus is significantly different from that of nitrogen in dense interstellar clouds. The PH3 molecule is not readily formed by gas-phase, ion-molecule reactions in these regions. Laboratory results used in a simple kinetic model indicate that the most abundant molecule containing phosphorus in dense clouds is PO.

Thorne, L. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Interstellar scintillation and ultra-low-frequency gravitational wave observations

High precision pulsar timing measurements have been used to set upper limits on the flux of ultralong period (T greater than 3 years) stochastic gravitational waves. The data used to produce the current limits appear to be limited by timing noise that is intrinsic to the pulsars. Recently, however, there have been very low noise timing observations of the 1.5-millisecond pulsar. This suggests that significant sensitivity improvements in searches for ultralow frequency (ULF) gravitational waves may be possible. Here, the effects of the heretofore secondary noise source of phase scintillations caused by interstellar electron density fluctuations are calculated, and the prospects for improved ULF gravitational wave measurements using pulsar timing are discussed.

Armstrong, J. W.↗