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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Ultraviolet Spectra of Two Magnetic White Dwarfs and Ultraviolet Spectra of Subluminous Objects Found in the Kiso Schmidt Survey and Ultraviolet Absorptions in the Spectra of DA White Dwarfds

Research under NASA Grant NAG5-287 has carried out a number of projects in conjunction with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite. These include: (1) studies of the UV spectra of DA white dwarfs which show quasi-molecular bands of H2 and H2(+); (2) the peculiar star HR6560; (3) the UV spectra of two magnetic white dwarfs that also show the quasi-molecular features; (4) investigations of the UV spectra of subluminous stars, primarily identified from visual wavelength spectroscopy in the Kiso survey of UV excess stars, some of which show interesting metal lines in their UV spectra; and (5) completion of studies of UV spectra of DB stars. The main result of this research has been to further knowledge of the structure and compositions of subluminous stars which helps cast light on their formation and evolution.

Wegner, Gary A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Deriving the intermediate spectra and photocycle kinetics from time-resolved difference spectra of bacteriorhodopsin. The simpler case of the recombinant D96N protein

The bacteriorhodopsin photocycle contains more than five spectrally distinct intermediates, and the complexity of their interconversions has precluded a rigorous solution of the kinetics. A representation of the photocycle of mutated D96N bacteriorhodopsin near neutral pH was given earlier (Varo, G., and J. K. Lanyi. 1991. Biochemistry. 30:5008-5015) as BRhv-->K<==>L<==>M1-->M2--> BR. Here we have reduced a set of time-resolved difference spectra for this simpler system to three base spectra, each assumed to consist of an unknown mixture of the pure K, L, and M difference spectra represented by a 3 x 3 matrix of concentration values between 0 and 1. After generating all allowed sets of spectra for K, L, and M (i.e., M1 + M2) at a 1:50 resolution of the matrix elements, invalid solutions were eliminated progressively in a search based on what is expected, empirically and from the theory of polyene excited states, for rhodopsin spectra. Significantly, the average matrix values changed little after the first and simplest of the search criteria that disallowed negative absorptions and more than one maximum for the M intermediate. We conclude from the statistics that during the search the solutions strongly converged into a narrow region of the multidimensional space of the concentration matrix. The data at three temperatures between 5 and 25 degrees C yielded a single set of spectra for K, L, and M; their fits are consistent with the earlier derived photocycle model for the D96N protein.

NASA Program Exobiology↗
NASA NTRS1991

Reflectance spectra of Fe(2+)-Mg(2+) disordered pyroxenes: Implications to remote-sensed spectra of planetary surfaces

The reflectance spectra of Fe(2+)-Mg(2+) disordered orthopyroxenes are relevant to surfaces of terrestrial planets onto which basaltic magma has been extruded. If cooling rates of basalt lava flows were fast, equilibrium iron intersite partitioning may not have been achieved so that abnormal enrichments of Fe(2+) ions in M1 sites would occur. The two intense pyroxene Fe(2+) site CF bands in the 1 micron and 2 micron regions would continue to dominate the the reflectance spectra so that the pyroxene composition and structure type would be readily identified in telescopic spectral profiles. However, abnormal intensification of the Fe(2+)/M1 site CF band at 1.20 microns could lead to the false identification of olivine in remote sensed spectra because in pyroxene-olivine mixtures the inflection around 1.20 microns is the only spectral feature for detecting the presence of olivine. The identification of iron-bearing plagioclase feldspars, too, would be obscured by the pyroxene Fe(2+)/M1 site CF band at 1.20 microns. Such interference would be a major problem if in situ reflectance spectra could be measured on the surface of Venus where ambient temperatures are as high as 475 C. Disordering of Fe(2+) and Mg(2+) ions comparable to that in the orthopyroxenes used in this spectral chemical study might be expected in low Ca pyroxenes occurring on the Venusian surface. Researchers conclude that Fe(2+)/M1 site spectral features need to be carefully assessed in remote-sensed spectra before deductions are made about the presence of olivine on planetary surfaces.

Burns, Roger G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Comparison of remotely sensed continental-shelf wave spectra with spectra computed by using a wave refraction computer model

An initial attempt was made to verify the Langley Research Center and Virginia Institute of Marine Science mid-Atlantic continental-shelf wave refraction model. The model was used to simulate refraction occurring during a continental-shelf remote sensing experiment conducted on August 17, 1973. Simulated wave spectra compared favorably, in a qualitative sense, with the experimental spectra. However, it was observed that most of the wave energy resided at frequencies higher than those for which refraction and shoaling effects were predicted, In addition, variations among the experimental spectra were so small that they were not considered statistically significant. In order to verify the refraction model, simulation must be performed in conjunction with a set of significantly varying spectra in which a considerable portion of the total energy resides at frequencies for which refraction and shoaling effects are likely.

Poole, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Investigating the Near-Infrared Properties of Planetary Nebulae II. Medium Resolution Spectra: Medium Resolution Spectra - 2

We present medium-resolution (R approximately 700) near-infrared (lambda = 1 - 2.5 micrometers) spectra of a sample of planetary nebulae (PNe). A narrow slit was used which sampled discrete locations within the nebulae; observations were obtained at one or more positions in the 41 objects included in the survey. The PN spectra fall into one of four general categories: H1 emission line-dominated PNe, H1 and H2 emission line PNe, H2 emission line-dominated PNe, and continuum-dominated PNe. These categories correlate with morphological type, with the elliptical PNe falling into the first group, and the bipolar PNe primarily in the H2 and continuum emission groups. The categories also correlate with C/O ratio, with the O-rich objects falling into the first group and the C-rich objects in the groups. Other spectral features were observed in all catagories, such as continuum emission from the central star, and warm dust continuum emission towards the long wavelength end of the spectra. H2 was detected in four PNe in this survey for the first time. An analysis was performed using the H2 line ratios in all of the PN spectra in the survey where a sufficient number of lines were observed to determine the ortho-to-para ratio and the rotational and vibrational excitation temperatures of the H-2 in those objects. One unexpected result from this analysis is that the H-2 is excited by absorption of ultraviolet photons in most of the PNe, although there are several PNe in which collisional excitation plays an important role. The correlation between bipolar morphology and H2 emission has been strengthened with the new detections of H2 in this survey.

Hora, Joseph L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Using Anharmonic PAH Vibrational Spectra to Simulate Fully Anharmonic Cascade Emission Spectra

In recent years, we have developed vibrational second-order perturbation theory (VPT2) approaches that can be applied to very large molecules, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. One of the main difficulties in applying standard VPT2 methods to PAHs is the large number of Fermi resonances that occur, especially in the C-H stretching region of the infrared spectrum. In order to properly account for these resonances, it is necessary to set up resonance polyads for each irreducible representation of the symmetry point group to which the molecule belongs, and for specific wavenumber regions, such as the C-H stretching region. Diagonalization of the polyads allows us to determine vibrational band positions, the intensity sharing due to the resonances, and hence there will be many more vibrational bands present than there are C-H bonds. Using these data, a library of fully anharmonic temperature-dependent spectra, with proper treatment of polyad resonances, can be determined and subsequently used to model the cascade emission spectra of PAH molecules – the type of spectra directly observed by astronomers. The theoretical approach will be described, with comparison to experiment where possible, and the latest fully anharmonic PAH cascade emission spectra will be discussed.

Timothy J Lee↗
NASA NTRS1972

Spectra of type I supernovae. I - Generalities. II - Interpretation of the spectra of Sn 1960 in NGC 4496 from 8 to 20 days after the maximum of luminosity.

In the late stages of type I supernovae evolution (t greater than 50 days) the spectrum is without doubt an emission line spectrum, but in the early stages it is difficult to tell if an emission line spectrum is observed, or a continuum spectrum modified by the overlaying absorption formed in the outer layers. The mechanism of formation of the observed spectra, the physical conditions in the shell, different possible sources of heating of the shell, identification of the lines, and theoretical computations of the line intensities are discussed. An attempt is made to interpret the set of spectra assuming that a spectrum of widely broadened emission lines truncated by an overlaying absorption is seen. The absorption spectrum is first studied. An identification for the emission lines is proposed, and their intensity on the observed spectra is tentatively estimated. These identifications have to be justified by the theoretical computations of a model of the shell.

Gordon, C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Stratospheric N2O mixing ratio profile from high-resolution balloon-borne solar absorption spectra and laboratory spectra near 1880/cm

A nonlinear least-squares fitting procedure is used to derive the stratospheric N2O mixing ratio profile from balloon-borne solar absorption spectra and laboratory spectra near 1880/cm. The atmospheric spectra analyzed here were recorded during sunset from a float altitude of 33 km with the University of Denver's 0.02/cm resolution interferometer near Alamogordo, N.M. (33 deg N) on Oct. 10, 1979. The laboratory data are used to determine the N2O line intensities. The measurements suggest an N2O mixing ratio of 264 ppbv near 15 km, decreasing to 155 ppbv near 28 km.

Rinsland, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Ultraviolet Spectra of Subluminous Objects Found in the Kiso Schmidt Survey and Systematic Reanalysis of the Archived Ultraviolet Spectra of White Dwarfs Observed with the IUE Satellite Under the Astrophysics Data Program (ADP)

Recent research under NASA grant NAG5-971 consisted of the performance of two projects in conjunction with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellites. These are: (1) to look at the ultraviolet spectra of subluminous stars identified from visual wavelength spectroscopy that had been originally discovered from the Kiso Schmidt survey for ultraviolet excess stars and (2) to carry out a systematic reanalysis of the archived IUE spectra of white dwarfs. This report presents information on the progress of the re-reduction of over 600 IUE white dwarf spectra and their subsequent analysis employing model atmospheres and the observation of the Kiso ultraviolet excess stars.

Wegner, Gary A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Reflectance spectra of mafic silicate-opaque assemblages with applications to meteorite spectra

The addition of fine-grained magnetite to mafic silicate spectra can impart not only an overall blue slope, but also lower overall reflectance and band intensities. The reflectance spectra of the CO and CV magnetite-bearing carbonaceous chondrites are noted to exhibit many of these features; the low band depths of these meteorites suggest that an additional dark, neutral phase, such as ordered carbon, is present. Carbon + mafic silicate spectra possess a red overall slope at low amorphous carbon concentrations. The parent bodies of some of the darkest meteorites should exhibit spectral features attributable to mafic silicates.

Cloutis, Edward A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The derivation of parent electron spectra from bremsstrahlung hard X-ray spectra

A numerical method is formulated to derive the spectrum of the parent electrons from the hard X-ray spectrum produced in optically thin bremsstrahlung. The method can utilize any form for the bremsstrahlung cross sections, and it provides accurate estimates of uncertainties in the derived electron spectrum based on uncertainties in the photon measurements. This method is applied to test photon spectra, as well as to hard X-ray spectra of the June 27, 1980 solar flare which was observed by high spectral resolution detectors. Future measurements with much more sensitive detectors will enable this method to be used to derive detailed, accurate flare electron spectra.

Johns, Christopher M.↗
NASA NTRS1996

BATSE Observations of Gamma-Ray Burst Spectra: Low-Energy Behavior of Time-Averaged Spectra - Part 3

We analyze time-averaged spectra from 86 bright gamma-ray bursts from the first 5 years of the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory to determine whether the lowest energy data are consistent with a standard spectra form fit to the data at all energies. The BATSE Spectroscopy Detectors have the capability to observe photons as low as 5 keV. Using the gamma-ray burst locations obtained with the BATSE Large Area Detectors, the Spectroscopy Detectors' low-energy response can be modeled accurately. This, together with a postlaunch calibration of the lowest energy Spectroscopy Detector discriminator channel, which can lie in the range 5-20 keV, allows spectral deconvolution over a broad energy range, approx. 5 keV to 2 MeV. The additional coverage allows us to search for evidence of excess emission, or for a deficit, below 20 keV. While no burst has a significant (greater than or equal to 3 sigma) deficit relative to a standard spectra model, we find that 12 bursts have excess low-energy emission, ranging between 1.2 and 5.8 times the model flux, that exceeds 5 sigma in significance. This is evidence for an additional low-energy spectral component in at least some bursts, or for deviations from the power-law spectral form typically used to model gamma-ray bursts at energies below 100 keV.

Preece, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Spectra and cross spectra of solar wind parameters from Mariner 5

The spectra of the radial (V sub R) and nonradial (V sub T, V sub N) velocity components of the solar wind, the proton density (rho) and the proton thermal speed (W), show increasing power with increasing period up to a period of about 1 day. The powers tend to level off above 1 day except for that of V sub R which continues to increase up to a period of 10 days. At all periods, the power is V sub R is greater than that in V sub T V sub N, and W, and the difference becomes very large at the longest periods because of the increasing power in V sub R. The powers in V sub T V sub N, and W are similar at all periods. The cross spectra reveal a sharp change in behavior at periods above and below approximately 1 day, suggesting that two distant types of physical processes must dominate above and below this dividing period. In general, the coherences at the long periods are larger than at the short periods suggesting that the physical situation in the long period regime may be simpler than in the short period regime where multiple processes appear to be required to account for the low coherences.

Goldstein, B.↗