Engineering topics

Aufdenberg, Jason P.

Publications and source records attributed to Aufdenberg, Jason P..

4 records

NASA NTRS1994

A model for the spectroscopic variations of the peculiar symbiotic star MWC 560

In this note, we show that the ultraviolet and optical spectroscopic variability of this unique symbiotic star can be understood in terms of a time variable collimated stellar wind with a rapid acceleration near the source. Using the radial velocities observed during the ultraviolet bright phase, we find that a variation in the mass loss rate of a factor of ten can explain the ultraviolet spectral changes. The acceleration is far faster than normally observed in radiatively driven stellar winds and may be due to mechanical driving of the outflow from the disk.

Shore, Steven N.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Extremely active long-period RS CVn binary HD 12545

The active-chromosphere giant HD 12545 is noteworthy for its remarkable 1990 photmetric amplitude of 0.6 mag in V, which implies that nearly half the visible hemisphere of the star was covered by cool spots. We report the results of a spectroscopic study of HD 12545, showing it to be an active-chromosphere binary with an orbital period of 23.97 days. We establish the spectral type as KO III, and measure v sin i = 17 +/- 2 km/s. The various indicators of activity in the optical and ultraviolet suggest that HD 12545 is one of the most active RS CVn systems yet observed. H alpha is a broad, variable emission feature, with a strength comparable to what is observed in very active RS CVn systems such as V711 Tau (HR 1099) or II Peg. The surface fluxes of chromospheric and transition-regions lines in the UV range from 10 to nearly 400 times the solar values. With a moderately strong Li I lambda 6707 feature and a large space motion, HD 12545 is an unusual but not unique giant, since these properties are similar to those of the single active-chromosphere giant HD 33798.

Bopp, Bernard W.↗

NASA NTRS1993

IUE short-wavelength high-dispersion line list for the symbiotic nova RR Telescopii

An 820 minute and other long-exposure archival SWP IUE high-dispersion spectra of symbiotic star RR Tel have been combined to form a composite spectrum. In most of these spectra many lines are saturated, but weaker features appear above the continuum. Their wavelengths were measured from the composite spectrum and compared with the line list from a thorough study of RR Tel by Penston et al. (1983). Among the revised line list are 22 new line identifications from ions C III, O I, N I, Mg VI, Si I, S I, S IV, Fe II, and Ni II. N I exists inside RR Tel's H II region and is pumped by the hot component's continuum. The fluxes for all the lines in each of the spectra are presented. All of the observed ions show a secular flux decrease between 1978 and 1988. A list of SWP high-dispersion camera artifacts is also presented. The list was generated by comparing RR Tel spectra to a long-exposure sky flat.

Aufdenberg, Jason P.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Ultraviolet and optical spectra of high-ionization Seyfert galaxies with narrow lines

Ultraviolet and optical spectra are presented for three unusual Seyfert galaxies (Mrk 1239, Mrk 42, and Mrk 493) that resemble Seyfert 1 galaxies in that they have strong high-ionization lines and strong nonstellar continua, but resemble Seyfert 2 galaxies in that the widths of their permitted lines are as narrow as the widths of their forbidden lines. The He II lambda 1640 and He II lambda 4686 lines are used to determine an upper limit to the reddening experienced by the emission lines. Published optical data show that these particular high-ionization narrow-line (HINL) Seyferts have low lambda 5007 H beta ratios and strong Fe II emission, which suggest the presence of high-density regions. The low Lalpha/H-beta ratios in these objects indicate that high-density clouds are indeed present, and, like the broad-line region clouds in Seyfert 1 galaxies, these clouds have large optical depths with partially ionized zones. Overall, the line ratios and continuum fluxes of these particular HINL Seyferts are indistinguishable from those of broad-lined Seyfert 1 galaxies.

Crenshaw, D. Michael↗