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Augason, G. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Augason, G. C..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

An FIR cooled grating spectrometer for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

The design and performance of a liquid-He-cooled spectrometer being developed for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) to study FIR lines originating in the interstellar medium are discussed. Currently, the spectrometer contains six Ge:Ga photoconductor detectors mounted in integrating cavities and cooled to about 3 K; the collimator focal plane has space for 39 such detectors. The instrument achieves a maximum resolving power of 6000 by means of a 45-cm long echelle grating and is optically capable of operating in the spectral range 25-300 microns. A laboratory spectrum of water vapor, an atmospheric water absorption feature measured from the KAO with Mars as a source, and the forbidden O(2+) emission from W51-IRS1 are shown.

Erickson, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

All-aluminum optical system for a large cryogenically cooled far infrared echelle spectrometer

In the past few years, NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) has made it possible to conduct pioneering observations of far infrared lines from astronomical sources. Such observations, in the case of wavelengths in the approximate range from 20 to 350 microns, cannot be performed from ground-based sites, because of telluric water absorption effects. Lines in the considered range provide information about the interstellar gas in molecular, neutral atomic, and ionized form of occurrence. The present paper provides a description of the development of the cryogenic optical system of a spectrometer designed to exploit the potential of the KAO for observing the far infrared lines. Attention is given to design goals and considerations, details of optical design, the fabrication of the optical system, the cryostat, and performance.

Erickson, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Hydrogen deficiency and mass loss from AGB stars

Theoretical studies predict that mass loss from stars should accelerate once stars on the AGB begin thermal pulsations (TP). It has been discovered that the stars on this part of the AGB are apparently hydrogen deficient. This development may be related to the mass loss predicted by theory. Hydrogen deficiency is also supported by the nondetection of H2 in non-Mira stars, S stars, and carbon stars. The possibility that the observed apparent hydrogen deficiency has resulted from a mass loss process is considered. Observations indicate that TP-AGB stars become hydrogen deficient before the Mira phase.

Augason, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A Far Infrared Echelle Spectrometer for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

A liquid-helium-cooled grating spectrometer (CGS) is being developed as a facility instrument for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), primarily to study for infrared lines originating in the interstellar medium. A maximum resolving power of approximately 6000 is achieved by means of a 45 cm long Echelle grating and is optically capable of operating in the spectral range from 25 to 300 microns. An array of detectors is used to simultaneously measure a line and the adjacent continuum from astronomical sources. Currently six detectors allow measurements in the 30 to 120 micron spectral band. The instrument, its operation, and its performance are described.

Erickson, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A device for applying plastic film antireflection coatings to optical elements

To simplify the process of thermally bonding thin plastic films to optical elements and to help eliminate the source of the flaws, a film-application device (FAD) is developed. Any plastic film may be used to make the coatings, but thin polyethylene is particularly useful for this application since it is readily available. If more than one layer of polyethylene is required, several layers may be applied, one layer at a time. The coatings may be used for protecting optical elements or to reduce surface reflection of radiation with wavelengths greater than 20 microns. When the FAD is used without the central plate it may be used to stretch single sheets of plastic material to make pellicles or beam-splitters for many applications.

Augason, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Theoretical profiles for the 1-0 S/1/ H2 line in carbon stars

The spectra of carbon stars have been synthesized from the models of Querci, Querci, and Tsuji and Querci and Querci in the region of the 1-0 S(1) vibration-rotation quadrupole line of H2. The line is shown to be sufficiently strong to be seen against the numerous lines of the CN red system for models with effective temperatures less than about 2700 K. The usefulness of the line as a diagnostic of the atmosphere is discussed, and a comparison with the measured spectra of UU Aur and S Cep is made. It is concluded that the outer atmospheric layers of carbon stars are significantly warmer than the models predict. An additional opacity source in the outer layers is required.

Goorvitch, D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Airborne photometric observations between 1.25 and 3.25 microns of late-type stars

The stars Alpha Aur (G5 III + G0 III), Alpha Boo (K2 IIIp), Alpha Ori (M1-M2 Ia-Ib), Alpha Sco (M1.5 Iab), Mu Gem (M3 III), and Alpha Her (M5 Ib-II) have been observed using interference filters in five photometric bands between 1.25 and 3.25 microns during seven flights with NASA's Lear Jet Infrared Observatory. The filters were designed to measure molecular features, primarily from CN and CO, and continuum fluxes. By calibrating the photometer in the laboratory against a stabilized blackbody source, relative flux curves have been derived. The energy distributions and the strength of molecular features are discussed. The most interesting result obtained is that the fluxes from Mu Gem and Alpha Her in the filter centered at 3.25 microns seem to be depressed by at least some tenths of a magnitude. Tentatively this depression is proposed to be due to the wings of the two vibration-rotation bands (about 2.7 microns) of hot water vapor. Since water vapor is an important opacity source and its abundance is a sensitive C/O indicator, the proposed interpretation makes renewed efforts to detect water bands in early M stars highly desirable.

Nordh, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Spectrum of the Kleinmann-Low nebula from 29 to 125 micrometers

The infrared spectrum of the Kleinmann-Low nebula in M42 has been measured from 80 to 350 kaysers (approximately 29 to 125 microns) with a Michelson interferometer aboard the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory. The frequency spectrum peaks at about 185 kaysers. A simple model of the emission implies that the temperature is in the range 70-95 K and that the optical depth is at least 0.2 at the peak frequency. A possible absorption is seen at about 176 kaysers. Thermal emission by dust at a temperature of 71 K, with the absorption cross section proportional to frequency, provides a good fit to the data. Other thermal-emission models can also fit the spectrum. The data are compared with previous broad-band measurements. Upper limits are placed on expected line emission from the surrounding H II region at the position of the nebula.

Erickson, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Water vapor absorption spectra of the upper atmosphere /45-185 per cm/

The far IR nighttime absorption spectrum of the earth's atmosphere above 14 km is determined from observations of the bright moon. The spectra were obtained using a Michelson interferometer attached to a 30-cm telescope aboard a high-altitude jet aircraft. Comparison with a single-layer model atmosphere implies a vertical column of 3.4 plus or minus 0.4 microns of precipitable water on 30 August 1971 and 2.4 plus or minus 0.3 microns of precipitable water on 6 January 1972.-

Augason, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A determination of the composition of the Venus clouds from aircraft observations in the near infrared

Summary of the evidence showing that the first optical depth of the Venus cloud layer is composed of a water solution of sulfuric acid, including earlier aircraft observations of Venus' reflectivity in the region from 1 to 4 microns obtained at a phase angle of 120 deg. Analyses of these aircraft results indicated that of all the proposed cloud candidates only a sulfuric acid solution with a concentration of 75% or more H2SO4 by weight was consistent with the observed 3-micron cloud feature. Aircraft observations of Venus are presented which were obtained in the same spectral region at a phase angle of 40 deg and in the region from 3 to 6 microns at a phase angle of 136 deg. Comparing the two sets of observations in the region from 1 to 4 microns, a striking phase effect is found: the reflectivity is much lower in the 3-micron region and there is a much more marked decline between 1.3 and 2.5 microns for the data obtained at the smaller phase angle. The observations made at the 40-deg phase angle are consistent with the theoretical behavior of a sulfuric acid cloud and imply that the sulfuric acid is present to at least many tens of optical depth below the cloud tops. Arguments concerning the concentration of the solution are reviewed, and it is concluded that the best current estimate is about 85% H2SO4 by weight.

Pollack, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Aircraft observations of Venus' near-infrared reflection spectrum - Implications for cloud composition

A comparison of aircraft-based measurement data on Venus' near-infrared (1.2- to 4.1-micron) reflection spectrum with computer generated spectra of a number of cloud candidates shows a 75-% or more concentrated water solution of sulfuric acid to give the only acceptable match to the profile of Venus' strong 3-micron absorption feature. However, the measurement data obtained also show a modest decline in reflectivity from 2.3-micron to 1.2-micron wavelength, which is inconsistent with the flat spectrum of sulfuric acid in this spectral region. It is hypothesized that this decline is due to impurities in the sulfuric acid droplets.

Pollack, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Liquid-helium-cooled Michelson interferometer

Interferometer serves as a rocket-flight spectrometer for examination of the far infrared emission spectra of astronomical objects. The double beam interferometer is readily adapted to make spectral scans and for use as a detector of discrete line emissions.

Augason, G. C.↗