Engineering topics

Decher, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Decher, R..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1991

Infrared mapping of M82 - A starburst in an edge-on barred galaxy

New 1-30-micron images of the starburst galaxy M82 are presented. The appearance of M82 at 2 microns indicates that a bar about 1 kpc long is located at its center. This bar may dramatically influence the gas dynamics and may have caused the formation of the central gas and dust toroid associated with the luminous episode of star formation. The mid-IR maps define the structure of the toroid out to 30 microns and show that the extent of the emitting region is at least 1.3 kpc. The absorption optical depth determined from 1-2 micron colors corresponds to A(v) less than about 8 and is distributed in a ridge spanning the starburst region and closely resembling the distribution of H I optical depth. Finally, the contribution that very small grains may make to the 10-micron emission is considered, and it is concluded, by comparison to Galactic H II regions, that their mid-IR emission is significant.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

High spatial resolution mapping of the Cepheus A region at 20, 50, and 100 microns

The Cepheus A region at 20 microns has been mapped, and a bright, unresolved central source with a peak flux of 41 Jy into a 4.0 arcsec x 4.3 arcsec beam has been detected. One-dimensional slit scans have been obtained in two perpendicular directions across Cepheus A at 50 and 100 microns using a high spatial-resolution sampling technique. The temperature and optical depth profile of the far-IR emission are determined, and a peak temperature of 46 K and peak 100 micron optical depth of 0.4 are derived. Maximum entropy deconvolution of the far-IR scans indicate that there is a bright central core with clumpy extended emission. Within errors the position of the 50/100 micron peak is the same as the 20-micron source; this is interpreted as indicating that the 20 micron radiation represents the short-wavelength emission from the core of the dust cloud seen in the far-IR. It is concluded that an embedded source provides the major source of luminosity in the Cepheus A region.

Ellis, H. B., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Ground-based thermal IR images of Comet Tempel 2

The 10.8-micron images of Comet Tempel 2 obtained on the four days from September 21 to 24, 1988, indicate that the dust coma contributed about half of the nuclear pixel brightness. The nuclear condensation brightness exhibited a temporal variability slightly larger than observational uncertainty. The structure of the observed extended dust emission is interpretable as (1) a large grain tail primarily generated by cm-scaled particles, (2) the result of an outburst near 2.5-3.0 AU perihelion, and (3) a sunward emission of dust in a fanlike pattern.

Campins, Humberto↗

NASA NTRS1990

Profuse central star formation in 'SO' galaxies

Radio continuum flux densities, far infrared flux densities, far infrared colors, and ultraviolet and optical spectra indicate that high rates of star formation are occurring in some SO galaxies, especially barred galaxies. Radio continuum and infrared images show that the star forming region is typically concentrated within the central few kpc of the galaxy. The high incidence of central star formation in barred galaxies suggests that bar-driven inflow of gas is fueling the star-forming regions in these galaxies.

Dressel, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Small grains in M82 - A dusty halo surrounding the starburst

The well-known starburst in M82 at 10.8, 19.2, and 30 microns has been mapped. Scans along the galactic plane which are derived from these data reveal marked color variations with position. These color variations are correlated with the UV energy density in a manner explicable in terms of a heated mixture of dust grains extending to very small sizes. Many of the small grains may have been destroyed in the most intense regions of the starburst, but they have survived in a halo where the UV energy density is too low to destroy them but still high enough to significantly heat them. Implications of the results for interpreting IR continuum emission from starburst galaxies are considered.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Optical polarimetry and thermal imaging of the disc around Beta Pictoris

The dust disk around the main-sequence A5 star Beta Pic is characterized on the basis of recently obtained data. Optical polarimetry indicates that the disk has polarization of about 15 percent and polarization vectors normal to the scattering plane, indicating that the features observed are indeed a dust disk made visible by scattering. Thermal images of the central 13-arcsec-diameter region, obtained at 10 and 20 microns by Telesco et al. (1988) using the NASA Marshall 20-pixel bolometer array, suggest that the dust grains in the disk have a mean diameter of 1 micron or smaller. Also discussed are (1) unsuccessful searches for other nearby stars with disks and (2) the potential value of Hubble Space Telescope images for understanding the structure of Beta Pic.

Wolstencroft, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The infrared structure and the origin of the starburst disk in NGC 1068

A detailed map of the extranuclear IR emission in the central 4 kpc of the luminous Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068 is presented. The relationship of the IR emission with low-excitation, visible H II regions implies that the IR luminosity is powered by recent star formation. The observations show that the star formation is distributed across the central 3.5 kpc primarily in two very extended complexes, one located to the north of the nucleus and the other to the southwest. These two complexes coincide with the two dominant CO features. It is shown that there are two inner Lindblad resonances which occur near the ends of the bar which approximately bound the IR-luminous star-forming regions, the CO complexes, and the visually bright spiral arms. It is proposed that the starburst results from a bar-driven density wave which also includes the effects of shock focusing.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Resolution of the circumstellar disk of Beta Pictoris at 10 and 20 microns

Observations at 10 and 20 microns with about 5 arcsec resolution are presented of the central, approximately 13 arcsec diameter region of the A5 dwarf Beta Pictoris. These observations resolve the inner disk and provide important constraints for models of the star and a basis for removing some of their ambiguities. The evidence indicates that submicron-sized grains emit much of the excess 10 and 20 micron radiation from the star. The characteristics of the dust are discussed, and the possibility that comets form the dust reservoir is considered.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Star formation in the Magellanic irregular galaxy NGC 4449

New NIR and FIR maps and J = 1-0 CO spectroscopy of the Magellanic irregular galaxy NGC 4449 are presented. The brighter 150-micron emission is concentrated along the central visual ridge of the galaxy, although there is lower intensity extended emission throughout the visible extent of the object. The maximum FIR emission is coincident, within the uncertainties, with the visual and NIR maxima, identified as the galactic nucleus. It is estimated that the IR luminosity of the 1-kpc-diameter central region in NGC 4449 is comparable to that for a similar-sized region at the center of the Galaxy. A large fraction of the 150-micron emission may arise from warm dust distributed throughout the galaxy and heated by the diffuse radiation field. Active star formation follows the NIR emission in part of the galaxy, but no coincidence is found in another region.

Thronson, Harley A., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The infrared morphology of galactic centers

Initial results are presented of a program to map the centers of galaxies in the mid-infrared using the NASA-MSFC 20 pixel bolometer array. Maps at 10.8 micrometer of the galaxies NGC 5236 (M82), NGC 1808, NGC 4536, and NGC 4527 reveal complex emitting regions ranging in size from 500 pc to 2 kpc. The infrared spatial distributions generally resemble those in the visible and radio. In all cases a large fraction of the IRAS 12 micrometer flux originates in spatial structures prominent in the maps.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Comments about observing conditions for UV astronomy aboard Spacelab

The Spacelab missions provided a good opportunity for a first general UV survey of astrophysical objects. The UV observations carried out on Spacelab 1 yielded some new results, but revealed at the same time observing and operation constraints which must be considered for planning and preparing for future Spacelab experiments. Experience gained with two astronomical experiments, the UV Very Wide Field Camera (1ES022) and FAUST Far Ultraviolet Telescope (1NS-005) are discussed.

Courtes, G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Thermal infrared imaging of Comet Halley

Thermal infrared images (10.8, 12.8, and 19.2 microns) of comet Halley were obtained on 1986 Mar. 28.7, 29.7 and 30.7 UT using the NASA-MSFC 20-pixel bolometer array at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Analysis of the observations shows: the presence of spatial structure indicative of dust ejection occurring mainly on the sunward side of the nucleus; a dust coma deficient in large particles (radius greater than 100 microns) compared with that of Comet P/Giacobini-Zinner, temporal variability consistent with an extrapolation of a quasi-sinusoidal light curve observed by IUE on 1986 March 23, 24, and 25; and a maximum at the nuclear condensation of the color temperature and the strength of the silicate emission feature.

Campins, H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Thermal-infrared and visual imaging of comet Giacobini-Zinner

Thermal-infrared and visual images obtained simultaneously of comet Giacobini-Zinner on UT 1985 August 4.4 are presented. The 10.8-micron map, which spans several arc minutes with 8-arcsec resolution, is the first ground-based infrared image of a comet. Considerable spatial structure is evident in the map, including a curved dust tail consisting primarily of dust grains larger than 100 microns. The width of this large-grain tail implies that these grains depart the nucleus with velocities less than 3 m/s. The distribution of grain albedo is determined for the central 1 arcmin. It is speculated that an observed increase in the albedo by a factor of 2 with distance from the nucleus and prolonged radius vector results from the confinement to the orbital plane of large fluffy grains previously considered for GZ by others; the lower albedo of this dust could result from multiple internal scattering increasing the probability of absorption of incident light. It is estimated that dust was departing the nucleus at the rate of about 8 x 10 to the 5th g/s, comparable to that derived for many other comets.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Development of low-temperature transistor modules to improve the MSFC mid-infrared array

This report describes the low-temperature transistor modules designed for use with the MSFC mid-infrared array. The modules were developed in the Space Science Laboratory at Marshall Space Flight Center with Center Director's Discretionary Funds. The transistors (JFETs), which operate at a temperature of 77 K, are epoxied to a copper surface attached to a Teflon substrate. The module substrate insulates the JFETs from the 1.5K detector work surfaces and provides a convenient mounting structure for additional components such as solder pins. These modules have maintained their structural integrity during repeated temperature cycling, and they have to be convenient during maintenance and servicing of the infrared array.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Very extended infrared emission at the center of M51 - The role of star formation

Low surface brightness 10 micron emission has been detected in M51 extending more than 1 arcmin, or 3 kpc, in RA. The emission has roughly uniform brightness and originates from dust in a region that is prominent visually and centered on the nucleus. Complementary near-infrared scans, which are dominated by the light from red stars, also show notable structure from hot dust. The dust is heated predominately by young stars, although a nonthermal source and, to a lesser extent, red stars may power the emission at the nucleus. Simple starburst models imply that the star formation rate per square parsec in the extended infrared-disk is at least two to three orders of magnitude higher than in the solar neighborhood.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Groundbased infrared imaging of Comet Giacobini-Zinner - The distribution of dust during the ICE flyby

A thermal-infrared image of Comet Giacobini-Zinner has been used to determine the spatial distribution of dust grains in the Comet's coma. In the present paper the results of this imaging which bear on the expected impact rate of dust grains on the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) are emphasized. The expected impact rate is calculated for a range of grain radii. For particle sizes comparable to those inferred for most comets, the impact rate is on the order of several hundred per second. This rate is in agreement with the predictions by Divine (1985), but it is more than two orders of magnitude larger than the rate observed by ICE if the observed impacts were on the spacecraft body. However, the observed impact rate is roughly comparable to that inferred from the infrared imaging if, as suggested by Gurnett et al. (1986), the impacts were on the ICE antennae, which had a much smaller cross-sectional area than the spacecraft body.

Campins, H.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Near-infrared mapping of ARP 299 (IC 694-NGC 3690) - Colliding galaxies unveiled

Near-infrared maps and multicolor photometry of the interacting galaxies IC 694 and NGC 3690 which form Arp 299 (= Markarian 171) are presented. These data reveal for the first time the distribution of nuclei and old red stars in a cataclysmically interacting system. The nuclei are considerably offset from the visual centroids of the galaxies but not from the mass centroids. The near-infrared colors of the most active regions are strongly affected by extinction, emission form hot dust, and bremsstrahlung. Near-infrared emission is also identified with secondary regions of star formation, probably resulting from the galaxies' interaction.

Telesco, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

BIG MAC: A bolometer array for mid-infrared astronomy, Center Director's Discretionary Fund

The infrared array referred to as Big Mac (for Marshall Array Camera), was designed for ground based astronomical observations in the wavelength range 5 to 35 microns. It contains 20 discrete gallium-doped germanium bolometer detectors at a temperature of 1.4K. Each bolometer is irradiated by a square field mirror constituting a single pixel of the array. The mirrors are arranged contiguously in four columns and five rows, thus defining the array configuration. Big Mac utilized cold reimaging optics and an up looking dewar. The total Big Mac system also contains a telescope interface tube for mounting the dewar and a computer for data acquisition and processing. Initial astronomical observations at a major infrared observatory indicate that Big Mac performance is excellent, having achieved the design specifications and making this instrument an outstanding tool for astrophysics.

Telesco, C. M.↗