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Donn, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Donn, B..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Does nucleation theory apply to the formation of refractory circumstellar grains?

It is pointed out that kinetic factors inherent in cosmic systems will prevent the attainment of an approximate equilibrium precondensation cluster distribution, and that therefore such systems will violate one of the most fundamental assumptions of nucleation theory. More importantly, it is shown that of the 11 refractory metal/metal oxide systems which have been studied experimentally none are consistent with the predictions of either classical nucleation theory or the Lothe-Pound modification. Since no valid method is known by which these deficiencies can be circumvented, it is concluded that nucleation theory cannot be made to work in expanding circumstellar shells. However, a stochastic, kinetic treatment which makes use of experimental and theoretical data for specific refractory systems does appear to be feasible.

Donn, B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Remarks on a vibronic origin for the diffuse band spectrum

It has been demonstrated that the diffuse band spectrum could not originate as a series of vibronic transitions from atomic impurities in interstellar MgO grains as has recently been proposed since laboratory spectra of such materials show no evidence for such complex structure. Furthermore, recent observational evidence indicates that the extinction feature at 160 nm in the standard interstellar extinction curve upon which the identification of interstellar MgO was founded is actually the result of a calibration error in the original observational data.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The dust around R Coronae Borealis type stars

Measurements taken by the International Ultraviolet Explorer spacecraft of the stars RY Sgr and R CrB have been analyzed using Mie theory. The extinction data, which show a 2400-2500 A peak, are consistent with a distribution of 5-60 nm glassy or amorphous carbon particles obscuring the stellar flux. The data are also fairly consistent with a cloud ejection model. Since the extinction data lack the commonly observed peak at 2170 A, it is proposed that this difference is due to the conditions present when the dust condenses. Interstellar carbon grains appear to originate in normal carbon stars which are carbon and hydrogen rich. In contrast, the grains around R CrB type stars seem to condense from a carbon-rich and hydrogen-poor vapor.

Hecht, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Thermal metamorphism of Si2O3 - (A circumstellar dust analog)

The thermal behavior of Si2O3, the metastable condensate from SiO vapor,has been studied experimentally. Si2O3 and its successor, amorphous quartz, have previously been shown to have infrared spectral features similar to some that appear in the spectra of grains in oxygen-rich circumstellar regions. Thermal annealing experiments show that only one Si2O3 decay process operates over the range between 750-1000 K. This process is a unimolecular disproportionation. The rate of this transformation can be expressed as k/hr = 10 to the 9th exp (-40 kcal/mole/RT). By using this rate constant, it is found that a significant fraction of freshly nucleated circumstellar grains can survive passage through a typical circumstellar shell virtually unaltered in structure. It is emphasized that this is only the first in a series of laboratory experiments intended to study the metamorphism of newly condensed circumstellar material ejected into the interstellar medium. Grains similar to these might have been incorporated into the primitive solar nebula, provided that they could also survive passage through the general interstellar medium.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A note on the composition and structure of interstellar grains

The plausibility of relatively pure diatomic oxide crystals forming in the expanding atmospheres of cool stars is commented on, and the likelihood of SiO grains condensing is discussed on the basis of laboratory nucleation experiments. Results of annealing experiments are used to consider the further evolution of silicon oxide and silicate grains. The evidence shows that SiO solids form only when SiO condenses directly onto surfaces, and that the probability of pure crystalline SiO grains forming is rather small.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

On a vibronic origin for the diffuse band spectrum

Duley (1982) has proposed that many of the diffuse interstellar bands in the wavelength interval 542-677 nm arise from vibronic transitions of Cr (3+) ions in MgO grains. No explanation has been offered for the fact that as many as 85 of the possible 108 transitions of this system have not been observed in the interstellar medium. Moreover, the relative intensities of the diffuse bands which are observed appear to be inconsistent with their assignment. It is therefore concluded that this model is not consistent with the observations.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Studies of proton-irradiated cometary-type ice mixtures

Cometary ice mixtures are studied in a laboratory experiment designed to simulate the temperature, pressure and radiation environments of the interstellar Oort cloud region, in order to test the hypothesized radiation synthesis mechanism for changing the characteristics of the outer few meters of a comet stored in the Oort cloud for 4.6 billion years. All experiments conducted confirm the synthesis of new molecular species in solid phase mixtures at 20 K. When CH4 is present in the irradiated ice mixture, long chained, voltaile hydrocarbon and CO2 are synthesized together with high molecular weight C compounds present in the room temperature residue. Due to radiation synthesis, about 1 percent of the ice was converted into a nonvolatile residue containing complicated C compounds not present in the blank samples. These results suggest that initial molecular abundances can be altered, and new species created, as a result of radiation synthesis. Irradiated mixtures exhibited thermoluminescence and pressure enhancements during warming, showing the synthesis of reactive species. Outbursts in new comets resulting from similar irradiation-induced exothermic activity would be expected to begin occurring at distances of the order of 100 AU.

Moore, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Laboratory studies of the condensation and properties of amorphous silicate smokes

The results of experiments intended for defining the vapor phase condensation of refractory materials are reported, and the usefulness of applying laboratory data to astrophysical conditions is assessed. The testing apparatus used produced Mg-SiO smokes by boiling powders in an evaporator. Critical temperatures for the onset of nucleation were measured for SiO-H2 and Mg-SiO-H2 systems. Spectroscopic examination of the grains produced were determined to be similar to the spectra obtained from both carbonaceous chondrites and several stratospheric micrometeorites. The experiments demonstrated that direct nucleation of refractory silicates from the vapor phase yielded amorphous, metastable particles, resembling more circumstellar grains than a chondritic matrix. It is suggested that the formation of SiO(x) may control nucleation in oxygen-rich stars.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Properties of ices and grains - An experimental study

Proton irradiation of a variety of ice mixtures was carried out to study the effect of galactic cosmic ray irradiation of comets in the Oort Cloud. Three significant effects were noted: (1) production of new molecules; (2) production of a more energetic ice at low temperatures; (3) production of a non-volatile, complex organic residue. These phenomena suggest various effects on new comets approaching the sun including enhanced activity. Experiments on the condensation of silicate grains provide information on the condensation mechanism and properties of grains. Controlled annealing of the amorphous condensates shows how crystallization occurs. Infrared spectra of different stages of crystallization contain features that may identify composition, structure and history of refractory material.

Donn, B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The peculiar extinction of Herschel 36

The extinction of Herschel 36 has been measured and been found to be peculiar in the same sense as that observed in Orion. Following the treatment of Mathis and Wallenhorst (1981), this can be explained by the presence of silicate and graphite grains that are larger than those normally found in the interstellar medium. Correcting the stellar flux for foreground extinction results in a residual extinction curve for the associated dust cloud with an unusually small normalized extinction (less than 1.0) at 1500 A. This low UV extinction may be due to the effects of scattering by the dust cloud material.

Hecht, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The peculiar extinction of Herschel 36

The extinction of Herschel 36 was measured and found to be peculiar in the same sense as that observed in Orion. Following the treatment of Mathis and Wallenhorst, this can be explained by the presence of large silicate and graphite grains than are normally found in the interstellar medium. Correcting the stellar flux for foreground extinction results in a residual extinction curve for the associated dust cloud, with an unusually small normalized extinction (less than 1.0) at 1500 A. This low UV extinction may be due to the effects of scattering by the dust cloud material.

Donn, B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Experimental studies of the vapor phase nucleation of refractory compounds. I - The condensation of SiO

The critical partial pressure of SiO necessary to initiate avalanche nucleation in the SiO-H2 system is measured as a function of the ambient temperature in the range 750-1000 K. Results show that the condensate produced at low temperatures is Si2O3, while a mixture of Si2O3 and amorphous SiO2 is produced at high temperatures. A surface energy of approximately 500 ergs/sq cm for the particles is found by analyzing the critical partial pressure vs temperature using classical nucleation theory. It is concluded that classical nucleation theory is not applicable to this system, because several inconsistencies in the thermodynamic analysis are demonstrated, and it is suggested that a kinetic theory of nucleation may be the preferential way to describe the condensation process.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Laboratory measurements of amorphous silicate smokes and the infrared spectra of oxygen-rich stars

The infrared spectra of smokes condensed from SiO-H2 and Mg-SiO-H2 vapors and of smoke samples annealed for various times at 1000 K and 1250 K are presented. The spectra of these materials show features in the 8-25 micron interval in addition to the well-known bands near 10 and 20 microns. It is suggested that these features may correspond to weak structures that can be seen in the infrared spectra of oxygen-rich stars. Observations are needed to determine the reality and characteristics of such weak features.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Comets - Chemistry and chemical evolution

Research on the chemical composition and conditions in comets and their possible role in the origin of life on earth is surveyed. The inorganic and organic compounds and ions indicated in the ultraviolet and visible spectra of comets are noted, and evidence for the existence of at least a small proportion of complex organic molecules in comets is presented. It is then pointed out that while cometary material could have reached the earth and provided volatile elements from which biochemical compounds could have formed, it is unlikely that a cometary nucleus could have withstood the temperatures and pressures necessary to sustain an environment in which life could have originated.

Donn, B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The peculiar UV extinction of Herschel 36

The differential extinction curve of Herschel 36 was determined from International Ultraviolet Explorer data. It is quite unusual, characterized by a distinct 2200 A peak with a very low far blue end at 5 to 7 mu to the -1 power. The star appears to be an extreme member of the group Savage drew attention to, previously consisting only of theta Ori, NU Ori, sigma Sco, and rho Oph. It appears that multiple scattering effects are needed to explain the observations.

Hecht, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Modern Observational Techniques for Comets

Techniques are discussed in the following areas: astrometry, photometry, infrared observations, radio observations, spectroscopy, imaging of coma and tail, image processing of observation. The determination of the chemical composition and physical structure of comets is highlighted.

Brandt, J. C.↗