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Harwit, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Harwit, M..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Observations of the 145.5 micron O I forbidden emission line in the Orion Nebula

A first set of observations of the forbidden O I 3P0-3P1 (145.5 micron) transition has been obtained. The line was observed both in a 1 x 1 arcmin beam centered on the Trapezium and in a 7 x 7 arcmin beam encompassing most of the Orion Nebula; a wide-beam (7 x 7 arcmin) map of the region has also been constructed which shows that most of the emission is confined to the central regions of the nebula. These observations are consistent with optically thin emission in the 145.5 micron line and self-absorbed 63.2 micron emission lines. Mechanisms for the excitation of neutral oxygen are considered, and it is concluded that much of the observed emission originates in the thin radio recombination line-emitting C II/H I envelope bordering on the H II region.

Stacey, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Spectrophotometry of Saturn and its rings from 60 to 180 microns

Comparisons of Saturn observations at far-IR and submillimeter wavelengths, obtained during the earth's March 1980 passage through the plane of Saturn's rings, with spectroscopic observations obtained at an earlier time when the ring plane tilt angle was 21.8 deg, allow a separation of disk and ring contributions to the flux observed in this wavelength range. It is noted that the observed disk emission at 60-180 microns corresponds to a brightness temperature of 104 + or 2 K, and that the brightness temperature of the rings drops 20 K in the 60-80 micron range. An improved estimate of total Saturnian surface brightness is derived which corresponds to an effective temperature of 96.1 + or - 1.6 K.

Melnick, G.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The 157 micron /C II/ emission from NGC 2024 - Core and halo components

Portions of the nebula NGC 2024 were mapped in the 157 micron (C II) line. Results show the presence of a compact component centered on the radio-recombination line regions and a more extended nebulosity. It is found that the central component emits 157 micron line and continuum fluxes at a level of 4 x 10 to the -16th W/sq cm and 5 x 10 to the -16th W/sq cm (micron), respectively. The continuum emission drops off more rapidly with distance from the peak, although line emission is approximately 30% of the peak value at a distance 18 min to the SE of the peak. In addition, related observations were carried out on M42.

Kurtz, N. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Highly ejected J = 16 to 15 rotational transitions of CO at 162.8 mirons in the Orion cloud

The first observations of the J = 16 to J = 15, 162.8 microns transition of CO from an astronomical source are reported. Measurements were carried out on the Kleinmann-Low Nebula. The intensity observed is in good agreement with predictions from previous spectroscopic work carried out in the far infrared. The observation strengthens the previous claim that approximately 1.5 solar mass of molecular hydrogen is heated to a temperature above 750 K within the shocked region in the Nebula. Upper limits to he OH intensity in the F2 (2Pi 1/2) transitions J = 3/2 to J = 1/2 which fall into two groups centered respectively at 163.12 and 163.40 are presented.

Stacey, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of the 145.5 micron (OI) emission line in the Orion nebula

A first set of observations of the (OI) 3P to 3P1 (145.5 micron) transition was obtained. The line was observed both in a beam centered on the Trapezium, and in a 7 times wider beam encompassing most of the Orion Nebula. A wide beam map of the region was constructed which shows that most of the emission is confined to the central regions of the nebula. These observations may be compared with reported measurement of the 3P1 to 3P2 (63.2 micron) transition in Orion and are consistent with optically thin emission in the 145.5 micron line and self-adsorbed 63.2 micron emission lines. Mechanisms are discussed for the excitation of neutral oxygen. It is included that much of the observed emission originates in the thin, radio-recombination-line-emitting CII/HI envelope bordering on the HII region.

Stacey, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The Orion Nebula - Large-scale distribution of far-infrared and submillimeter line emission

Attention is given to the results of a study of radiative cooling in the interstellar clouds of the Orion Nebula through the emission of far-IR and submillimeter radiation. That the gas is 'clumpy' in the ionized region of the nebula is indicated by the far-IR observations of doubly ionized oxygen. With respect to the edges of the ionized region, the excitation temperature for the 3P1 state is 228 K and the observed emission can be plausibly associated with either ionization or shock fronts at the interface between the ionized and neutral region. Consideration is also given to the possibility of an ionized carbon halo, the turbulent state of the molecular cloud, and the need for further laboratory and theoretical analyses.

Harwit, M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Progress in airborne infrared and submillimetre spectroscopy

The role of spectral resolution and of instrumental sensitivity in astronomical spectroscopy conducted from aircraft is discussed. One cause of difficulty in changing atmospheric transmission is the variations in water vapor content above the aircraft. A main source of uncertainty in measurements is the modulation of the observed signal.

Harwit, M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The mass of hot, shocked CO in Orion - First observations of the J = 17-J = 16 transition at 153 microns

Observations of the Kleinmann-Low Nebula in Orion detected the J = 17-J = 16 transition of CO at 153 microns and at a flux level of 7 x 10 to the -17th W/sq cm. The total mass of hot (not less than about 750 K) carbon monoxide in the nebula is estimated at 8 x 10 to the 30th g, and the total hydrogen mass at this temperature is assessed to be about 1.5 solar masses. A CO column density of about 4 x 10 to the 17th per sq cm is derived for the region, which agrees with those predictions made by Storey et al. (1981), and an apparent deficit of oxygen in the nebula is discussed.

Stacey, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Infrared observations from the NASA Airborne Observatories

The results of observations made aboard the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, with its 91-cm telescope and the Lear Jet with its 30-cm system, are summarized, and instrumental advances accomplished for NASA aircraft facilities are described. Information has been obtained about the ring brightness of Saturn, a new broadband feature in carbon stars and two planetary nebulae, the temperature of dust globules, rotational transitions of CO in the Kleinmann-Low nebula, and far infrared emission from a quasar. Improvements in the minimum signals reported for photometry and spectrometry are described, and possibilities for improvements in the polarization, time resolution measurements, and in angular limitations are addressed.

Harwit, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Giant forbidden C II halos around H II regions

The submillimeter (157-micron) forbidden line emission from the M17 complex has been mapped. The forbidden line emission extends over at least 1/4 deg in the sky. The regions emitting the C II radio recombination lines contribute only in a minor way to the total 157-micron flux. The total forbidden line luminosity of M17 exceeds 2,000 solar luminosities.

Russell, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Far-infrared emission line and continuum observations of NGC 7027

The first observation of a fine-structure transition in NGC 7027 at wavelengths greater than 30 microns is reported. The flux in the 63.2-micron line is found to be approximately 10 to the -16th W/sq cm. It is noted that if NGC 7027 lies at 1 kpc, this corresponds to a luminosity, in the line, approximately 30 times greater than the solar luminosity. The flux of the 88.35-micron line is less than 10 to the -17th W/sq cm, and the upper limit to the line flux at 51.8 microns is found to be 10 to the -16th W/sq cm. These upper limits imply an electron density that is less than 1.6 x 10 to the 5th/cu cm. It is noted that the continuum measurements obtained support a dust temperature of 90 K with an emissivity approximately equal to the reciprocal of the square of the wavelength. The data exclude grain materials whose wavelength-dependent emissivity (the reciprocal of the wavelength raised to nth power) requires n to be outside the range between 1.6 and 2, unless the temperature varies drastically across the dust cloud

Melnick, G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Far-infrared polarization of the Kleinmann-Low Nebula

Further data on the polarization of the far-infrared (wavelength greater than 40 microns) emission from the Orion Nebula shows no evidence for polarized emission by aligned grains. Results at wavelength about 71-115 microns are consistent with a small (about 1.5%) absorption-induced polarization with about the same position angle on the sky as the polarization measured at shorter wavelengths.

Gull, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Airborne infrared and submillimeter astronomical polarization measurements at different wavelengths

Because observations of the Kleinmann-Low region of the Orion Nebula reveal significant polarization in the wavelength range from 1 to 13 micron m, polarization at wavelengths greater than 15 micron were investigated. Far infrared polarization measurements were made of a number of sources using an instrument mounted at the bent cassegrain focus of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory's 90 cm telescope. About two hours of data were obtained on the Orion Nebula on each of two flights, and more careful calibration on Jupiter (assumed to be unpolarized) were obtained on both nights. The data on Orion and Jupiter for three filters are presented. Possible explanations are suggested for reconciling the high polarization observed by others in 1974 with the lower values obtained in this study.

Harwit, M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Gravitational time delay in orthogonally polarized radiation passing by the sun

Two parallel investigations into the degree, if any, to which orthogonally polarized rays are deflected differently on passing through the gravitational field of the sun were previously conducted. The first involved very long and intermediate length baseline radio interferometry. The second was initially based on observations of radiation transmitted by the Pioneer 6 spacecraft, on passing behind the sun in 1968. This work was extended by using Helios-A and Helios-B spacecraft. It was calculated that the differential deflection between orthogonally polarized components is less than one part in 10 to the 7th power of the total gravitational deflection, or less than about 10 to the -7th power arc sec, in total.

Harwit, M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Observations of the 63 micron forbidden OI emission line in the Orion and Omega Nebulae

Observations of 63-micron neutral oxygen emission from the Orion and Omega Nebulae are reported which were carried out from the NASA Lear Jet flying at an altitude of approximately 13.7 km. The best estimate for the 3 P 1 - 3 P 2 transition wavelength is shown to be 63.2 microns, and the detected fluxes are found to be extraordinarily high (amounting to approximately 600 suns in M42 at 0.5 kpc and to about 2900 suns in the line in M17 at 2 kpc). Attempts are made to estimate the minimum temperature and other parameters of the emitting region in Orion. It is concluded that conditions not too different from those permitted by some current models appear to provide fluxes that agree in order of magnitude with those observed.

Melnick, G.↗