Engineering topics

Ho, P. T. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Ho, P. T. P..

7 records

NASA NTRS2002

Structure in the Dusty Debris around Vega

We present images of the Vega system obtained with the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer at a 1.3 millimeter wavelength with submillijansky sensitivity and approximately 2.5 inches resolution (about 20 AU). These observations clearly detect the stellar photosphere and two dust emission peaks offset from the star by 9.5 inches and 8.0 inches to the northeast and southwest, respectively. These offset emission peaks are consistent with the barely resolved structure visible in previous submillimeter images, and they account for a large fraction of the dust emission. The presence of two dust concentrations at the observed locations is plausible explained by the dynamical influence of an unseen planet of a few Jupiter masses in a highly eccentric orbit that traps dust in Principal mean motion resonances. Based on observations carried out with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer.

Wilner, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A new observational and numerical study of tidal interactions in M81-M82-NGC3077 system

A nearby system of interacting galaxies M81-M82-NGC3077 triplet (D = 3.3 Mpc; Freeman & Madore 1988) has been studied using multi-wavelength observations and numerical simulations to obtain a comprehensive understanding on the dynamics and the consequences of tidal interactions in a group environment. The VLA 12-field Mosaic H I observations of 2 x 1.5 deg. region have revealed a vast array of H I filaments which suggests that the severity and extent of tidal disruptions far exceed the previous estimates. A tidal remnant of the former H I disk of M82 extending up to 30 kpc (in projection) is identified for the first time, and the pervasive effects of the tidal disruption are traced into the inner disk by optical and CO observations, including a kinematic trace of a large scale bar potential (Yun, Ho, & Lo 1992). The H I disk of M81 is traced out to 40 kpc in radius, and a large scale (l approx. 20 kpc) velocity anomaly ('High Velocity Trough'), which may be a remnant of a gaseous collision, is found within the disk of M81. The large H I bridge between M81 and NGC 3077 (van der Hulst 1979) is also found to extend approx. greater than 50 kpc further, bending around NGC 3077, toward M82. The total H I detected in this experiment, 5.6 x 10(exp 9) solar mass, represents the majority of the single-dish flux (Appleton, Davies, & Stephenson 1981) and suggests that the bulk of H I found in the region belongs to the three galaxies and the tidal filaments. The impact and details of the tidal interactions have been further examined through the use of numerical techniques. The 'restricted 3-body' approach was used to simulate the observed distribution of tidal H I streamers connecting the three galaxies, and the success of the simulation is further strengthened by the accurate predictions on the gas kinematics.

Yun, M. S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A halo and a blow-out in NGC 253

We present the discovery of a 'synchrotron halo' in NGC 253. NGC 253 is an inclined, dusty, barred Sc galaxy in the Sculptor Group. It is also one of the prototype nuclear star burst galaxies. Very Large Array observations at 327 MHz and 1.4 GHz have revealed a synchrotron emitting 'halo' extending 9 kpc above and below the plane of NGC 253 (assuming a distance of 4 Mpc). The spectral index for the radio emission steepens from -0.7 in the disk to -1.0 in the halo. The fractional polarization at 1.4 GHz increases from less than or equal to 2 percent in the disk up to 20 percent in the halo, and the magnetic field vectors project parallel to the plane over most of the halo.

Carilli, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The molecular core associated with DR 21

DR 21 has been observed in the J = 1-0 line of HCN with a resolution of 12.5 by 15.5 arcsec using the mm-wave interferometer at the Hat Creek Observatory. The HCN line is seen in both emission and absorption as an isolated clump immediately adjacent to the compact H II regions of DR 21. The full extent of the clump is about 30 arcsec in R.A. and 60 arcsec in decl. which corresponds to 0.3 by 0.6 pc for an assumed distance of 2 kpc. The mass of the clump is estimated to be about 200 solar masses. Two velocity components are present: the more intense one at -5 km/s is only seen in emission, and the other at -2.4 km/s is seen in emission in the northwest and mostly in absorption against the continuum source. The component at -5.0 km/s is identified to have higher excitation, and the one at -2.4 km/s to have greater column density.

Dickel, H. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

An aperture synthesis map of HCN emission close to W3 IRS 4

W3 has been observed in the J = 1-0 transition of HCN with the millimeter-wave interferometer at the Hat Creek Observatory with a resolution of 11.5 by 11.1 arcsec. The HCN emission is detected in an isolated cloud with a diameter of 40 arcsec. The cloud is located to the south of IRS 4 and the compact H II region C and coincides with the western far-IR cloud mapped at 400 microns by Jaffe (1983). The total mass of the cloud is estimated to be in the range 250-2500 solar masses. No HCN emission was detected around IRS 5, the location of the other 400 micron peak. Also, no evidence for a new (heretofore undetected at other wavelengths), young main-sequence star earlier than B0 was found in the new continuum map at 3 mm.

Wright, M. C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Venus. I - Carbon monoxide distribution and molecular-line searches

An observational program to study variations of the vertical distribution of CO in the Venus atmosphere is presented. Measurements of the J = 0 - 1 absorption line at 2.6 mm wavelength are reported for two phase angles in 1977, one near eastern elongation (February) and the other near inferior conjunction (April). The two spectra are significantly different, with the April absorption line being narrower and deeper. The results of numerical inversion calculations show that the CO mixing ratio increases by a factor of approximately 100 between 78 and 100 km and that the CO abundance above approximately 100 km is greatest on the night-side hemisphere. These conclusions are in qualitative agreement with theoretical models. In addition to the CO observations, a search for other molecules was made to provide further information on the composition of the Venus middle atmosphere. The J = 0 - 1 transition of (C-13)O was detected and upper limits were derived for nine other molecules.

Wilson, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A new, compact far-infrared source in the W31 region

In a survey of the W31 region, a compact far-infrared source was detected at the position of the radio continuum source G 10.6-0.4. Associated with this infrared source and in close coincidence with its position is an H II region with a compact core and extended halo as well as OH and H2O masers. An extended molecular cloud, centered on these sources, has also been detected. The compact source and associated masers may be located at the H II region-molecular-cloud interface in a thin shocked layer of neutral gas driven into the molecular cloud by the expansion of the H II region. The compact H II region is depleted of dust and must be surrounded by a very dense shell of dust and gas (hydrogen number density in excess of 200,000 per cu cm). The source probably represents an early stage of stellar evolution.

Fazio, G. G.↗