Engineering topics

Israel, F. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Israel, F. P..

14 records

NASA NTRS1993

Kiloparsec-scale molecular gas excitation in spiral galaxies

We combine beam-matched (C-13)O, (C-12)O J = 3 - 2 and J = 2 - 1 line data to infer the molecular gas excitation conditions in the central 500 to 1600 pc diameters of a small sample of IR-bright external galaxies: NGC 253, IC 342, M83, Maffei 2, and NGC 6946. We find that the central 170 to 530 pc diameter regions have typical molecular gas densities ranging from approximately less than 10,000/cu cm (in M83) to approximately greater than 100,000/cu cm (in NGC 253) and that, outside of these regions, the densities are likely to be approximately less than 10,000/cu cm. The molecular clouds outside the inner 170-530 pc are at least as warm as the molecular clouds in our Galaxy. Column densities derived from integrated (C-13)O line strengths and H-alpha surface brightnesses suggest that the star formation rate is enhanced in the central 170-530 pc diameters by an order of magnitude over that inferred for the outer star-forming disks in spiral galaxies.

Wall, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Molecular gas temperature and density in spiral galaxies

We combine beam-matched CO-13, CO-12 J = 3 yields 2 and J = 2 yields 1 line data to infer the molecular gas excitation conditions in the central 500 to 1600 pc diameters of a small sample of infrared-bright external galaxies: NGC253, IC342, M 83, Maffei 2, and NGC6946. Additional observations of the J = 1 yields 0 lines of C-18O and CO-13 set limits on the opacity of the CO-13 J = 1 yields 0 line averaged over the central kiloparsec of these spiral galaxies.

Wall, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The integrated radio continuum spectrum of M33 - Evidence for free-free absorption by cool ionized gas

We present measurements of the integrated radio continuum flux density of M33 at frequencies between 22 and 610 MHz and discuss the radio continuum spectrum of M33 between 22 MHz and 10 GHz. This spectrum has a turnover between 500 and 900 MHz, depending on the steepness of the high frequency radio spectrum of M33. Below 500 MHz the spectrum is relatively flat. We discuss possible mechanisms to explain this spectral shape and consider efficient free-free absorption of nonthermal emission by a cool (not greater than 1000 K) ionized gas to be a very likely possibility. The surface filling factor of both the nonthermal and the thermal material appears to be small (of order 0.001), which could be explained by magnetic field/density fluctuations in the M 33 interstellar medium. We briefly speculate on the possible presence of a nuclear radio source with a steep spectrum.

Israel, F. P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Ionized carbon (CII) in the Magellanic Clouds

We present preliminary results of recently obtained observations of the important cooling line of singly ionized carbon in the Magellanic Clouds. Three large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and six HII region/CO cloud complexes have been detected and mapped. Comparison shows that the strength and distribution of (CII) regions is well-correlated with those of dust complexes emitting far-infrared radiation, but not with molecular cloud complexes traced by CO emission. The results confirm that photo-dissociation processes are of relatively greater importance in Magellanic Cloud star formation regions than in Galactic regions.

Israel, F. P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Neutral hydrogen in the starburst galaxy NGC3690/IC694

Researchers made observations of the neutral hydrogen (HI) emission structure surrounding the very deep absorption peak (observed earlier by Dickey (1986)) in the galaxy pair NGC3690/IC694. This galaxy pair is highly luminous in the far infrared, and known to exhibit extensive star formation as well as nuclear activity. Knowledge of the spatial distribution and velocity structure of the HI emission is of great importance to the understanding of the dynamics of the interaction and the resulting environmental effects on the galaxies.

Tolstoy, E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

IRAS LRS spectra of extended objects: The Crab nebula

The spectra of extended sources from the raw Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) Low Resolution Spectrometer (LRS) data, is recovered by means of a nonlinear deconvolution technique built around a maximum entropy algorithm. The results are applied to the Crab Nebula. The deconvolved spectrum of the Crab shows significant departures from a blackbody spectrum, with emission features present at 10.2, 11.3, 12.3 and 12.8 microns.

Lynch, D. K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The molecular cloud complex associated with ON 1

Observations of CO with different resolutions near the compact H II region/maser source ON 1 are presented, as well as new H2CO and HCO(+) observations. ON 1 is part of an extended molecular cloud complex with overall dimensions of 25 x 60 pc at a distance of 1.4 kpc; it appears to be the only site of star formation in at least the western part of the complex. ON 1 coincides with a compact and dense molecular cloud core (size 0.8 pc) that shows little sign of disruption indicating that ON 1 has only recently turned on. The isolation and apparent youth of ON 1 suggest that the very beginning of the star formation phase of a molecular cloud complex is observed here.

Israel, F. P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

CO observations around galactic longitude l=45 deg

An area of about 1.5 deg x 2.0 deg, centered on l=45.5 deg and b=0.0 deg, was mapped in the (C-12)O line at intervals of one beamwidth. A total of 22 individual CO cloud complexes was identified; the brightest of these is associated with a massive H I cloud and the H II region complex G45.5+0.1. This object most likely represents a small OB star cluster in its early stages of development. All other H II regions in the area mapped are likewise associated with CO maxima. The survey results indicate a structure of the Sagittarius arm generally in agreement with that derived in earlier studies; they also indicate that the Galaxy as a whole contains of the order of 3500 molecular clouds larger than 10 pc in diameter.

Israel, F. P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Observations of NGC 604 over six decades in frequency

Maps in the near-infrared, H-alpha and radio continuum have been obtained of NGC 604, the brightest H II region complex in M33, as well as a measurement of the UV spectrum of the ionizing star cluster. The data show that NGC 604 consists of about ten components of typical size 10 pc, embedded in a much larger envelope with dimensions of 225 pc. At least one component is optically almost completely obscured; it is located close to another object that is only detected in the near-infrared and whose nature is uncertain.

Israel, F. P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A symbiotic approach to SETI observations: use of maps from the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope

High spatial resolution continuum radio maps produced by the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) of The Netherlands at frequencies near the 21 cm HI line have been examined for anomalous sources of emmission coincident with the locations of nearby bright stars. From a total of 542 stellar positions investigated, no candidates for radio stars or ETI signals were discovered to formal limits on the minimum detectable signal ranging from 7.7 x 10(-22) W/m2 to 6.4 x 10(-24) W/m2. This preliminary study has verified that data collected by radio astronomers at large synthesis arrays can profitably be analysed for SETI signals (in a non-interfering manner) provided only that the data are available in the form of a more or less standard two dimensional map format.

Exobiology/methods↗

NASA NTRS1981

The largest H II regions in M101

Coordinated millimeter, infrared, and ultraviolet observations of the five brightest H II regions in M101 are presented. A CO complex has been found to be associated with NGC 5461 which is much more massive than any Milky Way counterpart. A narrow line width has been observed which suggests that the molecular complex may consist of numerous fragments with a volume filling fraction approximately 0.01. NGC 5461 also shows a 10 micron and 20 micron excess which is similar to that of galactic H II regions. The ultraviolet observations show that the 2200 A dust feature is greatly attenuated in all of the H II regions but least of all in NGC 5461. The near-infrared flux densities and B-gamma line strengths are consistent with the hypothesis that a significant fraction of the infrared emission is free-free.

Blitz, L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

CO observations of several galactic H II regions

Maps of the CO emission at a resolution of 8 arcmin are presented for seven H II regions or H II region groups; the results of a search for CO emission near seven more are also given. CO was detected near all but two of the observed objects. The distribution of (C-12)O and (C-13)O near S142, S157, and S159 was mapped at a resolution of 2.3 arcmin. The S147/S153 group of H II regions is shown to consist of physically related objects; it is a region of active star formation. The results show a complicated molecular cloud structure near most observed H II regions. There is a tendency for decreasing CO cloud mass when H II regions in more evolved stages are observed. The relevance of these results for the understanding of individual H II region/molecular cloud complexes, and for general aspects of the star-formation process, is briefly discussed.

Israel, F. P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The appearance of dusty H II blisters at radio and infrared wavelengths

Detailed calculations for the observational appearance of nonspherical Stromgren regions at radio and infrared wavelengths are presented. The computations are made feasible by two assumptions, namely (1) no stellar photon leaves the solid angle within which it was emitted, and (2) the radiation spectrum can be represented by three delta functions corresponding to Lyman continuum, Lyman alpha, and softer radiation. These calculations are used to develop models for the H II blisters M17 A and 30 Doradus, and also first order parameters for a sample of other well-studied galactic H II regions. It is concluded that the observations are well explained by an ionizing object in a density gradient, without the need for peculiar dust properties or distribution.

Icke, V.↗

NASA NTRS1980

CO observations of the galactic star-forming region W58

Observations of (C-12)O and (C-13)O have been made in the direction of the strong galactic radio source W58, which contains the compact H II regions K3-50 and ON-3. An extended molecular cloud with dimensions of 55 x 40 pc is associated with the northern part of the H II region complex. The density of the molecular cloud increases from west to east; the molecular cloud is bounded on the east by a larger H I cloud. Present star-formation activity is taking place at the position of maximum molecular density, at what appears to be the interface of the H I cloud and the H II region complex. The velocity structure of the CO cloud and the compact H II regions are in agreement with the blister model. Radio continuum and H I line observations show indications of a shell structure in the southwest of W58. Present star formation in W58 may be caused by this expanding shell.

Israel, F. P.↗