Engineering topics

Laurent, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Laurent, C..

7 records

NASA NTRS1982

MAGELLAN: High resolution spectroscopy at FUV and EUV wavelengths

The aim of ESA's MAGELLAN mission is to provide high resolution spectra of celestial sources down to sixteenth magnitude over the extreme ultraviolet wavelength range (between 50 and 140 nm). This range extends from studies of interstellar matter in the disc and halo of this and other galaxies, to stellar envelopes, hot and evolved stars, clusters, intergalactic matter, nuclei of galaxies, quasars, and, finally, planets and satellites. The instrument has a nonconventional optical design using only one reflecting surface; a high groove density concave grating collects the star light, diffracts it and focuses its spectrum into a bidimensional windowless detector operated in a photon counting mode. The slitless configuration provides the spectra of all the sources (point like and extended) in the field of view of the grating. This field of view is limited by a grid collimator to reduce the diffuse background, the stray light and the probability of overlapping spectra in crowded fields.

Grewing, M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The violet interstellar medium associated with the Carina Nebula

The interstellar spectrum of HD 93205, an 03V star in the cluster Tr16, located inside the most active part of the Great Carina Nebula was analyzed using data extracted directly from raw IUE images. From the analysis of 67 lines of 25 atoms, ions and molecules, up to six discrete absorption components spanning a maximum velocity range of approximately 375 km 5/1 were identified. The component structure for different species is tabulated and sample absorption lines, indicating at the top the positions of the six components, labelled A to F are shown. Ion column densities appropriate to each component which can be resolved in at least one line were derived by constructing empirical curves of growth and by fitting the observations with corresponding theoretical absorption line profiles. The most important results concerning each component are discussed.

Pettini, M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The interstellar medium on the Gamma Cassiopeiae line of sight

The interstellar medium on the Gamma Cas line of sight is studied through the observations of O I, H2, H I, D I, and Ar I absorption features with the Copernicus satellite. By using the velocity structure of the line of sight previously determined through atomic nitrogen, it is demonstrated that these neutrals are located in the same physical regions and that the O I and Ar I abundances could be solar, on the average, relative to N I in all components. The 1066.660 A Ar I line profile is contaminated by an unidentified line, already detected in the spectrum of Zeta Pup. Furthermore, a peculiar behavior of the Ar I abundance in the different components is reported, possibly associated with high-velocity interstellar gas present on the line of sight. It is concluded that the Gamma Cas line of sight could intercept a dense cloud which has been engulfed and disrupted by a shock.

Ferlet, R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen in interstellar space. IV - The lines of sight to Delta, Epsilon, and Iota Orionis

Deuterium absorption features in spectra of Delta, Epsilon, and Iota Ori obtained with Copernicus are analyzed. The Iota Ori line-of-sight analysis, which is quite detailed because of the high-velocity H I components superposed on the deuterium features, gives a D/H ratio (which is uncertain because of a complex profile) of 0.000014. A D/H ratio of the order of 7 millionths is determined for Delta and Epsilon Ori. For the complex line profiles involved, one may regard this as a formal lower limit. Several attempts were made to increase the ratio N(D I)/N(H I) in the context of reasonable models for the line of sight, but with no success; the derived values are therefore regarded as actual values, not lower limits. Since the derived value is an average on the line of sight, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the true ratios N(D I)/N(H I) in individual nearby components differ from the mean values. The mean value for these two directions is lower by a factor of 4 than the best value for the Zeta Pup line of sight (the highest yet derived for path lengths greater than 50 pc).

Laurent, C.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Implications of high-velocity interstellar H I absorption features

Contributions to the interstellar H I column density at high velocities from immediate postshock gas and from the cooling gas behind a shock are compared. The detection of high-velocity H I in L-epsilon and L-delta for Iota Ori is reported and interpreted as cooling gas behind a shock of 100 km/s velocity. The immediate postshock gas should be observable for shock velocities greater than 200 km/s and permits direct determination of the velocities of adiabatic shocks in the interstellar medium. It is pointed out that interstellar L-alpha and L-beta lines may not have purely Lorentzian profiles if high-velocity H I is a widespread phenomenon.

Cowie, L.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Hourly variations in O VI P Cygni profiles of hot stars

Significant changes in the ultraviolet absorption profiles are reported in the spectra of Delta Ori A, Iota Ori, and Zeta Pup. The present data show changes in count rates in excess of 30 per cent at velocities more negative than -900 km/s, if these data are interpreted as being dominated by O VI absorption in stellar winds. The time scales range from 1 to 6 hours.

York, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen in interstellar space. III - The lines of sight to Zeta Puppis and Gamma Cassiopeiae

An extensive set of measurements of the ratio of deuterium to hydrogen in the interstellar medium has been undertaken. The general observing program is described along with the data reduction techniques used to separate the complex deuterium and hydrogen profiles, and the results of the measurements for two stars, Zeta Pup and Gamma Cas. For Gamma Cas, log N(D)/N(H) is found to be approximately -4.8, in agreement with previous measurements. For Zeta Pup, a complicated structure of absorbing clouds in the interstellar medium is inferred. The best value of log N(D)/N(H) is about -4.6 for each of two components. One component is probably more complex than can be demonstrated directly at the resolution employed, and log N(D)N(H) could be -4.0 or larger in this component.

Vidal-Madjar, A.↗