Engineering topics

Mccluskey, George E., Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Mccluskey, George E., Jr..

4 records

NASA NTRS1995

Mass loss in the interacting semi-detached binary delta librae

The interacting Algol-type binary Delta Librae (AOV + G: V) has been observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite. More than fifty high resolution spectra in the far-ultraviolet and mid-ultraviolet spectrum have been analyzed in order to model the mass flow in the Delta Librae system. The resonance lines of Si IV and C IV are present in absorption and vary in strength both secularly and with phase. The radial velocities of the Si IV and C IV absorption lines generally follow the orbital motion of the primary star but deviate by typically a few tens of kilometers per second in the direction of the observer. The presence of Si IV and C IV features indicates the existence of a region considerably hotter than the normal AOV photosphere and, since these lines are present at all phases, this region must be fairly extensive. These results are interpreted in terms of a 'pseudo-photosphere' around the equatorial region of the AOV star, created by matter being accreted from the G-type companion. The widths of the Si IV and C IV absorption features imply that some of the matter lost by the G-star leaves the system entirely.

Mccluskey, George E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Analysis of the IUE spectra of the strongly interacting binary beta Lyrae

The six-band ultraviolet light curves of beta Lyrae obtained with the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory A-2 in 1970 exhibited a very unusual behavior. The secondary minimum deepened at shorter wavelength, indicating that one was not observing light variations caused primarily by the eclipses of two stars having a roughly Planckian energy distribution. It was then suggested that the light variations were caused by a viewing angle effect of an optically-thick, ellipsoidal circumbinary gas cloud. Since 1978 beta Lyrae has been observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite. We have constructed ultraviolet light curves from the IUE archival data for comparison with the OAO-A2 results. We find that they are in substantial agreement with each other. The Voyager ultraviolet spectrometer was also used to observe this binary during a period covered by IUE observations. The Voyager results agree with those of the two other satellite observatories at wavelengths longer than about 1350 A. However, in the wavelength region shorter than the Lyman-alpha line at 1216 A, the light curves at 1085 A and 965 A show virtually no light variation except an apparent flaring near phase 0.7, which is also in evidence at longer wavelengths. We suggest that the optically-thick circumbinary gas cloud, which envelops the two stars completely, assumes a roughly spherical shape when observed at these shorter wavelengths.

Mccluskey, George E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1991

IUE investigation of mass flow in the interacting binary U Sagittae

Fifteen far-UV and 13 mid-UV high-resolution spectra of the interacting Algol-type binary U Sagittae have been obtained with the IUE satellite. The resonance lines of Si IV and C IV are present in absorption of moderate strength at all phases. At several phases, weak absorption due to the N V resonance lines is present. The high-temperature pseudophotospheric region which is found surrounding the equatorial regions of the primary star in all active Algol-type binaries is present in U Sge, indicating that it is not as dormant as once believed. This is also consistent with recent ground-based studies.

Mccluskey, George E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1988

IUE spectroscopy of U Cephei during the mass flow outburst of 1986 June

The interacting Algol-type binary U Cep underwent another of its irregularly occurring transient high-mass flow events during June 1986. For the first time, high-resolution ultraviolet spectroscopy of U Cep during such an event was possible. High-resolution spectra in the far-ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet were obtained with IUE. These spectra show that the ultraviolet continuum decreased by factors of 1.2 to 3.0 during the greatest activity. In addition, one or more narrow absorption components with radial velocities as high as -500 km/s appeared in association with a number of C, Si, Al, Fe, Zn, and Mg lines. The Mg II doublet developed a flat-bottomed appearance with a residual intensity of about 0.31 and a width of at least 800 km/s. These phenomena are interpreted in terms of high-velocity gas streams, mass loss from the system, and the formation of an optically thick equatorial bulge around the B star.

Mccluskey, George E., Jr.↗