Engineering topics

Odell, C. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Odell, C. R..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1994

Circumstellar material around young stars in Orion

The star cluster associated with the Orion nebula is one of the richest known. Lying at the nearside of the Orion Molecular cloud and at a distance of about 500 pc from us, it contains many premain-sequence stars with ages of about 300,000 yr. The nebula itself is a blister type, representing a wall of material ionized by the hottest star in the Trapezium group (member C). Although this is not the closest star formation region, it is probably the easiest place to detect circumstellar, possibly proto-planetary, material around these solar mass stars. This is because the same process of photoionization that creates the nebula also photoionizes these circumstellar clouds, thus rendering them easily visible. Moreover, their dust component is made visible by extinction of light from the background nebula. Young stars with circumstellar material were found in Orion on the second set of HST images and were called proplyds, indicating their special nature as circumstellar clouds caused to be luminous by being in or near a gaseous nebula. The brightest objects in the field had previously been seen in the optical and radio, and although their true nature had been hypothesized it was the HST images that made it clear what they are. The forms vary from cometlike when near the Trapezium to elliptical when further away, with the largest being 1000 AU and the bright portions of the smallest, which are found closest to the Trapezium, being about 100 AU in diameter. We now have a second set of HST observations made immediately after the refurbishment mission that provides even greater detail and reveals even more of these objects. About half of all the low-luminosity stars are proplyds. The poster paper describes quantitative tests about their fundamental structure and addresses the question of whether the circumstellar material is a disk or shell. One object (HST 16) is seen only in silhouette against the nebula and is easily resolved into an elliptical form of optical depth monotonically increasing toward the central star.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Modeling the surface and interior structure of comet nuclei using a multidisciplinary approach

The goal was to investigate the structural properties of the surface of comet nucleus and how the surface should change with time under effect of solar radiation. The basic model that was adopted was that the nucleus is an aggregate of frosty particles loosely bound together, so that it is essentially a soil. The nucleus must mostly be composed of dust particles. The observed mass ratios of dust to gas in the coma is never much greater than unity, but this ratio is probably a much lower limit than that of the nucleus because it is vastly easier to remove the gaseous component by sublimation than by carrying off the dust. Therefore the described models assumed that the particles in the soil were frost covered grains of submicron basic size, closely resembling the interstellar grains. The surface properties of such a nucleus under the effects of heating and cooling as the nucleus approaches and recedes from the Sun generally characterized.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Differences in the size-internal velocity relation of galactic and extragalactic HII regions

The nature of the size-internal velocity relation in extragalactic HII regions is examined in order to improve their use as distance determinants. The relation between the linear size and the internal velocity was compared for HII regions in the Galaxy and in external galaxies. Data for the former are from the researcher's own studies at high spatial resolution, while the latter have been the subject of spectroscopy that includes almost the entire objects. The Galactic HII regions are corrected to values of the internal velocity that would be observed if they were at extragalactic distances. A very different size-internal velocity relation was found for the two types of objects in the sense that the extragalactic objects are some ten times larger at the same internal velocity. This is interpreted to mean that the extragalactic HII regions are actually complexes of small HII regions comparable in size to their Galactic counterparts.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The near ultraviolet spectra of comets P/Brorsen-Metcalf and Austin

Results are reported on spectrophotometric observations of comets P/Brorsen-Metcalf and Austin from 3000 to 3600 A at a spectral resolution of about 1.8 A. The strongest features are the OH(A-X) 0-0 and 1-1 bands, and the NH(A-X) 0-0 bands. For the first time, the OH(A-X) 0-1 band was clearly found. The existence of the CN(B-X) 2-1 and 3-2 bands were verified and measured. A feature at 3258 A that was first seen in uncalibrated spectra was detected, and was identified as the NH singlet (c-a) 0-0 transition. The CO2(+) features at 3378, 3504, and 3512 A were also firmly identified. This ion was reported as being present in the tail of Comet Bester (1984 I) by Swings and Page (1950). The identification of a weak feature at 3547 A was proposed as the fundamental transition of H2CO, which would make this the first optical cometary detection of this molecule which is very abundant in giant molecular clouds.

Cochran, William D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

High precision low resolution spectrophotometry of Comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley

Optical window (300 to 1000 nm) observations were made of Comet Halley during 12 to 14 Mar. 1986 by a scanning spectrometer. The results provide accurate spectrophotometric measurements of the principal molecular bands from the 308 nm OH through the 918 nm CN emissions. The observations can be used to tie space derived ultraviolet and groundbased infrared observations to the optical observations and to one another. Additional observations were made of comet Giacobini-Zinner on 30 September 1985 of the same OH band and the 388 nm band of CN. The Swan band sequence ratios are used to test the best models of C2, with different ratios favoring different models, calling into question the assumptions of these very complete models.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Turbulence in HII regions

It has been known for many decades that the Reynolds number in HII regions must be very high and that the corresponding fine scale flow must be turbulent. Even though the theoretical relation between turbulent element separation and random velocity was derived by Kolmogoroff over forty years ago, there have been only a few attempts to test this theory and its corresponding assumptions. An attempt by Munch for M42 with marginal velocity resolution lead to ambiguous results, although more recent studies by Jean Rene Roy and his colleagues have been more credible. The internal velocities of a number of HII regions were systematically studied and the theory was tested with considerable certainty. The results should be important for the determination of the energy balance of HII regions and the relation of small scale motion to the process of star formation.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Internal motions in H II regions

The internal motions in H II regions are in two separate but related components, ordered motion originating from differences in pressure and from impulse due to forces such as the stellar winds, and random motion originating from the turbulent flow of the gas. Ordered motion now seems to be reasonably well understood to the first order, while recent observational material on turbulence indicates a pattern of behavior only similar to the expectations of turbulence theory, with poor agreement in many major details.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A possible comet and asteroid link in the formation of comets

IRAS data on particles in the asteroid belt and 'cirrus' clouds at large heliocentric distances are used as the bases for a model of ongoing comet production. It is noted that many particles in the solar system have a radiation pressure/gravitational attraction ratio of 0.5, a condition that holds true for particles in the asteroid belt. Collisionally disturbed into eccentric orbits, the particles could collect frosty grains in the outermost solar system. IRAS revealed the presence of many of these grains in the asteroid belt. It is numerically shown that the agglomeration of many subkilometer radius asteroids deflected into the outer solar system by orbital perturbations induced by Jupiter could provide a nucleating location for the outwardly-migrated grains. Techniques which could be employed to test the hypothesis are discussed.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Turbulent motion in galactic H II regions

An investigation of radial velocities across the face of NGC 1499, NGC 7000, and S252 reveals that the fine-scale (turbulent) motions are well ordered from the limit of spatial resolution to the full size of the nebulae. As in higher spatial resolution studies of S142 and M17, analysis of the dispersion relation reveals that there is agreement with Kolmogorov theory (1941). However, study of the structure function reveals the same result as found by Roy and Joncas (1985), that the structure function increases with separation much more slowly than theoretically expected, calling into question the application of Kolmogorov theory. The Roy-Joncas result that the fine-scale motion seems to begin at about the sonic velocity are confirmed. It is shown that a condition exists of near equipartition of energies between fine-scale mass motion and thermal gas motion, which raises the question of a possible link.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

A model of the planetary nebula NGC 2392 determined from velocity observations

High-resolution slit spectra are combined with published photometric and velocity data to develop a model of the double-ring planetary nebula NGC 2392. The inner ring is due to an incomplete, prolate spheroid shell with most of the material concentrated near the minor axis circumference. The spheroid is seen almost pole-on, open at the sharp ends, and the formal velocity of expansion (93 km/s) at the ends is a record high for planetary nebulae. The outer ring is a nearly round spheroid of approximately 16 km/s expansion velocity and a different tilt angle than the inner shell. It is surrounded by rapidly expanding material with velocities of at least 75 km/s. A high-velocity stream of material is formed at the open ends of the inner shell and is accelerated by the central star's stellar wind to velocities of at least + or - 190 km/s, providing the first direct evidence for the kinematic role of a strong stellar wind. The inner shell age is approximately 800 yr, arguing that the shell material was preferentially ejected from the equator of the parent star, in contradiction with the usual predictions of theory.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Forbidden O II studies of galactic planetary nebulae and extragalactic H II complexes

The 3727-A doublet ratio of forbidden O II was observed in five planetary nebulae and nine extragalactic groupings of H II regions (H II Complexes). The theoretical relation between this doublet ratio and nebular density was rederived using the most up-to-date atomic parameters, permitting columnar densities to be determined for all objects. The structure of extragalactic H II Complexes is discussed, and a preferred model advanced. A new method of distance determination for extragalactic systems is proposed and evaluated in the context of the presently available data.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

An H-alpha velocity study of S252

The H II region S252 (NGC 2175) was studied by means of H-alpha radial velocities and line widths. The velocity structure appears to be dominated by the western ionization front, abutting a dense neutral cloud which is a CO source, and by symmetry abut the ionizing star. This data, together with other studies of CO, H167-alpha, and the H II radio continuum, allow construction of a model of S252. The H II model is basically a double blister formed by a luminous hot star being located between two orthogonal, elongated neutral clouds.

Fountain, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A study of H-alpha velocities in NGC 1499, NGC 7000, and IC 1318B/C

Multiple slit echelle spectrograph observations of the H-alpha emission line are used to map the radial velocities of the California Nebula (NGC 1499), the North American Nebula complex (NGC 7000 and IC 5070), and IC 1318B/C. The California Nebula is singularly constant in velocity, considering its geometry. The North American Nebula complex reflects a very simple, classical dynamical picture. The expansion discovered earlier in IC 1318B/C is confirmed, detailed, and the model refined. The new data, along with that in earlier papers of this series, show that stellar wind acceleration and champagne flow mechanisms both play important roles in determining the evolution of H II regions.

Fountain, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The Space Telescope Observatory

The history of the observatory is briefly described, as is the overall system design. The principal design features that are important to the scientific user are described. The present status of preparation for launch in the spring of 1985 is summarized.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Statistical equilibrium in cometary C2. III - Triplet-singlet, Phillips, Ballik-Ramsay, and Mulliken bands

A new series of vibrational bands is predicted which arises from transitions between the lowest electron states of the triplet and singlet states of homonuclear C2. The predictions are useful for C2 identifications and for disentangling congested low resolution spectra that characterize new observations. Predictions are also made for Mulliken, Phillips, and Ballik-Ramsay band sequences, and all calculations are made with the assumed molecular constants and computational methods of KSO-II.

Swamy, K. S. K.↗

NASA NTRS1981

An investigation of the neutral and ionized gas in M16

An attempt is made to understand the physical and kinematic conditions in the M16 active star formation site, by means of mapping observations of neutral and ionized hydrogen and observations of (C-12)O from selected positions within the H II regions. The 21-cm maps suggest that at least two neutral clouds are present in the M16 complex, one of which is likely to be the remains of the cloud in which star formation initially occurred, and the other is probably the cold gas remaining from a disrupted cloud edge where the ionization front has crossed the cloud-intercloud boundary. Multislit echelle spectra of the H-alpha line are obtained to determine the physical conditions within the ionized gas, and H-alpha maps show that the ionized gas is systematically blueshifted in the east and splits into two streams in the southwest.

Mufson, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Scientific management of Space Telescope

A historical summay is given on the science management of the Space Telescope, the inception of which began in 1962, when scientists and engineers first recommended the development of a nearly diffraction limited substantial-size optical telescope. Phase A, the feasibility requirements generation phase, began in 1971 and consisted largely of NASA scientists and a NASA design. Phase B, the preliminary design phase, established a tiered structure of scientists, led by the Large Space Telescope operations and Management Work Group. A Mission Operations Working Group headed six instrument definition teams to develop the essential instrument definitions. Many changes took place during Phase B, before design and development, which began in 1978 and still continues today.

Odell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The Space Telescope

The Space Telescope, still under construction, is discussed in light of the constraints imposed on ground-based telescopes. The history of the Space Telescope is traced from its conceptual origin to its actual construction, and design considerations used to determine the Space Telescope construction are described. The optical system of the telescope will have an aperture of 2.4 m, a focal ratio of 24, and a front of primary to focus of 1.5 m. The fine guidance system will use astigmatic images at the edge of the field of view to provide the guidance signal for maintaining stability to 0.007 arcseconds. The guidestars are required for 85% of random fields located at the galactic poles, and the system sensitivity must meet performance specifications for stars brighter than 13.5 magnitude. The scientific instruments - the wide field camera, the faint object camera, the faint object spectrograph, the high resolution spectrograph, the high speed photometer, and the fine guidance sensors - are discussed in detail. Finally, the operations system, including schedule contraints and the Science Institute, is presented.

Odell, C. R.↗