Engineering topics

Sellgren, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Sellgren, K..

At least 55 records · Page 3

NASA NTRS1985

Emission features in the 4-13 micron spectra of the reflection nebulae NGC 7023 and NGC 2023

Spectroscopy from 4 to 13 microns of the visual reflection nebulae NGC 7023 and NGC 2023 has been obtained. These data, together with previous work from 1 to 4 microns, show that the spectra of these sources consist of a relatively flat continuum from 1 to 13 microns and six emission features at 3.3, 3.4, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 microns. The observations rule out equilibrium thermal emission for the features and continuum in reflection nebulae, and point toward a nonequilibrium emission mechanism such as thermal emission from thermally fluctuating small grains or fluorescence from large molecules. The similarity of the emission feature spectra in reflection nebulae to those in other sources suggests a universal emission mechanism, thus implying nonequilibrium emission mechanisms in other sources.

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

An optical and infrared study of the region surrounding Herbig-Haro objects 1 and 2

Optical and near-IR observations of the environs of H-H objects 1 and 2 provide the basis for identifying a recently discovered radio continuum as the star responsible for powering the highly collimated mass outflow traced by these objects. Polarimetric observations show that the source (designated as VLA 1), located at the midpoint between HH 1 and 2, illuminates a biconical reflection nebula. It is suggested that VLA 1 is probably surrounded by an optically thick disk viewed edge on; an optical 'jet' emanates from the vicinity of HH 1 and is directed along the axis of the putative disk toward HH 1; its spectrum resembles that of HH 1 and other Herbig-Haro objects.

Strom, S. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Detection of radio continuum emission from Herbig-Haro objects 1 and 2 and from their central exciting source

The region in Orion containing HH 1 and HH 2 was observed with the VLA at 20, 6, and 2 cm on several occasions from 1981 to 1984. At lower resolution, four continuum sources were detected. Two of these sources coincide positionally with HH 1 and HH 2. At 6 cm and higher resolution, HH 1 is resolved into at least two components. The emission is probably bremsstrahlung originating in the same region where the visible line emission is produced. This is the first detection of radio continuum from classic Herbig-Haro objects. At a position closely centered between HH 1 and HH 2, an object that can be interpreted as the energy source of the system was detected. The central source spectrum is S(nu) of about nu to the alpha power, where alpha = 0.4 + or - 0.2, suggesting a stellar wind. Finally, the fourth radio continuum source coincides positionally with an H2O maser and is probably excited by an independent star. There is evidence of time variability in its radio flux. No emission was detected from the Cohen-Schwartz (1979) star at the 0.1 mJy level.

Pravdo, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The near-infrared continuum emission of visual reflection nebulae

In the past, reflection nebulae have provided an astrophysical laboratory well suited for the study of the reflection properties of interstellar dust grains at visual and ultraviolet wavelengths. The present investigation is concerned with observations which were begun with the objective to extend to near-infrared wavelengths the study of grains in reflection. Observations of three classical visual reflection nebulae were conducted in the wavelength range from 1.25 to 2.2 microns, taking into account NGC 7023, 2023, and 2068. All three nebulae were found to have similar near-infrared colors, despite widely different colors of their illuminating stars. The brightness level shown by two of the nebulae at 2.2 microns was too high to be easily accounted for on the basis of reflected light. Attention is given to a wide variety of possible emission mechanisms.

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Extended near-infrared emission from visual reflection nebulae

Extended near infrared (2 to 5 microns) emission was observed from three visual reflection nebulae, NGC 7023, 2023, and 2068. The emission from each nebula consists of a smooth continuum, which can be described by a greybody with a color temperature of 1000 K, and emission features at 3.3 and 3.4 microns. The continuum emission cannot be explained by free-free emission, reflected light, or field stars, or by thermal emission from grains, with commonly accepted ratios of infrared to ultraviolet emissivities, which are in equilibrium with the stellar radiation field. A possible explanation is thermal emission from grains with extremely low ratios of infrared to ultraviolet emissivities, or from grains with a temperature determined by mechanisms other than equilibrium radiative heating. Another possibility is continuum fluorescence. Previously announced in STAR N83-25629

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Properties of young clusters near reflection nebulae

Near infrared observations in the reflection nebulae NGC 703, 2023, and 2068 are used to study clusters of young stars found associated with these nebulae. At least 30 percent to 60 percent of these stars are pre-main sequence objects, as indicated by their infrared excesses, hydrogen line emission, or irregular variability. The spatial distributions and observed luminosity functions of these young open clusters are derived, and the inferred mass function and star formation efficiencies are discussed. Previously announced in STAR as N83-25628

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Observations of the line profile of Paschen alpha in 3C 273

Within the uncertainties, the P-alpha line profile is the same as those of H-beta, L-alpha, and C IV. It is therefore contended that if current models of broad-line-emitting clouds in quasars are correct, then the similarity of the P-alpha line profile to the L-alpha profile argues against a velocity field dominated by radial inflow or outflow. It is noted, however, that if the cloud motions are predominantly due to radial inflow or outflow, then the clouds must radiate more isotropically in L-alpha then current models predict. The observed similarity of the line profiles of P-alpha at 1.875 microns and of C IV at 1550 A leads to the conclusion that there is no differential reddening caused by dust between clouds moving at different velocities within the broad line region of 3C 273.

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Properties of young clusters near reflection nebulae

Near infrared observations in the reflection nebulae NGC 7023, 2023, and 2068 are used to study clusters of young stars found associated with these nebulae. At least 30% to 60% of these stars are pre-main sequence objects, as indicated by their infrared excesses, hydrogen line emission, or irregular variability. The spatial distributions and observed luminosity functions of these young open clusters are derived, and the inferred mass function and star formation efficiencies are discussed.

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Extended near infrared emission from visual reflection nebulae

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Infrared studies of the S235 molecular cloud

Infrared observations from 7.8 to 200 microns have been obtained for the S235 molecular cloud. Far-infrared maps were obtained for a region of active star formation, as marked by the presence of compact H II regions, water masers, and compact near-infrared sources. The primary heating source for the far-infrared emission appears to be the compact H II region, S235A. Detailed examination of the gas energetics in the region supports the plausibility of the picture in which the gas is heated by collisions with warm dust grains. The ratio of far-infrared optical depth to (C-13)O column density is somewhat lower in this source than is commonly found. This effect may be caused by the presence of substantial (C-13)O in regions where the dust is not warm enough to emit substantial 50-100 micron radiation.

Evans, N. J., II↗

NASA NTRS1981

Far-infrared properties of dust in the reflection nebula NGC 7023

Thermal emission from dust in the reflection nebula NGC 7023 has been observed at wavelengths between 40 and 400 microns. The observed far-infrared emission comes from a region approximately 4 arcmin in diameter and shows spatial structure which correlates well with the distribution of reflected visible radiation. Temperature and optical depth maps indicate that the dust which emits the far-infrared radiation is heated by UV and visual radiation from the central star (HD 200775) and that the dust density increases steeply northwest of the star. The far-infrared data are not consistent with either the spherical or uniform slab geometries used in earlier analyses of optical observations. Comparisons of the far-infrared measurements with optical and UV measurements give a value between 2000 and 5000 for the ratio of extinction efficiency in the UV to that at 125 microns. This value is compared with the results of other observational studies and with theoretical grain models.

Whitcomb, S. E.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Spatial observations of the Orion Nebula in the unidentified 3.28 micron feature

The unidentified infrared emission at a wavelength of 3.28 microns has been mapped in a 5 x 5 arcmin region of the Orion Nebula at a resolution of 30 arcsec along with continuum thermal emission at 3.5 microns in order to gain information on the probable source of the unidentified feature. The 3.28-micron emission is found to be extended over much of the nebula with a distribution very different from that of the 3.5-micron continuum. The ratio of 3.28-micron to 3.5-micron flux density is observed to range from a value of 7 in the Orion ionization ridge to less than 0.15 towards the Becklin-Neugebauer object, and to generally be larger toward the edges of the emitting region than toward the Trapezium. From the observations, it is concluded that the 3.28-micron emission originates in the ionization front between the foreground ionized gas and background molecular cloud, and may be due to thermal emission from complex, less volatile organic substances in grain mantles.

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1980

High angular resolution far-infrared observations of the W3 region

A 2 x 3 arcmin region surrounding the W3 cluster of near-infrared sources and compact H II regions has been mapped at 30, 50, and 100 microns with an angular resolution of about 30 arcsec. The data have been used to produce maps of the distribution of luminosity, color temperature, and opacity in the far-infrared which are used to analyze the properties and evolutionary states of the individual compact sources in the cluster and of the molecular cloud in which they are embedded. The total luminosity of the near-infrared source W3-IRS 5 is estimated on the basis of these observations to be 200,000 solar luminosities, and it is identified as a forming O star.

Werner, M. W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Infrared photometry of the semistellar nucleus of M31

New broad-band infrared JHK data and narrow-band CO and H2O indices for the semistellar nucleus of M31 are presented. The data were obtained specifically to test a prediction of a recent synthesis model by Faber and French in which the ratio of dwarf-to-giant light increases strongly in going from the bulge to the nucleus of M31. The new infrared data do not support such a model. Some alternative explanations for the behavior of the various indices are given, but the apparent conflict between the Faber-French interpretation of the strength of the Na I 8190 A feature and our data is not satisfactorily resolved.

Persson, S. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Simultaneous far-infrared, near-infrared, and radio observations of OH/IR stars

Simultaneous far-infrared, near-infrared, and radio observations have been made of five infrared stars which show OH maser emission at 1612 MHz. These stars have very thick circumstellar dust shells and are not seen optically. The data permit a direct comparison of the far-infrared and maser emission from these sources, which strongly supports the hypothesis that the maser emission is pumped by 35 micron photons. A comparison with data obtained at earlier epochs suggests that the maser emission is saturated. The infrared and radio data are used together with estimates of the source distances to determine the luminosities and mass loss rates for these objects. The luminosities lie in the range 2000-30,000 solar luminosities and are consistent with either Mira variable or M supergiant classifications for the underlying stars. The estimated mass loss rates lie between 0.000005-0.00007 solar mass/year.

Werner, M. W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The optically thin dust shell of Nova Cygni 1978

Nova Cygni 1978 was monitored photometrically from V to 19.5 microns for 120 days after the eruption. Following the initial expansion of the hot gas shell, an optically thin dust shell formed and reached a maximum visual optical depth of about 0.1 by day 60. No visible transition phase of the type observed in the very dusty DQ Herculis novae occurred in Nova Cygni 1978. It is argued that dust grain growth was inhibited because of the low mass of condensable atoms in the shell. Although the dust shell in Nova Cygni 1978 was optically thin at visual and infrared wavelengths, the grains grew to a radius of 0.3 micron which is comparable to the radius of the grains which grow in the optically thick shells of the DQ Herculis type novae.

Gehrz, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Excitation mechanisms for the unidentified infrared emission features

Infrared and radio observations of various objects are analyzed to put observational constraints on the mechanism which gives rise to the unidentified emission features at 3.3, 3.4, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 microns. The results show that gas-grain collisions or fluorescence is not likely to be the excitation mechanism responsible for the observed features. Thermal emission by dust is reanalyzed and it is concluded that this mechanism can explain the emission features. A simple model in which the emission features arise in a population of small, hot, interstellar grains is constructed. These grains are very efficient radiators, and the emitting materials only need be a minor grain constituent to provide the power that is emitted in the features. The model offers, therefore, a simple explanation for the absence of these features in absorption.

Dwek, E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Monoceros R2 - Far-infrared observations of a very young cluster

The young infrared cluster in Mon R2 has been observed at wavelengths from 30 microns to 1 mm and at angular resolutions from 16 arcsec to 1 arcmin. The brightest sources - RS 1 and IRS 3 - have luminosities equivalent to those of early B-type stars. It is not possible to estimate reliably the evolutionary stage of IRS 3, but IRS 1 appears to be powered by a star close to B0 V. The star probably dominates the energetics of the cluster. The gas density estimated from the infrared and radio molecular data is much larger than that of the associated, extended H II region. This appears consistent with the idea that the ionized zone is expanding out from the back of the molecular cloud.

Thornson, H. A., Jr.↗