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Simon, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Simon, M..

At least 37 records · Page 2

10 AU scale halo structure around DG Tauri

Lunar occultation observations of the active T Tauri star DG Tau show that in the infrared K band it has a core-halo structure: 20-25 percent of the flux comes from a region 10 AU in extent and the rest from an unresolved core smaller than an AU. These results are consistent with those reported by Leinert et al. from a separate observation. The results obtained here and those of Leinert et al., measuring the intensity distribution projected along directions spanning roughly 40 deg, indicate that the resolved structure is not highly elongated. The extended emission is interpreted as star light scattered by optically thin dust located in a halo surrounding the star.

Chen, Wen P.

Multiplicity among the young stars in Taurus

Twenty-eight young stars systems in the northern Taurus star-forming region are surveyed for multiplicity. These observations, made by infrared lunar occultation and imaging techniques, can identify binaries in the angular separation range 0.005-10 arcsec. Of the 28 systems, 11 are binaries and two are triples, giving an observed multiplicity of 1.5 stars per system. The binary frequency and distribution of separations are similar to those of the main-sequence F and G spectral-type stars. Stars that have detected companions and those without are indistinguishable in H-alpha equivalent width, indicating that stars with active inner disks are represented in both groups. The multiple systems are in general weaker 1.3 mm continuum emitters than the single stars, indicating that the large-scale disks in these systems are less massive. However, there are important exceptions so the evolution of disks in multiple systems is not clear.

Simon, M.

Subarcsecond resolution observations of the central parsec of the Galaxy at 2.2 microns

Four separate lunar occultations of the Galactic center in the infrared K-band have been observed, and the results are used to estimate the size of the sources and to derive photometry. It is found that IRS 16NE, 16NW, and IRS 29 are smaller than about 510 AU and IRS 16SW-W and C are smaller than 85 AU. All sources brighter than K = 10 mag in the central pc are smaller than 510 AU and therefore seem to be stars. IRS 7 is smaller than about 100 AU. IRS 1W and 13, resolved into pairs of stars, are probably the exciting stars for these H II regions. The shape of the differential luminosity function of the stars in the central sq pc is similar to that of stars in the central 150 sq pc. There is a steady increase in star density toward the central few arcsec of the Galaxy.

Simon, M.

Discovery of five pre-main-sequence binaries in Taurus

The progress of an infrared K band lunar occultation search for binaries among premain-sequence stars is reported. From the fall of 1986 to the fall of 1989, 13 objects have been observed, all in the Taurus star-forming region. Five new binaries have been discovered: DF Tau, DI Tau, FS Tau (Haro 6-5) A, FV Tau (Haro 6-8), and FW Tau, with projected separations ranging from 0.01 to 0.57 arcsec. Including results reported previously, a total of 31 objects, 21 in Taurus and 10 in Ophiuchus, have been surveyed and nine double systems have been found. The detected binary frequency (0.29) seems consistent with that of the solar-type main-sequence field stars.

Chen, W. P.

Optical and IR luminosity functions of IRAS galaxies

The optical and infrared luminosity functions are determined for a 60 micron flux-limited sample of 68 IRAS galaxies covering a total area of 150 deg sq. The IR function is in good agreement with that obtained by other authors. The shape of the optical luminosity function is similar to that of optically selected galaxy samples. The integrated light of most objects in the sample have (NII) to H alpha line flux ratios characteristic of HII-region galaxies. In the absolute magnitude range M sub J = -18, -22 about 14% of late-type galaxies are IRAS galaxies. The apparent companionship frequency is about twice as large as that for a comparable sample of non-IRAS late-type galaxies.

Vader, J. Patricia

Lunar occultations of IRAS point sources, 1986-1990

A complete listing is given for objects in the IRAS Point Source Catalog which will be occulted by the moon over the course of 1986-1990. A total of 14,148 ASCII card images is encompassed by the complete listing of objects having geocentric events during this period. The results contained in this complete listing are illustrated in two of the present tables for the brightest objects at 12 and 100 micron wavelengths.

Simon, M.

Improved performance of a digital phase-locked loop combined with a frequency/frequency-rate estimator

When a digital phase-locked loop with a long loop update time tracks a signal with high Doppler, the demodualtion losses due to frequency mismatch can become very significant. One way of reducing these Doppler-related losses is to compensate for the Doppler effect using some kind of frequency-rate estimator. The performance of the fixed-window least-squares estimator and the Kalman filter is investigated; several Doppler compensating techniques are proposed. It is shown that the variance of the frequency estimator can be made as small as desired, and with this, the Doppler effect can be effectively compensated. The remaining demodulation losses due to phase jitter in the loop can be less than 0.1 dB.

Mileant, A.

DSA's subcarrier demodulation losses

The degradation in bit error rate performance due to imperfect subcarrier tracking by the Demodulation Synchronization Assembly (DSA) is investigated. Results apply to any type of digital loop and received signal dynamics. A type four loop causes the least amount of loss, because it tracks phase jerk with zero steady-state error. However, when frequency rate and frequency acceleration are as large as in the extended Magellan mission, it will be necessary to decrease the loop update time in order to minimize the losses.

Simon, M.

Steady-state probability density function of the phase error for a DPLL with an integrate-and-dump device

The steady-state behavior of a particular type of digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) with an integrate-and-dump circuit following the phase detector is characterized in terms of the probability density function (pdf) of the phase error in the loop. Although the loop is entirely digital from an implementation standpoint, it operates at two extremely different sampling rates. In particular, the combination of a phase detector and an integrate-and-dump circuit operates at a very high rate whereas the loop update rate is very slow by comparison. Because of this dichotomy, the loop can be analyzed by hybrid analog/digital (s/z domain) techniques. The loop is modeled in such a general fashion that previous analyses of the Real-Time Combiner (RTC), Subcarrier Demodulator Assembly (SDA), and Symbol Synchronization Assembly (SSA) fall out as special cases.

Simon, M.

Propagation of injected cosmic rays under distributed reacceleration

The cosmic ray acceleration model in which the particles gain continuously energy from stochastic processes in the interstellar space by encountering shocks leads to a logarithmic increase in the secondary to primary ratios with energy, which is inconsistent with observations. The observed decrease of the secondary to primary ratios may therefore suggest that a considerable part of the acceleration has taken place rapidly at the sources. Astronomical observations on the other hand indicate that shocks from supernovae do exist in the galaxy and observations in the interplanetary space show clear evidence that shock acceleration works.

Simon, M.

Mass resolution optimization in a large isotopic composition experiment

A range-energy experiment was built to measure the isotopic composition of galactic cosmic rays. An enrichment of neutron rich isotopes, 22Ne and (25Mg + 26Mg) in particular, when compared to the solar composition is shown. A rich statistics measurement of these and other neutron-rich isotopes in the galactic flux yields information to the source of these particles. A computer simulation of the experiment was used to estimate the instrument resolution. The Cherenkov detector light collection efficiency, was calculated. Absorption of light in the radiator was considered to determine the optimum Cherenkov medium thickness. The experiment will determine the isotopic composition for the elements neon through argon in the energy range 300 to 800 MeV per nucleon.

Esposito, J. A.

Digital Filters for Digital Phase-locked Loops

An s/z hybrid model for a general phase locked loop is proposed. The impact of the loop filter on the stability, gain margin, noise equivalent bandwidth, steady state error and time response is investigated. A specific digital filter is selected which maximizes the overall gain margin of the loop. This filter can have any desired number of integrators. Three integrators are sufficient in order to track a phase jerk with zero steady state error at loop update instants. This filter has one zero near z = 1.0 for each integrator. The total number of poles of the filter is equal to the number of integrators plus two.

Simon, M.

A large area experiment to determine cosmic ray isotopic abundances

Measurements of the isotopic composition of cosmic rays have shown that the cosmic ray isotope ratios, Ne-22/Ne-20 and (Mg-25 + Mg-26)/Mg-24, exceed the solar abundance ratios by factors of 2.7 and 1.8, respectively. There are several processes which could be responsible for the observed excess of neutron-rich isotopes. The considered models imply neutron enrichment in the case of other, less abundant species, and a measurement of the involved isotopic abundances could provide a basis for the determination of the dominating processes occurring in cosmic ray sources. However, an experiment utilizing special equipment is necessary to conduct the required measurements. Such an experiment, the Aluminum Isotopic Composition Experiment (Alice), is being designed in a joint effort involving NASA and a West German university. Alice uses a Cherenkov-range technique to determine the isotopic composition of elements from oxygen through argon.

Mauger, B. G.

Private financing and operation of a space station: Investment requirements, risk, government support and other primary business management considerations

Private investment in a manned space station is considered as an alternative to complete government sponsorship of such a program. The implications of manned space operations are discussed from a business perspective. The most significant problems and risks which would be faced by a private company involved in a space station enterprise are outlined and possible government roles in helping to overcome these difficulties suggested. Economic factors such as inflation and the rate of interest are of primary concern, but less obvious conditions such as antitrust and appropriate regulatory laws, government appropriations for space activities, and national security are also considered.

Simon, M.

Financial assessment of the Space Operations Center as a Private Business Venture

The possibility of private financing and operation of the Space Operations Center (SOC) is considered as an alternative to SOC development by the government. A hypothetical revenue model for SOC services is constructed and is compared with NASA estimates of SOC development and operating costs. A present value analysis based on a 1985 to 2000 investment horizon shows a potential for substantial profit in a private SOC venture, although the possibility of large losses is not discounted. Present value estimates range from $8.6 billion down to a low minus $3.3 billion.

Simon, M.

High-resolution X-ray observations of the Orion Nebula

Observations of the Trapezium region in the Orion Nebula have been obtained with the high-resolution X-ray imaging instrument on the Einstein Observatory. At least 58 sources of the X-ray emission have been revealed, and all but two can be identified with visible stars. The strongest source is the star theta(1)C, which excites the emission nebula, and has an X-ray luminosity of 6 x 10 to the 32nd ergs/s. No strong X-ray emission has been observed from members of the infrared cluster embedded within the Orion molecular cloud.

Ku, W. H.-M.

Cosmic ray studies with a gas Cerenkov counter in association with an ionization spectrometer

The results from a balloon-borne gas Cerenkov counter (threshold 16.5 GeV/nuc) and an ionization spectrometer are presented. The gas Cerenkov counter provides an absolute energy calibration for the response of the calorimeter for the Z range of 5-26 nuclei of cosmic rays. The contribution of scintillation to the gas Cerenkov pulse height has been obtained by independently selecting particles below the gas Cerenkov threshold using the ionization spectrometer. Energy spectra were derived by minimizing the chi-squared between a Monte Carlo simulated data and flight data. Best fit power laws were determined for C, N, O, Ne, Mg, and Si. The power laws, all consistent with E exp-2.7, are not good fits to the data. A better fit is obtained using the spectrum derived from the spectrometer.

Balasubrahmanyan, V. K.