Engineering topics

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.

Publications and source records attributed to Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y..

14 records

NASA NTRS1995

A far-infrared spectral line survey of 23 infrared-bright Galaxy nuclei

We present results from a KAO survey of fine-structure lines observed in 23 infrared-luminous galaxies. One or more of the following lines was observed and/or detected in each galaxy: (S III) 19, 33 microns, (Ne V) 24 microns, (O IV) 26 microns, (Fe II) 26 microns, (Si II) 35 microns, (O III) 52, 88 microns, (0 I) 63, 146 microns, (N III) 57 micro ns, (N II) 122, 205 microns, (C II) 158 microns. The galaxies span a wide range of morphologies (irregular to grand design), have varying metallicities, and include mergers, AGN's, and starburst systems. The observations were made beginning in 1988 using the facility Cryogenic Grating Spectrometer onboard the KAO at a typical resolution of approximately 60-140 km/s and with a 30-44 deg beam. We interpret the (C II) and (O I) fluxes, along with previous measurements of the IR continuum fluxes, in the context of photo dissociation region (PDR) models (Tielens & Hollenbach 1985; Wolfire et al. 1990). With these models, we obtain estimates of the typical interstellar UV fields incident on the line emitting regions (102-104 times the local interstellar radiation field) and the total masses (10(exp 7)-10(exp 8) Solar Mass), densities (10(exp 3)-10(exp 4)/cu cm), and temperatures (100-250 K) of the warm atomic gas. The (O III) (52/88) and (S III) (33/19) line flux ratios constrain the range of electron densities and pressures found within the ionized regions. The (O III) and (S III) lines also provide estimates of the effective temperature of the ionizing stars and elemental abundances within the ionized regions of these galactic nuclei. Our measurements imply typical gas pressures of nT approximately 5 x 10(exp 6)/cu cm K and typical upper mass cutoffs of 25-35 Solar Mass. The low-metallicity systems show high (C II)/CO and (O I)/CO flux ratios, 3-5 times the Milky Way value, indicating that they contain a larger fraction of photodissociated gas relative to the molecular material.

Lord, Steven D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Dripping handrails and the quasi-periodic oscillations of the AM Herculis objects

AM Her objects exhibit periodic, quasi-periodic, and aperiodic variability on timescales ranging from seconds to years. Here, we investigate a process for the production of aperiodic and quasi-periodic accretion rate fluctuations. We consider the nonlinear dynamical model known as the dripping handrail (DHR). The DHR, basically a model for certain types of spatially extended systems and loosely based on water condensing on and dripping off a handrail, has recently been used as a model for the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) and very low frequency noise of the low-mass X-ray binary Sco X-1. Here, we show that (1) the DHR is a robust QPO generation process in that it leads to QPO production under a wide range of conditions and assumptions; (2) the phenomenology of the DHR is consistent with the observed aperiodic and quasi-periodic varibility of the AM Her QPO source VV Pup over timescales ranging from 16 ms to 20 s; and (3) a single DHR model can produce both broadband QPOs and features with quality Q greater than 20 as observed in several AM Her QPO sources.

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Further studies of gravitationally unstable protostellar disks

Models of the solar nebula reveal that it might have been gravitationally unstable, both early and later in its evolution. Such instabilities produce density waves and associated gravitational torques, which are potent agents of angular momentum transport. In previous work, we conducted a series of numerical simulations designed to quantify the effects of gravitational instabilities in a generalizable way (Tomley, Cassen, & Steiman-Cameron 1991). Here we present a second series of simulations in which we examine disks of greater size, increased star/disk mass ratio, and flatter surface density distribution than those in our initial study. The purpose is to represent disks at a later stage of evolution than those already studied, to test the quantitative relations derived in our earlier work and to explore the effects of mass ratio on the results. The new results indicate that the tendencies for unstable, uncooled disks to heat to stability and for dynamical evolution rates to be proportional to cooling rates are general characteristics of the behavior of gravitationally unstable disks. Nevertheless, there are quantitative, and (for strong cooling) even qualitative differences that are revealed in the new simulations, particularly with regard to the cooling rates at which clumping tends to occur.

Tomley, Leslie↗

NASA NTRS1992

The remarkable twisted disk of NGC 4753 and the shapes of galactic halos

The complex dust lanes in the S0 galaxy NGC 4753 are shown to be consistent with a disk that is strongly twisted by differential precession. Yet another peculiar S0 can therefore be explained as the result of an accretion event. An evolving disk model is fitted to the observed distribution. This disk is inclined by 15 deg relative to the galaxy's equatorial plane and twisted such that its line of nodes changes smoothly by 3.8 pi over a factor of seven in radius. The model indicates that most of the galaxy's mass is unseen, is nearly spherically distributed, and has a nearly scale-free spatial distribution. The ellipticity of the total galactic mass distribution must be constant to within 20 percent over the radial extent of the twisted disk - a conclusion which may significantly constrain galaxy formation mechanisms.

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.↗

NASA NTRS1991

High-speed multicolor photometry of V834 Centaurus

Results are presented of high-speed photometric observations of the Am Her object, V834 Centaurus which, during its high state, revealed the 0.3-0.9 Hz quasi-period oscillations (QPOs) with rms amplitudes of 3.3 +/-1.1 percent and 2.5 +/-0.8 percent in the V and R bands, respectively, while the U-band amplitude was consistent with zero on one night but was 2.5 +/-1.2 percent on the following night. The QPOs in the B band were always consistent with zero. The data were obtained on the nights of June 16-21, 1990, when the average V magnitude of V834 Cen was about 15.3, confirming the high-luminosity state. The dominance of the QPOs by V-band emission is in contrast to earlier studies by Larsson which found that the QPOs were dominated by emission in the B and R band, depending upon the luminosity state of V834 Cen. In all cases, the QPOs of V834 have frequencies of 0.3-0.9 Hz. It is inferred that the color of the QPOs could be highly variable between luminosity states and may be variable in the U band within the high-luminosity state.

Middleditch, John↗

NASA NTRS1990

The 8 second optical quasi-periodic oscillations in GX 339 - 4

Submillisecond optical photometry of the black hole candidate GX 339 - 4 was obtained on August 1, 1989, (UT) using the 1.5 m telescope of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. Eight second quasi-periodic oscillations of width 0.02-0.04 Hz and root mean square amplitude 4-6 percent are found. The visual magnitude of GX 339 - 4 at the beginning of the observation was m(v) = 17.7. Motch et al. (1985) have previously reported 7 s optical quasi-periodic oscillations when GX 339 - 4 was also m(v) = 17.7 and in an X-ray off-state. No X-ray observations were made during the present optical observations and so the X-ray state of GX 339 - 4 cannot be ascertained. In addition, Motch et al. have also reported 20 s optical quasi-periodic oscillations with 30-40 percent full amplitude but when GX 339 - 4 was much brighter, m(v) = 15.4, and in a hard X-ray state.

Imamura, James N.↗

NASA NTRS1990

New observations and a photographic atlas of polar-ring galaxies

A photographic atlas of polar-ring galaxies and related objects is presented. The atlas includes kinematically confirmed polar-ring galaxies (category A), good candidates based on their morphological appearance (category B), possible candidates (category C), and possibly related objects (category D). New photometric and kinematic observations are reported for several galaxies in the catalog, including observations that show that UGC 7576 and UGC 9796 ( = II ZW 73) are S0 galaxies with polar rings. Roughly 0.5 percent of all nearby S0 galaxies appear to have polar rings. When corrected for various selection effects (e.g., nonoptimal viewing orientation, possible dimming, or limited lifetime of the ring) the percentage increases to about 5 percent of S0 galaxies which have, or have had a polar ring.

Whitmore, Bradley C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A simple analytic model for the evolution of captured galactic disks

The general analytic solution developed by Steinman-Cameron and Durisen and published in 1988 for the evolution of dissipative nonplanar disks is applied to captured galactic disks in model galaxies with nonspherical, scale-free, logarithmic gravitational potentials. Such potentials produce flat rotation curves, similar to those seen in real galaxies. In this case, the analytic solution yields a self-similar structure for the warps and twists that develop while the disks is settling. Being scale-free in a simple, analytic form, this solution is completely defined by only a few dimensionless fitting parameters. As a result, it can be utilized as a mathematical tool to fit settling disks in real galaxies. The minimum time it takes for a disk to settle into a steady state orientation is also a scale-free quantity when expressed in units of the precession period or the orbit period. For realistic parameters, settling times are on the order of one-half to two periods. The use of the time-dependent structure of settling disks as a probe of the three-dimensional mass distribution of the host galaxies, including dark halos, is discussed.

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Stability of polar rings around Neptune

An analytical and numerical study of the stability of polar rings around Neptune is presented. The stability proofs are based on various methods used to study gas disks in galaxies. It is shown that stable polar rings can exist despite energy dissipation by collisions between particles. Also, four equilibrium orientations which pass nearly over the pole of Neptune are found, two of which are stable in the presence of dissipation.

Dobrovolskis, Anthony R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Neptune may have polar rings

Perturbations from Neptune's highly inclined satellite Triton can maintain rings passing nearly over Neptune's poles. These hypothetical polar rings are nearly perpendicular to Triton's orbit as well, and lie within several degrees of the plane of Voyager II's trajectory through the Neptunian system. Polar rings can coexist with equatorial rings at different radii. A randomly oriented torus of debris around Neptune has a probability of several percent to settle into a polar ring. Voyager II stands a significant chance of encountering a polar ring.

Dobrovolskis, Anthony R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

High-speed optical photometry of the DQ Herculis object H2215-086

The paper presents the results of high-time-resolution white-light photometry of H2215-086 obtained at Las Campanas Observatory and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory during 1985-1987. Descriptions of periodic features, including power spectra due to rotational and orbital modulation, are presented as well as quasi-periodic features. It is found that H2215-086 displays large-amplitude modulations in its optical, IR, and X-ray emission on the 20.9 min rotational period of the white dwarf. Possible sites for this emission are discussed.

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Tilted-ring models of the prolate spiral galaxies NGC 5033 and 5055

Observations of the kinematics of H I in the disks of spiral galaxies have shown that isovelocity contours often exhibit a twisted pattern. The shape of a galaxy's gravitational potential well (whether due to luminous matter or dark matter) can be determined from the direction of the twist. If this twist is a manifestation of the precession of a nonsteady-state disk, it is shown that the twists of NGC 5033 and 5055 imply an overall prolate shape, with the major axis of the potential well aligned along the rotation axis of the disk. Therefore, the luminous disks of these galaxies must be embedded in dark halos that are prolate spheroids or prolatelike triaxial figures.

Christodoulou, Dimitris M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Millisecond optical photometry of the DQ Herculis objects

The results of millisecond optical photometry of the DQ Herculis stars EX Hya, H2252-035, V1223 Sgr, and AE Aqr obtained at the Las Campanas Observatory and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory during the years 1985, 1986, and 1987 are reported. The data for coherent and incoherent features are searched for. Coherent features (other than those previously known) were not detected for frequencies between 0.1 and 250 Hz at 4-sigma upper limits of 0.05-0.4 percent. Evidence is not found for 1-3 s, quasi-coherent features. Such features have been detected in the optical emission of the AM Her objects AN UMa, EF Eri, and E1405-451. Because of the similarities between AM Her and DQ Her objects, it was suggested that such quasi-coherent features might also be found in the DQ Her objects.

Imamura, James N.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Evolution of inclined galactic gas disks. I - A cloud-fluid approach

In this paper, numerical models are developed to follow the time-dependent behavior of inclined gas disks in nonspherical galaxies. Differential equations are developed which describe the time rate of change of the orbits of mass elements composing a thin, smoothly warping and twisting gas disk. These equations include multiple moments due to the nonsphericity of the galactic mass distribution, Coriolis effects arising from determination of orbits in a reference frame which tumbles with the surface figure of the galaxy, and viscous forces arising from cloud-cloud collisions. A cloud-fluid approach is used in determining the viscous forces. Physical arguments are used to determine the maximum permissible local value of the coefficient of kinematic viscosity. For small initial inclinations, analytic expressions are obtained for the inclination as a function of time and for the settling time, and the features of the solution are discussed.

Steiman-Cameron, Thomas Y.↗