Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Wagoner, R. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Wagoner, R. V..

11 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Spectral flux from low-density photospheres - Approximate results

Radiative transfer through sharp, quasi-static atmospheres containing mostly hydrogen is considered at densities low enough that scattering dominates absorption and collisional excitations are negligible. It is found that the balance between photoionization and radiative recombination which governs the atomic level populations greatly reduces the effective absorptive opacity. Approximate results for the emergent continuum spectral flux are obtained, significantly different than if local thermodynamic equilibrium level populations were assumed. The flux jumps at the photoionization thresholds are relatively small for the photospheric temperatures T sub p(v) greater than or about 6000 K considered, and T sub p increases toward the far-ultraviolet. It appears that the lack of a Balmer jump in spectra of Type II supernovae implies that the flux is diluted below that of a blackbody at the same color temperature, which increases the value of the Hubble constant obtained by the Baade (1926) method.

Hershkowitz, S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spectral flux from low-density photospheres - Numerical results

Radiative transfer through sharp, quasi-static atmospheres whose opacity is dominated by hydrogen is considered at densities low enough that scattering usually dominates absorption and radiative excitations usually dominate collisional excitations. Numerical results for the continuum spectral flux are obtained for effective temperatures T(e) = 6000-16,000 K and scale heights Delta-R = 10 to the 10th - 10 to the 14th cm. Spectra are significantly different than if LTE level populations were assumed. Comparison with observations of the Type II supernova 1980k tends to increase the value of the Hubble constant previously obtained by the Baade (1926) method.

Hershkowitz, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Evolution of the innermost stable orbits around accreting neutron stars

The surface of most neutron stars with 'soft' equations of state lies within the innermost stable circular orbit predicted by general relativity. In disk accretion onto a weakly magnetized neutron star, the disk will reach the stellar surface for 'stiff' equations of state, but for soft equations of state the matter will hit the surface in free fall at an angle of about 0.001 to 0.1 radians. All calculations are carried out through first order in the angular momentum of the star.

Kluzniak, W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Predicted continuum spectra of type II supernovae - LTE results

The continuum spectral energy distribution of the flux emerging from type II supernovae is calculated from quasi-static radiative transfer through a power-law density gradient, assuming radiative equilibrium and LTE. It is found that the Balmer jump disappears at high effective temperatures and low densities, while the spectrum resembles that of a dilute blackbody but is flatter with a sharper cutoff at the short-wavelength end. A significant UV excess is found in all models calculated. The calculation should be considered exploratory because of significant effects which are anticipated to arise from departure from LTE.

Shaviv, G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Gravitational radiation from accreting neutron stars

Attention is given to the evolution of neutron stars whose magnetic fields are so weak that (1) the effects of the magnetosphere on the accretion disk are negligible, allowing it to extend to the surface of the star; and (2) the loss of energy and angular momentum by the pulsar mechanism is negligible compared with that provided by the accretion disk. The small nonaxisymmetric distortion of the neutron star should produce some modulation of the X-ray emission at the gravitational wave frequency, and it is hypothesized that this frequency will lie in the 200-800 Hz range. This is significantly below the rotational frequency of the neutron star.

Wagoner, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Post-Newtonian gravitational radiation from orbiting point masses

General formulas are derived which describe the gravitational radiation at large distances from a system of bodies whose sizes are small compared with their separations. The calculation is carried out through post-Newtonian order within general relativity. More explicit formulas are derived for two-body systems, and detailed results are presented for circular orbits, gravitational bremsstrahlung, and head-on collisions.

Wagoner, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Gravitational-wave observations as a tool for testing relativistic gravity.

The nature of gravitational wave measurements is discussed, along with their significance for tests of relativistic gravity theory. It is shown that the Riemann tensor of the most general wave is composed of six modes of polarization expressible in terms of six 'electric' components that govern driving forces in a detector. Consequently, currently feasible detectors can obtain all the measurable information contained in the most general wave permitted by any metric theory of gravity. It is important that future experiments be designed to measure all six 'electric' components.

Eardley, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Gravitational-wave observations as a tool for testing relativistic gravity

Approaches regarding the role of gravitational wave observations in the investigation of relativistic theories of gravity are treated as providing greater potential in the prediction of wave propagation speed and the polarization properties of gravitational waves. The invariant classes of waves discussed have the same post-Newtonian limit as general relativity for a reasonable choice of cosmological models.

Eardley, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Interpretation of far infra-red emission from interstellar grains

Application of the Kramers-Kronig relations to grains in the interstellar medium. It is found that the recent UV, visual, and infrared extinction curves provide marginal evidence against silicates as the major cause of this extinction. In the far infrared, grains contribute little to the extinction, but can be observed in thermal emission. It is shown that the far infrared emission from grains in a given bandwidth sets a lower limit to the grain temperature. From observed intensities from the galactic plane at 100 microns and from Orion at 350 microns, minimum grain temperatures are found which are larger than the observed brightness temperature. The emission and extinction data can be used together to constrain the allowable range of parameters for the grains.

Caroff, L. J.↗