Engineering topics

Walker, R. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Walker, R. G..

12 records

NASA NTRS1990

IRAS comet observations - The continuing saga

IRAS observations of comets include photometry, spectroscopy, and multiple wavelength imagery. The large beam of the IRAS detector array, which was well suited to detect faint extended emissions of cometary origin, has produced a large data set that is complex to analyze. Although some preliminary results of the IRAS comet photometry have been published, definitive analysis must explicitly account for the convolution of the emission source with the nonuniform spatial response of the detector array. This paper reviews the progress made toward the production and subsequent analysis of instrument-free comet images, and presents the current state of the art IRAS images of comet Kopff.

Walker, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

IRAS observations of the Pluto-Charon system

High-signal-to-noise-ratio observations of the Pluto-Charon system at 25, 60, and 100 microns using IRAS are combined with visual-magnitude and mutual-eclipse constraints to evaluate thermal models of Pluto and Charon. These models are consistent with eclipse observation by Dunbar and Tedesco (1986) but not with Reinsch and Pakull (1987). The most likely model for Charon is the standard asteroid model, typical for the icy Galilean and Saturnian satellites. Charon models with a significant atmosphere can be ruled out. Based on currently available radius and albedo constraints, no significant numerical distinction is possible between Pluto models ranging from isothermal spheres with surface emissivity between 0.4 and 0.9. Concerns regarding the viability of an emissivity as low as 0.4 favor the higher-emissivity models. The globally uniform surface temperature of Pluto may thus at present be as low as 45 K, with a methane column abundance of 6.7 cm atm. The most likely models are centered on radii of 1180 and 747 km and albedos of 0.47 and 0.26 for Pluto and Charon, respectively.

Aumann, H. H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

IRAS survey of asteroids

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) scanned the celestial sphere during 1983 through bandpasses centered at wavelengths of 12, 25, 60 and 100 microns. In addition to sources fixed on the sky, many moving objects were observed. This data set is the largest and least biased survey of asteroids and comets ever conducted. Included are main belt asteroids, Mars-crossers, earth-approachers, and Trojans. Measurements for the known asteroids have been reduced and organized into a number of data products which are available to researchers. The data for 'new' asteroids are being processed.

Matson, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

IRAS observations of comets

The moderate spatial resolution and high sensitivity of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), which surveyed the celestial sphere during 1983 at wavelengths of 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns, were particularly well suited to detecting extended thermal emission from cometary dust. Sources with infrared color temperatures characteristic of solar system bodies, and at the ephemerides position of known comets were selected for analysis by the IRAS Asteroid Data Analysis System (ADAS). The data base is now available for use by researchers. This paper describes the development of the data base, details its entries, and presents a statistical analysis of its contents. The IRAS survey contains multiple observations of many periodic comets. A brief description and analysis is given of the observed infrared and derived physical properties for several comets of special interest.

Walker, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Cryogenic telescope on the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) has completed an unbiased all-sky survey at wavelengths from 10 to 100 microns. The design and performance of the focal plane array is described with emphasis on in-orbit measurements of the sensitivity and stability. In the four broad spectral bands centered at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns, the system noise equivalent flux density (NEFD) values are in Jy/(Square root of Hz), 0.03, 0.025, 0.046, and 0.21, respectively (Jansky = 10 to the -26th W/sq m/Hz). For point sources, a single scan at the survey rate of 3.8 arcmin/s yields limiting flux densities at the 3-sigma confidence level of 0.36, 0.30, 0.39, and 1.2 Jy. The dc stability of the junction field effect transistor (JFET) amplifiers and the excellent off-axis rejection of the telescope permit total flux measurements of extended infrared emission at levels below 6,000,000 Jy/sr. Response of the extrinsic silicon and germanium photo-detectors to ionizing radiation is described.

Low, F. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Observations of comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock 1983d

Observations of comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock 1983d in the infrared region from 12 to 100 microns are reported. The dominant feature seen in the infrared is an extensive dust tail not reported in visual observations. A dust production rate of 200 kg/s is deduced. The far-infrared spectrum suggests that the radius of a mean grain decreases from 30 to 5 microns along the tail.

Walker, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Discovery of a shell around Alpha Lyrae

IRAS observations of Alpha Lyrae reveal a large infrared excess beyond 12 microns. The excess over an extrapolation of a 10,000 K blackbody is a factor of 1.3 at 25 microns, 7 at 60 microns, and 16 at 100 microns. The source of 60 microns emission has a diameter of about 20 arcsec. This is the first detection of a large infrared excess from a main-sequence star without significant mass loss. The most likely origin of the excess is thermal radiation from solid particles more than a millimeter in radius, located approximately 85 AU from Alpha Lyr and heated by the star to an equilibrium temperature of 85 K. These results provide the first direct evidence outside of the solar system for the growth of large particles from the residual of the prenatal cloud of gas and dust.

Aumann, H. H.↗

NASA NTRS1984

IRAS observations of cometary dust

It is pointed out that solid material present in the coma and tail of a comet is revealed by the scattering of sunlight and thermal emission of absorbed solar radiation. The large beam size and low background of the cold Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) telescope make it extremely well suited to the measurement of faint diffuse thermal emission from solid grains associated with comets. The IRAS project was conducted jointly by the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. Its basic objective involved a survey of the sky in four wavelength regions centered on 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. The present paper is mainly concerned with IRAS observations of the coma-nucleus regions as defined by the maximum in the intensity distribution. Attention is given to circumstances of comet observations, dust production rates, and a discussion of the results.

Walker, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A proposed search on the solar neighborhood for substellar objects

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) program will produce an extremely sensitive all-sky survey over the wavelength region 8 to 120 microns when the mission is flown in 1982. These data will provide a novel opportunity to detect planetary-sized objects having masses smaller than 0.08 solar masses in or near the solar system. The improved detection limit of the IRAS will greatly increase the volume of space searched for such objects, as compared with previous optical and infrared studies.

Reynolds, R. T.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Infrared Astronomical Satellite /IRAS/ and Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility /SIRTF/ - Implications of scientific objectives on focal plane sensitivity requirements

The full potential of infrared astronomy can be realized only through observations made with space-based telescopes cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The paper outlines the scientific mission, system description, and focal plane requirements for two cryogenic telescopes: the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF). IRAS, a 60-cm superfluid-helium-cooled telescope system, will perform a one-year 8-120-micron IR sky survey; it will provide results of high reliability and sensitivity, produce the first complete survey data for the 30-120-micron region, and fill in missing portions (spectrally and spatially) of previous surveys short of 30 microns; its focal plane assembly is being designed to approach background-limited performance with an array of 62 discrete detectors. The SIRTF design will allow detailed follow-up studies in the 1-1000-micron range with a 116-160-cm observatory-class instrument. The Shuttle sortie capability introduces the unique SIRTF concept of an easily refurbishable or replaceable focal plane instrument complement in an orbiting cryogenic telescope.

Mccreight, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Infrared Astronomical Satellite

The objective of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite is to produce an unbiased all-sky survey in the wavelength region between 8 and 120 microns. Using a 60 cm diameter helium cooled telescope and detector arrays which are essentially zodiacal light background photon noise limited, heretofore unprecedented sensitivity can be achieved. The optical design, the focal plane layout and expected performance of the current design concept are discussed.

Aumann, H. H.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Results from the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory survey catalog

Results of an IR survey program designed to obtain the spatial and brightness distributions of a representative sample of IR-emitting objects in the 3-30 micron range are analyzed. Small cryogenically cooled telescopes carried above the atmosphere on sounding rockets were employed in the research. Minimization of sky noise and photon background, experimental equipment, and data reduction techniques are discussed.

Price, S. D.↗