Engineering topics

Woodward, Charles E.

Publications and source records attributed to Woodward, Charles E..

22 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1995

The temporal evolution of the 1-5 micron spectrum of V1974 CYGNI (Nova Cygni 1992)

We present 1-5 micrometer moderate- and high-resolution infrared spectra of the ONeMg nova V1974 (Nova Cygni 1992) obtained at multiple epochs during an approximately 500 day period after outburst. During the first 80 days, the spectra exhibited continuum emission from thermal bremsstrahlung (free-free radiation) with prominent recombination line emission from hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, and oxygen. The measurement Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of these recombination lines suggests that the initial velocity of the ejecta was approximately equals 2400-3400 km/s. We estimate from the hydrogen recombination line ratios that the density of the ionized shell at this epoch was approximately equals 10(exp 9), with an effective electron temperature of approximately equals 5 x 10(exp 3) K. As the temporal evolution of the ejecta progressed, the hydrogen and helium lines diminished in intensity, and coronal lines of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, neon, and sulfur appeared by approximately day 80. The coronal line emission phase persisted for over 400 days. During this epoch, no significant dust formation occurred. We find that the ejecta of V1974 Cyg were overabundant in aluminum with respect to silicon by a factor of approximately equals 5 and in magnesium with respect to silicon by a factor of greater than or equal to 3 relative to the solar photosphere. Comparison of our observed overabundances with recent model predictions of elemental synthesis in ONeMg outbursts suggests that the accreted envelope on V1974 Cyg was close to solar composition and that the precursor ONeMg white dwarf had a mass of approximately equals 1 solar mass.

Woodward, Charles E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The temporal evolution of the 4-14 micron spectrum of V1974 Cygni (Nova Cygni 1992)

We present 4-14 micron spectra of the ONeMg nova V1974 Cygni (Nova Cygni 1992) obtained during 1992 May on the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) and from the NASA 1.52 m infrared telescope at Mount Lemmon, Arizona in 1992 October/November with the HIFOGS mid-infrared spectrometer. The spectra at both epochs showed continuum emission from thermal bremstrahlung (free-free radiation) with emission lines from hydrogen and (Ne II), (Ar III), and Ne VI). During May, approximately = 80 days after outburst, the dominant emission lines in the mid-infrared spectra were a blend of three lines (Pf-alpha, Hu-beta, H11-7) near 7.5 microns and (Ne II) at 12.8 microns. By October (approximately 160 days later), the hydrogen emission had virtually disappeared, the (Ne II) 12.8 micron line had weakened considerably, and a pronounced (Ne VI) emission line had appeared at 7.6 microns. This behavior confirms that V1974 Cyg is similar to the prototypical slow ONeMg 'neon nova', Nova QU Vulpeculae (1984 No. 2). The remarkable evolution of the spectrum suggests that the ionization conditions changed drastically between 1992 May and 1992 October. We find that the ejecta of V1974 Cyg were overabundant in neon with respect to silicon by a factor of approximately 10 relative to the solar photosphere. We present new model calculations of infrared sodium forbidden line emission from (Na III) 7.319 microns (Na IV) 9.039 microns, and (Na IV) 21.29 microns that can be compared with recent model predictions of sodium synthesis in ONeMg nova outbursts. We conclude that sodium abundances in ONeMg novae can be determined by observations of infrared coronal lines of sodium that are accssible to the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and instruments at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF).

Gehrz, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Strong Fe II forbidden line emission from NGC 1275

The detection of a bright Fe II 12567-A forbidden line from the central regions of NGC 1275 is reported. The intensity of the Fe II 12567-A forbidden line relative to that of the other emission lines indicates the presence of a high abundance of iron in the gas phase, while the narrow width of the feature implies an origin outside the active nucleus. While a power-law continuum from the nucleus or from the cooling flows could excite the Fe II forbidden line emission, neither offers a likely mechanism for processing the circumnuclear dust grains in NGC 1275. This is not the case for shocks, which can also produce the low-ionization features characteristic of many of the off-nucleus emission line regions of NGC 1275.

Rudy, Richard J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

High spatial resolution infrared imaging of L1551-IRS 5 - Direct observations of its circumstellar envelope

Images of L1551-IRS 5 were obtained at 1.65, 2.2, and 3.8 microns using the University of Rochester's Infrared Array Camera. It is found that IRS 5 is spatially resolved, and that it is elongated: the observed FWHM size of IRS 5 is 4.1 x 2.8 arcsec-squared at 2.2 microns. These observations are interpreted in terms of a flattened circumstellar envelope that is viewed from about 18 deg above its equatorial plane, a configuration that has been treated theoretically by Lefevre et al. In this model the central star is not seen directly, but only light scattered toward the observer from the visible polar region, where the envelope is thinnest, is observed. It is deduced that the envelope has a diameter of 1000 AU, a molecular hydrogen density of greater than or approximately equal to 4 x 10 to the 6th/cu cm, and a mass of greater than or approximately equal to 0.02 M solar mass, which results in an extinction of Av greater than about 33 mag to the central source.

Moneti, Andrea↗