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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS1983

The angular diameters, effective temperatures, radii, and luminosities of 10 Wolf-Rayet stars

The effective temperature of a normal star with an absorption-line spectrum is a parameter which represents the total amount of radiative energy emerging from each square centimeter of surface of the star. Effective temperatures have been obtained for 10 Wolf-Rayet stars by means of ultraviolet energies determined from high-resolution International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectra and energies determined from observations made in the visible range. It is essential to use high-resolution IUE spectra in order to resolve the continuum from many emission lines which are present, particularly shortward of 1900 A. The results confirm what was found earlier, namely that the effective temperatures of Wolf-Rayet stars are similar to those of early B stars. The effective temperature of the central star of the planetary nebula BD 30 deg 3639, HD 184738, is found to be 18,000 K.

Underhill, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Star formation in the nucleus of NGC 253

The B-alpha and B-gamma lines of atomic hydrogen have been observed at eight positions near the nucleus of NGC 253 with 6 arcsec spatial resolution. Most if not all of the bolometric luminosity of the central 200 pc of this galaxy is probably produced by O and B stars which have recently formed. The spatial distribution of the line fluxes is similar to that of the 10 microns flux, supporting the hypothesis that the 10 microns radiation is powered by the newly formed stars. The extinction to the ionized gas varies over small distances in this region, explaining the discrepancies between extinction and Lyman continuum luminosity derived separately from visual and infrared line observations.

Beck, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

ROSAT-IUE observations of symbiotic stars. The x ray morphology of high latitude associations

The purposes of this grant included: to provide for continuing investigations of the x-ray properties of a class of interacting binaries known as symbiotic stars through analysis of their detection statistics in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey and simultaneous IUE observations; and to obtain and analyze ROSAT images of selected high latitude OB star associations, in order to permit multi-wavelength dissection of their contents and energetics. The first study is expected to result in enhanced information on mass transfer and accretion in such systems, and provide a more quantitative basis for interpretation of the spectra of these and similar stellar and extragalactic systems. This particular effort represents NASA support for an approved collaboration between the PI and the ROSAT Team at MPE Garching. In the second study, we seek to correlate the strength with which the diffuse clouds have been shocked and the recent star formation triggered, namely, the O and B stars of the Association, as well as nearby T Tauri stars. The large scale X-ray emission in deep ROSAT PSPC images will be compared with the optical, infrared, and radio topology of nearby supernova remnants, molecular clouds, and the distribution of massive stars in the regions. This should enable us to test whether the star formation triggering shocks originate from in the galactic plane (nearby supernovae) or from the collision of infalling matter with the disk material (galactic fountain dynamics).

Stencel, Robert E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Hydrogen/helium ratio in stars

The ratio of hydrogen-to-helium in main sequence B stars is analyzed. An attempt was made to match each observed neutral helium profile with a theoretically calculated profile. Observational results show an overall average of helium-to-hydrogen is roughly between 10% and 11% by number of atoms. Detailed results of each star examined are given in graphs. Theoretical and calculated results are in reasonable agreement.

Leckrone, D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The complete Einstein Observatory X-ray survey of the Orion Nebula region.

We have analyzed archival Einstein Observatory images of a roughly 4.5 square degree region centered on the Orion Nebula. In all, 245 distinct X-ray sources have been detected in six High Resolution Imager (HRI) and 17 Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) observations. An optical database of over 2700 stars has been assembled to search for candidate counterparts to the X-ray sources. Roughly half the X-ray sources are identified with a single Orion Nebula cluster member. The 10 main-sequence O6-B5 cluster stars detected in Orion have X-ray activity levels comparable to field O and B stars. X-ray emission has also been detected in the direction of four main-sequence late-B and early-A type stars. Since the mechanisms producing X-rays in late-type coronae and early-type winds cannot operate in the late-B and early-A type atmospheres, we argue that the observed X-rays, with L(sub X) approximately = 3 x 10(exp 30) ergs/s, are probably produced in the coronae of unseen late-type binary companions. Over 100 X-ray sources have been associated with late-type pre-main sequence stars. The upper envelope of X-ray activity rises sharply from mid-F to late-G, with L(sub x)/L(sub bol) in the range 10(exp -4) to 2 x 10(exp -3) for stars later than approximately G7. We have looked for variability of the late-type cluster members on timescales of a day to a year and find that 1/4 of the stars show significantly variable X-ray emission. A handful of the late-type stars have published rotational periods and spectroscopic rotational velocities; however, we see no correlation between X-ray activity and rotation. Thus, for this sample of pre-main-sequence stars, the large dispersion in X-ray activity does not appear to be caused by the dispersion in rotation, in contrast with results obtained for low-mass main-sequence stars in the Pleiades and pre-main-sequence stars in Taurus-Auriga.

Gagne, Marc↗
NASA NTRS1991

Star formation in Taurus-Auriga - The high-mass stars

The question of whether the star formation in the Tau-Aur clouds produces low-mass stars exclusively is considered. The paper identifies 29 B stars as possible kinematic members of the T association, and it is argued that the data are consistent with the existence of a single initial mass function (IMF) generating the low and high-mass stars. It is concluded that the Tau-Aur T association is related to the Cas-Tau OB association, and there is no evidence that the association IMF differs from the field star IMF.

Walter, Frederick M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A survey of spectral morphology and rotational velocities among the helium-rich stars

A spectroscopically homogeneous listing of all known members of the helium-rich B star category is presented together with uniform estimates of their rotational velocities. Equivalent widths of hydrogen, helium, and metal lines in the spectra of the helium-rich and comparison stars are given. The distribution of rotational velocities is found to be indistinguishable from that of normal early B dwarfs, except for a possible excess of rapid rotators. The existence of metal abundance anomalies in the helium-rich spectra is critically discussed, as is the identification of helium-rich stars as massive Population I objects with normal main sequence cores and surface helium enhancements, or as low mass highly evolved objects with processed cores.

Walborn, N. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Discovery of a massive unseen star in LMC X-3

Spectroscopic observations of the optical counterpart of LMC X-3 show it to be a spectroscopic binary in the Large Magellanic Cloud with an orbital period of 1.70 days. The B3 main-sequence primary has a large radial velocity amplitude indicating a mass function of 2.3 solar masses. LMC X-3 is an extremely luminous and variable X-ray source, but no 1.7 day X-ray periodicity has been detected. The lack of optical and X-ray eclipses limits the inclination to less than 70 degrees and implies a mass for the unseen star of more than 9.0 solar masses, if the B star has a normal mass. The system now appears to be the strongest evidence for the existence of a stellar mass black hole and is the first extragalactic example.

Remillard, R.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Star sensing for an earth imaging sensor

A star sensor includes (a) a scan mirror for scanning at least one star; (b) a detector array, coupled to the scan mirror, for detecting the one star; and (c) a processor, coupled to the detector array. The processor includes a first filter configured to reduce noise spikes in the detected one star, and provide a detection mask of filtered data. Also included is a second filter configured to reduce non-contiguous samples in the detection mask. A centroid calculator is included to determine a location of the one star, after the first and second filtering. The first filter includes a median filter, followed by an averaging filter, both configured to filter the one star in an along-scan direction of the scan mirror. The first filter includes another median filter, which is configured to filter the detected one star in the cross-scan direction of the scan mirror. An adder is included to subtract (a) output data from the other median filter from (b) output data from the averaging filter and provide filtered star data to the second filter.

Ellis, Kenneth K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Star formation in the M17 SW giant molecular cloud

The first high-sensitivity, high-resolution far-IR survey of an entire molecular cloud complex is presented. The 20 km/s M17 SW complex, in addition to the three luminous M17 sources, contains 10 sources spread over 110 pc. The 10 lower luminosity sources divide into two groups: small blister sources powered by late O stars and compact sources powered by clusters of early B stars. No compact far-IR sources with luminosities between the detection limit and 10,000 solar luminosities were detected. Three possible formation mechanisms for the stars that power the far-IR sources in the M17 SW complex are examined. Sequential formation cannot explain the sources seen throughout the complex. Some type of stochastic formation mechanism or collapse induced by a spiral density wave could explain the observations.

Jaffe, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Einstein Observations of X-ray emission from A stars

Results are reported from the combined CfA Stellar Survey of selected bright A stars and an Einstein Guest Observer program for Ap and Am stars. In an initial report of results from the CfA Stellar Surveys by Vaiana et al. (1981) it was noted that the spread in observed X-ray luminosities among the few A stars observed was quite large. The reasons for this large spread was studied by Pallavicini et al. (1981). It was found that the X-ray emission from normal stars is related very strongly to bolometric luminosity for early-type stars and to rotation rate for late-type stars. However, an exception to this rule has been the apparently anomalous behavior of A star X-ray emission, for which the large spread in luminosity showed no apparent correlation with either bolometric luminosity or stellar rotation rate. In the present study, it is shown that the level of emission from normal A stars agrees with the correlation observed for O and B stars.

Golub, L.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Looking Closely at "Medusa": Star Forming Regions in NGC 4194

The "Medusa" (NGC 4194, Mrk 201) is a blue compact galaxy, with strong far infrared and radio emission. Ground-based observations exhibit a distorted image with a tidal tail and regions of strong star formation. A population of massive O and early B stars is evident from the IUE spectra HST survey of Seyfert and starburst galaxies notes NCG 4194 is an HII galaxy with lumpy HII regions and knots. The central starburst is apparently produced by a galaxy merger. As part of an investigation of star formation in interacting galaxies, we have obtained ultraviolet and visible images of the central regions of NGC 4194 with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on HST. Imaging was obtained in two ultraviolet (FUV-MAMA+F25QTZ, NUV-MAMA+F25CN182) and one visible (CCD+F28X50LP) band. Individual star forming knots (at HST resolution) have been identified. We present sized and luminosities for the individual knots, and the knot luminosity function. We compare our data to current starburst models to constrain stellar ages and populations. Knot characteristics as a function of location in the galaxy will also be discussed.

Weistrop, D.↗
NASA NTRS1995

EUVE spectroscopy of epsilon Canis Majoris (B2 II) from 70 to 730 A

We present spectra of the brightest stellar source of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation longward of 400 A, the B2 II star, epsilon CMa. These data were taken with the three spectrometers aboard the NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite (EUVE) during the first cycle of pointed observations. We report on our initial studies of the continuum and line spectrum of the stellar photosphere in the 320 to 730 A region, and on the wind emission lines observed in the 170-375 A region. This is the first EUV spectrum of an early-type star, and thus makes epsilon CMa the most comprehensively observed B star from the X-ray to infrared regimes. The radiation in both the H Lyman continuum and He I continuum (shortward of 504 A) are found to be significantly greater than predicted by both Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE model atmospheres. Since epsilon CMa also exhibits a mid-infrared excess, this points to the outer layers being warmer than the models indicate. The anomalously large Lyman continuum flux, combined with the very low column density measured in the direction toward this star implies that it is the dominant source of hydrogen ionization of the local interstellar medium in the immediate vicinity of the sun. All of the lines predicted to be strong from model atmospheres are present and several wind absorption features are also identified. We have detected emission lines from highly ionized iron that are consistent with the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observations if a multi-temperature emission model is used, and the assumption is made that there is significant absorption beyond that of the neutral phase of the ISM. The spectrum shows strong O III 374 A line emission produced by the Bowen flourescence mechanism, which has not previously been observed in the spectra of hot stars.

Cassinelli, J. P.↗