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NASA NTRS2001

The Lyman-Alpha Forest in the Lensed Quasar Q0957+561 and the Characteristic Dimension of the Absorbing Clouds

Far-ultraviolet spectra of the gravitational lens components Q0957+561 A and 9 were obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) at five equally spaced epochs, one every two weeks. We confirm the flux variability of the quasar's Lyman-alpha and 0 VI emission lines reported by Dolan et al. (1995) in IUE spectra. The fluxes in these lines vary on a time scale of weeks in the observer's rest frame, independently of each other and of the surrounding continuum. The individual spectra of each image were co-added to investigate the properties of the Lyman-alpha forest along the two lines of sight to the quasar. Absorption lines having equivalent width W > 0.3 A in the observer's frame not previously identified by Michalitsianos et al. (1997) as interstellar lines, metal lines, or higher order Lyman lines were taken to be Ly-alpha forest lines. The existence of each line in this consistently selected set was then verified by its presence in two archival FOS spectra with -1.5 times higher signal to noise than our co-added spectra. Ly-alpha forest lines with W > 0.3 A appear at 41 distinct wavelengths in the spectra of the two images. one absorption line in the spectrum of image A has no counterpart in the spectrum of image B and one line in image B has no counterpart in image A. Based on the separation of the lines of sight over the redshift range searched for Ly-forest lines, the density of the absorbing clouds in the direction of Q0957+561 must change significantly over a distance R = 160 (+120, -70)/ h(sub 50) kpc in the simplified model where the absorbers are treated as spherical clouds and the characteristic dimension, R, is the radius. (We adopt H(sub 0) = 50 h(sub 50) km/s/ kpc, q(sub 0) = 1/2, and lambda = 0 throughout the paper.) The 95% confidence interval on R extends from (50 - 950)/h(sub 50) kpc We show in the Appendix that the fraction of Ly-alpha forest lines that appear in only one spectrum can be expressed as a rapidly converging power series in 1/r, where r the ratio of the radius of the cloud to the separation of the two lines of sight at the redshift of the cloud. This power series can be rewritten to give r in terms of the fraction of Ly-forest wavelengths that appear in the spectrum of only one image. A simple linear approximation to the solution that everywhere agrees with the power series solution to better than 0.8% for r > 2 is derived in the Appendix.

Dolan, Joseph↗
NASA NTRS1976

Resolution of the discrepancy between Balmer alpha emission rates, the solar Lyman beta flux, and models of geocoronal hydrogen concentration

New satellite Balmer alpha measurements and solar Lyman beta flux and line profile measurements, together with new measurements of the zodiacal light intensity used in correcting both ground and satellite Balmer alpha measurements for the effects of the Fraunhofer line in the zodiacal light, have been used in a reevaluation of the long-standing discrepancy between ground-based Balmer alpha emission rates and other geocoronal hydrogen parameters. The solar Lyman beta line center flux is found to be (4.1 plus or minus 1.3) billion photons per sq cm per sec per angstrom at S(10.7) equals 110 and, together with a current hydrogen model which has 92,000 atoms per cu cm at 650 km for T(inf) equals 950 K, gives good agreement between calculated Balmer alpha emission rates and the ground-based and satellite measurements.

Levasseur, A.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Observations of chromospheric lines from OSO-8

Results of OSO-8 measurements of the line profiles of the solar Lyman alpha, Ca II K and Mg II k lines are presented. Observations were obtained with the Laboratoire de Physique Stellaire et Planetaire spectrometer at spectral resolutions of 0.25 and 0.060 A for Lyman alpha and 0.025 A for the Mg II and Ca II lines. The Lyman alpha profiles are found to be highly variable according to spatial position with the intensities of the three lines well correlated, and confirm previous observations of the quiet solar chromosphere. Data suggest that the quiet chromosphere is a dynamical phenomenon whose description in terms of a static model atmosphere is only qualitatively valid at best.

Grossmann-Doerth, U.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Plume and interplume regions and solar wind acceleration in polar coronal holes between 1.5 and 3.5 R

The observations of the polar coronal hole regions, obtained with the ultraviolet coronagraph spectrometer (UVCS) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), are reported on. The O VI 1032 line profiles were found to be narrower within plumes. The difference in the line width increased with the distance from the center of the sun. The analysis of the O VI 1032, H I Lyman alpha 1216 line profiles, and the O VI 1032, 1037 doublet intensity ratio is summarized. The analysis showed that the O VI line width is enhanced in interplume regions, and increases with altitude both in plume and interplume regions. The H I Lyman alpha profiles are wider in the interplume regions. From the doublet intensity ratio data, it is shown that during the minimum of the solar cycle, the acceleration of the solar wind in polar regions reaches approximately 300 km/s at 3.5 solar radii.

Giordano, S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The effect of suprathermal protons on the physical conditions in Seyfert galaxy nuclei

Physical conditions in a high-density hydrogen gas heated and ionized by suprathermal protons are investigated, and the results are applied to the gas in the nuclear region of Seyfert galaxies. The gas is assumed to be optically thick to Lyman and Balmer line radiation. Mechanisms by which the radiation from the gas can balance the heating by the fast protons are investigated, and minimum values for the mass of gas are estimated. Under certain conditions, the suprathermal atoms themselves can cool the ambient gas by rescattering the line radiation into the optically thin region in the wings of the line. This mechanism, optical reverberation, can enhance the broad component of the hydrogen lines produced by inelastic atomic collisions and yield line widths consistent with those observed in Seyfert and quasar spectra. If this mechanism is important, the Lyman decrement can depend strongly on the temperature and density of the ambient hydrogen. The possibility is discussed of achieving dynamic equilibrium of the ambient gas by balancing the momentum transfer from the suprathermals with gravitational attraction of a massive central source.

Ptak, R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The far-ultraviolet spectra and geometric albedos of Jupiter and Saturn

Spectra and geometric albedoes in the range 1200 to 1940 A are compiled for Jupiter and Saturn on the basis of IUE observations. The spectra of both planets are dominated by H Lyman-alpha emission line at 1216 A, although absorption bands of C2H2 are apparent at longer wavelengths, particularly in the spectrum of Saturn, and the C I line at 1657 A is also observed. Geometric albedoes show emission features corresponding to the weak H2 Lyman and Werner bands around 1230-1280 A, auroral Lyman band emission, C I emission, and C2H2 absorption from 1600 to 1900 A. A model of atmospheric absorption in homogeneously mixed atmospheres of H2 and trace molecular absorbers is then presented and fit to the Jupiter albedo, resulting in a predicted atmosphere containing C2H2 and an unidentified molecular or particulate absorber. Finally, north-south maps of Jupiter continuum emission show limb darkening, and a comparison of equatorial and polar spectra indicates a polar increase in C2H2 absorption and weaker polar H2 emissions than previously reported.

Clarke, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1982

On the distribution of interstellar gas in the galactic halo

New and existing observations of 21-cm emission lines toward 10 distant, high-latitude OB stars are combined with existing observations of interstellar Lyman-alpha absorption lines, in order to determine the ratio, N21/N-alpha, of the two different column densities of H I. This ratio, which is related to the fraction of the cool, neutral gas in the halo that lies beyond each star, decreases smoothly to about unity with increasing distance from the galactic plane. The column density of neutral gas beyond about 1 kpc can be as much as one-third of the total above the plane, but only relatively small amounts of such gas lie more than 2 kpc from the plane. The distances to, and the possible birthplaces of, these Population I stars in the halo are discussed.

Hobbs, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

On the physical state of QSO Lyman-alpha absorption clouds

Arguments are presented that QSO Lyman-alpha absorption lines might arise in denser environments than is usually thought, with a larger neutral fraction in the gas than in the usual models of rarefied intergalactic clouds, and a much smaller total mean mass density in Lyman-alpha clouds. A model is sketched in which collapse or collision of thermally unstable protogalactic clouds forms shocks which trigger the collapse of cool thin sheets. The statistical properties of absorption lines formed in this way are consistent with those of the observed Lyman-alpha forest.

Hogan, Craig J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Modification of solar lines propagating through the interplanetary medium

The optical depths of the solar H Lyman-alpha and the He 584-A lines in interplanetary space are calculated. From these the solar line profiles at Saturn and Uranus are determined. It is found that the solar H Lyman-alpha line can be diminished strongly within a spectral region of less than 0.2 A from the line center. On the other hand, there is no significant absorption of the He 584-A line except in the downwind region, where absorption occurs within a spectral region of about 0.04 A. The effects of solar line modification on planetary and interplanetary glow observations are discussed.

Wu, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Ultraviolet continuum and H2 fluorescent emission in Herbig-Haro objects 43 and 47

IUE short wavelength spectra are presented for the low excitation Herbig-Haro objects HH 43 and HH 47. In the former, several emission lines in the Lyman band of H2 from an excited state are observed which are due to fluorescence from the H Ly-alpha line pumping a lower state (that is in turn excited by a low-velocity shock wave). No evidence of highly ionized gas emission is found in the UV spectra, and both objects exhibit a UV continuum which peaks in the vicinity of 1500 A and is probably caused by H two-photon emission enhanced by low velocity shock collisional excitation.

Schwartz, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

IUE observations of high-redshift quasars

Attention is given to the spectral energy distributions of nine high-redshift quasars between 1250 and 10,000 A. The distributions steepen shortward of about 1200 A in all but one object. The steepening's lack of correlation with QSO luminosity suggests that it arises from absorption by intervening material along the line of sight. Reddening may contribute to the steepening of the QSO continua, if dust lies along the line of sight to the continuum source, and is difficult to assess quantitatively. In QSOs with redshift sufficiently high for Lyman-alpha to be observed at high resolution, it is possible to account for the observed continuum steepening by the Lyman continuum absorption corresponding to the narrow Lyman-alpha absorption lines seen.

Bechtold, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The hydrogen line spectra of narrow-line radio galaxies

The results of the first detection of Ly-alpha in a narrow-line radio galaxy are reported. Nearly simultaneous optical and UV observations of 3C 192 and 3C 223 allow the measurement of both Balmer and Lyman decrements. These line ratios are approximate functions of the interstellar reddening and of a parameter which is proportional to the amount of H I collisional excitation present. The reddening of 3C 192 is slightly larger than that due to the Galaxy, although 3C 223 may have a larger value. Both galaxies have intrinsic Balmer and Lyman decrements which are significantly steeper than case B, suggesting that the gas is photoionized by a fairly hard X-ray continuum. The deduced values of L-alpha/H-beta and H-alpha/H-beta compare favorably with predictions of recent models.

Ferland, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Hopkins ultraviolet telescope observations of the far-ultraviolet spectrum of NGC 4151

Observations of the FUV spectrum of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 from 912 to 1860 A during the flight of Astro-1 aboard the space shuttle Columbia in December 1990 are reported. Broad emission lines with full-width at half-maximum of about 8500 km/s dominate the spectrum. Numerous absorption features modify the continuum shape, particularly at wavelengths shortward of Ly-alpha. The continuum turns over sharply below 1000 A and disappears by 924 A, well above the redshifted Lyman edge of NGC 4151 at 915 A. The absorption lines have intrinsic widths of about 1000 km/s and are blueshifted relative to the system velocity of NGC 4151 by 200-1300 km/s. Absorption of the continuum by the converging higher-order Lyman lines explains the sharp turnover of the continuum below 1000 A. The blueshifts of the absorption lines, their large intrinsic widths, and the inferred high densities are all consistent with outflowing material originating in the broad-line region.

Kriss, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Radiative transfer with partial frequency redistribution in inhomogeneous atmospheres - Application to the Jovian aurora

A direct finite difference numerical solution for the equation of radiative transfer by the Feautrier method is developed for use in planetary atmospheres. The procedure described here uses a plane-parallel atmosphere, and can treat partial frequency redistribution, inhomogeneity, external or internal sources, and various boundary conditions. Isotropic scattering is assumed, but in the case of no frequency redistribution, Rayleigh scattering can also be handled. A program utilizing this method is tested in a variety of situations against more powerful and elaborate methods. The case of the Lyman alpha aurora on Jupiter is then considered, where the effects of partial frequency redistribution are shown to be of great importance. New results for the detailed line profiles for Lyman alpha in the Jovian aurora are presented. The method is quite versatile, and should be especially useful in studying a wide range of problems related to auroral or dayglow emissions in planetary atmospheres.

Gladstone, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Predicted optical/ultraviolet line fluxes for the warm absorber in Abell 2256

Recently Miyaji et al. (1993) detected excess soft X-ray absorption in the Broad Band X Ray Telescope (BBXRT) spectrum of the cluster A2256. The absorption was due to the K-edge of oxygen; from the observed edge energy and the redshift of the cluster, Miyaji et al. argued that the primary absorber was oxygen in an ionization state between O(+2) and O(+4) at a temperature in the range 0.5-5 x 10(exp 5) K. Such gas should produce strong UV and optical line emission. We predict the strongest UV and optical line fluxes for this X-ray absorbing gas. The strongest UV lines include Lyman-alpha, C III lambda-1909, C IV lambda-1549, O IV lambda-1401, O V lambda-1218, O VI lambda-1034, Si III lambda-1207, and Si IV lambda-1397 lines. These lines should be detectable with the International Ultraviolet Explorer, the Hubble Space Telescope, or the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. In the optical the lines are weaker, but the (O II) lambda lambda-3726, 3729, (O III) lambda lambda-4959, 5007, (N II) lambda lambda-6567, 6584, (Ne III) lambda lambda-3918, 3969, (S II) lambda-6720, and (S III) lambda-9320 lines should be detected with moderate exposures if the warm absorber is near the lower limit of the allowed temperature range, T less than or approximately equal to 1.5 x 10(exp 5) K. In this limit the H-alpha and (S III) lambda-3720 lines will require longer exposure times, but should be detectable as well.

Pistinner, Shlomi↗
NASA NTRS1999

UV Spectral Variability and the Lyman-Alpha Forest in the Lensed Quasar Q0957+561

Far-ultraviolet spectra of the gravitational lens components Q0957+561 A and B were obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) at five equally spaced epochs, one every two weeks. We confirm the flux variability of the quasar's Lyman-alpha and O VI lambda 1037 emission lines reported in IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) spectra. The fluxes in these lines vary on a time scale of weeks in the local rest frame (LRF), independently of each other and of the surrounding continuum. The individual spectra of each image were co-added to investigate the properties of the Lyman-alpha forest along the two lines of sight to the quasar. Absorption lines having equivalent width W (sub lambda) greater than or equal to 0.3 Angstroms in the LRF not previously identified as interstellar lines, metal lines, or higher order Lyman lines were taken to be LY-alpha forest lines. The existence of each line in this consistently selected set was then verified by its presence in two archival FOS spectra with approx. 1.5 times higher signal to noise than our co-added spectra. Ly-alpha forest lines with W (sub lambda) greater than or equal to 0.3 Angstroms appear at 42 distinct wavelengths in the spectra of the two images. Two absorption lines in the spectrum of image A have no counterpart at that wavelength in the spectrum of image B, and two lines in image B have no counterpart in image A. Based on the separation of the lines of sight at the redshift of the absorption lines appearing in only one spectrum, the density of the absorbing clouds in the direction of Q0957+561 must change significantly over a distance of 79 (+34, -26) h (sub 50) (sup -1) kpc in the simplified model where the absorbers are treated as spherical clouds and the characteristic dimension is the radius. (We adopt H (sub 0)= 50 h (sub 50) km s (sup -1) kpc (sup -1), q (sub 0) = 1/2, and LAMBDA = 0 throughout the paper.) The two limits define the 68% confidence interval on the characteristic dimension, equivalent to the 1 sigma confidence interval for a Gaussian distribution. The 95% confidence interval extends from (32 - 250) h (sub 50) (sup -1) kpc. We show in the Appendix that the fraction of Ly-alpha forest lines that appear in only one spectrum can be expressed as a rapidly converging power series in 1/r, where r the ratio of the radius of the cloud to the separation of the two LOS at the redshift of the cloud. This power series can be rewritten to give r in terms of the fraction of Ly-alpha forest wavelengths that appear in the spectrum of only one image. A simple linear approximation to the solution which everywhere agrees with the power series solution to better than 0.8% for r greater than or equal to 2 is derived in the Appendix.

Dolan, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Constraints on Solar Wind Plasma Properties Derived from Coordinated Coronal Observations

The goal of the proposed research is to increase the understanding of coronal plasma phenomena by making use of different observational approaches and combine the observations with the necessary theoretical considerations. We continued to study the formation of spectral lines in the corona/transition region under different non-equilibrium conditions. In addition to Mg and Ne we have also studied some cases involving Si ions and spectral lines. Due to the fact that the sun was at the maximum phase of the solar cycle, we spent some time on observing coronal mass ejections. Observations of the H I Lyman-alpha spectral line and the line pair 0 VI 1031.91 AA and 1037.61 AA were carried out with the UVCS instrument in the northern polar region of the sun at position angle 270 deg. The region was monitored at about 2 RS for about 5 hours on March 04, and for about 8 hours on March 05. During that time interval a major Coronal Mass Ejection developed in the northern hemisphere. Density, velocity and temperature maps of the ejected plasma have been obtained from the UVCS data. This event was also seen in the white light Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment (LASCO) images, and its evolution at lower heights can be followed in Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT). The LASCO images are essential in providing the larger scale context for this event which is unique in the sense that it developed almost due North and had very little interactions with adjacent regions. The combination of UVCS velocity maps and LASCO images which were reduced using advanced image processing techniques, show very clearly how the mass ejection evolved from the solar surface to several solar radii, the twisting of the flux ropes, which are seen in UVCS as blue and red shifted velocities. First results were presented at the AGU Meeting in Boston. To study the quieter side of the coronal plasma, we carried out an experiment during the past eclipse, in June 01. We measured the corona in several iron spectral lines, and polarized white light. The results from that experiment look promising so far.

Esser, Ruth↗
NASA NTRS1991

The evolution of the diffuse cosmic ultraviolet background constrained by the Hubble Space Telescope observations of 3C 273

Results are presented of recent HST UV spectroscopy of 3C 273, which revealed more low-redshift Lyman-alpha absorption lines (IGM clouds) than expected from the extrapolation from high-redshift (not less than 1.6) observations. It is shown on the basis of the standard pressure confined cloud model of the Lyman-alpha forest that this result indicates a sharp drop in the diffuse cosmic UV background from 2 to 0 redshift. It is predicted that the H I optical depth will drop slowly or perhaps even increase with decreasing redshift at less than 2 redshift. The implied constraints on the density and pressure of the diffuse IGM at 0 redshift are also derived. The inferred evolution of the diffuse UV flux bears a striking resemblance to the most recent direct determinations of the volume emissivity of the quasar population.

Ikeuchi, Satoru↗