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At least 199 records · Page 11

The properties of the gaseous Galactic corona

The properties of the Galactic halo are examined as a bases for studying the phenomena observed in QSO spectra which might represent absorption by the halos and/or disks of other intervening spiral galaxies. Studies concerning the distribution of the gas in the Galactic halo are reviewed, including H I 21-cm emission line studies, optical and UV absorption and emission line studies, and radio studies. Consideration is given to the ionization characteristics, elemental abundances, kinematics, and origin of the gas in the Galactic halo. The approximate absorption line strengths expected for the sight line through the Galactic disk and halo at the position of the sun are listed and the absorption line system is compared to those seen in the spectra of QSOs.

Savage, Blair D.↗

The radio properties of cD galaxies in Abell clusters. I - An X-ray selected sample

The radio and X-ray properties of a sample of 27 cD galaxies in rich clusters are presented. The radio data consist of 6 cm VLA maps at a resolution of 1-2 arcsec. The X-ray data consist of images and surface-brightness profiles from the Einstein IPC and derived quantities such as cooling times, mass-accretion rates, and thermal pressures from Arnaud (1988). These data are used to explore the relationship between X-ray cooling cores, and the power and morphology of the radio emission. It is found that 71 percent of the cD's with X-ray cooling cores are radio loud, whereas a smaller but still significant 23 percent of cD's without cooling cores are detected at 6 cm above 0.2 mJy. Among the radio galaxies in noncooling core clusters are luminous and extended wide-angle tails. There is a weak correlation between the mass-accretion rate and the radio power for cD's. There is also an interesting class of cooling core cluster (e.g., A2052) with small diameter, amorphous radio emission that may be the result of diffusion along radial magnetic fields set up in cooling inflows. Finally, the relationships between optical emission-line luminosity with radio power and mass-accretion rate are examined.

Burns, Jack O.↗

A demonstration of a transportable radio interferometric surveying system with 3-cm accuracy on a 307-m base line

A precision geodetic measurement system (Aries, for Astronomical Radio Interferometric Earth Surveying) based on the technique of very long base line interferometry has been designed and implemented through the use of a 9-m transportable antenna and the NASA 64-m antenna of the Deep Space Communications Complex at Goldstone, California. A series of experiments designed to demonstrate the inherent accuracy of a transportable interferometer was performed on a 307-m base line during the period from December 1973 to June 1974. This short base line was chosen in order to obtain a comparison with a conventional survey with a few-centimeter accuracy and to minimize Aries errors due to transmission media effects, source locations, and earth orientation parameters. The base-line vector derived from a weighted average of the measurements, representing approximately 24 h of data, possessed a formal uncertainty of about 3 cm in all components. This average interferometry base-line vector was in good agreement with the conventional survey vector within the statistical range allowed by the combined uncertainties (3-4 cm) of the two techniques.

Ong, K. M.↗

Ionization cones and radio ejecta in active galaxies

We report radio mapping at three frequencies of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 5252, which is known to exhibit a spectacular pair of 'ionization cones' in optical emission-line images. The radio structure of the galaxy comprises an unresolved (less than 50 pc) source coincident with the optical nucleus, weak, narrow features extending approximately equal to 900 pc to north and south from the nucleus, and an unresolved radio source some 10 kpc from the nucleus. The inner parts of the extended radio structure and the off-nuclear source align well with the axis of the ionization cones. There are currently 11 Seyfert galaxies known to possess an ionization cone or a bi-cone; 8 of these galaxies also contain a linear (double, triple, or jet-like) nuclear radio structure. For this limited, incomplete sample, there is a tight alignment between cone and radi axes: the formal mean difference between the measured projections of these axes on the sky is only 6 deg, and the alignment may well be better than this at the location(s) closer to the nucleus where the collimation occurs. Although the degree of collimation is much worse for the ionizing photons than for the radio plasma, it is clear that they are collimated by the same, or coplanar, nulcear disks or tori. In particular, if the ionization cones result from absorption by dusty tori on the pc scale and the radio ejecta from accretion disks around the central black hole, the absence of differential precession indicates that either the gravitating mass distribution is close to spherical or the dusty torus has settled into a preferred plane. The cones currently known in late-type (but not early-type) spirals show a trend to align with the axis of the galaxy stellar disk. We argue that this alignment is either an observational selection effect or indicates that the gas accreted to power the nuclear activity has an internal origin in late-type spirals, but may have an external origin (e.g., a galaxy merger) in early-types. .

Wilson, A. S.↗

Molecular gas in powerful radio galaxies detected by IRAS

The present CO(J = 1 to 0) line survey of powerful radio galaxies has led to the detection of five sources in eight IRAS-determined radio galaxies. The range of the computed molecular gas masses is 1-7 times the H2 mass of the Milky Way and strikingly contrasts with the low molecular gas masses found in radio-quiet FIR-selected elliptical galaxies. These new CO observations lend support to the hypothesis that powerful radio galaxies result from disk galaxy collisions that evolve into gas-rich, peculiar E/S0 galaxies in the course of their merging.

Mazzarella, J. M.↗

[New Determination of the Abundances of Oxygen, Nitrogen and Sulfur as a Function of Galactocentric Distance

The goals of this program were to obtain data which could provide the basis for a new determination of the abundances of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Sulfur as a function of galactocentric distance. This program was preceded by a detailed VLA high resolution radio study of the ultracompact (UC) HII region G29.96 to demonstrate that reliable electron temperatures could be obtained with nonLTE modeling of the line intensities for a few radio recombination lines distributed over a reasonable range of principle quantum numbers. These results were published. Having demonstrated the technique, a survey of 28 UC HII regions located in the galactocentric distance range of 0- 17 kpc was undertaken. The lines of H42(alpha), H66(alpha), H76(alpha), and H93(alpha) were observed with spatial resolutions of 3.7 to 6.7 arc secs. The nonLTE models constrained by the new data produced a well-defined temperature gradient. This study provided an entirely independent check on direct measurements of abundances via the measurement of spectral lines from atomic coolants.

Churchwell, E. B.↗

Radio-to-Gamma-Ray Monitoring of the Narrow-line Seyfert 1 Galaxy PMN J0948+0022 from 2008 to 2011

We present more than three years of observations at different frequencies, from radio to high-energy γ-rays, of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) Galaxy PMN J0948+0022 (z = 0.585). This source is the first NLS1 detected at energies above 100 MeV and therefore can be considered the prototype of this emerging new class of γ-ray emitting active galactic nuclei (AGN). The observations performed from 2008 August 1 to 2011 December 31 confirmed that PMN J0948+0022 generates a powerful relativistic jet, which is able to develop an isotropic luminosity at gamma-rays of the order of 1048 erg per second, at the level of powerful quasars. The evolution of the radiation emission of this source in 2009 and 2010 followed the canonical expectations of relativistic jets with correlated multiwavelength variability (gamma-rays followed by radio emission after a few months), but it was difficult to retrieve a similar pattern in the light curves of 2011. The comparison of gamma-ray spectra before and including 2011 data suggested that there was a softening of the highenergy spectral slope. We selected five specific epochs to be studied by modelling the broad-band spectrum, which are characterised by an outburst at gamma-rays or very low/high flux at other wavelengths. The observed variability can largely be explained by changes in the injected power, the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet, or the electron spectrum. The characteristic time scale of doubling/halving flux ranges from a few days to a few months, depending on the frequency and the sampling rate. The shortest doubling time scale at gamma-rays is 2.3 +/- 0.5 days. These small values underline the need of highly sampled multiwavelength campaigns to better understand the physics of these sources.

monitoring↗

Star formation in the inner Galaxy - A far-infrared and radio study of two H II regions

Far-infrared and radio continuum maps have been made of two inner-Galaxy H II region complexes, G30.8-0.0 and G25.4-0.2, along with radio and molecular line measurements at selected positions. The far-IR emission from each region is dominated by two sources. For both G25.4 and G30.8, the distribution of the emission is similar to that of the radio emission, indicating that OB stars provide most of the heating. There is evidence that extinction plays an important role in G30.8, even in the far-IR. A near-IR point source has been detected in G30.8 at the position of peak far-IR color temperature. This source may be the ionizing star for the core of G30.8. Measurement of forbidden S III 9532 A from G25.4SE indicates that the extinction toward this source is very low, which is difficult to reconcile with previously determined distance measurements to this source.

Lester, D. F.↗

Radio and X-Ray Observations of SN 2006jd: Another Strongly Interacting Type IIn Supernova

We report four years of radio and X-ray monitoring of the Type IIn supernova SN 2006jd at radio wavelengths with the Very Large Array, Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and Expanded Very Large Array at X-ray wavelengths with Chandra, XMM-Newton and Swift-XRT. We assume that the radio and X-ray emitting particles are produced by shock interaction with a dense circumstellar medium. The radio emission shows an initial rise that can be attributed to free-free absorption by cool gas mixed into the nonthermal emitting region external free-free absorption is disfavored because of the shape of the rising light curves and the low gas column density inferred along the line of sight to the emission region. The X-ray luminosity implies a preshock circumstellar density approximately 10(exp 6) per cubic meter at a radius r approximately 2 x 10(exp 16) centimeter, but the column density inferred from the photoabsorption of X-rays along the line of sight suggests a significantly lower density. The implication may be an asymmetry in the interaction. The X-ray spectrum shows Fe line emission at 6.9 keV that is stronger than is expected for the conditions in the X-ray emitting gas. We suggest that cool gas mixed into the hot gas plays a role in the line emission. Our radio and X-ray data both suggest the density profile is flatter than r2 because of the slow evolution of the unabsorbed emission.

Chandra, Poonam↗

The diffuse interstellar cloud toward HD 179406 (20 Aquilae)

An analysis of the diffuse interstellar cloud complex in front of HD 179406 (20 Aql) is presented. Along this sight line, multispectral absortion- and emission-line studies have uncovered at least three distinct velocity components due to individual clouds. A dominant velocity component is seen in both the absorption and emission-line data sets at 3 +/- 1 km/s. It is argued that the cloud associated with this velocity component is responsible for most of the atomic and all of the molecular gas in front of 20 Aql. The present chemical and physical analysis of the cloud combines the diagnostic tools of radio emission-line data with those of UV and optical absorption data. Using non-LTE models to synthesize the observed absorption profiles, (C-12)O and (C-13)O column densities along this line of sight are determined. The (C-12)O/(C-13)O abundance ratio was found to be 50 +/- 15, similar to that found by Wannier et al. toward Zeta Oph. The physical conditions of the cloud have been investigated using ultraviolet absorption lines. Measurements indicate that the dominant absorption cloud has a gas pressure similar to that found in the local diffuse molecular cloud in Ophiuchus with nT = 20,000/cu cm K.

Hanson, Margaret M.↗

Radio observations of comets

Three general techniques of radio science used to attempt to observe comets are discussed: spectral line, continum and radar observations. Of these, only radio spectral line observations achieved a degree of success but, more often than not, the results was negative. Cometary excitation and reasons why radio searches can fail were examined.

Snyder, L. E.↗

The Spectral Energy Distribution of Fermi Bright Blazars

We have conducted a detailed investigation of the broadband spectral properties of the gamma-ray selected blazars of the Fermi LAT Bright AGN Sample (LBAS). By combining our accurately estimated Fermi gamma-ray spectra with Swift, radio, infra-red, optical, and other hard X-ray /gamma-ray data, collected within 3 months of the LBAS data taking period, we were able to assemble high-quality and quasi-simultaneous spectral energy distributions (SED) for 48 LBAS blazars. The SED of these gamma-ray sources is similar to that of blazars discovered at other wavelengths, clearly showing, in the usual log v-log v Fv representation, the typical broadband spectral signatures normally attributed to a combination of low-energy synchrotron radiation followed by inverse Compton emission of one or more components. We have used these SED to characterize the peak intensity of both the low- and the high-energy components. The results have been used to derive empirical relationships that estimate the position of the two peaks from the broadband colors (i.e., the radio to optical, alpha(sub ro) , and optical to X-ray, alpha(sub ox), spectral slopes) and from the gamma-ray spectral index. Our data show that the synchrotron peak frequency (v(sup S) (sub peak)) is positioned between 10(exp 12.5) and 10(exp 14) Hz in broad-lined flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and between 10(exp 13) and 10(exp 17) Hz in featureless BL Lacertae objects. We find that the gamma-ray spectral slope is strongly correlated with the synchrotron peak energy and with the X-ray spectral index, as expected at first order in synchrotron-inverse Compton scenarios. However, simple homogeneous, one-zone, synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) models cannot explain most of our SED, especially in the case of FSRQs and low energy peaked (LBL) BL Lacs. More complex models involving external Compton radiation or multiple SSC components are required to reproduce the overall SED and the observed spectral variability. While more than 50% of known radio bright high energy peaked (HBL) BL Lacs are detected in the LBAS sample, only less than 13% of known bright FSRQs and LBL BL Lacs are included. This suggests that the latter sources, as a class, may be much fainter gamma-ray emitters than LBAS blazars, and could in fact radiate close to the expectations of simple SSC models. We categorized all our sources according to a new physical classification scheme based on the generally accepted paradigm for Active Galactic Nuclei and on the results of this SED study. Since the LAT detector is more sensitive to flat spectrum gamma-ray sources, the correlation between v(sup S) (sub peak) and gamma-ray spectral index strongly favors the detection of high energy peaked blazars, thus explaining the Fermi overabundance of this type of sources compared to radio and EGRET samples. This selection effect is similar to that experienced in the soft X-ray band where HBL BL Lacs are the dominant type of blazars.

Abdo, A. A.↗

Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) Prototype Radio - Generation 2 Flight Test Report

NASA Glenn Research Center conducted a series of flight tests for the purpose of evaluating air-to-ground communications links for future unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The primary objective of the test effort was to evaluate the transition of the aircraft communications from one ground station to the next, and to monitor data flow during the "hand-off" event. To facilitate the testing, ground stations were installed at locations in Cleveland, Ohio and Albany, Ohio that each provides line-of-sight radio communications with an overflying aircraft. This report describes results from the flight tests including flight parameters, received signal strength measurements, data latency times, and performance observations for the air-to-ground channel.

Ground Stations↗

Space to Space Advanced EMU Radio

The main task for this project was the development of a prototype for the Space to Space Advanced EMU Radio (SSAER). The SSAER is an updated version of the Space to Space EMU Radio (SSER), which is the current radio used by EMUs (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) for communication between suits and with the ISS. The SSER was developed in 1999, and it was desired to update the design used in the system. Importantly, besides replacing out-of-production parts it was necessary to decrease the size of the radio due to increased volume constraints with the updated Portable Life Support System (PLSS) 2.5, which will be attached on future space suits. In particular, it was desired to fabricate a PCB for the front-end of the prototype SSAER system. Once this board was manufactured and all parts assembled, it could then be tested for quality of operation as well as compliancy with the SSER required specifications. Upon arrival, a small outline of the target system was provided, and it was my responsibility to take that outline to a finished, testable board. This board would include several stages, including frequency mixing, amplification, modulation, demodulation, and handled both the transmit and receive lines of the radio. I developed a new design based on the old SSER system and the outline provided to me, and found parts to fit the tasks in my design. It was also important to consider the specifications of the SSER, which included the system noise figure, gain, and power consumption. Further, all parts needed to be impedance matched, and spurious signals needed to be avoided. In order to fulfill these two requirements, it was necessary to perform some calculations using a Smith Chart and excel analysis. Once all parts were selected, I drew the schematics for the system in Altium Designer. This included developing schematic symbols, as well as layout. Once the schematic was finished, it was then necessary to lay the parts out onto a PCB using Altium. Similar to the schematic design, in order to accomplish this it was necessary to develop component land patterns and add component 3D models. All of this was achieved, and the PCB is currently in review. After it is finished being reviewed, this board will be sent out for manufacture. All electronic components used in the PCB have been acquired, and once the board arrives they will be soldered onto the board using a machine in building 44. Finally, the board will be tested for performance on-site. This will likely be accomplished by the end of the internship.

Maicke, Andrew↗

Hubble Space Telescope images of the Seyfert galaxies NGC 5929 and MCG 8-11-11

We present the initial results of a program to obtain high resolution images of Seyfert galaxies with the Planetary Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In this paper we discuss the images of the type 2 Seyfert NGC 5929 and the type 1.5 Seyfert MCG 8-11-11 (= UGC 3374). The images were obtained in the emission lines of (O III) lambda lambda 4959 and 5007 A and H alpha + (N II) lambda lambda 6548 and 6583 A and their adjacent continua. The high-excitation gas in the narrow line region (NLR) of NGC 5929 is resolved into individual clouds in the central 1 sec .5. Although the (O III) emission is clearly not spherically symmetric with respect to the nucleus, it does not define a distinct 'bicone' morphology, as observed by the HST in a few other Seyfert galaxies. We find no direct evidence for the reddening and/or obscuration effects characteristic of a dusty torus, which, in the context of 'unified models', is expected to obscure the active galactic nucleus (AGN) in type 2 Seyfert galaxies. The correspondence between the emission line gas and the radio morphology suggests that the structure of the NLR in NGC 5929 is governed by matter ejected from the AGN. A comparison of the recombination rate of hydrogen in the brightest emission line cloud with an upper limit on the ionizing luminosity emitted toward Earth provides no evidence that the central ionizing source radiates anisotropically. The images of MCG 8-11-11 show only an unresolved nuclear source. No emission line gas associated with the extended radio source is detected. We estimate upper limits on the intensity of extended line emission in this galaxy and examine their significance.

Bower, Gary A.↗

VLBI observations of a complete sample of radio galaxies. 4: The radio galaxies NGC 2484, 3C 109, and 3C 382

We present here new Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI) observations of one Fanaroff and Riley (F-R) I radio galaxy (NGC 2484) and two broad-line F-R II radio galaxies (3C 109 and 3C 382). For 3C 109 new Very Large Array (VLA) maps are also shown. These sources belong to a complete sample of radio galaxies under study for a better knowledge of their structures at parsec resolution. The parsec structure of these three objects is very similar: asymmetric emission, which we interpret as the core plus a one-side jet. The parsec-scale jet is always on the same side of the main kiloparsec-scale jet. The limit on the jet to counterjet brightness ratio, the ratio of the core radio power to the total radio power and the synchrotron-self Compton model allow us to derive some constraints on the jet velocity and orientation with respect to the line of sight. From these data and from those published on two other sources of our sample, we suggest that parsec-scale jets are relativistic in both F-R I and F-R II radio galaxies and that parsec scale properties in F-R I and F-R II radio galaxies are very similar despite the large difference between these two classes of radio galaxies on the kiloparsec scale.

Giovannini, G.↗

Laserfax

The photo shows an Associated Press technician receiving a photograph prepared by means of a high speed, high resolution facsimile system known as Laserfax, so called because it employs a laser beam to scan the photo being sent. Laser scanning data is converted to electrical signals and transmitted to news bureaus within the Associated Press network via microwave radio or telephone lines. At the other end, another laser sweeps reconverted imagery onto a special, light-sensitive, dry silver paper. The paper is then heat processed to reproduce the photograph. Manufactured by Harris Electronics Systems Inc., Melbourne, Florida, Laserfax incorporates NASA thermal control coating technology developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory for use on spacecraft antennas; the coatings block absorption of solar radiation which would interfere with the antenna's proper operation. Harris Electronics Systems, originally Radiation, Inc., reused the NASA technology in development of Laserfax. A NASA technical support package provided information about the thermal properties that could be expected of various coatings for the facsimile system's paper rollers; this information served as a design base for the infrared heat source used in developing the photo. Although relatively new, Laserfax is in extensive service. It is manufactured in several models. One of them is the type used by the Associated Press, its news bureaus and affiliated newspapers, radio and television stations. Other models have been sold in large numbers to law enforcement agencies for transmitting high quality fingerprints and identification photos. Laserfax is also in service with the National Weather Service, which converts satellite imagery to weather photographs and relays them to local weather stations, television stations, newspapers and airlines.

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