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At least 253 records · Page 14
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DOE OSTI2025

The DECam MAGIC Survey: Spectroscopic Follow-up of the Most Metal-poor Stars in the Distant Milky Way Halo *

In this work, we present high-resolution spectroscopic observations for six metal-poor stars with [Fe/H] < –3 (including one with [Fe/H] < –4), selected using narrowband Ca ii HK photometry from the DECam MAGIC Survey. The spectroscopic data confirm the accuracy of the photometric metallicities and allow for the determination of chemical abundances for 16 elements, from carbon to barium. The program stars have chemical abundances consistent with the [Fe/H] < –3 range. A kinematic/dynamical analysis suggests that all program stars belong to the distant Milky Way halo population (heliocentric distances 35 < d helio /kpc ≲ 55), including three with high-energy orbits that might have been associated with the Magellanic system and one, J0026−5445, having parameters consistent with being a member of the Sagittarius stream. The remaining two stars show kinematics consistent with the Gaia-Sausage/Enceladus dwarf galaxy merger. J0433−5548, with [Fe/H] = –4.12, is a carbon-enhanced ultra metal-poor star, with [C/Fe] = +1.73. This star is believed to be a bona fide second-generation star, and its chemical abundance pattern was compared with yields from metal-free supernova models. Results suggest that J0433−5548 could have been formed from a gas cloud enriched by a single supernova explosion from an ∼11 M ⊙ star in the early Universe. The successful identification of such objects demonstrates the reliability of photometric metallicity estimates, which can be used for target selection and statistical studies of faint targets in the Milky Way and its satellite population. These discoveries illustrate the power of measuring chemical abundances of metal-poor Milky Way halo stars to learn more about early galaxy formation and evolution.

CEMP stars↗
NASA NTRS1974

Does the galaxy possess a gaseous halo

Observational data are presented that suggest both the existence of extensive halo slabs of ionized gas and the probable presence of a hot corona around our galaxy. Evidence shows that when considering the galactic plane this ionized or neutral gas has a more extended distribution than the HI component. The characteristics of the halo gas consist of the ability (1) to interpenetrate, (2) to be heated, and (3) to be in a pressure equilibrium with the intercloud component of the local interstellar medium.

Silk, J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effect of halo component on bar-formation in disk galaxies

Numerical experiments are performed to determine the effect of a fixed halo component of mass on the stability of purely stellar disks. The rotation curve of the fixed halo component corresponds to the Schmidt model of the galaxy. It is found that when the stellar disk contains less than 50% of the total mass, the large-scale bar-making instability is effectively suppressed. For disks containing 50% or more of the total mass, a bar structure quickly forms.

Hohl, F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Mission design for a halo orbiter of the earth

The International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) scientific satellite to be stationed in 1978 in the vicinity of the sun-earth interior libration point to continuously monitor the space between the sun and the earth, including the distant geomagnetic tail is described. Orbit selection considerations for the ISEE-C are discussed along with stationkeeping requirements and fuel-optimal trajectories. Due to the alignment of the interior libration point with the sun as viewed from the earth, it will be necessary to place the satellite into a 'halo orbit' around the libration point, in order to eliminate solar interference with down-link telemetry. Parametric data for transfer trajectories between an earth parking orbit (altitude about 185 km) and a libration-point orbit are presented. It is shown that the insertion magnitude required for placing a satellite into an acceptable halo orbit is rather modest.

Farquhar, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Gamma-ray evidence for a galactic halo

Gamma ray data favor a cosmic ray propagation halo comparable with the thickness of the primary radio emission disk of our Galaxy and the halo seen around NGC891.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Gamma-ray evidence for a galactic halo

Gamma-ray evidence for the existence of a cosmic-ray halo around the Galaxy is examined. Gamma-ray data obtained by SAS-2 and COS-B and nonthermal radio continuum data are shown to indicate the nonconfinement of cosmic rays to the spiral arms and thus the existence of a larger propagation disk through which cosmic rays diffuse. The latitudinal distribution of gamma rays observed by SAS-2 is found to be consistent with the existence of a thin disk-shaped electron halo of half-thickness 1.5 kpc. The propagation of nucleons is determined indirectly from their radial distribution in the galactic plane, which is obtained from an analysis of the longitudinal distribution of gamma rays in the plane. The resulting distributions are found to be similar to the distribution of supernovae in the Galaxy, implying a galactic origin for cosmic rays and a half-thickness of less than 3 kpc.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A search for extended halos of hot gas in the Perseus, Virgo, and Coma Clusters

Observations of the Perseus cluster by the HEAO 1 satellite have revealed a faint X-ray halo extending at least 2.5 deg from the center and contributing between 5% and 20% to the total luminosity. This may be of nonthermal origin, but it also may be explained in terms of hot gas bound by the gravitational field of the cluster. Statistical uncertainties made it impossible to detect any such halo in the Coma cluster. Observations of the Virgo cluster confirmed the detection by the Ariel 5 satellite of a broad region of faint X-ray emission (core radius 60 arcmin). If the very extended X-ray emission from Virgo is due to hot intracluster gas, the density of this gas is lower than expected from a consideration of gas and galaxy densities in the Perseus cluster.

Ulmer, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A search for X-ray emission from rich clusters, extended halos around clusters, and superclusters

HEAO A-2 X-ray observations of rich clusters, extended halos around clusters, and superclusters are discussed. Concerning the optically richest clusters, results in the 0.2-60 keV energy range show that they appear to be relatively underluminous in X-rays. It is found that X-ray and microwave measurements for some rich clusters and for Abell 576 can be used to meaningfully constrain intracluster gas parameters and H(0); in addition, observations of Abell 576 show its luminosity to be less than earlier estimates. Extended halos around clusters were not detected in the data, and spectral observations of Abell 401 and 2147 reveal that they have typical cluster spectra with iron-line emission, while intensity measurements indicate that supercluster X-ray emission is not required.

Pravdo, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Vaporization in comets - The icy grain halo of Comet West

The variation with heliocentric distance of the production rates of various species in Comet West (1975n = 1976 VI) is explained with a cometary model consisting of a CO2 dominated nucleus plus a halo of icy grains of H2O or clathrate hydrate. It is concluded that the parents of CN and C3 are released primarily from the nucleus but that the parent of C2 is released primarily from the halo of icy grains.

Ahearn, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A spectrophotometric search for the halo of Markarian 10

Observations of a faint halo around the Mk 10 galaxy nucleus with the Palomar multichannel spectrophotometer reveal blue continuum emission forbidden lines of O II and O III, the hydrogen Balmer series, and stellar absorption series. The flux is detected at the surface brightness of 27.2 + or - 0.2 mag arc/sq sec at wavelengths of 5000 A at the radial distance of 27 kpc from the nucleus. The surface photometry of the inner parts of Mk 10 are depicted, and the radial brightness profile is decomposed into disk and bulge components. No evidence of a halo component was observed; the extended bulge is sufficient for the stabilization of the disk against bar-like instabilities.

Williams, T. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Spectroscopic requirements for HALOE: An analysis of the HCl and HF channels

Spectral line parameters that have absorption features within the HCl and HF channels of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) were evaluated. Line positions and identification of stratospheric and solar absorption features in both channels are presented based on an analysis of high-resolution, balloon-borne solar occultation spectra. For the relevant HCl and HF lines and for transitions of the interfering species, the accuracy of the following spectral parameters was assessed: line positions, line strengths, lower state energies, air-broadened collisional half-widths, and temperature dependence of the air-broadened half-widths. In addition, since the HALOE instrument and calibration cells are filled with mixtures of HCl in N2 and HF in N2, the self-broadened and N2-broadened HF and HCl half-widths were also considered.

Rinsland, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Highly ionized gas in the galactic halo

The major results are summarized of a study of interstellar absorption in the halo which makes use primarily of IUE observations of a sample of 24 OB stars at z distances between 0.5 and approximately 3 kpc. These data, which cover a wide range of directions, are analysed together with other available results in order to investigate the distribution and physical conditions of highly ionized gas in the halo.

Pettini, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Predicted star counts in selected fields and photometric bands Applications to galactic structure, the disk luminosity function, and the detection of a massive halo

Tables are presented of predicted star counts in 17 selected directions on the sky as a function of apparent B, V, R, and I magnitudes and absolute visual magnitudes calculated from the Bahcall-Soneira Galaxy model. It is noted that eight of the fields were selected ab initio for their usefulness in determining from star counts either parameters of galactic structure, the faint end of the disk luminosity function, or the detection of a massive stellar halo. Star counts in specified fields to m sub I = 19 mag are able to reveal the faint end of the disk luminosity function down to the end of the hydrogen-burning main sequence. It is thought that star counts at high galactic latitudes to m sub I = 22 mag should reveal the stellar constituents of a massive halo if they are massive enough to be on the hydrogen-burning main sequence.

Bahcall, J. N.↗
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 NTRS1984

Lunar dark-haloed impact craters - Origin and implications for early mare volcanism

Spectral, thermal, radar, and photogeologic data were used to determine the composition and origin of lunar dark-haloed craters. Analyses of reflectance spectra (near-infrared) of dark-haloed craters on light plains indicate that in every instance these craters exposed mare basalts which had previously been covered by varying thicknesses of highlands debris. In the Schiller-Schickard region a relatively thick highlands unit was emplaced as a result of the Orientale impact event. The results of recent remote sensing photogeologic and lunar samples studies indicate that mare volcanism was a significant process during much of the pre-Imbrian epoch and may have been initiated as early as 4.2-4.3 Ga. The very early volcanic episodes contributed materials to the lunar surface which were later incorporated into the upper portion of the highlands crust by subsequent impact mixing. On the basis of the data it is concluded that current models of the extent and duration of mare volcanisms, as well as those involving the composition of thermal evolution of the lunar interior will have to be revised.

Bell, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Evidence for a dynamical halo around the edge-on galaxy NGC 4631

Radio continuum observations at five frequencies between 327 MHz and 10.7 GHz of the edge on galaxy NGC 4631 confirm the prediction concerning the frequency dependence of the halo extent and the spatial variations of the radio spectral indices in the dynamical halo model made by Lerche and Schlickeiser. The measurements are presented, and a detailed comparison with theoretical predictions is made.

Lerche, I.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Experiment Pamir-4: Analysis of superfamily with halo of electromagnetic nature detected in deep XEC

The family Pb2-11 was detected in the multilayer lead XEC with total thickness of 100 c.u. exposed at the Pamirs. Each lead layer was 1 cm thick, the first registering layer being located under 2 cm of Pb(= 4 c.u.). The family comprised a narrow group of gamma-rays which near the maximum of cascade development (= 14 c.u.) produced a dark spot of optical density D approx. .4 over area S = 25 sq.mm. The narrow group of gamma-rays was traced up to 14th layer corresponding to 30 c.u. Deeper in the chamber, for the space of 70 c.u. no hadron cascade was observed. Thus, the pure electromagnetic halo could be assumed. Preliminary results of the analysis of the family Pb2-11 was presented. The methods of estimation of energy of primary particle and height of nuclear interaction responsible for the observed halo are considered in more detail.

Zatsepin, G. T.↗