Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “outburst”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Outburst and nuclear breakup of Comet Halley - 1910

Computer processing of five plates of Comet Halley taken during the 1910 apparition shows that on May 24 strong asymmetric (with respect to the tail axis) fountain-like parabolic plumes had developed on the sunward side of the nucleus. Visual observations showed that after an initial fading while passing in front of the sun, the brightness increased to about magnitude 1. On the plates taken May 31, the nucleus is clearly divided into at least three parts of nearly equal brightness. However, the last plate on June 3 shows a symmetrical coma with a small stellar-like nucleus.

Wood, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The high velocity symbiotic star AG Draconis after its 1980 outburst

High and low resolution spectra of AG Dra taken in 1981 are analyzed. The UV spectrum of AG Dra is characterized by prominent high ionization emission lines superimposed on a strong continuum. At high resolution, several intense absorption lines of interstellar origin are seen, in spite of the low interstellar extinction. A similar situation is displayed by the high galactic latitude sd0 stars. The radial velocity difference between the emission lines and the i.s. lines is about -105 Km/sec in agreement with the optical observations. The He II 1640 A line appears much stronger than in other symbiotic stars and suggests the presence of a hot source which is variable according to the activity of the star. The line also exhibits broad emission wings which could be formed in a rotating disk. The NV resonance doublet displays a P Cygni profile and is probably formed in a warm wind. Two components in the UV continuum are identified: a steep component dominating the far UV probably associated with the hot source, and a flatter continuum in the near UV which cannot be accounted for by f-f and f-b emission alone, but which is probably emitted by an optically thick region or disk.

Viotti, R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

IUE observations of the 1981 outburst of nova Cr A

Low dispersion spectrum observations are analyzed. The light curve of nova Cr A, indicating a moderately fast nova, is presented. Flux calibrated, merged spectrum graphs of April 21, 1981 and September 13, 1981 are presented, demonstrating very strong lines of Al and Si. Additional strong C, Ni, O, and Ne emission lines were identified. Emission lines due to highly ionized species such as Mg VII and Al Vl were observed for short times in May and June 1981. Preliminary analysis of spectra obtained 200 days after maximum indicate that the nebula is still in transition and has not yet reached the nebula state. An over abundance of N and Ne are suggested.

Sparks, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of the May 1979 outburst of Centaurus X-4

The IUE spectra of the X-ray transient/X-ray burst source Cen X-4 at three intervals during the peak and decline of the May 1979 transient event were studied. The spectrum is characterized by a blue continuum and strong emission lines of N V lambda 1240, Si IV lambda 1398 and C IV lambda 1550. The origin of these emission components in the context of an X-ray dwarf nova model is investigated. It is suggested that an accretion disk plays a prominent role in the generation of the continuum emission and that X-ray heating of the accretion disk and the companion star may be important in the formation of the emission lines.

Blair, W. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Detection of X-rays during the outburst of supernova 1980k

X-ray emission from SN 1980k in NGC 6946 was detected about 35 days after maximum light using the imaging proportional counter on the Einstein Observatory. The absorption corrected X-ray flux of SN 1980k was about 0.03 micro-Jy at 0.24 x 10 to the 18th Hz (1 keV), which corresponds to a luminosity of about 2 x 10 to the 39th ergs/s (0.2-4 keV) at 10 Mpc. This detection of radio emission suggests the presence of relativistic electrons and a magnetic field strength of not greater than about 1 gauss. Inverse Compton scattering of the optical photons on the electrons can explain the X-ray emission without additional ad hoc assumptions, although other emission mechanisms are possible.

Canizares, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ultraviolet comparisons of normal outbursts and a supermaximum in two dwarf novae

IUE spectra of AY Lyr obtained shortly after supermaximum and normal maximum and of RX And after normal maximum are compared. All spectra are compatible with steady state disk models in the ultraviolet while the declining stages show an upturn in flux longward of 2500 A which indicates the presence of a cool component. For the same optical magnitude, the ultraviolet flux of AY Lyr is a factor of two higher after supermaximum than normal maximum, implying a larger accretion rate during supermaximum. The lines of RX And exhibit P Cyg profiles which diminish during the decline. The terminal velocities right after maximum are greater than the escape velocity but then decrease rapidly along with the column density by the third day after maximum light has ended.

Szkody, P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

More on possible outburst objects Hertzsprung and Popovic

Hertzsprung (1927) and Popovic (1982) report on three unusual images found on archival photographs which could have been caused by optical transients. The original photograph on which the Hertzsprung object appears has been examined, and it is concluded that it is a plate defect. Photographs have been located which were exposed several hours after Popovic's photograpahs which show no unusual objects at or near the transient positions.

Schaefer, B. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

IUE observations of Centaurus X-4 during the 1979 May outburst

Ultraviolet spectrophotometry of the X-ray transient/burst source Centaurus X-4 at several intervals during the peak and decay of the May 1979 X-ray transient event was obtained. The spectrum was characterized by a blue continuum with alpha = 0.0 + or - 0.3 (F/nu/ varies as nu to the alpha power) and strong emission lines of N V lambda 1240, C IV lambda 1550, and Si IV lambda 1398. The relative intensities of the emission lines and the ratio of line to continuum strengths remained nearly constant during the decline. The emission lines may have arisen from a 'disk chromosphere', from X-ray heating of the K4 V companion star, or both. The ultraviolet data are combined with previously published optical and X-ray data to determine some of the physical characteristics of the system and to show that X-ray reprocessing plays an important role in producing the optical and ultraviolet continua.

Blair, W. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Ultraviolet observations of V471 Tauri - Evidence for a nova-like outburst?

A search for accretion of wind-flare material onto the white dwarf in V471 Tauri has unexpected by revealed what appears to be shortward-shifted absorption, centered on two distinct velocities, near heliocentric velocities of -300 and -590 km/s in the line of sight toward V471 Tauri. The possibility that these features are due to instrumental effects is explored. The narrow interstellar-like appearance of the -590 km/s component and lack of variability with orbital phase indicate that the observed high-velocity absorption components are formed at a great distance from the V471 Tauri system and probably owe their origins to a discrete mass ejection event.

Bruhweiler, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

IUE spectroscopy of U Cephei during the mass flow outburst of 1986 June

The interacting Algol-type binary U Cep underwent another of its irregularly occurring transient high-mass flow events during June 1986. For the first time, high-resolution ultraviolet spectroscopy of U Cep during such an event was possible. High-resolution spectra in the far-ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet were obtained with IUE. These spectra show that the ultraviolet continuum decreased by factors of 1.2 to 3.0 during the greatest activity. In addition, one or more narrow absorption components with radial velocities as high as -500 km/s appeared in association with a number of C, Si, Al, Fe, Zn, and Mg lines. The Mg II doublet developed a flat-bottomed appearance with a residual intensity of about 0.31 and a width of at least 800 km/s. These phenomena are interpreted in terms of high-velocity gas streams, mass loss from the system, and the formation of an optically thick equatorial bulge around the B star.

Mccluskey, George E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The secondary outburst maximum of T Coronae Borealis - Implications for the physics of accretion disks

The hypothesis of Webbink (1976) that the accretion of a torus of matter onto a main-sequence star caused secondary maxima during the 1866 and 1946 eruptions of the recurrent nova T CrB is examined. Simple 1D calculations show that the accretion disk viscosity must increase with time to produce light curves resembling observations. It is inferred that the physical mechanism responsible for producing the viscous dissipation in the accretion disk has a fast growth rate and saturates to a viscosity parameter of order unity. The good agreement between parameters estimated from observations and those derived from a physical mechanism suggests that the growth rate instability identified by Balbus and Hawley (1991) is a promising source for accretion disk viscosity.

Cannizzo, John K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Thermonuclear runaways in nova outbursts

Results of exploratory, two-dimensional numerical calculations of a local thermonuclear runaway on the surface of a white dwarf are reported. It is found that the energy released by the runaway can induce a significant amount of vorticity near the burning region. Such mass motions account naturally for mixing of core matter into the envelope during the explosion. A new mechanism for the lateral spread of nuclear burning is also discussed.

Shankar, Anurag↗
NASA NTRS1992

An atmospheric outburst on Neptune from 1986 through 1989

Visual photometry and methane-band imaging indicate that Neptune underwent a period of atmospheric activity in the 1986-1989 period with an enhancement of 8900 A CH4-band brightness and an increased standard deviation of the mean yearly magnitudes at visual and near-IR wavelengths. These observations are presently interpreted as due to a localized upwelling source that could be similar to the 'great white spots' that have been periodically observed on Saturn.

Hammel, H. B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Dynamical instability as the cause of the massive outbursts in Eta Carinae and other luminous blue variables

A new type of stellar envelope structure has been computationally discovered at very high stellar masses. The outer part of the envelope resembles a nearly detached, diffusely filled shell overlying an ultrahot surface of small radius. This structural anomaly is caused by a large iron bump occurring in the new opacities of Iglesias et al. (1992). The new stellar models with normal metallicity encounter a strong ionization-induced dynamical instability in the outer envelope as they rapidly transit the H-R diagram after the end of central hydrogen burning. Preliminary evolutionary and hydrodynamical calculations successfully mimic the most basic observed properties of Eta Carinae and other very luminous blue variables. The Humphreys-Davidson sloped line in the H-R diagram, however, seems to be unrelated to these variables, and is instead the observed terminus of the main-sequence phase of evolution if convective core overshooting is insignificant.

Stothers, Richard B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Crystallization of amorphous ice as the cause of Comet P/Halley's outburst at 14 AU

An explanation is provided for the postperihelion eruption of Comet P/Halley, detected in February 1991 and believed to have started three months earlier, namely, the crystallization of amorphous ice taking place in the interior of the porous nucleus, at depths of a few tens of meters, accompanied by the release of trapped gases. Numerical calculations show that for a bulk density of 0.5 g/cu cm and a pore size of 1 micron crystallization occurs on the outbound leg of Comet P/Halley's orbit, at heliocentric distances between 5 AU and 17 AU. The trapped gas is released and flows to the surface through the porous medium. It may also open wider channels, as the internal pressures obtained surpass the tensile strength of cometary ice. The outflowing gas carries with it grains of ice and dust, and thus can explain the large amounts of dust observed in the coma at 14.3 AU and beyond.

Prialnik, D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Dynamic processes in Be star atmospheres. 2: He I 2P-nD line formation in lambda Eridani (outburst)

The He I lambda 6678 line of early Be stars generally shows violet (V) and red (R) emission whenever hydrogen alpha emission is present, but its use as a diagnostic has been handicapped by a poor understanding of the processes that drive it into emission. In an attempt to address this problem we obtained three series of eschelle spectra of the first two members of the singlet and triplet 2P-nD series of lambda Eri (B2e) during 1992 November 3-5 at Kitt Peak. During these observations lambda 6678 showed substantial emission variability in both the wings and central profile, providing an opportunity to compare its behavior with that of the lambda 4922, lambda 5876, and lambda 4471 lines. We found that the responses of the lines were different in several respects. Whereas the emissions in the V wings of all four lines scaled together, the R wing of the lambda 4922 line invariably responded with increased absorption whenever the R wing of lambda 6678 line showed increased emission. These same trends occurred within the central photospheric profiles. The R-wing behavior shows that much, but not all of the emission in lambda 6678 is caused by matter projected against the stellar disk. The excitation temperatures of the neighboring 2(sup 1) P transitions, lambda 6678 and lambda 4922 must be greater than and less than the photospheric continuum temperature, respectively. We have investigated departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) for the He I spectrum in a variety of ad hoc, perturbed model atmospheres. We have found only one way to cause the source function of lambda 6678 to increase so strongly, namely, by increasing the atmospheric temperature in the line formation region to 30,000 - 40,000 K. This effect was discovered by Auer and Mihalas for O3-O4 atmospheric models, but it has not been applied to active B stars. Our models suggest that lambda 6678 emission in Be stars can be used as a sensitive monitor of localized hot spots on these stars' surfaces. The energies involved in heating the active portions of the atmosphere are too high to be produced by gravitational infall. This leaves magnetically induced flares among the few known processes on the surfaces of stars capable of sustaining this energy level.

Smith, Myron A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

BL-Lacs in X-Ray Outburst

We conducted a multifrequency campaign for the TeV blazar Markarian 421 in 1998 April. The campaign started from a pronounced high-amplitude flare recorded by BeppoSAX and Whipple; the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) observation started three days later. In the X-ray data, we detected multiple flares, occurring on timescales of about one day. ASCA data clearly reveal spectral variability. The comparison of the data from ASCA, the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer, and the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer indicates that the variability amplitudes in the low-energy synchrotron component are larger at higher photon energies. In TeV and gamma-rays, large intraday variations-which were correlated with the X-ray flux-were observed when results from three Cerenkov telescopes were combined. The rms variability of TeV and gamma-rays was similar to that observed in hard X-rays, above ten keV. The X-ray light curve reveals flares that are almost symmetric for most cases, implying that the dominant timescale is the light crossing time through the emitting region. The structure function analysis based on the continuous X-ray light curve of seven days indicates that the characteristic timescale is approx. 0.5 days. The analysis of ASCA light curves in various energy bands appears to show both soft (positive) and hard (negative) lags. These may not be real, as systematic effects could also produce these lags, which are all much smaller than an orbit. If the lags of both signs are real, these imply that the particle acceleration and X-ray cooling timescales are similar.

Remillard, Ronald A.↗