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At least 325 records · Page 18

Collision-induced absorption in the far infrared spectrum of Titan

The effects of collision-induced absorption on the far infrared spectrum of Titan have been investigated. After a review of the procedure for the theoretical calculation of the N2 translation-rotational spectrum, new results for the temperature range o 70 to 120 K are reported. These are used as input data for a simple atmospheric model in order to compute the far infrared radiance, brightness temperature, and specral limb function. This source of opacity alone is not capable of explaining the Voyager results. When the collision-induced methane is included, the results are in closer agreement in the range between 200 and 300/cm, suggesting that a more complete treatment of collision-induced absorption including particularly CH4-N2, N2-H2, and H2-H2 results, may provide sufficient opacity to reduce or obviate the need for opacities due to clouds or aerosols in order to explain the observed spectra.

Hunt, J. L.↗

An absorption feature in the spectrum of the pulsed hard X-ray flux from 4U0115 + 63

A spectral feature, apparently an absorption line, has been observed at an energy of 20.1 + or - 0.5 keV in the pulsed flux of the 3.61-s X-ray pulsar 4U 0115+63 by using the UCSD/MIT instrument on HEAO 1. The line strength, expressed as equivalent width, is 3.1 + or - 0.5 keV. Although essentially unresolved, the feature has a depth more than 60% of the continuum flux. If the feature arises by cyclotron resonance absorption near the magnetic poles of the neutron star, it implies a magnetic field of between approximately 1.8 and 2.5 x 10 to the 12th G, depending on the gravitational redshift (no more than about 5-40%).

Wheaton, W. A.↗

Detection of the 1400 A absorption in the ultraviolet spectrum of the DA white dwarf LB 3303

Low-resolution ultraviolet International Ultraviolet Explorer spectra of the southern white dwarf LB 3303 show the presence of the wavelength 1400 absorption feature reported by Greenstein in the spectrum of 40 Eri B. The equivalent width is 5.7 A, and the measured wavelength is 1394 A. A comparison of the ultraviolet fluxes with model atmospheres confirms that LB 3303 has an effective temperature near 16,000 K, as found earlier from visual wavelength data. There are still problems with the identification of this line. The star is not hot enough to explain the presence of Si IV, and the agreement with the spectrum of the H2 molecule is not convincing.

Wegner, G.↗

Observation of an absorption feature in a gamma ray burst spectrum

A gamma ray burst was detected on March 25, 1978 by the High Energy X-ray and Low Energy Gamma Ray Experiment on HEAO-1. The burst spectrum shows an absorption feature at 55 + or - 5 keV with an equivalent width of 13 + or - 3 keV, values commensurate with those of similar features observed by the KONUS experiment. The burst spectrum also is characterized by a hard component extending from about 0.25-6 MeV. This component can be interpreted in terms of a fireball model for gamma ray bursts, which places the distance to the source at 1 kpc. The integrated fluence of the burst between 0.025 and 6 MeV is 1.5 x 10 to the -5th ergs/sq cm. The burst source has been localized to within a degree of RA = 237.5 deg and Dec = 76.2 deg.

Hueter, G. J.↗

Galactic disk absorption lines in the spectrum of the quasar 3C 273

It is pointed out that the line of sight to 3C 273 is unique because of the possibility of obtaining both radio and optical absorption line measurements. This information may make it possible to understand in detail the structure of the interstellar medium along the line of sight. To take advantage of this possibility, high-resolution optical spectra were obtained of 3C 273. The observations were made using the echelle spectrograph at the Cassegrain focus of the 4 m telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in 1980 January. Both Na D and Ca K lines were obtained on the same plate. In the visual lines, the galactic disk absorption shows a main component at 20 km/sec with a trailing wing in the negative velocities.

Cowie, L. L.↗

Ultraviolet spectra of the X-ray transient A0538-66

Ultraviolet spectra were obtained before and after the optical spectrum changed from absorption to emission lines. The continuum brightness dropped by a factor of 2. Spectra with bright continua show N V, Si IV, and C IV in absorption, while the spectrum with fainter continuum has these lines in emission. The emission lines of N V and Si IV are anomalously bright compared with C IV. The brighter spectra indicate an effective temperatury of 25,000 K, while the fainter continuum indicates a somewhat lower temperature. Probable interstellar absorption lines due to galactic halo and the LMC interstellar medium are observed.

Raymond, J. C.↗

Methane absorption variations in the spectrum of Pluto

The lightcurve phases of 0.18, 0.35, 0.49, and 0.98 covered by 5600-10,500 A absolute spectrophotometry of Pluto during four nights include minimum (0.98) light and one near-maximum (0.49) light. The spectra are noted to exhibit significant methane band absorption depth variations at 6200, 7200, 7900, 8400, 8600, 8900, and 10,000 A, with the minimum absorption occurring at minimum light and thereby indicating a 30-percent change in the methane column abundance in the course of three days. An attempt is made to model this absorption strength variation with rotational phase terms of an isotropic surface distribution of methane frost and a clear layer of CH4 gas.

Buie, Marc W.↗

Interstellar absorption lines in the spectrum of Zeta Puppis

The far-UV spectrum of Zeta Pup is surveyed as obtained from scans by Copernicus satellite detectors. Equivalent widths are tabulated for 147 lines from 35 different ions or isotopes of 19 elements in the direction of Zeta Pup. In addition, 52 unidentified absorption lines are listed whose narrow widths indicate an interstellar origin. An attempt is made to report on the relative velocities of the lines, curves of growth and column densities, and interstellar abundances. Suggestions are made for future investigations. Apparently, it is found that: (1) O, P, S, Cl, and Zn are within a factor of 2 of their solar abundances toward Zeta Pup; (2) Mg, Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Cu are depleted by factors of 4 or more; and (3) the depletion generally increases with increasing condensation temperature.

Morton, D. C.↗

Selection of optimum wavelengths for ozone mapping from satellites

Faced with conflicting requirements for measuring total ozone with the Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Spectrometer/Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (SBUV/TOMS), a recommended strategy is to select three wavelengths: one at the peak of the ozone absorption cross section spectrum, another at a nearby minimum and a third wavelength that lies just outside the absorption spectrum. A pair formed using the first two wavelengths are then used under most observing conditions; another pair formed using the last two wavelengths are used near the terminator. There is no evidence that the use of additional wavelengths provides any benefit for measuring total ozone. Additional wavelengths, however, are necessary if other atmospheric species, such as SO sub 2, need to be measured.

Bhartia, P. K.↗

Time variations of an absorption feature in the spectrum of the gamma-ray burst on 1980 April 19

The photon number spectrum integrated over the impulsive part of the event is shown to fit a thermal bremsstrahlung function with a temperature of 330 + or - 70 keV at energies between 151 and 487 keV. At lower energies, the data points lie considerably below this function, indicating a broad absorption feature extending down to values less than or equal to 28 keV, the lowest energy measured. The upper energy of this absorption feature varies from 100 to 150 keV on a time scale less than or equal to 0.5 s. This event is interpreted as a typical gamma ray burst, even though it is still considered remotely possible that it is of solar origin. The spectral features, together with their variability, are interpreted in terms of electron interactions at the cyclotron resonance frequency in magnetic fields of 10 to the 12th - 10 to the 13th gauss close to the surface of a neutron star.

Dennis, B. R.↗

Interstellar absorption lines in the spectrum of supernova Evans in M83 (NGC 5236)

It is pointed out that supernovae in other galaxies create spontaneous opportunities to probe spectroscopically the gaseous material in galactic halos. Because of their brightness, supernovae offer an unparalleled chance to obtain spectra with high wavelength resolution and/or signal-to-noise ratio. The present investigation is concerned with observations of visual interstellar lines in the spectrum of a supernova discovered on July 3, 1983, and identified as Type I. The supernova was located 124 arc sec south and 122 arc sec west of the nucleus of M83. Evidence is obtained that for velocities near that of M83, the line of sight toward the supernova contains a complex array of absorption features of Ca II. In both Ca II and Na I, the absorptions associated with M83 are far more prominent than those halfway through the disk (and halo) of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is felt that many of the displaced velocity components in the M83 system arise from a gaseous halo.

Rodgers, A. W.↗