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Results for “Absorption lines”

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.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

High-resolution spectroscopy of the z = 1.79 absorption-line system toward B2 1225 + 317

The results of Multiple Mirror Telescope echelle spectroscope scans of species in the z = 1.79 system toward the quasar B2 1225 + 317 are reported. The campaign was undertaken to compare quasar absorption-line systems with gas absorption lines in other galaxies. Relative column densities obtained for Zn II, Si II, Mg II, Fe II and H I were similar to those observed for the interstellar medium. Data analyses with photoionization models for the radiation field above the Lyman limit yielded upper and lower limits to the specific intensity at 1000 A that were consistent with the UV radiation field in the halo of a spiral galaxy.

Bechtold, Jill↗
NASA NTRS1993

Hydrogen and metal absorption lines in PKS 0405-123 from the halos of low redshift galaxies

HST ultraviolet spectra and ground-based optical spectra of the bright quasar PKS 0405-123 are used to identify two absorption-line systems probably produced by the halos of foreground galaxies. The quasar lies in a rich galaxy field. Loose groups of galaxies are present in the field at mean z1 = 0.1669 and mean z2 = 0.3519. Ly-alpha, C IV 1549 A, and probably Mg II 2798 A resonance lines are detected in an absorption system at z = 0.1670. An absorption system consisting of only Ly-alpha is observed at z = 0.3516. We cannot be completely certain which foreground galaxy is responsible for the metal line absorption system at z1. A likely candidate is a large, luminous, early-type spiral 40 arcsec to the east of the quasar. However, the origin of the z1 system could possibly be a small undetected galaxy more precisely aligned along our line of sight to PKS 0405-123, or a very faint galaxy whose redshift has not yet been measured.

Spinrad, Hyron↗
NASA NTRS1974

Origin of QSO absorption lines

Consideration of the origin of the absorption lines in QSOs with observed absolute redshifts much less than the empirical values. As a possible alternative to the plasmoid mechanism for decreasing the relatively large possible macroscopic or bulk motions in QSO clouds, it is shown that certain large relative bulk motions in QSO clouds can be dissipated without the presence of strong magnetic fields and without large adiabatic expansions. The essence of the argument is that a cloud with convergent internal velocities can coalesce inelastically, because the internal kinetic energy can be dissipated and radiated away. There are thus indications that observed QSO absorption clouds may have their origin in clouds with internal velocities which are convergent.

Opher, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Formation of the H-alpha absorption line in the chromospheres of cool stars

The theory of the formation of the H-alpha absorption line in the chromospheres of cool stars is discussed and a number of results are presented which demonstrate that observations of this line can provide valuable information on certain properties of stellar chromospheres. It is shown that the widespread existence of strong H-alpha absorption in cool stars indicates the equally widespread existence of stellar chromospheres. The calculations also reinforce the idea that the great widths of H-alpha absorption lines in late-type giant stars are due to nonthermal chromospheric velocity fields.

Cram, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph and ground-based observations of the broad absorption line quasar 0226-1024

Faint Object Spectrograph data from the Hubble Space Telescope of the broad absorption line quasar 0226-1024 have revealed the presence of 8-10 absorbing ions between 680 and 1000 A (restframe): C III, N III, N IV, O III, O IV, O VI, S V, S VI, possibly Ne VIII, and possibly O V* arising from a metastable excited state. We also present ground-based optical observations of the broad line troughs for the following ions: H I, C IV, N V, Si IV, and possibly Fe III, S IV, P V, and C III* (also arising from a metastable excited state). The results of this fit are used to estimate the absorbing ionic column densities. There is evidence that the broad absorption line clouds are optically thick and either do not completely cover the continuum source or narrow unresolved lines are present.

Korista, Kirk T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The velocity distribution of interstellar gas observed in strong UV absorption lines

Observations of three strong interstellar UV absorption lines of N I (1199 A), N II (1083 A), and Si III (1206 A) in 47 stars of widely varying distance and a variety of spectral types are analyzed to obtain a velocity distribution function for the interstellar gas. A technique based on the maximum and minimum velocities observed along a line of sight is adopted because of heavy line blending, and results are discussed for both power-law and exponential distribution functions. The expected distribution of radiative-phase supernova remnants (SNRs) in the interstellar medium is calculated as a function of SNR birthrate and of the interstellar density in which they evolve. The results are combined with observed distance estimates, and it is shown that an interstellar density in excess of 0.1 per cu cm would be required to keep the SNRs sufficiently confined so that their cross sections are consistent with the observed number of components. The alternative possibility is considered that SNRs do not enter the radiative phase before escaping from the Galaxy or colliding with neighboring remnants.

Cowie, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The absorption-line spectrum of the quasi-stellar object PHL 957

Six high-dispersion spectra of the quasar PHL 957 are analyzed which were obtained with an integrating television system at the Coude focus of the 200-inch Hale telescope. One hundred seventy-nine absorption lines are found, and seven absorption-line redshift systems are identified. The system at z equals 2.3099 is shown to be most prominent, with 26 lines including a very strong L-alpha line. A system close to the emission redshift is found to be double, and many lines in all the systems are identified as Lyman alpha-beta pairs. Column densities and velocity dispersions are obtained from curves of growth for the major systems and the Lyman pairs. The system at z equals 2.3099 is found to resemble interstellar material in ionization and abundance ratios and constitutes strong evidence for absorption originating in a galaxy along the line of sight to the quasar. The double system is found to have higher ion states and is probably associated with the quasar.

Wingert, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Water-vapor absorption line measurements in the 940-nm band by using a Raman-shifted dye laser

We report water-vapor absorption line measurements that are made by using the first Stokes radiation (930-982 nm) with HWHM 0.015/cm generated by a narrow-linewidth, tunable dye laser. Forty-five absorption line strengths are measured with an uncertainty of 6 percent and among them are fourteen strong lines that are compared with previous measurements for the assessment of spectral purity of the light source. Thirty air-broadened linewidths are measured with 8 percent uncertainty at ambient atmospheric pressure with an average of 0.101/cm. The lines are selected for the purpose of temperature-sensitive or temperature-insensitive lidar measurements. Results for these line strengths and linewidths are corrected for broadband radiation and finite laser linewidth broadening effects and compared with the high-resolution transmission molecular absorption.

Chu, Zhiping↗
NASA NTRS1994

(abstract) The Absorption Line Spectra of Herbig-Hiro Object Exciting Stars at 1.6 and 2 Microns

We observed six Herbig-Hiro object exciting stars with the IRTF CSHELL cryogenic echelle spectrometer at 1.6 and 2 microns with the intent of determining effective temperatures and vsini's from the absorption lines in these spectral regions. In all of these objects, the photospheric absorption lines were either very weak or undetectable with our modest S/N high spectral resolution data. Using this information, constraints can be placed on the veiling continuum present at these wavelengths for embedded low-mass YSOs.

Herbig-Hiro object exciting stars spectrometry abs↗
NASA NTRS1990

Absorption line profiles in a companion spectrum of a mass losing cool supergiant

Cool star winds can best be observed in resonance absorption lines seen in the spectrum of a hot companion, due to the wind passing in front of the blue star. We calculated absorption line profiles that would be seen in the ultraviolet part of the blue companion spectrum. Line profiles are derived for different radial dependences of the cool star wind and for different orbital phases of the binary. Bowen and Wilson find theoretically that stellar pulsations drive mass loss. We therefore apply our calculations to the Cepheid binary S Muscae which has a B5V companion. We find an upper limit for the Cepheid mass loss of M less than or equal to 7 x 10(exp -10) solar mass per year provided that the stellar wind of the companion does not influence the Cepheid wind at large distances.

Rodrigues, Liliya L.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Discovery of an X-ray Violently Variable Broad Absorption Line Quasar

In this letter, we report on a quasar that is violently variable in the X-rays, XVV. It is also a broad absorption line quasar (BALQSO) that exhibits both high ionization and low ionization UV absorption lines (LoBALQSO). It is very luminous in the X-rays (approximately 10(exp 46) ergs s(sup -l) over the entire X-ray band). Surprisingly, this does not over ionize the LoBAL outflow. The X-rays vary by a factor of two within minutes in the quasar rest frame, which is shorter than 1/30 of the light travel time across a scale length equal to the black hole radius. We concluded that the X-rays are produced in a relativistic jet beamed toward earth in which variations in the Doppler enhancement produce the XVV behavior.

Ghosh, Kajal K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Optical interstellar absorption lines toward 29 stars

Observations of optical interstellar absorption lines of Ti II, Ca II, and/or Na I acquired at an instrumental resolution typically of 5.6 km/s are reported for 29 stars. The data were recorded primarily with a Digicon detector and achieve 2 sigma detection limits generally near an equivalent width of 1 mA. The primary purpose of the observations is, in combination with previously published data, to provide a comprehensive, high-sensitivity survey of Ti II, Ca II, and Na I absorption at all velocities, toward 41 stars for which a correspondingly complete survey of certain ultraviolet interstellar lines also is available. New high-velocity optical interstellar lines at /v(LSR)/ greater than about 25 km/s are found toward four of the 29 stars.

Hobbs, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Absorption-line profiles in a companion spectrum of a mass-losing cool supergiant

Cool star winds can best be observed in resonance absorption lines seen in the spectrum of a hot companion, due to the wind passing in front of the blue star. We calculated absorption line profiles that would be seen in the ultraviolet part of the blue companion spectrum. Line profiles are derived for different radial dependences of the cool star wind and for different orbital phases of the binary. Bowen and Wilson find theoretically that stellar pulsations drive mass loss. We therefore apply our calculations to the Cepheid binary S Muscae which has a B5V companion. We find an upper limit for the Cepheid mass loss of M less than or equal to 7 x 10 (exp -10) solar mass per year provided that the stellar wind of the companion does not influence the Cepheid wind at large distances.

Rodrigues, Liliya L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

On the possibility of detecting very hot gas through absorption-line studies

The possibility of detecting hot (T greater than or approximately equal to 10 to the 6th K) diffuse interstellar and intergalactic gas through absorption-line studies is assessed. Optical studies of semiforbidden lines are shown to be just beyond feasibility. X-ray absorption-line studies are concluded to be within the capability of future soft X-ray spectrographs, however. In particular, it is shown that the Bragg crystal spectrometer aboard Einstein could possibly have been used to detect O VII and O VIII lines against the Crab if they are present at plausible levels. Improvement of instrument parameters by only a small factor could make this the most important method available for studying hot interstellar, galactic halo and possibly even intergalactic gas.

York, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Absorption line studies of reflection from horizontally inhomogeneous layers

The article details an inhomogeneous reflecting layer (IRFL) model designed to survey absorption line behavior from a Squires-like cloud cover (which is characterized by convection cell structure). Computational problems and procedures are discussed in detail. The results show trends usually opposite to those predicted by a simple reflecting layer model. Per cent equivalent width variations for the tower model are usually somewhat greater for weak than for relatively strong absorption lines, with differences of a factor of about two or three. IRFL equivalent width variations do not differ drastically as a function of geometry when the total volume of absorbing gas is held constant. The IRFL results are in many instances consistent with observed equivalent width variations of Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.

Appleby, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Low-redshift Lyman-alpha absorption lines and the dark matter halos of disk galaxies

Ultraviolet observations of the low-redshift quasar 3C 273 using the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed many more Lyman-alpha absorption lines than would be expected from extrapolation of the absorption systems seen toward QSOs at z about 2. It is shown here that these absorption lines can plausibly be produced by gas at large radii in the disks of spiral and irregular galaxies; the gas is confined by the dark matter halos and ionized and heated by the extragalactic radiation field. This scenario does not require the extragalactic ionizing radiation field to decline as rapidly with decreasing z as the QSO emissivity. Observations of Ly-alpha absorption through the halos of known galaxies at low redshift will constrain both the extragalactic background and the properties of galactic halos.

Maloney, Philip↗