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At least 775 records · Page 43

The Nature of Hard X-Ray (3–24 keV) Detected Luminous Infrared Galaxies in the COSMOS Field

We investigate the nature of far-infrared (70 μm) and hard X-ray (3–24 keV) selected galaxies in the COSMOS field detected with both Spitzer and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). By matching the Spitzer-COSMOS catalog with the NuSTAR-COSMOS catalog, we obtain a sample consisting of a hyperluminous infrared galaxy with log(L{sub IR}/L{sub ⊙})⩾13, 12 ultraluminous infrared galaxies with 12⩽log (L{sub IR}/L{sub ⊙})⩽13, and 10 luminous infrared galaxies with 11⩽log (L{sub IR}/L{sub ⊙})⩽12, i.e., 23 Hy/U/LIRGs in total. Using their X-ray hardness ratios, we find that 12 sources are obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with absorption column densities of N{sub H}>10{sup 22} cm{sup −2}, including several Compton-thick (N{sub H}∼10{sup 24} cm{sup −2}) AGN candidates. On the basis of the infrared (60 μm) and intrinsic X-ray luminosities, we examine the relation between star formation (SF) and AGN luminosities of the 23 Hy/U/LIRGs. We find that the correlation is similar to that of the optically selected AGNs reported by Netzer, whereas local, far-infrared selected U/LIRGs show higher SF-to-AGN luminosity ratios than the average of our sample. This result suggests that our Hy/U/LIRGs detected both with Spitzer and NuSTAR are likely situated in a transition epoch between AGN-rising and cold-gas diminishing phases in SF-AGN evolutional sequences. The nature of a Compton-thick AGN candidate newly detected above 8 keV with NuSTAR (ID 245 in Civano et al.) is briefly discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Flat-spectrum Radio Quasars and BL Lacs Dominate the Anisotropy of the Unresolved Gamma-Ray Background

We analyze the angular power spectrum (APS) of the unresolved gamma-ray background (UGRB) emission and combine it with the measured properties of the resolved gamma-ray sources of the Fermi-LAT 4FGL catalog. Our goals are to dissect the composition of the gamma-ray sky and to establish the relevance of different classes of source populations of active galactic nuclei in determining the observed size of the UGRB anisotropy, especially at low energies. We find that, under physical assumptions for the spectral energy distribution, i.e., by using the 4FGL catalog data as a prior, two populations are required to fit the APS data, namely flat-spectrum radio quasars at low energies and BL Lacs at higher energies. The inferred luminosity functions agree well with the extrapolation of the flat-spectrum radio quasar and BL Lac ones obtained from the 4FLG catalog. We use these luminosity functions to calculate the UGRB intensity from blazars, finding a contribution of 20% at 1 GeV and 30% above 10 GeV. Finally, bounds on an additional gamma-ray emission due to annihilating dark matter are also derived.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

First Spectroscopic Confirmations of z ∼ 7.0 Ly α Emitting Galaxies in the LAGER Survey

Narrowband imaging is a highly successful approach for finding large numbers of high-redshift Ly α emitting galaxies (LAEs) up to z ∼ 6.6. However, at z ≳ 7 there are as of yet only three narrowband selected LAEs with spectroscopic confirmations (two at z ∼ 6.9–7.0, one at z ∼ 7.3), which hinders extensive studies on cosmic reionization and galaxy evolution at this key epoch. We have selected 23 candidate z ∼ 6.9 LAEs in COSMOS field with the large area narrowband survey Lyman-Alpha Galaxies at the End of Reionization (LAGER). In this work, we present spectroscopic follow-up observations of 12 candidates using the Inamori Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph on Magellan. For nine of these, the observations are sufficiently deep to detect the expected lines. Ly α emission lines are identified in six sources (yielding a success rate of 2/3), including three luminous LAEs with Ly α luminosities of L {sub Lyα} ∼ 10{sup 43.5} erg s{sup −1}, the highest among known spectroscopically confirmed galaxies at ≳7.0. This triples the sample size of spectroscopically confirmed narrowband selected LAEs at z ≳ 7, and confirms the bright-end bump in the Ly α luminosity function we previously derived based on the photometric sample, supporting a patchy reionization scenario. Two luminous LAEs appear physically linked with a projected distance of 1.1 pMpc and velocity difference of ∼170 km s{sup −1}. They likely sit in a common ionized bubble produced by themselves or with close neighbors, which reduces the intergalactic medium attenuation of Ly α . A tentative narrow N v λ 1240 line is seen in one source, hinting at activity of a central massive black hole with metal-rich line-emitting gas.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Cross-polar transport and scavenging of Siberian aerosols containing black carbon during the 2012 ACCESS summer campaign

During the ACCESS airborne campaign in July 2012, extensive boreal forest fires resulted in significant aerosol transport to the Arctic. A 10-day episode combining intense biomass burning over Siberia and low-pressure systems over the Arctic Ocean resulted in efficient transport of plumes containing black carbon (BC) towards the Arctic, mostly in the upper troposphere (6–8 km). Here, a combination of in situ observations (DLR Falcon aircraft), satellite analysis and WRF-Chem simulations is used to understand the vertical and horizontal transport mechanisms of BC with a focus on the role of wet removal. Between the northwestern Norwegian coast and the Svalbard archipelago, the Falcon aircraft sampled plumes with enhanced CO concentrations up to 200 ppbv and BC mixing ratios up to 25 ng kg –1 . During transport to the Arctic region, a large fraction of BC particles are scavenged by two wet deposition processes, namely wet removal by large-scale precipitation and removal in wet convective updrafts, with both processes contributing almost equally to the total accumulated deposition of BC. Our results underline that applying a finer horizontal resolution (40 instead of 100 km) improves the model performance, as it significantly reduces the overestimation of BC levels observed at a coarser resolution in the mid-troposphere. According to the simulations at 40 km, the transport efficiency of BC (TE BC ) in biomass burning plumes was larger (60 %), because it was impacted by small accumulated precipitation along trajectory (1 mm). In contrast TE BC was small (< 30 %) and accumulated precipitation amounts were larger (5–10 mm) in plumes influenced by urban anthropogenic sources and flaring activities in northern Russia, resulting in transport to lower altitudes. TE BC due to large-scale precipitation is responsible for a sharp meridional gradient in the distribution of BC concentrations. Wet removal in cumulus clouds is the cause of modeled vertical gradient of TE BC , especially in the mid-latitudes, reflecting the distribution of convective precipitation, but is dominated in the Arctic region by the large-scale wet removal associated with the formation of stratocumulus clouds in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) that produce frequent drizzle.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Carbon chemistry of Apollo 14 size-fractionated fines.

Experiments have been conducted on several Apollo 12 and 14 samples that confirm the identification of CH4 and C2H6 in lunar fines and breccias. In particular, data for various size fractions of sample 14240,5 are reported which show that the concentrations of these species are dependent on particle size. Results strongly support proposals that solar wind activity is a source of CH4 in lunar samples.

Holland, P. T.↗

Powered fire nozzle for fast penetration of structures: A concept

Nozzle has been proposed with tip that will punch through wall very quickly. It would allow extinguishing agent to be delivered inside closed structure in minimum amount of time. Two versions of nozzle have been conceived: one operated from hydraulic pressure source and one activated by explosive charge.

Parker, J. F.↗

System safety as applied to Skylab

Procedural and organizational guidelines used in accordance with NASA safety policy for the Skylab missions are outlined. The basic areas examined in the safety program for Skylab were the crew interface, extra-vehicular activity (EVA), energy sources, spacecraft interface, and hardware complexity. Fire prevention was a primary goal, with firefighting as backup. Studies of the vectorcardiogram and sleep monitoring experiments exemplify special efforts to prevent fire and shock. The final fire control study included material review, fire detection capability, and fire extinguishing capability. Contractors had major responsibility for system safety. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and equipment criticality categories are outlined. Redundancy was provided on systems that were critical to crew survival (category I). The five key checkpoints in Skylab hardware development are explained. Skylab rescue capability was demonstrated by preparations to rescue the Skylab 3 crew after their spacecraft developed attitude control problems.

Kleinknecht, K. S.↗

Space solar power. Description of concept, results of preliminary studies, requirements for evaluation

The nation is actively pursuing alternate sources of energy because of the problems or concerns related to obtaining required energy for the future from oil, gas, nuclear, and coal sources. Solar energy is an obvious candidate for consideration. Its use in the past has been limited by the relative cost of collecting and converting solar energy into electrical power. The increasing costs of other energy sources will make solar energy more attractive. During recent years a new concept for the collection of solar energy has been developed. This concept involves the location of solar power stations in space. The concept, results of preliminary studies, and requirements for space evaluation of such a project are discussed.

Source record↗

Ultrahigh-energy neutrino astronomy

High-energy cosmic-ray interactions can produce neutrinos. The neutrino fluxes are calculated over a range of energies. The sources considered (and their ranges of importance) are cosmic-ray interactions in earth's atmosphere (neutrino energies less than 10,000 GeV), cosmic-ray interactions with ambient hydrogen in galaxies (neutrino energies between 10,000 and 1 million GeV), regions of cosmic-ray acceleration - e.g., pulsars - and cosmic-ray interactions with the microwave background radiation (neutrino energies greater than 100 million GeV). In addition, estimates of the flux from compact sources, such as active galaxies, are made. These flux levels, calculated conservatively, may be high enough for practical detection with a 1-cu km seawater detector; i.e., count rates greater than 1 per day. Such observations would provide information mainly about high-energy physics, but also (over long times) about cosmic-ray spectra, composition, and acceleration, as well as supernova and galactic-nucleus explosions.

Margolis, S. H.↗

Formate esters of 1,2-ethanediol - Major decomposition products of p-dioxane during storage

Research done on detecting the contaminants of p-dioxane that cause a positive response for highly reactive acyl groups is discussed. Attention is given to the fact that the positive hydroxamate response might indicate an unsuspected hazard. It is found that all acyl groups transferred are formyl groups, and the mono- and diformates of 1,2-ethanediol are identified as major sources of this activity. It is also found that the formate esters are formed by way of peroxide intermediates. Concentrations of the formate ester group as high as 1.8 M are found in partially consumed bottles of dioxane but not in other common ethers stored under similar conditions. Attention is called to the possibility that the exposure to the glycol formates is probably much wider than expected. It is noted that by purging containers of dioxane with nitrogen each time they are opened and storing them in the cold away from light can prevent both the economic loss and possible health hazard caused by contamination with peroxide and formate ester.

Jewett, D.↗

VLBI observations of the jet near the core of M87

VLBI observations of M87 with four antennas at 13 cm wavelength indicate that the large-scale jet extends inward to the core. The presence of the jet within several light-years of the currently inactive core indicates that either the source has been active in the recent past or that the core supplies energy to the jet even in the quiescent phase.

Cotton, W. D.↗

Inflight IFR procedures simulator

An inflight IFR procedures simulator for generating signals and commands to conventional instruments provided in an airplane is described. The simulator includes a signal synthesizer which generates predetermined simulated signals corresponding to signals normally received from remote sources upon being activated. A computer is connected to the signal synthesizer and causes the signal synthesizer to produce simulated signals responsive to programs fed into the computer. A switching network is connected to the signal synthesizer, the antenna of the aircraft, and navigational instruments and communication devices for selectively connecting instruments and devices to the synthesizer and disconnecting the antenna from the navigational instruments and communication device. Pressure transducers are connected to the altimeter and speed indicator for supplying electrical signals to the computer indicating the altitude and speed of the aircraft. A compass is connected for supply electrical signals for the computer indicating the heading of the airplane. The computer upon receiving signals from the pressure transducer and compass, computes the signals that are fed to the signal synthesizer which, in turn, generates simulated navigational signals.

Parker, L. C.↗

A sudden warming in the middle atmosphere of the southern hemisphere

The present analysis of a wave-mean flow interaction, or minor warming, near the southern hemisphere stratopause on July 15-30, 1974, is primarily based on data from the selective chopper radiometer aboard Nimbus 5. Eliassen-Palm (E-P) cross sections are given for the event, and a good correlation is found between the E-P flux convergence and the deceleration. The channeling of the E-P fluxes from the tropopause to the convergent region is in broad agreement with the refractive index distribution, but a region of E-P flux divergence is noted at high levels in polar latitudes which suggests a source of wave activity. The event is shown to be associated with an incursion of low latitude air into middle latitudes, with a corresponding, irreversible mixing of potential vorticity which resembles the McIntyre and Palmer (1983) northern hemisphere 'wave breaking'.

Al-Ajmi, D. N.↗

Discovery of rapid quasi-periodic oscillations in Scorpius X-1

The X-ray flux from Sco X-1 can vary quasi-periodically. Fourier analysis of 5-20 keV X-ray data taken while the source was quiescent shows a power density peak at 6 Hz, with a 2 Hz FWHM, and which corresponds to 5 percent of the flux (rms amplitude). No 6 Hz peak was observed when the source was more active, but rather a broad distribution of excess power up to 25 Hz was seen. The mode of variability switched from one to the other within 500 s, settling into the 6 Hz mode about 1 hr into quiescence. A different mode of quasi-periodic oscillation with power in a broad band between 14 and 24 Hz, corresponding to a 6 percent rms amplitude, occurred for short periods during the active phase whenever the flux reached the quiescent level.

Middleditch, J.↗

Varves and solar physics

The relationship between varves (visibly striated rocks deposited by glacial run-off) and solar radiation is discussed, proposing that the thickness of any given varve represents the mean annual sunspot number for the year in which the varve was laid down. The solar cycle may entail a deep torsional oscillator whose influence reaches the surface by wave propagation. Several observed features suggest a wave link between the source of solar activity and its surface manifestations. It is suggested that the cause of varve modulation is solar UV and X-ray radiation, which exerts solar cycle influence in the ozonosphere and ionosphere. The undulations and cycles of the Elatina varve bed formation in South Australia are related to solar phenomena. The varve mechanism is significant for the build-up of the protective shield of biogenic oxygen in the palaeoatmosphere.

Bracewell, R. N.↗

A report on the USL NASA/RECON project. Part 2: PC-based R and D in support of IS and R applications

This Working Paper Series entry describes the PC R and D development effort initiated as part of the NASA/RECON Project at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. This effort involves the development of a PC-based environment for the prototyping and evaluation of various tools designed to enhance the interaction between scientists and engineers and remote information systems. The design of PC-based tools for the enhancement of the NASA/RECON university-level courses is described as well as the design of a multi-functional PC-based workstation to support access to and processing of information from local, distributed, and remote sources. Course preparation activities are described in a companion report entitled A Report on the USL NASA/RECON Project: Part 1, the Development of a Transportable, University-Level, IS and R Educational Program, by Suzy Gallagher and Martin Granier, USL/DBMS NASA/RECON Working Paper Series report number DBMS.NASA/RECON-7.

Dominick, Wayne D.↗

Sublimation rates of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from comet nuclei at large distances from the Sun

One of the more attractive among the plausible scenarios for the major emission event recently observed on Comet Halley at a heliocentric distance of 14.3 AU is activation of a source of ejecta driven by an icy substance much more volatile than water. As prerequisite for the forthcoming detailed analysis of the imaging observations of this event, a simple model is proposed that yields the sublimation rate versus time at any location on the surface of a rotating cometary nucleus for two candidate ices: carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The model's variable parameters are the comet's heliocentric distance r and the Sun's instantaneous zenith angle z.

Sekanina, Zdenek↗