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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 1,297 records · Page 72
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NASA NTRS1974

Binary stellar winds

Stellar winds from a binary star will interact with each other along a contact discontinuity. We discuss qualitatively the geometry of the flow and field resulting from this interaction in the simplest case where the stars and winds are identical. We consider the shape of the critical surface (defined as the surface where the flow speed is equal to the sound speed) as a function of stellar separation and the role of shock waves in the flow field. The effect of stellar spin and magnetic sectors on the field configuration is given. The relative roles of mass loss and magnetic torque in the evolution of orbital parameters are discussed.

Siscoe, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Binary stellar winds

Stellar winds from a binary star pair will interact with each other along a contact discontinuity. We discuss qualitatively the geometry of the flow and field resulting from this interaction in the simplest case where the stars and winds are identical. We consider the shape of the critical surface (defined as the surface where the flow speed is equal to the sound speed) as a function of stellar separation and the role of shock waves in the flow field. The effect of stellar spin and magnetic sectors on the field configuration is given. The relative roles of mass loss and magnetic torque in the evolution of orbital parameters is discussed.

Siscoe, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Molecular shock waves in the BN-KL region of Orion

The H2, CO, and OH IR emission-line intensities in the BN-KL region of Orion are modeled by shock waves traveling at 36 km/s with respect to an ambient gas of density 200,000 per cu cm, ionization fraction of less than 3 x 10 to the -7th, CO abundance of approximately 0.0003, and transverse magnetic field of 0.45 milligauss. A global model is considered in which the shock waves are driven by strong winds emanating from KL. The mass-loss rate has been not less than 0.003 solar mass per year for approximately 1000 years. The total wind energy released from the star is not less than 5 x 10 to the 47th ergs. The total ejected momentum is approximately 10 to the 41st g cm/S, sufficient to disrupt the dense cloud surrounding BN-KL.

Chernoff, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Bright, rapid, highly polarized radio spikes from the M dwarf AD Leonis

A rapid sequence of highly polarized spikes was observed during the gradual rise of a longer lasting event in an Arecibo Observatory study of a radio burst at 1400 MHz from the main sequence radio star AD Leo. The maximum flux density of the spikes was 130 mJy, and they had rise times of less than about 200 msec. The rise times provide an upper limit to the linear size of the emitter of 6 billion cm, and an area of less than 0.03 of the star's surface area is inferred, for a spike brightness temperature of more than about 10 to the 13th K. The high brightness temperatures and high degrees of circular polarization are explained in terms of electron-cyclotron maser emission at the second harmonic of the gyrofrequency, in longitudinal magnetic fields of about 250 G.

Lang, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Detection of a sub-milliarcsecond radio component in the RS CVn system HR 1099

The RS CVn system HR 1099 was observed with a five station VLBI array at a frequency of 8.4 GHz during a strong radio outburst of approximately 400 mJy. The data are consistent with a circular Gaussian source of 0.8 + or - 0.12 milli-arcsec (FWHM), corresponding to a linear size of 4 + or - 0.6 x 10 to the 11th cm. This is comparable to the distance between the surfaces of the two stars, or to 75 percent of the diameter of the chromospherically active K star. Extrapolation of published photometric data shows that the starspot formation of HR 1099 was facing toward the observers at the times of observations. The high equivalent brightness temperature, approximately 10 billion K, is consistent with gyrosynchrotron emission from a power-law energy distribution of electrons in a magnetic field of strength about 30 gauss.

Mutel, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Location of the emitting regions in the mode-switching radio pulsar PSR 1926 + 18

We present an analysis of average single-frequency profiles of the radio pulsar PSR 1926 + 18 in two different modes. Assuming a purely dipolar field and taking into account retardation, aberration, magnetic line curvature, and ignoring the magnetic field line sweepback, we come to the following conclusions: (1) mode switching in PSR 1926 + 18 at 430 MHz may be understood in terms of different emission heights of the two modes; (2) the weaker mode appears when regions emitting the first two components move away from the star by an additional distance of not more than several kilometers from their original locations; (3) the trailing conal component is emitted essentially from the same layer of the magnetosphere in both modes, in contrast to the first conal component, which appears to change its location in the magnetosphere; (4) core and conal components are emitted from distinctly different emission heights: core components not more than 75 km, and conal components not less than 215 km from the surface of the star. Our model infers three-dimensional information about the emitting region from single-frequency observations. It has been tested previously with a mode switching pulsar that had one component in the average profile in two modes. This paper shows that the same model can explain positions and widths of the components in a more complex profile during mode switching, provided that the components can be traced from one mode to another.

Nowakowski, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

X-ray spectra of accreting degenerate stars

X-ray emission from accreting nonmagnetic degenerate dwarfs is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the numerical calculations by Kylafis and Lamb (1979) with regard to the entire range of accretion rates and stellar masses. It is concluded that at moderate and high accretion rates the spectral temperature varies dramatically and the star exhibits a pronounced correlation between X-ray spectral temperature and luminosity. Also considered are the results of Lamb and Masters (1979) of calculations of high-harmonic cyclotron emission from a hot plasma, from which they developed a model of X-ray and UV emission from accreting magnetic degenerate dwarfs. It is found that the position and relative strength of the spectral components change with variations in the accretion rate and differ for different magnetic fields; in addition, magnetic degenerate dwarfs are predicted to be strong UV sources with only a few percent of the total accretion luminosity ordinarily appearing as soft and hard X-rays.

Kylafis, N. D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Paradigm transition in cosmic plasma physics

New discoveries in cosmic plasma physics are described, and their applications to solar, interstellar, galactic, and cosmological problems are discussed. The new discoveries include the existence of double layers in magnetized plasmas and in the low magnetosphere, and energy transfer by electric current in the auroral circuit. It is argued that solar flares and the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction should not be interpreted in terms of magnetic merging theories, and that electric current needs to be explicitly taken account of in understanding these phenomena. The filamentary structure of cosmic plasmas may be caused by electric currents in space, and the pinch effect may have a central role to play in the evolutionary history of interstellar clouds, stars, and solar systems. Space may have a cellular structure, with the cell walls formed by thin electric current layers. Annihilation may be the source of energy for quasars and the Hubble expansion, and the big bang cosmology may well be wrong.

Alfven, H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Documentation for the machine-readable version of the Revised S210 Catalog of Far-Ultraviolet Objects (Page, Carruthers and Heckathorn 1982)

A detailed description of the machine-readable revised catalog as it is currently being distributed from the Astronomical Data Center is given. This catalog of star images was compiled from imagery obtained by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Far-Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph (Experiments S201) operated from 21 to 23 April 1972 on the lunar surface during the Apollo 16 mission. The documentation includes a detailed data format description, a table of indigenous characteristics of the magnetic tape file, and a sample listing of data records exactly as they are presented in the machine-readable version.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Models for X-Ray Emission from Isolated Pulsars

A model is proposed for the observed combination of power-law and thermal X-rays from rotationally powered pulsars. For gamma-ray pulsars with accelerators very many stellar radii above the neutron star surface, 100 MeV curvature gamma-rays from e(-) or e(+) flowing starward out of such accelerators are converted to e1 pairs on closed field lines all around the star. These pairs strongly affect X-ray emission from near the star in two ways. (1) The pairs are a source of synchrotron emission immediately following their creation in regions where B approx. 10(exp 10) G. This emission, in the photon energy range 0.1 keV less than E(sub X) less than 5 MeV, has a power-law spectrum with energy index 0.5 and X-ray luminosity that depends on the back-flow current, and is typically approx. 10(exp 33) ergs/ s. (2) The pairs ultimately a cyclotron resonance "blanket" surrounding the star except for two holes along the open field line bundles which pass through it. In such a blanket the gravitational pull on e(+,-) pairs toward the star is balanced by the hugely amplified push of outflowing surface emitted X-rays wherever cyclotron resonance occurs. Because of it the neutron star is surrounded by a leaky "hohlraum" of hot blackbody radiation with two small holes, which prevents direct X-ray observation of a heated polar cap of a gamma-ray pulsar. Weakly spin modulated radiation from the blanket together with more strongly spin-modulated radiation from the holes through it would then dominate observed low energy (0.1-10 keV) emission. For non-y-ray pulsars, in which no such accelerators with their accompanying extreme relativistic back-flow toward the star are expected, optically thick e1 resonance blankets should not form (except in special cases very close to the open field line bundle). From such pulsars blackbody radiation from both the warm stellar surface and the heated polar caps should be directly observable. In these pulsars, details of the surface magnetic field evolution, especially of polar cap areas, become relevant to observations. The models are compared to X-ray data from Geminga, PSR 1055-52, PSR 0656+14, PSR 1929+10, and PSR 0950+08.

Wang, F. Y.-H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The SAS-3 attitude control system

SAS-3 uses a reaction wheel to provide torque to control the spin rate. If the wheel speed becomes too great or too small, it must be restored to its nominal rate by momentum dumping which is done by magnetic torquing against the earth's magnetic field by the satellite's magnetic coils. A small rate-integrating gyro is used to sense the spin rate so that closed loop control of the spin rate can be achieved. These various systems are described in detail including the reaction wheel system, the gyro system, along with control modes (spin rate control and the star lock mode).

Mobley, F. F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The origins of the stellar corona

A critical review is presented of present observational facts and theoretical developments related to the causes of the active X-ray corona and to coronal holes in the sun and other late-type stars. Observations indicate that the active X-ray corona represents a superposition of large numbers of nanoflares. Presumably individual nanoflares occur at the many small tangential discontinuities in the field. Nothing about the active corona can be asserted with scientific confidence until the Fourier spectrum of the motions of the magnetic fibrils at the photosphere has been determined observationally.

Parker, E. N.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Neutron stars and the distance to gamma-ray bursters

Assuming that gamma-ray bursts originate from galactic neutron stars, an analytic method for studying their statistical properties is outlined. If a significant fraction of all neutron stars are born with space velocities of less than approximately 100 km/s, as suggested by studies of pulsar statistics, then the sampling distance to gamma-ray burst sources should be less than about several hundred pc. These results have important implications on theories of radio-pulsar evolution and magnetic-field decay.

Dermer, Charles D.↗
NASA NTRS1995

High Temperature Superconducting Bearings for Lunar Telescope Mounts

A telescope to be installed on the lunar surface in the near future must work in a cold and dusty vacuum environment for long periods without on site human maintenance. To track stars, the drive mechanism must be capable of exceedingly fine steps and repeatability. Further, the use of lightweight telescopes for obvious economic benefits burdens the requirement for stable support and rotation. Conventional contact bearings and gear drives have numerous failure modes under such a restrictive and harsh environment. However, hybrid superconducting magnetic bearings (HSMB) fit in naturally. These bearings are stable, light, passive, and essentially frictionless, allowing high precision electronic positioning control. By passive levitation, the HSMB does not wear out and requires neither maintenance nor power. A prototype illustrating the feasibility of this application is presented.

Lamb, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2020

NuSTAR Observation of GROJ1744−28 at Low Mass Accretion Rate

Context.Neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are important systems to study the physics of accretion onto compact ob-jects. The system GRO J1744−28 is particularly interesting, as it usually shows clear pulsations as well as X-ray bursts. Additionally,there are claims for a magnetic field of 5×1011G through the detection of a Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Feature (CRSF).Aims.We present the spectral analysis of GRO J1744−28 using∼29 ks of NuSTAR data taken in 2017 February at a low luminosityof 3.2×1036erg s−1(3–50 keV). Our goal is to study the variability of the source spectrum with pulse phase and to search for the claimed CRSF. Methods.The continuum spectrum is modeled with an absorbed power-law with exponential cut-off, and an additional iron line component. We find no obvious indications for a CRSF and therefore perform a detailed cyclotron line search using statistical methods.We perform this search on pulse phase-averaged as well as phase-resolved spectra. Results.GRO J1744−28 was observed at one of the lowest luminosities studied so far. The previously detected Type II X-ray bursts re absent. Clear pulsations at a period of 2.141124(9) Hz are detected. The pulse profile shows an indication of a secondary peak,which was not seen at higher flux. The 4σupper limit for the strength of a CRSF in the 3–20 keV band is 0.07 keV, lower than the strength of the line found at higher luminosity. Conclusions.The detection of pulsations shows that the source did not enter the “propeller” regime, even though the source flux of4.15×10−10erg cm−2s−1was almost one order of magnitude below the threshold for the propeller regime claimed in previous studies on this source. The transition into the propeller regime in GRO J1744−28 must therefore be below a luminosity of 3.2×1036erg s−1(3–50 keV), which implies a surface magnetic field.2.9×1011G and mass accretion rate.1.7×1016g s−1. A change of the CRSF depth as function of luminosity is not unexpected and has been observed in other sources. This result possibly implies a change in emission geometry as function of mass accretion rate to reduce the depth of the line below our detection limit.

Ole König↗
NASA NTRS1991

Numerical simulations of flares on M dwarf stars. I - Hydrodynamics and coronal X-ray emission

Flare-loop models are utilized to simulate the time evolution and physical characteristics of stellar X-ray flares by varying the values of flare-energy input and loop parameters. The hydrodynamic evolution is studied in terms of changes in the parameters of the mass, energy, and momentum equations within an area bounded by the chromosphere and the corona. The zone supports a magnetically confined loop for which processes are described including the expansion of heated coronal gas, chromospheric evaporation, and plasma compression at loop footpoints. The intensities, time profiles, and average coronal temperatures of X-ray flares are derived from the simulations and compared to observational evidence. Because the amount of evaporated material does not vary linearly with flare-energy input, large loops are required to produce the energy measured from stellar flares.

Cheng, Chung-Chieh↗
NASA NTRS1982

Solar-stellar astrophysics

Nonthermal physical processes in the solar atmosphere are discussed. The solar atmospheric regions are defined, and solar convection and its phenomena are explained. The relationship of the solar dynamo, magnetic field, and flares is explored. The solar atmospheric velocity fields are discussed, and the unresolved problem of the nature of atmospheric heating is detailed. The solar wind heating and acceleration are discussed and the need for global solar atmospheric models is emphasized. The application of these solar nonthermal processes to the stars in general is then taken up, employing the same categories as were applied to the solar atmosphere.

Jordan, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Overpressured cocoons in extragalactic radio sources

It is shown that the cocoons of shocked gas which surround powerful double radio sources can have significantly higher pressures than the surrounding intergalactic medium. The pressures can be high enough to confine the jets in these sources, obviating the need for magnetic confinement. The cocoon pressure and the age of a radio source may be estimated from observable quantities, as demonstrated here for the radio galaxy Cygnus A. It is suggested that overpressured cocoons in high-redshift radio galaxies engulf and compress circumgalactic clouds, driving them over the Jeans limit and triggering star formation. It is proposed that this process leads to the observed alignments of optical continuum emission with radio source axes.

Begelman, Mitchell C.↗