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At least 163 records · Page 9

C 4 fluxes from the sun as a star and the correlation with magnetic flux

A total of 144 C 4 wavelength 1548 SMM-UVSP spectroheliograms of solar plages were analyzed, some of which are series of exposures of the same region on the same day. Also analyzed were C 4 wavelength 1551 rasters of plages and C 4 1548 rasters of the quiet sun. The sample contains data on 17 different plages, observed on 50 different days. The center-to-limb variations of the active regions show that the optical thickness effects in the C 4 wavelength 1548 line can be neglected in the conversion from intensity to flux density. As expected for the nearly optically thin situation, the C 4 1548 line is twice as bright as the C 4 wavelength 1551 line. The average C 4 wavelength 1548 flux density for a quiet is 2700 erg/cm/s and, with surprisingly little scatter, 18,000 erg/cm/s for plages. The intensity histograms of rasters obtained at disk centers can be separated into characteristic plage and quiet-sun contributions with variable relative filling factors. The disk-averaged flux density in the C 4 doublet and the disk-averaged magnitude of the magnetic flux density are related. The relationship between the C 4 and magnetic flux densities for spatially resolved data is inferred to be almost the same, with only an additional factor of order unity in the constant of proportionality.

Schrijver, C. J.↗

C IV fluxes from the Sun as a star, and the correlation with magnetic flux

A total of 144 C IV wavelength 1548 Solar Maximum Mission (SMM)-UVSP spectroheliograms of solar plages were analyzed, some of which are series of exposures of the same region on the same day. Also analyzed were the C IV wavelength 1551 rasters of plages and C IV wavelength 1548 rasters of the quiet sun. The sample contained data on 17 different plages, observed on 50 different days. The center-to-limb variations of the active regions show that the optical thickness effects in the C IV wavelength 1548 line can be neglected in the conversion from intensity to flux density. As expected for the nearly optically thin situation, the C IV wavelength 1548 line is twice as bright as the C IV 1551 line. The average C IV wavelength 1548 flux density for a quiet region is 2700 ergs/cm/s and, with surprisingly little scatter, 18,000 erg/cm/s for plages. The intensity histograms of rasters obtained at disk center can be separated into characteristic plage and quiet sun contributions with variable relative filling factors. The relationship between the C IV and magnetic flux densities for spatially resolved data is inferred to be almost the same, with only an additional factor of order unity in the constant of proportionality.

Schrijver, C. J.↗

An investigation of ground-based observations of solar oscillations at Stanford

Data obtained in the last 8 years of solar differential Doppler observations at Stanford were considered. The four best time series of data were examined in detail. The sources of error in the data were investigated and removed where possible. In particular, the contribution resulting from transparency variations in the sky was examined. Detection method applicable to data with low signal to noise ratio and low filling factor were developed and utilized for the investigation of global solar modes of oscillations in the data. The frequencies of p-modes were measured and identified. The presence of g-modes were also determined in the Stanford data.

Henning, Harald M. J.↗

InP shallow-homojunction solar cells

Indium phosphide solar cells with very thin n-type emitters have been made by both ion implantation and metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Air mass zero efficiencies as high as 18.8 percent (NASA measurement) have been achieved. Although calculations show that, as is the case with GaAs, a heterostructure is expected to be required for the highest efficiencies attainable, the material properties of InP give the shallow-homojunction structure a greater potential than in the case of GaAs. The best cells, which were those made by ion implantation, show open-circuit voltage (V sub oc) of 873 mV, short-circuit current of 357 A/sq m (35.7 mA/sq cm), and fill factor of 0.829. Improvements are anticipated in all three of these parameters. Internal quantum efficiency peaks at over 90 percent in the red end of the spectrum, but drops to 54 percent in the blue end. Other cells have achieved 74 percent in the blue end. Detailed modeling of the data indicates that a high front surface recombination velocity is responsible for the low blue response, that the carrier lifetime is high enough to allow good carrier collection from both the base and the emitter, and that the voltage is base-limited.

Keavney, Christopher↗

Implications of Liouville's theorem on the apparent brightness temperatures of solar radio bursts

Liouville's radiation theorem is discussed with respect to its consequences for the propagation of radio waves from the actual to the apparent sources in the solar corona. It is shown that the observed solid angle and apparent area of the source are compatible with the theorem only if the apparent source corresponds to the envelope of subsources with a small filling factor (f). The brightness temperature of the actual source is found to be greater than that of the apparent source by 1/f.

Melrose, D. B.↗

Soft X-ray diagnostics of electron-heated solar flare atmospheres

The dependence of the impulsive-phase Ca XIX w line profile on the form of the flare energy input (assumed to be due to the collisional degradation of a beam of high-energy electrons) is considered. The injected flux spectrum has the form of a power law with a low-energy 'knee', and the effects of varying the total energy flux, spectral index, and knee energy on the w line profile during the impulsive phase have been evaluated. Early in the burst, blueshifts of order 400 km/s are noted, and the peak intensity of the blueshifted component together with spatially unresolved hard X-ray burst spectra can be used to determine the beam filling factor.

Li, Peng↗

A study of excess H-alpha emission in chromospherically active M dwarf

Spectroscopic observations from three observatories are combined to study the properties of the excess H-alpha emission which characterizes the most chromospherically active subset of the M dwarf stars, known as the dMe stars. It is demonstrated that the excess H-alpha luminosity from these stars is a monotonically decreasing function of their (R-I) color, and evidence is presented which suggests that the product of the mean surface brightness and the mean filling factor of the emissive regions is essentially constant with color. Another significant result of the study is a linear correlation between the excess luminosity in H-alpha and the coronal X-ray luminosity.

Young, Arthur↗

The correlation of C II 158 micron and CO (J = 1 - 0) line emission

The good correlation observed between the C II 158 micron and CO (J = 1 - 0) line emission from a large sample of Galactic H II regions, reflection nebulae, PN, and extragalactic nuclei is explained here by postulating a common origin to these two lines: photodissociation regions produced by the illumination of molecular clouds by FUV flux which are more than 100 times the average local interstellar field. Part of the correlation is due to a similar density dependence of I(C II) and I(CO) at high incident flux and part is due to beam dilution of Galactic and extragalactic sources. A method is presented for estimating a low limit to the beam filling factor of emitting gas and the incident UV radiation field.

Wolfire, Mark G.↗

The disk-halo connection and the nature of the interstellar medium

Some results on the nature of the interstellar medium that are specifically concerned with the disk-halo interaction are discussed. Over the last five years or so it has become clear that the supernovae rate in our Galaxy is spatially clumped and the consequences of such clumping are superbubbles and supershells fed by tens or hundreds of supernovae per shell. These objects evolve and expand rapidly and soon break out of the disk of the Galaxy, feeding the halo with very significant mass, energy, and momentum. As cooling occurs, gas will rain down onto the disk of the Galaxy completing the cycle. The basic flow of physical quantities from disk to halo and vice versa are discussed. Some of the many implications are noted including aspects of dynamo theory, quasar absorption lines, the theory of galactic coronae, and the nature of the x ray background. The essential difference here with the McKee-Ostriker (1977) theory is that the filling factor of the hot gas in the disk is significantly less than unity.

Norman, Colin A.↗

Infrared ground-based astronomy with the Hughes 256 X 256 PtSi array

It is shown that large format PtSi Schottky diode infrared arrays, the Hughes 256 X 256 hybrid Schottky array in particular, are competitive alternatives to the smaller format photovoltaic arrays for ground-based astronomy. The modest quantum efficiency of the PtSi compared to the photovoltaic devices is more than compensated for by the larger format. The use of hybrid technology yields effective fill factors of nearly 100 percent, and the low dark current, noise, excellent imaging characteristics, cost, and solid nitrogen operating temperature add to the effectiveness of this array for ground-based imaging. In addition to discussing the characteristics of this array, researchers present laboratory test data and astronomical results achieved at Kitt Peak.

Fowler, A.↗

Improvements in InP solar cells

Indium phosphide solar cells with very thin n-type emitters have been made by both ion implantation and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Air mass zero efficiencies as high as 18.8 percent (NASA measurement) have been achieved. The best cells, which were those made by ion implantation, show an open-circuit voltage of 873 mV, short-circuit current of 35.7 mA/sq cm, and fill factor of 0.829. Improvements are anticipated in all three of these parameters. Internal quantum efficiency peaks at over 90 percent in the red end of the spectrum, but drops to 54 percent in the blue end. Other cells have achieved 74 percent in the blue end. A preliminary investigation of InP solar cells on foreign substrates has been carried out. Although problems have been encountered with doping of the InP by the substrate, cells of 7.1 percent efficiency on silicon and cells of 9.4 percent, efficiency on GaAs have been made.

Keavney, Christopher↗

Photon degradation of AlGaAs/GaAs solar cells

The behavior of GaAs solar cells after photon illumination for a prolonged exposure time is presented. More than 55 OMCVD AlGaAs/GaAs solar cells were exposed for over 400 h to AM0 photons at 28 C in three separate, well-controlled runs. Significant degradation of solar cell efficiency was observed in two out of three runs. Although noticeable losses in the open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and maximum power were observed, no change in the short-circuit current was found. In one of the runs, no change was seen in either the test cells or the control cells. Each cell in this run was protected with a coverglass. The cells in this run had thicker buffer layers and thinner window layers than the cells in the other two runs.

Anspaugh, Bruce↗

Discovery of molecular hydrogen fluorescence in the diffuse interstellar medium

The first detection of molecular hydrogen fluorescence in the diffuse interstellar medium is reported. Using the Berkeley UVX Shuttle Spectrometer, H2 Lyman band fluorescence has been observed in four directions, each with high significance. Molecular hydrogen fluorescence is detected in all directions that have previously been found to contain significant CO emission. A simple equilibrium model has been developed that includes attenuation of the incident UV radiation field by H2 line and dust continuum absorption. Evidence is found that the gas in the CO emission portions of the clouds may be clumpy, with a filling factor less than 0.2 and an average density greater than 30/cu cm in most cases.

Martin, Christopher↗

Anomalous molecular abundances and the depletion of NH2 in Comet P/Giacobini-Zinner

Observations of the CN, C2, C3, and NH2 molecules in spectra of the Comet P/Giacobini-Zinner (P/G-Z) obtained during the 1985 apparition are presented. Haser-model production rates are derived, and it is found that Q(C2)/Q(CN) and Q(C3)/Q(CN) are low compared to those in normal comets. This indicates that C2 and C3 were underabundance in P/G-Z, in agreement with previous results. Q(NH2)/Q(CN) is determined for five comets for the first time to determine a 'normal' value for this ratio. The ratio for P/G-Z is low compared to the value for the ensemble, suggesting that NH2 was underabundant. For the five-comet sample, Q(C3)/Q(CN) exhibits a strong dependence with heliocentric distance, in contrast to Q(C2)/Q(CN) and Q(C3)/Q(CN). The dust-to-gas ratio is characterized by calculating the product of the dust-grain albedo, the filling factor, and the projected radius of the aperture and by computing the dust-to-gas mass ratio.

Beaver, John E.↗

Far-infrared spectroscopy of NGC 6946, IC 342, and Arp 299

Researchers investigated the physical conditions in the infrared bright galaxies NGC 6946, IC 342, and Arp 299 through measurements of far-infrared emission lines from Si II, O I, C II, and O III using the facility Cooled Grating Spectrometer on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. These data are interpreted using our theoretical models for photodissociation regions and H II regions. For the central 45 inches of these galaxies, researchers determined that the dominant excitation mechanism for the far infrared radiation (FIR) lines is far ultraviolet radiation (FUR) radiation from young stars, and the authors derived the total mass, density, and temperature of the warm atomic gas and the typical sizes, number densities, and filling factors for the interstellar clouds.

Lord, Steven D.↗

Collisional removal of HI from the inner disks of Virgo cluster galaxies

There is sufficient observational evidence to show that many Virgo Cluster spirals are HI deficient in their inner disks (in addition to being HI deficient globally, as previously established). It is shown here that collisions between galaxies in a cluster can lead to the removal of HI gas from these galaxies while leaving the H2 gas, undisturbed. This follows directly from the application of the Spitzer-Baade collisional gas removal mechanism to galaxies consisting of stars and a two-component interstellar medium (ISM) consisting of HI and H2, with HI having the largest filling factor. This can account for both the observed HI deficiency in the inner regions and the normal H2 content of these galaxies. The frequency of galaxy collisions in the Virgo Cluster is shown to be large enough to make collisional gas removal a viable mechanism.

Valluri, Monica↗

Long and short timescale variability of magnetic activity on the BY Dra star BD+26 deg 730

BD+26 degree 730 is a very active K5V flare star with a 60 year starspot cycle. Since it is also nearly pole-on, it presents an unusual opportunity to study purely temporal evolution of magnetic activity. Contemporaneous International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), magnetic flux, polarimetric, and H alpha observations of the star taken over several rotational periods in 1988 are presented. When combined with older photometry, optical and IUE archive spectra, the data show a surprising lack of any activity variability on either short (few days) or long (years) timescales. The lack of variability is suggested to be due to a nearly saturated level of magnetic activity on the star, as indicated by its large magnetic filling factor.

Saar, S. H.↗

Recent advances in the ITO/InP solar cell

It was demonstrated that Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)/InP solar cells can now be made on as-received p(-) bulk substrates which are of nearly equal quality to those which could previously only be made on epitaxially grown p(-) InP base layers. Although this advancement is due in part to both increases in substrate quality and a better understanding of back contact formation, it appears that the passivation/compensation effects resulting from having H2 in the sputtering gas tends to reduce significantly the performance differences previously observed between these two substrates. It is shown that since high efficiency ITO/InP cells can be made from as-received substrates, and since the type conversion process is not highly spatially dependent, large area ITO/InP cells (4 sq cm) with efficiencies approaching 17 percent (Global) can be made. Furthermore, the measured open circuit voltages (V sub OC) and quantum efficiencies (QEs) from these large cells suggest that, when they are processed using optimum grid designs, the efficiencies will be nearly equal to that of the smaller cells thus far produced. It has been shown, through comparative experiments involving ITO/InP and IO/InP cells, that Sn may not be the major cause of type conversion of the InP surface and thus further implies that the ITO may not be an essential element in this type of device. Specifically, very efficient photovoltaic solar cells were made by sputtering (Sn free) In2O3 showing that type conversion and subsequent junction formation will occur even in the absence of the sputtered SN species. The result suggests that sputter damage may indeed be the important mechanism(s) of type conversion. Finally, an initial study of the stability of the ITO/InP cell done over the course of about one year has indicated that the J(sub SC) (short circuit current) and the fill factor (FF) are measurably stable within experimental certainty.

Gessert, T. A.↗