Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “stellar effective temperatures”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9

Chondrites and the Protoplanetary Disk, Part 1

The papers discussed the following: The Formation Process of Adhering and Consorting Compound Chondrules Inferred Their Petrology and Major-Element Composition. The Prospect of High-Precision Pb Isotopic Dating of Meteorites. Evolution of UV-Irradiated Protoplanetary Disks. A Model for the Formation of E Chondrites. Oxygen Isotopic Diffusion and Exchange Experiments on Olivine and Chondrule Melts: Preliminary Results. Shock Heating: Origin of Shock Waves in the Protoplanetary Disk. Thermal Structures of Protoplanetary Disks. Meteoritical Astrophysics: A New Subdiscipline. Origin and Thermal History of FeNi-Metal in Primitive Chondrites. The Collisions of Chondrules Behind Shock Waves. Primary Signatures of the Nebular Dust Preserved in Accretionary Rims and Matrices of CV Chondrites. History of Thermally Processed Solids in the Protoplanetary Disk: Reconciling Theoretical Models and Meteoritical. Evidence Evaporation and Condensation During CAI and Chondrule Formation. Shock Heating: Effects on Chondritic Material. Rhounite-bearing Inclusions E201 and E202 from Efremovka: Constraints from Trace. Element Measurements Element Mapping in Anhydrous IDPs: Identification of the Host Phases of Major/Minor Elements as a Test of Nebula Condensation Models. Theoretical Studies of Disk Evolution Around Solar Mass Stars. Chemical Effects of High-Temperature Processing of Silicates. I-Xe and the Chronology of the Early Solar System. The Effects of X-Rays on the Gas and Dust in Young Stellar Objects. Origin of Short-lived Radionuclides in the Early Solar System. On Early Solar System Chronology: Implications of an Initially Heterogeneous Distribution of Short-lived Radionuclides. The Origin of Short-lived Radionuclides and Early Solar System Irradiation. Disequilibrium Melting and Oxygen Isotope Exchange of CAIs and Chondrules in the Solar Nebula. Mineralogy and Chemistry of Fine-grained Matrices, Rims, and Dark Inclusions in the CR Carbonaceous Chondrites Acfer/El Djouf 001 and the Ungrouped Carbonaceous Chondrites Acfer 094 and Adelaide. Oxygen Isotopes of Aluminum-rich Chondrules from Unequilibrated Enstatite Chondrites.

Source record↗

Constraints on the Emission and Viewing Geometry of the Transient Anomalous X-ray Pulsar XTE J1810-197

The temporal decay of the flux components of the transient anomalous X-ray pulsar XTE J1 810-197 following its 2002 outburst presents a unique opportunity to probe the emission geometry of a magnetar. Toward this goal, we model the magnitude of the pulsar's modulation in narrow spectral bands over time. Following previous work, we assume that the postoutburst flux is produced in two distinct thermal components arising from a hot spot and a warm concentric ring. We include general relativistic effects on the blackbody spectra due to gravitational redshift and light bending near the stellar surface, which strongly depend on radius. This affects the model fits for the temperature and size of the emission regions. For the hot spot, the observed temporal and energy-dependent pulse modulation is found to require an anisotropic, pencil-beamed radiation pattern. We are able to constrain an allowed range for the angles that the line of sight (psi) and the hot spot pole (xi) make with respect to the spin axis. Within errors, this is defined by the locus of points in the xi-psi plane that lie along the line [xi + beta(R)] [psi + [beta(R)] = const, where beta(R) is a function of the radius R of the star. For a canonical value of R = 12 km, the viewing parameters range from psi = xi = 37deg to (psi, xi) = (85deg, 15deg). We discuss our results in the context of magnetar emission models.

Perna, Rosalba↗

The evolution of very low mass stars

The results of numerical evolutionary calculations for stars with masses in the range of 0.01-0.10 solar mass are presented. The stellar models by which these stars are followed from the early stages of contraction through deuterium burning to the very late stages of degenerate cooling at ages comparable to that of the Galaxy are described, and the methodology used to investigate the major uncertainties in the input physics are discussed. It is found that, for brown dwarfs with masses substantially below the end of the hydrogen-burning main sequence, the evolution of the effective temperature and bolometric luminosity are fairly well determined, despite the residual uncertainties in the input physics. In particular, the evolution is remarkably insensitive to the choice of the atmospheric opacity law at low temperatures and to the amount of mismatch in specific entropy across the stellar envelope. The minimum mass for a star to attain main-sequence status is moderately sensitive to the assumed input physics, particularly the surface boundary conditions.

Nelson, L. A.↗

Is magnetic convection important in the sun

It is found that magnetic convection most probably operates inside the sun. The energy flux which it can carry is five to six orders of magnitude smaller than the total solar flux. The velocity with which magnetic flux rises from the interior of the sun towards the surface is measured. Under conditions where the entire stellar flux is carried by convection, the velocities of magnetic buoyancy are compared with the velocities of convective elements inside stars. Observation shows magnetic convection effects on the internal temperature structure of the sun to be small.

Mullan, D. J.↗

The resolution of P Cygni's stellar wind

The 6 cm radio emission from P Cygni's stellar wind has been resolved using the Very Large Array. The wind is apparently spherically symmetric, and the radial surface brightness distribution agrees with that predicted by the constant velocity, isothermal wind model. The wind temperature is directly determined from the observations to be within 2000 K of 18,000, which is consistent with an effective temperature of 20,000 K for P Cygni. The technique makes it possible to study the adiabatic cooling of the wind, which should be important for most early-type stars but which cannot be recognized through its effects on the radio spectrum. To avoid systematically underestimating fluxes, it is essential to fit models directly to the (u-v) data when observing stellar winds with the VLA.

White, R. L.↗

Photospheres of hot stars. III - Luminosity effects at spectral type 09.5

Hydrogen and helium line profiles with high signal-to-noise ratios were obtained for four stars of spectral type 09.5 (Alpha Cam, Xi Ori A, Delta Ori A,AE Aur) that form a sequence in luminosity: Ia, Ib, II, V. The basic stellar parameters of these stars are determined by fitting the observed line profiles of weak photospheric absorption lines with profiles from models which include the effect of radiation scattered back onto the photosphere from their stellar winds, an effect referred to as wind blanketing. For these stars, the inclusion of wind blanketing is significant only for the most luminous star, Alpha Cam, for which the effective temperature was shifted about -2000 K relative to an unblanketed model.

Voels, Stephen A.↗

The equation of state for stellar envelopes. I - An occupation probability formalism for the truncation of internal partition functions

An equation of state for material in stellar envelopes, subject to the limits of temperature less than about 10 to the 7th K and density less than about .01 g/cu cm is presented. The equation makes it possible to express free energy as the sum of several terms representing effects such as partial degeneracy of the electron, Coulomb interactions among charged particles, finite-volume, hard sphere repulsion, and van der Waals attraction. An occupation probability formalism is used to represent the effects of the plasma in establishing a finite partition function. It is shown that the use of the static screened Coulomb potential to calculate level shifts and to estimate the cutoff of the internal partition function is invalid. For most of the parameter space relevant to stellar envelopes, perturbations arising from the plasma ions are shown to be dominant in establishing the internal partition function.

Hummer, D. G.↗

Spectroscopic studies of very old hot stars. III - Atmospheric properties of seven planetary nuclei

The atmospheric properties of seven planetary nuclei which have O or Of-type spectra were determined by use of the Zanstra method and by analysis of the visual line spectra. One finding is that the O-type spectral sequence may extend to effective temperatures of 90,000 kelvins or more, if the results of the Zanstra method are to be believed. However, there are some indications of internal inconsistency in the Zanstra method and some outstanding discrepancies between the effective temperatures indicated by the Zanstra method and those indicated from analysis of the visual line spectra. Two ways to resolve these discrepancies are to postulate an excess of extreme-UV stellar flux or to postulate a hot binary companion for some central stars. In either case the validity of the Harmon-Seaton evolutionary sequence for central stars becomes questionable.

Heap, S. R.↗

Blue companions of Cepheids

Twenty-one Cepheids, known or suspected to have blue companions, were studied with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite. For 13 of them, companions were indeed seen, though they were generally fainter in the UV than expected. For four Population I Cepheids, the suspected companions were not seen. For none of the Population II Cepheids could a companion be detected. The effective temperatures and luminosities of the companions which could be observed are discussed, and the positions of Cepheids and companions in the T(eff) luminosity diagrams are compared with positions expected from stellar evolution calculations.

Bohm-Vitense, E.↗

Winds in hot main-sequence stars near the static limit

This project began with the acquisition of short-wavelength, high-dispersion IUE spectra of selected late O- and early B-type stars that are near the main sequence in open clusters and associations. The profiles of the resonance lines of N(V), Si(IV), and C(IV) were studied, and we found that the C(IV) lines are the most sensitive indicators of mass loss (stellar winds) in stars of this type. The mass loss manifests itself as an extension of the short-wavelength absorption wing of the doublet, while there is no P Cygni-type emission on the long-wavelength side of the line profile. We investigated whether the short-wavelength extension could be caused by blended lines of other ionic species formed in the photosphere. Although blending is present and introduces uncertainty into the estimation of the precise location on the main sequence of the onset of the mass-loss signature, it is a crucial issue only in a few marginal cases. Mass loss certainly overwhelms blending in its influence on the spectrum between spectral types B0 and B1 (effective temperatures in the range 25,000-27,000 K). We defined a parameter called P(sub w), to describe the degree of asymmetry of the C(IV) resonance-line profile, and we studied the dependence of this parameter on the fundamental stellar parameters. For this purpose, we derived new estimates of the stellar T(eff) and log g from a non-LTE, line-blanketed model-atmosphere analysis of these stars (Grigsby, Morrison, and Anderson 1992). In order to estimate the stellar luminosities, we performed an exhaustive search of the literature for the most reliable available estimates of the distances of the clusters and associations to which the program stars belong. The dependence of P(sub w) on stellar temperature and luminosity is also studied.

Morrison, Nancy D.↗

Stellar atmosphere in statistical equilibrium

A static atmosphere with only Lyman continuum radiation in radiative equilibrium is studied for the effects of radiative and collisional ionization on deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). Large increases and decreases of the kinetic temperature (range in T of about factor 2) and, correspondingly, very large over- and underpopulation of the bound state (range in b of about factor 1,000,000) are found, depending on the frequency dependence of the photoionization cross section. Despite these large deviations from LTE, which strongly modify the emergent spectrum, there is almost no effect on the particle densities, the degree of ionization, and the basic structure of the atmosphere.

Kalkofen, W.↗

Climate of Earth-Like Planets With and Without Ocean Heat Transport Orbiting a Range of M and K Stars

The mean surface temperature of a planet is now acknowledged as insufficient to surmise its full potential habitability. Advancing our understanding requires exploration with 3D general circulation models (GCMs), which can take into account how gradients and fluxes across a planet's surface influence the distribution of heat, clouds, and the potential for heterogeneous distribution of liquid water. Here we present 3D GCM simulations of the effects of alternative stellar spectra, instellation, model resolution, and ocean heat transport, on the simulated distribution of heat and moisture of an Earth-like planet (ELP).

Planets↗

Deuterium and the stellar birthline

A series of simplified evolutionary calculations are used to show that deuterium burning acts as an effective thermostat in low-mass protostars over a plausible range of initial conditions and mass accretion rates. The thermostat keeps the central temperature of the accreting hydrostatic core close to 10 to the 6th K, and thereby tightly constrains the core's mass-radius relation. This relation, when combined with premain-sequence evolutionary tracks, yields a theoretical birthline or upper envelope for young stars in the H-R diagram which maintains excellent agreement with observations of T Tauri stars in nearby molecular cloud complexes. This derivation of the birthline helps to explain its insensitivity to protostellar collapse conditions. The calculations indicate that the birthline will be little affected by the inclusion of rotation as long as the newly visible stars have lost most of their accreted angular momentum.

Stahler, Steven W.↗

Evolution of solitary density waves in stellar winds of early-type stars: A simple explanation of discrete absorption component behavior

We model the evolution of a density shell propagating through the stellar wind of an early-type star, in order to investigate the effects of such shells on UV P Cygni line profiles. Unlike previous treatments, we solve the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations, using an explicit time-differencing scheme, and present a parametric study of the density, velocity, and temperature response. Under the assumed conditions, relatively large spatial scale, large-amplitude density shells propagate as stable waves through the supersonic portion of the wind. Their dynamical behavior appears to mimic propagating 'solitary waves,' and they are found to accelerate at the same rate as the underlying steady state stellar wind (i.e., the shell rides the wind). These hydrodynamically stable structures quantitatively reproduce the anomalous 'discrete absorption component' (DAC) behavior observed in the winds of luminous early-type stars, as illustrated by comparisons of model predictions to an extensive International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) time series of spectra of zeta Puppis (O4f). From these comparisons, we find no conclusive evidence indicative of DACs accelerating at a significantly slower rate than the underlying stellar wind, contrary to earlier reports. In addition, these density shells are found to be consistent within the constraints set by the IR observations. We conclude that the concept of propagating density shells should be seriously reconsidered as a possible explanation of the DAC phenomenon in early-type stars.

Waldron, Wayne L.↗

Design, fabrication, and delivery of a charge injection device as a stellar tracking device

Six 128 x 128 CID imagers fabricated on bulk silicon and with thin polysilicon upper-level electrodes were tested in a star tracking mode. Noise and spectral response were measured as a function of temperature over the range of +25 C to -40 C. Noise at 0 C and below was less than 40 rms carriers/pixel for all devices at an effective noise bandwidth of 150 Hz. Quantum yield for all devices averaged 40% from 0.4 to 1.0 microns with no measurable temperature dependence. Extrapolating from these performance parameters to those of a large (400 x 400) array and accounting for design and processing improvements, indicates that the larger array would show a further improvement in noise performance -- on the order of 25 carriers. A preliminary evaluation of the projected performance of the 400 x 400 array and a representative set of star sensor requirements indicates that the CID has excellent potential as a stellar tracking device.

Burke, H. K.↗

On the disappearance of O I in some high-luminosity cool stars

Far UV spectra and flux measurements of cool giant and supergiant stars, focusing on the O I (UV 2) and S I/Si II fluxes and their dependence on stellar parameters are presented. The de-reddened O I surface fluxes vary by factors of several hundred over the 11 stars in the sample and, at a given luminosity, decrease with decreasing effective temperature. No flux at all is detected in the three M supergiants observed to date. In contrast, the S I/Si II blend near 1810 angstrom is clearly detected in all the stars. Its strength generally increases with luminosity, but has little effective temperature dependence. Possible explanations for the behavior of O I include changes in the intensities of Lyman alpha and beta which excite the lines of S I and O I, respectively, as well as scattering and/or absorption of the O I flux in a dense, circumstellar gas shell.

Carpenter, K. G.↗

The early spectral evolution of Nova Cassiopeiae 1993

In this paper we describe the evolution of Nova Cas 1993 over the first two months of its outburst. We present an ultraviolet light curve that covers the period from announcement to just after dust began forming in the ejecta (1994 Feb. 15) and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spacecraft constraints forced us to halt our observations. We have used spherical, expanding, Non-local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) stellar atmospheres to compute synthetic spectra and have compared the results to combined ultraviolet (low-resolution 1200-3400 A and high-resolution 2400-3300 A) spectra. Our fits show that the effective temperature of the ejecta increased from approx. 8000 to about approx. 16 000 K between 1993 Dec. 12 and 1993 Dec. 26. The temperature then increased more slowly to approx. 24 000 on 1994 Jan. 28. A preliminary abundance analysis shows evidence for hydrogen depletion, as we also found for Nova V1974 Cygni; however we find a larger enhancement of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. We also show that the principal mechanism for mass ejection in this nova is a radiation pressure driven wind and that mechanical driving is not necessary.

Hauschildt, Peter H.↗

On the fragmentation of cosmic gas clouds. III - The initial stellar mass function

Radiation from the first opaque protostellar fragments to form in a nonhomologously collapsing molecular cloud can provide a significant heat source in regions where the matter remains relatively diffuse over the initial free-fall time scale. This energy input provides a negative feedback that gradually inhibits fragmentation as larger protostellar fragments form that are also more effective radiators. A highly simplified model is described that yields an expression for the initial mass function in stellar clusters. Dynamical dissipation, driven by the more massive protostars, tends to decouple the gas and grain temperatures and steepen the mass function. Fragmentation of less massive stars appears to proceed more efficiently when the heavy-element abundance is decreased, indicating the possibility of an inverse correlation between gradients in Z and M/L. Other possible observational tests of fragmentation are also suggested.

Silk, J.↗