943 research outputs found
Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Parallel Observations of the Planetary Nebula M94-20
The planetary nebula M94--20 in the Large Magellanic Cloud was
serendipitously observed with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board
the Hubble Space Telescope as part of the Hubble Space Telescope Archival Pure
Parallel Program. We present spatially resolved imaging and spectral data of
the nebula and compare them with ground based data, including detection of
several emission lines from the nebula and the detection of the central star.
We find the total H alpha + [NII] flux = 7.3e-15 erg s^-1 cm^-2 and we estimate
the magnitude of the central star to be m_V = 26.0 +/- 0.2. Many other H alpha
sources have been found in M31, M33 and NGC 205 as well. We discuss the use of
the parallel observations as a versatile tool for planetary nebula surveys and
for other fields of astronomical research.Comment: Latex, 14 pages, 2 JPEG figures, 2 tables. PASP Research Note, June
1999, in pres
Revisited abundance diagnostics in quasars: Fe II/Mg II ratios
Both the Fe II UV emission in the 2000- 3000 A region [Fe II (UV)] and
resonance emission line complex of Mg II at 2800 A are prominent features in
quasar spectra. The observed Fe II UV/ Mg II emission ratios have been proposed
as means to measure the buildup of the Fe abundance relative to that of the
alpha-elements C, N, O, Ne and Mg as a function of redshift. The current
observed ratios show large scatter and no obvious dependence on redshift. Thus,
it remains unresolved whether a dependence on redshift exists and whether the
observed Fe II UV/ Mg II ratios represent a real nucleosynthesis diagnostic. We
have used our new 830-level model atom for Fe+ in photoionization calculations,
reproducing the physical conditions in the broad line regions of quasars. This
modeling reveals that interpretations of high values of Fe II UV/ Mg II are
sensitive not only to Fe and Mg abundance, but also to other factors such as
microturbulence, density, and properties of the radiation field. We find that
the Fe II UV/ Mg II ratio combined with Fe II (UV)/ Fe II (Optical) emission
ratio, where Fe II (Optical) denotes Fe II emission in 4000 - 6000 A can be
used as a reliable nucleosynthesis diagnostic for the Fe/Mg abundance ratios
for the physical conditions relevant to the broad-line regions (BLRs) of
quasars. This has extreme importance for quasar observations with the Hubble
Space Telescope and also with the future James Webb Space Telescope.Comment: kverner.gzip, 9 pages, f1-5.eps; aastex.cls; aastexug.sty, ApJL in
pres
Observations of the 51.8 micron (O III) emission line in Orion
The 51.8 micron fine structure transition P2:3P2 3P1 for doubly ionized oxygen was observed in the Orion nebula. The observed line strength is of 5 plus or minus 3 times 10 to the minus 15th power watt/sq cm is in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Observations are consistent with the newly predicted 51.8 micron line position. The line lies close to an atmospheric water vapor feature at 51.7 micron, but is sufficiently distant so that corrections for this feature are straightforward. Observations of the 51.8 (O III) line are particularly important since the previously discovered 88 micron line from the same ion also is strong. This pair of lines should, therefore, yield new data about densities in observed H II regions; or else, if density data already are available from radio or other observations, the lines can be used to determine the differential dust absorption between 52 and 88 micron in front of heavily obscured regions
Decoherence of spin echoes
We define a quantity, the so-called purity fidelity, which measures the rate
of dynamical irreversibility due to decoherence, observed e.g in echo
experiments, in the presence of an arbitrary small perturbation of the total
(system + environment) Hamiltonian. We derive a linear response formula for the
purity fidelity in terms of integrated time correlation functions of the
perturbation. Our relation predicts, similarly to the case of fidelity decay,
faster decay of purity fidelity the slower decay of time correlations is. In
particular, we find exponential decay in quantum mixing regime and faster,
initially quadratic and later typically gaussian decay in the regime of
non-ergodic, e.g. integrable quantum dynamics. We illustrate our approach by an
analytical calculation and numerical experiments in the Ising spin 1/2 chain
kicked with tilted homogeneous magnetic field where part of the chain is
interpreted as a system under observation and part as an environment.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure
Detection of a Hot Binary Companion of Carinae
We report the detection of a hot companion of Carinae using high
resolution spectra (905 - 1180 \AA) obtained with the Far Ultraviolet
Spectroscopic Explorer (\fuse) satellite. Observations were obtained at two
epochs of the 2024-day orbit: 2003 June during ingress to the 2003.5 X-ray
eclipse and 2004 April several months after egress. These data show that
essentially all the far-UV flux from \etacar shortward of \lya disappeared at
least two days before the start of the X-ray eclipse (2003 June 29), implying
that the hot companion, \etaB, was also eclipsed by the dense wind or extended
atmosphere of \etaA. Analysis of the far-UV spectrum shows that \etaB is a
luminous hot star. The \nii \wll1084-1086 emission feature suggests that it may
be nitrogen-rich. The observed far-UV flux levels and spectral features,
combined with the timing of their disappearance, is consistent with \etacar\
being a massive binary system
On the changes in the physical properties of the ionized region around the Weigelt structures in Eta Carinae over the 5.54-yr spectroscopic cycle
We present HST/STIS observations and analysis of two prominent nebular
structures around the central source of Eta Carinae, the knots C and D. The
former is brighter than the latter for emission lines from intermediate or high
ionization potential ions. The brightness of lines from intermediate and high
ionization potential ions significantly decreases at phases around periastron.
We do not see conspicuous changes in the brightness of lines from low
ionization potential (<13.6 eV) that the total extinction towards the Weigelt
structures is that the total extinction towards the Weigelt structures is AsubV
=2/0. that the total extinction towards the Weigelt structures is AV = 2.0.
Weigelt C and D are characterized by an electron density of that the total
extinction towards the Weigelt structures is AV = 2.0. Weigelt C and D are
characterized by an electron density of 10exp6.9 cm-3 that does not
significantly change throughout the orbital cycle. The electron temperature
varies from 5500 K (around periastron) to 7200 K (around apastron). The
relative changes in the brightness of He I lines are well reproduced by the
variations in the electron temperature alone. We found that, at phases around
periastron, the electron temperature seems to be higher for Weigelt C than that
of D. The Weigelt structures are located close to the Homunculus equatorial
plane, at a distance of about 1240 AU from the central source. From the
analysis of proper motion and age, the Weigelt complex can be associated with
the equatorial structure called the Butterfly Nebula surrounding the central
binary system.Comment: 19 pages, 18 figure
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