Science News Found At: Atomic Physics with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
October 1995 • Volume 12, number 2 SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE Highlights of this issue: • Dr Michael Hauser arrives as STScI Deputy Director. • Dr Carol Christian arrives as head, Office of Public Outreach. • Director’s Perspective Newsletter on page 2. atomic and molecular species. As a basic premise is to use precisely 6 NGC 891 Atomic Physics with the Radio 4 Thin 2 Disk 0 2 Halo NW 0 Flux Density [MJy/beam] Halo 2 SE 0 125 4000 FIR III III V x 100 I x III consequence of the high signal-to- determined experimental f-values for 3000 x III x Goddard High Resolution III x x V 75 x V x I 2 V II 000 x x I V x x x 50 V I I x Flux Density [MJy/sr] V x 1000 x III I O3O4 O5 x O6 O7O8 I I 25 O9B0B Spectral Type 1 0 4 2 0 -2 -4 Spectrograph noise ratios attained (typically 200 to multiplets containing a weak interstel- Relative Distance Along Major Axis [ '] by Steven Federman, 1000), many lines of interstellar lar line to ensure the linearity between University of Toledo species were detected for the first time. amount of absorption and abundance. and Jason Cardelli, First detections include weak This abundance then is used to derive a Villanova University intercombination lines where the suite of self-consistent oscillator Most interstellar species have a large excited electron changes spin. strengths for the other lines. In other fraction of their electronic transitions Our high quality spectra showed words, the relative f-values derived at far ultraviolet wavelengths. Many of many lines of neutral sulfur (SI) and astronomically are placed on an Science News these transitions are accessible in the singly-ionized iron (Fe II). These data absolute scale with the experimental wavelength range covered by gratings are of very high precision and are results. The final step involves comparing the astronomically-derived oscillator strengths with other laboratory measurements and with results from large-scale computations like the Opacity Project. Two methods of analysis were applied to the GHRS data: for S I a curve-of-growth analysis was performed (Federman & Cardelli 1995, ApJ, in press), while for Fe II the observed variation of apparent optical depth with velocity (the τ - v method) was studied (Cardelli & Savage 1995, ApJ, in press). Neutral sulfur is a minor constituent because its ioniza- tion potential is less than hydrogen’s, and as a result S I absorption mainly arises from denser, cold gas along the sight line to a star. Therefore, in a Fig. 1 — Curve of growth for S I. The position where the optical depth at direction with a single principal line center equals 0.5 is indicated. For larger optical depths, saturation affects component of dense gas, a curve of the analysis. growth can be used to extract the abundance of S I from a weak line of a of the Goddard High Resolution indicating the limitations in the multiplet and the Doppler width (or b- Spectrograph (GHRS). We are available atomic data used for value) for the absorbing material from involved in a variety of programs that interpretation. Of particular interest to a strong line of the multiplet. Fe II, on probe the interstellar medium through our research are comparisons of the other hand, is the predominant absorption lines seen against the astronomical results with available form of iron in interstellar space and continuum of an early-type back- laboratory and theoretical data on absorption is seen in many compo- ground star. Our observations reveal atomic transition probabilities and nents. Curves of growth are usually not spectra rich in absorption lines from oscillator strengths ( f-values). Our reliable under such circumstances and continued page 3 SpaceST ScI NewsletterTelescope Science • Science Institute News • Newsletter Director's Perspective the Goddard High Resolution and Astronomy and Solar Physics, and by Bob Williams Faint Object Spectrographs. The Time previously the Infrared Astrophysics and F.D. Macchetto Allocation Committee and its Branch, Mike has considerable component panels will review all the experience in the management of large Life at Space Telescope Science proposals during the next month, and projects. He has been a part of several Institute and with HST is now reaching meet in November 1995 to carry out important scientific investigations, a steady state, but like the Universe it the peer review process. including IRAS and COBE, and serves is an evolving equilibrium. It is not an In addition to supporting the work on a number of prominent national exaggeration to say that HST is an associated with the different observing committees as well. He has specialized outstanding scientific success and is cycles, ST ScI is preparing to operate in infrared astronomy and instrumenta- making fundamental contributions to and use the two new instruments, tion, and therefore has a good technical all areas of astronomy, both by NICMOS and STIS, which will be knowledge of space hardware which confirming and expanding our deployed in the 1997 Servicing will be valuable to the HST commu- understanding of a variety of physical Mission. The development of these nity. It is a pleasure to welcome Mike phenomena and by providing observa- instruments is proceeding extremely to ST ScI as the new Deputy Director. tions and data that challenge current well, thanks to the commitment of the Dr. Carol Christian, formerly with wisdom. The Institute is working very many individuals involved in these the Center for Extreme Ultraviolet hard to schedule the HST with the projects and to the excellent communi- Astronomy at Berkeley, joined the highest possible observing efficiency, cations established with the Investiga- Institute on September 18th as Head of and efficiencies higher than 50% are tion Definition Teams. the Office of Public Outreach. Carol is now being attained. HST users are The long term future of the HST is familiar to the Institute, having served working equally hard to analyze their currently projected to be in very good on our Visiting Committee and as chair data and produce a steady stream of shape, with the Advanced Camera for of the STSDAS Users’ Committee. In scientific results at the forefront Surveys (ACS) being built for the 1999 addition to her experience in both of astrophysics, which appear in Servicing Mission and the current ground-based and space astronomy, the scientific journals and in the activities within ESA to define an Carol is very interested in the popular press. instrument for the 2002 mission. These applications of technology to data This spring HST users joined activities are concurrent with negotia- transfer and outreach. She created and together with ST ScI staff in a tions between NASA and ESA to successfully secured funding for a workshop entitled “Calibrating HST: extend the Memorandum of Under- national education program, the Post-Servicing Mission.” Roughly 75 standing between the two agencies Science Information Infrastructure, and HST investigators and a comparable beyond the current expiration date of she has good familiarity with current number of Institute staff attended this 2001. An important element in this efforts in astronomy education and forum for detailed presentations and extension would be ESA’s provision of computer technology. Carol will be a discussions concerning the calibration a new instrument. (See the September valuable asset to the Institute not just and analysis of post-servicing mission ECF Newsletter for details on the in leading our development of the data. The meeting was useful both for instruments under study) We are very outreach program but also in advocat- the HST users, who were able to ask optimistic that the continued success of ing HST programs. questions to Institute staff about their HST will be assured by the combina- On the negative side of the scale, we data, and for the Institute, which tion of excellent scientific output and a regret to announce the departures from benefited from some novel approaches solid program to deploy state-of-the-art STScI of two stalwarts of the Institute, to data analysis being made by the instruments in each of the forthcoming Bob Milkey and Mark Johnston, two HST community. The proceedings of maintenance missions. people who have made important the workshop were mailed to Cycles 4 A number of key personnel changes contributions to the Institute and the and 5 GOs. have taken place at ST ScI. Following HST program over the years. For more We have recently completed Cycle 4 the resignation of Peter Stockman as than ten years Bob was the Associate observations and are well into Cycle 5 Deputy Director a search committee Director for Program Management and at the time of this writing. The Institute was established by the Space Tele- he performed an outstanding role in the has just received over 1000 proposals scope Institute Council to work with organizational life of the Institute. He for the Cycle 6 Phase 1 submission, for the Director in finding a replacement. has left ST ScI for the American consideration by the TAC, surpassing The search culminated in the appoint- Astronomical Society where he has the record of 863 proposals received ment of Dr. Michael Hauser as the next become the Executive Officer. We wish last year. This overwhelming interest Deputy Director. Mike, who begins his him well and we look forward to the far exceeds any previous response for a new duties as Deputy on October 2, many opportunities that we will have NASA project and is a measure of the has been on the staff of Goddard Space to continue to interact with Bob in the value with which the community holds Flight Center for more than 20 years.