K.-P. Cheng

Ultraviolet imaging telescope and optical emission-line observations of H II regions in M81

Images of the type Sab spiral galaxy M81 were obtained in far-UV and near-UV bands by the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT) during the Astro-1 Spacelab mission of 1990 December. Magnitudes in the two UV bands are determined for 52 H II regions from the catalog of Petit, Sivan, & Karachentsev (1988). Fluxes of the H-alpha and H-beta emission lines are determined from CCD images. Extinctions for the brightest H II regions are determined from observed Balmer decrements. Fainter H II regions are assigned the average of published radio-H-alpha extinctions for several bright H II regions. The radiative transfer models of Witt, Thronson, & Capuano (1992) are shown to predict a relationship between Balmer Decrement and H-alpha extinction consistent with observed line and radio fluxes for the brightest 7 H II regions and are used to estimate the UV extinction. Ratios of Lyman continuum with ratios predicted by model spectra computed for initial mass function (IMF) slope equal to -1.0 and stellar masses ranging from 5 to 120 solar mass. Ages and masses are estimated by comparing the H-alpha and far-UV fluxes and their ratio with the models. The total of the estimated stellar masses for the 52 H II regions is 1.4 x 10(exp 5) solar mass. The star-formation rate inferred for M81 from the observed UV and H-alpha fluxes is low for a spiral galaxy at approximately 0.13 solar mass/yr, but consistent with the low star-formation rates obtained by Kennicutt (1983) and Caldwell et al. (1991) for early-type spirals.

An Evaluation of the Membership Probability of 212 λ Boo Stars. I. A Catalogue

The literature on the λ Boo stars has grown to become somewhat heterogenous, as different authors have applied different criteria across the UV, optical, and infrared regions to determine the membership status of λ Boo candidates. We aim to clear up the confusion by consulting the literature on 212 objects that have been considered as λ Boo candidates, and subsequently evaluating the evidence in favour of their admission to the λ Boo class. We obtained new spectra of ~ 90 of these candidates and classified them on the MK system to aid in the membership evaluations. The re-evaluation of the 212 objects resulted in 64 members and 103 non-members of the λ Boo class, with a further 45 stars for which membership status is unclear. We suggest observations for each of the stars in the latter category that will allow them to be confidently included or rejected from the class. Our reclassification facilitates homogenous analysis on group members, and represents the largest collection of confirmed λ Boo stars known.

Imaging planets about other stars with UMBRAS II

In this paper we discuss operational considerations for the free-flying occulter. Operations consist of maneuvering the Solar-Powered Ion-Driven Eclipsing Rover (SPIDER) between targets, alignment with the space-based telescope line of sight to the target, and stationkeeping target-to-target maneuvers need to be optimized to conserve propellant. A reasonable balance needs to be determined between target observation rate and the number of targets that are observable during mission lifetime. Velocity matching of the SPIDER with the telescope is essential to mission performance. An appropriate combination of solar electric and cold-gas thrusters provides the ability to match velocities using positional information derived from comminution and ranging between telescope, occulter and any metrology stations. Desirable features of using an external coronagraphic vehicle include the ability to obtain coronagraphic data with any instrument on the telescope-- imaging, spectroscopic, or interferometric.

A search for ultraviolet circumstellar gas absorption features in alpha Piscis Austrinus (Fomalhaut), a possible Beta Pictoris-like system

Archival high-dispersion International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectra have been used to search for circumstellar gas absorption features in alpha PsA (A3 V), a nearby (6.7 pc) proto-planetary system candidate. Recent sub-millimeter mapping observations around the region of alpha PsA indicate a spatially resolved dust disk like the one seen around Beta Pic. To determine how closely this putative disk resembles that of Beta Pic, we have searched for signatures of circumstellar gaseous absorption in all the available IUE high-dispersion data of alpha PsA. Examination of co-added IUE spectra shows weak circumstellar absorptions from excited levels in the resonance multiplet of Fe II near 2600 A. We also conclude that the sharp C I feature near 1657 A, previously identified as interstellar absorption toward alpha PsA, likely has a circumstellar origin. However, because the weakness of these absorption features, we will consider the presence of circumstellar gas as tentative and should be verified by using the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. No corresponding circumstellar absorption is detected in higher ionization Fe III and Al III. Since the collisionally ionized nonphotospheric Al III resonance absorption seen in Beta Pic is likely formed close to the stellar surface, its absence in the UV spectra of alpha PsA could imply that, in contrast with Beta Pic, there is no active gaseous disk infall onto the central star. In the alpha PsA gaseous disk, if we assume a solar abundance for iron and all the iron is in the form of Fe II, plus a disk temperature of 5000 K, the Fe II UV1 absorption at 2611.8743 A infers a total hydrogen column density along the line of sight through the circumstellar disk of N(H) approximately equals 3.8 x 10(exp 17)/cm.

Gas Content in the Debris Disks of Nearby A‐Type Stars

Since the IRAS discovery of Vega’s large thermal infrared excess over the expected photospheric flux, dust disks have been found around a large fraction of main‐sequence A‐type stars. While dust in debris disks has been studied extensively with Spitzer, relatively little is known about their gas content. We have carried out detailed studies of the circumstellar environments of all nearby A‐type stars. We have studied both thermal emission from their circumstellar dust and absorption from circumstellar gas. With high‐resolution and high signal‐to‐noise visible spectra, we identified about a dozen main‐sequence A‐type stars with circumstellar gas through a volume‐limited survey. Although these spectra confirm the existence of the circumstellar gas and serve as a probe of the gas dynamics, they do not allow us to determine the gas density and temperature. Fortunately, there are many absorption lines in the UV and FUV range that are sensitive to the gas density and temperature. Through our FUSE, IUE, HST, and...

Imaging Terrestrial Planets

We present optical simulations of a new approach to directly image terrestrial planets. Terrestrial planets typically are 10 orders of magnitude fainter than the central star, a difficult challenge for any optical system. Our studies show that the combination of an external occulter and an apodizer yields the required contrast, with significantly reduced requirements on stray light and diffraction. This mitigates the very high mirror tolerances required of other coronagraphic methods and makes exo‐planet detection feasible with current technology.

A search for planetary system candidates

We report on our search for possible planetary system candidates in a volume-limited sample of 62 nearby A stars. Since the evolutionary lifetimes of A stars (≤ 109 yrs) roughly correspond to the era of planet formation and subsequent “heavy bombardment” in our solar system, our study could provide valuable insight into the origin of our own Solar System. From our ground-based visual and IUE high-resolution spectroscopy of all the northern nearby A stars, we have identified at least 12 stars with circumstellar gas. Combining these results with our previous IRAS survey we are probing the link between stars with circumstellar gas and those showing circumstellar dust disks. Our aim is not just to identify stars with gas, or stars with both gas and dust, but to identify systems with dynamic spectral activity similar toβ Pic, a well known proto-planetary system candidate. By measuring the gas dynamics in the disks of theseβ Pic-like stars, we can begin to study the physics of accretion disks of young evolving systems.