arXiv subjects

Martin Houde

Publications and source records attributed to Martin Houde.

96 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Controlling a Telescope Chopping Secondary Mirror Assembly Using a Signal Deconvolution Technique

We describe a technique for improving the response of a telescope chopping secondary mirror assembly by using a signal processing method based on the Lucy deconvolution technique. This technique is general and could be used for any systems, linear or non-linear, where the transfer function(s) can be measured with sufficient precision. We demonstrate how the method was implemented and show results obtained at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory using different chop throw amplitudes and frequencies. No intervention from the telescope user is needed besides the selection of the chop throw amplitude and frequency. All the calculations are done automatically once the appropriate command is issued from the user interface of the observatory's main computer.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Polarizing Grids, Their Assemblies and Beams of Radiation

This article gives an analysis of the behavior of polarizing grids and reflecting polarizers by solving Maxwell's equations, for arbitrary angles of incidence and grid rotation, for cases where the excitation is provided by an incident plane wave or a beam of radiation. The scattering and impedance matrix representations are derived and used to solve more complicated configurations of grid assemblies. The results are also compared with data obtained in the calibration of reflecting polarizers at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). From this analysis, we propose a method for choosing the optimum grid parameters (wire radius and spacing). We also provide a study of the effects of two types of errors (in wire separation and radius size) that can be introduced in the fabrication of a grid.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

On the Measurement of the Magnitude and Orientation of the Magnetic Field in Molecular Clouds

We demonstrate that the combination of Zeeman, polarimetry and ion-to-neutral molecular line width ratio measurements permits the determination of the magnitude and orientation of the magnetic field in the weakly ionized parts of molecular clouds. Zeeman measurements provide the strength of the magnetic field along the line of sight, polarimetry measurements give the field orientation in the plane of the sky and the ion-to-neutral molecular line width ratio determines the angle between the magnetic field and the line of sight. We apply the technique to the M17 star-forming region using a HERTZ 350 um polarimetry map and HCO+-to-HCN molecular line width ratios to provide the first three-dimensional view of the magnetic field in M17.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Probing the Magnetic Field with Molecular Ion Spectra

Observations of the effect of the magnetic field on its environment are usually achieved with techniques which rely on the interaction with the spin of the particles under study. Because of the relative weakness of this effect, extraction of the field characteristics proves to be a most challenging task. We take a totally different approach to the problem and show that the manifestation of the magnetic field can be directly observed by means of a comparison of the spectra of molecular ions with those of neutral molecules. This takes advantage of the strong cyclotron interaction between the ions and the field, but requires the presence of flows or turbulent motion in the gas. We compare our theory to data obtained on the OMC-1, OMC-2, OMC-3 and DR21(OH) molecular clouds.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Probing the Magnetic Field with Molecular ion Spectra. II

We present further observational evidence in support of our earlier proposal (Houde et al. 2000) for detecting the presence of the magnetic field in molecular clouds by comparing spectra of molecular ions with those of neutral molecules. The ion lines tend to be narrower and do not show the wings due to flows, when the magnetic field is sufficiently strong. We obtained spectra for the optically thin lines of the H13CN and H13CO+ species in a sample of ten molecular clouds and found the results to be in agreement with our previous observations of the main isotopic species, HCN and HCO+, made in OMC-1, OMC-2, OMC-3 and DR21OH, thus eliminating the possibility of optical depth effects playing a role in the ion line narrowing. HCS+ was also detected in four of these star forming regions. We also discuss previously published results by (Benson et al. 1998) of N2H+ detections in a large sample of dark clouds. We show that the similarity in line widths between ion and neutral species in their sample is consistent with the relatively small amount of turbulence and other flows observed in these clouds.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

The Alignment of the Magnetic Field and Collimated Outflows in Star-forming Regions: the Case of NGC 2071

The magnetic field is believed to play a crucial role in the process of star formation. From the support it provides during the initial collapse of molecular clouds to the creation of strong collimated jets responsible for large mass losses, current theories predict its importance in many different stages during the formation of stars. Here we report on observational evidence which tests one aspect that can be inferred from these theories: the alignment between the local magnetic field and collimated bipolar outflows in such environments. There is good evidence of an alignment in the case of NGC 2071.

astro-ph↗