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Mumma, M. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Mumma, M. J..

At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Sensitivity limits of an infrared heterodyne spectrometer for astrophysical applications

A discussion and an evaluation of the degradation in sensitivity is given for a heterodyne spectrometer employing a HgCdTe photodiode mixer and tunable diode lasers. The minimum detectable source brightness is considered as a function of the mixer parameters, transmission coefficient of the beam splitter, and local oscillator emission powers. The degradation in the minimum detectable line source brightness which results from the bandwidth being a function of the line width is evaluated and plotted as a function of the wavelength and bandwidth for various temperature to mass ratios. It is shown that the minimum achievable degradation in the sensitivity of a practical astronomical heterodyne spectrometer is approximately 30. Estimates of signal-to-noise ratios with which infrared line emission from astronomical sources of interest may be detected are given.

Abbas, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Angular distribution, kinetic energy distributions, and excitation functions of fast metastable oxygen fragments following electron impact of CO2

Dissociative excitation of CO2 by electron impact was studied using the methods of translational spectroscopy and angular distribution analysis. Earlier time of flight studies revealed two overlapping spectra, the slower of which was attributed to metastable CO(a3 pi) fragments. The fast peak is the focus of this study. Threshold energy, angular distribution, and improve time of flight measurements indicate that the fast peak actually consists of five overlapping features. The slowest of the five features is found to consist of metastable 0(5S) produced by predissociation of a sigma u + state of CO2 into 0(5S) + CO(a3 pi). Oxygen Rydberg fragments originating directly from a different sigma u + state are believed to make up the next fastest feature. Mechanisms for producing the three remaining features are discussed.

Misakian, M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Nonthermal rotational distribution of CO/A 1Pi/ fragments produced by dissociative excitation of CO2 by electron impact

Measurements were made of the rotational profiles of specific bands of the CO fourth-positive group (4PG). The CO 4PG bands were excited by electron impact dissociative excitation of CO2. The results are applicable to analysis of the Mariner observations of the CO 4PG in the dayglow of Mars. The results indicate that dissociative excitation of CO2 by electron impact leads to CO(A 1Pi) fragments with a rotational distribution that is highly nonthermal. The parent CO2 temperature was about 300 K in the experiment, while the fragment CO(A 1Pi) showed emission band profiles consistent with a rotational temperature greater than about 1500 K. Laboratory measurement of the reduced transmission of the hot bands by thermal CO appears to be the most direct way of determining the column density responsible for the CO(v',0) absorption of Mars.

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Effect of electron beam pulse width on time-of-flight spectra

A simple but useful formula describing the effect of electron gun pulse width on the time of flight (TOF) spectra measured in translational spectroscopy experiments is developed. An approximately monoenergetic pulsed electrostatically focused electron beam traverses a scattering cell filled with a Maxwellian gas. Inelastic electron collisions with the gas produce metastable particles, ions, scattered electrons, and photons which then pass through a collimating slit system at right angles to the electron beam. TOF techniques are used to separate the photon signal from the metastable particle signal and to measure the TOF distribution of the metastable species.

Misakian, M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Angular distributions and polarization fractions of helium resonance radiation /n 1P-1 1S/ in the extreme ultraviolet

Angular intensity distributions of helium resonance photons, experimentally determined for the first time with respect to the exciting electron beam, are presented. The angular intensity distributions were measured at selected electron-impact energies from 25 to 150 eV. The results obtained are slightly higher than theoretical data for electron impact energies from 80 to 150 eV.

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Angular distributions and polarization fractions of helium resonance radiation (n 1P - 1 1S) in the extreme ultraviolet

Angular intensity distributions of helium (n 1P - 1 1S) resonance photons with respect to the exciting electron beam are presented. The angular intensity distributions were measured at selected electron impact energies from 25 eV (near threshold) to 150 eV. Polarization fractions (Pi) were obtained by analyzing the data in terms of the theoretical relation between angular intensity distribution and Pi, i.e. Iota (theta) = Iota (90) (1 - Pi sq cos theta). The experimental values for Pi are compared with recent theoretical results and with previous experimental values for the (3 1P - 2 1S) transition.

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Molecular branching ratio method for intensity calibration of optical systems in the vacuum ultraviolet

A state-of-the-art review is given of the molecular branching ratio method for intensity calibration in the vacuum ultraviolet. Ways are described for determining both relative and quantitative responses in the wavelength range 1000 A to 3000 A. The molecular band systems which are discussed are the following: H2(B 1 Sigma u +)-(X 1 Sigma g +), H2(C 1 Pi u)-(X 1 Sigma g +), N2(A 1 Pi g)-(X 1 Sigma g +), CO(A 1 Pi)-(X 1 Sigma +), NO(A 2 Sigma +)-(X 2 Pi r), and NO(+) (A 1 Pi)-(X 1 Sigma +).

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Linear momentum transfer effects in molecular dissociation produced by electron impact.

In this study of molecular dissociation produced by electron impact, diatomic systems and polyatomic molecules are considered, and attention is given to the effects of thermal motion and of momentum transfer in the collision process. A procedure is described which makes it possible to 'construct' both the laboratory angular distribution and velocity distribution of the atomic fragments (or, alternatively, the time-of-flight distribution). The calculation assumes that s-wave electron scattering predominates, i.e., that excitation occurs near threshold. The computational procedure may also be reversed to allow construction of possible molecular models to fit given experimental angular and velocity distribution data.

Misakian, M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The molecular branching ratio method for calibration of optical systems in the vacuum ultraviolet

The intensity distribution of bands belonging to six molecular band systems is discussed with special emphasis on their usefulness for intensity calibration of optical systems in the vacuum ultraviolet (1000A Lambda 3000A). The theory of molecular band intensities is outlined and the technique of measuring the spectral response curve is described. Several methods for establishing an absolute intensity calibration are discussed.

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Hot CO on Mars

An attempt was made to measure the rotational temperature profiles and column density of the fourth positive bands of hot CO on Mars in the laboratory. Data were taken from Mariner 6 and 7 observations. Experimental results indicate that due to high rotational temperatures and the dependence of that temperature on incident electron energy, the CO density in the fourth positive emission intensities cannot be determined. It was also determined that a wavelength resolution of 0.01 mm is needed to determine the profiles. The present Mariner has a resolution of only 0.75.

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Dissociative excitation of vacuum ultraviolet emission features by electron impact on molecular gases. 3: CO2

Vacuum ultraviolet multiplets of C I, C II, and O I were produced by electron impact on CO2. Absolute emission cross sections for these multiplets were measured from threshold to 350 eV. The electrostatically focused electron gun used is described in detail. The atomic multiplets which were produced by dissociative excitation of CO2 and the cross sections at 100 eV are presented. The dependence of the excitation functions on electron energy shows that these multiplets are produced by electric-dipole-allowed transitions in CO2.

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Dissociative excitation of vacuum ultraviolet emission features by electron impact on molecular gases. 3: CO2

Vacuum ultraviolet multiplets of C I, C II, and O I were produced by electron impact of CO2. Absolute emission cross sections for these multiplets were measured from threshold to 350 eV. The electrostatically focussed electron gun used in this series of experiments is described in detail. The atomic multiplets which were produced by dissociative excitation of CO2 and the cross sections at 100 eV are given. The dependence of the excitation functions on electron energy shows that these multiplets are produced by electric-dipole-allowed transitions in CO2.

Mumma, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Dissociative excitation of vacuum-ultraviolet emission features by electron impact on molecular gases. II.

Atomic-nitrogen multiplets have been excited. The excitation cross sections have been measured over the energy range from threshold to 350 eV. The transition arrays, mean wavelengths, and cross sections for dissociative excitation of the multiplets at 100 eV are presented. The experiment featured a monoenergetic electron beam which was incident on a quasi-static gas target. Vacuum-ultraviolet emission features were isolated by a normal-incidence monochromator, and multiscaling pulse-counting techniques were used.

Mumma, M. J.↗