Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Peterson, L. E..
The experiments in gamma-ray spectrometry to determine the geochemical composition of the lunar surface are reported. The theory is discussed of discrete energy lines of natural radioactivity, and the lines resulting from the bombardment of the lunar surface by high energy cosmic rays. The gamma-ray spectrometer used in lunar orbit and during transearth coast is described, and a preliminary analysis of the results is presented.
The High Energy Astronomical Observatory (HEAO) is an earth satellite platform designed specifically around the very large and heavy instruments now required to make a significant advance in high-energy astrophysics. This new field of astronomy includes X-ray, gamma-ray, and cosmic-ray studies. The state of knowledge in high-energy astrophysics is discussed, giving attention to X rays, gamma rays, the diffuse component, emission mechanisms, and particle astrophysics. The observational objectives of the HEAO are considered together with the HEAO configuration and the experiments under study for the first HEAO, the HEAO-B, and the HEAO-C. HEAO-A is to be placed in orbit in 1975.-
The transearth coast period of the Apollo 16 mission provided an opportunity to study the astronomical sources of gamma radiation. This experiment was used to aid compositional identification for geochemical mapping of the lunar surface.
Preliminary review of data from the radioactivity relief map of the regions of the moon overflown by the Apollo 15 command module. The data represent count rates in the energy band from 0.55 to 2.75 MeV, appropriately corrected and averaged. Review results include the findings that: (1) the major concentrations of radioactivity in the area covered are in the region of Mare Imbrium and Oceanus Procellarum, (2) the highest regions are in the area of Aristarchus in Oceanus Procellarum and a region in eastern Mare Imbrium, and (3) the K/U ratio appears to be lower everywhere than that characteristic of the earth.-
The X-ray telescope aboard the third Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO-3) observed the Centaurus region daily from 1967 October to 1968 February, and also for five days in 1968 June. A stable minimum flux of 0.33 + or - 0.03 photons (sq cm sec)/1 between 7.7 and 38 keV from a source around l = 305 deg is derived. Several single days show enhanced fluxes, and two extensive flaring episodes, one with a soft and the other a very hard spectrum, lasting at least ten days.
Balloon X ray astronomy techniques and observations, noting collimated scintillation counter instrumentation and PCM telemetry
OSO 3 satellite observations of diffuse X ray emission from galactic plane, eliminating straight line interpolation of spectrum between 3-10 keV X ray range and 100 MeV energy range
Diffuse cosmic X ray spectrum obtained from telescope aboard OSO 3 satellite
Pulsar CP 1919 X ray emission upper limits from balloon flight data, comparing to NP 0532 over entire electromagnetic spectrum
Omnidirectional cosmic gamma ray flux measurements using ERS 18
Sco X-1 simultaneous X ray and optical flares correlation and X ray enhancements
X and gamma ray astronomy instrumentation, point sources, continuum emission, line spectra, etc
Cosmic hard X ray sources spectra and time variations by balloons and OSO-3 satellite observations of Crab Nebula
Omnidirectional cosmic gamma ray flux near one MeV observed by ERS-18 satellite, plotting spectral energy distribution
Cosmic gamma ray spectra near one MEV observed by ERS-18 satellite
Solar X-ray events observed by scintillation counter telescope on OSO 3 satellite, discussing X ray spectra during burst initial and decay phases
Hard solar and cosmic X rays measured with satellite-borne telescope, considering flux and time variations