Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Rottman, G. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Rottman, G. J..

At least 37 records · Page 2

The solar absolute spectral irradiance 1150-3173 A - May 17, 1982

The full-disk solar spectral irradiance in the spectral range 1150-3173 A was obtained from a rocket observation above White Sands Missile Range, NM, on May 17, 1982, half way in time between solar maximum and solar minimum. Comparison with measurements made during solar maximum in 1980 indicate a large decrease in the absolute solar irradiance at wavelengths below 1900 A to approximately solar minimum values. No change above 1900 A from solar maximum to this flight was observed to within the errors of the measurements. Irradiance values lower than the Broadfoot results in the 2100-2500 A spectral range are found, but excellent agreement with Broadfoot between 2500 and 3173 A is found. The absolute calibration of the instruments for this flight was accomplished at the National Bureau of Standards Synchrotron Radiation Facility which significantly improves calibration of solar measurements made in this spectral region.

Mount, G. H.↗

Outflow from the sun's polar corona

New observations of systematic Doppler shifts of EUV resonance lines formed both in the low corona and transition region are reported. They were made with an improved, high-resolution, stable, rocket-borne spectrometer flown on 1981 November 23. The chord of the solar disk scanned by the spectrometer crossed the north polar cap hole and its low-latitude extension, and also a compact low-latitude hole near sun center. Within both holes, the lines were systematically shifted to shorter wavelengths relative to the rest of the solar disk. These observations strengthen the association of negative Doppler shifts with coronal holes and indicate that this 'blueshift signature', previously observed only within small low-latitude holes, is also characteristic of the low-density polar corona. The mean relative blueshift measured in lambda 625 Mg X (T = 10 to the 6.15 power K) within the polar hole was about 8 km/s.

Orrall, F. Q.↗

Measurements of outflow from the base of solar coronal holes

New evidence is presented that EUV emission lines formed at the levels of the base of the corona and the transition region are systematically shifted to shorter wavelengths within coronal holes relative to the rest of the solar disk, and that moreover this shift increases with height in the atmosphere. Measurements were made with a rocket-borne EUV spectrometer having high spectroscopic resolution and stability flown on July 15, 1980. Repeated measurements were made along a chord of the solar disk that crossed a compact coronal hole near sun center identified on gamma 10830 He I spectroheliograms. The maximum measured shift corresponded to a velocity of 12 km/sec in gamma 625 Mg X and 7 km/sec in gamma 629 O V. If these velocities correspond to a true mass flux, they provide important data on the acceleration of coronal plasma in open magnetic field regions. These observed Doppler displacements are a strong and significant signature of coronal holes, now measured on three rocket flights.

Rottman, G. J.↗

The solar spectral irradiance 1200-3184 A near solar maximum - July 15, 1980

Results of a sounding rocket program designed to measure the total solar ultraviolet input to the upper atmosphere are presented. Two spectrometers, a far-ultraviolet (FUV) to cover 1160-1850 A, and a middle ultraviolet (MUV) to cover 1600-3184 A, were launched piggy-back on a Black Brant rocket to an altitude of 325 km on 7-15-1980. Tables of the detailed error budgets of the reclaimed instruments are provided. Comparisons are made with results of a 1979 flight, and of 1979 and 1980 flights with solar minimum results of Rottman (1981), and reveal significant solar spectral irradiance variability from solar minimum to maximum. MUV readings below 2100 A were 14% higher in 1980 and 14% lower in 1979 than Rottman's data, and it is concluded that a significant variability occurred at wavelengths less than 1800 A.

Mount, G. H.↗

Rocket measurements of the solar spectral irradiance during solar minimum, 1972-1977

Five sounding rocket experiments conducted between December 1972 and March 1977, a period spanning solar minimum between cycles 20 and 21, provide full disc solar irradiance data in the spectral range 120-190 nm. The five measurements have been combined to give a solar minimum reference table. This spectrum is compared with other measurements obtained during the same time period. A table of intensities for the strong emission lines at wavelengths between 120 and 190 nm is presented.

Rottman, G. J.↗

Measurement of systematic outflow from the solar transition region underlying a coronal hole

This letter presents measurements of small Doppler shifts in the line center position of 629A OV obtained with a new high-resolution EUV spectrometer flown aboard a sounding rocket. A major result is the detection of an apparent systematic outflow (relative to the quiet sun) of approximately 3 km/s average and 5 km/s maximum in the solar transition region underlying a well-defined low-latitude coronal hole. This is reminiscent of a similar apparent outflow observed by Cushman and Rense in the coronal line 303A Si XI. The hypothesis that this is evidence for acceleration of the high speed solar wind deep in the transition region and inner corona is explored briefly.

Rottman, G. J.↗

The solar spectral irradiance 1200-2550 A at solar maximum

Full-disk solar spectral irradiances at solar maximum were obtained in the spectral range 1200-2550 A at a spectral resolution of approximately 1 A from rocket observations above White Sands, New Mexico, on June 5, 1979. Comparison with measurements made near solar minimum indicates approximately a factor of 2.5 increase in the irradiance at 1200 A, a 20% increase near 1800 A, and no increase within our measurement errors (+ or - 15%) above 2100 A. Irradiances in the range 1800-2100 A are in excellent agreement with previous measurements, but those in the 2100- to 2550-A range are significantly lower. The intensities of strong emission lines at wavelengths below 1850 A are also reported.

Mount, G. H.↗

The solar spectral irradiance 1200-3184 a near solar maximum, 15 July 1980

Full disk solar spectral irradiances near solar maximum were obtained in the spectral range 1200 to 3184 A at a spectral resolution of approximately 1 A from rocket observations above White Sands Missile Range. Comparison with measurements made during solar minimum confirm a large increase at solar maximum in the solar irradiance near 1200 A with no change within the measurement errors near 2000 A. Irradiances in the range 1900 to 2100 A are in excellent agreement with previous measurements, and those in the 2100 to 2500 A range are lower than separate previous results in this range. Agreement is found with previous values 2500 to 2900 A A, and then fall below those values 2900 to 3184 A.

Mount, G. H.↗

Scientific objectives of the Solar Mesosphere Explorer mission

The paper describes the NASA Solar Mesosphere Explorer mission which will study mesospheric ozone and the processes which form and destroy it, measure the ozone density and its altitude distribution from 30 to 80 km, monitor incoming solar UV radiation, and provide a rigorous test of the photochemical equilibrium theory of the mesospheric oxygen-hydrogen system. Five instruments will be carried on the polar-orbiting spacecraft: UV ozone, IR airglow, and visible NO2 programmable Ebert-Fastie spectrometers, a four-channel IR radiometer, and a solar UV spectrometer. Atmospheric measurements will be made of the mesospheric and stratospheric ozone density distribution, water vapor density distribution, temperature profile, ozone photolysis rate, and NO2 density distribution. In addition, the solar UV monitor will measure both the 0.2-0.31 micron spectral region and the Lyman-alpha (0.1216 micron) contribution to the solar irradiance.

Thomas, G. E.↗

Measurements of mass flow in the transition region and inner corona

A solar rocket experiment launched on June 5, 1979 is described which provides high spectral resolution line profiles across the solar disk. The instrument consists of a small telescope with moderate spatial resolution and a spectrograph with stability and high spectroscopic resolution (about 0.028 A at 600 A). The detector system uses a microchannel plate array to provide 1,024 simultaneous measurements spanning approximately 30 A of the solar spectrum. The spectrograph uses a 3600 l/mm grating, and the spectral range 609-634 A is recorded in second order overlapping 1218-1268 A in first order. The position of the emission lines is determined by a center-of-mass routine and velocity shifts are evident. The qualitative results are in general agreement with the results of Cushman and Rense (1976).

Rottman, G. J.↗

Preliminary results from the Orbiting Solar Observatory 8 - Observations of optically thin lines

The University of Colorado spectrometer aboard OSO 8 has measured the high temperature C IV resonance lines (at 1548 and 1551 A) and the Si IV resonance lines (at 1393 and 1402 A) formed in the solar chromosphere-corona transition region. Preliminary results include studies of mean profiles, a comparison of cell and network profiles, and the behavior of the lines at the extreme solar limb.

Shine, R. A.↗

The ultraviolet /1200-1900 Angstrom/ spectrum of Venus

A far-ultraviolet moderate-resolution spectrum of Venus has been obtained by using an accurately pointed rocket-borne telescope-spectrophotometer. H I 1216 A, O I 1304 A, O I 1356 A, C I 1561 A, C I 1657 A, and the CO fourth-positive band system were observed in emission. Brightnesses and upper limits for other emissions are reported. An estimate of the O concentration indicates approximately 10% at a column density of 4 x 10 to the 16th power CO2 per sq cm. The large CO fourth-positive emission indicates that the CO concentration is also high.

Rottman, G. J.↗

The far-ultraviolet spectrum of Jupiter.

A far-ultraviolet spectrum of Jupiter, observed from a sounding rocket, is presented. The H I 1216-A disk brightness was 4.4 kR. Other characteristics of the 1180- to 1900-A spectrum were Rayleigh scattering of solar radiation longward of 1600 A and emission between 1250 and 1500 A and near 1600 A.

Rottman, G. J.↗