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Townes, C. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Townes, C. H..

At least 91 records · Page 5
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NASA NTRS1977

Variations in the spatial distribution of 11 Micron radiation from omicron Ceti

The spatial distribution of 11 micron radiation from omicron Ceti was observed at various phases of its light cycle using a stellar interferometer. Changes were seen which can be attributed to variation in the strength of thermal emission from circumstellar dust relative to the stellar continuum at 11 microns. These changes are shown to be correlated with the changes in luminosity of micron Ceti in such a way that dust grain emission at 11 microns was increased more than the continuum during the period of maximum luminosity. The degree of the change in dust grain emission implies that the maximum dust temperature is in the range of 500 K to 700 K during minimum stellar luminosity.

Sutton, E. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Isotopic abundances in interstellar clouds

Results of microwave measurements in dense interstellar clouds are discussed which pertain to determinations of relative isotopic abundances. Difficulties in deriving relative abundances from observations of the relative intensities of isotopic lines are examined, and measures available for coping with these complications are outlined. Results are presented concerning the relative abundances of C-13, O-17, O-18, N-15, Si-30, S-33, S-34, and D in a variety of interstellar clouds; the consistency of these results is evaluated. It is concluded that: (1) the relative abundances of C-13 and O-17 in interstellar clouds are generally higher than those in the solar system; (2) the abundances of N-15 and D are lower than the solar-system values; (3) the O-18 abundance is possibly higher than in the solar system; and (4) there are substantial variations in the isotopic abundances between different large interstellar clouds, with some of these variations not dependent on distance from the galactic center alone.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Nonthermal 10 micron CO2 emission lines in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus

Mechanisms are examined for excitation of strong 10-micron CO2 emission lines seen on Mars and Venus. Line absorption of near-infrared solar flux directly by CO2 or H2O with collisional transfer of energy to CO2 are proposed as likely excitation mechanisms. Altitudes for peak 10-micron emission are estimated to be near 80 km for Mars and 120 km for Venus.

Johnson, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Spectral and spatial resolution of the 12.8 micron Ne II emission from the galactic center

High-resolution spectra of the Ne II 12.8-micron fine-structure line in emission from the galactic-center cloud Sgr A West show a line-center LSR radial velocity of +75 (+ or - 20) km/s and a velocity dispersion of about 200 km/s. The line has been observed with spectral resolution as high as 0.10 micron/cm and spatial resolution as high as 8 arcsec. This appears to provide a direct measurement of conditions in the 45-arcsec ionized region at the galactic center. The radial velocity and dispersion are more or less independent of position and indicate that events as recent as the last 10,000 years have given the ionized gas a systematic motion with respect to the massive stellar component of material at the galactic center. An upper limit of the order of 4 million solar masses for the mass within 0.8 pc of the galactic center is obtained from the velocity dispersion.

Wollman, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Interstellar molecules

Progress in the discovery and study of interstellar molecules is summarized. The 36 molecular species thus far identified in interstellar space are listed in several groups which include simple hydrides, oxides, and sulfides, various derivatives of ammonia, molecules involving linear carbon chains, cyanides, and molecules related in structure to formaldehyde, alcohols, or ethers. Several free radicals are described, the discovery of molecules in external galaxies is discussed, and possible mechanisms for molecular formation are noted. Methods for examining relative isotopic abundances by measuring molecules in interstellar clouds are outlined, mechanisms for the excitation of interstellar molecules are reviewed, and values are presented for the C-12/C-13 abundance ratio in a number of interstellar clouds. The detection of interstellar masers is discussed along with pumping mechanisms and masing transitions in H2CO, CH, OH, and SiO. The nature of dense interstellar clouds is examined in terms of several simple and complex cloud models, with emphasis on multiple condensation models.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Infrared spectra of planetary atmospheres

The development of high spectral resolution and highly sensitive long infrared wavelength instruments is reported. This instrumentation is used to examine molecular lines in planetary atmospheres in enough detail to obtain new information about these atmospheres. Such information includes (1) pressure and temperature relations in planetary atmospheres, and (2) molecular and isotopic composition.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Observations and analysis of the Jovian spectrum in the 10-micron nu-2 band of NH3

Observations of the nu-2 band of NH3 in the Jovian atmosphere have been made at resolutions varying from 4 per cm to 0.15 per cm. The observations have been interpreted by computation of synthetic atmospheric spectra. Derived atmospheric parameters include a pressure of 0.5 atm at 145 K and a minimum temperature of 118 K.

Lacy, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Spectral and spatial resolution of the 12.8 micron Ne 2 emission from the galactic center

High-resolution spectra of the Ne II 12.8 micron fine-structure line in emission from the galactic center cloud Sgr A West show a line-center LSR radial velocity of + 75 + or - 20 km/sec. and a velocity dispersion of about 200 km/sec. The line has been observed with spectral resolution as high as 0.10/cm and spatial resolution as high as 8 sec. This appears to provide a direct measurement of conditions in the 45 sec. ionized region at the galactic center. The radial velocity and dispersion are more-or-less independent of position and indicate that events as recent as the last 4 million years have given the ionized gas a systematic motion with respect to the massive stellar component of material at the galactic center. An upper limit for the mass approximately equal to four million times the solar mass was obtained from the velocity distribution, with the mass located within 0.8 parsecs of the galactic center.

Wollman, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

10-micron heterodyne stellar interferometer

A spatial interferometer for 10-micron wavelength which uses two independent telescopes separated by 5.5 m, heterodyne detection of the infrared radiation, and path equalization by a variable-length RF cable, has given interference fringes from radiation of the planet Mercury. Continuous fringe observations during 4000 sec indicate remarkable stability in the optical-path difference through the atmosphere and the two telescopes, fluctuations between 20-sec averages being about 1/6 of the 10-micron wavelength.

Johnson, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

An upper limit on the evolution of carbon monoxide from Comet Kohoutek

An upper limit on the rate of evolution of CO from Comet Kohoutek has been obtained from a search for resonant scattering of sunlight near 4.7 microns. The observations were made approximately two months after perihelion. The rate of evolution of CO at that time was apparently less than that of CH3CN observed before perihelion.

Wollman, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Microwave and infrared observations of molecular spectra in Comet Kohoutek

Transitions of the possible parent molecules H2O, NH3, CH3OH, and N2O as well as the OH radical were searched for in Comet Kohoutek (1973f) in the frequency range 22.2-25.2 GHz. These molecules were not detected but the upper limits for the optical depth, mean column density, and the production rate are derived for each of the molecules. These results are discussed and compared with the reported detections of HCN and CH3CN emission and OH absorption.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Infrared pumping processes for SiO masers

The J = 2 to 1 transition of the first excited vibrational state (v = 1) Si(28)O(16) has recently been shown to produce maser amplification near 86,245 MHz in Orion A and in several stars. Two possible pumping mechanisms are proposed for such masers. One involves the near coincidence between the frequencies of the 1-0 (RO) and 3-2 (R18) transitions in Si(28)O(16). The other requires emission by SiO and reabsorption without the necessity for an accidental frequency coincidence. Each of these types of mechanisms may occur for other transitions of molecules in a medium illuminated by intense infrared radiation, or with strong temperature gradients.

Geballe, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Nonequilibrium distributions of molecular states in interstellar space

Current knowledge on the components of interstellar space and on interstellar dust clouds (which contain most of the molecules existing in interstellar space) is reviewed. The discovery of molecules by absorption of a microwave continuum or by emission from their own excited state is discussed in historical order, and the interpretation of their spectra is examined. The observed microwave resonances of interstellar molecules are tabulated. Another table shows the approximate column densities of molecules found in the directions of the Orion nebula and of Sagittarius. The various types of nonequilibrium encountered are demonstrated by examples.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Transmission of optical frequencies with minimal losses

Application of diffractionless dielectrics as transmitting media between laser beam source and receiver is discussed. Optical properties of transmitting media are described and general system diagram is illustrated. Use of system in power transmission, communications, surgery, and machinery is explained.

Townes, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Interstellar molecules and dense clouds.

Current knowledge of the interstellar medium is discussed on the basis of recent published studies. The subjects considered include optical identification of interstellar molecules, radio molecular lines, interstellar clouds, isotopic abundances, formation and disappearance of interstellar molecules, and interstellar probing techniques. Diagrams are plotted for the distribution of galactic sources exhibiting molecular lines, for hydrogen molecule, hydrogen atom and electron abundances due to ionization, for the densities, velocities and temperature of NH3 in the direction of Sagitarius B2, for the lower rotational energy levels of H2CO, and for temporal spectral variations in masing H2O clouds of the radio source W49. Future applications of the maser and of molecular microscopy in this field are visualized.

Rank, D. M.↗