Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Trafton, L..
The contribution of methane to the thermal opacity in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune is shown to be negligible. The relevance of this finding lies in the importance of knowing all the sources of thermal opacity to include in models of these atmospheres, for only then may it be possible to deduce their atmospheric structure and composition correctly.
Evaluation of three infrared spectra of Omicron Ceti obtained on Aug. 7 to 11, 1969. The equivalent width of the Paschen beta emission line in these spectra was found to vary by a factor of 2 during this time period. The variation was similar to that for H gamma and H delta as measured by Odell et al. (1970) for the same time span. The equivalent widths of Paschen beta and H gamma on August 7 were used to estimate an opacity ratio of kappa (1.28 micron)/kappa (0.43 micron) about equal to 1:30 and a molecular/atomic hydrogen ratio of about 10. The variation in the strength of Paschen beta and H delta lines is considered to be intrinsic and to have a time scale of less than or about equal to 100,000 sec.
Observations of the intensities of the Paschen lines in the spectrum of IC 418 together with published measurements of the Balmer-line intensities are utilized to derive a reddening constant, c = 0.31. Two additional emission lines, one at 1.087 micron and the second at 1.698 micron, are briefly discussed.