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Published observations of the interplanetary scintillation index m sub z are shown to vary with wavelength in a manner consistent with a smooth, power law spectrum of plasma fluctuations. This is in contrast to recent work arguing that the data require a spectrum with two separate regimes. It is concluded that published observations of m sub z are consistent with either type of density spectrum.
Solar radio temperature contour maps at a wavelength of 3.3 mm are analyzed to develop a method of forecasting solar flares of classes 1N and 1B. Fundamental to the analysis is the demonstration that most of the radio sources associated with the sunspot-plage systems are not spatially resolved by the radio telescope and, hence, only the peak temperature enhancements due to these local radio sources are employed. Evidence is presented indicating that flare-prone plage regions, which belong to recurrent families of flare-productive regions, exhibit a relationship between flare production and radio temperature characteristics considerably unlike that exhibited by virgin plage regions. The results are interpreted by means of graphs which permit the inference of class 1B or 1N flare probabilities based on the peak temperature enhancements measured at 3.3 mm. In particular, the forecast obtained is the probability that a given flare-prone plage region will produce a class 1B or 1N flare (two quoted probabilities) during the period of its disk transit.
Radio observations of Jupiter have been carried out at Goldstone, CA at a wavelength of 13 cm during the oppositions of 1969 and 1971. In 1969, circular-polarization and total-flux measurements were made with a 64-m radio telescope. From May through October 1971, Jupiter's flux density was measured at weekly intervals with a 26-m antenna. The upper limit to the degree of circular polarization over the longitude ranges 10-100 deg and 160-250 deg System III (1957.0) is 1%; the flux data have been used to derive a magnetospheric rotation period which is approximately 0.37 sec longer than the IAU System III (1957.0). The flux-density data define beaming curves which are apparently different from 11-cm beaming curves measured in 1964. Jupiter's peak flux density decreased by 20% between 1964 and 1971, and 8% between 1969 and 1971.
The exact calculation of scattering and absorption by various sub-micron sized silicate spheres is presented here, using accurately determined optical constants in the wavelength range from 50 to 0.21 microns. The extinction features near 10 and 20 microns for various samples are discussed. It is found that the ratio of peak extinction at 20 microns to that at 10 microns is constant for small particles up to 0.4-micron radius, but is less for particles of 1-micron radius. The ratio of maximum extinction in the ultraviolet to that at 10 microns decreases with increasing particle size.
The application of very-long baseline interferometry (VLBI) techniques at meter and decameter wavelengths has proven to be a unique tool for studying a number of different phenomena. Because of the high angular resolution which we achieve with VLBI, candidate objects for study include the compact nuclei and 'jets' associated with quasars and radio galaxies, pulsars, small knots in galactic supernova remnants, and nonthermal planetary sources. Our investigations have been aimed at determining the emission spectra of these objects, measuring their apparent angular size, and mapping their structure. We expect that these properties will be interrelated, particularly at or below the frequencies at which their spectra peak.
The diffusion of charged particles by randomly fluctuating low-frequency long-wavelength electrostatic oscillations in the magnetosphere is investigated as a possible mechanism for transporting ring current particles. The diffusion process is assumed to preserve the first adiabatic invariant. The magnetosphere is represented by a simple model with cylindrical geometry. In the model the ionospheres are assumed to be perfectly conducting and the ring current is assumed to have a Maxwellian distribution of velocities. The electrostatic oscillations are treated as natural modes of the magnetospheric cavity which are driven by variations in the electric potential on the magnetopause. It is concluded that diffusion of ring current protons by this process is not important in the magnetosphere.
Single-frequency continuous output of laser is converted into series of high-power laser pulses at high repetition rates. Applications include pollutant detection by absorption, laser gain measurements at discrete wavelengths, laser propagation measurement, and laser plasma diagnostics.
A self contained, specific wavelength, single beam colorimeter is described for direct spectrophotometric measurement of the concentration of a given solute in a test sample. An electrical circuit employing a photoconductive cell converts the optical output into a linear, directly readable meter output. The colorimeter is simple to operate and is adapted for use in zero gravity conditions. In a specific application, the colorimeter is designed to analyze the concentration of iodine in potable water carried aboard a space vehicle such as the 4B stage of Skylab.
In the area of resolution enhancement, the use of Fast Fourier Transform programs was investigated for possible application to millimeter wavelength maps of the sun. A difficulty arises with the La Posta maps in that they are limited to 35 arc-minutes square while the smeared out solar image is larger than that. A list of possible cometary emission lines near 13 millimeters is presented. Although preparation of the list was inspired by the appearance of Comet Kohoutek, the results are applicable to any future comet. The brightness temperature of the sun at 8.6 millimeters was measured using the moon as a calibration source. The result does not confirm a deep absorption feature as apparently observed by earlier workers.
Carefully performed experiments by a number of investigators have supported the Van Vleck line shape theory for oxygen absorption in the lower-frequency wing (0-50 GHz). In view of the frequent need to compute oxygen absorption at centimeter wavelengths and lower a computationally simple four-line absorption model based on the Van Vleck theory is offered. The approximation yields computational accuracy better than 1% over the entire range of atmospheric pressures and temperatures for frequencies less than 30 GHz when it is compared with the Van Vleck 45-line expression. The versatility of the model in adapting to various line-broadening expressions is also shown. Instead of refining the present theories, this communication is mainly intended to propose a more convenient formulation to compute oxygen absorption.
The two-element interferometer at Hat Creek Observatory was used at 1.3-cm wavelength to study the fine structure of the radio emissive regions on the sun. Observations of the quiet sun at 1.3 cm show sudden changes in the fringe amplitude and phase, lasting for typically about 5 to 8 min. Assuming that these events are identical in nature, a plot of peak amplitude vs the projected baseline at the time of the event suggests emission from a region of angular size of about 10 sec. The corresponding brightness temperature is 50,000 K. It is possible that these events may be related to the appearance and disappearance of groups of spicules or mottles.
Radar echoes from Venus have been mapped at a wavelength of 3.8 cm from approximately 270 deg to 10 deg in longitude and -50 deg to +50 deg in latitude during the inferior conjunctions of 1969 and 1972. Observations made in April 1969 and again in June 1972 both show the same regions of high reflectivity as well as several large regions of low reflectivity.
The intensity distribution of lunar radar echoes has been mapped for two-thirds of the earth-visible lunar surface at a wavelength of 70 cm. The depolarizing effects of the lunar surface were observed by simultaneously receiving the radar echoes in opposite polarizations. These echoes were mapped with areal resolutions of 25-100 sq km. Mapping with this resolution confirmed that the young craters have enhanced returns. A few craters were found to have enhanced echoes only from their rims. Backscattering differences were also observed between various areas within a mare, between different highland areas, and between maria and adjacent highlands. These scattering differences were interpreted with a simple model, which assumed that the surface backscattered with varying amounts of quasi-specular and diffuse power. Only an increase in the diffuse power was needed to give the numerical values of the enhancements.
Interferometric observations of Mercury at 3.71 cm are used to determine the dielectric constant of the subsurface material at a depth of 50 cm to be 2.4 plus or minus 0.3. The surface emissivity in the radio range is determined by the value of the dielectric constant which is thus necessary in order to interpret the thermal properties of the regolith. New integrated-disk data at 6- and 18-cm wavelengths are found to be consistent with a regolith of particulate geological material in which radiative transfer of heat is important. The results are very similar to the lunar case where regolith density, dielectric constant, and loss tangent are observed to increase smoothly with depth in the subsurface.
Using the observed data for metric and hectometric type III radio bursts, the dependence of burst characteristics on the solar longitude has been examined over a wide frequency range. It is found that there exists and east-west asymmetry for the extension of metric type III bursts into the hectometric wavelength range. In particular, hectometric bursts are rarely observed for solar flares associated with metric bursts east of 60 E solar longitude. Furthermore, for east longitudes, the low-frequency radio observations show a large dispersion in drift time interval.
The positional analysis of solar bursts at meter and decameter wavelengths observed during the period from July 31 to Aug. 7, 1972 is presented. Most of the activity during this period was associated with the active regions McMath 11976 and 11970. Except near the central meridian passage of region 11976, two regions of continuum emission were observed - one a relatively smooth continuum and the other a continuum superimposed with many type III emissions and other fine structure. It seems possible to interpret these continua in terms of plasma waves originating from two sources located at different heights or with different electron density gradients. The angular size of type III sources seems to increase with decreasing frequency. This implies that the open field lines along which the type III electrons travel have larger angular extent at greater heights.
An analysis of data on lunar radio emission at 3.09 mm wavelength is presented. The data were obtained during a single lunation in a manner that facilitates their comparison with a calculated model. Specific regions of the moon (Copernicus, Sea of Serenity, Sea of Tranquillity, Ocean of Storms, and an highland region near the mean center) were studied with enough angular resolution to distinguish between different types of terrain. The data were absolutely calibrated and yield a new measurement of the lunation average brightness temperature of the center of the moon.
The results of interferometric solar observations at a wavelength of 3.7 cm with effective resolutions of 7 and 15 sec are discussed. Observations have shown that a small-scale quasi-periodic component was present in solar radio emission from the entire solar disk and that this component contained a circularly polarized fraction of less than 10%. The theory of gyroradiation and gyro-resonant absorption is applied in the interpretation of the S-component of solar radio emission.