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At least 1,513 records · Page 84

Radiative processes affecting the abundance of interstellar OH

Photodissociation of OH dominates its destruction for a significant range of density and shielding in H I regions. Although inverse predissociation may provide an observable flux of ultraviolet recombination photons, it can provide only a small fraction of the total observed OH in most H I regions.

Smith, w. H.↗

CNO abundances and hydrodynamic models of the nova outburst. IV - Comparison with observations

A variety of observations of novae are discussed in light of theoretical models. It is proposed that the nearly constant bolometric luminosity of FH Ser originates in the nondegenerate hydrogen-burning region at the bottom of the hydrogen-rich envelope which remains after the primary ejection. The shift of the wavelength of peak emission from the visual to shortward of the ultraviolet is caused by the decrease of the photospheric radius of the remnant envelope as the bolometric luminosity stays nearly constant. The oscillations in the light curve of GK Per during the transition stage can be explained by a pulsation of the remnant envelope when it is larger than the semimajor axis of the binary system. The CNO overabundances in novae reported by various observers are strongly suggestive of the proposed nova mechanism. Implications of the upper limits on C-13 and N-15 found in DQ Her are discussed.

Sparks, W. M.↗

Ethane and acetylene abundances in the Jovian atmosphere

The paper reports spectra of Jupiter in the spectral region from 755 to 850 kaysers, which covers the nu-9 fundamental of ethane and contains lines from the R branch of the nu-5 fundamental of acetylene. The monochromatic absorption coefficient of the central Q branch of the nu-9 fundamental of ethane, which was determined in the laboratory, is applied in a radiative-transfer calculation to evaluate the ethane mixing ratio in the Jovian atmosphere; the present data are also used to place an upper limit on the acetylene mixing ratio. For the radiative-transfer calculation, emission intensity is computed for the region above the 0.02-atm level assuming both an isothermal inversion layer and a previously reported temperature profile. The resulting maximum mixing ratios consistent with the observations are 0.00003 for ethane and 7.5 by 10 to the -8th power for acetylene.

Tokunaga, A.↗

Venus cloud structure and water vapor abundance from Mariner 10 observations

Observations of the Venus atmosphere with the infrared radiometer on Mariner 10 have been analyzed by Taylor (1975) in terms of the vertical distribution of opacity at wavelengths near 11 microns and 45 microns in the thermal infrared. In this paper, we discuss models of the Venus atmosphere which are consistent with the inferred opacity structure. Either a two-layer cloud structure, or a single cloud deck overlaid by a layer containing approximately 40 precipitable microns of water vapor, would have the required limb-darkening characteristics at the wavelengths of observation.

Taylor, F. W.↗

Be-10 abundance and the age of cosmic rays - A balloon measurement

A balloon-borne payload was launched from Thompson, Canada, on August 15, 1973. The float depth averaged 4.5 g/sq cm of residual atmosphere, and the experiment live time was 31,500 sec. A total-energy-versus-range technique was used in the measurements. Preliminary results from this experiment have been given by Hagen et al. (1975). The final results are reported along with a detailed description of the analysis techniques. Information is provided concerning improved atmospheric and energy corrections, an updated estimation of the modulation effects, and a revised lifetime estimate.

Hagen, F. A.↗

Solar wind H-3 and C-14 abundances and solar surface processes

Tritium is measured as a function of depth in a Surveyor 3 sample. The upper limit for solar-wind-implanted tritium gives an H-3/H-1 limit for the solar wind of 10 to the -11th power. The temperature-release patterns of C-14 from lunar soils are measured. The C-14 release pattern from surface soils differs from a trench-bottom soil and gives positive evidence for the presence of C-14 in the solar wind with a C-14/H-1 ratio of approximately 6 by 10 to the -11th power. This C-14 content fixes a minimal magnitude for nuclear processes on the solar surface averaged over the past 10,000 yr. The H-3 and C-14 contents combine to require that either the mixing rate above the photosphere be rapid or that the H-3 produced by nuclear reactions be destroyed by secondary nuclear reactions before escaping in the solar wind.

Fireman, E. L.↗

The surface abundance and stratigraphy of lunar rocks from data about their albedo

The data pf ground-based studies and surveys of the lunar surface by the Zond and Apollo spacecraft have been used to construct an albedo map covering 80 percent of the lunar sphere. Statistical analysis of the distribution of areas with various albedos shows several types of lunar surface. Comparison of albedo data for maria and continental areas with the results of geochemical orbital surveys allows the identification of the types of surface with known types of lunar rock. The aluminum/silcon and magnesium/silicon ratios as measured by the geochemical experiments on the Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 spacecraft were used as an indication of the chemical composition of the rock. The relationship of the relative aluminum content to the age of crystalline rocks allows a direct dependence to be constructed between the mean albedo of areas and the age of the rocks of which they are composed.

Shevchenko, V. V.↗

Primordial noble gases in chondrites - The abundance pattern was established in the solar nebula

Ordinary chondrites, like carbonaceous chondrites, contain primordial noble gases mainly in a minor phase comprising not more than 0.05 percent of the meteorite, probably an iron-chromium sulfide. The neon-20/argon-36 ratios decrease with increasing argon-36 concentration, as expected if the gas pattern was established by condensation from the solar nebula, and was negligibly altered by metamorphism in the meteorite parent bodies. Meteoritic and planetary matter apparently condensed over a substantial range of temperatures.

Alaerts, L.↗

Some O I oscillator strengths and the interstellar abundance of oxygen

Calculated and experimental oscillator strengths for the O I intersystem line at 1356 A and for other O I lines of interest in interstellar absorption-line studies are discussed. Attention is given to experimental f-values for the lines at 1302, 1305, and 1306 A, previous work on the f-values for the lines at 1356 and 1359 A, wave-function expansion, and calculations for permitted as well as intercombination lines. Copernicus observations of several interstellar absorption lines due to O I, C II, P II, and Ni II toward Zeta Oph are reported, equivalent widths are determined, and a curve-of-growth analysis is performed for the O I absorption lines. Oscillator strengths are recommended for the far-UV resonance lines of O I, and it is concluded that the oxygen in the interstellar H I regions toward Zeta Oph is depleted by 45% to 69%.

Zeippen, C. J.↗

The abundance of acetylene in the atmosphere of Jupiter

The Q and R branches of the C2H2 nu(5) fundamental, observed in emission in an aircraft spectrum of Jupiter near 750/cm, have been analyzed with the help of an improved line listing for this band. The line parameters have been certified in the laboratory with the same interferometer used in the Jovian observations. The maximum mixing ratio of C2H2 is found to be between 5 times 10 to the -8th and 6 times 10 to the -9th power, depending on the form of its vertical distribution and the temperature structure assumed for the lower stratosphere. Most consistent with observations of both Q and R branches are: (1) distributions of C2H2 with a constant mixing ratio in the stratosphere and a cutoff at a total pressure of 100 mbar or less, and (2) the assumption of a temperature at 0.01 bar which is near 155 K.

Orton, G. S.↗