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At least 91 records · Page 5

Total cross sections for positrons scattered elastically from helium based on new measurements of total ionization cross sections

An improved technique is presented for employing the 2.3m spectrometer to measure total ionization cross sections, Q sub ion, for positrons incident on He. The new ionization cross section agree with the values reported earlier. Estimates are also presented of total elastic scattering cross section, Q sub el, obtained by subtracting from total scattering cross sections, Q sub tot, reported in the literature, the Q sub ion and Q sub Ps (total positronium formation cross sections) and total excitation cross sections, Q sub ex, published by another researcher. The Q sub ion and Q sub el measured with the 3m high resolution time-of-flight spectrometer for 54.9eV positrons are in accord with the results from the 2.3m spectrometer. The ionization cross sections are in fair agreement with theory tending for the most part to be higher, especially at 76.3 and 88.5eV. The elastic cross section agree quite well with theory to the vicinity of 50eV, but at 60eV and above the experimental elastic cross sections climb to and remain at about 0.30 pi a sub o sq while the theoretical values steadily decrease.

Diana, L. M.↗

ERS-1 scatterometer measurements over the Southern Ocean

Backscatter cross section measurements from the ERS-1 Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) scatterometer were reprocessed to vector winds using the Freilich-Dunbar model function and a meteorologically aided ambiguity removal scheme. This consistent data set was used to examine the wind field over the Southern Ocean from 20 to 60 deg South. The large number of ERS-1 measurements allows relatively accurate calculation of annual mean wind, stress, and curl fields as well as overall statistics of the winds at mid to high southern latitudes. The long duration of the data time series allows preliminary examination of low frequency (semi annual) wind variability.

Freilich, M. H.↗

Electron excitation of the H2(a 3Sigma(g)(+) - b 3Sigma(u)(+)) continuum in the vacuum ultraviolet

The electron excitation function for the H2(a 3Sigma(g)(+) - b 3Sigma(u)(+)) continuum emission has been measured from 11 to 30 eV at 195.0 nm. The emission cross, section data have been combined with electron energy loss cross section measurements to extend the experimental data to 60 eV. The excitation cross section has been estimated by normalizing the data to the electron energy loss cross section at 20 eV and using a model to account for emission from the entire band system. The spin forbidden excitation of the a 3Sigma(g)(+) state is a major dissociative channel of H2 at low energy with a peak cross section of 1.7 +/- 0.85 x 10 exp -17 sq cm at 15.5 eV. The FWHM of the cross section is 7 eV. The high energy dependence of the cross section has a rapid 1/E-cubed fall off with electron energy, E, above 50 eV. A modified Born approximation analysis was applied to the data to provide an analytic model.

Ajello, J. M.↗

Photon scattering cross sections of H2 and He measured with synchrotron radiation

Total (elastic + inelastic) differential photon scattering cross sections have been measured for H2 gas and He, using an X-ray beam. Absolute measured cross sections agree with theory within the probable errors. Relative cross sections (normalized to theory at large S) agree to better than one percent with theoretical values calculated from wave functions that include the effect of electron-electron Coulomb correlation, but the data deviate significantly from theoretical independent-particle (e.g., Hartree-Fock) results. The ratios of measured absolute He cross sections to those of H2, at any given S, also agree to better than one percent with theoretical He-to-H2 cross-section ratios computed from correlated wave functions. It appears that photon scattering constitutes a very promising tool for probing electron correlation in light atoms and molecules.

Ice, G. E.↗

Photoabsorption cross sections of methane from 1400 to 1850 A

Photoabsorption cross sections of methane in the 1400-1850-A spectral region have been measured. Cross sections at wavelengths greater than 1475 A are approximately 200 times smaller than those currently accepted. This has a significant effect on the interpretation of spectral measurements of the Jovian planets in this wavelength region.

Mount, G. H.↗

Photon-scattering cross sections of H2 and He measured with synchrotron radiation

Total (elastic + inelastic) differential photon-scattering cross sections have been measured for H2 gas and for He, using an X-ray beam. Absolute measured cross sections agree with theory within the probable errors. Relative cross sections (normalized to theory at large S) agree to better than 1% with theoretical values calculated from wave functions that include the effect of electron-electron Coulomb correlation, but the data deviate significantly from theoretical independent-particle (e.g., Hartree-Fock) results. The ratios of measured absolute He cross sections to those of H2, at any given S, also agree to better than 1% with theoretical He-to-H2 cross-section ratios computed from correlated wave functions. It appears that photon scattering constitutes a very promising tool for probing electron correlation in light atoms and molecules. The degree of polarization of the synchrotron radiation beam has been measured by rotating the scattering plane about the beam axis; results are compared with theory.

Ice, G. E.↗

Absolute OH absorption cross sections (for lidar measurements)

Experimental data are employed to calculate absorption cross sections for several rotational lines in the OH A-X system. The cross sections are computed as functions of the spectral and line widths and temperature of a laser beam, and account for lifetimes and branching ratios. Detection limits for the P1(2) transition of the (1,0) band were examined. The oscillator strengths and cross-sections obtained are important for quantifying OH concentrations in the stratosphere from lidar return signals.

Mcgee, T. J.↗

The ionization of atomic oxygen by electron impact

Single and double ionization of atomic oxygen by electron impact has been studied experimentally. The energy dependence of the specific ionization cross sections sigma(O+) and sigma(O2+) has been measured in the energy range 40-300 eV using a high-density atomic oxygen source not contaminated by metastable O(D-1) or O(S-1) atoms. The ratios of the measured cross sections to absolute values are given in a table.

Zipf, E. C.↗

Temperature dependence of the ozone obsorption spectrum over the wavelength range 410 to 760 nm

The ozone, O3, absorption cross sections between 410 and 760 nm, the Chappuis band, were measured at 220, 240, 260, and 280 K relative to that at room temperature using a diode array spectrometer. The measured cross sections varied very slightly, less than 1%, with decreasing temperature between 550 and 660 nm, near the peak of the Chappuis band. At wavelengths away from the peak, the absorption cross sections decreased with decreasing temperature; e.g., about 40% at 420 nm between 298 and 220 K. These results are compared with previous measurements and the impact on atmospheric measurements are discussed.

Burkholder, James B.↗

Depolarization Measurements with the High Spectral Resolution Lidar

This paper describes modifications to the University of Wisconsin High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) which permit very precise depolarization measurements in addition to optical depth, backscatter cross section, and extinction cross section measurements. Because HSRL separates the lidar return into aerosol and molecular contributions, they can be measured separately.

Eloranta, E. W.↗

Cross sections relevant to gamma ray astronomy

Gamma-ray production cross sections were measured for protons and alpha particles incident on targets consisting of nuclei of high cosmic abundance: C-12, N-14, O-16, Ne-20, Mg-24, Si-28 and Fe-56. Solid or gaseous targets were bombarded by monoenergetic beams of protons and alpha particles, and gamma rays were detected by two Ge(Li) detectors. The proton energy for each target was varied from threshold to about 24 MeV (lab); for alphas the range was from threshold to about 27 MeV. For most transitions, it was possible to measure the total cross section by placing the detectors at 30.5 deg and 109.9 deg where the fourth-order Legendre polynomial is zero. For the case of the 16O (E sub gamma = 6.13 MeV, multipolarity E3) cross sections, yields were measured at four angles. Absolute cross sections were obtained by integrating the beam current and by measuring target thicknesses and detector efficiencies. The Ge(Li) detector resolution was a few keV (although the peak widths were greater, due to Doppler broadening).

Dyer, P.↗

Simultaneous ocean cross-section and rainfall measurements from space with a nadir pointing radar

A modified version of the surface-target-attenuation radar described by Meneghini et al. (1983) is proposed which permits simultaneous measurement of ocean radar cross sections and path-average rain rates using a nadir-pointing satellite-borne microwave radar. The basic concept is explained and illustrated; the equations describing the data reduction are derived; some preliminary numerical computations based on a 7.5-m-diameter 10-kW 1.33-microsec-pulse radar operating at 1.87 cm from an altitude of 500 km are performed; and the major error sources (mismatches between rain scattering volumes and additional multipath contributions) and limitations (nadir pointing) are discussed. It is suggested that the system could provide a nadir calibration for wide-swath observing systems such as scanning microwave radiometers.

Atlas, D.↗

Line Profile of H Lyman (alpha) from Dissociative Excitation of H2 with Application to Jupiter

Observations of the H Lyman(alpha) (Ly-alpha) emission from Jupiter have shown pronounced emissions, exceeding solar fluorescence, in the polar aurora and equatorial "bulge" regions. The H Ly-alpha line profiles from these regions are broader than expected, indicating high-energy processes producing fast atoms as determined from the observed Doppler broadening. Toward understanding that process a high-resolution ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer was employed for the first measurement of the H Ly-alpha emission Doppler profile from dissociative excitation of H2 by electron impact. Analysis of the deconvolved line profile reveals the existence of a narrow central peak of 40 +/- 4 mA full width at half maximum and a broad pedestal base about 240 mA wide. Two distinct dissociation mechanisms account for this Doppler structure. Slow H(2p) atoms characterized by a distribution function with peak energy near 80 meV produce the peak profile, which is nearly independent of the electron impact energy. Slow H(2p) atoms arise from direct dissociation and predissociation of singly excited states which have a dissociation limit of 14.68 eV. The wings of H Ly-alpha arise from dissociative excitation of a series of doubly excited states which cross the Franck-Condon region between 23 and 40 eV. The profile of the wings is dependent on the electron impact energy, and the distribution function of fast H(2p) atoms is therefore dependent on the electron impact energy. The fast atom kinetic energy distribution at 100 eV electron impact energy spans the energy range from 1 to 10 eV with a peak near 4 eV. For impact energies above 23 eV the fast atoms contribute to a slightly asymmetric structure of the line profile. The absolute cross sections of the H Ly-alpha line peak and wings were measured over the range from 0 to 200 eV. Analytic model coefficients are given for the measured cross sections which can be applied to planetary atmosphere auroral and dayglow calculations. The dissociative excitation process, while one contributing process, appears insufficient by itself to explain the line broadening observed at Jupiter.

Ajello, Joseph M.↗

Long wavelength carbonyl sulfide photodissociation

The aeronomic implications of a preliminary observation of weak OCS photoabsorption above 270 nm are investigated. It is argued that the measured cross section is consistent with a forbidden transition in this wavelength region. Model calculations are made for the OCS photodissociation rates in daylight, the OCS and SO2 distributions in the upper atmosphere, and the budgets of sulfur in the stratosphere and OCS in the troposphere, assuming various extrapolations of the measured OCS absorption cross sections and quantum yields to longer wavelengths. It is shown that weak OCS absorption above 300 nm can have important consequences for all of these quantities. Laboratory and field experiments are identified which might lead to a better understanding of the atmospheric OCS cycle.

Turco, R. P.↗

Excitation of the Werner bands of H2 by electron impact

Absolute cross sections for the excitation of the H2 Werner band system were measured from energy threshold to 300 eV for electron impact on H2. The bands were observed in emission in the wavelength region 1100A to 1250A. The measured cross sections were compared with published transition probabilities, leading to the conclusion that the Werner bands are suitable as the basis for a relative spectral response calibration only when the bands are observed under sufficiently high resolution. The effect of the perturbation between the C 1Pi u and B 1 Sigma-u states of the hydrogen molecule was clearly observed in anomalies in the rotational intensity distribution in bands of the (3 v '') progression.

Stone, E. J.↗

Production of O(-) from CO2 by dissociative electron attachment

Dissociative electron attachment cross-section measurements for the production of O(-) from CO2 are performed using a crossed target-beam - electron-beam collision geometry and a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The relative flow technique is used in determining the absolute values of the cross sections. The attachment energies corresponding to the five cross-section maxima are given. They are 4.4 + or - 0.1, 8.2 + or - 0.1, 13.0 + or - 0.2, 16.9 + or - 0.2, and 19.4 + or 0.2 eV. Also given are the cross sections at these maxima: 1.43 x 10 to the -19th sq cm, 4.48 x 10 to the -19th sq cm, 8.1 x 10 to the -21st sq cm, 8.1 x 10 to the -21st sq cm, and 1.2 x 10 to the -20th sq cm, respectively.

Orient, O. J.↗