Interdisciplinary research in theoretical chemistry
University of Wisconsin Theoretical Chemistry Institute research program - quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, biochemistry, numerical analysis, and electromagnetic theory
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University of Wisconsin Theoretical Chemistry Institute research program - quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, biochemistry, numerical analysis, and electromagnetic theory
UV photometry from OAO-2, describing Wisconsin instrumentation and equipment
A valuable by-product of the OAO-2 astronomy mission has been the first extensive set of measurements of the earth's airglow between 1000 and 3000 A. These measurements, made with the Wisconsin experiment package, provide clues to the structure and chemistry of the upper atmosphere. The most significant results from these observations are: (1) the detailed altitude profile of the emissions from the dark and sunlit earth limb; and (2) the confirmation of recent theories concerning the source of the dayglow radiation between 1350 and 1700 A.
The terrestrial radiation belt effects on the detectors in the Wisconsin equipment are considered. The lowest dark count rate observed in orbit, compared with that measured in the thermal vacuum test on the ground, shows no measurable difference for the solar blind ASCOP 541-F photomultiplier tubes while the EMI-6256B tubes show an increase in minimum dark count of a factor of from 20 to 150 times that observed on the ground. All instruments are perturbed when in the South Atlantic anomaly, but the EMI tubes are by far the most sensitive to it. Indeed, the effect never goes away.
A number of high quality spectra of Mars, Jupiter, the combined disk and rings of Saturn, as well as lower quality spectra of Venus, have been obtained with an objective grating spectrometer of the Wisconsin experiment package on OAO-2. An intercomparison of the Mars, Jupiter and Saturn spectra has failed to disclose any discrete planetary absorptions. Continuous albedos have been derived for the four planets by using OAO-2 observations of G-type stars for wavelengths greater than 2700 A and a new photoelectric solar spectrum for wavelengths smaller than 2700 A. The geometric albedo of Mars shows a steady increase below 3500 A which appears to be due to Rayleigh scattering combined with a decreasing surface reflectivity. The albedos of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn show a maximum in reflectivity in the region of 2500 A.
OAO data between 2000 A and 3600 A, obtained by the Wisconsin experimental package objective grating scanning spectrometer, are used to set upper limits to the abundances of many minor constituents in the atmospheres of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.
Interstellar extinction curves over the region 3600-1100 A for 17 stars are presented. The observations were made by the two Wisconsin spectrometers onboard the OAO-2 with spectral resolutions of 10 A and 20 A. The extinction curves generally show a pronounced maximum at 2175 plus or minus 25 A, a broad minimum in the region 1800-1350 A, and finally a rapid rise to the far ultraviolet. Large extinction variations from star to star are found, especially in the far ultraviolet; however, with only two possible exceptions in this sample, the wavelength at the maximum of the extinction bump is essentially constant. These data are combined with visual and infrared observations to display the extinction behavior over a range in wavelength of about a factor of 20.
An extended series of photometric observations were made of the eclipsing variable CW Cephei using the Wisconsin instrument on OAO-2. Approximate elements which were derived based solely on the eclipse depths and shape of the secondary are in satisfactory agreement with those found using ground based observations. However, persistent asymmetries and anomalous light variations, all larger than the expected experimental error, were also found; subsequent ground-based observations show H sub alpha entirely in emission indicating the presence of an extended gaseous system surrounding one or both of the components. Consistent solutions utilizing all data at all wavelengths were not found.
Nine of the planetary nebulae observed by the Wisconsin filter photometers are compared with 15 Monocerotis in the spectral region 1430-4250 A. The data are corrected for the degradation of the filters of stellar photometer number four with time. Comparisons with simple models indicate that most of the observed nebulae are subject to some interstellar extinction in the far ultraviolet. However, NGC 246 and NGC 1360 appear to be nearly unreddened. Thus far no unexpected features have been found in the observations.
The Wisconsin far ultraviolet spectrometer aboard OAO-2 observed the wavelength region near 1216 A for 69 stars of spectral type B2 or earlier. From the strength of the observed interstellar L sub alpha absorption, atomic hydrogen column densities were derived over distances averaging 300 pc away from the sun. The OAO data were compared to synthetic ultraviolet spectra, originally derived from earlier higher resolution rocket observations, which were computer processed to simulate the effects of absorption by different amounts of hydrogen followed by the instrumental blending.
The optical constants of platinum and gold thin films have been determined in the spectral region of 40 to 200 nm by reflection measurements. The highly polarized continuum of synchrotron radiation emitted by the 240-MeV electron storage ring at the Physical Sciences Laboratory of the University of Wisconsin was used as a light source for the spectrum below 120 nm, while a windowless discharge lamp coupled to a normal incidence monochromator provided a source for the longer wavelengths. Optical constants were determined by a computer program based on iterative solutions to the Fresnel equations for reflection as a function of the angle of incidence.
Evaluation of interstellar extinction curves over the region from 3600 to 1100 A for 17 stars. The observations were made by the two Wisconsin spectrometers on board the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2, with spectral resolutions of 10 and 20 A. The extinction curves generally show a pronounced maximum at 2175 plus or minus 25 A, a broad minimum in the region from 1800 to 1350 A, and finally a rapid rise to the far-ultraviolet. Large extinction variations from star to star are found, especially in the far-ultraviolet; however, with only two possible exceptions in this sample, the wavelength at the maximum of the extinction bump is essentially constant. These data are combined with visual and infrared observations to display the extinction behavior over a range in wavelength of about a factor of 20. The observations appear to require a multicomponent model of the interstellar dust.
A number of high-quality spectra of Mars, Jupiter, the combined disk and rings of Saturn, as well as lower-quality spectra of Venus, have been obtained with an objective-grating spectrometer of the Wisconsin Experiment Package of OAO-2. An intercomparison of the Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn spectra has failed to disclose any discrete planetary absorptions. Continuous albedos have been derived for the four planets by using OAO-2 observations of G-type stars for wavelengths greater than 2700 A. The geometric albedo of Mars shows a steady increase below 3500 A which appears to be due to Rayleigh scattering combined with a decreasing surface reflectivity. The albedos of Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn show a maximum in reflectivity in the region of 2500 A.-
Orbiting Astronomical Observatory data between 2000 and 3600 A, obtained by the Wisconsin Experimental Package objective grating scanning spectrometer, are used to set upper limits to the abundances of many minor constituents in the atmospheres of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.
The author has identified the following significant results. Although the degree to which ERTS-1 imagery can satisfy regional land use planning data needs is not yet known, it appears to offer means by which the data acquisition process can be immeasurably improved. The initial experiences of an interdisciplinary group attempting to formulate ways of analyzing the effectiveness of ERTS-1 imagery as a base for environmental monitoring and the resolution of regional land allocation problems are documented. Application of imagery to the regional planning process consists of utilizing representative geographical regions within the state of Wisconsin. Because of the need to describe and depict regional resource complexity in an interrelatable state, certain resources within the geographical regions have been inventoried and stored in a two-dimensional computer-based map form. Computer oriented processes were developed to provide for the economical storage, analysis, and spatial display of natural and cultural data for regional land use planning purposes. The authors are optimistic that the imagery will provide revelant data for land use decision making at regional levels.
The eclipsing binary, LY Aur (09.5 III) was observed over a period of four days in March 1972 with the Wisconsin instrumentation on OAO-2. Complete light curves were obtained at the following wavelengths: 4250, 3320, 2980, 2460, 1910, and 1550 A. The phase resolution is usually 0.017. A solution of each light curve was attempted according to the Russell-Merrill method, but no solution was found.
The filter photometers in the Wisconsin Experiment Package on OAO-2 were used to obtain data for a carefully selected set of 24 blue Ap stars and 31 comparison standard B and A dwarfs and giants for a program of relative photometry. Observations were made in seven bandpasses over the effective wavelength range 1430A-4250A. The Ap stars observed include members of the Si, Hg-Mn and Sr-Cr-Eu peculiarity classes. Most of them are too blue in B-V for their published MK spectral classes. The blue Ap stars are markedly deficient in emitted ultraviolet flux and are underluminous as compared to normal stars with the same UBV colors. The Hg-Mn stars appear less flux deficient in the ultraviolet for their UBV colors than do Si or Sr-cr-Eu stars. Most of the Ap stars observed possess ultraviolet flux distributions, or ultraviolet color temperatures, consistent with their published MK spectral classes to well within the classification uncertainties.
Application of ERTS-1 data for inventory of critical land resources for regional land use planning in Wisconsin