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NASA NTRS1958

The solar system

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NASA NTRS1972

Solar system applications of Mie theory and of radiative transfer of polarized light

A theory of the multiple scattering of polarized light is discussed using the doubling method of van de Hulst. The concept of the Stokes parameters is derived and used to develop the form of the scattering phase matrix of a single particle. The diffuse reflection and transmission matrices of a single scattering plane parallel atmosphere are expressed as a function of the phase matrix, and the symmetry properties of these matrices are examined. Four matrices are required to describe scattering and transmission. The scattering matrix that results from the addition of two identical layers is derived. Using the doubling method, the scattering and transmission matrices of layers of arbitrary optical thickness can be derived. The doubling equations are then rewritten in terms of their Fourier components. Computation time is reduced since each Fourier component doubles independently. Computation time is also reduced through the use of symmetry properties.

Whitehill, L. P.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Origin of organic matter in early solar system. V - Further studies of meteoritic hydrocarbons and a discussion of their origin.

The Murchison meteorite contains aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons similar to those made in static Fischer-Tropsch-type syntheses. Principal compound classes above C8 are n-alkanes, mono- and dimethylalkanes, alkenes, alkylbenzenes and -naphthalenes. Below C8, n-alkanes are virtually absent; instead, benzene, toluene, branched alkanes dominate. The CH4/C2H6 ratio is greater than 30, possibly greater than 700. Isoprenoids from C17 to C20 occur in a surface rinse but not in subsequent extracts and appear to be terrestrial contaminants. Thiophenes, porphyrin-like pigments, and chlorobenzenes were also found; the latter appear to be contaminants. In the Allende meteorite, only methane, benzene, toluene and an aromatic polymer seem to be indigeneous. A comprehensive review of current evidence shows that Fischer-Tropsch-type reactions can account for most principal features of meteorite organic matter.

Studier, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Life beyond the solar system.

Review of some of the highlights and more recent developments in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The first major problem is one of the generality of the formation of planetary systems. Observations of the nearest stars which are not members of binary or multiple stars indicates that fully half have companions of planetary mass. The presence of organic compounds in meteorites, probably in Jovian planets, in comets, in the interstellar medium, and in cool stars implies that the production of organic compounds essential for the origin of life should be pervasive throughout the universe. Possibilities of interstellar communication are discussed.

Sagan, C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Origin of organic matter in early solar system. VI - Catalytic synthesis of nitriles, nitrogen bases and porphyrin-like pigments.

A variety of nitrogen compounds have been synthesized by a static Fischer-Tropsch type reaction from CO, D2 and ND3, with Ni-Fe and Al2O3 catalysts. In this reaction, the gas is heated to 500-700 C for about 0.5 hr, and then cycled through lower temperatures (100-400 C) for 1-14 days. Products were analyzed by mass spectrometry in conjunction with gas chromatography and other chromatographic techniques. Compounds produced include alkyl cyanides, pyrroles, porphyrin-like compounds, guanidines, hydantoin, uracil and its derivatives, thymine, adenine, guanine, xanthine, melamine, as well as alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons. Such reactions may have been involved in the production of interstellar molecules, organic compounds in meteorites, and prebiotic organic matter on planets.

Hayatsu, R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Accretionary processes in the early solar system - An experimental approach.

Results are given of an experiment to determine the range of silicate particle velocities over which accretion occurs. It was shown that micrometer-size silicate flakes do not accrete during impacts in the velocity range of 1.5 to 9.5 km/sec. Silicate accretion took place only between particles whose orbits were similar. Over at least part of the velocity range in which silicate accretion was efficient, metal particles would have rebounded without accreting. This suggests that if both metal and silicate were present during accretion, fractionation of one with respect to the other would have occurred.

Kerridge, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The origin of the moon and solar system.

The Rb-87/Sr-87 ages of many of the lunar rocks suggest that the fundamental differentiation took place 4.5 b.y. ago and that remelting occurred without exchange of the rubidium and strontium with the surroundings. The Apollo A rocks are an exception to this. They appear to have acquired rubidium without all of the Sr-87 produced during the first aeon. Also in the remelting about half of the radiogenic leads were lost to the surroundings by a vaporization process. We interpret these results to mean that remelting occured in a system that was nearly closed to the surroundings and that the high early concentrations of radioactive elements in highly insulating surroundings made this possible.

Urey, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Gravitation theory - Empirical status from solar system experiments.

Review of historical and recent experiments which speak in favor of a post-Newtonian relativistic gravitational theory. The topics include the foundational experiments, metric theories of gravity, experiments designed to differentiate among the metric theories, and tests of Machian concepts of gravity. It is shown that the metric field for any metric theory can be specified by a series of potential terms with several parameters. It is pointed out that empirical results available up to date yield values of the parameters which are consistent with the prediction of Einstein's general relativity.

Nordtvedt, K. L., Jr.↗