Accumulation processes in the primitive solar nebula

Particle accumulation processes are discussed for a variety of physical environments, ranging from the collapse phase of an interstellar cloud to the different parts of the models of the primitive solar nebula constructed by Cameron and Pine. Because of turbulence in the collapsing interstellar gas, it is concluded that interstellar grains accumulate into bodies with radii of a few tens of centimeters before the outer parts of the solar nebula are formed. These bodies can descend quite rapidly through the gas toward midplane of the nebula, and accumulation to planetary size can occur in a few thousand years. Substantial modifications of these processes take place in the outer convection zone of the solar nebula, but again it is concluded that bodies in that zone can grow to planetary size in a few thousand years.From the discussion of the interstellar collapse phase it is concluded that the angular momentum of the primitive solar nebula was predominantly of random turbulent origin, and that it is plausible that the primitive solar nebula should have possessed satellite nebulae in highly elliptical orbits. It is proposed that the comets were formed in these satellite nebulae.A number of other detailed conclusions are drawn from the analysis. It is shown to be plausible that an iron-rich planet should be formed in the inner part of the outer nebular convection zone. Discussions are given of the processes of planetary gas accretion, the formation of satellites, the T Tauri solar wind, and the dissipation of excess condensed material after the nebular gases have been removed by the T Tauri solar wind. It is shown that the present radial distances of the planets (but not Bode's Law) should be predicted reasonably well by a solar nebula model intermediate between the uniform and linear cases of Cameron and Pine.     

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment: Observations of ozone on Mars

The Mariner 9 Ultraviolet Spectrometer has observed the 2550 Å ozone spectral absorption feature on Mars. This absorption was previously detected in the south polar region by Mariner 7 in 1969. Mariner 9 did not observe ozone at any time in the equatorial region, nor at the south polar cap during its summer season. However, ozone was found in the north polar region beginning at a latitude of 45°N and extending northward. Ozone later appeared in the southern hemisphere southward of 50°S as the Mars autumnal equinox approached. The presence of ozone on Mars seems to be coupled to the water vapor content of its atmosphere.     

Slope angle and frost formation on Mars

The low partial pressure of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere implies a low (～200K) frost point for water on the surface. This, in turn, has made it difficult to accept the traditional water frost explanation of bright patches that sometimes occur near the equator. We show that, because insolation and surface albedo are so important in determining surface temperature, nighttime frost deposits on steep slopes facing away from the Sun during local winter may persist throughout the day, even at the equator. Above about 25° north latitude, permanent frost deposits may form on steep north-facing slopes. Frost deposits on slopes could explain some bright features, as well as act as a reservoir for atmospheric H₂O.     

A study of the diurnal variation in the thermosphere as derived by satellite drag

An analysis was performed on 29,574 densities derived from the drag of 10 satellites to determine simultaneously the parameters of the solar-activity effect in the thermosphere on the one hand, and the amplitude and shape of the diurnal-variation curve on the other. This paper reports on the study of the diurnal variation only.Although a considerable amount of smoothing is inherent in the drag method, it seemed useful to see whether we could detect any change in the shape of the diurnal-variation curve with height, latitude and solar activity. None was detected: the curve remains remarkably stable, symmetric, with a maximum at 14 hr 20 min L.S.T. and a minimum at 2 hr 20 min L.S.T. A systematic variation of the temperature range with height is observed when static models are used to derive it.     

Periodic variations of the cosmic radiation—III. The 27-day variation

The relation between the 27-day variation of the cosmic radiation and of the terrestrial horizontal magnetic intensity has been investigated by means of the data recorded from 1957 to 1968. The periods have a correlation of about +0.5. The cosmic radiation is undoubtedly modulated by the Sun. A persistent wave with a periodicity of approximately 27.2 days could be proved from the data of several ion chamber and neutron monitor stations, but not underground (14m w.e.). The frequency of the daily period of the cosmic radiation shows a 27.3 day variation, too. The sum total of the relative sunspot numbers has a period length of 27.4 days. Their connection with the cosmic radiation is discussed.     

The formation of Mg i 4571 Å in the solar atmosphere

An analysis of the 4571 Å line of neutral magnesium is presented in which one-dimensional macroscopic velocity fields are included. It is shown that gradients over restricted heights in the vertical and horizontal components of the velocity field of order -0.005 s^–1 and -0.004 s^–1 (such that velocity towards the observer decreases as height increases), respectively, result in asymmetries in the computed line profile similar to those observed. The heights in the solar atmosphere at which these velocity gradients exist are shown to be very critical in reproducing the observations. It was found that the best results were obtained when the gradients existed in the height range from 200 km to 300 km below the temperature minimum. The results indicate that for the Mg i 4571 Å line model calculations that do not include one-dimensional flow velocities may safely be compared with frequency-averaged observations.     

Lunar baselines and libration from differential Vlbi observations of alseps

Differential very-long-baseline interferometric observations of signals from Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package telemetry transmitters will yield the relative projected positions of the transmitters with uncertainty of only 1-3 m, set mainly by uncertainty of the lunar ephemeris. Noise and systematic instrumental errors which in the past affected similar observations have been reduced to the equivalent of a few centimeters on the lunar surface by the development of a new type of differential receiver. Continued observations should yield a determination of the motion of the Moon about its center of mass with uncertainty less than 1 s of selenocentric arc. Improvements (by other means) in our knowledge of the Moon's orbital motion would allow a further order-of-magnitude refinement in the libration and relative position results obtainable by differential VLBI.Communication presented at the conference on Lunar Dynamics and Observational Coordinate Systems held January 15–17, 1973 at the Lunar Science Institute, Houston, Tex. U.S.A.     

Critique of fluid theory of magnetospheric phenomena

It is pointed out that the fluid theory has been successful in magnetospheric problems (such as the shape of the magnetopause) which involve basic considerations such as the conservation of particles, of momentum, and of energy, but that it is inadequate for other problems (such as the energization of auroral particles). Difficulties arise from the fact that it is not always possible to specify a volume of plasma because particles do not remain as neighbours. Misuse of the fluid theory has led to a number of fallacies, such as the idea that the causal order of physical events in cosmic electrodynamics is the reverse of that in the familiar laboratory electrodynamics. This mistaken idea comes from a confusion of a mathematical sequence of calculations with the causal order. Also, the importance of the magnetic field as an active element is over-emphasized. Appreciation of the fact that kinetic theory is the more fundamental seems to be widely lacking. A plea is made for a common sense approach to magnetospheric and auroral problems wherein the fluid theory is used whenever it can, but where it is not expected to be adequate for all purposes.     

Ultrahigh energy photons,electrons, and neutrinos,the microwave background,and the universal cosmic-ray hypothesis

The production of ultrahigh energy photons, electrons and neutrinos as the decay products of pions produced in photomeson interactions between cosmic-ray nucleons and the blackbody microwave background is discussed in terms of the resultant energy spectra of these particles. Simple asymptotic formulas are given for calculating the ultrahigh energy photon spectrum predicted for the universal cosmic-ray hypothesis and the resulting spectra are compared with those obtained previously by numerical means using a different propagation equation for the photons. Approximate analytic solutions for the photon spectra are given in terms of simple power-law energy functions and slowly varying logarithmic functions. These can be used to estimate ultrahigh energy photon fluxes for various astrophysical parameters. The generic relation between the various secondary components is then discussed in terms of their astrophysical implications which are summarized in the conclusion.     

Spectral development of a solar X-ray burst observed on OSO-7

The UCSD solar X-ray instrument on the OSO-7 satellite observes X-ray bursts in the 2–300 keV range with 10.24 s time resolution. Spectra obtained from the proportional counter and scintillation counter are analyzed for the event of November 16, 1971, at 0519 UT in terms of thermal (exponential spectrum) and non-thermal (power law) components. The energy content of the approximately 20 × 10⁶K thermal plasma increased with the 60 s duration hard X-ray burst which entirely preceded the 5 keV soft X-ray maximum. If the hard X-rays arise by thick target bremsstrahlung, the nonthermal electrons above 10 keV have sufficient energy to heat the thermally emitting plasma. In the thin target case the collisional energy transfer from non-thermal electrons suffices if the power law electron spectrum is extrapolated below 10 keV, or if the ambient plasma density exceeds 4 × 10¹⁰ cm^–3.Formerly at UCSD.