RADIATION FROM HYDROGEN ATOMS EXCITED BY THE SYNCHROTRON RADIATION OF RELATIVISTIC ELECTRONS

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Soviet Astron. AJ (English Transl.)

OSTI ID:4738332

Gordon, I M; Pichakhchi, L D

It is shown that the emission spectrum of T Tauri stars with anomalous continuous radiation in the ultraviolet can be explained by assuming that it is a negative absorption spectrum of hydrogen excited by synchrotron radiation of great intensity in a small part of the star's atmosphere--in its active zone. A method was also proposed for the determination of the spectrum of synchrotron radiation from the observed hydrogen emission spectrum. The intensity in the infrared part of the spectrum was determined from the broadening of the higher terms of the Balmer series that form the quasicontinuum, while the intensity in the ultraviolet was determined from hydrogen ionization. In the present study the distribution of hydrogen atoms among the excited levels in the field of such radiation is calculated using an electronic computer. The calculations show that the Balmer lines will in fact be observed in emission due to induced transitions, i.e., as a sequence of negative absorption lines. The considerable overpopulation of the upper levels is responsible for the small Balmer decrement and the appearance of anomalous emission in the ultraviolet and also for the increase in intensity of the latter when approaching the Balmer discontinuity. Thus the theory of the excitation of the emission spectrum of T Tauri stars is confirmed quantitatively. (auth)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-013271
• OSTI ID: 4738332
• Journal Information: Soviet Astron. AJ (English Transl.), Journal Name: Soviet Astron. AJ (English Transl.) Vol. Vol: 5
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ASTROPHYSICS
ATMOSPHERE
ATOMS
BALMER LINES
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COMPUTERS
ELECTRONS
EMISSION
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITATION
HYDROGEN
INFRARED RADIATION
IONIZATION
NUMERICALS
PHYSICS
PLASMA
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
STARS
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION