THE HYDROGEN LINE IN ABSORPTION

Abstract

Twenty-one-cm absorption spectra have been obtained for 12 radio sources using conventional techniques. Six of these sources were also studied with a hydrogen-line interferometer. Differences in the profiles obtained by the 2 methods give information on the structure and temperature of the HI clouds seen in absorption. Estimates of the angular sizes of 4 clouds based on these differences lead to an average diameter of 13 parsecs. In some cases it has been possible to find an upper limit to the temperature of the clouds somewhat lower than the generally assumed 125 K. A temperature of 60 K is suggested, giving densities of 20 atoms/cc and masses of 1000 MO for the absorbing clouds. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0262661

Entities

People

  • B.g. Clark
  • R.w. Wilson
  • V. Radhakrishnan

Organizations

  • California Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Absorption Spectra
  • Diameters
  • Diffraction
  • Electromagnetic Spectra
  • Hydrogen
  • Interferometers
  • Resonance Absorption
  • Sorption
  • Spectra
  • Wave Phenomena

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Plasma Physics.