Showing papers by "Charles H. Townes published in 1996"

Possible Discovery of the 70 Micron H3O+ 43− → 33+ Transition in Orion BN-IRc2

Abstract: We report the first astronomical detection of a far-IR emission line at (69524 ± 0008) μm from aboard the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) We tentatively assign this line to the R-branch transition 43− → 33+ of H3O+ The wavelength of the discovered line lies between -112 and -60 km s-1 from predicted values The position at which the emission line was detected is located about 20'' north of Orion BN, which is close to the shocked molecular hydrogen peak 1 We exclude hot shocked gas as the possible origin of the H3O+ emission Hydrogen densities of 5 × 108 cm-3 and temperatures 100 K are required to match the observed integrated intensity of the 70 μm line A speculative explanation for the 70 μm H3+O emission is that it might originate from very dense clumps

Is there a compact central mass concentration in our galaxy

Abstract: Since the center of our own galaxy is the closest region of this type, it should provide a proving ground for our understanding of such regions. And fortunately, recent developments in radio, infrared, and x-ray astronomy allow us to look at the center of our galaxy in considerable detail — a privilege not possible in the visible region because of the rather dense dust clouds surrounding it. We find there many complex and interesting phenomena, including evidence for a compact central mass of a few million solar masses from the dynamics of stars and gases. However, its existence has been doubted because the radiant energy coming from the very center is much less than normal theoretical expectations for a black hole of such a mass. This discrepancy has led to speculation whether the velocity measurements could be misleading, whether the concentrated mass is in some form other than the expected black hole, whether the radiation might be taking place in an exotic form, being directed away from us or happening to be low at the moment, or whether our theories of such radiation are as yet incomplete. The general characteristics of the very central region of our galaxy will be reviewed along with the dynamic evidence for a large concentrated mass and comparison of the radiation it emits with that of various theoretical models.