Laboratory astrophysics

• Published in: Journal of quantitative spectroscopy & radiative transfer 1962-10, Vol.2 (4), p.433,IN6,441-440,IN11,449
• Main Author: Nicholls, R.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-4073; 1879-1352
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-4073(62)90030-4

The great need for laboratory work on astrophysical problems is discussed and illustrated by the current research programme in this field at the University of Western Ontario. As an example of the experimental work in progress, a critical review is given of intensity measurements on twenty band systems. The dependence upon transition parameters of the degree of variation of the electronic transition moments for these systems is discussed. The variation with internuclear separation of the electronic perturbation integral in excitation and ionisation transitions is also discussed. As an example of the theoretical work in progress, arrays of Franck-Condon factors calculated to high vibrational quantum numbers for the following eleven vacuum ultraviolet band systems and nine excitation transitions are presented. N2: Lyman-Birge-Hopfield, Vegard-Kaplan, Birge-Hopfield N2+: Janin d'Incan, Second Negative O2: Schumann-Runge CO: Fourth Positive, Cameron, Hopfield-Birge a, Hopfield-Birge b CO+: First Negative N2(X1Σ+g)-N2(a1IIg, A3Σg, B3IIg, C3IIu) -N2+(X2Σ+g, A2IIu, B2Σu, ?2IIg, C2Σ) Finally, a study of the geometry in the v́-v̋ plane of loci of the local maxima of Franck-Condon factors is reviewed. This has immediate application to identification of molecular spectra.