SOVIET 1950 CONFERENCE ON ASTROSPECTROSCOPY

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• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 528
• Publication Date: March 4, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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SOVIET 1950 CONFERENCE ON AST ROSPECTtOSCOPY
P. P. Dobranravin
Cand of Physicomath Sci
A conference on astrospectroscopy was held at the Crimean Astronomical
Observatory, Academy of Sciences USSR in Simeiz. About 60 persons, repre-
senting 22 physical and astronomical institutions, participated in the con-
ference, at which 23 reports were heard.
Academician 0. A. Shayn, director of the cbservatory, opened the con-
ference with a brief talk on one of the founders of contemporary astrophysics,
the Russian astronomer Belopolskiy.
The main reports were devoted to stellar and solar physics, the structure
of stellar systems, and the nature.of interstellar matter.
Academician G. A. Shayn and V. F. Gaza, Senior Scientific Associate of
the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, in their report "The Ratio of Concen-
tration of Isotopes 013: C12 in the Atmosphere of Stars," discussed the re-
sults of extensive investigations on the spectra of spectral class N stars and
low-temperature stars, the atmospheres of which are extraordinarily rich in
carbon. The most important result of the investigation was the establishment
of the presence of a relatively great abundance of the heavy isotope of
carbon C13 in the atmosphere of these stars, surpassing by many times its
relative abundance in the earths crust and in the sun. This r=suit possesses
very great cosmogonic significance.
Academician G. A. Shayn's extensive report "Variation of Central Inten-
sive Spectral Lines in Spectra of Stars of Different Spectral Classes" was
devoted to the very important problem of absorption lines in stellar spectra.
The central intensity of absorption lines is determined by the mechanism
governing the formation of lines, and their study can serve as a source of in-
formation about the mutual interaction of matter and about the atmosphere of
stars.
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMt..TS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORFWTION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
Scientific - Astronomy, spectroscopy,
astrophysics, light filters,
astronomers
Monthly periodical
Nov 1950
Russian
DATE OF
INFORMATION
DATE DIST. ? ' a,. 1952
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFOPMATION
Vestnik Akademii -auk SSSR No 11, 1950, pp 96-99.
STATE
ARMY
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Comparisons of the central intensity of lines as observed on spectrograms
obtained at Simeiz with the intensity theoretically calculated on the basis of
the mechanism of "pure absorption" generally proved to be of high order,
although not in absolute quantitative agreement. Deviations of the observed
values from `hose calculated for hot stars indicate, in G. A. Shayn's opinion,
the influence of light dispersion by free electrons, especially abundant in
atmospheres of white supergiants.
Also connected with stellar spectra was the report of Academician G. A.
entitledd"Some Remarks onnthe Laboratory System of Wave the
Lengths " The press-
ing problem of modern astrophysics is the establishment of the presence of
heavy elements and rare earths in the atmospheres of stars. To successfully
detect their spectral lines, however, one must first identify in stellar
spectra all weak lines of iron and other elements. It became clear that
laboratory tables of wave lengths of spectral lines are not sufficiently come
plete for this purpose and do not satisfy astrophysicists. Also very im-
portant is the study of internal motions in the atmospheres of stars by small
differential. displacements of lines of various elements, but it is necessary
to assume the presence of systematic errors in laboratory wave lengths for
different elements of the Game order as the displacements sought. For this
reason, astrophysicists urgently need to extend and to make more accurate the
laboratory tables of wave lengths of spectral lines.
A number of reports were devoted to the study of continuous spectra of
stars of various typ"s- Professor E. R. Mustel' (rrimean Astrophysical Ob-
servatory) "Energy Distribution in Spectra of New Stars"; Professor B. A.
Vorontsov-Vel'yaminov (State Astronomical Institute imeni P. K. Shternberg)
"Energy Distribution in Spectra of Stars of the Wolf-Rayet Type"; Senior Sci-
entific Associate V. G. Gorbatskiy (Leningrad State University) "Spectra of
Type V Stars"; and Senior S.:1-!ntific Associate P. P. Dobronravin (Crimean
Astrophysical Observatory) "Energy Distribution in Spectra of Some Low-Temper-
ature Stars."
.:any statistical investigations connected with the study of the stellar
world urgently require a knowledge of absolute values, i.e., actual luminosity
of as many stars as possible, and especially of weak ones. The method of
determining absolute magnitudes of weak stars by means of spectra, obtained
with the objective prism, was discussed in the reports of R. A. Barta (Abastu-
man Astrophysical Observatory) and L. S. Galkin (Crimean Astrophysical Ob-
servatory). The approximate evaluation of complete absorption in spectral
lines by similar photographs was discussed in the report of N. M. Goldberg,
Junior Scientific Associate of the Main Astronomical Observatory.
A number of reports touched on problems of solar physics.
Professor V. A. Krat (Main Astronomical Observatory) discussed in his re-
port the results of processing spectrograms which he obtained on a quartz
spectograph during the total solar eclipse on 9 July 1945. A spectrum of the
sun's corona, chromosphere, and a weak prominence appeared on the negative.
A number of interesting conclusions were drawn concerning the structure of the
sun's corona, chromosphere, and mechanism of luminosity excitation.
Professors E. R. Mustcl. and A. B. Severnyy (Crimean Astronomical Obser-
vatory) discussed the results of studies of spectra of chromospheric explo-
sions. The spectra of these quickly passing solar phenomena have been little
studied up to now, and the nature of the explosions remains puzzling for the
time being. In 1948, the 3pectrohelioscope of the Crimean Astrophysical Ob-
servatory was augmented with two photochambers, permitting one simultaneously
to observe visually and to photograph detailed solar spectra by rays of
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lciua
spectrograms, some of w
.adTherlectures Presented many very interesting s in
appearance of chromospheric explosions odn thtersunpiseaccompey showed b yd that the
the contours of spectral lines, which inicae the ionizationiof b
rotating layer of the sun by changes in
underneath, Y ultraviolet radiations coming from thesflasheshe
I. S. Shklovskiy, Senior Scientific Associate of the Crimean Astrophysical
Observatory, discussed' in his report the radiation of the sun's corona in the
far ultraviolet region. Professors A. B. Severnov and A. B. Gil'varg (Institute of
Academy of Sciences USSR), in their report "Interferentiai. Polarization Light
Filters for Solar Crystallography,
and Filters
results of Solar described the construction of light filters f
is a apps os of with then. The interferential polarization light fterpolaroid films. quartz disks, of strictly definite thickness, intrlaid ewith
Such a light filter can be made transparent band of the spectrum, the width of all the filters bein
At present only four or five pflz'eat only for a very
solar observations, such light filters in the world aresaral angstroms.
applied to
Severnov and Gil'varg described the three filters which they constructed.
One has a passband 1.8 angstroms wide centered on the red hydrogen line.
this filter, mounted in the optical scheme of a L of-typ
successfully observe solar prominences and With
reefed to a motion- irture camera, chromosphere,. which thus affords continuous us photographs is con-
of solar phenomena. Some of the photographs coa into f
Sov!et Pilm showinhave been made into the Motion film sh off the hemmovement
ao of solar prominences speeded s of the moProminences a ry interesting way to investigatechangea inr radiation and other
details. Already some new and important laws and regularities have been found.
The second light filter possesses a passband about 3 angstroms wide and
is designed for observations in six chosen wave lengths. light filter is
of high optical quality. The
The third interferential polarization light filter is designed for observ-
ing the sun by infrared radiation, and already has been successfully appli
to solar observations.
-d
Professor A. P. Severnyy and A. Monin, Senior Scientific Associate of
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, in their report "Spec trohe1iograph of the
Crimean Astrophysical Ob:;ervutory," described an apparatus, developed by them
and instructed in th= .crkst:,,r , the cbacrvatary, which allows one
good spectroheliogrwc_ by ray.. ,cf i.ydr,,g5n and ionized calcium.
to obtain
In a short rePProfen ttl Al ': ut. of Int,rferential Spec trojAc tome try of
FraunhoPer Lines, Simeiz on ,z.
raur , Lin ontPr,x of c vernyy discussed studies, conducted at
means of spectrographs and as, Fa, -Pe lines photographs obtained by
b^IPeroro calibrating device.
V. B. Nikonov, Senior I u en`ific Asscciate of the Crimean Astrophysical
Observatory, reported on the elec_t.o ectrophotometer constricted in the obser-
vatory. This is an a - P with the aid of pparat,,._ F:,r automatically recording the solar spectrum
solar eat Photomultip. ere. This apparatus permits one to stud
spectrum directly, thus avoiding photographic photometry. Y the
The results of studies of luminous diffusive nebulas were discussed by
Academician G. A. Shayn and V. F. Gaza, Senior Scientific Associate in the
observatory, Ln their report "Investigations of Luminous Nebulas at the Crimean
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Astrophysical Observatory." With the aid of two powerful mirror photochambers
(diameter 450 mm, light power 1:1.4) having glass and interferential light
filters that pass a narrow band of the spectrum, they obtained photographs of
nebulas by the radiation of the red line of hydrogen and of the continuous
gaseous line but
it. s permits one to
and dark nebulasithathave
continuous spectra. The photographs obtained already give enough data for a
number of important conclusions to be made. (See Vestnik Akademii Nauk SSSR
No 5 and 6, 1950, pp 94,95 and 36-38.)
V. B. Nikonov, V. I. Krasov (Crimean Astrophysical Observatory), and
A. A. Kalinyak (Main Astronomical Observatory) discussed results of photo-
graphing the galactic center with the aid of electronic-optic converters in
rays with wave length of about one micron. The study of central parts of the
galaxy, i.e., of our sidereal system, and the so-called galactic nucleus is
very important for understanding the structure of the system as a whole. But
in the direction toward the galactic center lies a thick cloud of interstellar
material, opaque to photographic and visual rays. Dark interstellar material,
however, is more transparent to long-wave radiation, which gives hope for its
considerable penetration by invisible infrared radiation. On the photographs
obtained in 1948 - 1949 was discovered a large stellar cloud similar to the
familiar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius, invisible on ordinary photo-
graphs. Obviously, the newly discovered stellar cloud together with the cloud
in Sagittarius are portions of the galactic nucleus, the center of which is
covered with still greater dark clouds of interstellar material, opaque also
to rays of this wave length. Taking the distance to the galactic nucleus as
25,000 light years, one can evaluate its dimensions as approximately 5,000
light years.
V. I. Krasov, in his report "The Nature of Radiation of the Night Sky,"
attempted to interpret the nature of bright lines in the infrared radiation
of the nocturnal sky (to 11,000 A), first discovered by the reporter. In
his opinion, they result from the forbidden transition between the levels
l,&- 31 of molecular oxygen. I. S. Shklovskiy, commenting on the report,
pointed out the possibility of still another interpretation of this radiation,
namely, as radiation occurring during rotational-vibrational transitions of
the hydrogyl molecule (OR).
I. S. Shklovskiy, in his report "Monochromatic Radio Radiation of the
Galaxy and the Possibility of Observing It," discussed a new branch of
astrophysics, namely, radio astrospectroscopy. According to his calculationa,
short-wave radio radiation of interstellar gas can be observed.
Z. L. Morgenshtern, Senior Scientific Associate of the Physical Institute
imeni P. N. Lebedev, in his report "The Application of Scintillant Phosphors
for Photographin6 Infrared radiation," discussed a new and interesting photo-
graphic method which is beginning to find application also in astrophysics.
Also heard were: V. A. Al'bitskiy, Senior Scientific Associate of the
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, "Project of the Stellar Spectrograph of the
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory"; and Professor B. A. vorontsov-Vel'yaminov,
"Spectrum of 1942 Comet Tcvzadzo 2."
The conference adopted a resolution which noted the necessity of still
closer cooperation between astrophysicists and physicists, and suggested
certain forms of this cooperation.
The participants of the conference made excursions into the Bakhchisaraya
region, where they inspected the new construction going on at the Crimean
Astrophysical Observatory.
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