Ebook: Impact Spectropolarimetric Sensing
- Tags: Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra, Atomic Molecular Optical and Plasma Physics, Nuclear Physics Heavy Ions Hadrons, Astronomy Observations and Techniques, Astrophysics and Astroparticles
- Series: Physics of Atoms and Molecules
- Year: 1999
- Publisher: Springer US
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
This book arises from the significant quantity of original results in the field of impact spectropolarimetry, mainly for solar flare studies, and the evident potential applications of this technique to environmental physics, astrophysics, and hot plasma. This is a practically oriented book, describing theoretical fundamentals and implementation of this new interdisciplinary remote sensing technique. A basic phenomenon for impact spectropolarimetric sensing is the polarization ofthe electron shells of an ensemble of free atomic particles (atoms, ions, molecules) due to collisional interaction. Slow collisions in the presence of internal anisotropies in the relative velocity space inside any ionized medium, as well as bombardment of a diluted gas by fast precipitating light projectiles, are analyzed in detail as principal impact polarization mechanisms. Impact spectro polarimetric sensing incorporates state-of-the-art theoretical methods of colli sional physics in combination with reliable polarimetric measurements. This technique is illustrated by the new quantitative sensing of energy transport to the upper region of the chromosphere during solar flares, making use of ground based solar spectropolarimetric observations. Apart from general astrophysical and solar-terrestrial significance, a solar flare, the brightest nonthermal phenomenon, is a good candidate for the demonstration of new opportunities of impact spectropolarimetry. New astrophysical achievements of quantitative spectropolarimetry are particularly considered in this book. The theoretical part presents a quantum mechanical description of impact polarization and the spectropolarimetric manifestations for different energies of the colliding partners.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Physical Introduction: Concepts, Phenomenology, Retrospectives, Applications....Pages 1-13
Polarization of a Photon Beam....Pages 15-28
Theory of Collisional Spectropolarimetric Effects....Pages 29-102
Fast Particle Collision with a Heavy Atomic Target....Pages 103-116
Theory of Anisotropic Collisional Relaxation....Pages 117-141
Theory of Charge Exchange Polarization....Pages 143-161
Spectropolarimeters for Solar Problems....Pages 163-177
Solar Flare Observations at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Ukraine)....Pages 179-190
Observations of Polarization Effects at the Irkutsk Institute of Solar and Terrestrial Physics (Russia)....Pages 191-201
Solar Flare Observations at Meudon Observatory (France)....Pages 203-220
Spectropolarimetric Measurements of Mustaches....Pages 221-235
Methodology of Impact Spectropolarimetric Sensing....Pages 237-286
Impact Spectropolarimetric Diagnostics of Nonthermal Phenomena in the Solar Atmosphere....Pages 287-343
Conclusions....Pages 345-346
Back Matter....Pages 347-361
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Physical Introduction: Concepts, Phenomenology, Retrospectives, Applications....Pages 1-13
Polarization of a Photon Beam....Pages 15-28
Theory of Collisional Spectropolarimetric Effects....Pages 29-102
Fast Particle Collision with a Heavy Atomic Target....Pages 103-116
Theory of Anisotropic Collisional Relaxation....Pages 117-141
Theory of Charge Exchange Polarization....Pages 143-161
Spectropolarimeters for Solar Problems....Pages 163-177
Solar Flare Observations at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Ukraine)....Pages 179-190
Observations of Polarization Effects at the Irkutsk Institute of Solar and Terrestrial Physics (Russia)....Pages 191-201
Solar Flare Observations at Meudon Observatory (France)....Pages 203-220
Spectropolarimetric Measurements of Mustaches....Pages 221-235
Methodology of Impact Spectropolarimetric Sensing....Pages 237-286
Impact Spectropolarimetric Diagnostics of Nonthermal Phenomena in the Solar Atmosphere....Pages 287-343
Conclusions....Pages 345-346
Back Matter....Pages 347-361
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