Haydn: The Unpublished Sonatas, Hob. XVI.18-20, 44-46

Poetry by Jan Zwick

Extraterrestrial Effects of Cosmic Rays

So far only interactions of cosmic rays with terrestrial matter have been investigated. If cosmic rays are present in interstellar and intergalactic space, they produce physical changes on extraterrestrial objects also. The question therefore arises if such changes are observable. The following considerations make it probable that this question is to be answered in the affirmative

Intrinsic Properties of Light and Corpuscles from Distant Sources

Spectra of distant nebulae, compared with those of neighboring nebulae, are shifted toward the red by amounts which increase with the distance which the light has traveled. This fact indicates that we are confronted with a phenomenon which involves history on a large scale, history either of the universe as a whole, or history of some of its individual parts. Scientifically speaking, history means the change in time of dimensionless ratios of significant physical quantities. Thus, on the relativistic interpretation of the redshift of light from nebulae the dimensionless ratio D/d between two lengths changes (increases) in time. Appropriate choices for these two lengths are Bohr's characteristic length d = h^2/4π^2me^2 as a supposedly fixed terrestrial measuring stick, and D = V^1/3 where V is the volume which on the average contains one extragalactic nebula. However, many other interpretations of the redshift are possible. The assumption that history must be operative clearly suggests the necessity of an investigation of all dimensionless ratios between significant physical quantities. Only after this investigation has been completed will a final understanding of the redshift and other cosmic phenomena be possible. The following discussion will be concerned with the behavior of the most trivial dimensionless ratios only. A more general program may be outlined, but so far essential data for its realization are lacking

The quantum theory and the behavior of slow electrons in gases

The new quantum theory(1) is based on the consideration that the only observable frequencies of the atoms and molecules are the so-called jump-frequencies given by the equation ε = hv. In fact the experiments have shown that these are responsible for spectrum lines, anomalous dispersion and inelastic impacts. The revolution frequencies of the electrons in the stationary orbits, as given by the Bohr calculations, it is assumed can never be detected, so that Heisenberg(1) eliminated them from the theory intending to operate with observable data only. There are, however some experiments which have not yet been sufficiently discussed in relation to this problem: namely, the beautiful experiments on the behavior of slow electrons in gases. ("Slow" means that the electrons have less energy than corresponds to a resonance potential of the gas under investigation.) These experiments can be divided into two groups. One class deals with the deviations from the rectilinear motion which the electrons undergo in the field of force of the atoms, while the second class investigates the energy transfer. In this paper we give some considerations on the first type of experiments. The question of the energy transfer will be discussed in a following paper

On the Physical Characteristics of the Hydra Cluster of Nebulae

A. Observational Data. - In a previous paper [1] counts of the brighter nebulae in the Hydra cluster were communicated. The distance of the Hydra cluster was estimated as 7.3 X 10^6 parsecs and the average apparent velocity of recession to be expected was given as v = 4100 km./sec. No observations of the red shift for nebulae in the Hydra cluster were available at the time. Dr. Hubble subsequently obtained a spectrum plate for NGC 3309 which nebula is a member of the Hydra cluster. He kindly informs me that the apparent velocity of recession for NGC 3309 is of the order of 3950 km./sec., a value which is in good agreement with our original estimate. B. The Radial Distribution of Nebulae in the Hydra Cluster. - As emphasized previously [1] the Hydra cluster exhibits spherical symmetry and is therefore suspected to have reached a statistically stationary state. In order to check this conclusion two additional tests are available. In the first place we may compare the observed radial distribution of nebulae in the Hydra cluster with the distribution derived by Emden [2] for the bounded isothermal gravitational gas sphere and secondly we can verify whether the ratio wr^2/p0 of the square of the dispersion in radial velocities of the cluster nebulae to the central density po of the cluster can be correctly determined from the observed structural length or structural index a of the cluster [3]

Production of Atomic Rays and of Cosmic Rays in Supernovae

A. Supernovae. - Several years ago, Baade and I made the following suggestions [1]: (1) A class of very rare temporary stars exists, some of whose major physical properties are similar to those of common novae, but in a superlative degree. We proposed that the new stars might appropriately be called supernovae. (2) Supernovae are an origin of the cosmic rays. Our first problem obviously was to locate as many active supernovae as possible in order to prove the correctness of assertion (1). Through the discovery of nine supernovae [2] with the Schmidt Telescope on Palomar Mountain, the solution of this problem has now reached a stage of completeness which is sufficient to allow us to turn our attention to assertion (2). We therefore proceed to outline some of the general processes which presumably take place in supernovae and which are capable of producing cosmic rays as well as atomic rays of high energy

A stone's throw into the universe: A memoir

Early goals in experimental astronomy are recalled. Physio-chemical properties of the atmosphere were studied by observing the tracks and point-to-point spectra of fast particles from artificial meteors. Some of these self-luminous pellets were fired from an Aerobee rocket in 1958

B->pi,K,eta Decay Formfactors from Light-Cone Sum Rules

We present an improved calculation of all B -> light pseudoscalar formfactors from light-cone sum rules, including one-loop radiative corrections to twist-2 and twist-3 contributions, and leading order twist-4 corrections. The total theoretical uncertainty of our results at zero momentum transfer is 10 to 13%. The dependence of the formfactors on the momentum transfer q^2 is parametrized in a simple way that is consistent with their analytical properties and is valid for all physical q^2. The uncertainty of the extrapolation in q^2 on the semileptonic decay rate Gamma(B -> pi e nu) is estimated to be 5%.Comment: 10 pages; talk given at Continuous Advances in QCD 2004, Minneapolis, May 200

Objective transmission gratings for large Schmidt telescopes

Several lamellar gratings of 18-in. aperture, with 300 diffraction elements per inch, have been made for determining stellar spectra with wide angle telescopes. Central orders are missing at λ4800, and weak at adjacent wavelengths. The two, equal first orders are about 1^m weaker than spectra by a prism or echelette grating. Dispersion is linear. The procedure of manufacture is adaptable to larger size. The wavelength at which the central order is missing can be controlled by varying the lamellae thickness. The lamellae are evaporated strips of quartz of 0.5-µ thickness, covering half the face of the support a spectacle crown, plane parallel plate of ¾-in. thickness. The lamellae were deposited by thermal evaporation