Reports of the panels / Astronomy Survey Committee, Assembly of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Astronomy Survey Committee.

Series:

Astronomy and astrophysics for the 1980's ; v.2

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronomy.

Astrophysics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxii, 441 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1983.

Language Note:

English

Contents:

Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980's

Copyright

Preface

Contents

1 High-Energy Astrophysics

I. INTRODUCTION

II. THE NATURE OF HIGH-ENERGY ASTRONOMY AND THE SCOPE OF THE REPORT

III. SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Major Programs

1. Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility

2. Cosmic-Ray Studies

3. Facility-Class Instruments for Solar Astronomy within the Spacelab Program

4. Augmentation of Funding for the Explorer Program

5. Development of Advanced Instrumentation through the Spacelab Program

B. Smaller Programs

1. Solar Neutrino Detectors

2. Development and Deployment of Detectors for Gravitational Waves

3. Increased Support for Theoretical High-Energy Astrophysics

4. Support of Rocket and Balloon Programs

5. Support for Air-Shower Studies

IV. X-RAY ASTRONOMY

A. Introduction

B. Progress during the 1970's

1. Major Achievements

2. State of Knowledge

a. Single Stars

b. Close Binary Stars

c. Supernova Remnants and the Interstellar Medium

d. Normal Galaxies

e. Active Galactic Nuclei

f. Clusters of Galaxies

g. The Extragalactic X-Ray Background

3. State of Instrumentation

C. Scientific Goals for the 1980's

1. Low-Luminosity Galactic Sources

2. High-Luminosity Galactic Sources

3. Globular Clusters

4. Supernova Remnants

5. Interstellar Medium

6. Normal Galaxies

7. Active Galactic Nuclei

8. Clusters of Galaxies

9. The X-Ray Background

D. Inventory of Present or Approved Resources

E. Opportunities and Requirements for Future Programs

1. Large X-Ray Observatories

a. Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)

b. Large-Area Modular Array of Reflectors (LAMAR)

c. X-Ray Observatory (XRO)

2. Explorer Missions

a. X-Ray Timing Explorer (XTE)

b. Soft X-Ray Explorer

c. X-Ray Spectroscopy.

d. Analysis of Coronas

3. Long-Duration Balloon Flights

4. Spacelab

a. Principal Investigator Experiments

b. Multiuser Facilities

5. Sounding Rockets

6. Supporting Research and Technology, Including Balloons

7. Theory and Data Analysis

V. EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET ASTRONOMY

B. Scientific Goals for the 1980's

1. Stellar Chromospheres, Transition Regions, Coronas, and Flares

2. Cataclysmic Variable Stars and Magnetic White Dwarfs

3. Hot White Dwarfs

4. The Interstellar Medium

C. Inventory of Present or Approved Resources

D. New Facilities Proposed for the 1980's

E. Summary and Recommendations

VI. GAMMA-RAY ASTRONOMY

1. Compact Objects

2. Gamma-Ray Lines from the Products of Nucleosynthesis

3. Gamma-Ray Bursts and Other Transient Phenomena

4. Galactic Gamma-Ray Emission

5. Extragalactic Gamma Rays

E. Comparison of Goals with Present or Approved Resources

F. Opportunities and Requirements for New Programs

1. Gamma-Ray Transient Explorer

2. Advanced Gamma-Ray Experiments

3. Ground-Based Instruments for Very-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Observations

4. Supporting Research and Development

VII. COSMIC-RAY ASTRONOMY

1. Instrumentation and Vehicles

2. Scientific Accomplishments

a. Elemental Composition and Energy Spectra (Z up through 28):

b. Ultraheavy Nuclei with Z Greater Than 28

c. Isotopic Composition

d. Cosmic-Ray Electrons and Positrons

1. Isotopic Composition from Hydrogen through Nickel

2. Elemental Composition of the Ultraheavy Nuclei

3. Elemental Composition at High Energies.

4. Energy Spectrum of Electrons at High Energies

5. The Composition and Origins of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays

6. Low-Energy Cosmic Rays (&lt

300 MeV/Nucleon) in Interstellar Space

7. Solar-System Cosmic Rays

1. Small Satellites and Space Probes

2. Large Spacecraft

3. Space Shuttle

4. Balloons

5. Air-Shower Detectors

E. Recommendations for the 1980's

1. The Cosmic-Ray Platform

2. Missions outside the Magnetosphere

3. Deep-Space Missions

5. Air-Shower Observations

VIII. HIGH-ENERGY SOLAR ASTRONOMY

1. General Features of the Solar Atmosphere

2. Transient Events

3. Long-Term Variability

C. Scientific Objectives of High-Energy Solar Astronomy

E. Capabilities of Present or Approved Resources

F. New Facilities and Programs for the 1980's

1. Shuttle Facilities

2. Solar Coronal Explorer

3. Interplanetary Laboratory (IPL)

4. Advanced Solar Observatory

5. Other Missions and Programs of Significance to Solar Physics

G. Summary and Principal Recommendations

IX. NEUTRINO ASTRONOMY

A. Low-Energy Neutrinos

1. Introduction

2. Progress during the 1970's

3. Scientific Goals: Present and Future Programs

4. Research in Other Countries

B. Intermediate-Energy Neutrinos

2. Inventory of Present Resources

3. Scientific Goals and Future Programs

C. High-Energy Neutrinos

2. Present and Future Programs

X. GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE ASTRONOMY

1. Verify the Existence of Gravitational Waves and Use Them to Test the General Theory of Relativity

2. Harness Gravitational Waves for Observational Astronomy

B. Progress during the 1970's.

1. Ground-Based Detectors

2. The Earth as a Detector

3. Doppler Tracking of Spacecraft

4. The Binary Pulsar

5. Gravitational-Wave Theory

D. Recommendations for the 1980's

1. Ground-Based Detector Program

2. Space-Based Detectors

3. Theoretical Studies

2 Ultraviolet, Optical, and Infrared Astronomy

I. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Recommendations for Major Initiatives

B. Scientific Achievements and Opportunities

II. HIGHLIGHTS OF ASTRONOMY IN THE 1970'S

A. Management, Facilities, and Instrumentation

B. Scientific Programs

1. Galactic Astronomy

a. Interstellar Medium

b. Stellar Astronomy

2. Extragalactic Astronomy

a. Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies

b. Quasars

c. Cosmology

3. Solar Astronomy

a. Solar Magnetic Fields

b. Coronal Holes and the Solar Wind

c. Solar Nonradial Pulsations and Seismology

III. SCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 1980'S

a. Galactic Structure

b. Star Formation

c. Interstellar Medium

d. Emission Nebulas

e. Outer Atmospheres of Stars

3. Astrometry

a. Stellar Census

b. Solar-System Model

c. Inertial Reference System

4. Solar Physics

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UVOIR PROGRAM FOR THE 1980'S

A. Major Recommendations

1. The 15-Meter New Technology Telescope and Closely Related Projects

a. The Scientific Impact of the New Technology Telescope

b. Technical Considerations for a 15-Meter New Technology Telescope

c. The New Technology Telescope: Summary

d. Support Telescope Program for the 1980's

2. A Large Deployable Reflector in Space

a. Scientific Impact.

b. Galactic Nuclei and Galactic Structure

c. Star Formation and Evolution

d. Mass Loss in Stars

e. Status of Technology

3. Far-Ultraviolet Spectrograph in Space

5. Requirements for Improved Detectors and Instrumentation in the 1980's

a. Introduction

b. Infrared Spectral Region

c. Visual and Near-Infrared Spectral Region

d. Ultraviolet Spectral Region

e. Computer Support

f. Optical Coatings

B. Endorsement of Continuing NASA Programs

1. The Space Telescope

a. Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)

b. Refurbishment of ST Instrumentation

2. The NASA Infrared Astronomy Program

a. Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility

b. Cosmic Background Explorer

3. Solar Optical Telescope

a. Heating and Energy Balance in the Solar Atmosphere

b. Plasma/Magnetic-Field Interaction in Subarcsecond Structures

c. Sunspots

C. Recommendations for Other Outstanding Programs and Projects for the 1980's

1. Solar-Physics Program

a. Solar Coronal Explorer Satellite

b. Solar Interior Dynamics Program

2. Sky Surveys Needed to Support Major Missions

a. Infrared Surveys from Space

b. Moderate and Wide-Field Imaging in the 1200-10,000-Å Wavelength Region

3. Planetary Observations

a. Dedicated Orbital Telescope for Solar-System Studies

b. Extrasolar Planetary Detection

4. Observatory Support

5. 2.5-5-Meter Telescope Program

6. Moderate Cost Space Missions

a. Astronomy Payloads on Space Shuttle

b. Explorer Program

V. PROJECTIONS INTO THE FUTURE

A. Management Considerations

B. Instrumentation in the 1990's

C. The Direction of Scientific Research in the 1990's

1. Large Gains in Angular Resolution

2. Increased Light-Gathering Power

3. Increased Capability for Study of Objects with Low Surface Brightness

VI. EPILOGUE.

3 Radio Astronomy.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

9786610246045

9781280246043

1280246049

9780309554367

0309554365

9780585210575

0585210578

OCLC:

726823032