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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Polarization Of Astronomical Maser Radiation, Moshe Elitzur
Polarization Of Astronomical Maser Radiation, Moshe Elitzur
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
The polarization of maser radiation when the source is permeated by an aligned magnetic field is derived for arbitrary angular momenta of the transition states. This generalization is made possible by an analysis of the structure of the propagating waves in a frame aligned with the magnetic axis. The key elements in determining the polarization properties are the assumption of independent and incoherent pump and loss processes for all magnetic sublevels, and the beaming of maser radiation. The radiation propagating in the direction of maximal intensity growth is polarized according to the solutions derived by Goldreich, Keeley, and Kwan for …
Radiative Transfer In Astronomical Masers. Iii. Filamentary Masers, Moshe Elitzur, Christopher F. Mckee, David J. Hollenbach
Radiative Transfer In Astronomical Masers. Iii. Filamentary Masers, Moshe Elitzur, Christopher F. Mckee, David J. Hollenbach
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
This paper, the last in a series, presents the complete solution of a filamentary maser. The contribution of rays emanating from the filament sidewall is essential for the solution self-consistency during saturation. We develop an integral equation to calculate this contribution, devise an iteration scheme to solve it, and perform the first two iterations. The solution provides complete expressions for the distributions of intensity and flux across the source as functions of position and direction with regard to the axis. One consequence of radiation beaming, somewhat surprising at first, is that the filament appears smaller when viewed off-axis, at angles …