Fluctuations of quasars and other astronomical sources: New Research Initiatives Program W-210
Abstract
The power spectra of fluctuating light sources, the apparent expansion rates of astronomical sources exploding at relativistic speed, and the limits on fluctuation rates of such expanding (and nonexpanding) light sources were investigated. A study of the time history of such an exploding light source showed the falacy of a widely held belief that unusually rapid fluctuations of light output would be produced. This result has an important bearing on the interpretation of the redshifts of quasars and BL Lac objects, indicating that cosmological distance is very difficult to reconcile with the observations of rapid variations of luminosity. A list of publications is included.
- Publication:
-
Final Report Los Alamos Scientific Lab
- Pub Date:
- January 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978lasl.reptQ....T
- Keywords:
-
- Light Sources;
- Luminous Intensity;
- Power Spectra;
- Quasars;
- Radio Astronomy;
- Variations;
- X Ray Sources;
- Astronomical Observatories;
- Red Shift;
- Astrophysics