Unexplained Infra-red Radiation

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32303, 22 May 1970, Page 5

Unexplained Infra-red Radiation

<Bu WALTER SULLIVAN) j A series of rocket and l_ balloon observations has K confirmed that an as-yet- -- unexplained infra - red ’ radiation impinges on j the earth’s upper atmosphere, apparently from 1 all parts of the sky. > It appears to be superim--1 posed on the universal “glow” t generally believed to be a residue of the flash in which s the universe was born, some r 10 billion years ago. - The added radiation, it is > thought, may come from ,un--1 known processes at the high- ' est level of the atmosphere—- ! well above 100 miles or 1 from mysterious phenomena . far beyond. However, it has also been ; proposed that the glow attri- ' buted by many to the primordial flash and the added infrared component together may be generated within the core of the Milky Way galaxy, or star system, and countless other galaxies. Satellite Probe The observations and their meaning were discussed at the spring meeting of the American Physical Society. Some of the speakers expressed hope that a gigantic, sixton earth satellite would help provide answers. The satellite, “big as a box- ; car,” would be called the High Energy Astronomical Observatory. If the necessary funds are budgeted, it would be launched in 1974 to ob-' serve extremely high energy ’ phenomena that cannot be ' detected from the earth be- ’ cause of the intervening at-, mosphere. , A number of years ago; George Gamow, an originator of the “big bang” theory, in j which the current expansion '

of the universe is traced back j to a primordial explosion, s proposed that the flash of that explosion should still fill all j space. n These light waves, however, - would have expanded with 1 the universe itself and would no longer be in the form of visible light. Instead, they „ would be concentrated in the radio and infra-red portions a of the spectrum. e One Exception S More precise predictions • were made by Princeton Uni- ■ versity physicists, and such a - glow was discovered several r years ago by Bell Laboratory » scientists. Since then the energy distribution of this glow i across the radio and infra-red • spectrum has conformed ■ closely with predictions—with - one perplexing exception. 1 ' This has been in the infra- '■ red wave lengths centred on

k one millimetre. An Aerobee i, rocket shot by a Cornell Uni- ( j versity-Naval Research Labo-' ratory team in February, , 1 1988, disclosed 50 times more radiation at those wave, •, lengths than expected. It was, | j said Dr James R. Houck of ( Cornell, “absolutely unexpec1 ted.” i f A second shot later that I r year and balloon observations I > last autumn by the Massachu- i s setts Institute of Technology I have confirmed the finding, > he told a news conference * after the session.—Copy- c wright “New York Times” > News Service. ” < ! t