Possibility of measuring the width of narrow FeII astrophysical laser lines in the vicinity of eta Carinae by means of Brown-Twiss-Townes heterodyne correlation interferometry

• We consider the possibility of measuring the true width of the narrow Fe II optical lines observed in spectra of the Weigelt blobs in the vicinity of eta Carinae. The lines originate as a result of stimulated amplification of spontaneous emission of radiation in quantum transitions between energy levels showing inverted population [Johansson, S., Letokhov, V., 2002. JETP Lett. 75 (10) 495; Johansson, S., Letokhov, V., 2003. Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (1) 01110-1; Johansson, S., Letokhov, V., 2004. A&A 428, 497]. The lines should have a subDoppler spectral width of 30-100 MHz, depending on the geometry of the lasing volume. To make measurements with a spectral resolution of R > 10(7) and an angular resolution better than 0.1 '', we suggest the use of the Brown-Twiss-Townes optical heterodyne intensity correlation interferometry. The estimates made of the SIN ratio for the optical heterodyne astrophysical laser experiment imply that it is feasible.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

stars : individual : eta

techniques : interferometric

resolution

instrumentation : high angular

atomic processes

line : profiles

Carinae

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)