theoretical calculations of oh energy level populations under conditions r^ant to star-forming regions often yield population inversions in transitions in the fir in addition to the well known lambda doublet inversions which lead to observed oh maser action. some oh fir transitions have been observed but none have been observed to mase. the transitions which may be inverted according to theory, however, have not been studied. lines which may be inverted are at 115.14, 134.83 and 135.95 microns and are all cross-stack (f2->f1) transitions in oh. only the two longer wavelength lines are likely to be observable with iso. the main goal of the proposal is to detect for the first time fir laser emission from space with the lws/fabry-perot system in aot lws04 mode. iso is the only instrument presently available which is capable of detecting these lines.
Instrument
LWS01 , LWS04
Temporal Coverage
1996-10-08T22:01:02Z/1997-07-25T09:18:38Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the worlds first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
European Space Agency, GRAY et al., 1998, 'DETECTION OF OH FIR LASERS IN STAR-FORMING REGIONS LASER ACTION IN OH AT 134.83 AND 135.95 MICRONS', 1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-inik1y6
