New absolute spectroscopic measurement of the solar equatorial rotation rate

✍ Scribed by J. L. Snider

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 544 KB
• Volume: 84
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0038-0938
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00157470

✦ Synopsis

We have used an atomic-beam resonance-scattering technique applied to the 7699,~ solar potassium absorption line to make an absolute spectroscopic determination of the solar equatorial rotation rate. To our knowledge this is a new method which has not previously been used for studying solar rotation. Our measurements were made during 1979-82, initially with a permanent apparatus at Oberlin College and more recently with a portable apparatus installed at the Snow Telescope on Mt. Wilson. After carefully allowing for possible systematic errors, we conclude that the solar sidereal equatorial rotation rate is 13.8 _+ 0.3 deg day ~ and that it has not varied significantly over the period of our observations.