A Scheme for Measuring Kinetic Coefficients

Abstract

Due to the discovery of astronomical sources of narrow-band radiation in recent years, there has been a rapid rise in the number of publications analyzing the various possible mechanisms for efficient amplification of light under natural conditions. A number of models of astrophysical objects have been proposed which (in the authors’ opinion) yield maser effects. The most systematic way of verifying the correctness of interpretations of specific sources and the reasonableness of the hypotheses advanced has been direct correlation analysis of the observed emission from outer space. The statistical analysis of a signal recorded for a long-enough time by a sensitive, low-noise apparatus will yield a classification of the radiation sources according to the type of kinetic equation. This can be understood from the discussion below. Here we shall explain why these equations must describe the population kinetics in the emitting medium. Such classifications could make it possible to accept one or another “maser” hypothesis, could suggest the actual mechanism when these hypotheses are rejected, and, finally, could be of intrinsic importance for astrophysics.