The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 10, 1974, Page page 6, Image 6
I M Jl tt a t mm . . i vi ii naiui c; worlds explain pollution By Lisa Brown For the last four years, a UNL physics professor has been creat ing miniature universes in his laboratory, in an effort to under stand man's effect on earth's atmosphere. A physics research project head ed by James A. R. Samson has already made several major contri butions to science which were immediately applicable. The project has received finan cial support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administra tion and the National Science Foundation totaling $288,500. Simulated atmosphere With his staff of five men, including two post-doctoral asso ciates, two graduate students and one undergraduate student, Sam son mixes and manipulates his own atmospheres within vacuum con tainers and bombards them with ultra-violet and X-ray radiation similar to the radiation emitted by the sun. Special discharge lamps provide a light source which simulates radiation from the sun and reacts, with the gases in the vacuum containers. de the the his Samson has specifically signed the equipment used in project and machinists in Dhvsics lab have buiit it to specifications. He is involved in basic physics research, the result of which can be related to air pollution if correlated with information from other sources. Besides the interaction of the sun's rays on the atmosphere, research scientists must also con sider the composition of the atmosphere at different heights and the exact intensity of the sun's radiation before it Is filtered through two outer regions of the atmosphere, the ionosphere and the ozone layer. . Membranes shield earth These two gaseous membranes are the result of solar ultraviolet and X-ray bombardment of earth's atmosphere. Both shield the earth from more intense amounts of radiation. If the ozone layer were not present, more energetic ultraviolet radiation from the sun would reach the earth's surface resulting in eye burns and more skin cancer, as well as seriously affecting the whole environmental cycle of the world. Samson said that the chemical reactions which harm the iono sphere and ozone layer can be affected by noxious poison of nitric oxides from such sources as nuclear bomb explosions and auto mobile fumes. "While we know such sources of pollutants can damage the iono sphere and ozone layer," Samson said, "there is a need for a better understanding of how quickly the two zones can recover from such environmental shock. That's one apparent reason why basic re search into the interaction of radiation with atmospheric gases is important." The sun creates more ozone to form a new layer after the other is damaged, but It is impossible to calculate how long it will take for the ozone to heal. Major Achievements. Samson, who divides his time between class instruction and research, joined the University faculty in 1970. Prior to his position at UNL he was director of researcch at the Geophysical Corporation of America (GCA) in Boston. During his study of the interac tion between radiation and the atmosphere, Samson has made two major achievements beneficial to other scientific studies in related fields. The Double Ion Chamber he designed while at GCA is now used in research labs across the country. Another product of his research is a sxale for measuring energy levies. In 1964, he developed the scale for the more energetic ultraviolet light and X-rays and in 1974 he extended it to include more de grees. The United States Bureau of Standards has recently accepted his scale and made it the standard for the nation. j I i f i I '-, I - J i . Uil V- -:, . . , , aJ-H .... " :-P r 'ulrr' ;1 41 Snr... r:Tr r -t j-g-ti,;iTV.iwiH f-m-.nit-"'-- ' " introducing you? i i .M ij-r I M w t j. 7 SI John and H.Jare yQur dedicated Schlitz Reps this year. Contact these gentlemen for great service on Old Mill,.,' Schlit, end Schlit Malt kegs. They can also supply you with far out Schlitz novelties. Get to know John and R.J and keep on grdbbiri' for gusto. 1 Wfc i If f SSIfiflflHflt pi; u w w l3 W W MALT LIQUOR 1 6i LllQ 1 y Mini All social work students are invited to attend the organizational meeting of the Social Work Students Oraanization. to be held today at 7 p.m. in the Nebraska Union. Purpose of the meeting will be to elect officers and repre sentatives to committees n the School of Social Work. "Boston Tea Party", a musical satire on Amer ica, will be presented at 8 p.m. today in the Centen nial Room of the Union. Dr. Jesse L. Beau champ of the Department of Chemistry of the Cali fornia Institute of Tech nology will speak Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Hamilton 110. Dr. Beauchamp's topic will be: "Chemistry Without Solvents: New Insights Into the Proper ties and Reactions of Organic and Inorganic Ions in the Gas Phase." Refreshments will be served at 3 p.m. In Hamilton 801. Faculty, students and guests are welcome. A benefit concert, spon sored by Sunrise Com munications, will be given Friday from 7:30. p.m. to 12 pirn,' at the Union Ballroom. Featured artists 'wilh be Rick .and ' the , Rockets,. The" Sunrise "Communications 'FM Ra- dia Band and Dennis Taylor. Admission is $1 .50 Tickets are available at Dirt Cheap and the Union South Desk; . Students Interested In studying abroad next sem ester or beginning next fall as part of Academic Programs Abroad, an ex change program, should attend an Information meeting today at 3:30 p.m. in Oldfather Hall. Students Interested in studying in Germany should go to 1133 Oldfa ther. Those interested in going to Mexico should meet at luo Oldfather. tiuf;Ua, Ootouef 10, 1974 uiiiy riuUf u