Reduction in the nuclear quadrupole resonance signal level at resonsance frequency of 30 MHz, concomitant with impact of comet fragment with Jupiter

Abstract

The qualitative observations, outlined here, describe, briefly, reductions in nuclear quadrupole resonance signal level concomitant with the impact of fragment of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter, in July, 1994. The aim of the operations, given below, was to “set” a nuclear quadrupole resonance spectrometer at the resonance frequency (30 MHz) of 35C1 nuclei in solid sodium chlorate, prior to the (predicted) impact of a comet fragment with Jupiter, and to observe if there was any effect on the nuclear quadrupole resonance signal level at the time of impact of the fragment. The Ratemeter-type N.Q.R. Spectrometer (Sullivan 1968, 1976) used here has been useful in obtaining, very simply, estimates of nuclear quadrupole resonance spin-spin relaxation times (Sullivan 1982, 1994, 1995). This type of spectrometer is simple to make, and to operate, for N.Q.R. studies; and, for such studies it is housed in an earthed, copper shielding box as it is sensitive to extraneous signals, particularly those with a radiofrequency component at the frequency of the nuclear quadrupole resonance being observed. This, latter sensitivity, was the prime consideration in carrying out the experiments. (During these experiments the shielding-cage door, facing the direction of Jupiter at the, predicted, time of fragment-impact, was open).