THERE IS NO RED SHIFT

Why is it assumed that the spectra have redshifts? The basic reason for this lies in the time-honoured assumption that the intensities of lines in astronomical sources will be similar to those in the laboratory under ordinary excitation conditions. No account is taken of a possible laser action. Thus, there is no compelling reason to believe in the redshifts if we allow the possibility of a laser action in these bodies.

The term no red shift here, of course, refers to the large red shifts claimed to occur in the spectra of quasars. Very small redshifts, z < 2X10^-3, the type encountered in galactic stars, could certainly be present in the spectra of quasars. Furthermore, it is assumed that the chemical composition of the emission region of quasars is approximately the same as that of normal stellar atmospheres. This assumption is merely a first approximation and a convenient starting point. As our knowledge of quasars improves, this assumption can be suitably modified. The situation is somewhat similar to that of Wolf-Rayet stars, for which our knowledge of their chemical composition has improved over the years but which is still far from a satisfactory state. (There are good reasons to believe that quasars, like Wolf-Rayet stars, are deficient in hydrogen).

Next Section: The strength of the emission lines is due to laser action.