An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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1) Denoting a device or method of combining two → electromagnetic waves of different → frequency (a locally generated wave and an incoming wave) in a → nonlinear device to produce two frequencies which are equal to the → sum and → difference of the first two. The phenomenon is the counterpart of → beats produced by → sound waves. For example, heterodyning a 100-kHz and a 10-kHz signal will produce a 110-KHz and a 90-kHz signal. See also → homodyne.
2) The term heterodyne is often loosely used instead of → superheterodyne in the radio frequency field.

Heterodyne, from → hetero- + -dyne, from Gk. dynamics→ dynamics; → receiver.

An → interferometer using a technique that involves introducing a small → frequency shift between the optical frequencies of the two interfering light beams. This results in an intensity modulation at the → beat frequency of the two beams for any given point of the → interference pattern. A convenient way of introducing such a frequency shift is by means of an acousto-optic modulator.

→ heterodyne; → interferometer.

→ superheterodyne receiver.

→ heterodyne; → receiver.

→ superheterodyne technique.

→ heterodyne; → technique.

The quality or state of being → heterogeneous. See also → homogeneity, → inhomogeneity.

Noun from → heterogeneous.

1) Composed of parts of different kinds; having widely dissimilar elements or constituents. See also → homogeneous, → inhomogeneous.
2) Chemistry: A mixture that does not have uniform composition and properties throughout; composed of different substances or the same substance in different phases.

→ hetero- + -genous, → homogeneous.

Based on chemical composition, the atmosphere is divided into two broad layers: the → homosphere and the heterosphere. The heterosphere has heterogeneous chemical composition, with layered structure, of nitrogen, oxygen, helium, and hydrogen, respectively. The heterosphere begins from about 90 km from the Earth's surface and extends to space.

→ hetero-; → shere.

Methodology, Math.: Pertaining to a method of analyzing outcome through comparison to previously recognized patterns in the absence of an → algorithm for formal proof.

From L. heuristicus (from Gk. heuretikos "inventive," related to heuriskein "to find," from heur-) + -isticus, → -ic.

Yâftik, from yâft past tense of yâftan, yâb- "to → find" + -ik, → -ic.

A prefix meaning → six. → hexagon.

→ six.

A six-sided → polygon.

→ hexa-; → -gon;.

A → chemically peculiar star of late → B-types. The most distinctive features of HgMn stars are extreme atmospheric overabundance of Hg (up to 5 dex) and of Mn (up to 3 dex). The origin of abundance anomalies observed in late B-type stars with HgMn peculiarity is still poorly understood. More than two thirds of the HgMn stars are known to belong to spectroscopic binaries with a preference of orbital periods ranging from 3 to 20 days (Hurbig et al., 2012, arXiv:1208.2910).

Hg, → mercury; Mn, → manganese; → star. mercury-manganese

A list of 100 compact groups of galaxies that were identified by a systematic search of the → Palomar Observatory Sky Survey red prints. Each group contains four or more galaxies, has an estimated mean surface brightness brighter than 26.0 magnitude per arcsec² and satisfies an isolation criterion.

Hickson, Paul, 1982, ApJ 255, 382; → compact; → group.

Being out of sight; concealed.

From M.E., from O.E. hydan, from W.Gmc. *khuthjanan, from PIE *keudh- (cf. Gk. keuthein "to hide, conceal"), from base *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal."

Penhân "hidden," from Mid.Pers. pad nihân, from pad "to, at, for, in" (from O.Pers. paity; Av. paiti "to, toward, in, at;" cf. Skt. práti; Gk. poti) + nihân "concealment, secrecy, hiding place" (Mod.Pers. nahân), from Proto-Iranian *ni-dāna-, from ni- "down; into," → ni- (PIE), + dā- "to put; to establish; to give" (dadâiti "he gives;" cf. Skt. dadâti "he gives;" Gk. didomi "I give;" L. do "I give;" PIE base *do- "to give").

Same as → missing mass, → non-luminous matter, or → dark matter.

→ hidden; → mass.

A theory based on the hypothesis that the discrepancies with respect to classical reality found in → quantum mechanics stem from our lack of knowledge about the observed system (→ EPR paradox). According to this hypothesis, the system should be described by additional quantum parameters, of still unknown nature, but different from position, velocity, spin, etc. The hidden variable theory has been ruled out by the violation of → Bell's inequality for all theories with local property, as suggested by the → Aspect experiment.

→ hidden; → variable.

Of, belonging to, or characteristic of a hierarchy. → hierarchical clustering; → hierarchical cosmology; → hierarchical multiple system; → hierarchical structure formation.

→ hierarchy; → -al.

A model in which a system of self-gravitating particles will gradually aggregate into larger and larger gravitationally bound groups and clusters.

→ hierarchical; → clustering.

A cosmology characterized by clustering of galaxy clusters in increasingly larger systems.

→ hierarchical; → cosmology.

A → multiple star system in which the stars can be divided into two groups, each of which traverses a larger orbit around the system's center of mass. Each of these smaller groups must also be hierarchical, which means that they must be divided into smaller subgroups which themselves are hierarchical, and so on. Hierarchical multiple systems have long-term dynamical stability.

→ hierarchical; → multiple; → system.

A cosmological → structure formation model in which the smallest gravitationally bound structures (→ quasars and galaxies) form first, followed by → groups, → galaxy clusters, and → superclusters of galaxies.

→ hierarchical; → structure; → formation.