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At least 289 records · Page 16

Infrared spectroscopy of Comet Kohoutek

Interferometry observations from 90-in. and 61-in. telescopes tracking the Comet Kohoutek are summarized. Laboratory reflection studies of ices potentially useful for future cometary work were conducted. The frosts studied included: H2O, CO2 NH3, H2S, CH4, NH4HS, and ammonia polysulfide. The frost spectra show remarkable changes with the temperatures, particularly in the case of hydrogen sulfide. Additional analysis found the variation in the H2S ice spectrum to be due to a phase change from a low temperature tetragonal unit cube to a higher temperature face-centered cubic structure. The spectra data indicate that if frost spectra are required for comparison with observed cometary or planetary absorption, the temperature of the frost must be matched.

Fink, U.↗

Photometry of satellite surfaces

A review is presented of basic photometric concepts as they apply to the study of the surfaces of natural satellites. The analysis of brightness variations related to changes in solar phase angle, the longitude of the satellite in its orbit about the primary, and other factors is discussed, together with the derivation of phase integrals. The method used to determine geometric albedos is outlined, and major uncertainties in determined values are considered. Photometric results obtained for satellites of Mars and Jupiter are summarized. Leading side/trailing side brightness trends characteristic of the inner satellites of these planets and lightcurve color amplitude trends are examined. Priority areas for future photometric studies are identified.

Veverka, J.↗

Faint emission features in the Mg II resonance-line wings

Data obtained with a rocket-borne echelle spectrograph are presented which indicate the presence of three faint emission features deep in the cores of the Mg II h and k resonance-line wings in the solar Fraunhofer spectrum. Results of wavelength measurements are discussed, and the relative intensities of the emission features are examined. It is tentatively suggested that the first feature be identified with the Fe II line at 2797.037 A, the second feature is probably the V II line at 2803.469 A, and the third feature may originate in Fe II emission at 2804.021 A. Possible emission mechanisms are proposed, and it is concluded that the detected features may be of potential diagnostic value for the analysis of depth variations of temperature and velocity in the lower chromosphere as well as for solar and possibly stellar spectroscopy.

Allen, M. S.↗

On the response to ocean surface currents in synthetic aperture radar imagery

The balance of wave action spectral density for a fixed wave-number is expressed in terms of a new dimensionless function, the degree of saturation, b, and is applied to an analysis of the variations of this quantity (and local spectral level) at wave-numbers large compared to that of the spectral peak, that are produced by variations in the ocean surface currents in the presence of wind input and wave breaking. Particular care is taken to provide physically based representations of wind input and loss by wave breaking and a relatively convenient equation is derived that specifies the distribution of the degree of saturation in a current field, relative to its ambient (undisturbed) background in the absence of currents. The magnitude of the variations in b depends on two parameters, U(o)/c, where U/(o) is the velocity scale of the current and c the phase speed of the surface waves at the (fixed) wave-number considered or sampled by SAR, and S = (L/lambda) (u*/c)(2), where L is the length scale of the current distribution, lambda the wavelength of the surface waves the length scale of the current distribution, lambda the wavelength of the surface waves and u* the friction velocity of the wind.

Phillips, O. M.↗

The Geopotential Research Mission - Mapping the near earth gravity and magnetic fields

The Geopotential Research Mission (GRM), NASA's low-level satellite system designed to measure the gravity and magnetic fields of the earth, and its objectives are described. The GRM will consist of two, Shuttle launched, satellite systems (300 km apart) that will operate simultaneously at a 160 km circular-polar orbit for six months. Current mission goals include mapping the global geoid to 10 cm, measuring gravity-field anomalies to 2 mgal with a spatial resolution of 100 km, detecting crustal magnetic anomalies of 100 km wavelength with 1 nT accuracy, measuring the vectors components to + or - 5 arc sec and 5 nT, and computing the main dipole or core field to 5 nT with a 2 nT/year secular variation detection. Resource analysis and exploration geology are additional applications considered.

Taylor, P. T.↗

Gain Instabilities in Photomultipliers: How Accurate are Photon Counting Measurements?

Experiments performed on five commercially available photomultiplier tubes indicate that gain instabilities can be an important source of error in photon counting measurements at the 1% level. It is shown that the error cannot be significantly reduced by standard differential measurement techniques. Analysis of time variations in the pulse height distribution is shown to be a sensitive diagnostic tool for the measurement of gain variations. Using this technique it is found that gain variations occur at counting rates as low as 100 Hz. It is argued that such errors will be present at some level in all tubes. Several calibrating schemes capable of reducing the error to below the 0.1% level are discussed.

Rosen, W. A.↗

Recurrent mass ejections observed in H-alpha and CIV

Time sequences of recurrent mass ejections have been observed during a coordinated SMY program (Sept. 1, 1980 - Sept. 23, 1980 - Oct. 2, 1980). Comparison of the temporal evolution of H-alpha and CIV brightnesses shows a weak phase lag between H-alpha and CIV maxima, in the case of homologous flares, with CIV brightness maxima preceding H-alpha maxima. The analysis of the variation of the ejection velocities is expected to lead to the determination of an energy balance. Such recurrent ejections could be due to periodic energy storage and periodic reorganization of magnetic field as envisaged to occur for flares, but at lower energy levels.

Schmieder, B.↗

Interpretation of spectral optical thickness observations of the El Chichon eruption cloud

It is pointed out that the recent El Chichon eruption has provided a unique opportunity to observe a short-term climate change event. In October 1982 and in May 1983 observation experiments were undertaken to determine the spectral optical thickness of the El Chichon eruption cloud during airborne latitudinal surveys. One of two basic objectives to the observation experiment was the conduction of direct measurements of the optical thickness for radiation and climate studies. In connection with the second objective, inferences of the physical characteristic of the volcanic cloud were to be obtained on the basis of an application of remote sensing techniques. The present paper is concerned with the second objective, taking into account questions regarding the feasibility to conduct a meaningful analysis of the variation of the aerosol size distribution with latitude on the basis of the accuracy of the measured data.

Spinhirne, J. D.↗

Finite element modelling of non-linear magnetic circuits using Cosmic NASTRAN

The general purpose Finite Element Program COSMIC NASTRAN currently has the ability to model magnetic circuits with constant permeablilities. An approach was developed which, through small modifications to the program, allows modelling of non-linear magnetic devices including soft magnetic materials, permanent magnets and coils. Use of the NASTRAN code resulted in output which can be used for subsequent mechanical analysis using a variation of the same computer model. Test problems were found to produce theoretically verifiable results.

Sheerer, T. J.↗

Neutral gas measurements of comet Halley from Vega 1

The neutral gas experiment (ING) aboard the Vega 1 spacecraft detected cometary gas within a distance of 60,000 km from the nucleus of comet Halley. A preliminary inspection of the data permits an analysis of the variation in neutral gas density. Fine structure was detected in the spatial disribution of lower-mass species.

Keppler, E.↗

Comments on 'The magnetic field of Mars - Implications from gas dynamic modeling' by C. T. Russell, J. C. Luhmann, J. R. Spreiter, and S. S. Stahara

The Russell et al. (1984) claim that gas dynamic modeling allows a determination of interplanetary and magnetosheath field configurations resembling the Mars 3 magnetic field observations during the January 21, 1972 encounter, and their proposal of a draped magnetic field pattern model for these data, are presently disputed. Extensive use is made of Martian magnetic field analyses undertaken by Dolginov between 1973 and 1984, which are held to prove the existence of an intrinsic Martian magnetic field. Russell replies that the Russell et al. analysis of the variation in the Mars 2, 3, and 5 data suggests the presence of both zero-level and sensor polarity errors in these data. The rejection of an intrinsic Martian magnetic field is accordingly reaffirmed, pending the availability of less ambiguous data.

Dolginov, Sh. SH.↗

Variability of ultraviolet emission in the carbon star TX Piscium

Multiple low-resolution IUE observations of the cool carbon star TX Psc (N0; C6, 2) permit an analysis of the variations in strength of the strongest emission lines - the Mg II line at 2800 A, the C II line at 2330 A, and certain Fe II lines. The integrated flux of the Mg II line varied by at least a factor of eight, while that of the C II line varies by at least a factor of five. The variations in Fe II may be considerably larger. The lines appear to vary together. The continuous flux in the best observed range from 2800 to 3200 A does not vary noticeably.

Johnson, Hollis R.↗

High-efficiency, deep-junction, epitaxial InP solar cells on (100) and (111)B InP substrates

We report on the development and performance of deep-junction (approximately 0.25 micron), graded-emitter-doped, n(sup +)-p InP solar cells grown by metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). A novel, diffusion-transport process for obtaining lightly-doped p-type base regions of the solar cell is described. The I-V data and external quantum-efficiency response of these cells are presented. The best active-area AMO efficiency for these deep-junction cells on (100)-oriented InP substrates is 16.8 percent, with a J(sub SC) of 31.8 mA/sq cm, a V(sub OC) of 0.843 V, and a fill-factor of 0.85. By comparison, the best cell efficiency on the (111)B-oriented InP substrates was 15.0 percent. These efficiency values for deep-junction cells are encouraging and compare favorably with performance of thin-emitter (0.03 micron) epitaxial cells as well as that of deep-emitter diffused cells. The cell performance and breakdown voltage characteristics of a batch of 20 cells on each of the orientations are presented, indicating the superior breakdown voltage properties and other characteristics of InP cells on the (111)B orientation. Spectral response, dark I-V data, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements on the InP cells are presented with an analysis on the variation in J(sub SC) and V(sub OC) of the cells. It is observed, under open-circuit conditions, that lower-V(sub OC) cells exhibit higher band-edge PL intensity for both the (100) and (111)B orientations. This anomalous behavior suggests that radiative recombination in the heavily-doped n(sup +)-InP emitter may be detrimental to achieving higher V(sub OC) in n(sup +)-p InP solar cells.

Venkatasubramanian, R.↗

Properties of a B0 I stellar wind and interstellar grains derived from Ginga observations of the binary X-ray pulsar 4U 1538-52

From measurements of the X-ray eclipse phenomena of the binary X-ray pulsar 4U 1538-52, we derive properties of the stellar wind of its B0 I companion, QV Nor, and a constraint on models of interstellar grains. Estimates of the wind density as a function of the distance from the center of QV Nor are obtained from an analysis of the variation of X-ray attenuation during an eclipse egress. A Monte Carlo computation of the absorption and scattering of X-rays in the X-ray-ionized wind accounts for approximately two-thirds of the spectrum of X-rays with energies above 4.5 keV observed during the eclipse. Our upper limit on R(sub XV) is 0.06/mag, which implies that the X-ray scattering efficiency of interstellar dust is less than expected for solid grains with a size distribution of the form n(sub g)(a) approximately a(exp -3.5) in the range from 0.005 to 0.25 microns and composed of silicate (R(sub XV) = 0.22/mag) or a silicate-graphite mixture (R(sub XV) = 0.11/mag) as derived from the calculations of Martin & Rouleau (1991). This lends support to the idea (Mathis & Whiffen 1989) that interstellar grains are 'fluffy' aggregates with an average bulk density less than that of their constitutent particles. Such aggregates would have a smaller ratio of X-ray scattering efficiency to optical extinction efficiency compared with solid grains of the same material.

Clark, George W.↗

Solar activity variations in midlatitude thermospheric meridional winds

Upper thermospheric meridional wind data at midlatitudes and for low magnetic activity are examined for solar activity variations following an analysis scheme suggested by a Coordinated Analysis of the Thermosphere workshop. Wind data from incoherent scatter, Fabry-Perot, and F2 peak heights show decreasing diurnal amplitudes with increasing solar activity during all seasons, except for Saint Santin data, which show a slight increase in summer. Equivalent winds from F2 peak height data have strong decreases in diurnal amplitude in all seasons. The coupled thermosphere ionosphere model and thermosphere ionosphere global circulation model predictions of diurnal amplitude, while differing considerably in magnitude, also show decreasing amplitudes during all seasons except summer, while the HWM90 empirical model amplitudes increase slightly with solar activity during all seasons. The diurnal mean wind trends with solar activity are fairly weak, except for Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar, which shows a shift from strong southward to near zero or northward wind with increasing activity. Model results for the mean generally fall within the band of measurements. Near midnight, most of the data also show that the typically southward winds weaken with increasing solart activity in all seasons except summer, when results are mixed. There are significant differences between the trends and between absolute values for the various data sets and models which need further investigation.

Hedin, A. E.↗

The 1988 Arctic Survey, Diurnal Study (Sunrise and Sunset) and Peak Altitude (22 km) Flights for the In Situ Detection of ClO and BrO from the NASA ER-2 Aircraft

Two critical areas of research were addressed successfully by this research. The first involves NASA ER-2 airborne observations of ClO and BrO radical destruction of ozone within the arctic vortex. The second involves the analysis of diurnal variations in ClO, to test the production and loss rates of ClO that constitutes the test for coupling reactions between the chlorine and nitrogen systems. We discuss results from this research in order.

Anderson, James G.↗