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At least 595 records · Page 33

Review of results in infrared space astronomy.

Some stars, in particular, T Tauri stars, have substantial IR excesses at 10 microns. It is now understood that the long wavelength radiation comes from a shell of dust which surrounds the star and absorbs the stellar radiation. Part of the mass which is lost from supergiants is condensed into solid particles which remain in the stellar environment and provide the excess IR radiation. The most intense far-infrared object outside the solar system is the galactic center. Diffuse galactic IR objects include extended regions of gas and dust surrounding very hot young stars and regions of gas and dust surrounding cooler stars. Other subjects considered include IR galaxies and cosmic radiation.

Hoffmann, W. F.↗

Abundances of secondary elements among the ultra heavy cosmic rays: Results from HEAO-3

Observations of the abundances of elements of charge 62 or = Z or = 73 in the cosmic radiation from the HEAO-3 Heavy Nuclei Experiment (HNE) are discussed. These elements, having solar, and presumably source, abundances much less than the heavier Pt and Pb groups, are expected to be largely products of spallation. Thus they are indicators of the conditions prevailing during the propagation of cosmic rays. The abundances have changed from those reported previously due to a different data selection. This resulted in better charge resolution and in a higher mean energy for the particles. All the particles included in this paper were required to have had a cutoff rigidity R sub c 5 GV. This allowed the charge determination to be based solely on the Cerenkov measurement.

Klarmann, J.↗

Abundances of secondary elements among the ultra heavy cosmic rays: Results from HEAO-3

Observations of the abundances of elements of charge 62 or Z or = 73 in the cosmic radiation from the HEAO-3 Heavy Nuclei Experiment (HNE) are discussed. These elements, having solar, and presumably source, abundances much less than the heavier Pt and Pb groups, are expected to be largely products of spallation. Thus they are indicators of the conditions prevailing during the propagation of cosmic rays. The abundances have changed from those reported previously due to a different data selection. This results in better charge resolution and in a higher mean energy for the particles. All the particles included were required to have had a cutoff rigidity R sub c 5 GV. This allowed the charge determination to be based solely on the Cherenkov measurement.

Klarmann, J.↗

Baryon symmetric big bang cosmology

Both the quantum theory and Einsteins theory of special relativity lead to the supposition that matter and antimatter were produced in equal quantities during the big bang. It is noted that local matter/antimatter asymmetries may be reconciled with universal symmetry by assuming (1) a slight imbalance of matter over antimatter in the early universe, annihilation, and a subsequent remainder of matter; (2) localized regions of excess for one or the other type of matter as an initial condition; and (3) an extremely dense, high temperature state with zero net baryon number; i.e., matter/antimatter symmetry. Attention is given to the third assumption, which is the simplest and the most in keeping with current knowledge of the cosmos, especially as pertains the universality of 3 K background radiation. Mechanisms of galaxy formation are discussed, whereby matter and antimatter might have collided and annihilated each other, or have coexisted (and continue to coexist) at vast distances. It is pointed out that baryon symmetric big bang cosmology could probably be proved if an antinucleus could be detected in cosmic radiation.

Stecker, F. W.↗

Radiation Exposure Alters Expression of Metabolic Enzyme Genes In Mice

Most pharmaceuticals are metabolized by the liver. The health of the liver, especially the rate of its metabolic enzymes, determines the concentration of circulating drugs as well as the duration of their efficacy. Because of the importance of the liver in drug metabolism it is important to understand the effects of spaceflight on the enzymes of the liver. Exposure to cosmic radiation is one aspect of spaceflight that can be modeled in ground experiments. This study is an effort to examine the effects of adaptive mechanisms that may be triggered by early exposure to low radiation doses. Using procedures approved by the JSC Animal Care & Use Committee, C57 male mice were exposed to Cs-137 in groups: controls, low dose (50 mGy), high dose (6Gy) and a fourth group that received both radiation doses separated by 24 hours. Animals were anesthetized and sacrificed 4 hours after their last radiation exposure. Livers were removed immediately and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Tissue was homogenized, RNA extracted and purified (Absolutely RNA, Agilent). Quality of RNA samples was evaluated (Agilent Bioanalyzer 2100). Complementary DNA was prepared from high-quality RNA samples, and used to run RT-qPCR screening arrays for DNA Repair and Drug Metabolism (SuperArray, SABiosciences/Qiagen; BioRad Cfx96 qPCR System). Of 91 drug metabolism genes examined, expression of 7 was altered by at least one treatment condition. Genes that had elevated expression include those that metabolize promethazine and steroids (4-8-fold), many that reduce oxidation products, and one that reduces heavy metal exposure (greater than 200-fold). Of the 91 DNA repair and general metabolism genes examined, expression of 14 was altered by at least one treatment condition. These gene expression changes are likely homeostatic and could lead to development of new radioprotective countermeasures.

Wotring, Virginia E.↗

Remote sensing of hydrologic variables in boreal areas, phase 2

During Phase 2 airborne Gamma Radiation measurements were conducted over 48 BOREAS (boreal ecosystem atmosphere study) flight lines. Ground measurements of the soil moisture (SM) of the mineral soil and the depth and water content (WC) of the moss/humus layer were collected for calibration of the flight lines. Special attention has been given to the flight lines over, and near, the primary tower sites in the southern study area (SSA); Old Black Spruce (OBS), Old Jack Pine, Old Aspen, and Young Aspen. Multiple ground surveys (September 1993, July, August, and September 1994) show the variation of the water content of the moss/humus layers and changes in the amount of standing water near the SSA OBS tower during the period September 1993 to September 1994. All ground data, airborne estimates and locations of flight lines and ground sampling points have been submitted to BORIS (BOREAS Information System). On 8-10 September 1994 exceptionally high values of cosmic radiation were observed by the airborne gamma radiation system over the SSA. Follow up investigation has not determined the source of, or what caused, the high cosmic count rates.

Peck, Eugene L.↗

Remote sensing of hydrologic variables in boreal areas

During Phase 2 airborne Gamma Radiation measurements were conducted over 48 BOREAS flight lines. Ground measurements of the soil moisture (SM) of the mineral soil and of the depth and water content (WC) of the moss/humus layer were collected for calibration of the flight lines. Special attention has been given to the flight lines over and near the primary tower sites in the southern study area (SSA): Old Black Spruce (OBS), Old Jack Pine, Old Aspen, and Young Aspen. Multiple ground surveys (September 1993; July, August, and September 1994) show the variation of the water content of the moss/humus layers and changes in the amount of standing water near the SSA, OBS tower during the period September 1993 to September 1994. All ground data, airborne estimates and locations of flight lines and ground sampling points have been submitted to BORIS (Boreas Information System). On 8-10 September 1994 exceptionally high values of cosmic radiation were observed by the airborne gamma radiation system over the SSA. Follow-up investigation has not determined the source of, or what caused, the high cosmic count rates.

Peck, Eugene L.↗

OBSERVATION OF ANISOTROPY IN THE ARRIVAL DIRECTIONS OF GALACTIC COSMIC RAYS AT MULTIPLE ANGULAR SCALES WITH IceCube

Between 2009 May and 2010 May, the IceCube neutrino detector at the South Pole recorded 32 billion muons generated in air showers produced by cosmic rays with a median energy of 20 TeV. With a data set of this size, it is possible to probe the southern sky for per-mil anisotropy on all angular scales in the arrival direction distribution of cosmic rays. Applying a power spectrum analysis to the relative intensity map of the cosmic ray flux in the southern hemisphere, we show that the arrival direction distribution is not isotropic, but shows significant structure on several angular scales. In addition to previously reported large-scale structure in the form of a strong dipole and quadrupole, the data show small-scale structure on scales between 15{sup 0} and 30{sup 0}. The skymap exhibits several localized regions of significant excess and deficit in cosmic ray intensity. The relative intensity of the smaller-scale structures is about a factor of five weaker than that of the dipole and quadrupole structure. The most significant structure, an excess localized at (right ascension {alpha} = 122.{sup 0}4 and declination {delta} = -47.{sup 0}4), extends over at least 20{sup 0} in right ascension and has a post-trials significance of 5.3{sigma}. The origin of this anisotropy is still unknown.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Observation of small-scale anisotropy in the arrival direction distribution of TeV cosmic rays with HAWC

The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory is sensitive to gamma rays and charged cosmic rays at TeV energies. The detector is still under construction, but data acquisition with the partially deployed detector started in 2013. An analysis of the cosmic-ray arrival direction distribution based on 4.9 × 10{sup 10} events recorded between 2013 June and 2014 February shows anisotropy at the 10{sup –4} level on angular scales of about 10°. The HAWC cosmic-ray sky map exhibits three regions of significantly enhanced cosmic-ray flux; two of these regions were first reported by the Milagro experiment. A third region coincides with an excess recently reported by the ARGO-YBJ experiment. An angular power spectrum analysis of the sky shows that all terms up to ℓ = 15 contribute significantly to the excesses.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

CPRIT/Johnson Space Center, September, 2011 (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas)

JSC researchers study carcinogenesis, cancer prevention and treatment along with epidemiological (primarily retrospective and longitudinal) studies, modeling, and interactions with the environment such as radiation, nutritional, and endocrine changes related to space flight along with behaviors such as smoking. Cancer research is a major focus for human space flight due to the exposure to space radiation which consists of particles of varying charges and energies, and secondary neutrons. The JSC laboratories collaborate with investigators from the U.S. as well as our European and Japanese partners. We use accelerator facilities at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, Loma Linda University and Los Alamos National Laboratory that generate high energy charged particles and neutrons to simulate cosmic radiation and solar particle events. The research using cultured cells and animals concentrates on damage and repair from the level of DNA to organ tissues, due to exposure to simulated space radiation exposure, that contribute to the induction of leukemia and solid tumors in most major tissues such as lung, colon, liver and breast. The goal of the research is to develop a mathematical model that can predict cancer morbidity and mortality risks with sufficient accuracy for a given space mission.

Davis, Jeffrey↗

Space Weather 101

Earth has an intrinsic magnetic field. Most people know this, because they use the magnetized needle of a compass to locate the cardinal directions north, east, south, and west. Most people don’t realize however, that Earth’s magnetic field extends well out into space where it meets, combines, and interacts with the Sun’s much stronger magnetic field. The interactions happen because the Sun sends out a steady stream of mostly protons and electrons in all directions along its magnetic field -- the solar wind. The Sun also produces continuous light emissions in infrared to ultraviolet to X-ray, in addition to eruptive emissions of X-rays and bulk ionized gas, called flares and coronal mass ejections. The ionizing radiation from the Sun striking our upper atmosphere creates a layer of ionized gas that leads to our own outflowing ionized gas, called plasma, along Earth’s magnetic field lines. The Sun’s outflowing solar wind and coronal mass ejections, together with its large magnetic field, drive strong responses inside Earth’s magnetic and plasma system. Together with cosmic radiation, these processes in the space environment are called Space Weather. That term includes the responses Earth’s magnetized plasma system has to these external drivers, which cause dangerous conditions for astronauts and satellites in space, as well as to us and our systems in the atmosphere and on the ground. This lecture is intended to make you aware of the risks and lead you to a basic awareness of the processes going on in our near-Earth space environment.

Space Weather↗

The NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

The Space Radiation Element (SRE) of the Human Research Program (HRP) aims to establish a robust biospecimen and tissue sharing collection (BTSC) to improve sample collection, tracking, access, distribution, and usability to maximize scientific return with intention. Future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond will require the appropriate characterization and mitigation of the many of the health risks associated with cosmic radiation exposure. An ongoing partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) and the Office of Science for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has established the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at the DOE Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to create a space radiation ground-analog. NSRL provides the capability to use simulated space radiation with high energy ion beams for assessment of biological outcomes relevant space radiation risks as well as electronics testing for avionics safety. Current NSRL irradiation capabilities include a variety of exposure variables available for experimental needs: - Up to approximately 10 Gy/min dose-rates with a 20 × 20 cm 2 beam area. - Down to several hundred particles within a 60 × 60 cm 2 beam area. - Dose fractionation across multiple days is also possible. - For most radiobiology experiments the exposure structure, referred to as “spills”, has a 4 second repetition time where ions are extracted uniformly during a 0.3-0.4 second spill, followed by a ~3.6 second recovery time when the beam is off. - Both single or mixed-beam field irradiations are possible including a full 33-beam GCRSim and 6-beam SimGCRSim. Biological experiment capabilities: Two labs for Cell/tissue culture procedures can be conducted in two lab spaces with a separate lab available for sample processing that contains two chemical fume hoods. Sixteen fully equipped cell culture laboratories are available in the NSRL’s Long Term Support area in the Medical Building. The current vivarium configuration can support approximately 8,000 rodents/year for animal-based experiments. The NSRL area animal husbandry system includes five caging racks with 48 spaces in each coupled to a ventilation/filtration system in largest room, and two smaller rooms with conventional caging systems. Schedule: The NSRL is nominally open for experiment scheduling during three runs per year; Spring (March – May), Summer (May - June), and Fall (Sept – Nov). NASA funding is not required for biological and electronic testing experiments at the NSRL.

Jason M Weeks↗

Large numbers hypothesis. II - Electromagnetic radiation

This paper develops the theory of electromagnetic radiation in the units covariant formalism incorporating Dirac's large numbers hypothesis (LNH). A direct field-to-particle technique is used to obtain the photon propagation equation which explicitly involves the photon replication rate. This replication rate is fixed uniquely by requiring that the form of a free-photon distribution function be preserved, as required by the 2.7 K cosmic radiation. One finds that with this particular photon replication rate the units covariant formalism developed in Paper I actually predicts that the ratio of photon number to proton number in the universe varies as t to the 1/4, precisely in accord with LNH. The cosmological red-shift law is also derived and it is shown to differ considerably from the standard form of (nu)(R) - const.

Adams, P. J.↗

Radiation and Nuclear Technology in Planetary Cave Environments

Many technological and environmental challenges must be resolved to enable successful lunar habitation and exploration, and to maximize scientific return. This presentation is intended as a preliminary discussion on three such areas of interest with the intent to identify likely areas of mutual benefit for collaboration and data sharing between the space nuclear and radiological disciplines with the planetary cave community. First is the previously identified and studied possible application of lunar lava tubes or pits to reduce the solar and cosmic radiation environment burden on crew health and hardware reliability. This is an area of continued interest, and should be kept in the forefront of discussion during the selection of sites for potential exploration or long-term habitation. In theory, the prospect of using existing morphology presents an enticing opportunity to reduce the requirements on landed mass or construction while also reducing dose or fluence of harmful natural radiation. However, such discussions should also include the practical implications of relocating habitation hardware and personnel from a landing site to a subsurface location. Inherent risks associated with landing in proximity to the relevant terrain must also be considered and weighed against those imposed by the natural radiation environment. Second is a discussion on the means by which a long-term habitation module or base of operations may be powered throughout the lunar day-night cycle. Fission surface power presents an opportunity to establish round-the-clock power in any lunar surface environment, including permanently shadowed regions where solar panels cannot operate, or in any other non-polar region where solar radiation is available for no more than two weeks per four-week cycle. Among the drawbacks of fission surface power is the need to either land and co-locate a heavy shield to minimize radiological consequences to personnel or equipment, land and operate construction equipment capable of restructuring the in-situ regolith to provide appropriate shielding, or to make use of existing topology features (e.g. craters or pits) to serve as pre-formed radiation barriers. A realistic assessment of the practicality of this third option should involve the selection of candidate features from existing surveys, and assess the effectiveness of the approach using modern radiation transport methodologies. Consideration must be made for the needs to reject waste heat in the thermal power conversion process, which typically requires the use of large area radiators. Energy must be exchanged from the reactor and power conversion system to such radiators, and the impacts on thermal efficiency and secondary scatter of nuclear radiation must be considered. Further consideration should be made for the implications of placement of a power source such that it does not sacrifice valuable scientific opportunity. Placement of a reactor is likely to thereafter prevent personnel access within that feature. Third is a discussion on the use of portable radioisotope power systems (RPS) within confined spaces, both with respect to the dose effects of emitted nuclear radiation and also performance associated with emitted thermal radiation. Radioisotope power systems provide a unique capability to power objects with no reliance upon solar radiance. However, their useable power production relies upon the flow of heat from ‘hot side’ (decaying radioisotope) to ‘cold side’ (radiators emitting heat to space). In the case of a confined volume in vacuum such as a lunar lava tube, that radiated energy will absorb into the wall, which is already above the ‘cold background’ temperature of dark space, and then gradually rises in temperature. That temperature rise, and its implications on availability of useable electrical power, will depend upon factors such as enclosure volume, thermal emissivity/absorptivity, and thermal conductivity through the depth of absorbing media. The advantages of nuclear technology may prove to enable unique scientific exploration opportunities, both above the lunar surface and below. In turn, the unique advantages of lunar lava tubes or pits may present unique opportunities to enhance the application of these technologies and to mitigate the effects of radiation from both natural and technological sources. A discussion on these pairings may prove to be valuable to all, in our endeavor to explore our neighboring worlds.

Radiation↗

The relative abundances of Sn, Te, Xe, Ba and Ce

Elements with even atomic number (Z) in the interval 50 or = Z or = 58 were resolved in the cosmic radiation using the Heavy Nuclei Experiment on the HEAO-3 satellite. Their relative abundances were compared with the results expected from pure r-process material, pure s-process material, and solar system material, both with and without a modification due to possible first ionization potential effects. Such effects may be the result of the preferential acceleration, and hence enhancement in the cosmic rays, of those elements having low first ionization potentials. Measurements were found to be inconsistent with pure r-process material at the greater than 98% confidence level whether or not the first ionization potential adjustments are made.

Krombel, K. E.↗

DERIVING THE GLOBAL STRUCTURE OF THE GALACTIC MAGNETIC FIELD FROM FARADAY ROTATION MEASURES OF EXTRAGALACTIC SOURCES

We made use of the two latest sets of rotation measures (RMs) of extragalactic radio sources, namely the NRAO VLA Sky Survey rotation measures catalog and a compilation by Kronberg and Newton-McGee, to infer the global structure of the Galactic magnetic field (GMF). We have checked that these two data sets are mutually consistent. Given the existence of clear patterns in the all-sky RM distributions we considered GMF models consisting of two components: disk (spiral or ring) and halo. The parameters of these components were determined by fitting different model field geometries to the observed RMs. We found that the model consisting of a symmetric (with respect to the Galactic plane) spiral disk and antisymmetric halo fits the data best and reproduces the observed distribution of RMs over the sky very well. We confirm that ring disk models are disfavored. Our results favor small pitch angles around {approx} - 5{sup 0} and an increased vertical scale of electron distribution, in agreement with some recent studies. Based on our fits, we select two benchmark models suitable for studies of cosmic ray propagation, including cosmic rays at ultrahigh energies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Active galactic nuclei, neutrinos, and interacting cosmic rays in NGC 253 and NGC 1068

The galaxies M82, NGC 253, NGC 1068, and NGC 4945 have been detected in γ-rays by Fermi. Previously, we developed and tested a model for cosmic-ray interactions in the starburst galaxy M82. Now, we aim to explore the differences between starburst and active galactic nucleus (AGN) environments by applying our self-consistent model to the starburst galaxy NGC 253 and the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068. Assuming a constant cosmic-ray acceleration efficiency by supernova remnants with Milky Way parameters, we calculate the cosmic-ray proton and primary and secondary electron/positron populations, predict the radio and γ-ray spectra, and compare with published measurements. We find that our models easily fit the observed γ-ray spectrum for NGC 253 while constraining the cosmic-ray source spectral index and acceleration efficiency. However, we encountered difficultly modeling the observed radio data and constraining the speed of the galactic wind and the magnetic field strength, unless the gas mass is less than currently preferred values. Additionally, our starburst model consistently underestimates the observed γ-ray flux and overestimates the radio flux for NGC 1068; these issues would be resolved if the AGN is the primary source of γ-rays. We discuss the implications of these results and make predictions for the neutrino fluxes for both galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

What Does The PAMELA Antiproton Spectrum Tell Us About Dark Matter?

Measurements of the cosmic ray antiproton spectrum can be used to search for contributions from annihilating dark matter and to constrain the dark matter annihilation cross section. Depending on the assumptions made regarding cosmic ray propagation in the Galaxy, such constraints can be quite stringent. We revisit this topic, utilizing a set of propagation models fit to the cosmic ray boron, carbon, oxygen and beryllium data. We derive upper limits on the dark matter annihilation cross section and find that when the cosmic ray propagation parameters are treated as nuisance parameters (as we argue is appropriate), the resulting limits are significantly less stringent than have been previously reported. We also note (as have several previous groups) that simple GALPROP-like diffusion-reacceleration models predict a spectrum of cosmic ray antiprotons that is in good agreement with PAMELA's observations above ~ 5 GeV, but that significantly underpredict the flux at lower energies. Although the complexity of modeling cosmic ray propagation at GeV-scale energies makes it difficult to determine the origin of this discrepancy, we consider the possibility that the excess antiprotons are the result of annihilating dark matter. Suggestively, we find that this excess is best fit for m(DM) ~ 35 GeV and σ v ~ 10(−)(26) cm(3)/s (to bbar b), in good agreement with the mass and cross section previously shown to be required to generate the gamma-ray excess observed from the Galactic Center.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗