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NASA NTRS1982

Magnetic field studies by Voyager 2 - Preliminary results at Saturn

Results of Voyager 2 studies of the magnetosphere and planetary magnetic field of Saturn are presented. Magnetometer studies have confirmed the results obtained by Voyager 1, indicating the magnetic field to be that of a centered dipole of moment 0.21 gauss Saturn radii-cubed, tilted approximately 0.8 deg from the rotation axis and a maximum measured field intensity of 1187 nT at latitude 17.3 deg N just before periapsis. Voyager 2 observed multiple bow shock and magnetopause crossings during its inbound and outbound trajectories, which were complementary to those of Voyager 1, including magnetopause crossing at 18.5 Saturn radii on the inbound trajectory, and at 48.4-50.9 Saturn radii outbound indicative of magnetospheric expansion due to changing solar wind conditions. Throughout the outbound passage, the magnetospheric field was observed to be relatively steady and smooth, with no evidence for any azimuthal asymmetry or magnetic anomaly. Results thus are incapable of accounting for the observed periodic modulation of the Saturnian kilometric radio emissions.

Ness, N. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Voyager 2 plasma wave observations at Saturn

The first inbound Voyager 2 crossing of Saturn's bow shock (at 31.7 Saturn radii near local noon) and the last outbound crossing (at 87.4 Saturn radii near local dawn) had similar plasma wave signatures. However, many other aspects of the plasma wave measurements differed considerably during the inbound and outbound passes, suggesting the presence of effects associated with significant north-south or noon-dawn asymmetries, or temporal variations. Within Saturn's magnetosphere, the plasma wave instrument detected electron plasma oscillations, upper hybrid resonance emissions, half-gyrofrequency harmonics, hiss and chorus, narrowband electromagnetic emissions and broadband Saturn radio noise, and noise bursts with characteristics of static. At the ring plane crossing, the plasma wave instrument also detected a large number of intense impulses that were interpreted in terms of ring particle impacts on Voyager 2.

Scarf, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Search for effect of longitudinally polarized protons on optically active amino acids

The influence of irradiation by longitudinally polarized protons on the differential decomposition of amino acid is investigated in a test of the Vester Ulbricht hypothesis that L-amino acids were produced in preference to the D isomers on the primitive earth due to the effects of parity violation in beta decay. Samples of DL-leucine were irradiated with protons of both positive and negative longitudinal polarization, then analyzed by gas chromatography. Despite advantages of higher polarization, lower velocity and higher ionization density of protons with respect to electrons, proton irradation is found to lead to no detectable asymmetries in DL-leucine degradation, even at 50% gross degradation.

Lemmon, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The earthquake cycle in subduction zones

A simplified model of a subduction zone is presented, which incorporates the mechanical asymmetry induced by the subducted slab to anchor the subducting plate during post-seismic rebound and thus throw most of the coseismic stream release into the overthrust plate. The model predicts that the trench moves with respect to the deep mantle toward the subducting plate at a velocity equal to one-half of the convergence rate. A strong extensional pulse is propagated into the overthrust plate shortly after the earthquake, and although this extension changes into compression before the next earthquake in the cycle, the period of strong extension following the earthquake may be responsible for extensional tectonic features in the back-arc region.

Melosh, H. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A new experiment to investigate the origin of optical activity using a low energy positron beam of controlled helicity

Previous experiments undertaken in search of a correlation between the origin of optical activity in biological molecules and the helicity of beta particles emitted in nuclear beta decay have not provided any useful results. A description is presented of an experiment in which a low energy polarized positron beam of controlled helicity interacts with an optically active material to form positronium in vacuum. Advantages of the current study compared to the previous experiments are mainly related to a much greater sensitivity. Initially, it will be possible to detect a helicity-dependent asymmetry in triplet positronium formation of 1 part in 10,000. Improvements to better than 1 part in 100,000 should be attainable.

Gidley, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The 1979-1980 eclipse of Zeta Aurigae. II - The emission spectrum

UV observations using the IUE are employed to discuss the strength and changes of Zeta Aur between a second contact and mid-eclipse in 1979, the relative visibility of the supergiant's chromosphere as compared with the circumstellar (CS) nebular scattering of the B star photons, and the origin of the high speed CS components observed at all orbital phases. Agreement has been found for a spectoscopic radius of 200 solar radii and a 400 pc distance, and eclipse emission lines were recorded from 1238.9-2802.7 microns. An asymmetry in the Fe III lines at 46 plus or minus 15 km/sec was seen during eclipse and is taken to indicate downflowing material. The high speed wind flowing from the K supergiant is thought to expand homogeneously until encountering the B type main sequence star, where an accretion bow shock forms, and the smaller star's passage near the K star at periastron may cause local surface heating and subsequent high speed flows.

Stencel, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1981

X-ray and optical observations of HD 155638 - A remarkably active cool star

X-ray and optical observations of the 8.5-mag star HD 155638 are reported which reveal a remarkably active chromosphere and corona for the star. The object was first observed in soft X-rays with the HEAO 1 A2 low-energy detectors, and later reobserved with the HEAO 2 IPC. X-ray fluxes of about 2 x 10 to the -11th and 3 x 10 to the -12th ergs/sq cm per sec were obtained on the two occasions, indicative of source variability over the 2.5-year period between observations. SIT spectrographs taken in July-August 1980 show evidence of Ca II H and K core emission reversals and filled-in H alpha, while spectra taken in March and July 1981 show evidence of asymmetry and variability in the Ca II reversals. The spectral data are consistent with a G8 IV-V classification, from which is inferred a distance of 35-120 pc, and an X-ray luminosity from 4 x 10 to the 29th to 4 x 10 to the 31st ergs/sec. An absence of emission lines characteristic of mass transfer in binary systems indicates the X-rays to be coronal in origin. The properties of the star are noted to be similar to those of the RS CVn binaries.

Stern, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Computation of supersonic turbulent flow past a spinning cone

Computational results are presented for supersonic laminar and turbulent flow past a pointed cone at angle of attack obtained with a parabolic Navier-Stokes marching code. The code takes into account the asymmetries in the flowfield resulting from spinning motion and computes the asymmetric shock shape, crossflow and streamwise shear, heat transfer, crossflow separation, and vortex structure. The Magnus force and moments are also computed. Comparisons are made with other analyses based on boundary-layer equations. For certain laminar flow conditions, an anomaly is discovered in the displacement thickness contribution to the Magnus force when compared with boundary-layer results. For turbulent flow, at small angles of attack, good agreement is obtained with the experimental data and other theoretical results.

Agarwal, R. K.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Plasmaspheric helium ion distribution from satellite observations of He II 304-A

High sensitivity and spatial resolution observations of the He II 304-A emission line intensity in the earth's nightglow have been carried out by the extreme ultraviolet telescope on the Apollo-Soyuz mission in July, 1975. The data, obtained over a wide range of plasmasphere parameters, are compared to the predictions of a kinetic equilibrium model of plasmaspheric ion density. Excellent agreement between observation and theory is found using as inputs a temperature model, solar flux and H(+) and O(+) number densities determined by extrapolating nearly simultaneous Atmospheric Explorer C measurements at 300 km. The observations in the Northern Hemisphere are well fit by a model having 285 He(+) ions/cu cm at 500 km independent of latitude or longitude, while those in the south require 430 He(+) ions/cu cm at the same altitude. This result is consistent with available information on the interhemispheric asymmetry of He(+) observed by a mass spectrometer on Explorer 32 and on the winter neutral helium bulge.

Chakrabarti, S.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A first look at the eclipsing cataclysmic variable Lanning 10

Photometry and spectroscopy of a new cataclysmic variable star, Lanning 10 are presented. The star is shown to be an eclipsing binary with a 7h 42m orbital period. Blue flickering is observed to occur on a time scale of 10 minutes. The light curve is analyzed with a numerical simulation of the eclipse of the accretion disk by the lobe-filling star. The disk nearly spans the Roche lobe of the white dwarf, and its surface brightness is a steep function of radius. Spectra show broad H alpha and He I 6678 A emission lines from the accretion disk and a weak absorption feature from the red dwarf. Radial velocity measurements of the H alpha emission line vary systematically with binary phase. The observed velocity amplitude 240 km/s, gives the mass function 0.46 solar masses. A phase shift of the velocity curve relative to the eclipse ephemeris indicates that a brightness asymmetry exists in the inner parts of the disk.

Horne, K.↗

NASA NTRS1982

IUE observations of R Aquarii

High- and low-dispersion observations made in 1980 are compared with earlier observations. Certain ultraviolet lines are apparently constant in the face of Mira pulsation and rotation and orbital motion of the hypothetical hot companion. Other line features and the ultraviolet continuum vary significantly but not in phase with the Mira. The Mg II doublet profile continued to show an asymmetry that is attributable to 200 km/s mass ejection. The remarkable levelness of the 1300-3100 A continuum (in ergs/sq cm s A) is confirmed, and the suggestion of a hot companion photosphere under circumstellar olivine-smoke extinction is discussed.

Johnson, H. M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Measurement and prediction of mean velocity and turbulence structure in the near wake of an airfoil

An experimental investigation of the near wake of a thin airfoil at various incidence angles is reported in this paper. The airfoil (NACA 0012 basic thickness form) was located in a wind tunnel, and the wake structure was measured using hot-wire sensors. The measurements of mean-velocity, turbulence intensity and Reynolds-stress components across the wake at several distances downstream show the complex nature of the near wake and its asymmetrical behavior. The asymmetry in the wake property, which is maintained up to a length of 1.5 chords downstream of the trailing edge of the blade, is dependent on the incidence angle of the inlet flow. The streamwise velocity defect in an asymmetric wake decays more slowly compared to that of a symmetric wake. The streamline curvature due to the blade loading has a substantial effect on the mean velocity profile as well as the turbulence structure. The numerical study of the same wake indicates that the existing turbulence closure models need some modification to account for the asymmetric characteristics of the wake.

Hah, C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

High frequency sound emission from moving point multipole sources embedded in arbitrary transversely sheared mean flows

Formulas are derived for the high frequency sound emission from moving point multipole sources embedded in an arbitrary unidirectional transversely sheared mean flow. The results are used to study the sound generated by non-axisymmetric turbulent jets. The effect of the asymmetry in both the mean flow and the source distribution is accounted for by a 'circumferential directivity factor', which is easily calculated from the solution of a second order ordinary differential equation in the general case and from an explicit formula when the mean flow is symmetric but the source location is not. This factor is used to assess the potential of employing asymmetric velocity profiles that redirect the sound upward to reduce the noise radiation below the flight path of a jet aircraft.

Goldstein, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The effects of transmitter/receiver clock time-base instability on coherent communication system performance

The purpose of this paper is to present a model and associated analysis of the deleterious effects which both transmitter and receiver data clock time-base instability have on bit-error probability. The types of time-base instability modeled and analyzed include what is commonly referred to as bit jitter (epoch jitter), bit-jitter rate (time interval jitter), and data asymmetry. The bit-error probability is determined as a function of the statistical characteristics of the time-base instability, the data-transition density, the signal-to-noise ratio in the bit-rate bandwidth and the mechanizations of both the data-bit detector and bit synchronizer. The latter is manifested through the bit synchronizer's natural frequency and loop-damping parameters. Numerical results which indicate the sensitivity of the system bit-error rate to various parameters of the model are provided.

Chie, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Oscillating dynamo in the presence of a fossil magnetic field - The solar cycle

Hydromagnetic dynamo generation of oscillating magnetic fields in the presence of an external, ambient magnetic field introduces a marked polarity asymmetry between the two halves of the magnetic cycle. The principle of oscillating dynamo interaction with external fields is developed, and a tentative application to the sun is described. In the sun a dipole moment associated with the stable fluid beneath the convection zone would produce an asymmetrical solar cycle.

Levy, E. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

High-resolution photographs in the rocket ultraviolet of the Orion Nebula

High-resolution photographs of the Orion Nebula have been obtained in UV bands centered near 1400, 1820, 2240 and 2620 by a 31-cm telescope mounted on an Astrobee sounding rocket. Reduction of the data by image processing, photometric calibration and error analysis steps was used to derive a matrix of values of specific intensity in absolute units. Data indicate that the Orion Nebula is primarily a reflection nebula in the UV, so that morphology is determined by the distribution of dust with respect to the illuminating stars. Ultraviolet color gradients for each color relative to the 1820-A image indicate reddening towards the outer parts of the nebula, as well as fairly symmetric dust scattering in the Theta 1 and Theta 2 Ori region. The color gradients also imply a monotonic change in scattering phase function asymmetry between 2620 and 1400 A. Total nebular flux in each bandpass is observed to be about 2.5 times the stellar flux from the Trapezium, indicating a high scattering efficiency.

Bohlin, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Spatially resolved reflectivities of Saturn - 3000-6000 A

Absolute reflectivity reductions are presented for spectrophotometric observations of seven spatially-resolved regions on the disk of Saturn in the 3000-6000 A region. An asymmetry is found between northern and southern hemisphere data, in the equivalent width of the CH4, 5430-A band and in the continuum reflectivity. In addition, the spectra are found not to include the 4700 A reflectivity peak found by Bergstralh et al (1981), and to exhibit general agreement with the Podolack and Danielson (1977) model. The blue and visual spectral region continuum reflectivity of a planetary atmosphere provides constraints for determining aerosol particle single-scattering albedo and vertical distribution, which are in turn important to an understanding of planetary energy balance, atmospheric dynamics, and planetary molecular absorption spectrum interpretation.

Cochran, W. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Calculation of a mirror asymmetric effect in electron scattering from chiral targets

A dynamical calculation is presented of the helicity induced in an initially unpolarized electron beam after elastic scattering from an optically active medium, a process analogous to the circular polarization induced in unpolarized light following Rayleigh scattering from chiral targets. The calculation is based on the bound helical electron model of a chiral molecule, according to which the major contribution to the helicity is provided by the perturbation of the electron bound state by the spin-orbit interaction of the bound electrons moving in the electric field of the molecular core. The net helicity acquired is found to depend directly on a molecular asymmetry factor and the square of the atomic number of the heaviest atom in an asymmetric environment. For the case of carbon, the induced helicity is on the order of 0.00001, which would account for its lack of observation in a recent experiment. Results may have implications for the origin of optical activity in biological molecules by the differential ionization of D and L isomers by beta-decay electrons.

Rich, A.↗