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NASA NTRS1985

Theoretical model of the solar corona during sunspot minimum. II - Dynamic approximation

The theoretical quasi-static model of the solar corona during sunspot minimum developed in an earlier paper (Osherovich et al., 1984) is extended to include a quasi-radial outflow. The requirement imposed in the above paper on a plasma flow is relaxed. The dynamic equation derived for the combination of a dipole-like and a radial field is used to calculate the electric current density around the sun in the region 1.5-5 solar radii. Comparison with the current density given by the quasi-static model shows that the outflow decreases the current density only slightly in the dynamic case. The dynamic coronal model with a magnetic quadrupole field is also considered, in relation to the north-south asymmetry in the solar corona.

Osherovich, V. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The global distribution and variability of stratospheric constituents measured by LIMS

The purpose of the Nimbus 7 LIMS experiment was to sound the composition and structure of the upper atmosphere and provide data for study of photochemistry, radiation, and dynamics processes. Vertical profiles were measured of temperature and ozone (O3) over the 10-km to 65-km range and water vapor, nitrogen dioxide, and nitric acid over the 10-km to 50-km range. Latitude coverage extended from 64 deg S to 84 deg N. Several general features of the atmosphere have emerged from data analyzes thus far. Nitrogen dioxide exhibits rapid latitudinal variations in winter and shows hemispheric asymmetry with generally higher vertical column amount in the summer hemisphere. HNO3 data show that this gas is highly variable with altitude, latitude, and season. Smallest mixing ratios occur in the tropics, and the largest values occur in the high latitude winter hemisphere. The results show that O3, NO2, and HNO3 are strongly affected during a stratospheric warming.

Russell, J. M., III↗

NASA NTRS1984

Thermal modeling of Halley's Comet

The comet thermal model of Weissman and Kieffer is used to calculate gas production rates and other parameters for the 1986 perihelion passages of Halley's Comet. Gas production estimates are very close to revised pre-perihelion estimates by Newburn based on 1910 observations of Halley; the increase in observed gas production post-perihelion may be explained by a variety of factors. The energy contribution from multiply scattered sunlight and thermal emission by coma dust increases the total energy reaching the Halley nucleus at perihelion by a factor of 2.4. The high obliquity of the Halley nucleus found by Sekanina and Larson may help to explain the asymmetry in Halley's gas production rates around perihelion.

Weissman, P. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The shadow world of superstring theories

Some possible astrophysical and cosmological implications of 'shadow matter', a form of matter which only interacts gravitationally with ordinary matter and which may or may not be identical in its properties to ordinary matter, are considered. The possible existence, amount, and location of shadow matter in the solar system are discussed, and the significance of shadow matter for primordial nucleosynthesis, macroscopic asymmetry, baryogenesis, double-bubble inflation, and asymmetric microphysics is addressed. Massive shadow states are discussed.

Kolb, E. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Satellites of Saturn - Optical properties

Spacecraft and ground-based optical, radio and spectrophotometric data on the Saturn satellites are reviewed for clues as to the composition and microstructures of the objects. Minas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione and Rhea have similar photometric phase integrals, with some diversion exhibited by Rhea. Hyperion is nearly the same color as Iapetus, which displays an overall hemispherical optical asymmetry. Water ice has been observed on many of the satellites and on small, cratered objects within the rings. The frost layers are more extensive than those detected on Jovian satellites. Titan has a methane atmosphere. Finally, Phoebe is suspected of being a captured, asteroidal body.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The galactic gamma-ray distribution - Implications for galactic structure and the radial cosmic-ray gradient

The radial distribution of gamma ray emissivity in the Galaxy was derived from flux longitude profiles, using both the final SAS-2 results and the recently corrected COS-B results and analyzing the northern and southern galactic regions separately. The recent CO surveys of the Southern Hemisphere were used in conjunction with the Northern Hemisphere data, to derive the radial distribution of cosmic rays on both sides of the galactic plane. In addition to the 5 kpc ring, there is evidence from the radial asymmetry for spiral features which are consistent with those derived from the distribution of bright H II regions. Positive evidence was also found for a strong increase in the cosmic ray flux in the inner Galaxy, particularly in the 5 kpc region in both halves of the plane.

Harding, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Control of solidification boundary in continuous casting by asymmetric cooling and mold offset

A solution, developed to obtain solidification-interface shapes for complex situations in which both the ingot cooling and mold geometry are asymmetric, is analyzed. The effect of mold offsett and of unequal ingot side temperatures on the interface shapes is illustrated in graphs. The results of the analysis show how the solidification interface in continuous casting can be controlled by asymmetries in both mold geometry and cooling of the ingot sides.

Siegel, R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Test particle modeling of wave-induced energetic electron precipitation

A test particle computer model of the precipitation of radiation belt electrons is extended to compute the dynamic energy spectrum of transient electron fluxes induced by short-duration VLF wave packets traveling along the geomagnetic field lines. The model is adapted to estimate the count rate and associated spectrum of precipitated electrons that would be observed by satellite-based particle detectors with given geometric factor and orientation with respect to the magnetic field. A constant-frequency wave pulse and a lightning-induced whistler wave packet are used as examples of the stimulating wave signals. The effects of asymmetry of particle mirror heights in the two hemispheres and the atmospheric backscatter of loss cone particles on the computed precipitated fluxes are discussed.

Chang, H. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Trajectories of charged dust grains in the cometary environment

Using a simple model of the particles and fields environment of a comet, the trajectories of the smallest (micron- and submicron-sized) dust grains that are expected to be released from a cometary nucleus are calculated. It is shown that electromagnetic forces play a crucial role in the dynamics of these particles. The present calculations indicate not only the asymmetry of the sunward dust envelopes that have been suggested earlier by other authors, but they also indicate the possible existence of wavy dust features far down the tail, reminiscent of the peculiar wavy dust feature observed in the dust tail of Comet Ikeya-Seki 1965f. The importance of these findings in studying the lower end of the cometary dust mass spectrum during the forthcoming fly-by missions to Comet Halley is underscored.

Horanyi, M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Gravity receptors - An ultrastructural basis for peripheral sensory processing

The present ultrastructural study of serial sections has shown that type II hair cells of the anterior part of the utricular macula are integrated into the afferent neural circuitry of type I cells, which are arranged in clusters. Additionally, there exists a complex system of intramacularly originating efferent-type nerve fibers and terminals. The findings, taken together, suggest that on morphological grounds, complex processing of sensory information occurs in gravity receptors. Asymmetry of such a complex system may contribute to motion and space-motion sickness.

Ross, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Gravity-induced asymmetric distribution of a plant growth hormone

Dolk (1936) demonstrated that gravistimulation induced an asymmetric distribution of auxin in a horizontally-placed shoot. An attempt is made to determine where and how that asymmetry arises, and to demonstrate that the endogenous auxin, indole-3-acetic acid, becomes asymmetrically distributed in the cortical cells of the Zea mays mesocotyl during 3 min of geostimulation. Further, indole-3-acetic acid derived by hydrolysis of an applied transport form of the hormone, indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol, becomes asymmetrically distributed within 15 min of geostimulus time. From these and prior data is developed a working theory that the gravitational stimulus induces a selective leakage, or secretion, of the hormone from the vascular tissue to the cortical cells of the mesocotyl.

Bandurski, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Tissue densities in developing avian embryos

The density changes in the components of the incubated egg, the embryo, and the embryo's body parts were measured in the course of 21 days of incubation. In the first two-thirds of the incubation period there is a sequence of increasing density among egg contents: amniotic fluid, embryo, yolk, and albumin. As a result, the embryo is located at the bottom of the amniotic fluid, but at the top of the albumin. This position provides the embryo with mechanical protection and a proximity to the egg's air cell. The observed density changes and the asymmetry of these changes among various body parts of the embryo suggest a functional relationship. The density distributions among the body parts are particularly important in gravitational investigations of embryogenesis since they will produce forces tending to dislocate parts of the embryo.

Smith, A. H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Calculating Directivities of Planar-Array Antenna Feeds

Design of planar-array antennas and antenna feeds aided by new approach to calculation of array directivity. Technique takes into account polarizations, asymmetries in element patterns, nonuniform element spacings, and arbitrary excitations. Gives numerical results faster than previous integration methods, and results agree with those obtained by older methods.

Rahmat-Samii, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Particle phase function measurements by a new Fiber Array Nephelometer: FAN 1

A fiber array polar nephelometer of advanced design, the FAN I is capable of in-situ phase function measurements of scattered light from man-made or natural atmospheric particles. The scattered light is measured at 100 different angles throughout 360 degrees, thus providing a potential measurement of the asymmetry of irregularly shaped particles. Phase functions can be measured at 10 to 100 Hz rates and the range of measurable single particle sizes is from 5 micron m to as large as 8mm. For particles smaller than 5 micro m the ensemble average can be measured. The FAN I is microprocessor controlled and the data may be stored on floppy disk or printed out in tabular and/or graphical form. The optical head may be separated from the computer system for operation in field or adverse conditions. Examples of laboratory measured scattering phase functions obtained with the FAN I for spherical particles is given to illustrate its measurement capabilities.

Farmer, W. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Carbon films grown from plasma on III-V semiconductors

Dielectric carbon films were grown on n- and p-type GaAs and InP substrates using plasmas generated at 30 KHz from gaseous hydrocarbons. The effect of gas source, flow rate, and power on film growth were investigated. Methane and n-butane gases were utilized. The flow rate and power ranged from 30 to 50 sccm and 25 to 300 W, respectively. AES measurements show only carbon to be present in the films. The relative Ar ion sputtering rate (3 KeV) of carbon depends on the ratio power/pressure. In addition, the degree of asymmetry associated with the carbon-semiconductor interface is approximately power-independent. SIMS spectra indicate different H-C bonding configurations to be present in the films. Band gaps as high as 3.05 eV are obtained from optical absorption studies.

Pouch, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Temperature Structure of the 80 Km to 120 Km Region

Between 80 and 120 km the CIRA 1972 model is based heavily on NASA Meteorological Sounding Rocket Program (MSRP) data collected prior to 1967. Since about 1970 an abundance of E-region (100-130 km) temperature data from the incoherent scatter facilities at Arecibo, Millstone Hill, and St. Santin have also become available. The present study examines the temperature structure of the 80 to 120 km region given considerable additional MSRP rocket data, thus providing better seasonal, latitudinal, and longitudinal coverage in the 80 to 100 km region, and a combination of incoherent scatter and rocket data in the 100 to 120 km region which allows a much improved delineation of lower thermosphere temperature structue. Although some individual station comparisons indicate measurable asymmetries in longitude and latitude, data are still insufficient to separate these effects. Specific recommendations of the new CIRA are given.

Forbes, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Optical and UV spectroscopy of the peculiar RS CVn system, RT Lacertae

Spectra in the H-alpha and H-beta regions of the peculiar double-lined RS CVn binary, RT Lacertae, were obtained in the fall of 1984. Limited International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) long wavelength low and high resolution spectra were obtained concurrently. The ground based spectra have shown an asymmetry with orbital phase in the H-alpha profile. The H-beta profiles were consistent with the same effect. One hemisphere showed excess emission and the other excess absorption, with a broad Gaussian emission component superposed upon the excess H-alpha line. An improved radial velocity curve, giving a better determined mass ratio and geometry was derived. This combined with the radii implied by the rotational broadening of the spectra, showed one component to be 80 to 90% filling the equilibrium Roche surface. The two-faced nature is, therfore, very likely due to mass transfer from the contact component impacting upon its companion. Low resolution ultraviolet data showed that the supposed cooler component is bluer than its companion. High resolution ultraviolet data taken during secondary eclipse showed Mg II emission strength which decreased more slowly than the area visible. The phase behavior of the low resolution data support the former situation, indicating traditional chromospheric activity.

Huenemoerder, D. P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Theory of wing rock

A theory is developed for predicting wing rock characteristics. From available data, it can be concluded that wing rock is triggered by flow asymmetries, developed by negative or weakly positive roll damping, and sustained by nonlinear aerodynamic roll damping. A new nonlinear aerodynamic model that includes all essential aerodynamic nonlinearities is developed. The Beecham-Titchener method is applied to obtain approximate analytic solutions for the amplitude and frequency of the limit cycle based on the three degree-of-freedom equations of motion. An iterative scheme is developed to calculate the average aerodynamic derivatives and dynamic characteristics at limit cycle conditions. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is obtained.

Hsu, C. H.↗