Relativistic proton production at the Sun in the 20 January 2005 solar event

Based on the concept of multiple acceleration of solar energetic particles (SEP) we analyzed the super-event of 20 January 2005 by the data of ground level, balloon and spacecraft observations. The main characteristics of relativistic solar protons (energy spectra, anisotropy directions and pitch-angle distributions) are derived and their dynamics during the event is studied. It is shown that the flux of relativistic solar protons may consist of two distinct components, the so-called prompt and delayed ones. Within a two-source model of particle generation, one of which is associated with an expanding magnetic loop, we solved the transport equation in energy phase space, including adiabatic losses simultaneously with the stochastic acceleration process, and calculate the expected spectra of the delayed component at the source. The confrontation of experimental spectra with theoretical ones shows that the delayed component may be correctly described by stochastic acceleration, but not the prompt component. The required acceleration efficiencies turned out to be rather high, so that, for this particular event, adiabatic cooling is practically negligible. Our results provide a new support to the existence of two populations of relativistic solar protons in some SEP events.     

Concurrent image-based visual servoing with adaptive zooming for non-cooperative rendezvous maneuvers

An image-based servo controller for the guidance of a spacecraft during non-cooperative rendezvous is presented in this paper. The controller directly utilizes the visual features from image frames of a target spacecraft for computing both attitude and orbital maneuvers concurrently. The utilization of adaptive optics, such as zooming cameras, is also addressed through developing an invariant-image servo controller. The controller allows for performing rendezvous maneuvers independently from the adjustments of the camera focal length, improving the performance and versatility of maneuvers. The stability of the proposed control scheme is proven analytically in the invariant space, and its viability is explored through numerical simulations.     

Coronal mass ejections acceleration problem

A statistical study of acceleration and its error of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed by the Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) is performed. A total of 5594 CMEs events have been analyzed by using a least-square method and using the error in the height measures. We verify that slower CMEs (velocities in the interval from 200 to 500 km s⁻¹) tend to have a positive acceleration (about 1 m s⁻²) at heights above 5 solar radii, while less than 10% CMEs show an average negative acceleration (about −2.2 m s⁻²) as they propagate from 5 to 30 solar radii. For most individual CMEs one can not say if they are accelerated or decelerated, only for 8% of all observed CMEs events one can extract the sign of the acceleration in the 5–30 solar radii.     

Role of Thermal Stresses in Degradation of High Power Laser Diodes

Catastrophic degradation of high power laser diodes is due to the generation of extended defects inside the active parts of the laser structure during the laser operation. The mechanism driving the degradation is strongly re- lated to the existence of localized thermal stresses generated during the laser operation. These thermal stresses can overcome the yield strength of the materials forming the active part of the laser diode. Different factors contribute to reduce the laser power threshold for degradation. Among them the thermal transport across the laser structure constitutes a critical issue for the reliability of the device.     

Fundamental parameters of low mass X-ray binaries II: X-ray persistent systems

The determination of fundamental parameters in X-ray luminous (persistent) X-ray binaries has been classically hampered by the large optical luminosity of the accretion disc. New methods, based on irradiation of the donor star and burst oscillations, provide the opportunity to derive dynamical information and mass constraints in many persistent systems for the first time. These techniques are here reviewed and the latest results presented.     

Association of time structures of solar bursts at millimetric and at metric waves

Due to the lack of simultaneous high sensitivity/time resolution observations at mm- cm-λ and m-λ a program on such investigations has been carried out with data obtained by INPE at Itapetinga and by the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste. Preliminary results obtained by comparing mm-wave burst structures with 408, 327 and 237 MHz indicate that i) for majority of major time structures (time scales of the order of 1 sec) observed at 22 GHz bursts, corresponding type III bursts have been observed at 237 MHz, however ii) start times at mm-λ and m-λ are not often coincident at two wavelengths. These observations favour the hypothesis of (a) time dependent acceleration of energetic electrons and (b) burst emission is the response to a multiple injection of energetic electrons.     

Basic space sciences: The Latin American experience

The paper reports on the extent basic space science is carried in Latin America and outlines the steps that may be taken to improve the situation.     

The system of β Lyrae

The observational information that is available and our present knowledge on the system of Lyrae are presented with emphasis on the problems posed by the object.Member of the Carrera del Investigador Cientifico, CONICET, Argentina.     

Identification of morphological biosignatures in Martian analogue field specimens using in situ planetary instrumentation

We have investigated how morphological biosignatures (i.e., features related to life) might be identified with an array of viable instruments within the framework of robotic planetary surface operations at Mars. This is the first time such an integrated lab-based study has been conducted that incorporates space-qualified instrumentation designed for combined in situ imaging, analysis, and geotechnics (sampling). Specimens were selected on the basis of feature morphology, scale, and analogy to Mars rocks. Two types of morphological criteria were considered: potential signatures of extinct life (fossilized microbial filaments) and of extant life (crypto-chasmoendolithic microorganisms). The materials originated from a variety of topical martian analogue localities on Earth, including impact craters, high-latitude deserts, and hydrothermal deposits. Our in situ payload included a stereo camera, microscope, M?ssbauer spectrometer, and sampling device (all space-qualified units from Beagle 2), and an array of commercial instruments, including a multi-spectral imager, an X-ray spectrometer (calibrated to the Beagle 2 instrument), a micro-Raman spectrometer, and a bespoke (custom-designed) X-ray diffractometer. All experiments were conducted within the engineering constraints of in situ operations to generate realistic data and address the practical challenges of measurement. Our results demonstrate the importance of an integrated approach for this type of work. Each technique made a proportionate contribution to the overall effectiveness of our "pseudopayload" for biogenic assessment of samples yet highlighted a number of limitations of current space instrument technology for in situ astrobiology.     

Swan Observations of the Solar Wind Latitude Distribution and its Evolution Since Launch

SWAN is the first space instrument dedicated to the monitoring of the latitude distribution of the solar wind by the Lyman alpha method. The distribution of interstellar H atoms in the solar system is determined by their destruction during ionization charge-exchange with solar wind protons. Maps of sky Ly-α emission have been recorded regularly since launch. The upwind maximum emission region deviates strongly from the pattern that would be expected from a solar wind that is constant with latitude. It is divided in two lobes by a depression aligned with the solar equatorial plane, called the Lyman-alpha groove, due to enhanced ionization along the neutral sheet where the slow and dense solar wind is concentrated. The groove (or the anisotropy) is more pronounced in 1997 than in 1996, but it then decreases between 1997 and 1998. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.