X-ray source populations in nearby star-forming galaxies

We present results on the X-ray source populations of nearby star-forming galaxies based on Chandra observations. First we discuss the monitoring campaigns on the Antennae and M82 galaxies. In both cases we find that the majority of the X-ray sources exhibit intensity and/or spectral variability. However, despite of this variability, we do not find any statistically significant variations of their X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs). We also find that the majority of the X-ray sources are associated with star-forming regions, although we do not always identify optical counterparts to the X-ray sources. Especially in the case of M82 we find that the most luminous sources are clustered in the central region of the galaxy. Finally, we present the first results from a study of a sample of nearby star-forming galaxies which form a starburst age sequence: although their XLFs to first order are represented by power-laws with consistent slopes, there is an indication for small variations, suggesting a change of their X-ray binary populations.     

Specification and Performance of Passive Sonar Spectral Estimators

The application of existing estimation theory to the problem of specification and performance of passive sonar spectral estimators is considered. The classification function is addressed, so that the signal is assumed to be present, and so that the energy arrival angle is known. The spatial filter considered is a line array of M equally spaced omnidirectional hydrophones. Signal and ambient noise are both zero-mean, wide-sense, stationary Gaussian random processes that differ in their spatial correlation across the face of the array. The signal is a plane wave that can be made totally spacially corrected between array elements by inserting delays between sensors to invert the signal propagation delay. The noise correlation is a function of frequency, bandwidth, element separation, and the relative time delay between sensors. Under these assumptions, the Cramer-Rao lower bound is derived for the class of unbiased estimates of signal power in a narrow frequency band at the hydrophone in the presence of correlated ambient noise of known power. The bound is examined numerically, resulting in a threshold phenomenon with M that constitutes a new design consideration. In addition, there is a striking insensitivity to realistic values of ambient noise correlation, and there are ranges in signal-to-noise ratio for which one gains more by increasing M than by increasing the bandwidth-time product. Specific processors, including a new unbiased estimator when noise power is unknown, are developed.     

Near real-time estimation of tropospheric water vapour content from ground based GNSS data and its potential contribution to weather now-casting in Austria

The importance of high resolution meteorological analysis of the atmosphere increased over the past years. A detailed analysis of the humidity field is an important precondition for a better monitoring of local and regional extreme precipitation events and for forecasts with improved spatial resolution. For this reason, the Austrian Meteorological Agency (ZAMG) is operating the spatial and temporal high resolution INCA system (Integrated Now-casting through Comprehensive Analysis) since begin of 2005. Errors in this analysis occur mainly in the areas of rapidly changing and hard to predict weather conditions or rugged topography with extreme differences in height such as the alpine area of Austria. The aim of this work is to provide GNSS based measurements of the tropospheric water vapour content with a temporal resolution of 1 h and a temporal delay of less than 1 h to assimilate these estimates into the INCA system. Additional requirement is an accuracy of better than 1 mm of the precipitable water (PW) estimates.     

Design-to-Cost Applied Within an Integrated System Model

In an environment of declining financial budgets for space projects, new approaches - such as Design-To-Cost - are being implemented to improve today's satellite design processes. Using an example of a current mission (the power subsystem of the Solar Probe spacecraft) under study at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the main part of the paper discusses an Integrated System Model (structured into a performance model, a cost model, and an effectiveness model) that is part of a model-based design process used to perform cost-effectiveness trades. A simulation tool is used during the first step to size the components of the power subsystem, and then simulate its performance during operation. The determined dimensions are transferred into an EXCEL^TM-spreadsheet and linked to the components' costs. With a cost accounting tool that combines cost estimating relationships with the Work Breakdown Structure of the power subsystem, the life-cycle cost of each alternative design concept is computed. To determine the cost-risk of the different design alternatives for each component, cost probability distributions are introduced. By performing Monte-Carlo simulations, cost sensitivities are revealed. In the next step of the trade study process, the effectiveness of the alternatives is analyzed. Having determined cost and effectiveness, estimates can be made for where the different alternatives lie in the design space. The last part of the paper identifies the main drivers for the spacecraft's performance and cost. Finally it is shown how the mission design benefited from the Integrated System Model and from the application of Design-To-Cost.     

Heavy ion action on yeast cells: inhibition of ribosomal-RNA synthesis, loss of colony forming ability and induction of mutants.

The action of heavy ions (Ar to U) accelerated to specific energies up to about 10 MeV/u (u=atomic mass unit) on different functions of yeast cells was studied. Ribosomal-RNA synthesis is inhibited according to a single-hit mechanism. Inactivation cross-sections were linearly related to the ratio of the squares of the effective charge Z* and the velocity of the ions. It is concluded from the analysis that the range of the most energetic delta-electrons is larger than previously assumed. There is no such dependence for survival and induction of mutants. In both cases cross-sections increase with the ion's specific-energy indicating an important contribution of long-range delta-electrons. The analysis shows that diploid yeast is not killed by a single-hit mechanism even by very heavy ions if the track width is too small. The relative importance of the penumbral region is even more pronounced with the more sensitive strains.     

Microorganisms and biomolecules in space environment experiment ES 029 on Spacelab-1.

Bacterial spores are proper test organisms for studying problems of space biology and exobiology. During the Spacelab 1 mission, studies on the limiting factors for survival of Bacillus subtilis spores in free space have been performed. An exposure tray on the pallet of Spacelab 1 accomodated 316 samples of dry spores for treatment with space vacuum and/or the following selected wavelengths of solar UV: > 170 nm, 220 nm, 240nm, 260nm and 280 nm. After recovery, inactivation, mutation induction, reparability, and photochemical damages in DNA and protein have been studied. The results contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of increased UV sensitivity of bacterial spores in vacuo and to a better assessment of the chance of survival of resistant forms in space and of interplanetary transfer of life.     

Review of Pi2 Models

More than half a century after the discovery of Pi2 pulsations, Pi2 research is still vigorous and evolving. Especially in the last decade, new results have provided supporting evidence for some Pi2 models, challenged earlier interpretations, and led to entirely new models. We have gone beyond the inner magnetosphere and have explored the outer magnetosphere, where Pi2 pulsations have been observed in unexpected places. The new Pi2 models cover virtually all magnetotail regions and their coupling, from the reconnection site via the lobes and plasma sheet to the ionosphere. In addition to understanding the Pi2 phenomenon in itself, it has also been important to study Pi2 pulsations in their role as transient manifestations of the coupling between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. The transient Pi2 is an integral part of the substorm phenomenon, especially during substorm onset. Key questions about the workings of magnetospheric substorms are still awaiting answers, and research on Pi2 pulsations can help with those answers. Furthermore, the role of Pi2 pulsations in association with other dynamic magnetospheric modes has been explored in the last decade. Thus, the application of Pi2 research has expanded over the years, assuring that Pi2 research will remain active in this decade and beyond. Here we review recent advances, which have given us a new understanding of Pi2 pulsations generated at various places in the magnetosphere during different magnetospheric modes. We review seven Pi2 models found in the literature and show how they are supported by observations from spacecraft and ground observatories as well as numerical simulations. The models have different degrees of maturity; while some enjoy wide acceptance, others are still speculative.     

A feasibility study for the detection of the diurnal variation of tropospheric NO2 over Tokyo from a geostationary orbit

We have conducted a feasibility study for the geostationary monitoring of the diurnal variation of tropospheric NO₂ over Tokyo. Using NO₂ fields from a chemical transport model, synthetic spectra were created by a radiative transfer model, SCIATRAN, for summer and winter cases. We then performed a Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) analysis to retrieve NO₂ slant column densities (SCDs), and after converting SCDs into vertical column densities (VCDs), we estimated the precision of the retrieved VCDs. The simulation showed that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) ? 500 is needed to detect the diurnal variation and that SNR ? 1000 is needed to observe the local minimum occurring in the early afternoon (LT13–14) in summer. In winter, the detection of the diurnal variation during LT08–15 needs SNR ? 500, and SNR ? 1000 is needed if early morning (LT07) and early evening (LT16) are included. The currently discussed sensor specification for the Japanese geostationary satellite project, GMAP-Asia, which has a horizontal resolution of 10 km and a temporal resolution of 1hr, has demonstrated the performance of a precision of several percent, which is approximately corresponding to SNR = 1000–2000 during daytime and SNR ? 500 in the morning and evening. We also discuss possible biases caused by the temperature dependence of the absorption cross section utilized in the DOAS retrieval, and the effect of uncertainties of surface albedo and clouds on the estimation of precisions.     

Radiation protective structures on the base of a case study for a manned Mars mission

Plans for interplanetary manned space missions imply significant risks arising from human's exposure to the hostile space environment. Thus the design of reliable protection systems against the ionizing cosmic radiation becomes one of the most relevant issues. In this paper the composition and magnitude of the atmospheric radiation on the planetary surface and for typical interplanetary transfer configurations have been analyzed. The investigation based on prior NASA and ESA mission results, using a manned mission to planet Mars as a case study. According to this, the time-dependent character of the consistency of cosmic radiation has been taken into account, which is justified by the interdependence of the radiation magnitude to the solar cycle. With regard to this paper it implies even solar particle events. The results have been compared to the protective character of different materials potentially usable as a habitat's structural shell and for interplanetary spacecrafts. The investigation aimed on particle energy degradation rates and reduction of secondary particle production. In this regard the physical process of absorbing effectiveness against particle radiation has been examined by analytical calculation and given scientific results, depending on thickness and molecular composition of the materials. The most suitable materials have been used for shield design proposals using different configurations, evaluating the use of aluminium, water tanks and polyethylene bricks.