Asynchronous Performance of Polyphase Slitted Rotor Reluctance Machine

The asynchronous performance of a polyphase reluctance machine with rotor provided with axial slits is investigated for the first time on the basis of conductor boundary treated as a flux line. Theoretical and experimental investigations are presented for rotors with 1) many values of pole arc/pole pitch ratio, 2) varying slot depths, 3) slots on either pole faces or slot portions or both of them, and 4) with and without terminating end rings. Their comparison with predictions leads to interesting conclusions.     

A Unified Approach to Model-Reference Adaptive Systems Part II: Application of Conventional Design Techniques

The use of linearized error equations in the design of model-reference adaptive systems developed by Part I is illustrated. Using standard control specifications on the system error (e.g., percent overshoot, rise time, etc.), a set of desired root locations on the root loci can be obtained. Then constants in the adaptive scheme can be chosen to obtain the desired root locations. Simulation results are given to illustrate the validity of the linearized error characteristic equation design procedure.     

A surge obsrved in Hα and CIV

Simultaneous Hα (MSDP at Meudon) and C IV (UVSP aboard SMM) measurements of Active Region 2701 were made on October 2, 1980. Isodensity and velocity maps were derived for both lines and superposed. A good correlation was found between Hα and C IV velocities. A surge was observed for 10 minutes. The base was located in a bright point in CIV and Hα, and escaping matter followed the same channel (“absorbing” in Hα, “emitting” in C IV). The velocity along the surge was about 80 kms.-1 in Hα and 100 km s-1 in C IV. A loop appeared in C IV. We discuss the existing models and conclude that the vertical pressure gradient was capable of driving the surge.     

The role of space techniques in FGGE

The space-based sub-system of the composite observing system, operated during the Operational Year of the Global Weather Experiment, played an indispensable role in the acquisition of data and in transmitting data from surface-based and airborne observational platforms to data-processing centres. The sub-system comprised both geostationary and near-polar orbiting meteorological satellites and special efforts were undertaken to keep the performance of the system as close as possible to that which had been anticipated during the planning stage of the Experiment.Five geostationary satellites were spaced at approximately uniform intervals around the equator. They were used primarily to derive wind vectors by measuring the displacement of clouds. The satellites also provided communication support for the Aircraft to Satellite Data Relay system, by which flight level meteorological data were automatically transmitted to ground receiving stations.Three polar orbiting satellites provided data simultaneously during the whole Operational Year. Vertical temperature soundings, clear-radiance data, sea-surface temperature and wind speed data, and total atmospheric water vapour data were produced for inclusion in the research data set of the Experiment. Two of these satellites /TIROS-N and NOAA-6/ carried a new data collection and platform location system, a basic component of the Tropical Constant Level Balloon System and the Drifting Buoy System of FGGE.     

MTI Loss with Coherent Integration of Weighted Pulses

A moving target indicator (MTI) preceding a coherent integrator causes a degradation in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This negative effect can be reduced by weighting of the MTI output pulses before the integration process. Two examples are given which show the improvement in SNR and detection probability as a result of this weighting.     

A skeptic's view of PLR effects in the magnetosphere

A critical appraisal is made of the hypothesis that power-line harmonic radiation can influence the Earth's radiation belts by triggering intense magnetospheric emissions which in turn resonantly scatter trapped electrons into the atmospheric loss cone. While such triggering may indeed occur, a combination of theoretical arguments supplemented by an indepth analysis of OGO-5 satellite data is employed to show that triggered waves comprise at best a small fraction of the total magnetospheric wave population. Previous claims to the contrary have been either based on erroneous statistical arguments or biased by the limited sample of ducted waves detectable by ground based receivers. The totality of satellite data is consistent with a predominantly natural origin for the two classes of electromagnetic waves (chorus and plasmaspheric hiss) which are known to interact strongly with energetic radiation belt electrons.     

Enzyme—Mimicking properties of silicates and other minerals

The adsorptive and/or catalytic properties of clays, silicates in general, and other minerals are well known. More recently, their probable role in prebiotic syntheses of bio-organic compounds has become a matter of record. We demonstrate that, in addition to their role in $\text{de novo}$ formation of important biomolecules, clays, micas, fibrous silicates and other minerals mimick the activities of contemporary enzymes including oxidases, esterases, phosphatases and glucosidases. The existence of such capabilities in substances likely to be represented on the surfaces of Earth-like planets may offer a challenge to the technology and design of remote life detection systems which must then distinguish between bona fide biological chemistry and mineral-base pseudometabolism. It also raises questions about the importance of mineral surfaces in post-mortem transformations of organic metabolites in our own biosphere.     

Radio emissions from Uranus

The Voyager Planetary Radio Astronomy Experiment detected strong 40 kHz to 850 kHz radio emissions from Uranus after closest approach and somewhat weaker emissions, but none above 100 kHz before closest approach, on the dayside of Uranus. The time variations of these emissions closely match Uranus' rotation, in a period of 17.24 h, and are evidently controlled by the strength and shape of its magnetic field. Throughout the entire encounter the polarization of the emission was approximately lefthand, corresponding to extraordinary mode. The emission associated with the nightside pole was a relatively smooth continuum (free of bursts) with a Gaussian-shaped rise and fall at low frequencies, 200 kHz for example, but a Gaussian with a central dip nearly to zero lasting a little less than two hours at frequencies above 400 kHz. Half a rotation later, when Voyager was near the magnetic equator of Uranus and farthest from the nightside dipole tip, the continuum emission was absent, but very strong, narrowband impulsive bursts appeared. Voyager successfully acquired one brief (24 seconds long) record of high time resolution radio observations in the range 500 to 700 kHz. This record, which was made near closest approach, shows a hierarchy of fast variations. Several days after closest approach, at the times of bowshock crossings outbound, the continuum emissions were modulated strongly in a manner suggestive of the presence of waves in the bowshock regions.

The instrument also recorded possible Uranian electrostatic discharges, vertex early arcs occurring in sequences of more than a dozen events with approximately ten-minute period, and, as early as several days before closest approach in the frequency range below 100 kHz, very intense isolated bursts lasting tens of minutes.     

Primordial matter in the outer solar system: A study of its chemical composition from remote spectroscopic analysis

Our knowledge of the primordial matter from the objects of the outer solar system has made a considerable progress over the past years, in spite of the lack of any in situ measurements of these objects at the present time. The recent progress of ground-based instrumentation and the launch of the two Voyager fly-by missions have provided a huge amount of new informations about the origin and the evolution of the primitive Solar System objects.The most significant discoveries concerning the atmospheres of the Giant Planets can be summarized as follows: (1) there does not seem to be any differentiation in the internal structure of Jupiter during the planet's history; thus, the H₂/He ratio measured on Jupiter seems to be representative of the H/He ratio of the Primordial Nebula; (2) there is some evidence for a helium differentiation, relative to hydrogen, in Saturn's interior; (3) there seems to be a carbon enrichment on both Jupiter and Saturn by a factor about 2; this result is consistent with a model in which the planetary core is formed first, and the atmosphere accreted by this core in a second stage; (4) the D/H ratio measured on Jupiter should be representative of the D/H value in the Primordial Nebula, 4.5 billion years ago; this value is 2 to 5 times larger than the mean value measured in the local interstellar medium now; (5) Titan's atmosphere is dominated by nitrogen and contains traces of organic and prebiotic molecules (HCN, C₂N₂, HC₃N); the chemical composition of Titan's atmosphere could be favorable for the early stages of life development.The small bodies of the Solar System — asteroïds and comets — are still very poorly known. However they contain a key information about the physical and chemical properties of dust in the Primordial Nebula and the interstellar medium. With the launch of expected fly-by missions towards Comet Halley and, possibly, towards asteroïds, we may hope to know a new development of our understanding of these objects, comparable to the progress we have known on the Giant Planets over the past ten years.     

The Onset of Long Term Modulation in the Heliosphere in Cycle 23

The combination of Voyager 1 (77.9 AU, 34.4° N) and Voyager 2 (61.2 AU, 24.5° S) at moderate heliolatitudes in the distant heliosphere and Ulysses with its unique latitudinal surveys in the inner heliosphere along with IMP 8 and other satellites at 1 AU constitutes a network of observatories that are ideally suited to study cosmic rays over the solar minimum of cycle 22 and the onset of solar activity and the long term cosmic ray modulation of cycle 23. Through 2000.7 there have been three well-defined step decreases in the cosmic ray intensity at 1 AU with the cumulative effect being in good agreement with the net decrease in cycle 21 at a comparable time in the solar cycle. Over this period the intensity changes at Ulysses are similar to those at 1 AU. In the distant heliosphere the initial decreases appear to be smaller than those at 1 AU. However the full effects of the interplanetary disturbances producing the most recent and largest step decrease in the inner heliosphere have not yet reached V-2. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.