Revised upper limit on the internal magnetic moment of Venus

Over four Venus years of low altitude nightside PVO magnetometer observations are used to establish a new upper limit for the magnetic moment of Venus. Improvements over previous studies include data coverage and new instrument calibration information. The upper limit on an internal dipole moment is determined to be 8.4 × 10¹⁰ T m³.     

Changes in plant medium composition after a spaceflight experiment: Potassium levels are of special interest

We present results on the analysis of 100 mL medium samples extracted from sterilized foam (Smithers-Oasis, Kent OH) used to support the growth of a representative dicotyledon (Haplopappus gracilis) and a representative monocotyledon (Hemerocallis cv Autumn Blaze) in NASA’s Plant Growth Unit (PGU) during a 5-day Space Shuttle flight and ground experiments. At recovery, the media remaining within replicate (n = 5) foam blocks (for both the spaceflight and ground experiments) were extracted under vacuum, filtered and subjected to elemental analyses. A unique aspect of this experiment was that all plants were either aseptically-generated tissue culture propagated plantlets or aseptic seedling clones. The design of the PGU facilitated the maintenance of asepsis throughout the mission (confirmed by post-flight microbial sampling) and thus any possible impact of microorganisms on medium composition was eliminated. Concentration levels of some elements remained the same, while some decreased and others increased. There was a significant two-fold difference between the final concentrations of potassium when the Earth-based and microgravity experiments were contrasted.     

Photolytic behaviour of methane at Lyman-α and 248 nm: Studies in the frame of a simulation program of Titan’s atmosphere (S.E.T.U.P.)

This paper first describes briefly some of the forefront global simulations of Titan’s atmosphere that have been carried out up to now. In these experiments, an initial gaseous mixture of N₂/CH₄ is submitted to a single energy source and the retrieved gas and/or solid phase(s) is/are analyzed by different techniques.     

Electromagnetic waves observed by Venus Express at periapsis: Detection and analysis techniques

The magnetometer on Venus Express was designed to be able to obtain 128 Hz samples of the magnetic field from two sensors in a gradiometer configuration. This mode is used around periapsis to determine whether the signals reported at low altitudes near 100 Hz, had the properties of electromagnetic waves generated by electric discharges in the Venus atmosphere. The lack of a magnetic cleanliness program and the shortness of the magnetometer boom make this a challenging measurement. Fortunately the signals are sufficiently strong that they can be easily resolved with rather straightforward analysis techniques.     

On the electrodynamics of counter stream in pulsar’s inner annular cap region

The electric properties of pulsar’s inner annular gap are explored in this paper. Under two main assumptions, (1) the pulsar is alive, (2) the total charge of pulsar should not vary with time, the condition for the acceleration of negative particle in the annular region is derived. The acceleration condition is j₋ ? 0.5j₊, i.e., the current carried by negative particles is greater than or equal to 0.5 times of the current carried by positive particles. This condition holds even when the backward flow of positive particles exists in the annular region. It is noted that the outflow of negative particles offers good opportunities to understand the current closure problem of pulsar as well as wide radiation beam of pulsar observed at high energy band.     

Amorphous Silicon Electronic Devices and their Applications

Hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) devices first made a significant impact in photovoltaic application, 70% of the photovoltaic solar cells produced in Japan in 1984 were a-Si:H. More recently, thin film transistor (TFT) and sensor devices have been developed for consumer and business products. The ability to produce large area uniform films of a-Si:H makes the application of TFTs and sensors well suited for input and output imaging devices such as image scanners, display and printers. This paper reviews the operation, material issues and physics of a-Si:H TFTs and sensors. The circuit and technology issues in large area systems incorporating these devices are described.     

Astrophysical implications of higher-dimensional gravity

We review the implications of modern higher-dimensional theories of gravity for astrophysics and cosmology. In particular, we discuss the latest developments of STM theory in connection with dark matter, particle dynamics and the cosmological constant, as well as related aspects of quantum theory. There are also more immediate tests of extra dimensions, notably involving perturbations of the cosmic 3K microwave background and the precession of a supercooled gyroscope in Earth orbit. We also outline some general features of embeddings, and include pictures of the big bang as viewed from a higher dimension.     

Amplitude modulation of VLF emission and absorption of cosmic noise by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pc</Emphasis>5 geomagnetic pulsations in the period of geomagnetic storms on October 30–31, 2003

Modulation of the VLF emission and riometric absorption by Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations is studied in the period of strong geomagnetic disturbances on October 30–31, 2003. Some conclusions about the regime of pitch-angular diffusion into the loss cone are made. The better coincidence of VLF emission modulation with geomagnetic pulsations in other longitude sectors is explained by the global character of excitation of the pulsations and by damping of their amplitudes at the meridian of observation of the VLF emission, which is associated with intensification of auroral electrojets.Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 42, No. 6, 2004, pp. 632–639.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Solovyev, Mullayarov, Baishev, Barkova, Samsonov.     

Structure of the earth’s magnetosheath at small fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic field direction

Spatial structure of the magnetosheath of the Earth was studied under the conditions when no sharp (more than 40° during 5 min) changes in the interplanetary magnetic field direction were observed. On the basis of 24 flights of the Interball-1 satellite through the magnetosheath, it is found that three regions differing from each other by parameters of the field and plasma can be observed in the magnetosheath under the above-indicated conditions. These regions also differ from the solar wind region before front of the Earth’s magnetospheric bow shock. Empirical distributions of parameters were studied in each region. Taking into account the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field direction on the processes in the magnetosheath, the cases of quasi-perpendicular and quasi-parallel shock waves were considered separately. The study showed that the distribution of parameters in the selected regions (in the solar wind before front of the bow shock, in the magnetosheath behind the bow shock (post-shock), in the region of the magnetosheath with minimal fluctuations in the field, and in the inner magnetosheath) differ from each other at any interplanetary magnetic field direction.     

On the problem of lunar radiation environment

In connection with projects of manned bases on the Moon it becomes topical to estimate radiation danger for their inhabitants. In this paper we describe a method of evaluation of the radiation environment on the lunar surface produced by galactic and solar cosmic rays. The roles of both primary and secondary radiations generated in the depth of the lunar soil under the action of high-energy protons and nuclei are taken into account. Calculated fluxes of particles are used in order to estimate annual averaged absorbed and equivalent local dose rates in tissues. It is established that in the lunar rock the contribution of secondary neutrons to the dose rate exceeds that of protons. The contribution of the secondary particles generated by nuclei of galactic cosmic rays to the dose rate is estimated.