Medium resolution near-infrared spectra of the host galaxies of nearby quasars

We present medium resolution near-infrared host galaxy spectra of low redshift quasars, PG 0844+349$0844+349$ (z = 0.064), PG 1226+023$1226+023$ (z = 0.158), and PG 1426+015$1426+015$ (z = 0.086). The observations were done by using the Infrared Camera and Spectrograph (IRCS) at the Subaru 8.2 m telescope. The full width at half maximum of the point spread function was about 0.3 arcsec by operations of an adaptive optics system, which can effectively resolve the quasar spectra from the host galaxy spectra. We spent up to several hours per target and developed data reduction methods to reduce the systematic noises of the telluric emissions and absorptions. From the obtained spectra, we identified absorption features of Mg I (1.503 μm), Si I (1.589 μm) and CO (6-3) (1.619 μm), and measured the velocity dispersions of PG 0844+349$0844+349$ to be 132 ± 110 km s⁻¹ and PG 1426+015$1426+015$ to be 264 ± 215 km s⁻¹. By using an _MBH–σ$M_{\text{BH}}''–''\sigma$ relation of elliptical galaxies, we derived the black hole (BH) mass of PG 0844+349$0844+349$, log(_MBH/_M⊙)=7.7±5.5$\log (M_{\text{BH}}/M_{\odot })=7.7\pm 5.5$ and PG 1426+015,log(_MBH/_M⊙)=9.0±7.5$1426+015\text{,}\log (M_{\text{BH}}/M_{\odot })=9.0\pm 7.5$. These values are consistent with the BH mass values from broad emission lines with an assumption of a virial factor of 5.5.     

Comments on "Bounds on Probability of Error in Decision Feedback Equalizers"

In the above paper1 a technique was proposed to derive an upper bound on the error probability of a decision feedback equalizer. It involves decomposition of the probability density function of residual intersymbol interference and derivation of Chebyshev-type bounds on the error functionals over the decomposed functions. In this correspondence, we demonstrate that the technique is not applicable in general. The result is not a bound in many cases.     

The impact crater as a habitat: effects of impact processing of target materials

Impact structures are a rare habitat on Earth. However, where they do occur they can potentially have an important influence on the local ecology. Some of the types of habitat created in the immediate post-impact environment are not specific to the impact phenomenon, such as hydrothermal systems and crater lakes that can be found, for instance, in post-volcanic environments, albeit with different thermal characteristics than those associated with impact. However, some of the habitats created are specifically linked to processes of impact processing. Two examples of how impact processing of target materials has created novel habitats that improve the opportunities for colonization are found in the Haughton impact structure in the Canadian High Arctic. Impact-shocked rocks have become a habitat for endolithic microorganisms, and large, impact-shattered blocks of rock are used as resting sites by avifauna. However, some materials produced by an impact, such as melt sheet rocks, can make craters more biologically depauperate than the area surrounding them. Although there are no recent craters with which to study immediate post-impact colonization, these data yield insights into generalized mechanisms of how impact processing can influence post-impact succession. Because impact events are one of a number of processes that can bring localized destruction to ecosystems, understanding the manner in which impact structures are recolonized is of ecological interest. Impact craters are a universal phenomenon on solid planetary surfaces, and so they are of potential biological relevance on other planetary surfaces, particularly Mars.     

Input-Filter Design for Switching Regulators

The interaction between the input filter and the control loop of switching regulators often results in detrimental effects, such as loop instability, transient response, and audio-signal-rejection rate, etc. A small-signal average model is derived to investigate these effects. Design constraints of an input-filter and switching-regulator system are formulated. An optimum low-pass and light-weight filter configuration is proposed.     

Radar Waveform Synthesis by Mean Square Optimization Techniques

The synthesis of the phase-modulated waveform whose ambiguity function is the optimum estimate of some desired ambiguity function is accomplished by expanding the phase modulation in an orthogonal series. The ambiguity function x (?, ?d)|2 and the value of an arbitrary cost function defined on the (?, ?d) plane are then expressed in terms of the coefficients of the orthogonal series. The optimum waveform can then be determined by solving the variational equations for the coefficients. Numerical examples are presented for the case where it is desired to synthesize a desired ambiguity function x(?, ?d) for some rectangular region of the (?, ?d) plane.     

Modeling quaternion errors in SDINS: computer frame approach

We propose new equivalent tilt error models which are applicable to the analysis of the terrestrial strapdown inertial navigation systems (SDINS), based on the quaternions. The currently available equivalent tilt error models, like the conventional Φ model of the gimbaled inertial navigation systems (GINS), are derived only by the true frame approach. The true frame approach has a computational disadvantage that it produces an error model where the attitude error equation is coupled with its position and velocity error equations. The motivation of this work is to solve this problem. As a result, two kinds of error models are derived. Among them, one is derived by the computer frame approach for practical onboard implementations. Thus, like the conventional GINS Ψ model, its attitude error equation is decoupled from the position and velocity error equations. The other is derived in order to show the relationship between the true frame approach and the computer frame approach which are applied to the quaternion-based SDINS. Thus, like the GINS δΘ model, it can be used to transform the error variables into each other which are calculated by the two different approaches     

Spacecraft formation flying for Earth-crossing object deflections using a power limited laser ablating

A formation flying strategy with an Earth-crossing object (ECO) is proposed to avoid the Earth collision. Assuming that a future conceptual spacecraft equipped with a powerful laser ablation tool already rendezvoused with a fictitious Earth collision object, the optimal required laser operating duration and direction histories are accurately derived to miss the Earth. Based on these results, the concept of formation flying between the object and the spacecraft is applied and analyzed as to establish the spacecraft’s orbital motion design strategy. A fictitious “Apophis”-like object is established to impact with the Earth and two major deflection scenarios are designed and analyzed. These scenarios include the cases for the both short and long laser operating duration to avoid the Earth impact. Also, requirement of onboard laser tool’s for both cases are discussed. As a result, the optimal initial conditions for the spacecraft to maintain its relative trajectory to the object are discovered. Additionally, the discovered optimal initial conditions also satisfied the optimal required laser operating conditions with no additional spacecraft’s own fuel expenditure to achieve the spacecraft formation flying with the ECO. The initial conditions founded in the current research can be used as a spacecraft’s initial rendezvous points with the ECO when designing the future deflection missions with laser ablation tools. The results with proposed strategy are expected to make more advances in the fields of the conceptual studies, especially for the future deflection missions using powerful laser ablation tools.     

Interplanetary transfer of photosynthesis: an experimental demonstration of a selective dispersal filter in planetary island biogeography

We launched a cryptoendolithic habitat, made of a gneissic impactite inoculated with Chroococcidiopsis sp., into Earth orbit. After orbiting the Earth for 16 days, the rock entered the Earth's atmosphere and was recovered in Kazakhstan. The heat of entry ablated and heated the rock to a temperature well above the upper temperature limit for life to below the depth at which light levels are insufficient for photosynthetic organisms ( approximately 5 mm), thus killing all of its photosynthetic inhabitants. This experiment shows that atmospheric transit acts as a strong biogeographical dispersal filter to the interplanetary transfer of photosynthesis. Following atmospheric entry we found that a transparent, glassy fusion crust had formed on the outside of the rock. Re-inoculated Chroococcidiopsis grew preferentially under the fusion crust in the relatively unaltered gneiss beneath. Organisms under the fusion grew approximately twice as fast as the organisms on the control rock. Thus, the biologically destructive effects of atmospheric transit can generate entirely novel and improved endolithic habitats for organisms on the destination planetary body that survive the dispersal filter. The experiment advances our understanding of how island biogeography works on the interplanetary scale.     

Biomarker response to galactic cosmic ray-induced NOx and the methane greenhouse effect in the atmosphere of an Earth-like planet orbiting an M dwarf star

Planets orbiting in the habitable zone of M dwarf stars are subject to high levels of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), which produce nitrogen oxides (NOx) in Earth-like atmospheres. We investigate to what extent these NO(Mx) species may modify biomarker compounds such as ozone (O3) and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as related compounds such as water (H2O) (essential for life) and methane (CH4) (which has both abiotic and biotic sources). Our model results suggest that such signals are robust, changing in the M star world atmospheric column due to GCR NOx effects by up to 20% compared to an M star run without GCR effects, and can therefore survive at least the effects of GCRs. We have not, however, investigated stellar cosmic rays here. CH4 levels are about 10 times higher on M star worlds than on Earth because of a lowering in hydroxyl (OH) in response to changes in the ultraviolet. The higher levels of CH4 are less than reported in previous studies. This difference arose partly because we used different biogenic input. For example, we employed 23% lower CH4 fluxes compared to those studies. Unlike on Earth, relatively modest changes in these fluxes can lead to larger changes in the concentrations of biomarker and related species on the M star world. We calculate a CH4 greenhouse heating effect of up to 4K. O3 photochemistry in terms of the smog mechanism and the catalytic loss cycles on the M star world differs considerably compared with that of Earth.     

乘波构型飞行器磁流体进气道一体化概念设计

采用准一维的磁流体方程组对设计状态下内磁流体发生器进行参数设计,利用斜激波理论设计磁流体进气道一体化的外形.以该外形为基点,对安装五对电极的内磁流体发生器采用五方程模型进行三维数值模拟,并通过调节其磁作用数以满足准一维假设下设计的进气道外形.研究表明,磁流体进气道最小出口流动均匀参数可以作为判别内发生器最优磁作用数的准则,在该磁作用数下内磁流体发生器可以有效地提高进气道的性能.