Cancellation of Unwanted Spectral Components in an FM Multivibrator System

The performance of FM multivibrator systems for high quality communications applications is limited by the presence of unwanted spectral components. A theory is presented for an improved system in which unwanted spectral components are cancelled, achieved by generating a cancelling component in a square-law device. The cancelling component tracks the unwanted component in both frequency and amplitude over a wide bandwidth of signal frequencies. Reductions in magnitude of the unwanted components by at least 16 dB are predicted; reductions of better than 14 dB have been achieved in practice.     

Terahertz circular dichroism spectroscopy: a potential approach to the in situ detection of life's metabolic and genetic machinery

We propose a terahertz (far-infrared) circular dichroism-based life-detection technology that may provide a universal and unequivocal spectroscopic signature of living systems regardless of their genesis. We argue that, irrespective of the specifics of their chemistry, all life forms will employ well-structured, chiral, stereochemically pure macromolecules (>500 atoms) as the catalysts with which they perform their metabolic and replicative functions. We also argue that nearly all such macromolecules will absorb strongly at terahertz frequencies and exhibit significant circular dichroism, and that this circular dichroism unambiguously distinguishes biological from abiological materials. Lastly, we describe several approaches to the fabrication of a terahertz circular dichroism spectrometer and provide preliminary experimental indications of their feasibility. Because terahertz circular dichroism signals arise from the molecular machinery necessary to carry out life's metabolic and genetic processes, this life-detection method differs fundamentally from more well-established approaches based on the detection of isotopic fractionation, "signature" carbon compounds, disequilibria, or other by-products of metabolism. Moreover, terahertz circular dichroism spectroscopy detects this machinery in a manner that makes few, if any, assumptions as to its chemical nature or the processes that it performs.     

The reactions of nitrogen heterocycles with acrolein: scope and prebiotic significance

It has been suggested that life began with a self-replicating RNA molecule. However, after much research into the prebiotic synthesis of RNA, the difficulties encountered have lead some to hypothesize that RNA was preceded by a simpler molecule, one more easily synthesized prebiotically. Many of the proposed alternative molecules are based on acrolein, since it reacts readily with nucleophiles, such as the nucleobases, via Michael addition and is readily synthesized from formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Reports regarding the reactions of nucleobases with concentrated acrolein solutions suggest that this is a plausible reaction mechanism, though there are also reports that the "incorrect" isomers are obtained. The scope and kinetics of the reaction of acrolein with various nitrogen heterocycles are reported here. Reactions of pyrimidines often give N(1) adducts as the major products. Reactions of purines often give N(9) adducts in good yield. The reactions are rapid under neutral to slightly alkaline conditions, and proceed at low temperatures and dilutions. The implications of these findings for the origin of life are discussed.     

Auroral Radio Emissions, 1. Hisses, Roars, and Bursts

The Earth's auroral electrons produce copious non-thermal radio emissions of various types, including auroral kilometric radiation (AKR), whistler mode auroral hiss, mode conversion radiation such as auroral roar and MF-burst, and possibly HF/VHF emissions. In some cases, mechanisms have been identified and quantitatively described, whereby the energy of the auroral electrons is converted into electromagnetic radiation. In many other cases, the radiation mechanism, or the relative significance of several possible mechanisms, remains uncertain. This review covers fairly comprehensively experimental and theoretical research on types of auroral radiation other than AKR, concentrating on emissions with frequency higher than about 1kHz and treating only emissions which are unique to the auroral zone. The review covers both ground-based and in-situ observations. It covers a wide range of theoretical approaches, emphasizing those which at present appear most important for producing non-AKR auroral radiations.     

High accuracy satellite drag model (HASDM)

The dominant error source in force models used to predict low-perigee satellite trajectories is atmospheric drag. Errors in operational thermospheric density models cause significant errors in predicted satellite positions, since these models do not account for dynamic changes in atmospheric drag for orbit predictions. The Air Force Space Battlelab’s High Accuracy Satellite Drag Model (HASDM) estimates and predicts (out three days) a dynamically varying global density field. HASDM includes the Dynamic Calibration Atmosphere (DCA) algorithm that solves for the phases and amplitudes of the diurnal and semidiurnal variations of thermospheric density near real-time from the observed drag effects on a set of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) calibration satellites. The density correction is expressed as a function of latitude, local solar time and altitude. In HASDM, a time series prediction filter relates the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) energy index E_10.7 and the geomagnetic storm index a_p, to the DCA density correction parameters. The E_10.7 index is generated by the SOLAR2000 model, the first full spectrum model of solar irradiance. The estimated and predicted density fields will be used operationally to significantly improve the accuracy of predicted trajectories for all low-perigee satellites.     

Recent studies of the optical counterpart of GX 1+4

The galactic X-ray source GX 1+4 has been undergoing remarkable changes since early 1991. The X-ray pulsar has shown fast spin down accompanied by an increase in the hard X-ray intensity. We have obtained 1.6Å resolution spectra of the optical counterpart extending the known spectrum to 8500Å. The Ca II (8498Å) line seen for the first time from this source is indicative of a nova burst scenario. Other lines detected for the first time are detailed and the significance of these features is discussed.     

CONSERVATIVE FRONT TRACKING IN HIGHER SPACE DIMENSIONS

INTRODUCTIONWe propose and demonstrate a tracking fi-nite difference algorithm which is( a) fully con-servative and ( b) improves local truncation errorby one order( from O( 1 ) to O( Δx) near trackeddiscontinuities.Discontinuities in the solutions of systems ofnonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws are widelyrecognized as a primary difficulty for numericalsimulation.Surprisingly,the nonlinearities actu-ally help,as they cause information,which flowsalong solution characteristics,to flow…     

Communicating bioastronautics research to students, families and the nation

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is supporting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) education mission through a comprehensive Education and Public Outreach Program (EPOP) that communicates the excitement and significance of space biology to schools, families, and lay audiences. The EPOP is comprised of eight academic institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Rice University, and the University of Washington. This paper describes the programs and products created by the EPOP to promote space life science education in schools and among the general public. To date, these activities have reached thousands of teachers and students around the US and have been rated very highly.     

Cosmic-ray Composition as Observed by Ulysses

The cosmic ray isotopic composition measurements from the High Energy Telescope (HET) on the Ulysses spacecraft are reviewed. The source isotopic composition of key elements is found to be surprisingly like the Solar system abundances with the notable exception of ²²Ne. The average density of interstellar material cosmic rays traverse is found to be 0.25 atom cm^–3, corresponding to a confinement time of 20 Myr. Vanadium isotopic abundances are shown to be consistent with weak cosmic-ray reacceleration. The implications of these measurements are discussed.