Elucidation of an iterative process of carbon-carbon bond formation of prebiotic significance

Laboratory experiments carried out under plausible prebiotic conditions (under conditions that might have occurred at primitive deep-sea hydrothermal vents) in water and involving constituents that occur in the vicinity of submarine hydrothermal vents (e.g., CO, H(2)S, NiS) have disclosed an iterative Ni-catalyzed pathway of C-C bond formation. This pathway leads from CO to various organic molecules that comprise, notably, thiols, alkylmono- and disulfides, carboxylic acids, and related thioesters containing up to four carbon atoms. Furthermore, similar experiments with organic compounds containing various functionalities, such as thiols, carboxylic acids, thioesters, and alcohols, gave clues to the mechanisms of this novel synthetic process in which reduced metal species, in particular Ni(0), appear to be the key catalysts. Moreover, the formation of aldehydes (and ketones) as labile intermediates via a hydroformylation-related process proved to be at the core of the chain elongation process. Since this process can potentially lead to organic compounds with any chain length, it could have played a significant role in the prebiotic formation of lipidic amphiphilic molecules such as fatty acids, potential precursors of membrane constituents.     

VHF radar observation of wave instability and turbulence in the mesosphere

At mesospheric heights, VHF radar measurements reveal strong signal power bursts which have the same period as simultaneously observed short-period velocity oscillations. Both the power bursts and the velocity oscillations occur in layers of maximum vertical wind shear generated by tidal or long-period gravity waves with apparent vertical wavelengths of the order of 10 km. A comparison with similar power bursts measured in the troposphere during a jet stream passage leads to the conclusion that the short-period velocity oscillations are due to a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. This instability in turn generates superadiabatic lapse rates so that strong turbulence can occur which produces the observed signal power bursts.     

Pre-cometary ice composition from hot core chemistry

Pre-cometary ice located around star-forming regions contains molecules that are pre-biotic compounds or pre-biotic precursors. Molecular line surveys of hot cores provide information on the composition of the ice since it sublimates near these sites. We have combined a hydrostatic hot core model with a complex network of chemical reactions to calculate the time-dependent abundances of molecules, ions, and radicals. The model considers the interaction between the ice and gas phase. It is applied to the Orion hot core where high-mass star formation occurs, and to the solar-mass binary protostar system IRAS 16293-2422. Our calculations show that at the end of the hot core phase both star-forming sites produce the same prebiotic CN-bearing molecules. However, in the Orion hot core these molecules are formed in larger abundances. A comparison of the calculated values with the abundances derived from the observed line data requires a chemically unprocessed molecular cloud as the initial state of hot core evolution. Thus, it appears that these objects are formed at a much younger cloud stage than previously thought. This implies that the ice phase of the young clouds does not contain CN-bearing molecules in large abundances before the hot core has been formed. The pre-biotic molecules synthesized in hot cores cause a chemical enrichment in the gas phase and in the pre-cometary ice. This enrichment is thought to be an important extraterrestrial aspect of the formation of life on Earth and elsewhere.     

Winds and waves in the middle atmosphere as observed by ground-based radars

Ground-based radars have proved to be powerful instruments for studying dynamical processes in the middle atmosphere. They have been used successfully in the last few years during Pre-MAP and MAP projects. This paper briefly reviews the following ground-based radar methods: the new MST radar technique for remote sensing of the mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere, and the well known techniques for mesospheric measurements such as the ionospheric drift experiment, the meteor radar and the MF radar experiments. A survey of observational results obtained with the various techniques is presented. Particular emphasis is directed to winds and waves as well as their interaction, all of which play an important role in the structure and dynamics of the middle atmosphere.     

First calibration measurements with the dust impact detector DIDSY-IPM

The IPM detector consists of two separate impact ionization detectors, one of them covered by a 2.5 μm thick plastic film and a piezoelectric sensor mounted to the back of the joint impact plate. First impact tests, with iron projectiles in the mass range 10^?15 to 10^?9 g and in the speed range 1 km/s to 70 km/s, were performed with the calibration (FS) and the flight (F) model of this detector. The charge yield at 69 km/s impact speed (flyby speed of GIOTTO) has been extrapolated from the data and amounts to 400 Coulombs per gram. This corresponds to a preliminary sensitivity threshold for the impact ionization detector of about 6×10^?17 g. The penetration limit introduced by the plastic film is about 10^?14 g for iron particles. Only the biggest particles used for the test produced signals at the piezoelectric sensor. If one assumes an energy dependence of the piozoelectric signal, a preliminary sensitivity threshold of about 10^?13 g at 69 km/s can be established.     

Some aspects of temperature sounding of the atmosphere

Based on measurements with the interferometer spectrometer SI-1 on board of Meteor satellites the following problems are investigated: the systematic effect of the spectral response function in deriving effective radiation temperatures; the selection of ‘optimal’ spectral channels within the 15 μm region, and effects of additional molecular absorbers on the determination of the temperature profile. It can be shown that using broad-band window channels (half width ?20cm^?1) the derived surface temperature is significantly different from the surface temperature derived from narrow spectral band channels (e.g. for the HIRS window channel 8 this difference is about 1° C). Simulations of some combinations of spectral channels including one proposed as an optimal approach show no significant difference in the derived temperature profile. Neglecting the ozone absorption of the 14.1 μm band leads to a change in radiance of about 1.5 mW/m²sr cm^?1 and to a systematic error of the derived temperature of about ?2° C in the troposphere.     

An attempt for objective analysis of TIROS-N images

An attempt for digital processing of analog images taken in the infrared channel (10.5–11.5 μm) from TIROS-N is presented. The data digitized to 8-bits are normalized by using SR Data Manipulator. The investigated period is November 3–4, 1979. The geographic rectification moves the data into a polar stereographic map. To estimate the cloud heights empirical relationships are applied. The following characteristics of the cloud field are produced: the cloud amount, the dominant cloud-type, the daily variation of IR brightness temperature and the cloud texture. The results are visualized on a colour display.     

Cosmic Rays Beyond the Knee

We briefly review the available data on cosmic rays beyond the `knee, i.e., over the energy range from 10¹⁵ to more than 10²⁰ eV. We discuss the observational status of the field, review some of the current attempts to explain the origin of these particles, and briefly survey the prospects of future measurements.     

Linear Shaped Charge Cutting Property and Charge Cutting Mechanism of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn Alloy

The linear shaped charge cutting technology is an effective technology for aircraft separation. It can separate invalid components from aircrafts timely to achieve light-weight. Magnesium alloy is the lightest metal material, and can be used to cast effective light-weight components of an aircraft construction. However, the application study of the linear shaped charge cutting technology on magnesium alloy components is basically blank. In response to the demand for the linear separation of magnesium alloys, the Mg-12Gd-0.5Y-0.4Zn alloy is selected to carry out the target shaped charge cutting test. The effects of the shaped charge line density, cutting thickness, and mechanical properties on the cutting performance of the alloy are studied. The shaped charge cutting mechanism is analyzed through the notch structure. The results show that the linear shaped charge cutting performance is significantly affected by the penetration and the collapse. The higher the linear density is, the stronger the ability of the linear shaped charge cutter is, and the greater the penetration depth is, which is advantageous. However, the target structure will be damaged when it is too large (e.g., 4.5 g?m-1). Within 12 mm, when the cutting thickness of the target increases, the penetration depth increases. The lower the tensile strength is, the greater the penetration depth is, and the more conducive the penetration depth to the shaped charge cutting is. When the elongation (EL) increases to 12%, the collapse of the target is incomplete and the target cannot be separated. When the tensile strength of the Mg-Gd-Y-Zn alloy is less than 350 MPa, the EL is less than 6.5%, the cutting thickness is less than 12 mm, and the linear shaped charge cutting of the magnesium alloy can be achieved stably.