Diamagnetic aspects of the coronal transient phenomenon

If a magnetic structure emerges into the solar atmosphere containing a preexisting magnetic field, the preexisting field must be moved aside to allow space for the emerging flux. Under these conditions, provided the ambient field strength decreases outward with radial distance, the ambient field may tend to pinch off the emerging field through magnetic reconnection and expell it outward. Here, a model is developed to demonstrate this effect and to evaluate its relevance to the coronal transient phenomenon. In particular, we argue that, if magnetic reconnection can be initiated in such a configuration, the upward force produced by the ambient field is enhanced and, depending upon the internal conditions of the configuration, a coronal transient could be initiated in this manner.     

Development of 1000-mHz Distance Measuring Equipment

The major radio aids to air navigation are listed. Underlined are those whose signal format is standardized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and they have now all been the subject of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society Pioneer Award, as follows: airborne direction finder/nondirectional beacon (ADF/NDB), Busignies and Moseley, 1959; VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), Stuart, 1962; instrument landing system (ILS), Kramar 1964, Alford 1965; air traffic control radar beacon system (ATCRBS), Williams, Bowden, and Harris, 1973; distance measuring equipment (DME), Dodington, 1980. A brief history of the development of the distance measuring equipment, which also formed the basis for an IEEE National Aerospace Electronics Conference luncheon address, is given.     

The German space processing programme TEXUS with sounding rockets

This paper reports on the objectives of the German space processing programme with sounding rockets and the scientific results obtained thus far.     

The Engineer as a Radical?

Outdated and rigorous curricula are not only producing engineers unsuited to the challenges of the 1970's, but they are scaring off many of the most creative and intelligent students. Engineering education has become an endurance test; the excitement has been lost. Most students strive only to get out. Engineering schools have not yet realized the importance of the involvement of engineers in current environmental problems. They continue to present only the dry technical courses and seem unconcerned about the student's sense of social perspective or his motivation. This paper proposes a freshman awareness seminar plus project oriented learning in the following years as a remedy for this sad situation.     

Maximum Likelihood Elevation Angle Estimates of Radar Targets Using Subapertures

The maximum likelihood estimates of the elevation angles of two closely spaced targets within the beamwidth is considered. For an array divided into three subapertures, a simple, closed form solution is found whose accuracy compares favorably to the maximum likelihood estimate which uses all the individual elements. Simulation results are presented for the case of a radar target located over a smooth reflecting surface.     

Flow of material at the Chromosphere-Corona transition zone of the Sun

Early models of the Chromosphere-Corona transition zone of the Sun considered it to be a static plane-parallel region. From these it became clear that the layer was extremely thin and had an important role in the conduction of energy from the Corona. More recent observations show mass motions of order 10 km s^-1, which means that heating and cooling of the moving plasma has an important affect on the energy balance, while transient effects producing far higher velocities are also common. Studies of plasma motion through the zone are clearly relevant to the initial heating of material which enters the solar wind.Paper presented at the IX-th Lindau Workshop The Source Region of the Solar Wind.     

Missile Electronic System Hardness Assurance Program

A hardness assurance program suitable for a retaliatory or deterrent missile system is discussed. The program consists of three phases: the establishment of suitable controls and screens to ensure piece part hardness, a supplier data monitoring program to measure hardness related parameters in a timely fashion to obtain advanced warning of potential problems, and a hardness assurance verification testing (HAVT) program to periodically measure the radiation response of parts, circuits, subsystems, and systems on a sample basis to ensure proper functioning in simulated radiation environments. All of the data relevant to hardness assurance is stored in computer memory and routinely interrogated with programs which compare current results with the engineering baseline data and other data from preceding lots. Other computer programs enable statistical estimation of system response to the radiation environment with confidence based on the expanding data base provided by the HAVT program.     

Performance Analysis of the Modulation Cancellation Altimeter

The performance of the modulation cancellation altimeter is investigated. Several sources of error are considered, specifically: 1) terrain averaging error; 2) output noise fluctuations; 3) errors due to phase shifts; and 4) acquisition ambiguities. The predominant parameters affecting these errors are investigated with a view towards optimizing the performance of the altimeter.     

Submicron lunar ejecta in the magnetosphere associated with meteor showers

Recent studies of the lunar ejecta from lunar impacts of interplanetary dust particles indicate that during favorable lunar phases, over 80% of the submicron ejecta enters the earth's magnetosphere. This “pulse” of lunar ejecta produced by the sporadic meteor background will follow the random variations of the sporadic flux. An additional enhancement of this flux can be related to major meteor showers. Since the annual periods of these showers occur during varying lunar phase angles, magnetosphere ejecta flux associated with major showers will vary depending on the coincidence of shower periods and favorable lunar phase angles. The results of an analysis of the “pulse” of ejecta flux in the magnetosphere during the Quadrantids, Geminids, Leonids, and Perseids meteor showers are presented. These results are compared to the satellite measurements of 1959 Eta and HEOS II.     

Graphical Interpretation of Chirp Echoes from Complex Targets

Echoes from complex targets due to chirp waveforms show different time responses for different chirp rates, because of the ambiguity of range and radial velocity information. A graphical method is described which enables the derivation of the time response for an arbitrary chirp rate when the scattering cross-section distribution in the range and radial velocity plane is known for complex targets. The graphical method can also be used to generate an approximately realistic scattering cross-section distribution when the time responses for two different chirp rates are given. An example is shown which applies to the computer simulation of the radar echo from a waking reentry space vehicle.