Cosmic-ray electron spectrum above 100 GeV from PPB-BETS experiment in Antarctica

Cosmic-ray electrons have been observed in the energy region from 10 GeV to 1 TeV with the PPB-BETS by a long duration balloon flight using a Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) in Antarctica. The observation was carried out for 13 days at an average altitude of 35 km in January 2004. The PPB-BETS detector is an imaging calorimeter composed of scintillating-fiber belts and plastic scintillators inserted between lead plates. In the study of cosmic-ray electrons, there have been some suggestions that high-energy electrons above 100 GeV are a powerful probe to identify nearby cosmic-ray sources and search for particle dark matter. In this paper, we present the energy spectrum of cosmic-ray electrons in the energy range from 100 GeV to 1 TeV at the top of atmosphere, and compare our spectrum with the results from other experiments.     

Search for primordial antiparticles with BESS

The Balloon-borne Experiment with a Superconducting Spectrometer (BESS) has been carried out to search for primordial antiparticles in cosmic rays. In ten flights from 1993 to 2004, it measured the cosmic-ray antiproton spectrum in the energy range 0.1–4.2 GeV at various solar activity conditions. It also searched for antideuterons and antihelium nuclei, and it made precise measurement of cosmic-ray particle spectra. The BESS program has been extended to long duration balloon (LDB) flights in Antarctica (BESS-Polar) with the goal of achieving unprecedented sensitivity in the search for primordial antiparticles. This report describes recent results from BESS and progress of the BESS-Polar program.     

Search for antihelium: Progress with BESS

In this paper, we report searches for antihelium in cosmic rays using two recently flown magnetic rigidity spectrometers. BESS-TeV had extended rigidity with an MDR of 1.4 TV and had a flight duration of one day. BESS-Polar was optimized for collecting power. It was flown for 8.5 days and had an MDR of 240 GV. The former flight allows us to explore a previously unexplored rigidity band and the latter flight yields a factor of three improvement in the overall BESS limit. No antihelium candidate was found in the rigidity ranges of 1–500 GV, and 0.6–20 GV, among 7 × 10⁴ events taken with BESS-TeV, and 8 × 10⁶ events taken with BESS-Polar, respectively.     

Heterogeneous solid/gas chemistry of organic compounds related to comets,meteorites, Titan,and Mars: Laboratory and in lower Earth orbit experiments

To understand the evolution of organic molecules involved in extraterrestrial environments and with exobiological implications, many experimental programs in the laboratory are devoted to photochemical studies in the gaseous phase as well as in the solid state. The validity of such studies and their applications to extraterrestrial environments can be questioned as long as experiments conducted in space conditions, with the full solar spectrum, especially in the short wavelength domain, have not been implemented. The experiments that are described here will be carried out on a FOTON capsule, using the BIOPAN facility, and on the International Space Station, using the EXPOSE facility. Vented and sealed exposition cells will be used, which will allow us to study the chemical evolution in the gaseous phase as well as heterogeneous processes, such as the degradation of solid compounds and the release of gaseous fragments.     

Energetic oxygen ions in the magnetosheath in the negative BZ phase of the CME on January 10, 1997

Energetic oxygen ion flux intensifications were observed by the HEP/LD instrument on board the GEOTAIL satellite thoughout the Bz negative phase of the CME event on January 10, 1997. At this time, the spacecraft was moving in the magnetosheath at 1500 LT on a magnetopause skimming segment of its orbit. The very steady southward magnetic field in the magnetosheath (negative Bz of the CME) was highly inclined forming an angle of 45° with respect to the north direction. The observed oxygen enhancements in the magnetosheath show anisotropic angular distributions which occupy a varying fraction of the unit sphere. These distributions became particularly narrow during the passage of a solar wind pressure pulse between between 1050 and 1113 UT. The details of the angular distributions in the magnetosheath favour a leakage model, although the reconnection model cannot be denied.     

Saturn kilometric radiation as a monitor for the solar wind?

Since the Voyager mission it is known that Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR) is strongly influenced by external forces, i.e., the solar wind and in particular the solar wind ram pressure. Recent studies using Cassini data essentially confirmed these findings for particular periods during the first Cassini orbit of Saturn. The data coverage of SKR by the Cassini/RPWS experiment for the period of six months prior to Saturn Orbit Insertion (July 1, 2004) is rather continuous, whereas there are gaps in the solar wind plasma data. The strong correlation of SKR with the solar wind may provide an indication on the variations of the solar wind plasma, specifically during the gap periods. These periods lacking solar wind data are substituted by Ulysses solar wind data which have been propagated over ∼4 AU, applying magnetohydrodynamic propagation models. Cross correlation studies showed that Ulysses solar wind data can be taken as a substitute for missing Cassini data. The use of SKR as monitor for solar wind variations is discussed. With the present set of observations the SKR proxy lacks significant reliability.     

Dynamics of Radiation Belt Particles

This paper reviews basic concepts of particle dynamics underlying theoretical aspect of radiation belt modeling and data analysis. We outline the theory of adiabatic invariants of quasiperiodic Hamiltonian systems and derive the invariants of particle motion trapped in the radiation belts. We discuss how the nonlinearity of resonant interaction of particles with small-amplitude plasma waves, ubiquitous across the inner magnetosphere, can make particle motion stochastic. Long-term evolution of a stochastic system can be described by the Fokker-Plank (diffusion) equation. We derive the kinetic equation of particle diffusion in the invariant space and discuss its limitations and associated challenges which need to be addressed in forthcoming radiation belt models and data analysis.     

Development Study on ATREX Engine

This is the status report of the development study on ATREX engine (Air Turbo Ramjet) that is now under way in the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) cooperation with the Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries (IHI), the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). ATREX engine will be applied for the propulsion system of fly-back booster of TSTO space plane. ATREX is the combined cycle (a fan-boosted ramjet) engine providing the effective thrust from sea level static to flight Mach number 6. ATREX is worked on the expander cycle with precooling the incoming air as shown in Fig. 1. ATREX employs the tip turbine configuration which allows the compactness and the light weight of turbo machinery and the variable geometry airintake and plugnozzle which allow the wide range operation conditions.From 1990 to 1992, “ ATREX-500“ has been tested at the sea level static conditions. ATREX-500 is the 1/4-scale model of which fan inlet diameter is 300 mm and overall length 2,200 mm. From 1992 have been performed the wind tunnel tests on the primary components of ATREX, the axisymmetric variable geometry airintakes, the precoolers and the variable geometry plug nozzles. In parallel to the windtunnel tests, the ram combusters have been tested simulating the hypersonic flight conditions and the application studies on advanced carbon-carbon composite for the tip-turbine and fan assembly has been proceeded.In 1994 initiated the flight test plan in which ATREX will be verified in the practical flight conditions by using an unmanned flying test bench.In 1995 will be tested ATREX-500 installing the precooler under the sea level static conditions to examine the engine performance and the icing on the precooler.The present paper addresses the high loading ram combuster experiment using the mixer with skewed lobes to generate swirl flow and the analytical studies and the designs on the precooler and the precooled ATREX engine and the flight test plan.     

Study of the seasonal ozone variations at European high latitudes

The geographic area at high latitudes beyond the polar circle is characterized with long darkness during the winter (polar night) and with a long summertime insolation (polar day). Consequentially, the polar vortex is formed and the surrounding strong polar jet is characterized by a strong potential vorticity gradient representing a horizontal transport barrier. The ozone dynamics of the lower and middle stratosphere is controlled both by chemical destruction processes and transport processes.