The double-pulsar binary J0737–3039

A recent multibeam pulsar survey of the outer Galactic plane at Parkes has discovered the first-known double-pulsar binary, a very compact double neutron star system in which both stars are observable as radio pulsars. In this review, we briefly describe the discovery and the studies which have been enabled by the unique properties of the system. These range from the most precise confirmation yet of the theory of general relativity, with the possibility of even more new tests and the measurement of second-order post-Newtonian effects, to studies of the magnetospheres and emission properties of the two pulsars. The discovery also results in a significant increase in the expected rate of occurrence of the mergers of double neutron star systems, and hence the rate of detection of such events by the new ground-based gravitational wave detectors.     

Power anomaly effects and costs in low-voltage mobile power systems

Electric power anomalies or disturbances can disrupt the normal operation of equipment, accelerate aging, or even cause outright failures thus resulting in increased costs of maintenance and reduced system reliability. Past research on the effects caused by power anomalies has been mostly focused on industrial, commercial, or residential systems, or on power distribution equipment. A literature survey reveals that there is no comprehensive review related to low-voltage (LV) power systems and utilization equipment applicable to military combat vehicles, such as aircraft and ships. This paper summarizes the results of a new literature survey that focused on the causes, effects, and mitigation methods for power anomalies typical of LV mobile power systems. Electric power anomaly cost data collected from the literature are also presented, from which the costs of anomalies to the national defense are estimated using some simple rationales.     

Road profile recognition for autonomous car navigation and Navstar GPS support

We discuss autonomous car navigation based on updating dead reckoning (DR) by road profile recognition (RPR). The navigation system requires sensors to detect changes in altitude and driving direction which are installed in modern cars for different purposes (e.g. ABS sensors). The layout of the navigation system is discussed and simulations are carried out over driving distances of approximately 150 km on the basis of realistic road data and ordinary sensor accuracies. Positioning errors of lower than 10 m (standard deviation) are observed. To achieve this accuracy the synchronization error between measured and mapped data must be continually estimated. The introduced navigation method is ideal to complete present commercial car navigation systems using Navstar GPS.     

Relationship between daily variation of cosmogenic nuclide Be-7 concentration in atmosphere and solar activities

Daily Be-7 concentrations in air at the height of 15 m are continuously observed at 38°15.2′N, 140°20.9′E, between 2000 and 2001. The average concentration and the relative standard deviation were 4.0 mBq/m³ and 50% in 2000–2001, respectively. The Be-7 concentrations increased 2.5% with the decrease in the sunspot numbers by 6.7% for the term of two years. From the power spectral analysis, the periodicity of 26 days is shown for the daily Be-7 concentrations. The folding analysis indicates that the time variation of the Be-7 concentration is similar to that of the ground-based neutron counting rate, and the phase delay for the minimum portion of Be-7 concentration was roughly 8 days to the maximum sunspot number. These results indicate that the Be-7 concentrations in the air at ground level have 26 day periodicity as a component of time variations and the time variation is caused by the solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays, which corresponds to the variation of the sunspot number due to the rotation of the sun.     

The European contribution to a global civil navigation satellite system

Space technology revolutionizes navigation. It will become the method for any task of position, velocity, range determination and time distribution. The existing navigation satellite systems of the USA (GPS) and of Russia (GLONASS) are military systems. They only partly meet the requirements of civil safety critical applications. A global civil navigation satellite system (GNSS) is required. The European Union (EU) has recognized the importance of satellite based navigation and its role for transportation in general and for the development of the Trans-European Network (TEN) in particular. It has therefore decided to become a major partner in the development of the GNSS. In this article a concept is proposed which starts with a European regional segment (ENSS) as an element for the integrated global system. This concept requires the establishment of international standards to enable seamless global service. It has the advantage of meeting both the particular demands of regions and civil user groups.     

The conceptual design of a hybrid life support system based on the evaluation and comparison of terrestrial testbeds.

This report summarizes a trade study of different options of a bioregenerative Life Support System (LSS) and a subsequent conceptual design of a hybrid LSS. The evaluation was based mainly on the terrestrial testbed projects MELISSA (ESA) and BIOS (Russia). In addition, some methods suggested by the Advanced Life Support Project (NASA) were considered. Computer models, including mass flows were established for each of the systems with the goal of closing system loops to the extent possible. In order to cope with the differences in the supported crew size and provided nutrition, all systems were scaled for supporting a crew of six for a 780 day Mars mission (180 days transport to Mars; 600 days surface period) as given in the NASA Design Reference Mission Scenario [Hoffman, S.J., Kaplan, D.L. Human exploration of Mars: the Reference Mission of the NASA Mars Exploratory Study, 1997]. All models were scaled to provide the same daily allowances, as of calories, to the crew. Equivalent System Mass (ESM) analysis was used to compare the investigated system models against each other. Following the comparison of the terrestrial systems, the system specific subsystem options for Food Supply, Solid Waste Processing, Water Management and Atmosphere Revitalization were evaluated in a separate trade study. The best subsystem technologies from the trade study were integrated into an overall design solution based on mass flow relationships. The optimized LSS is mainly a bioregenerative system, complemented by a few physico-chemical elements, with a total ESM of 18,088 kg, which is about 4 times higher than that of a pure physico-chemical LSS, as designed in an earlier study.     

Biogeochemical evidence of microbial activity on Mars.

We suggest a new interpretation of the data on so-called SNC meteorites and delta 13C values of the calcium carbonate minerals and organic matter discovered in them. The delta 13C value of calcite (up to 15 ppt) is accounted for by the microbial reaction CO2 + H2 ---> CH4 + H2O. Methane-forming bacteria also synthesize organic carbon (in the form of biomass) from CO2, and this process is accompanied by 12C fractionation. Therefore, the organic carbon of SNC meteorites is enriched with 12C (delta 13C as low as -35 ppt). The environmental conditions under which the calcite of SNC meteorites was formed were favorable for the activity of methanogens.     

Synthesis of biomass and utilization of plants wastes in a physical model of biological life-support system

The paper considers problems of biosynthesis of higher plants' biomass and "biological incineration" of plant wastes in a working physical model of biological LSS. The plant wastes are "biologically incinerated" in a special heterotrophic block involving Californian worms, mushrooms and straw. The block processes plant wastes (straw, haulms) to produce soil-like substrate (SLS) on which plants (wheat, radish) are grown. Gas exchange in such a system consists of respiratory gas exchange of SLS and photosynthesis and respiration of plants. Specifics of gas exchange dynamics of high plants--SLS complex has been considered. Relationship between such a gas exchange and PAR irradiance and age of plants has been established. Nitrogen and iron were found to the first to limit plants' growth on SLS when process conditions are deranged. The SLS microflora has been found to have different kinds of ammonifying and denitrifying bacteria which is indicative of intensive transformation of nitrogen-containing compounds. The number of physiological groups of microorganisms in SLS was, on the whole, steady. As a result, organic substances--products of exchange of plants and microorganisms were not accumulated in the medium, but mineralized and assimilated by the biocenosis. Experiments showed that the developed model of a man-made ecosystem realized complete utilization of plant wastes and involved them into the intrasystem turnover.     

An Ideal Digital Frequency Translator

Many digital techniques are available for providing a desired shift in frequency of a given carrier signal, but the resulting output usually contains spurious harmonic content due to the digital means employed. This correspondence discusses a digital device which provides a variable shift in frequency of a given carrier signal, with the feature that no spurious harmonic content exists in the output.