The variable iron line in cygnus X-3

Cygnus X-3 was observed with the GSPC on board EXOSAT on several occasions, one observation lasting for 7 orbital cycles. The width W and centroid energy E of the iron emission feature near 6.7 keV show a smooth, correlated, sinusoidal-type modulation, the iron line being widest and E being lowest just before X-ray maximum. The line profile may show a low-energy wing, but apart from this does not deviate strongly from a symmetric, Gaussian-type shape. The continuum at higher energies than the line is not completely smooth, but shows bumps which remain stable in time. Two possible explanations are discussed for the correlated variation of E and W as a function of orbital phase.     

Advantages of using subsurface flow constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in space applications: ground-based Mars Base prototype.

Research and design of subsurface flow wetland wastewater treatment systems for a ground-based experimental prototype Mars Base facility has been carried out, using a subsurface flow approach. These systems have distinct advantages in planetary exploration scenarios: they are odorless, relatively low-labor and low-energy, assist in purification of water and recycling of atmospheric CO2, and will support some food crops. An area of 6-8 m2 may be sufficient for integration of wetland wastewater treatment with a prototype Mars Base supporting 4-5 people. Discharge water from the wetland system will be used as irrigation water for the agricultural crop area, thus ensuring complete recycling and utilization of nutrients. Since the primary requirements for wetland treatment systems are warm temperatures and lighting, such bioregenerative systems may be integrated into early Mars base habitats, since waste heat from the lights may be used for temperature maintenance in the human living environment. "Wastewater gardens (TM)" can be modified for space habitats to lower space and mass requirements. Many of its construction requirements can eventually be met with use of in-situ materials, such as gravel from the Mars surface. Because the technology requires little machinery and no chemicals, and relies more on natural ecological mechanisms (microbial and plant metabolism), maintenance requirements are minimized, and systems can be expected to have long operating lifetimes. Research needs include suitability of Martian soil and gravel for wetland systems, system sealing and liner options in a Mars Base, and wetland water quality efficiency under varying temperature and light regimes.     

Review of state of the art in smart rotor control research for wind turbines

This article presents a review of the state of the art and present status of active aeroelastic rotor control research for wind turbines. Using advanced control concepts to reduce loads on the rotor can offer great reduction to the total cost of wind turbines. With the increasing size of wind turbine blades, the need for more sophisticated load control techniques has induced the interest for locally distributed aerodynamic control systems with build-in intelligence on the blades. Such concepts are often named in popular terms ‘smart structures’ or ‘smart rotor control’. The review covers the full span of the subject, starting from the need for more advanced control systems emerging from the operating conditions of modern wind turbines and current load reduction control capabilities. An overview of available knowledge and up-to date progress in application of active aerodynamic control is provided, starting from concepts, methods and achieved results in aerospace and helicopter research. Moreover, a thorough analysis on different concepts for smart rotor control applications for wind turbines is performed, evaluating available options for aerodynamic control surfaces, actuators (including smart materials), sensors and control techniques. Next, feasibility studies for wind turbine applications, preliminary performance evaluation and novel computational and experimental research approaches are reviewed. The potential of load reduction using smart rotor control concepts is shown and key issues are discussed. Finally, existing knowledge and future requirements on modeling issues of smart wind turbine rotors are discussed. This study provides an overview of smart rotor control for wind turbines, discusses feasibility of future implementation, quantifies key parameters and shows the challenges associated with such an approach.     

The local neutron flux at low earth-orbiting altitudes

The COMPTEL instrument onboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) has been used to measure the variation of the atmospheric neutron flux below 5 MeV as a function of vertical cutoff rigidity and spacecraft orientation at an altitude of 450 km. The instrumental 2.2 MeV background line, resulting from thermal neutron capture on hydrogen, was used for the measurement. The dependence of the 2.2 MeV rate on rigidity and geocentre zenith can be described by an analytic function: the line rate decreases linearly with geocentre zenith, and decreases exponentially with the vertical cutoff rigidity. The flux varies on average by about a factor of 3.7 between the extremes in rigidity, and by a factor of 1.7 between the extremes of spacecraft orientation with respect to the Earth. We believe that mass shielding is more important in attenuating the atmospheric albedo than as a source of secondary neutrons. The COMF'TEL instrument is well suited for a long-duration study of the dependence of the neutron flux on the vertical cutoff rigidity and the solar cycle.     

The decay of dwarf nova outbursts

Simultaneous observations at different wavelengths of the decay of dwarf-nova outbursts, show an earlier return to the quiescence level at shorter wavelengths. These observations, which show completely new aspects of outbursts, can provide strong tests for outburst models and accretion-disc theory.     

Book reviews

Space Science Reviews -     

Variability of soft X-ray emission of EX Hydrae observed with Einstein Observatory

The cataclysmic variable EX Hydrae has been observed in X-rays with Einstein Observatory. A 67 min periodic X-ray modulation has been found in the energy range. 1 – 2 keV, whereas the source is approximately constant above 2 keV. The modulation is approx. in phase with the stable 47 min modulation in the optical brightness. The X-ray spectrum changes slightly with the 67 min phase but is consistent with a two component model with constant temperature only changing in relative intensity. Quasi-simultaneous optical observations were also obtained and used to extend the time base of the optical modulation. The result is indicative of a decrease in the 67 min period on a time scale of 3 10⁶ yr. The implications for the hypothesis of a non-uniform rotating white dwarf as the origin of the 67 min optical and X-ray modulation are discussed.