Gamma-ray spectroscopy: Status and prospects

Contemporary gamma-ray spectroscopy instruments and their results are reviewed. Sensitivities of 10^?4 to 10^?3 ph/cm²-sec have been achieved for steady sources and 10^?2 to 1 ph/cm²-sec for transient sources. This has led to the detection of gamma-ray lines from more than 40 objects representing 6 classes of astrophysical phenomena. The lines carry model-independent information and are of fundamental importance to theoretical modeling and our understanding of the objects. These results indicate that gamma-ray spectroscopy is relevant to a wide range of astrophysical problems and is becoming a major part of astronomy. The objectives and anticipated results of future instruments are discussed. Several instruments in development will have a factor of ～ 10 sensitivity improvement to certain phenomena over contemporary instruments. A factor of ～ 100 improvement in sensitivity will allow the full potential of gamma-ray spectroscopy to be realized. Instrument concepts which would achieve this with both present and advanced techniques are discussed.     

Validation of the stratospheric sounding unit

The Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU) is part of the TOVS (TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder) on NOAA operational meteorological satellites. SSU measurements can be validated by comparison with temperature measurements from colocated rocket sondes. Systematic differences are found which vary with rocket station and sonde and are a function of height. However, these measurements are not adequate to define the performance of individual SSUs to a precision which would allow the observations from different SSUs to be combined in the study of diurnal and semidiurnal tides and of long term trends in stratospheric temperature. Instead this is achieved by detailed radiometric and spectroscopic investigation of each individual SSU, both prior to launch and during its operational life. Using the techniques descirbed, it is demonstrated that measurements from different SSUs can be combined with a relative error of less than 0.2K in equivalent brightness temperature.     

Aircraft vertical profile implementation using directed-graphmethods

Aircraft vertical profile simulation is realized using a demand-driven minimal-calculation directed graph structure to reduce calculation time and to force synchronization of the performance measurement functions with the system state variables. Performance-directed model adaptation makes dynamic vertical profile path corrections, in the presence of fixed drag variations, possible. Drag variations ranging from +10% to -10% yielded fuel consumption improvements of less than 1% in the majority of the cases. Calculation time improvement for path simulation ranges from a factor of 1.19 in the worst case to 1.5 in the best case     

Experimental work on the aerodynamics of integrated slender wings for supersonic flight

This paper reviews an extensive programme of experimental work which was aimed at the production of integrated slender wings which had volume distributions and cross-section shapes compatible with the requirements of a supersonic transport aircraft. The wings were also to be cambered so that they were trimmed at the cruise condition about a centre of gravity position located at the aerodynamic centre position at the approach condition; furthermore the camber was to be chosen so that the drag was as low as possible. The main work was carried out about 20 years ago, but the involvement in specific design applications resulted in no overall account of the programme being published, although a number of reports on individual wings, or groups of wings, have appeared. This paper reviews the whole programme from the initial tests on very simple delta wings with diamond cross-sections to the final tests on realistic shapes which achieved almost all of the design requirements.     

Application of remote sensing techniques in mineral resources survey — a case study pertaining to Singhbhum Shear Zone,Bihar, India

Geological analysis and evaluation of digitally processed and enhanced LANDSAT MSS data products for three test areas of Singhbhum Shear Zone, India has led to certain significant results regarding optimisation and utility of such techniques for geological studies and obtaining additional/new information regarding lithology and structure. Three band-to-band ratio images are found to give best results. Lithologic formations could be subdivided into a number of units. The Westward and southeastward extension of the shear zone could be delineated thereby indicating scope of mineralisation in these parts.     

A new calibration of the semi-empirical photometric theory for Halley and other comets

A massive new body of data, comprised of spectrophotometry of 17 comets by Newburn and Spinrad, has now become available for calibration of the basic theory, the Semi-Empirical Photometric Theory, used for modelling of Comet Halley. A redetermination of the constant $\text{R}$ and the function δ has been made, and no change is needed. Improved mixing ratios given as a function of heliocentric distance also permit an improvement in the constants of the visual photometric model presented at COSPAR XXIV. A new light curve for Halley and a lower dust to gas ratio prove to make roughly compensating changes in dust densities.     

Effects due to an artificial earth satellite in rapid motion through the ionosphere or the interplanetary medium

Conclusion In this paper we have been concerned with the results of theoretical calculations of the interaction between a fast moving body and a tenuous plasma. Particular attention was paid to the case where the velocity of the body is much smaller than the velocity of neutral particles and ions, while the dimensions of the body are sufficiently large in comparison with the Debye radius. Such conditions are realized during the motion of artificial satellites or space rockets through the ionosphere, or through the interplanetary medium in the immediate neighborhood of the earth. Although this case has, on the whole, been investigated quite extensively, there are still a number of problems which require further analysis. Firstly, it is necessary to take into account the effect of the electric field on the motion of ions in the near zone at the rear of the body. Another important problem is that of magnetic disturbances. In the case of scattering of radio waves by the trail of the body, it would be interesting indeed to know the increase in the effective cross-section in the resonance region in which 0. A number of other research problems which arise in the analysis of phenomena in the neighborhood of a moving body have been noted in the Introduction.In the lower layers of the ionosphere it is important to allow for the fact that the dimensions of the body are comparable with the mean free path. Under these conditions there is the further interesting problem of the heating and additional ionization of the plasma, the disintegration of the surface, and the emission of waves. At large distances from the surface of the earth, the dimensions of the body may become comparable with the Debye radius, and the velocity of the body in the given region may become smaller than the thermal velocity of the particles. The character of the various disturbances introduced by the body under these conditions will also require a special investigation.Thus, the interaction of a moving body with plasma leads to special and exceptionally varied effects. Disturbances due to the body are very considerable, so that the physical state of the region surrounding the body is very different from the state of the undisturbed medium.The above results indicate that the phenomena in the neighborhood of satellites and space rockets in the ionosphere, or the interplanetary medium, must be taken into account, in the processing of experimental data when it is required to deduce information about the state of the undisturbed medium. This is particularly important in the analysis of the results of measurements obtained with various types of probes. Considerable errors may be introduced if these effects are not allowed for.Further extensive experimental and theoretical studies of the structure of the disturbed region in the neighborhood of moving bodies in plasma are clearly necessary. Such investigations will, in particular, lead to the development of the most effective methods of studying the properties of the media through which satellites and space rockets travel.Translated from the Russian: Ob effektah vyzyvaemyh iskusstvennym sputnikom bystro dviimsja v ionosfere ili meplanetnoj srede (Uspehi fizieskih nauk 79, 23–80) by Express Translation Service.     

Recovery of lower limb function following 6 weeks of non-weight bearing

Skeletal muscle weakness and atrophy occur following an extended period of decreased use, including space flight and limb unloading. It is also likely that affected muscles will be susceptible to a re-loading injury when they begin return to earth or weight bearing. However, there is a paucity of literature evaluating the response of human unloaded muscle to exercise and return to activity.

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the soreness, function and strength response of muscle to re-loading in seven patients who were non-weight bearing for 6 weeks, compared to five healthy subjects.

Function improved significantly over time for the patients but was still less than the healthy subjects over 12 weeks of physiotherapy. Concentric quadriceps muscle strength increased significantly over time for the patients. There was considerable variability in the patients’ reports of muscle soreness but there were no significant changes over time or between groups.     

Empirical models of the thermosphere and requirements for improvements

The different types of variation in the thermosphere are briefly examined and the solar-activity effect is singled out for special attention. To this day, empirical models have made use of the decimetric solar flux F_10.7 as an index of the variable XUV radiation from the sun. To account for the change in the relative intensity of the different types of emissions in the course of the solar cycle, F_10.7 is made to perform double duty: The daily values are used to represent the day-to-day and “27-day” variations, while its averages over several solar rotations are used to represent the variations with the 11-year cycle. The availability of direct solar XUV data should eventually eliminate the need for such a make-shift procedure. Accuracy and continuity requirements of XUV intensity measurements are discussed and a strategy is outlined for sorting out the relevant features from the observational material and putting them to practical use in thermospheric modeling. It is suggested that future models of the diurnal and the geomagnetic variation use as a guide theoretical models which have achieved considerable success in qualitatively representing the observed phenomena.     

Electric Field Detection and Ranging of Aircraft

The electric field transported by charged aircraft during free flight can be observed quantitatively in distances of up to some 100 m. A system of three plane sensors arranged in the corners of a triangle or the Earth surface is described, by which the flight path of aircraft is detected in the range of 40 to 500 m with velocities of approximately 50 m/s. The theory and typical experimental results are discussed.