Corotating interplanetary streams and associated ionospheric disturbances at Venus and Earth

During the summer of 1979, solar coronal structure was such that a sequence of recurrent regions produced a corresponding sequence of corotating solar wind streams, with pronounced downstream signatures. One of these stream events passed Earth on July 3, and was observed later at Venus late on July 11th, with similar characteristics. Corresponding in-situ measurements at Earth from the Atmospheric Explorer-E satellite and at Venus from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are examined for evidence of comparable perturbations of the planetary ionospheres. The passage of the stream shock front is found to be associated with pronounced fluctuations in n(0⁺) which appear as pronounced local depletion of ion concentrations in both ionospheres. The ionosphere disturbances appear to be closely associated with large variations in the solar wind momentum flux. The implied local ionospheric depletions observed at each planet are interpreted to be the consequence of plasma redistribution, rather than actual depletions of plasma.     

On Increasing Usable MTI Filter Bandwidth by Removing Linear-Phase Constraint

It has been shown in the literature that the linear-phase constraint of finite-duration impulse-response (FIR) digital filters can, under certain circumstances, be effectively traded either for a better filter amplitude response or a reduction in the number of filter coeficients. It is shown that such a tradeoff can be exploited for moving target indicator (MTI) radar signal processors to increase the usable bandwidth for target detection. Although it is demonstrated that the increase is significant for narrowband (ground) clutter, it is negligible for wideband (weather) clutter.     

North-south asymmetries of the solar magnetic field in conjunction with the location of the heliospheric current sheet on both sides of the solar equator

Reported heliospheric current-sheet displacements from the equatorial plane have been found to be in agreement with north-south asymmetries of the solar magnetic field. Mean heliospheric sector width estimations in the period 1947–1977 have shown that the heliospheric current sheet demonstrates an asymmetric placement with respect to the solar equator. This asymmetry is very prominent in the epochs of the solar cycle minima while it almost disappears in the epochs of maxima. At the same time, the sums of the maxima values of the sunspot magnetic field intensity showed in the epochs of minimum a characteristic asymmetry which implies an essential conjunction among the heliospheric current sheet, the solar cycle and the solar magnetic field. The main conclusion which could be derived of these observations is that the heliospheric current sheet has its origin on the solar surface while its location with respect to the solar equator appears to be affected by the variability of the lower layers of the solar interior.     

Physical processes in the strong magnetic fields of accreting neutron stars

The key radiative processes are discussed, numerical methods of magnetized radiative transfer are presented, and these are considered in their application to X-ray pulsar models.     

An instrument for DC electric field and AC electric and magnetic field measurements aboard ‘Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300’ satellite

The instrument IESP-IPMP represents the complex unit measuring the vector of the DC electric field, the vectors of the electric and magnetic field in the frequency range of 0.2 – 6.5 Hz (wave form), autocorrelation functions of waves with frequencies of 0.1 – 5 kHz, and wave amplitudes in 8 bandpass channels. Some results are shown and compared in the various frequency ranges.     

NASA' s life sciences and space radiation biology.

Plans for the various missions in which men and women are expected to participate during the next 10 years are outlined. Such missions include flights of up to three months duration in low earth orbit as well as possible short excursions to geosynchronous orbit. Research activities are described which cover the full spectrum of physiological and psychological responses to space flight. These activities are shown to contribute to the ongoing Shuttle program and the future Space Station. The paper includes a summary of the major technical thrusts needed to support extended habitation in space.     

Electric currents and voltage drops along auroral field lines

The current state of knowledge concerning Birkeland currents (j _∥) and parallel electric field (E _∥) is briefly reviewed. Four types of j _∥ are discussed-the primary ‘region 1’ sheets, the ‘region 2’ sheets which parallel them and which seem to close in the partial ring current, the cusp currents which appear to correlate with interplanetary B _y, and the ‘Harang filament’. The energy required by E _∥ and by the associated particle acceleration processes seems to be derived from j _∥. Much of the evidence for e _∥ comes from particles, from ‘inverted V’ spectra, rising ion beams and expanded loss cones, while ‘conies’ may signify acceleration by Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron (EIC) waves, associated with beams accelerated by E _∥. Different theoretical studies predict for E _∥ a smooth, disordered or abrupt structure, and evidence for all 3 types can be deduced from S3-3 electric field probe observations.

     

Proposal for a reference model of the middle atmosphere of the southern hemisphere

Available rocketsonde information has been used to compile tables of monthly mean temperature, pressure, density and zonal wind for the middle atmosphere of the southern hemisphere with the purpose of revising similar tables presented to COSPAR earlier. The altitude range is 25 to 80 km in steps of 5 km. The latitude range is 0° to 70°S with a 10° step. The compatability of different sets of temperature measurements is discussed. Mean values of temperature, pressure and zonal wind obtained for the southern hemisphere are compared with northern hemisphere model values. Large differences between the hemispheres (up to 20°C in temperature, 20–30% in pressure, 30–50 m/s in wind) imply that reference atmospheres such as CIRA should be complemented by southern hemisphere climatology.     

Design Rules for Adaptive Arrays

The concepts of "equivalent linear arrays" and "minimum effective spacing" can be used to simplify the analysis of planar adaptive arrays. The resulting design rules permit the rapid determination of array configurations without the need for computer modeling.     

Non-intrusive methods for temperature measurements in liquid zones in microgravity environments

Material Science and Life Science experiments in microgravity both have urgent needs of evaluating the temperature distribution within and on the surface of liquid zones. Non intrusive methods are available which measure the IR radiations emitted by the surface. The thermograph systems have a number of advantages since they supply a thermal picture of the surface with sufficient time, space and temperature accuracy. A computerized system has been designed for data acquisition and elaboration and used for ground experiments; the system can also be used for space experiments with some modifications. Non intrusive measurements of bulk temperature in two dimensional liquid flow fields can be made by means of optical methods which detect variations of the index of refraction. A method is proposed which is able to take with the same optical apparatus shadowgraph. Schlieren and differential interferometers pictures. A computerized system is proposed for data acquisition and elaboration.