Variations of geomagnetic cutoff rigidity in the southern hemisphere close to 70°W (South-Atlantic Anomaly and Antarctic zones) in the period 1975–2010

We report the existence of rapid variations in (effective) geomagnetic cutoff rigidity (Rc) between the equatorial and Antarctic zones adjacent to the Andes Mountains, revealed by the variation rate of geomagnetic cutoff rigidity (VRc) in the period 1975–2010. Our analysis is based on empirical records and theoretical models of the variations in cosmic rays and on the structure of geomagnetic fields. These have given us a different view of variations in Rc in time and space along the 70°W meridian, where secular variations in the geomagnetic field are strongly influenced by the proximity of the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA), one of the most important characteristics of the terrestrial magnetic field that affects our planet, close from the equator to the 50°S parallel and from South America to South Africa. The VRc presents rapid changes in mid-latitudes where SAMA exerts its influence despite the existence of smooth changes in the geomagnetic field. This shows that these changes occur mainly in the spatial configuration, rather than in the temporal evolution of Rc. The analysis was performed using measurements from the Chilean Network of Cosmic Rays and Geomagnetism Observatories, equipped with BF-3 and latest generation He-3 neutron monitors, Fluxgate magnetometers, geomagnetic reference field (IGRF) and Tsyganenko 2001 model (just for completeness).     

Passive localization of moving emitters using out-of-planemultipath

The purpose of this work is to establish how a moving emitter, such as a jammer, can be localized by a passive receiver through the use of out-of-plane multipath signals reflected by the terrain. This is a novel localization technique that assumes no a priori knowledge of the localization of the multipath sources. The emitter parameters of range, heading, velocity, and altitude are estimated by exploiting the correlation between the direct-path signal and the delayed and Doppler modulated signals. Two basis assumptions about the scattering properties of the terrain lead to different maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs). The Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLB) are used to study estimator performance versus emitter velocity for each case. The proposed estimators are successfully demonstrated using field data collected at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) during the DARPA/Navy Mountaintop program     

Clutter and jammer multipath cancellation in airborne adaptiveradar

Airborne surveillance radars must detect and localize targets in diverse interference environments consisting of ground clutter, conventional jamming, and terrain scattered jammer multipath. Multidimensional adaptive filtering techniques have been proposed to adaptively cancel this interference. However, a detailed analysis that includes the effects of multipath nonstationarity has been elusive. This work addresses the nonstationary nature of the jammer multipath and its impact on clutter cancellation and target localization. It is shown that the weight updating needed to track this interference will also modulate sidelobe signals. At the very least, this complicates the localization of targets. At the worst, it also greatly complicates the rejection of clutter. Several techniques for improving cancellation of jammer multipath and clutter are proposed, including 1) weight vector interpolation, extrapolation, and updating; 2) filter architecture, constraint, and beamspace selection; 3) prefilters; 4) 3-D STAP architectures; and 5) multidimensional sidelobe target editing     

Toward an Understanding of the Systematic Uncertainties in Deriving the Primordial Helium Abundance from H II Region Observations

Recent determinations of the primordial He abundance have given significantly different results. We are attempting to identify some of the causes of these differences and propose observational solutions. Here we identify a systematic difference in how the data are interpreted (differences in corrections for the presence of neutral helium) and the importance of a systematic bias towards lower derived helium abundances (underestimating the presence of underlying stellar absorption).     

Magnetic Fields in the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

Magnetic fields appear to be ubiquitous in astrophysical environments. Their existence in the intracluster medium is established through observations of synchrotron emission and Faraday rotation. On the other hand, the nature of magnetic fields outside of clusters, where observations are scarce and controversial, remains largely unknown. In this chapter, we review recent developments in our understanding of the nature and origin of intergalactic magnetic fields, and in particular, intercluster fields. A plausible scenario for the origin of galactic and intergalactic magnetic fields is for seed fields, created in the early universe, to be amplified by turbulent flows induced during the formation of the large scale structure. We present several mechanisms for the generation of seed fields both before and after recombination. We then discuss the evolution and role of magnetic fields during the formation of the first starts. We describe the turbulent amplification of seed fields during the formation of large scale structure and the nature of the magnetic fields that arise. Finally, we discuss implications of intergalactic magnetic fields.     

General Relativity Accuracy Test (GReAT): New configuration for the differential accelerometer

We presents the results of an activity concerning the test of the Einstein Weak Equivalence Principle with an accuracy of about 5 × 10⁻¹⁵. The experiment will be performed in an “Einstein elevator” using a differential accelerometer with a final sensitivity of about 10⁻¹⁴ g_⊕/Hz^1/2. The differential accelerometer is spun about an horizontal axis at a frequency in the range 0.5–1 Hz in order to modulate, during the free fall, the signal from a possible violation of the Equivalence Principle. In the paper the perturbing effects with the same signature of the possible violation are analyzed and constrained. The experimental results obtained in the laboratory with a first prototype of the differential accelerometer are discussed, comparing this results with those obtained using a new prototype.