Rocket measurements of mesospheric ionization irregularities

The Langmuir-probe technique for measurement of electron concentration in the mesosphere is capable of excellent altitude resolution, of order 1 m. Measurements from nine rocket flights frequently show small-scale ionization structures in the altitude region 60–90 km. These are believed to be identical with regions of strong coherent backscatter seem by VHF radars at Jicamarca, Peru and Urbana, Illinois. They are believed to represent intermittent turbulence attributable to nonlinear interaction of waves in the mesosphere. Parameters of the turbulent regions are estimated.     

The role of magnetic field shear in solar flares

We present observational results and their physical implications garnered from the deliberations of the FBS Magnetic Shear Study Group on magnetic field shear in relation to flares. The observed character of magnetic shear and its involvement in the buildup and release of flare energy are reviewed and illustrated with emphasis on recent results from the Marshall Space Flight Center vector magnetograph. It is pointed out that the magnetic field in active regions can become sheared by several processes, including shear flow in the photosphere, flux emergence, magnetic reconnection, and flux submergence. Modeling studies of the buildup of stored magnetic energy by shearing are reported which show ample energy storage for flares. Observational evidence is presented that flares are triggered when the field shear reaches a critical degree, in qualitative agreement with some theoretical analyses of sheared force-free fields. Finally, a scenario is outlined for the class of flares resulting from large-scale magnetic shear; the overall instability driving the energy release results from positive feedback between reconnection and eruption of the sheared field.     

The giant planets and their satellites: Report on the Cospar Symposium,Ottawa, Canada,May 18–21, 1982

A $\text{Symposium on the Giant Planets and Their Satellites}$ was presented in conjunction with the Twenty-fourth Plenary Meeting of the Committee on Space Research. This paper summarizes the talks presented and places the remaining papers of this volume in context.     

Non-linear magnetospheric amplification of VLF transmissions

Non-linear amplification of a monochromatic VLF transmission in the magnetosphere produces an output fluctuating in amplitude and phase, and so is not monochromatic. This output can usually be resolved into two waves: one similar to the input, but stronger, and a higher frequency sideband or “embryo emission”. The established theory is outlined as far as it goes.     

Electric generators: technology status

The use of generators by the military is examined. The factors determining generator size and weight for a given power rating and the generator scaling laws are discussed. Size and weight reduction is shown to be primarily a function of improvements in material properties and cooling techniques     

Scaling of advanced power systems

Parts of a study conducted to examine state-of-the-art power systems applicable to future military spacecraft are summarized. The study focused on burst-mode megawatt-class CW power, such as might be applied to SDIO directed energy systems, but lower-power, continuous-duty subsystems were included in less detail. A set of simple mass and volume algorithms has been developed to approximate several prime systems, and these were incorporated into a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet. Among the power subsystems included in that study were primary batteries, alkaline primary fuel cells, and combustion turbogenerators. These systems, which are the most likely candidates for mobile battlefield power, are described     

Energy and charge localization in irradiated DNA.

The relation between the site of energy deposition and the site of its biological action is an important question in radiobiology. Even at 77 degrees K, evidence is clear that these two sites must be separated since energy deposition is random but specific products are formed. Several processes that may contribute to this separation are: 1) hole migration and stabilization through deprotonation to give neutral oxidation product radicals; 2) electron trapping and transfer to form specific radical anions, possibly followed by protonation to give neutral reduction product radicals; and 3) recombination of spatially separated charges or radicals. These microscopic processes will be reviewed critically in an analysis using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) evidence for and against long-range transfer of energy and/or charge in frozen, hydrated DNA.     

Performance characteristics of lithium ion cells at low temperatures

The low temperature charge and discharge characteristics of experimental MCMB-Li/sub x/Ni/sub y/Co/sub 1-y/O/sub 2/ cells containing different electrolytes were investigated. The use of low ethylene carbonate (EC)-content electrolyte formulations has resulted in good discharge performance to temperatures as low as -40/spl deg/C. The effect of charge voltage and charge current upon the individual electrode potentials at low temperature was investigated using the three electrode cells (containing lithium reference electrodes). In some cases, lithium plating was observed to occur upon low temperature charge, and found to be facilitated by high charge voltages, high charge currents, and poor anode kinetics. Electrochemical characterization of the cells has helped to establish the conditions under which lithium plating can occur by providing information regarding the polarization effects present at each electrode.     

Microprocessor smart cards with fingerprint user authentication

Due to the great increase in Information Technology (IT) systems where user authentication is needed, security in those systems relies on using PINs or passwords. During recent years, the scientific community has been trying to improve biometric techniques to be accepted as an alternative to other user authentication schemes. One of the sectors where user identity must be verified, is the identification cards sector. In fact, if great security wants to be achieved, smart cards should be used. But cardholder verification is performed using Card Holder Verification Keys (CHV-Keys), which are PIN-based. The authors are trying to integrate fingerprint verification inside a smart card, following their works in the past. The fingerprint scheme used is shown, and the work to achieve the integration inside a commercial smart card is detailed.