Investigation of the composition of solar and interstellar matter using solar wind and pickup ion measurements with SWICS and SWIMS on the ACE spacecraft

The Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer (SWICS) and the Solar Wind Ions Mass Spectrometer (SWIMS) on ACE are instruments optimized for measurements of the chemical and isotopic composition of solar and interstellar matter. SWICS determines uniquely the chemical and ionic-charge composition of the solar wind, the thermal and mean speeds of all major solar wind ions from H through Fe at all solar wind speeds above 300 km s−1 (protons) and 170 km s−1 (Fe+16), and resolves H and He isotopes of both solar and interstellar sources. SWICS will measure the distribution functions of both the interstellar cloud and dust cloud pickup ions up to energies of 100 keV e−1. SWIMS will measure the chemical, isotopic and charge state composition of the solar wind for every element between He and Ni. Each of the two instruments uses electrostatic analysis followed by a time-of-flight and, as required, an energy measurement. The observations made with SWICS and SWIMS will make valuable contributions to the ISTP objectives by providing information regarding the composition and energy distribution of matter entering the magnetosphere. In addition, SWICS and SWIMS results will have an impact on many areas of solar and heliospheric physics, in particular providing important and unique information on: (i) conditions and processes in the region of the corona where the solar wind is accelerated; (ii) the location of the source regions of the solar wind in the corona; (iii) coronal heating processes; (iv) the extent and causes of variations in the composition of the solar atmosphere; (v) plasma processes in the solar wind; (vi) the acceleration of particles in the solar wind; (vii) the physics of the pickup process of interstellar He in the solar wind; and (viii) the spatial distribution and characteristics of sources of neutral matter in the inner heliosphere. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ghost Ships: Hamilton and Scourge, Historical Treasures from the War of 1812

HAMILTON and SCOURGE are two armed merchant schooners from the War of 1812 on Lake Ontario. Capsized in a squall on August 8, 1813, they lie 300 feet deep, 1,500 feet apart, 6 miles off present-day Port Dalhousie, Ontario. They are world-class archaeological treasures: intact, with all their artifacts in and around them, and perfectly preserved. They belong to the City of Hamilton, Ontario, where an international-level museum will be constructed. A major archaeological dive is planned for April/May, 1987. The HAMILTON-SCOURGE team is now involved in a research project related to merchant activity on Lake Ontario, 1800-1812. It is hoped that this will result in finding the vessels' plans or offsets, if these still exist. Many fascinating historical details have been uncovered, some of which are recounted here.