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Osborne, W. Z.

Publications and source records attributed to Osborne, W. Z..

12 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Further measurements and reassessment of the magnetic-monopole candidate

The data on the 1975 Lexan event are reexamined in a framework that does not depend on the details of a particular track model. Instead, visual measurements of two quantities, photographic evidence, and silver-grain densities measured with an automated microscopic-image dissector are cited. It is shown that throughout the detector stack the particle had a roughly constant value of absolute Z/beta of about 109-114 based on energy deposition at radial distance less than about 0.01 micron. Its energy deposition at radial distance greater than about 20 microns was incompatible with that expected from any known cosmic ray nucleus with Z/beta in this range. A monopole is ruled out, and the three candidates compatible with the data are: (1) a slow, supermassive particle with beta about 0.4, charge about 45e, and mass above 1000-10,000 amu; (2) a fast antinucleus with Z/beta about -109 to -114 and absolute Z between 76 and 96; and (3) a very fast nucleus with Z about 110-114 and beta above about 0.99.

Price, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Visual light flash observations on Skylab 4

Evaluation of light flashes observed in earth orbit establishes: (1) a strong correlation of very high flash rates with passage through the South Atlantic anomaly; (2) evidence for a predicted latitude effect; and (3) an increased flash rate outside the anomaly during a second observation period. Event rates and flash descriptions during South Atlantic anomaly passes indicate that there may be particles heavier than protons in the inner belt of trapped radiation.

Hoffman, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Evidence for detection of a moving magnetic monopole

A very heavy particle passed through a balloon-borne stack of Cherenkov film, emulsion, and Lexan sheets. In 33 Lexan sheets it produced tracks expected of either a nucleus with Z ranging between 125 and 137 and with beta less than about 0.92 or a magnetic monopole with g = 137e. Its track structure in emulsion indicated it was moving downward with beta equal to 0.5 (plus 0.1 or minus 0.05) and was either a nucleus with Z equal to 80 or a monopole with g = 137e. These facts strongly favor identification of the particle as a magnetic monopole of strength g = 137e and mass greater than 200 times proton mass.

Price, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Light flashes observed by astronauts on Skylab 4

Two dedicated light flash observing sessions were conducted by one of the crewmen during the Skylab 4 mission. Analyses of his observations reveal a strong correlation between flash frequency and primary cosmic-ray flux, and an even stronger correlation between flash frequency and the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region of the inner belt trapped radiation. Calculations indicate that an all-proton inner belt probably cannot produce the observed SAA flash rate, and they suggest that there may exist a previously unobserved inner belt flux of multiply charged nuclei.

Pinsky, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Transition-radiation-Compton-scattering detector for very relativistic nuclei

The paper presents the design and predicted performance of a large acceptance (2 sq m sr) transition-radiation-Compton-scattering detector system which can be used to measure energy spectra up to several thousand Gev/nucleon for nuclei with Z between 6 and 28, as well as up to 40,000 GeV/nucleon for He. The following circumstances made such a detector system practicable: (1) transition radiation output is proportional to the square of particle charge; (2) output varies at least as rapidly as the square of Lorentz factor over the range from several hundred to several thousand.

Osborne, W. Z.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Correlation of individual cosmic ray nuclei with the observation of light flashes by Apollo astronauts

A nuclear emulsion detector known as the Apollo Light Flash Moving Emulsion Detector (ALFMED) was designed: (1) to record tracks of primary cosmic rays; (2) to provide time-of-passage information via a relative plate translation technique; (3) to provide particle trajectory information; and (4) to fit into a masklike device that could be located about the head and eyes of an astronaut. An ALFMED device was worn by an astronaut observing light flashes for 60 minutes on each of the last two Apollo missions. During the Apollo 17 experiment seventeen separate flashes were reported by the observer. With one-third of the total plate area completely analyzed, two definite correlations have been found between Z greater than 8 cosmic ray nuclei traversing an eye and the reports of visual sensations.

Pinsky, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Monte Carlo simulation of astronaut light flash observations on Apollo and Skylab missions

Monte Carlo calculations are performed to study the relation between cosmic ray nuclei and visual flashes observed by astronauts, in space. A satisfactory overall fit to all available data excluding the Skylab observations in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) has been achieved by varying three visual system parameters: effective retinal thickness, minimum projected track length inside retina and minimum energy loss rate. All light flash data from space excluding the SAA observations can be understood fully upon the basis of the primary cosmic ray charge and energy spectra together with the fitted values of the three visual system parameters. Monte Carlo simulations of the SAA observations suggest the existence of a previously unobserved multiply-charged component of the inner radiation belt.

Osborne, W. Z.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Light flashes observed by astronauts on Apollo 11 through Apollo 17

The crew members on the last seven Apollo flights observed light flashes that are tentatively attributed to cosmic ray nuclei (atomic number equal to or greater than 6) penetrating the head and eyes of the observers. Analyses of the event rates for all missions has revealed an anomalously low rate for transearth coast observations with respect to translunar coast observations.

Pinsky, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Visual light flash phenomenon

Light flash phenomenon observed by crewmen on Apollo 14, 15, 16, and 17 are analyzed. The passage of cosmic rays through the crewman's head and eyes was recorded by the Apollo light flash moving emulsion detector. Events of all the light flash observations are tabulated. It is suggested that the most probable explanation of the phenomenon is that it is caused by cosmic rays penetrating the eyes and retinas of the observers.

Pinsky, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Charge and energy spectra of cosmic rays with Z equal to or greater than 30.

A 2 g/sq cm stack (22 sq m in area) containing 41 plastic sheets, one G-5 emulsion, and one high-speed Cerenkov film detector was launched by balloon from Minneapolis on Sept. 4, 1970. The stack received an effective exposure of 48 hr at 2.8 mbar and a cutoff rigidity of about 1.8 GV. The abundance ratios relative to Fe are reported for various charges and charge groups from Z = 29 to 105 on the basis of 70 presently measured events as well as previously obtained results. Between Fe and the Pt peak, the cosmic ray abundances appear to be similar to solar system abundances; the heavier nuclei are strongly overabundant and appear to have originated about 10 m.y. ago in a rapid neutron capture process.

Kobetich, E. J.↗